cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Long‐term phosphorus solubility in soils receiving poultry litter treated with aluminum, calcium, and iron amendments

Abstract Phosphorus (P) runoff from poultry litter applied to fields can adversely impact water quality. The majority of P in runoff from poultry litter is soluble, so decreasing the solubility of P could lessen the impact of poultry litter on water quality. The objective of this study was to determine long‐term P solubility in soils receiving poultry litter treated with aluminum (Al), calcium (Ca), and iron (Fe) amendments at various soil pHs. Soil pH was adjusted to 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, and 8.0 using elemental sulfur (S) or CaCO3 with some soil left at its native pH. The pH‐adjusted soil was then incubated with either no litter (control), litter alone (litter control), or litter amended with alum, A12(SO4)3.16H2O, (100 or 200 g/kg), Ca(OH)2 (25 or 50 g/kg), or FeSO4 .7H2O (100 or 200 g/kg). The soil was then allowed to equilibrate in the dark at room temperature for 0, 7, 49, 98, and 294 days. After equilibration, soils were extracted with deionized water and soluble reactive P levels were determined. Wa...
Structural elements governing activation and modulation of GABAA receptors

Abstract How general anesthetics change neurotransmitter receptor function is not fully understood. In this short review, we describe the key molecular elements governing GABAA receptor activation and modulation by general anesthetics.
Synthesis and Surface Properties of Novel Fluoroalkylated Flip-Flop-Type Silane Coupling Agents

New fluoroalkylated oligomeric silane coupling agents containing morpholino groups were prepared by the reactions of fluoroalkanoyl peroxides with trimethoxyvinylsilane and acryloylmorpholine. The modified glass surface treated with these silane coupling agents was shown to have a strong hydrophilicity with good oil repellency, and these fluoroalkylated oligomers are applicable to new flip-flop-type silane coupling agents.
Attachment of fluorescent metal chelates to macromolecules using "bifunctional" chelating agents.

Abstract The use of “bifunctional” chelating agents to covalently attach stable chelates of terbium and europium to human serum albumin results in products whose lanthanide fluorescence may be studied easily at micromolar concentrations with standard instrumentation. The lanthanide ions may be added specifically and quantitatively to the protein-bound chelating groups in 0.1 M citrate, pH 6.5. The use of these reagents should greatly reduce ambiguities in the determination of distances between sites on macromolecules by energy transfer measurements.
Mediastinal pseudocyst caused by pharyngeal perforation during child abuse.

Pharyngeal and esophageal perforation caused by child abuse is rare [i-3]. All published reports have described cervical swelling, emphysema, and fever, and in two cases of a cervical abscess there was spread to the mediastinum. We report a case of child abuse in which the patient had inspiratory stridor from a mediastinal pseudocyst. Additional studies revealed evidence of prior pharyngeal perforation and widespread skeletal injury typical of child abuse.
Octreotide scintigraphy in the detection of recurrent paragangliomas.

Abstract Objective Conventional follow-up of surgically and radiotherapy-treated paragangliomas is usually carried out with physical examinations and either magnetic resonance imaging and/or computed tomography. Up to now, octreotide has been reserved for primary diagnosis, for which it has been shown to be a reliable imaging modality. However, the postsurgical and postradiation changes seen on conventional imaging make the diagnosis of small recurrent lesions difficult. We sought to evaluate the role of octreotide scintigraphy in the detection of recurrent paragangliomas. Study design We based this case series on 3 patients who were found to have recurrent paragangliomas after primary surgical resection. All patients underwent octreotide scintigraphy during routine follow-up. Results Three patients were found to have recurrent paragangliomas using octreotide scintigraphy. In one of the patients, conventional imaging (magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography) failed to detect the recurrence. Conclusion The octreotide study was able to detect the small recurrences because octreotide binds directly to receptors on the tumor and is not affected by postsurgical or postradiotherapy changes. The intrinsic resolution of most commercially available gamma cameras is about 1 cm, making it quite sensitive to detect small tumors. Although this patient did not have synchronous lesions, octreotide scintigraphy can also aide in the detection of such lesions.
Numerical modeling of pore size and distribution in foamed titanium

To facilitate the design and development of porous metals, simulation of their mechanical behavior is essential. As an alternative to complex tomography procedures, a methodology has been developed to construct a simulated microstructure that retains the essential features of the experimental material. The target material is a moderate porosity titanium foam that is being developed as a bone implant material. The methodology applies stereology theory to a foaming process based on growth of pressurized pores. Three-dimensional (3D) pore size and pore distribution information is derived from 2D sections for a sample with low porosity, early in the foaming process. A 3D microstructure is developed based on the 3D location and size distribution of the pores by use of a computational procedure. Pores are allowed to grow and coalesce in a simple simulated foaming process to achieve microstructures of higher porosity. These data have been used as inputs to write scripts of I-DEAS to create 3D finite element models which are then examined for basic global and local mechanical properties.
Hydrocarbon solvents: effect on calcium mediated events in liposomes☆

Abstract The effect of hydrocarbon solvents on membranes was investigated by measuring the inhibition of Ca 2+ -induced turbidity in liposomes. Chloroform, carbontetrachloride, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, hexane, cyclohexane and benzene protected against Ca 2+ -induced turbidity, and the concentration of each solvent required for a 50% decrease was in the millimolar range. Double-reciprocal plot analysis was consistent with the presence of solvent binding sites on the membrane.
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY AFTER RAPID FREEZING ON A METAL SURFACE AND SUBSTITUTION FIXATION.

A method for rapid freezing is described in which use is made of the good heat conducting properties of silver. The freezing was accomplished by bringing the tissue in contact with a polished silver surface at the temperature of liquid nitrogen either at atmospheric or reduced pressure. Helium gas flowing over this surface prevented the condensation of water or air on the silver. After freezing the tissue was placed in a substituting solvent. The best results were obtained with 2% osmium tetroxide in acetone at −85°C. The ultrastructure of the tissue was well preserved in a narrow surface layer only.
The Viking mission: Implications for life on Mars

The results of the Viking Biology experiments are best explained by non-biological phenomena: The interaction of the reagents with the materials comprising the regolith. Conditions of water activity, temperature, availability of carbon sources and others in most regions of the planet are too extreme for survival and growth of any known Earth microorganisms. Although the possibility persists that some very unusual form of life is somewhere on that planet the evidence is best interpreted as negative. Even though there is no evidence for current life on Mars, whether or not life ever originated there is not known.
Iterative collision resolution for slotted ALOHA: An optimal uncoordinated transmission policy

We consider a multi-user wireless network in which each user has one packet of information to transmit to a central receiver. We study an uncoordinated paradigm where the users send their packet a random number of times according to a probability distribution. Instead of discarding the collided packets, the receiver performs iterative collision resolution. Recently, a few studies have shown that the iterative collision resolution process can be viewed as message-passing decoding on an appropriately defined Tanner graph. Using this equivalence, they used standard techniques to numerically optimize the probability distribution and demonstrated substantial throughput improvement over slotted ALOHA. In this paper, we show that the well-known soliton distribution is an optimal probability distribution and that the resulting throughput efficiency can be arbitrarily close to 1.
Insensitivity of the pressure dependences of characteristic energy scales in Ce 1 − x R x CoIn 5 ( R = Yb, Y, Gd ) to the electronic configuration of the rare-earth ion

Cooperative Ce and Yb valence fluctuations have recently been proposed as the mechanism responsible for stabilizing correlated electron phenomena in Ce${}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}$Yb${}_{x}$CoIn${}_{5}$ over an unexpectedly large range of concentrations. In order to better understand the origins and character of this stability, we have measured the effect of applied pressure on relevant energy scales such as the superconducting critical (${T}_{c}$) and Kondo-lattice coherence (${T}^{*}$) temperatures of Ce${}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{R}_{x}$CoIn${}_{5}$ with $R=\text{Yb}$, Y, and Gd. Electrical resistivity measurements were performed under applied pressure on samples doped with intermediate-valent Yb and stable-valent Gd and Y, and the responses of ${T}_{c}$ and ${T}^{*}$ to increased pressure in these systems are compared. The character of ${T}_{c}(P)$ and ${T}^{*}(P)$ in Ce${}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{R}_{x}$CoIn${}_{5}$ depends only on their respective ambient-pressure values ${T}_{c}(0)$ and ${T}^{*}(0)$, independent of the electronic configuration of $R$ or concentration $x$. The consequences of this result are discussed within the context of possible cooperative valence fluctuations in Ce${}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}$Yb${}_{x}$CoIn${}_{5}$.
LEFT VENTRICULAR DEFORMATION RECOVERY FROM CINE MRI USING A 4D INCOMPRESSIBLE MODEL

This paper presents a method for the deformation recovery of the left ventricular (LV) wall from cine MRI. The method is based on a 4D deformable model that is incompressible, a desired property since the myocardium has been shown to be nearly incompressible. The 4D model is continuous in time and the three spatial dimensions, which allows the computation of cardiac motion parameters anywhere in space and time including in-between slices and frames. The LV wall needs to be segmented in an initial frame after which the method automatically determines the deformation everywhere in the LV wall throughout the cardiac cycle. The method was tested with 3-D cine MRI for six subjects and it was evaluated against manual segmentation and the corresponding tagged MR image sequences. The average distance between the model and the manually generated endocardial and epicardial surfaces was 1.7 mm (1.2 pixel), and the average distance between the model and the manually determined intersections of perpendicular tag lines was 1.6 mm (1.1 pixel)
The effect of hormone therapy on olfactory sensitivity is dependent on apolipoprotein E genotype

Abstract Patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) show a deficit in olfactory threshold sensitivity. The Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) ɛ4 allele is associated with increased risk of AD and earlier symptom onset. Hormone therapy (HT) may exert neuroprotective effects on brain areas affected by AD. The current study investigated the effect of HT on performance on an olfactory threshold test in ɛ4 positive and ɛ4 negative non-hysterectomized, non-demented, elderly females and AD patients. Among the non-demented participants, ɛ4 positive females who had received HT performed 1) significantly better than those without HT, and 2) at levels similar to those of ɛ4 negative females. In contrast, those without HT who were ɛ4 positive performed significantly worse than those who were ɛ4 negative. HT had no effect on performance in AD patients regardless of ɛ4 status. These results suggest that HT may offer protection against loss of olfactory function in ɛ4 positive individuals in preclinical stages of AD. Future research is warranted in order to investigate further the neuroprotective role of HT on sensory and cognitive functions in non-demented aging individuals.
Desvenlafaxine succinate for major depressive disorder: a critical review of the evidence

Desvenlafaxine succinate (DVS) is the succinate salt monohydrate of O-desmethylvenlafaxine, an active metabolite of venlafaxine. DVS is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) like venlafaxine, but exhibits a differential serotonergic and noradrenergic activity profile. A sustained-release form of DVS is approved by the US FDA for the treatment of adult major depressive disorder (MDD). DVS has shown efficacy for the treatment of MDD in clinical trials with doses ranging from 50 to 400 mg/day. The 50-100 mg/day dose range is therapeutic, with lack of additional benefit shown at higher dosages and a significantly higher risk of side effects, especially at the 400 mg/day dosing. Advantages of DVS over other sSNRIs include its simple metabolism, lower risk of drug-drug interactions and lack of need for extensive titration to achieve therapeutic efficacy. Limitations with the use of DVS include its moderate efficacy in the treatment of MDD, a safety-tolerability profile similar to that of other SNRIs and the possibility of transient discontinuation symptoms with cessation of DVS treatment. DVS is a useful addition to the options available for the treatment of MDD in light of the limited efficacy of currently available antidepressants.
Echocardiographic features of atrioventricular and ventriculoatrial conduction

Abstract The potential application of diagnostic ultrasound to understanding of the hemodynamic effects of various rhythm and conduction disturbances has not been fully explored. To investigate the changes in cardiac function associated with various atrioventricular (A-V) sequencing intervals during cardiac pacing, simultaneous M mode and two dimensional echocardiographic and hemodynamic studies were performed in 23 dogs. One to one A-V and ventriculoatrial (V-A) sequential pacing at cycle lengths of 400 and 300 ms revealed a stepwise reduction in left ventricular pressure and cardiac output as the A-V interval was changed from +100 to —100 ms. These reductions in cardiac hemodynamics were associated with decreases in left ventricular and increases in left atrial dimensions determined with echocardiography. Mitral valve excursion and the duration of valve opening remained constant over the entire range of A-V intervals. There was angiographie evidence of retrograde blood flow from the left atrium into the pulmonary venous system at an A-V interval of —50 and —100 ms, but no evidence of mitral regurgitation. Thus, correlative echocardiographic and hemodynamic studies can suggest multiple pathophysiologic mechanisms contributing to the decrements in cardiac function observed during tachyarrhythmias with intact A-V conduction as well as those occurring consequent to A-V nodal Wenckebach cycles.
GCD11, a negative regulator of GCN4 expression, encodes the gamma subunit of eIF-2 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Abstract The eukaryotic translation initiation factor eIF-2 plays a critical role in regulating the expression of the yeast transcriptional activator GCN4. Mutations in genes encoding the alpha and beta subunits of eIF-2 alter translational efficiency at the GCN4 AUG codon and constitutively elevate GCN4 translation. Mutations in the yeast GCD11 gene have been shown to confer a similar phenotype. The nucleotide sequence of the cloned GCD11 gene predicts a 527-amino-acid polypeptide that is similar to the prokaryotic translation elongation factor EF-Tu. Relative to EF-Tu, the deduced GCD11 amino acid sequence contains a 90-amino-acid N-terminal extension and an internal cysteine-rich sequence that contains a potential metal-binding finger motif. We have identified the GCD11 gene product as the gamma subunit of eIF-2 by the following criteria: (i) sequence identities with mammalian eIF-2 gamma peptides; (ii) increased eIF-2 activity in extracts prepared from cells cooverexpressing GCD11, eIF-2 alpha, and eIF-2 beta; and (iii) cross-reactivity of antibodies directed against the GCD11 protein with the 58-kDa polypeptide present in purified yeast eIF-2. The predicted GCD11 polypeptide contains all of the consensus elements known to be required for guanine nucleotide binding, suggesting that, in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the gamma subunit of eIF-2 is responsible for GDP-GTP binding.
A method for mutagenesis of mouse mtDNA and a resource of mouse mtDNA mutations for modeling human pathological conditions

Mutations in human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) can cause mitochondrial disease and have been associated with neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, diabetes and aging. Yet our progress toward delineating the precise contributions of mtDNA mutations to these conditions is impeded by the limited availability of faithful transmitochondrial animal models. Here, we report a method for the isolation of mutations in mouse mtDNA and its implementation for the generation of a collection of over 150 cell lines suitable for the production of transmitochondrial mice. This method is based on the limited mutagenesis of mtDNA by proofreading-deficient DNA-polymerase γ followed by segregation of the resulting highly heteroplasmic mtDNA population by means of intracellular cloning. Among generated cell lines, we identify nine which carry mutations affecting the same amino acid or nucleotide positions as in human disease, including a mutation in the ND4 gene responsible for 70% of Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathies (LHON). Similar to their human counterparts, cybrids carrying the homoplasmic mouse LHON mutation demonstrated reduced respiration, reduced ATP content and elevated production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS). The generated resource of mouse mtDNA mutants will be useful both in modeling human mitochondrial disease and in understanding the mechanisms of ROS production mediated by mutations in mtDNA.
Association of proton-pump inhibitors with outcomes in Clostridium difficile colitis.

Purpose. The role of concurrent use of proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) in the outcomes of treatment for Clostridium difficile colitis was studied. Methods . The records of inpatients at a large Veterans Affairs medical center in whom C. difficile colitis was diagnosed between June 2004 and July 2005 were retrospectively reviewed. Data collected included patient characteristics at baseline, antibiotic therapy prescribed before and during therapy for C. difficile colitis, concurrent treatment with a PPI, response to therapy for C. difficile colitis, and recurrence of the disease in the 90 days after symptoms resolved. Outcomes of therapy were classified as cures, treatment failures, or disease recurrences. Results. A total of 140 patients (138 men and 2 women) were included in the study. Ninety-seven (69%) of patients received a PPI and 43 (31%) did not. Of patients receiving a PPI, 37 (38%) were cured of C. difficile colitis, 20 (21%) did not respond to therapy, and 40 (41%) had disease recurrence. Among the non-PPI patients, 27 (63%) were cured, 9 (21%) did not respond, and 7 (16%) had recurrence. Patients receiving PPIs were 4.17 times as likely to have recurrence as their counterparts who did not. Conclusion. PPI therapy was associated with an increased risk of recurrent C. difficile colitis.
Enforcing architectural contracts in high-level synthesis

We present a high-level synthesis technique that takes as input two orthogonal descriptions: (a) a behavioral architectural contract between the implementation and the user, and (b) a microarchitecture on which the architectural contract can be implemented. We describe a prototype compiler that generates control required to enforce the contract, and thus, synthesizes the pair of descriptions to hardware.
Status of U.S. Research on Structural Control Systems

Abstract This paper assesses the current status of control technology and its potential application to structural safety against seismic, wind and other dynamics loads. An intensive effort underway to develop a national research program is described. Research needs and important problems remaining from both the technological and practical standpoints are suggested.
Cell cycle parameters in dedifferentiating iris epithelial cells.

SUMMARY After lentectomy of the adult newt eye, non-dividing iris epithelial cells re-enter the cell cycle. Some of the iris epithelial cells become completely depigmented while they are in the cell cycle, and then differentiate into lens cells. The remaining iris epithelial cells become partially depigmented in the induced cell cycle, but resynthesize melanosomes and recover the normal state of iris epithelial cells. The two groups of cells are spatially separated within the iris epithelium. The cell cycle parameters of both groups of iris epithelial cells were estimated by a mathematical procedure on a computerized programme from the percentage of labelled mitotic cells as a function of time after peritoneal injection of [ 3 H]methyl-thymidine on day 6 after lentectomy. The total cell cycle time was found significantly shorter in the cell population with complete depigmentation as compared with that with partial depigmentation. Based on these results the possible role of differential cell cycle time in the control of dedifferentiation was discussed. Grafting of unlabelled iris into the optic cavity of host animals injected 6 h beforehand with [ 3 H]methyl-thymidine, followed by a study of radioactivity of iris epithelial cells of the graft demonstrated incorporation at a low level during the whole period of the experiment in which the cell cycle parameters were estimated. The data used for the estimation were corrected for the delayed incorporation.
An intelligent control system for remotely operated vehicles

The application of a neural network controller to remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) is described. Three learning algorithms for online implementation of a neural net controller are discussed with a critic equation. These control schemes do not require any information about the system dynamics except an estimate of the inertia terms. Selection of the number of layers in the neural network, the number of neurons in the hidden layer, initial weights for the network and the critic coefficient were done based on the results of preliminary tests. The performances of the three learning algorithms were compared by computer simulation. The effectiveness of the neural net controller in handling time-varying parameters and random noise is shown by a case study of the ROV system. >
Bargaining Piecemeal Or All At Once

Perfect-information, Rubinstein-style bargaining models are used to explore questions about multiple-issue bargaining – Is it ever sensible to offer on only a subset of the issues being bargained? What is the effect of limiting offers so that they must cover all issues? We conclude that in realistic settings the answer to the first question is yes and that restricting offers to those covering all issues may be harmful to one or both parties.
Homecare and Disease Prevention: Reviewing a Decade of Evolution - Privacy Still the Biggest Hurdle

Over a decade ago, while at the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR), now known as the Agency for Health Research and Quality (AHRQ), a vision was created by the author that projected two different concepts. One was the use of telemedicine in a homecare environment (in urban, suburban and rural areas) to offer particularly to the elderly population, suffering from a number of chronic conditions an environment which would allow to improve the quality of services while decreasing the costs of the (then and projected) "current" system. The second theme involved the potential use of genetic-related discoveries with personal health records for disease prevention purposes. While the homecare - telemedicine environment for the elderly with chronic diseases (has and) is evolving, the outcomes (cost and medical effectiveness) are not completely clear. The result is that what may be cost-effective in one country may not be in another one. The second premise, which involves the use of electronic health records, genetic discovery and intelligent agents, has moved much slower (if at all) than anticipated. In the US, at least, most of the barriers have been related to fears of privacy breaches. The combinations of Radio, Television, Computers and Telephones have become increasingly complex systems. These systems allow us to do a variety of actions that include: tele-banking, e commerce, tele-education, tele-work, tele-health, tele shopping, entertainment on demand, etc. In other words a family could stay home, get the food and water delivered, as well as any product bought from any store. While kids or adults could take courses at a distance, others in the family could tele-commute (i.e., work from home). A health care worker could visit any member of the family, or the family member could decide to visit specialist because of a specific condition/symptom or circumstance. So far, very few of these segments are interconnected and therefore most of these applications exist as silos. For example, many cable or satellite TV services have bidirectional communications. The services they provide today are multiple but mainly they have expanded the entertainment industry. The combination could result in a very powerful tool for the 21 century. The constant advancement in the areas of science and technology will allow us to reach new heights by helping humanity deal more effectively both medically and economically with all these diseases. A major challenge that we need to resolve is securing the privacy of the personal information
Linear Depolarization Ratios of Columnar Ice Crystals in a Deep Precipitating System over the Arctic Observed by Zenith-Pointing Ka-Band Doppler Radar

AbstractThis study demonstrates that linear depolarization ratio (LDR) values obtained from zenith-pointing Ka-band radar Doppler velocity spectra are sufficient for detecting columnar ice crystals. During a deep precipitating system over the Arctic on 7 December 2013, the radar recorded LDR values up to −15 dB at temperatures corresponding to the columnar ice crystal growth regime. These LDR values were also consistent with scattering calculations for columnar ice crystals. Enhancements in LDR were suppressed within precipitation fallstreaks because the enhanced LDR values of columnar ice crystals were masked by the returns from the particles within the fallstreaks. However, Doppler velocity spectra of LDR within the fallstreak distinguished populations of slower-falling particles with high LDR (>−15 dB) and faster-falling particles with much lower LDR, suggesting that columnar ice crystals with high LDR coexisted with larger isometric particles that produced low LDR while dominating the total copolar re...
THE FUTURES‘ MARKET AND FARM PROGRAMS

Government agriculture price support programs lead to inefficient allocation of resources, as well as highly inequitable rent returns to certain farm owners. At the same time, it is clear that society is not willing to leave the farmer to the vagaries of the market. This paper offers a suggestion for a Government support program that would not discriminate among farmers, and even more important, not discriminate among products, and at the same time minimize the disutility caused by the uncertainties of agricultural production.
A New Look at the Determinants of the Intrametropolitan Distribution of Population and Employment

In this paper we develop an econometric model that relates intra-urban employment and population distributions to a variety of explanatory factors. The geographical focus is on the United States. The results suggest that "housing costs and quality are the most important determinants of the population distribution which is the most important determinant of the employment distribution; however causation between population and employment runs both ways." (EXCERPT)
Dynamic scaling of the cluster‐size distribul nucleation: Precoalescence stages

The dynamic evolution of the cluster-size distribution (CSD) in the precoalescence stages of nucleation and growth for sizes within and beyond the nucleation barrier layer (NBL) has been obtained. The existence of several universal kinetic laws of nucleation is predicted. In the precoalescence stages of nucleation, the CSD for sizes within and beyond the NBL obeys dynamic scaling relations. In a range of sizes beyond the NBL, the CSD exhibits a universal power law behavior, the exponent of which depends only on the interphase monomer transfer mechanism. Based on the results for the CSD, a general foundation is developed for nucleation kinetic measurements including the determination of the nucleation barrier and the inter-facial monomer transport rate by measuring the CSD. A preliminary comparison with an experimental study confirms the predicted dynamic scaling and the power law behavior of the CSD in the early stages of nucleation and growth.
Design, fabrication, and assembly of a hollow-core fiber-based micro cryogenic cooler

One of the smallest Joule Thomson (J-T) micro cryogenic coolers (MCC) utilizing a hollow-core fiber-based heat exchanger (HX) is designed, fabricated, assembled and tested. Techniques that control mask material etching are developed to fabricate a multi-layer silicon structure on HX-coupling manifolds. A segmental metal coating is applied on the fibers and the capillary for solderable areas and reduced radiation and conduction heat transfer. With 16∶1 pressure ratio mixed refrigerants, a 140 K stable temperature and 76 K transient temperature at cold head are demonstrated.
A superexponential lower bound for Gro¨bner bases and church-Rosser Commutative Thue systems

The complexity of the normal form algorithms which transform a given polynomial ideal basis into a Grobner basis or a given commutative Thue system into a Church-Rosser system is presently unknown. In this paper we derive a double-exponential lower bound (2 2 n C ) for the production length and cardinality of Church-Rosser commutative Thue systems, and the degree and cardinality of Grobner bases.
A TECHNIQUE FOR COMPUTING SOJOURN TIMES IN LARGE NETWORKS OF INTERACTING QUEUES

Consider a large number of interacting queues with symmetric interactions. In the asymptotic limit, the interactions between any fixed finite subcollection become negligible, and the overall effect of interactions can be replaced by an empirical rate. The evolution of each queue is given by a time inhomogeneous Markov process. This may be considered a technique for writing dynamic Erlang fixed-point equations. We explore this as a tool to approximate sojourn time distributions.
Pittcon Conference and Expo 2011.

Pittcon is the world’s largest annual conference and exposition for laboratory science, organized by The Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy. This year, for the first time since 1997, Pittcon was held at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA, USA. The meeting that started as a humble gathering of analytical researchers more than six decades ago has become a central institution for an entire field. With more than 17,000 attendees from 90 countries, 1000 exhibitors and 2200 technical sessions on topics ranging from the latest techniques and applications in analytical chemistry and applied spectroscopy to emerging scientific disciplines such as nanotechnology, genomics, drug discovery and bioterrorism, Pittcon is a forum in which researchers and instrument manufacturers from around the globe can meet face-to-face. In addition, the conference offered a unique variety of courses ranging in length from half a day to 2 days. Many of this year’s presentations focused ...
Can a meniscus really regenerate so easily? A Level-I study says it can but not for everyone: Commentary on an article by C. Thomas Vangsness Jr., MD, et al.: "Adult human mesenchymal stem cells delivered via intra-articular injection to the knee following partial medial meniscectomy: a randomized, double-blind, controlled study".

Treatment options for meniscus pathology, or more specifically meniscal deficiency, are limited, with the primary focus being on meniscal preservation. Ever since 1948, when Fairbank1 introduced the concept of the post-meniscectomy knee, we have struggled to develop an improved treatment strategy for knees following a partial or complete meniscectomy. As the rate of meniscal injuries continues to rise, a high-level study on meniscal regeneration is timely. This randomized, double-blind, prospective study is one of few Level-I studies that has investigated treatments for meniscal deficiency and, to my knowledge, the only one to date to study meniscal regeneration following the injection of allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells into the knee following a subtotal meniscectomy. The authors’ objectives were to (1) study the safety of intra-articular injection of allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells into the knee joint, (2) determine the ability of mesenchymal stem cells to promote meniscus regeneration following a subtotal meniscectomy, and (3) report the effects on osteoarthritis in the knee joint following an injection of mesenchymal stem cells after a subtotal meniscectomy. Sixty adult patients from seven institutions were manually randomized to receive one of three different injections into the knee seven to ten days following a subtotal meniscectomy. The treatments were as follows: an injection of a low concentration of mesenchymal stem cells (50 million cells) suspended in hyaluronic acid, an injection of a high concentration of mesenchymal stem cells (150 million cells) suspended in hyaluronic acid, or a vehicle control of hyaluronic acid alone. Follow-up at the intervals of six weeks, six months, one year, and two years included clinical and safety evaluations, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and assessments of Lysholm knee scale scores and pain scores based on a visual analog scale (VAS). With respect to safety, there was no difference in minor or serious adverse events, …
REGULATORY ENTOMOLOGY AND BIOLOGICAL CONTROL: A TRIBUTE TO REECE SAILER

Dr. Reece I. Sailer joined the faculty of the Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences in early 1973, an opportune time to conduct biological control research (Fig. 1). He entered arguably the nations largest entomological community with a well-developed research and regulatory infrastructure. His research in insect biological control required taxonomists to provide authoritative identifications and an associated library, well-curated collections of specimens identified to species, and a secure building with limited access to contain exotic arthropods and arthropod pathogens. I committed my career to the creation of this kind of infrastructure for Florida and, with the help of a dedicated staff, obtained and managed many of the resources that supported Dr. Sailer. This work began 49 years ago, in July 1953, when I left the Entomology Department of the University of Florida and accepted a position as an Entomologist in the Entomology Bureau of the State Plant Board (SPB). I had been teaching biological control and apiculture, and was interested in insect taxonomy. Ed Ayers, the recently appointed Plant Commissioner, directed me to build an Entomology Bureau with an extensive insect collection and a regulatory capability second to no other state. Al-
Control of arousal through neuropeptide afferents of the locus coeruleus

The locus coeruleus-norepinephine (LC-NE) system is implicated in mediating several aspects of arousal. Alterations in LC neuronal discharge is associated with distinct changes in behavior, cognition, sensory processing and regulation of the sleep-wake cycle. Changes in LC output and subsequent release of NE in target brain regions help adjust arousal state to respond appropriately to environmental conditions and behavioral circumstances. One way in which LC activity is controlled is through release of endogenous neuropeptides. Based on the sleep-wake cycle and environmental cues specific neuropeptide afferent systems are activated, innervating the LC. These neuropeptides include: corticotropin releasing factor (CRF), orexin (ORX), endogenous opioids, substance P (SP), melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH), neuropeptide Y (NPY) and somatostatin (SS). This review summarizes studies examining the neuroanatomical projections of these neuropeptides, their receptors in the LC, the actions on LC neurons and downstream NE release, as well as the behavioral and cognitive effects associated individual neuropeptide-mediated innervation of the LC. Finally, the relationship between individual neuropeptides, the LC-NE system and various clinical disorders is discussed, providing evidence for possible therapeutic targets for treatment of several arousal- and stress-related disorders. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled SI: Noradrenergic System.
Lump-Sum Distributions: An Update

An advantage of defined contribution plans is that the benefits can be retained and continue to grow when an individual changes jobs because the account balances continue to receive investments returns. However, this advantage will result in increased retirement savings only if plan participants do not cash out the benefits prior to retirement. This article assesses the likelihood that lump-sum recipients will cash out their benefit. The data clearly show that a growing percentage of retirement plan participants are holding on to all or part of their lump-sum distributions and fewer are spending their distributions on consumption. However, it was also found that approximately two-thirds of those who took a lump-sum payment cashed out at least some of it. The article concludes that more education and incentives are needed to make employees understand the importance of retaining these assets for retirement.
Dual tobacco user subtypes in the U.S. Air Force: dependence, attitudes, and other correlates of use.

INTRODUCTION To describe the characteristics associated with patterns of daily and dual tobacco use among U.S. Air Force (USAF) personnel transitioning from basic military training to technical training. METHODS Cross-sectional survey of USAF personnel in Technical Training School at Lackland Air Force Base (N = 8,956, response rate: 73%). Logistic regression analyzed the association of predictor variables between daily smokers, daily smokeless tobacco (ST) users, daily smokers who used ST nondaily, daily ST users who smoked cigarettes nondaily, and daily users of both cigarettes and ST. RESULTS Compared to daily smokers, participants who were daily smokers/nondaily ST users were more likely to be male, would use ST and multiple forms of tobacco in the future, reported more friends using ST and cigarettes, and were more susceptible to tobacco advertising. Compared to daily ST users, daily ST users/nondaily cigarette users were more likely to live in the Midwest, would use multiple forms of tobacco in the future, reported more friends smoked cigarettes and used ST, and were more likely to try a product that claimed to be safer than cigarettes. Daily users of both cigarettes and ST were significantly more likely to be nicotine dependent than daily smokers/nondaily ST users and daily ST users/nondaily smokers. CONCLUSIONS Dual users are heterogeneous groups of tobacco users who are at high risk for continued tobacco use. Daily users of both cigarettes and ST have higher levels of nicotine dependence, even when compared to other dual users. Specific interventions targeted at dual users are needed in this increasingly prevalent and high-risk population.
Phase Coherent Extreme Ultraviolet Radiation

We demonstrate the first measurement of extreme ultraviolet radiation with long phase coherence times. We use a high power frequency comb to perform high harmonic generation in two independent femtosecond enhancement cavities to probe the obtainable coherence via a heterodyne beat.
Understanding responses to comedic advertising aggression: the role of vividness and gender identity

As the use of comedic aggression in advertising has become more frequent, questions about the boundary conditions of its effectiveness become more important. Issues related to the vividness of the aggression, unique audience responses, and legitimacy of the aggression are examined here as potential influences on the impact of comedic advertising aggression. Two experiments are reported that explore how reactions to comedic advertising aggression are influenced by components of vividness (concreteness – aggressive intensity, emotional interest – psychological distance), the audience's gender identity, and whether the aggression was provoked and justified. Feminine identity individuals in close psychological situations react quite negatively to advertising using the highest level of comedic aggression while masculine identity individuals actually prefer the most vivid aggression in some conditions. The response patterns become different for feminine and masculine identity individuals when the aggression is ...
War Crimes Tribunals

This article traces the history of war crimes tribunal work through the twentieth century. Particular attention is given to the International Military Tribunal in Nuremberg, to the ad hoc war crimes tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia, and to efforts to create a permanent International Criminal Court (ICC). The article closes with the suggestion of pressing issues for social science research.
Abstract 214: Multidisciplinary Approach to Improve Process Measures and Prevent Heart Failure Readmissions

Background: Approximately 5.2 million Americans have heart failure (HF). HF morbidity and mortality is high, and 27% of patients are readmitted at 1 month and 50% at six months. Objective: To deter...
Wearable nanosensor systems and their applications in healthcare

The development of intelligent miniaturized nano-bio-and info-tech based sensors capable of wireless communication will fundamentally change the way we monitor and treat patients with chronic disease and after surgery. These new sensors will allow the monitoring of the patients as they maintain their normal daily activities, and provide warning to healthcare workers when critical events arise. This will facilitate early discharge of patients from hospitals as well as providing reassurance to patients and family that potential problems will be detected at an early stage. The use of continuous monitoring allows both transient and progressive abnormalities to be reliably detected thus avoiding the problems of conventional diagnosis and monitoring methods where by data is captured only for a brief period during hospital/clinic visits. We have been working with a printable organic semiconductor and thin film transistor, and have fabricated and tested various biosensors that can measure important physiological signs before and after surgery. Integrated into "smart" fabrics - garments with wireless technology – and independent e-bandaid sensors, nanosensors in tattoos and socks, minimally invasive implantable devices, the sensor systems will be able to monitor a patient's condition in real time and thus provide point-of-care diagnostics to health-care professionals and greater freedom for patients.
Nucleic Acids and Nucleotides Studied Using Mass Spectrometry

The applications of mass spectrometry to the study of the structure and sequence information of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) and their building blocks (oligonucleotides) are surveyed. In addition, studies on individual nucleobases, nucleosides, and nucleotides are also covered. The main techniques used are electrospray ionization (ESI) and matrix-assisted laser desorption (MALDI).
Speech Motor Sequence Learning: Acquisition and Retention in Parkinson Disease and Normal Aging

Purpose The aim of the current investigation was to examine speech motor sequence learning in neurologically healthy younger adults, neurologically healthy older adults, and individuals with Parkin...
Matrix-free time-domain method for thermal analysis in unstructured meshes

The analysis of a multiphysics problem typically requires an efficient simulation of many types of partial differential equations (PDEs). In this paper, we demonstrate that the matrix-free time-domain method [1] recently developed for solving vector-based Maxwell's equations is equally applicable to solving the scalar thermal diffusion equation, in a matrix-solution free manner in arbitrary unstructured meshes. This is achieved by appending a direction to the original scalar-based temperature, and transforming the thermal equation to two equivalent vector equations to solve. Both 2- and 3-D thermal simulations have validated the correctness of the proposed method. The flexible framework of the matrix-free method also allows for an efficient solution of other types of PDEs.
Christopher R. Thompson, MD: Building a Better Future Through Forensic Psychiatry

“Pass me the dry wall and some nails.” One can imagine the young Christopher Thompson (“Kip,” as he is known to family and friends) hearing such a request from his father, who, in his spare time, undertook refurbishing old, broken-down properties. From the age of five, Kip was an important
Fuzzy Ontologies: State of the Art Revisited

Although ontologies have become the standard for representing knowledge on the Semantic Web, they have a primary limitation, the inability to represent vague and imprecise knowledge. Much research has been undertaken to extend ontologies with the means to overcome this and has resulted in numerous extensions from crisp ontologies to fuzzy ontologies. The original web ontology language, and tools were not designed to handle fuzzy information; therefore, additional research has focused on modifications to extend them. A review of the fuzzy extensions to allow fuzziness in ontologies, web languages, and tools as well as several very current examples of fuzzy ontologies in real-world applications is presented.
Mutagenesis-Enhancement by Plasmids in Mutagenesis Tester Strains

The plasmid pKM101 has played a very important role in the success of the Ames Salmonella test for carcinogens and mutagens. It was derived from the clinically isolated plasmid R46 by an in vivo deletion and confers upon its host both increased resistance to killing by UV irradiation and increased susceptibility to UV and chemical mutagenesis. pKM101 exerts its effects by coding for two genes mucA and mucB, which are analogs of the chromosomally-encoded genes umuD and umuC. The products of the umuD/C locus are required for UV and chemical mutagenesis. The mucA/B and umuD/C loci code for products of very similar molecular weight and the transcription organization of the two loci is identical. Expression of both the mucA/B and umuD/C loci is induced by DNA damage, and is regulated by the recA lexA control circuit.
THE EFFECT OF SOME SELECTED FACTORS ON THE COOLING OF FOOD UNDER REFRIGERATION1

The purpose of this investigation was to study the effect on refrigerator temperatures and on cooling times of white sauce placed under refrigeration by using still air and circulated air, by loading the refrigerator with varying amounts of sauce (8, 16, and 32 gal.), by distributing the load in various ways in the refrigerator (4 and 8 batches), and by placing the sauce in the refrigerator at two initial temperatures (140° and 80°F.). Results indicated that the refrigerator air temperatures and the total cooling times of the sauces were significantly influenced by the variables used in this investigation. When the air was circulated, the air temperature in the refrigerator was drastically reduced and the total cooling times were shortened. The larger total loads of sauce gave longer total cooling times; distribution of the sauce into numerous small batches gave more efficient cooling. When the sauce was pre-cooled the refrigerator air temperatures were lowered and total cooling times were shortened.