cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Limits of mass transfer enhancement in lithium bromide-water absorbers by active techniques

Abstract A model to predict the theoretical limits of mass transfer enhancement in a falling film absorber using LiBr aqueous solution has been developed and it provides a means of comparative absorber performance evaluation. During vapor absorption, the vapor- liquid interface becomes saturated immediately after it is exposed to vapor. Further absorption can only be sustained by mass diffusion and heat conduction into the fluid bulk, assuming a stationary interface. Due to the relatively small heat and mass diffusivities of LiBr aqueous solution, the mass absorption rates sustained by pure diffusion and conduction processes are small. To increase the mass absorption rates, mixing of the solution is favored. Therefore, every mass transfer enhancement technique, passive or active, consists of basically disturbing the film and causing mixing of the solution near the interface. The higher the mixing rate, the higher the mass absorption rate. To assess the effect of a mixed interface, a mathematical model is formulated. This model solves one-dimensional heat and mass differential equations coupled at the interface. An asymptote of the mass transfer rate as the mixing rate increases is derived. The model, which takes into account all relevant parameters such as temperatures, pressures, concentrations, mass flow rates, and geometry, is an ideal tool for rating absorber performance. Results show that, under typical operating conditions found in commercial chillers, the theoretically possible maximum mass absorption rate is 0.049 kg m2 · s−1, and that, at a mechanically feasible mixing frequency of 1000 Hz, a mass absorption rate of 0.0256 kg m2·s−1 is possible. The latter rate is about an order of magnitude larger than that found in commercial chillers.
The Influence of Parents' Marital Quality on Adult Children's Attitudes Toward Marriage and Its Alternatives: Main and Moderating Effects

Drawing on a panel study of parents and children, we investigate linkages between parents' marital quality and adult children's attitudes toward a range of family issues, including premarital sex, cohabitation, lifelong singlehood, and divorce. We hypothesize that parents' marital quality will be negatively related to children's support for these behaviors in adulthood and that parents' marital quality will condition the intergenerational transmission of attitudes toward these issues. We find some evidence that parents' marital quality influences children's support for divorce and premarital sex. More important, our analyses show that parents' marital quality facilitates the intergenerational transmission of attitudes. Parents' attitudes toward premarital sex, cohabitation, and being single are more strongly linked to those same attitudes among their young adult children when parents' marital quality is high than when it is low.
Antidepressants modulate the in vitro inhibitory effects of propofol and ketamine on norepinephrine and serotonin transporter function

Abstract Norepinephrine transporter (NET) and serotonin transporter (SERT) proteins regulate norepinephrine (NE) and serotonin via their reuptake function and are targets of antidepressants action. Several intravenous (IV) anesthetics have been shown to inhibit NET and SERT. The interactions between antidepressants and anesthetics on transporter function, however, are not well studied. We examined the effect of different IV anesthetics on NET and SERT function, with and without chronic antidepressant pretreatment, by measuring NE or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) uptake and determined NET and SERT protein expression via immunoblotting. Both ketamine and propofol inhibited NET dose-dependently (propofol 10 −4 M −22% ± 5.6%, and propofol 10 −3 M −35% ± 5.7%; ketamine 10 −4 M −23% ± 4.1% and ketamine 10 −3 M −73% ± 2.9%); and SERT (propofol 10 −4 M −11% ± 4.3% and propofol 10 −3 M −23% ± 3.8%; ketamine 10 −4 M −29% ± 5.2% and ketamine 10 −3 M −63% ± 6.4%). Etomidate and thiopental had no effect on either NET or SERT function. Desipramine and fluoxetine, specific inhibitors of NET and SERT, respectively, both enhanced the inhibitory effects of propofol but reduced the inhibitory effects of ketamine on NET and SERT functions. IV anesthetics treatment did not change transporter protein expression in the presence of its respective inhibitor. Our results demonstrate that both ketamine and propofol inhibited SERT and NET function, but the inhibition was differentially modulated by antidepressants. Therefore, in the clinical context, this would suggest that patients receiving antidepressant treatments might have altered response to IV anesthetics in an agent-specific manner.
Cost Comparison of Robotic, Laparoscopic, and Open Radical Prostatectomy for Prostate Cancer

Abstract Background Demand and utilization of minimally invasive approaches to radical prostatectomy have increased in recent years, but comparative studies on cost are lacking. Objective To compare costs associated with robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP), laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP), and open retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP). Design, setting, and participants The study included 643 consecutive patients who underwent radical prostatectomy (262 RALP, 220 LRP, and 161 RRP) between September 2003 and April 2008. Measurements Direct and component costs were compared. Costs were adjusted for changes over the time of the study. Results and limitations Disease characteristics (body mass index, preoperative prostate-specific antigen, prostate size, and Gleason sum score 8–10) were similar in the three groups. Nerve sparing was performed in 85% of RALP procedures, 96% of LRP procedures, and 90% of RRP procedures ( p p p p Conclusions RALP is associated with higher cost, predominantly due to increased surgical supply and OR costs. These costs may have a significant impact on overall cost of prostate cancer care.
Thermo-optic tuning and switching in SOI waveguide Fabry-Perot microcavities.

Compact silicon-on-insulator (SOI) waveguide thermo-optically tunable Fabry-Perot microcavities with silicon/air Bragg mirrors are demonstrated. Quality factors of Q=4,584 are measured with finesse F=82. Tuning is achieved by flowing current directly through the silicon cavity resulting in efficient thermo-optic tuning over 2 nm for less than 50 mW applied electrical power. The high-Q cavities enable fast switching (1.9 μs rise time) at low drive power (<10 mW). By overdriving the device, rise times of 640 ns are obtained. Various device improvements are discussed.
Booster engines derived from the Space Shuttle Main Engine

Current vehicle studies of post-Space Shuttle vehicles have identified the potential need for a high-pressure booster engine using liquid oxygen/hydrocarbon fuel (RP-1) as propellants. Recent studies of the possibility of using Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) components for a high pressure LOX/RP-1 engine have resulted in several engine configurations which are based largely on SSME components. The current SSME thrust chamber is regeneratively cooled with hydrogen using a relatively low percentage of the total hydrogen flow. For a LOX/RP-1 application the SSME thrust chamber can be run at high pressures and be cooled with a relatively low hydrogen flow. In addition, the SSME oxygen pump, valves, and main injector components may be utilized for the booster engine. By using a majority of the current SSME engine components for the LOX/RE-1 booster engine, engine development time and cost can be significantly reduced compared to the development of a new engine.
Daily, seasonal, and spatial trends in PM2.5 mass and composition in Southeast Texas

Daily, seasonal, and spatial trends in fine particulate matter concentrations, compositions, and size distributions were examined using data collected through the regulatory fine particulate matter monitoring network in Southeast Texas and during the Gulf Coast Aerosol Research and Characterization Study (GC-ARCH or Houston Supersite). PM2.5 mass concentrations and compositions are generally spatially homogeneous throughout Southeast Texas when averaged over annual or seasonal time periods. There is relatively little seasonality to mean total PM2.5 mass and mean PM2.5 composition throughout the region, although slightly higher concentrations of total mass tend to occur in the spring and late fall. High FRM PM2.5 mass (>20 μg/m3) occurs both when there is high spatial variability among sites and low spatial variability among sites. This suggests that both local and regional emission sources contribute to PM2.5 in Southeast Texas. Sulfate ion (32%), organic carbon (30%), and ammonium ion (9%) are the larges...
The response to endotoxin in guinea pigs after intravenous black currant seed oil.

The influence on the metabolic response to endotoxin of three days of total parenteral nutrition with lipids high in gammalinolenic acid (18:3 omega 6, GLA) compared to soy oil (SO) was examined in acute operatively stressed guinea pigs. GLA is the precursor of dihomogammalinolenic acid (DHLA), the substrate for synthesis of "1" series prostaglandins such as PGE1, which have previously been shown to be protective in endotoxin lung injury and traumatic shock. Guinea pigs fed an intravenous diet containing black currant seed oil (BCO) emulsion (20% GLA) or soy oil emulsion (0% GLA) for 2.5 days had their arterial pH, pCO2, pO2, and bicarbonate measured at baseline and hourly during a 7-hr infusion of endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide (LPS), 2mg/kg) or saline. Plasma lactate and fatty acid profile analyses were performed at the end of the LPS infusion. Increased levels of GLA and DHLA were present in the plasma phospholipid fraction of animals fed the black currant seed oil diet, while soy-fed animals had only trace amounts of GLA. In addition, the ratio of DHLA to arachidonate was higher in animals receiving the black currant seed oil total parenteral nutrition (TPN). After 2 hr of LPS infusion, all animals exhibited the typical shock response resulting in metabolic acidosis characterized by a significant (p less than 0.05) drop in pH from 7.34 +/- .02 (SO) and 7.39 +/- .02 (BCO) at baseline to 7.14 +/- .05 and 7.22 +/- .04 by 7 hr for SO and BCO groups, respectively. Plasma lactate values at the end of the infusion were significantly elevated compared to saline in both groups (p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The Effect of Malnutrition on Norovirus Infection

ABSTRACT Human noroviruses are the primary cause of severe childhood diarrhea in the United States, and they are of particular clinical importance in pediatric populations in the developing world. A major contributing factor to the general increased severity of infectious diseases in these regions is malnutrition—nutritional status shapes host immune responses and the composition of the host intestinal microbiota, both of which can influence the outcome of pathogenic infections. In terms of enteric norovirus infections, mucosal immunity and intestinal microbes are likely to contribute to the infection outcome in substantial ways. We probed these interactions using a murine model of malnutrition and murine norovirus infection. Our results reveal that malnutrition is associated with more severe norovirus infections as defined by weight loss, impaired control of norovirus infections, reduced antiviral antibody responses, loss of protective immunity, and enhanced viral evolution. Moreover, the microbiota is dramatically altered by malnutrition. Interestingly, murine norovirus infection also causes changes in the host microbial composition within the intestine but only in healthy mice. In fact, the infection-associated microbiota resembles the malnutrition-associated microbiota. Collectively, these findings represent an extensive characterization of a new malnutrition model of norovirus infection that will ultimately facilitate elucidation of the nutritionally regulated host parameters that predispose to more severe infections and impaired memory immune responses. In a broad sense, this model may provide insight into the reduced efficacy of oral vaccines in malnourished hosts and the potential for malnourished individuals to act as reservoirs of emergent virus strains. IMPORTANCE Malnourished children in developing countries are susceptible to more severe infections than their healthy counterparts, in particular enteric infections that cause diarrhea. In order to probe the effects of malnutrition on an enteric infection in a well-controlled system devoid of other environmental and genetic variability, we studied norovirus infection in a mouse model. We have revealed that malnourished mice develop more severe norovirus infections and they fail to mount effective memory immunity to a secondary challenge. This is of particular importance because malnourished children generally mount less effective immune responses to oral vaccines, and we can now use our new model system to probe the immunological basis of this impairment. We have also determined that noroviruses evolve more readily in the face of malnutrition. Finally, both norovirus infection and malnutrition independently alter the composition of the intestinal microbiota in substantial and overlapping ways.
Theoretical analysis of gramicidin A transmembrane channel. II. Energetics of helical librational states of the channel

The degrees of conformational freedom of poly L–D β-helical chain are analyzed consistent with the helical parameters of gramicidin A structure. From conformational energy calculations, “helical librations” that can be sustained by this structure are described and the energy of libration as a function of the cavity size is presented. Two different modes of conformational change are identified corresponding to librations of all L–D-peptide units or all D–L-peptide units while retaining the helical parameters. Such helical librations are considered relative to conformational perturbations due to the presence of an ion in the channel.
The Ontogenetic Selection of Verbal Capabilities: Contributions of Skinner's Verbal Behavior Theory to a More Comprehensive Understanding of Language

I describe how Skinner’s (1957) Verbal Behavior and subsequent research that extended his theory contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of language with regard to the ontogenetic selection of verbal behavior. A large corpus of research has shown the applied utility of the theory for inducing verbal behavior in children missing certain verbal capabilities and developmental cusps. Other related work on Relational Frame theory, Naming theory, and Stimulus Equivalence provided the basis for identifying verbal developmental cusps and capabilities. Evidence on the initial independence of the speaker and listener, and research identifying the experiences that lead to the joining of the speaker and listener within the skin, suggests an empirically based theory of verbal development. This work identifies the preverbal foundations, the speaker and listener components and the experiences that lead to the capability for learning language incidentally and productive language. The growing evidence on the ontogenetic sources of language and its development in children complements the work of other scholarship in language and provides neuroscience with better tools to validate the relation between brain activity and the effects of experience.
PURIFICATION AND PARTIAL CHARACTERIZATION OF WHITE KIDNEY BEAN (PHASEOLUS VULGARIS)β‐AMYLASE INHIBITORS FROM TWO EXPERIMENTAL CULTIVARS

β-Amylase inhibitors WKB 858B and WKB 858B were purified to homogeneity from different cultivars of white kidney beans by extraction from the ground beans and by sequential heat treatment, ethanol fractionation, DEAE-cellulose chromatography, Sephadex G-75 gel chromatography and CM-cellulose chromatography. The inhibitors were homogeneous by 7.5% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; no isoinhibitors were found. Inhibitors WKB 858A and WKB 858B had isoelectric points of 5.0 and 4.65, respectively, and molecular weights of 42,000 and 20,000, respectively, by FPLC Superose 12 gel filtration chromatography. Inhibitor WKB 858A had molecular weights of 40,000 and 38,000 by Sephadex G-75 gel filtration chromatography and by native gel electrophoresis, respectively. Inhibitor WKB 858A contained 11.0% carbohydrate, N-linked to asparagine residues, with a composition of 1 fucose, 1 xylose, 4 galactose, 8 N-acetylglycosamine and 13 mannose residues per mol of inhibitor. Amino acid analysis of Inhibitor WKB 858A gave a high content of Asx, Glx, Ser, Thr and Val (combined total of 60% molar ratio) and low content of sulfur amino acids (0.8% molar ratio of Met and no 1/2 cystine). No-SH groups were found. The amino acid composition was similar to that of eight other a-amylase inhibitors from beans. Inhibitor WKB 858A formed a 1:1 stoichiometric complex with porcine pancreatic a-amylase with a Ki of 1.0 × 10−11 M at pH 5.4 and 30C; it had no trypsin inhibitory activity. At pH 6.90 and 30C, the rate of complex formation between Inhibitor WKB 858A and porcine pancreatic β-amylase was 2.76 times faster at 1.385 vs 0.035 ionic strength (with Na2SO4), indicating hydrophobic bonds are most important in complex formation.
Toughening of an Alumina—Mullite Composite by Unbroken Bridging Elements

The toughness-curve (T-curve) behavior of a composite that is composed of 30 vol% spherical, polycrystalline, fine-grained alumina agglomerates dispersed throughout a constant-toughness 50-vol%-alumina—50-vol%-mullite matrix was compared to that for a coarse-grained agglomerate version of the composite, with the intent of identifying the operative toughening mechanisms in the latter. The T-curve behavior was evaluated using the indentation-strength method, and the underlying T-curves were deconvoluted from experimental data using an indentation-fracture-mechanics model. Compared to the T-curve of the coarse-grained composite, the toughness of the “fine-grained” composite increased from a similar initial toughness and over a similar crack-length range but to a lower saturation value. The T-curve of the fine-grained composite can be explained as being derived predominantly from unbroken bridging elements in the crack wake, set up by agglomerate-induced crack-path deflections in the matrix. This mechanism is proposed to function to the same degree and account for the majority of the observed toughening in the coarse-grained composite, with the remaining toughening increment being derived from intra-agglomerate grain bridging. Calculations suggest that unbroken bridging elements do not behave as simple elastic cantilevered beams that bend uniaxially with increasing crack-opening displacement.
The Seeds of Spatial Grammar in the Manual Modality

Sign languages modulate the production of signs in space and use this spatial modulation to refer back to entities—to maintain coreference. We ask here whether spatial modulation is so fundamental to language in the manual modality that it will be invented by individuals asked to create gestures on the spot. English speakers were asked to describe vignettes under 2 conditions: using gesture without speech, and using speech with spontaneous gestures. When using gesture alone, adults placed gestures for particular entities in non-neutral locations and then used those locations to refer back to the entities. When using gesture plus speech, adults also produced gestures in non-neutral locations but used the locations coreferentially far less often. When gesture is forced to take on the full burden of communication, it exploits space for coreference. Coreference thus appears to be a resilient property of language, likely to emerge in communication systems no matter how simple.
Population-Based Assessment of Surgical Treatment Trends for Patients With Melanoma in the Era of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy

Purpose The surgical staging of melanoma dramatically changed with the introduction of sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy. In this study, Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data were examined to determine how surgical treatment is being carried out and whether SLN biopsy is being performed in melanoma patients in conformance with National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines. Patients and Methods The SEER database (1998 to 2001) was searched for all patients with invasive melanoma. NCCN guidelines were used to define optimal stage-specific surgical treatment. Treatment trends in patients with stages I to III disease were summarized, and multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors associated with nonadherence with treatment guidelines. Results A total of 21,867 melanoma patients were identified; 18,499 of these patients met the inclusion criteria. The number of patients diagnosed with stage III melanoma increased by 55.7% over the study period, and this corresponded to ...
Ancient Geomagnetic Field Intensities‐II Geological Data: Sets G1‐G21 Historic and Archeological Data: H10‐H13*

Summary The accompanying tables contain all geological field intensity data known to the author in 1967 June together with additional historic and archeomagnetic data made available since the previous list was prepared (Smith 1967c). As before, historic and archeological time has been defined as the past 10000 years.
Shifting Boundaries within Second-Generation Korean American Churches

This study, based on 108 interviews and participant observation at 22 churches, examines the tension among newly formed second-generation Korean American churches in Los Angeles over its ethnic boundaries. Although all of the newly formed churches are open to non-Koreans, not all envision or desire a multiracial church. First, some pastors want their churches to remain predominately Korean American because they believe that the church is the main institution responsible for preserving the Korean culture and passing it down to subsequent generations. Others want to stretch their boundaries to include all Asian Americans. They argue that the similarities in life experiences and cultural orientation, largely derived by their shared status as children of immigrants and as racial minorities in the United States, among different Asian American groups serve as the common denominator. Finally, several pastors are determined to transform their churches into multiracial congregations. Documenting the current stage of experimentation and transition, this study of second-generation churches provides important insights on the role of religion and religious organizations in immigrant adaptation and identity formation.
Decline of U.S. student enrollment in computer science programs

This paper will examine the graduation rate of U.S. citizens who are undergraduate computer science majors and the potential impact on hiring in the United States. Between the years of 1997 and 2006, the graduation rate peaked in 2004 and declined through 2006. Although there are indications, which reflect in recent years enrollment is up for those who intend to major in computer science the actual number of those who are graduating is at risk and remains low.
Hereditary angiodema : a current state-of-the-art review, IV: short-and long-term treatment of hereditary angioedema: out with the old and in with the new?

Objective To provide a context to understand the opportunity for novel therapeutic modalities to transform the treatment of hereditary angioedema (HAE). Data Sources MEDLINE and PubMed were searched to identify studies involving current treatment of HAE in the United States. Study Selection Studies were selected based on their relevance to the treatment of HAE. Results The current HAE treatment strategy is far from satisfactory, and its limitations create an unmet clinical need. Current prophylactic treatment exposes patients with HAE to significant risk of adverse effects, and the efficacy of prophylactic treatment, although generally good, is far from perfect. Conclusions No specific treatment is currently available in the United States for acute HAE attacks that will reliably work, resulting in a significant unmet clinical need. The emergence of several promising drugs for the treatment of HAE attacks is, thus, an extraordinarily important development in the management of these patients.
Systemic Interleukin 2 Therapy for Human Prostate Tumors in a Nude Mouse Model

Once the regional lymph nodes become involved in prostate carcinoma, 85% of patients develop distant metastases within 5 years, and metastatic disease is difficult to treat. We have investigated the effect of systemic interleukin 2 (IL-2) treatment on metastatic prostate carcinoma using a xenograft tumor model. Cells from a PC-3/IF cell line, produced by intrafemoral injection of human PC-3 prostate carcinoma cells, were injected in the prostate of Balb/c nude mice. Prostate tumors and para-aortic lymph nodes were resected, and tumor cells were recultured and passaged in the prostate in vivo to produce new cell lines. On day 6 following prostatic injection of these cell lines, mice were treated with i.p. injections of IL-2 at 25,000-50,000 units/ day for 5 consecutive days. The effect of IL-2 on tumor progression was assessed, and histological studies were performed on prostate tumor and lymph node sections. The tumor cell lines generated by serial prostate injection were tumorigenic and metastasized to regional para-aortic lymph nodes. Tumors of 0.4 cm were obtained by day 16 and grew to 1-1.5 cm by day 40 with metastasis to para-aortic lymph nodes. Following two to three weekly courses of 5 days of 25,000-40,000 units/day of IL-2, the growth of prostate tumors was inhibited by 94%. Higher doses of 50,000 units/ day were toxic. Histologically, prostate sections showed vascular damage manifested by multifocal hemorrhages and an influx of lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear cells into disintegrating tumors and areas of necrosis containing numerous apoptotic cells. In contrast to control mice, para-aortic lymph nodes were not enlarged in responding mice. These findings suggest that systemic IL-2 therapy can induce an antitumor response in prostate tumors and control their growth and metastasis.
Comparison of artificial urinary sphincter and collagen for the treatment of postprostatectomy incontinence.

Objectives. To compare how urinary symptoms affect the quality of life in groups of men with postprostatectomy incontinence treated with collagen versus artificial urinary sphincter implantation. Methods. Two cohorts of men, one which received urethral collagen injection and one artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) implantation, were surveyed with a validated quality-of-life questionnaire to assess how their urinary dysfunction impacted their daily activities. The mean impact score and bother score for the two groups were compared. In addition, the overall degree of continence between the groups was assessed. Results. At a mean follow-up of 19 months, 8 (20%) of 41 patients treated with collagen injections were at least socially continent, requiring one pad daily or less. In comparison, 27 (75%) of 36 men treated with an AUS were at least socially continent (P <0.001). Both the impact score and the bother score from the quality-of-life questionnaire were significantly lower in the group treated with the AUS than in the group treated with collagen. Conclusions. Patients receiving an AUS achieved significantly higher continence rates. Also, the quality of life of men treated with an AUS was improved compared with that of the men treated with collagen injection.
A Comparison of Amplitude-Based and Phase-Based Positron Emission Tomography Gating Algorithms for Segmentation of Internal Target Volumes of Tumors Subject to Respiratory Motion

Purpose To quantitatively compare the accuracy of tumor volume segmentation in amplitude-based and phase-based respiratory gating algorithms in respiratory-correlated positron emission tomography (PET). Methods and Materials List-mode fluorodeoxyglucose-PET data was acquired for 10 patients with a total of 12 fluorodeoxyglucose-avid tumors and 9 lymph nodes. Additionally, a phantom experiment was performed in which 4 plastic butyrate spheres with inner diameters ranging from 1 to 4 cm were imaged as they underwent 1-dimensional motion based on 2 measured patient breathing trajectories. PET list-mode data were gated into 8 bins using 2 amplitude-based (equal amplitude bins [A1] and equal counts per bin [A2]) and 2 temporal phase-based gating algorithms. Gated images were segmented using a commercially available gradient-based technique and a fixed 40% threshold of maximum uptake. Internal target volumes (ITVs) were generated by taking the union of all 8 contours per gated image. Segmented phantom ITVs were compared with their respective ground-truth ITVs, defined as the volume subtended by the tumor model positions covering 99% of breathing amplitude. Superior-inferior distances between sphere centroids in the end-inhale and end-exhale phases were also calculated. Results Tumor ITVs from amplitude-based methods were significantly larger than those from temporal-based techniques ( P =.002). For lymph nodes, A2 resulted in ITVs that were significantly larger than either of the temporal-based techniques ( P P =.002). No significant difference was shown between algorithms in the 1-cm sphere data set. For phantom spheres, amplitude-based methods recovered an average of 9.5% more motion displacement than temporal-based methods under regular breathing conditions and an average of 45.7% more in the presence of baseline drift ( P Conclusions Target volumes in images generated from amplitude-based gating are larger and more accurate, at levels that are potentially clinically significant, compared with those from temporal phase-based gating.
Demonstration of a Flow-Through Micro-PCR in an Annular Pyrex Channel

A device is presented that demonstrates the feasibility of performing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) DNA amplification in an annular channel. A known temperature and time profile for non-pathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) amplification is used, but the design can accommodate the amplification of any genetic sample. Design parameters were established from the requirements for PCR amplification. These were then used to develop computer simulations using ANSYS software. The results from the simulations are used to create a relatively large testing device to confirm the model. Once experimentally verified, a similar model will be used to design a more compact, hand-held micro total analysis system (mu-TAS). Initial results from computer models indicate that an annular design micro-PCR is capable of maintaining three distinct temperature zones. The time required to bring the device from room temperature to operating temperature was found to be approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes using operating powers for the heaters. The presented device had an annulus with a diameter of 3.81 cm. Preliminary results for smaller dimensions indicate that the temperatures can also be maintained for smaller sizes but may require active cooling.
Applying an Information Problem-solving Model to Academic Reference Work: Findings and Implications

The usefulness of the Eisenberg–Berkowitz Information Problem-Solving model as a useful categorization for academic reference encounters is examined. Major trends in the data include a high proportion of questions about location and access of sources, a lack of synthesis or production activities, and a consistent presence of system problems (such as hardware problems) that impede the information-seeking process. The implications of these trends for the reference process, librarian training, and campus organization are discussed.
The impact of sex on brain responses to smoking cues: a perfusion fMRI study.

Anecdotal and clinical theories purport that females are more responsive to smoking cues, yet few objective, neurophysiological examinations of these theories have been conducted. The current study examines the impact of sex on brain responses to smoking cues. Fifty-one (31 males) cigarette-dependent sated smokers underwent pseudo- continuous arterial spin-labeled perfusion functional magnetic resonance imaging during exposure to visual smoking cues and non-smoking cues. Brain responses to smoking cues relative to non-smoking cues were examined within males and females separately and then compared between males and females. Cigarettes smoked per day was included in analyses as a covariate. Both males and females showed increased responses to smoking cues compared to non-smoking cues with males exhibiting increased medial orbitofrontal cortex and ventral striatum/ventral pallidum responses, and females showing increased medial orbitofrontal cortex responses. Direct comparisons between male and female brain responses revealed that males showed greater bilateral hippocampal/amygdala activation to smoking cues relative to non-smoking cues. Males and females exhibit similar responses to smoking cues relative to non-smoking cues in a priori reward-related regions; however, direct comparisons between sexes indicate that smoking cues evoke greater bilateral hippocampal/amygdalar activation among males. Given the current literature on sex differences in smoking cue neural activity is sparse and incomplete, these results contribute to our knowledge of the neurobiological underpinnings of drug cue reactivity.
Flexible shear stress sensor skin for aerodynamics applications

Packaging for a large distributed sensing system is a challenging topic. Using flexible skin technology solves many of these problems. Combining with the newly developed backside contact technique, sensor packaging is made even easier by completely avoiding the fragile bonding wires. This paper describes the improved flexible MEMS technology and its application to the fabrication and packaging of practical shear stress sensor skins. An airflow separation detection system including these skins, MOSIS bias circuits and a data acquisition unit has been successfully tested in windtunnel and is being used for the aerodynamic study of a MEMS controlled super-maneuverable low-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
Texas Borderland Community Colleges and Views regarding Undocumented Students: A Qualitative Study

In this study, these researchers explored Texas borderland community colleges' institutional policies and factors impacting the access, retention, and educational achievement of undocumented students. Exploratory case studies were conducted on three Texas borderland community colleges in an effort to uncover emergent themes and constructs involving the education of undocumented students. Interview sessions, both semi-structured and structured, were the instrumentation techniques used to capture data. Coding and categorizing of data, followed by an analysis of themes and patterns, assisted in understanding the perceived roles and responsibilities of Texas borderland community colleges in educating undocumented students. Implications of these findings are discussed and suggestions for future research are made.
Angiotensin type 1 receptor blockade prevents endocardial dysfunction of rapidly paced atria in rats.

Introduction. Atrial fibrillation (AF) per se causes atrial endocardial dysfunction leading to local coagulation imbalance on the internal surface of the atrium, which contributes to thrombus formation in the fibrillating left atrium. Materials and methods. To test a hypothesis that blockade of angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1-receptor) prevents the endocardial dysfunction by AF, we examined the effects of olmesartan on the expression of tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI), thrombomodulin (TM), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in the endocardium of the rapidly paced rat atria. Results. Rapid pacing induced a significant decrease in TFPI,TM and eNOS and an increase in PAI-1 protein in the left atrium. Pre-administration of low-dose olmesartan significantly prevented the down-regulation of TFPI,TM and eNOS and also attenuated the up-regulation of PAI-1. Immunohistochemistry identified these changes predominantly in the atrial endocardium.While the drug was without any effect on mRNA levels of TFPI,TM and eNOS, there was a significant decrease in its PAI-1 mRNA expression. Conclusions. AT 1-receptor blocker could partially prevent the atrial endocardial dysfunction by rapid atrial pacing, which would provide one theoretical basis for beneficial effects for stroke prevention in AF.
Dynamic Markov Model for reliability evaluation of power electronic systems

In this paper, existing methods for reliability evaluation of power electronic systems at system level are reviewed. Then Dynamic Markov Model (DMM) for reliability evaluation of power electronic system is proposed to solve the shortcomings associated with the existing methods. In order to show the effectiveness of the proposed method, reliability of a Boost Power Factor Correction (PFC) circuit is evaluated. To show the advantage of the proposed method, DMM is compared with the conventional Markov model. Based on the comparison results it is shown that DMM can result in a more trustable metric value for reliability of the system.
A partial adjustment model with rational expectations applied to the goat sector in Greece

In this paper an attempt is made to examine the rational expectations hypothesis for the goat-meat sector in Greece within the framework of a single equation method that describes the factors affecting demand and supply. The structural equations of the model are estimated by applying the Cochrane-Orcutt technique. The calculated elasticities suggest that Greek goat producers should pay more attention to milk rather than meat production. Statistical indications also confirm the effects of the Chernobyl accident upon the goat sector. Moreover, the forecasting ability of the model has been tested using simulation procedures, which indicate a small deviation between theoretical and observed values. Finally, some further implications concerning the goat sector are drawn from this analysis.
Oncocytic biliary cystadenocarcinoma: a case report and review of the literature.

Abstract We report an unusual case of biliary cystadenocarcinoma with oncocytic differentiation. The patient was a 43-year-old woman who presented with right upper quadrant pain. Imaging revealed a 16 × 10 × 10-cm, heterogenous, right hepatic mass with extension into the right atrium. Surgical resection revealed a papillary neoplasm of malignant cells with atypical hyperchromatic nuclei and prominent nucleoli lining fibrovascular cores. Mesenchymal stroma was not present. The majority of the epithelial cells had abundant eosinophilic granular cytoplasm, consistent with oncocytic differentiation. There was extensive stromal and hepatic parenchymal invasion. Immunohistochemical staining revealed a “biliary pattern” of cytokeratin subset immunoreactivity, with positivity for cytokeratin 7 and an absence of staining with cytokeratin 20. The tumor was negative for mucin, carcinoembryonic antigen, α-fetoprotein, calretinin, CD31, and chromogranin. There was granular cytoplasmic staining with phosphotungstic aci...
Duality and noncommutative gauge theory

We study the generalization of S duality to noncommutative gauge theories. For rank-1 theories, we obtain the leading terms of the dual theory by Legendre transforming the Lagrangian of the noncommutative theory expressed in terms of a commutative gauge field. The dual description is weakly coupled when the original theory is strongly coupled if we appropriately scale the noncommutativity parameter. However, the dual theory appears to be noncommutative in space-time when the original theory is noncommutative in space. This suggests that locality in time for noncommutative theories is an artifact of perturbation theory.
Patterns of Global Gender Inequalities and Regional Gender Regimes

This article draws on data from various sources for 190 developed and developing nations and uses them to examine gender regimes, or forms of patriarchal structures, at the regional level. I argue for multiple, rather than single, measures of gender inequality and illustrate that using many inequality measures exposes a wider range of outcomes within the Global South than the North, also suggesting the inefficacy of this geographic dichotomy. Then I re-examine the outcomes with nations grouped into seven regions, showing that each region has different variables that define their gender inequalities. Finally, I link gendered social institutions (e.g., laws on violence/physical integrity, family codes, civil liberties, and ownership rights) and implicitly gendered political-economic structures (e.g., IMF debt, armed conflict, ever having been a colony, and electoral democracy) to gender-inequitable outcomes in six regions to reveal three different gender regimes across the regions.
The Undocumented Everyday: Migrant Rights and Visual Strategies in the work of Alex Rivera

This essay focusses on two music videos that filmmaker Alex Rivera directed in conjunction with the #Not1More campaign of the National Day Labor Organizing Network (NDLON). In creating these music videos, Rivera uses visual strategies to portray the “undocumented everyday,” which involves the documentation of the mundane details of existence, such as representation of the indispensability of undocumented Latina/o migrants to everyday economies in the United States.
Cleveland Center Airspace Redesign Analysis

The sectors of Cleveland Air Route Traffic Control Center wereredesigned in 2011 in response to changes in air traffic patterns and volume. This paper presents an analysis of that redesign by contrasting the performance of the old design to the new one using historical traffic from the summer of 2010. Multiple workloadfactors are measured for each sector including one called sector loading, which is the sector’s peak aircraft count over a 15-minute time interval divided by the sector’s capacity, as specified by its Monitor Alert Parameter value. Other factors, like the number of flights near sector boundaries, are used to measure specific controller tasks that contribute to overall workload. Several of the design changes involved splitting busy sectors and combining under-utilized sectors to address traffic load imbalances. By comparing the distributions of these workload factors, the majority of these changes are shown to make the workload in the new sectors more consistent with that of other sectors in the vicinity. Furthermore, many of the changes are shown to improve the balance of workload within areas of specialization.
Reduction of Transportation Greenhouse Gas Emissions to Mitigate Climate Change Impacts

Weather affects almost all modes of transportation in a modern society, and likewise, transportation has an enormous impact on the weather. Transportation greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) impact climate change, which impacts transportation in return. Reduction of transportation impacts on climate change can mitigate the reverse climate change impacts on transportation. This paper examines the relationship between transportation and climate change and establishes prospective solutions to reduce transportation greenhouse gas emission impacts on climate change and mitigate the reverse climate change impacts on transportation.
The ZDS1 and ZDS2 proteins require the Sir3p component of yeast silent chromatin to enhance the stability of short linear centromeric plasmids.

Yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) clones of Saccharomyces cerevisiae containing a centromere, origin of replication, two telomeres and a >50 kb insert of DNA are maintained as normal yeast chromosomes. However, short linear centromeric plasmids of 10–15 kb in size (short YACs) are missegregated at a much higher frequency than long YACs or 10–15 kb circular centromeric plasmids. A search for genes that stabilized short linear centromeric plasmids when present in multiple copies per cell uncovered ZDS1, which reduced the rate at which cells lost the short YAC, increased the fraction of cells that maintained the short YAC and decreased the number of short YACs per cell. Multiple copies of ZDS2, a homolog of ZDS1, had similar effects. Genes near yeast telomeres are transcriptionally silenced by the recruitment of proteins encoded by the SIR2, SIR3 and SIR4 genes (Sir2p, Sir3p and Sir4p). Multiple copies of ZDS1 and ZDS2 caused an increase in telomeric silencing. In addition, ZDS1 and ZDS2 both required the open reading frame encoding the N-terminal 174 amino acids of Sir3p to stabilize short YACs. Thus, the short YAC stability assay revealed a silencing-independent function for the Sir3p N-terminus. Two-hybrid analysis indicated that Zds1p and Zds2p interact with Sir2p, Sir3p, Sir4p or the yeast telomere binding protein Rap1p. Deletion of both ZDS1 and ZDS2 made short YACs, but not a 100 kb YAC, extremely unstable and also caused a 70 bp increase in the length of the telomeric TG1–3 repeats. These data indicate that short YACs can be stabilized by trans-acting factors and suggest that the proteins encoded by ZDS1 and ZDS2 alter short YAC stability by interacting with proteins that function at the telomere.
KINEMATIC MODELS OF FLUVIAL TERRACES OVER ACTIVE FAULT-RELATED FOLDS: CONSTRAINTS ON THE GROWTH MECHANISM AND KINEMATICS

Fluvial terraces, like growth strata, provide geomorphic markers that can record progressive deformation and mechanisms on underlying fault-related folds. Because terraces are generally preserved within the pre-growth strata, they record the deformation mechanism in the core of the fold. To explore the fold evolution and subsequent geometry of deformed terraces, we present ideal kinematic models for successively emplaced horizontal unconformities (terraces) across pre-growth strata in three types of growing fault-related fold. Three common mechanisms for fold growth are considered: hinge migration (Limb-lengthening), limb rotation, and a combination of the two. Both angular-hinge and curved-hinge zone migration are considered. Each model predicts distinct terrace architecture, fold scarps, and different angular relationships between the terraces and the pre-growth strata.Limb-lengthening fault-bend fold results in self-similar growth, marked by parallel pre-growth and terrace strath orientations across much of the fold, and steeply dipping asymmetric fold scarps along the fold's flanks.Limb-lengthening fault-propagation fold models result in self-similar growth parallel terraces, and step fold scarps in the back limb. Deformation by limb rotation detachment fold is marked by progressively less tilted terraces across the limbs and symmetric fold scarps along the fold's flanks.Migration of an angular hinge of detachment fold results in parallel, uplifted terraces in the core and steeply dipping symmetric fold scarps along the fold's flanks. When limb rotation and hinge migration are combined, the terrace architecture is consistent with the kinematics of each kink panel.The result of limb lengthening by migration of a curved hinge is dependent on the width of the curved hinge.If the hinge is wide and terrace abandonment is frequent compared to the migration rate, fanning terraces and fold scarps result. In additional, changes in base level have significant effects on the final terrace geometry. Uniform incision along the river profile results in an apparent uplift of the older terraces, while aggradation will cause older terraces to truncate into the less tilted, younger terraces.