cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rheological properties of pasta dough during pasta extrusion: Effect of moisture and dough formulation

Abstract A study was conducted to investigate the effect of dough formulation and hydration level on the rheological properties of pasta dough during pasta extrusion. Semolina 100%, whole wheat 100%, and the following mixtures semolina-whole wheat (49:51), semolina-flaxseed flour (90:10), whole wheat-flaxseed flour (90:10), and semolina-whole wheat-flaxseed flour (39:51:10) were the formulations used for the experiments. Dough was hydrated at 30, 32, and 34% moisture content. Pasta was extruded with a capillary and a semi-commercial pasta extruder to determine the apparent viscosity of the dough during extrusion conditions and its relationship to the behavior of the dough during pasta processing. Results showed that non-traditional pasta dough behaved like a shear thinning fluid that can be described by the Power Law model. Increased hydration levels and/or presence of flaxseed flour on the dough formulation decreased the apparent viscosity of the dough, which correlated with extrusion pressure, mechanical energy, and specific mechanical energy that were required to extrude the dough in the pasta extruder. The strong correlations found between the apparent viscosity of the dough and the pasta extrusion parameters indicates the possibility of using a capillary rheometer to determine the appropriate hydration level of ingredient formulations before extruding with a pasta press.
Studies with recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae CaaX prenyl protease Rce1p.

Eukaryotic proteins with carboxyl-terminal CaaX motifs undergo three post-translational processing reactionsprotein prenylation, endoproteolysis, and carboxymethylation. Two genes in yeast encoding...
Recovering the Shape of Polyhedra Using Line-Drawing Analysis and Complex Reflectance Models

Following K. Sugihara (Artif. Intell.23, 1984, 59?95), we represent the geometric constraints imposed by the line-drawing of a polyhedron as a set of linear equalities and inequalities. Unlike him, we explicitly take into account the uncertainty in vertex position. This allows us to circumvent the superstrictness of the constraints without deleting any of them. For a given error bound, deciding whether a line-drawing is the correct projection of a polyhedron is reduced to linear programming, and 3D shape recovery is reduced to optimization under linear constraints. Our method can be used for recovering the shape of any polyhedral object whose reflectance can be modelled accurately. We have implemented it for the following reflectance models: the Lambertian model, a Lambertian model with interreflections, and a reflectance model for specular objects. We present results obtained using real images.
SYSTEMIC AND CEREBROVASCULAR HEMODYNAMIC AND METABOLIC EFFECTS OF CONTINUOUS INFUSION MORPHINE SULPHATE (MS) IN NEWBORN PIGLETS |[diams]| 331

MS is commonly used in neonatal and pediatric intensive care patients for analgesia and sedation. MS has been shown to attenuate and/or abolish metabolic and endocrine responses to pain and stress. The systemic and cerebrovascular effects of continuous infusion of therapeutic doses of MS was investigated in 1-3 day old newborn piglets post-surgical instrumentation. The study piglets were given 100μg/kg MS over 5 minutes followed by a continuous infusion of MS at 100μg/kg/hr for 4 hours. The control animals received equivalent volume bolus and infusion of 5% dextrose. Blood samples from the sagittal sinus vein and femoral artery were collected at baseline(0), at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, and 4 hours of infusion, and for 2 hours post infusion, for the determination of pH and respiratory gases. Hemodynamic parameters were recorded at the same time intervals. Compared to baseline (BL), the study piglets had significantly higher respiratory rates(p<0.05-p<0.01) during the MS infusion and 2 hours post infusion. They also had significantly higher(p<0.05-p<0.01) systemic mean arterial blood pressure during and post infusion. Compared to control animals, the MS group exhibited significantly lower (p<0.05-p<0.01) fractional oxygen extraction [C(a-v)O2/CaO2] by the brain while systemic PaO2 and O2 content (CaO2) remained unchanged from BL and compared the control group. In the MS group, mean sagittal sinus vein BP increased significantly (p<0.05-p<0.01) compared to BL and to the control group during, and at 1 hour post infusion. Although sagittal sinus vein PO2 remained unchanged from the BL in both MS and control groups, sagittal sinus vein PO2 was significantly higher(p<0.05-p<0.01) in the MS group during and post infusion compared to the control group. This study shows that continuous infusion of therapeutic doses of MS in the newborn piglet has both hemodynamic and metabolic effects. These effects may be due to increased vascular resistance and possible changes in brain blood flow and metabolism.
The effects of subanesthetic ketamine infusions on motivation to quit and cue-induced craving in cocaine-dependent research volunteers.

Background Cocaine dependence involves problematic neuroadaptations that might be responsive to modulation of glutamatergic circuits. This investigation examined the effects of subanesthetic ketamine infusions on motivation for quitting cocaine and on cue-induced craving in cocaine-dependent participants, 24 hours postinfusion. Methods Eight volunteers with active DSM-IV cocaine dependence not seeking treatment or abstinence were entered into this crossover, double-blind trial. Three 52-min intravenous infusions were administered: ketamine (.41 mg/kg or .71 mg/kg) or lorazepam 2 mg, counterbalanced into three orderings in which ketamine .41 mg/kg always preceded the .71 mg/kg dose. Infusions were separated by 48 hours, and assessments occurred at baseline and at 24 hours postinfusion. Outcomes were change between postinfusion and preinfusion values for: 1) motivation to quit cocaine scores with the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment; and 2) sums of visual analogue scale craving ratings administered during cue exposure. Results Compared with the active control lorazepam, a single ketamine infusion (.41 mg/kg) led to a mean 3.9-point gain in University of Rhode Island Change Assessment ( p = .012), which corresponds to an approximately 60% increase over preceding values. There was a reduction of comparable magnitude in cue-induced craving ( p = .012). A subsequent ketamine infusion (.71 mg/kg) led to further reductions in cue-induced craving compared with the control. Infusions were well-tolerated. Conclusions Subanesthetic ketamine demonstrated promising effects on motivation to quit cocaine and on cue-induced craving, 24 hours postinfusion. Research is needed to expand on these preliminary results and to evaluate the efficacy of this intervention in clinical settings.
Exchange Rate Policy and Debt Crises in Emerging Economies

We explore a model intended to capture the interaction between exchange rate policy, fiscal policy, and outright default on foreign-currency denominated debt. We examine how the exchange rate affects the supply of short-term debt facing the government. We show that under a credible hard peg (currency board), default is a more likely outcome, even without an exceptionally large short-term debt, precisely because a devaluation is not an option. In a more conventional fixed peg, it can be optimal for the government to choose a level of the exchange rate that would be likely to result in partial or complete debt default. Depending on the exchange rate regime, multiple equilibria exist, in one of which the interest rate is high, the exchange rate is overvalued, output is low, and default is high. Under a hard peg, there is a unique equilibrium.
Increasing sensitivity of preterm birth by changing rule strengths

We studied two prenatal data sets and two other medical data sets. Our objective was to increase sensitivity (accuracy of preterm birth) by changing the rule strength for the preterm birth class. Two criteria for choosing the optimal rule strength are discussed: the greatest difference between the true-positive and false-positive probabilities and the maximum profit.
Defining tumor antigens: mRNA, protein or cytotoxicity?

The identification and characterization of novel tumor-antigen targets is crucial to the advance of tumor immunotherapy.
MLFMA for solving integral equations of 2-D electromagnetic problems from static to electrodynamic

A normalized two-dimensional (2-D) multilevel fast multipole algorithm (MLFMA) with a computational complexity of O(N) for the quasistatic (very low-frequency) case is developed. This normalized 2-D MLFMA can be used not only independently as in the quasi-static case, but also to solve large-scale structures with dense subgridded areas when combined with a dynamic algorithm. The null-space problem for boundary integral equations at very low frequencies is also studied. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 20: 306–311, 1999.
The phenomena of amphibian metamorphosis. IV. The development of the median eminence

The development of the median eminence of several species of American anurans was studied in correlation with the progress of metamorphosis. Before metamorphosis the hypothalamic arteries break up into a plexus of capillaries lying in the extensive area of contact between the anterior lobe and the floor of the hypothalamus. During prometamorphosis the neural tissue of this area is converted into the median eminence. The neural tissue becomes thicker and shorter as the capillaries on its surface sink inward. The anterior lobe separates from the neural tissue except at its anterior tip where the residual capillaries have enlarged to form the pituitary portal veins. These changes are largely but not completely accomplished by the be- beginning of metamorphic climax. No significant alterations were found in the neurosecretory cells or their fibers during metamorphosis. The morphological data are interpreted in terms of the changing level of activity of the pituitary- thyroid axis during metamorphosis and its dependence upon a thyrotropin- releasing factor from the brain.
Diagnostic monitoring procedure for automated measurement systems

This paper describes a new method for monitoring the performance of metrology systems. The objective of the technique is to both identify deviant performance and estimate the likely cause. The method is driven by the assumption that all variation in a measurement system is systematic until proven random. This assumption in turn guides the choice of sampling plan and analysis to extract the maximum amount of information possible from a given number of measurements. Diagnostic capability is achieved by selecting a sampling plan which yields data for estimates of all known error modes of the instrument. Consequently, somewhat larger sampling plans are required and the technique is generally more appropriate for automated measurement systems. The concept is illustrated by example using automated scanning electron microscopes used for critical dimension measurement in the semiconductor manufacturing process. Experimental results illustrating the response of the monitor to programmed deviation are presented.
The role of N-oxidation products of aromatic amines in the induction of baldder cancer in the dog.

Highly sensitive gas chromatographic methods for the determination of the N-hydroxy and nitroso derivatives of 1- and 2-naphthylamine, and 4-amino-biphenyl in urine have been developed. Dogs given a single oral 70 mg/kg dose of 1-naphthylamine were found to excrete almost as much of these N-oxidation products as dogs given the same dose of 2-naphthylamine. However, when 5 mg/kg of 2-naphthylamine was given, a total of approximately 0.2% of the administered dose was found in the urine as N-oxidation products, while the same dose of 1-naphthylamine produced only faint traces. The N-oxidation products present were 2-naphthylhydroxylamine and 2-nitrosonaphthalene. In addition, blood methemoglobin production, a measure of the level of N-hydroxylation occurring, observed with 2-naphthylamine was much greater than with 1-naphthylamine at the 70 mg/kg dose. 4-Aminobiphenyl, the most potent carcinogen, produced even higher levels of N-oxidation products in the urine and blood methemoglobin than 2-naphthylamine. These results indicate that N-oxidation may be a key process in the production of bladder cancer by 2-naphthylamine and 4-aminobiphenyl.
A comprehensive histopathological evaluation of vascular medial fibrosis: Insights into the pathophysiology of arterial stiffening

Objective Medial vascular fibrosis contributes to arterial stiffening and reduced compliance, increasing the risk of cardiovascular events. We undertook the first comprehensive histopathologic study of medium-to-large caliber blood vessels (carotid, coronary, dorsalis pedis, internal mammary, iliac, mesenteric, pulmonary, and renal arteries) in 100 autopsy subjects to characterize medial fibrosis in relation to cardiovascular risk factors.
Whole program path-based dynamic impact analysis

Impact analysis, determining when a change in one part of a program affects other parts of the program, is time-consuming and problematic. Impact analysis is rarely used to predict the effects of a change, leaving maintainers to deal with consequences rather than working to a plan. Previous approaches to impact analysis involving analysis of call graphs, and static and dynamic slicing, exhibit several tradeoffs involving computational expense, precision, and safety, require access to source code, and require a relatively large amount of effort to re-apply as software evolves. This paper presents a new technique for impact analysis based on whole path profiling, that provides a different set of cost-benefits tradeoffs -- a set which can potentially be beneficial for an important class of predictive impact analysis tasks. The paper presents the results of experiments that show that the technique can predict impact sets that are more accurate than those computed by call graph analysis, and more precise (relative to the behavior expressed in a program's profile) than those computed by static slicing.
Extracellular concentrating of proteins in the cecropia moth follicle.

Yolk proteins, derived from the blood, are incorporated into the oocytes of insects and certain vertebrates by pinocytosis, but reach the oocyte surface only after penetrating the surrounding follicular epithelium via intercellular channels. In an investigation of the events occurring in these intrafollicular spaces, the dense extracellular material present between the follicle cells and in the oocyte's brush border was extracted from vitellogenic cecropia moth follicles by soaking in physiological saline. Quantitative immunochemical determination of several eluted blood proteins revealed that these components had been more concentrated in the extracellular spaces than in the blood. The average concentration factors were 2.5 for the predominant yolk protein, vitellogenin, and 4.5 for the carotenoid protein. Since injected foreign proteins were also accumulated in the spaces, the concentrating mechanism seemed to act on all available proteins. However, in vitro inhibition of yolk formation with dinitrophenol resulted in a selective increase in the amount of extracellular vitellogenin in follicles which had been previously exposed to a medium low in this protein, suggesting accumulation of a factor with a specific affinity for it. Furthermore under certain conditions vitellogenin was more readily released from the concentrate than was the carotenoid protein. These results indicate that, despite apparent lack of discrimination in the binding of blood proteins in the spaces, extracellular interactions may contribute to the selectivity known to occur during vitellogenesis.
Cerebral-evoked response from stimulation of dorsal nerve in impotent men

Abstract Cerebral-evoked responses from 128 uncategorized, impotent men were compared with responses from 17 healthy age-height matched controls, after stimulation of two penile sites, and one tibial nerve at the ankle. Our goal has been to establish a simple screening test to identify neurogenic impotence in patients with normal superficial sensation. High frequency stimulation at 5.7 c/s and minimal repetitions (300) per trial, allowed thirty to forty minute sessions in alert subjects. With these methods, the amplitudes of cerebral responses at N2 were most informative. All volunteers had measurable amplitude while 11.9 percent of patients did not. An additional 4.5 percent of patients had amplitude suppression of 2 SD compared with the control mean, suggesting that as many as 16.4 percent of such patients may have neural damage. Prolonged latencies alone were rare and not included in this total. Ninety-two of these 128 patients had Doppler flow studies, and only 2 showed both Doppler and electrical abnormalities. This suggests that neurogenic problems may often be independent of vascular disease. This evoked-response screen of the entire genitocerebral neuraxis offers a safe method of identifying a portion of those patients with neurogenic impotence.
When it comes to opiates, just say NO

Repeated use of opiate analgesic drugs such as morphine for the relief of chronic pain may result in the development of opiate tolerance and dependence, leading to a narrowing of the drug’s therapeutic index and increased side effects. Previous preclinical work has shown that interruption of a signaling cascade involving the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor and NO prevents morphine tolerance. In this issue of the JCI, Muscoli and colleagues extend our understanding of the role of NO in tolerance by demonstrating that, in mice, tolerance to chronic morphine administration is associated with NO conversion to peroxynitrite, which accumulates and nitrates tyrosine moieties within various proteins in the spinal cord (see the related article beginning on page 3530). This and other data suggest that peroxynitrite plays a role in opiate tolerance and that regulation of peroxynitrite may be utilized for the management of opiate-induced tolerance.
Parasympathetic excitation of sympathetic innervation after cholinesterase inhibition.

Abstract 1. Orbital parasympathetic innervation normally provides prejunctional muscarinic inhibition of sympathetic neurotransmission without activation of excitatory muscarinic receptors located on the innervated smooth muscle. The present study examines the role of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in limiting the effects of parasympathetically released acetycholine to prejunctional receptors. 2. Urethane anaesthetized rats were placed in a stereotaxic frame, and parasympathetic activation was achieved by electrical stimulation (20 Hz, < 2.0 V) of the ipsilateral superior salivatory nucleus. Drugs were administered through a femoral venous cannula. Superior tarsal smooth muscle responses were measured by recording eyelid tension. 3. Parasympathetic stimulation alone caused a small decrease in resting tension; previous studies have shown this to be attributable to attention of resting sympathetic tone. Parasympathetic activation following physostigmine administration, however, evoked a large contractile response. Contractions were resistant to atropine but were blocked by gallamine, guanethidine, and phentolamine. 4. We conclude that AChE inhibition results in conversion of orbital parasympathetic nerve function from inhibition of sympathetic neurotransmission to smooth muscle excitation. This occurs as a result of cholinergic activation of excitatory nicotinic receptors on sympathetic varicosities, which elicit the release of noradrenaline.
Effect of adenine methylation on the structure and dynamics of TpA steps in DNA: NMR structure determination of [d(CGAGGTTTAAACCTCG)]2 and its A9-methylated derivative at 750 MHz.

At TpA steps in DNA, the adenine base experiences exceptionally large amplitude (20°−50°) and slow (10 ms−1 μs) motion [Kennedy et al. (1993) Biochemistry 32, 8022−8035] which has been correlated with transitions between multiple conformational states [Lefevre et al. (1985) FEBS Lett. 190, 37−40]. The base dynamics can be detected in one-dimensional 1H NMR spectra as excess line width of the aromatic proton resonances. The magnitude of the excess line width is temperature dependent and reaches a maximum at some temperature. In order to better understand the origin of the dynamics, we have studied the effect of N6-methylation of the TpA adenine on both the line widths and its local structure. Here, solution-state 500 and 750 MHz 1H NMR data collected on [d(CGAGGTTTAAACCTCG)]2 show that the excess line width of theTpA adenine-H2 is diminished when the TpA adenine is N6-methylated and that the line width no longer experiences a maximum as the temperature is varied. The resonances sharpen upon methylation bec...
Mechanical Abnormalities in the Rat Ischemic Heart Failure Model Which Lie Downstream to cAMP Production

Abstract Objective . We previously showed diminished inotropic responses to isoproterenol in uninfarcted posterior papillary muscles of rats with anterior wall infarcts comprising ⩾30% of the left ventricle. We have also shown that this occurs in the absence of β-receptor downregulation. Our objective was to show a mechanical defect in the rat infarct model which is secondary to cellular defects downstream to cAMP production. Methods . Sprague-Dawley rats were infarcted via coronary ligation. After 3 weeks, the uninfarcted papillary muscle was placed in a muscle bath and exposed to increasing concentrations of dibutyryl cAMP while contracting isometrically at 28°C. Results . The large infarct group showed evidence of right ventricular hypertrophy which was manifested by an increased right ventricular mass. No differences were found in baseline measurements of developed tension (DT); rate of tension development (dT/d t ); rate of relaxation (-dT/d t ); time to peak tension (TPT); and relaxation time ( t 1/2 R). When these muscles were stimulated with dibutyryl cAMP, the large infarct group had a reduced inotropic response as measured by +dT/d t and TPT. No consistent abnormalities were noted in relaxation. The findings are similar to those we noted previously with isoproterenol stimulation. Conclusion . The impaired response to β stimulation in uninfarcted myocardium from rats with large myocardial infarctions is due to cellular defects which lie downstream to cAMP production.
Thermoperiodic and photoperiodic influences on daily and seasonal changes in the physiology of the male green anole, Anolis carolinensis

Male green anole lizards, Anolis carolinensis, were kept for 22 days on one of five temperature regimes: constant 20°C, constant 30°C, or a thermoperiod (8 h at 30°C, 16 h at 20°C) with heat onset at 0, 8, or 16 h after light onset. Groups of animals on each temperature regime were sacrificed at one of six times of day, every 4 h, for 24 h. The experiment was repeated at three different times of year: April (animals were kept on a photoperiod of LD 13:11), August (LD 13.5:10.5), and December (LD 10.5:13.5). Weight gain, testes weights, reproductive stage, and abdominal fat body weights varied with the temperature treatment and with the season. Depending on the time of day lizards received the warm temperature phase of the thermoperiod, increased heat could be stimulatory to weight gain and reproductive indexes in comparison to heat treatment at other times of day. The effect of constant temperatures on testis state and body weight gain was different from that of the thermoperiod regimes and of the natural environment on these processes. There were also diel variations in both testis DNA synthesis and fat body lipogenesis in the green anole. The photoperiod appeared to set the daily variation of DNA synthesis in the testis, whereas the thermoperiod phased the daily variation of fat body lipogenesis.
Needle type and the risk of post-lumbar puncture headache in the outpatient neurology clinic

Abstract Objective Post-lumbar puncture headaches (PLPHs) are a common complication of diagnostic lumbar punctures (LPs) caused by a persistent leak of spinal fluid from the dural puncture site. We conducted a prospective study to determine risk factors associated with PLPHs in the neurology outpatient setting. Methods Clinical information from all diagnostic LPs performed at the Johns Hopkins Lumbar Puncture Clinic between September 2008 and June 2009 was reviewed. As standard of care, each patient was contacted by telephone by the attending physician within 2–5 days of having an LP to ascertain health status and the presence of PLPH. We performed multiple logistic regression analysis to evaluate the association between PLPH and needle type (traditional Quincke cutting needle 20 and 22 gauge, 20Q and 22Q, and Sprotte non-traumatic gauge 22 needle, 22S) adjusting for important variables such as traumatic LPs, number of attempts, positioning and volume of CSF drawn. Results The prevalence of PLPH was 32% with the popular gauge 20Q and 22Q needles compared to 19% with the 22S non-traumatic needle. Compared to the 20Q needle, the non-traumatic 22S needle was associated with 69% decreased odds of PLPH (adjusted OR: 0.31, 95% CI 0.12–0.82). In subset analysis, the odds of PLPH increased 4-fold when the 22Q needle was used compared to the 22S needle (adjusted OR = 3.99, 95% CI 1.32–12.0). Conclusions Our outpatient findings support the American Academy of Neurology recommendations to use smaller non-traumatic needles to reduce the risk of PLPH.
Experimental characterization and modeling of a water-cooled server cabinet

Water-cooled server racks are typically closed cabinets, so no heat load is removed by the room cooling system in a raised floor data center. Instead, the cooling is provided by a closed system employing an air-water (fin-tube) heat exchanger. This kind of heat exchanger uses chilled water from a central plant, and there is the potential of using the waste heat that is returned. The goal of this study is characterize a specific sealed-door, water-cooled server cabinet under steady state and transient operation. The experimental part of the study is being performed on a Knurr CoolThermTM® rack. In this cabinet, the water/air heat exchanger is located at the bottom. Cooling air is circulated by three rear door mounted fans, the cooled air flows upward in front of the servers. The specific cabinet being tested has the capability to handle 25 kW and has a 30% cooling system energy efficiency. In the experiments, 16 1U servers and a 9U load bank are employed for generating a heat load. Over 100 thermocouples are used to monitor air temperature within different parts of the cabinet. The operating conditions monitored include: water flow rate, water inlet temperature, air flow rate through the servers, air flow rate through the heat exchanger, air temperatures and server power. The internal temperature of the servers is also monitored. From the measured data, the effectiveness is calculated for four different water flow rates and different power dissipation levels. Computational modeling of the air flow and heat transfer in a simplified model of the cabinet is also performed.
Interstellar SiC in the Murchison and Murray meteorites - Isotopic composition of Ne, Xe, Si, C, and N

Detailed ion-probe data are reported on Murchison and Murray C2 chondrites, along with noble-gas data on Murchison, with the purpose of characterizing the number and isotopic composition of independent SiC components and to link them to their stellar sources. Results show that coarse-grained and fine-grained SiC (totaling about 6-9 ppm of the two meteorites) contains record concentrations of two exotic components: Ne-E(H) (nearly monoisotopic Ne-22) and Se-S (enriched in isotopes 128, 130, and 132), respectively. The Ne-21 content was found to exceed up to 40-fold the content expected from the recent cosmic-ray irradiation, implying a presolar cosmic-ray exposure age of about 39 Ma. This age is much shorter that the predicted 500 Ma lifetime of refractory interstellar grains and implies either a selective interstellar destruction process for SiC, enhanced supernova activity in the protosolar neighborhood, or late outgassing of greater than 90 percent of the SiC.
The Intimate Distance of Herons: Theological Travels through Nature, Place, and Migration

In a theological understanding of nature, what is the significance of herons? This article reflects on the question of herons by first describing how bird migration can be included in a theological approach to nature. To explore the theological meaning of migration, theology must model nature as defined by the idea of ‘emplacement’. Next, it investigates how the migration of herons challenges and complements our sense of dwelling by detailing the different ways that herons are emplaced as migratory birds. It concludes by offering three insights into the place of herons in a philosophical theology of nature. First, migrating herons and other non-human animals penetrate into nature as both radically particular creatures and anonymously general ones. Second, herons push us to understand the theological meaning of the otherness of Otherness. Third, non-human animals remind us to move beyond solipsistic views of our emplacement. Together with a general description of the elements of emplacement that are added ...
Effect of Different Dietary Protein and Lipid Levels on Growth Performance and Body Composition of Juvenile Southern Flounder, Paralichthys lethostigma, Reared in a Recirculating Aquaculture System

The effects of six formulated diets containing different protein and lipid levels on growth performance and body composition of juvenile southern flounder were evaluated. Test diets were prepared with a combination of three crude protein (CP) levels (45, 50 and 55%) and two crude lipid (CL) levels (10 and 15%). Diets (CP/CL) were as follows: 45/10, 45/15, 50/10, 50/15, 55/10, 55/15 and a commercial diet (50/15). Southern flounder (1.10 g) were fed the respective diets for 42 d in triplicate recirculating tanks (20 fish/tank). Percent body weight gain (BWG) for fish fed diet 45/10 (413%) and the commercial diet (426%) were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than fish fed other diets (823–837%). Increasing protein level from 45 to 50% produced a significant increase in BWG for the 10% lipid diet (823%) but further increasing protein did not produce a significant effect on BWG irrespective of dietary lipid levels. Specific growth rate (SGR), feed intake, feed conversion efficiency (FCE), protein efficiency ratio (PER), and total lipid content in the whole body were significantly affected by different dietary protein and lipid levels. Results indicated that a combination of 50% protein and 10% lipid was optimal for the growth performance of southern flounder juveniles.
Osteochondral fragmentation of the distal aspect of the patella in horses

A condition characterised by osteochondral fragmentation of the distal aspect of the patella in 15 horses is described. The problem was unilateral in six horses and bilateral in nine. There were eight Quarterhorses, three Thoroughbreds, two American Saddlebreds, one American Paint and one Warmblood-Thoroughbred cross. A previous medial patellar desmotomy had been performed on 12 of the 15 horses. The condition manifested as hindlimb lameness and stiffness ranging from mild to severe. There was fibrous thickening in the stifle area in the 12 cases with a previous medial patellar desmotomy, and synovial effusion in seven of 12 cases. Synovial effusion was present in two of the three cases in which a previous medial patellar desmotomy was not performed. The radiographic changes included bony fragmentation, spurring (with or without an associated subchondral defect), subchondral roughening and subchondral lysis of the distal aspect of the patella. All horses were treated with arthroscopic surgery. The lesions at arthroscopy varied from flaking, fissuring, undermining or fragmentation of the articular cartilage to fragmentation or lysis of the bone at the distal aspect of the patella. The subchondral bone was involved in all cases that had a previous medial patellar desmotomy. Of the 12 horses that had a previous medial patellar desmotomy, eight became sound at their intended use, one was sold in training without problems, one is in early training without problems, one never improved and one is in convalescence. Of the three that did not have a patellar desmotomy, two performed their intended use well but one was unsatisfactory.
Chemically directing d-block heterometallics to nanocrystal surfaces as molecular beacons of surface structure

Our understanding of structure and bonding in nanoscale materials is incomplete without knowledge of their surface structure. Needed are better surveying capabilities responsive not only to different atoms at the surface, but also their respective coordination environments. We report here that d-block organometallics, when placed at nanocrystal surfaces through heterometallic bonds, serve as molecular beacons broadcasting local surface structure in atomic detail. This unique ability stems from their elemental specificity and the sensitivity of their d-orbital level alignment to local coordination environment, which can be assessed spectroscopically. Re-surfacing cadmium and lead chalcogenide nanocrystals with iron- or ruthenium-based molecular beacons is readily accomplished with trimethylsilylated cyclopentadienyl metal carbonyls. For PbSe nanocrystals with iron-based beacons, we show how core-level X-ray spectroscopies and DFT calculations enrich our understanding of both charge and atomic reorganization at the surface when beacons are bound.
Measurement of thermal expansion coefficients of composites using strain gages

The measurement of the coefficients of thermal expansion (CTEs) of composite materials using electrical resistance strain gages is addressed. Analytical expressions for the CTEs of an orthotropic lamina are derived, accounting for the effects of transverse sensitivity and possible misalignment of the gages. Experiments are performed for the characterization of the thermal expansion behavior of a fiber-glass-reinforced epoxy unidirectional lamina using an invar specimen as reference material. Preliminary training cycles are performed for the determination of an optimal heating rate for the measurements, which ensures thermal equilibrium conditions. Three measurement cycles yield the principal CTEs of the lamina α1, α2 and α12 with repeatability within ±0.34×10−6, ±0.85×10−6 and ±2.8×10−6/°C, respectively. It is noted that inhomogeneity of the specimen and variation in thermomechanical properties of the gages can cause a noticeable spead in the measurements.
A study of aluminum x-pinch assembly through x-ray abosrption spectroscopy

Summary form only given. Previous studies of plasma pinches, such as x-pinches or hybrid pinches, have thoroughly characterized the radiating hot spot formed at the center of the plasma in terms of size, temperature, and density. However, much of the plasma volume surrounding the hot spot has remained relatively unstudied. While point projection imaging and interferometry can be used to probe the density of this surrounding plasma, these diagnostics cannot provide measurements of plasma temperature. Emission spectroscopy can reveal temperatures, but the intensity of the hot spot outshines the surrounding plasma making spectral studies of nearby regions exceptionally challenging. We propose that a study of the surrounding plasma can be accomplished by means of absorption spectroscopy in spite of the high brightness of the x-pinch. Such an experiment has been designed for the XP pulser at Cornell University. The XP pulser, which is capable of delivering 500 kA of current in 100 ns, is used to drive an x-pinch as a source of continuum radiation. This radiation is dispersed by an astigmatic mica crystal before interacting with another x-pinch serving as the object plasma. The astigmatism of the crystal allows focusing to occur both at the sample location as well as at the detector for increased luminosity. To date, the experimental design for the study of plasma in an aluminum x-pinch has been completed. The object plasma under study will be Al 5056, an Al alloy containing 5% Mg. The H-like and He-like resonance and satellite lines in the spectrum from the Mg will be used as the basis for plasma diagnosis. The back lighting source will be tantalum due to its relatively flat continuum spectrum between the wavelengths of 8.2 and 9.5 angstroms. Preliminary results from this experiment will be presented.
An Indian FOPSE (Innovations Case Discussion: Keggfarms)

India on a case for my Harvard Business School class on international entrepreneurship. A friend of mine had invited me to attend the ceremony for the first Innovations for India Awards in Mumbai. Several Indian businesspeople received the award, but I was particularly struck by a dignified silver-haired gentleman who took the stage to receive the award for social innovation. He then proceeded to eloquently describe the development of a business concept centered on the rural poor of India, which was based on a specially bred “superchicken” that was twice as big and five times as productive as the typical backyard chicken. The incongruity of Vinod Kapur’s elegant appearance and his subject matter struck me as fascinating, but the most intriguing element of the presentation was how he arranged an entire system of distribution to deliver the hatched chicks to these remote villagers and did so in a way that enabled everyone to profit in concrete financial terms, from Keggfarms itself to the rural villagers. Almost a million households are today affected by Keggfarms, and the numbers are constantly rising. The most striking element of Keggfarms is the chicken itself—it is a beautiful, big, colorful bird, and I must say that the meat and eggs are by far the tastiest poultry products I have eaten in my life. But the most significant innovation is not the chicken per se but the business model, in particular the distribution system used to get the newly hatched chicks into the hands of the villagers quickly and safely. It is difficult to imagine a more nightmarish distribution problem: The customers are dispersed geographically in regions of relatively low population density. The transportation infrastructure is undeveloped—most of the customers can be reached only by footpath. The products are perishable, vulnerable to heat and disease. The product is considered to be a commodity with little price elasticity. The customers have extremely limited purchasing power so that high distribution costs cannot be transferred to them. It would be prohibitively expensive for any company to establish its own distribution system to bring tens of millions of live chicks into the rural villages. Furthermore, it would be difficult to organize and even more difficult to control. Such a distribution system would be required to some extent to build on established distribution patterns, in which the various parties would be extrinsically
In Vivo Mapping of Arabidopsis Scaffold/Matrix Attachment Regions Reveals Link to Nucleosome-Disfavoring Poly(dA:dT) Tracts

Scaffold or matrix attachment regions (S/MARs) are found in all eukaryotes. The pattern of distribution and genomic context of S/MARs is thought to be important for processes such as chromatin organization and modulation of gene expression. Despite the importance of such processes, much is unknown about the large-scale distribution and sequence content of S/MARs in vivo. Here, we report the use of tiling microarrays to map 1358 S/MARs on Arabidopsis thaliana chromosome 4 (chr4). S/MARs occur throughout chr4, spaced much more closely than in the large plant and animal genomes that have been studied to date. Arabidopsis S/MARs can be divided into five clusters based on their association with other genomic features, suggesting a diversity of functions. While some Arabidopsis S/MARs may define structural domains, most occur near the transcription start sites of genes. Genes associated with these S/MARs have an increased probability of expression, which is particularly pronounced in the case of transcription factor genes. Analysis of sequence motifs and 6-mer enrichment patterns show that S/MARs are preferentially enriched in poly(dA:dT) tracts, sequences that resist nucleosome formation, and the majority of S/MARs contain at least one nucleosome-depleted region. This global view of S/MARs provides a framework to begin evaluating genome-scale models for S/MAR function.
Survival of Enterococci and Staphylococci on Hospital Fabrics and Plastic

The transfer of gram-positive bacteria, particularly multiresistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), among patients is a growing concern. One critical aspect of bacterial transfer is the ability of the microorganism to survive on various common hospital surfaces. The purpose of this study was to determine the survival of 22 gram-positive bacteria (vancomycin-sensitive and -resistant enterococci and methicillin-sensitive and -resistant staphylococci) on five common hospital materials: smooth 100% cotton (clothing), 100% cotton terry (towels), 60% cotton–40% polyester blend (scrub suits and lab coats), 100% polyester (privacy drapes), and 100% polypropylene plastic (splash aprons). Swatches were inoculated with 104 to 105 CFU of a microorganism, assayed daily by placing the swatches in nutritive media, and examining for growth after 48 h. All isolates survived for at least 1 day, and some survived for more than 90 days on the various materials. Smaller inocula (102) survived for shorter times but still generally for days. Antibiotic sensitivity had no consistent effect on survival. The long survival of these bacteria, including MRSA and VRE, on commonly used hospital fabrics, such as scrub suits, lab coats, and hospital privacy drapes, underscores the need for meticulous contact control procedures and careful disinfection to limit the spread of these bacteria.
A reconfigurable dual frequency switched beam antenna array and phase shifter using PIN diodes

Reconfigurable antennas have received much attention in the past years playing an important role in the design of smart and adaptive systems. They have been benefited from recent improvements in the performance of the existing switching technologies. In particular, integrating active devices such as MEMS switches [1] or solid state switches [2] in antennas and microwave circuits have been proved to be useful for a wide range of applications. In this paper a dual frequency reconfigurable microstrip phase array with beam steering capability for operation at 4.7GHz and 7.5GHz is presented. The system is composed of a dual frequency (DF) reconfigurable antenna and a single feed dual frequency reconfigurable switched line phase shifter. Both selectable features, frequency and progressive phase between antennas, are achieved using PIN diodes. Only one of the two operating bands remains active at the same time, rejecting the non-active frequency spurious and the need of an external diplexer. Progressive phases between antennas of {+45,+135,−45,−135} for both frequencies can be selected to generate a switched beam with maximums placed at {15,45,−15,45} and {13,30,−13,30{ degrees respectively at 4.7GHz and 7.5GHz.
Continuous solvent production by Clostridium beijerinckii BA101 immobilized by adsorption onto brick

The performance of a continuous bioreactor containing Clostridium beijerinckii BA101 adsorbed onto clay brick was examined for the fermentation of acetone, butanol, and ethanol (ABE). Dilution rates from 0.3 to 2.5 h−1 were investigated with the highest solvent productivity of 15.8 g l−1 h−1 being obtained at 2.0 h−1. The solvent yield at this dilution rate was found to be 0.38 g g−1 and total solvent concentration was 7.9 g l−1. The solvent yield was maximum at 0.45 at a dilution rate of 0.3 h−1. The maximum solvent productivity obtained was found to be 2.5 times greater than most other immobilized continuous and cell recycle systems previously reported for ABE fermentation. A higher dilution rate (above 2.0 h−1) resulted in acid production rather than solvent production. This reactor was found to be stable for over 550 h. Scanning electron micrographs (SEM) demonstrated that a large amount of C. beijerinckii cells were adsorbed onto the brick support.
Comment on “What is Heterodox Economics? Conversations with Historians of Economic Thought”

The Comment on Wrenn’s article “What is Heterodox Economics?” suggests that the inability of heterodox economists to define their field arises from an as yet unrecognized and different metaphysical foundation than that of orthodox economics.
Dynamic cache reconfiguration based techniques for improving cache energy efficiency

Modern multicore processors are employing large last-level caches, for example Intel's E7-8800 processor uses 24MB L3 cache. Further, with each CMOS technology generation, leakage energy has been dramatically increasing and hence, leakage energy is expected to become a major source of energy dissipation, especially in last-level caches (LLCs). The conventional schemes of cache energy saving either aim at saving dynamic energy or are based on properties specific to first-level caches, and thus these schemes have limited utility for last-level caches. Further, several other techniques require offline profiling or per-application tuning and hence are not suitable for product systems. In this research, we propose novel cache leakage energy saving schemes for single-core and multicore systems; desktop, QoS, real-time and server systems. We propose software-controlled, hardware-assisted techniques which use dynamic cache reconfiguration to configure the cache to the most energy efficient configuration while keeping the performance loss bounded. To profile and test a large number of potential configurations, we utilize low-overhead, micro-architecture components, which can be easily integrated into modern processor chips. We adopt a system-wide approach to save energy to ensure that cache reconfiguration does not increase energy consumption of other components of the processor. We have compared our techniques with the state-of-art techniques and have found that our techniques outperform them in their energy efficiency. This research has important applications in improving energy-efficiency of higher-end embedded, desktop, server processors and multitasking systems. We have also proposed performance estimation approach for efficient design space exploration and have implemented time-sampling based simulation acceleration approach for full-system architectural simulators.
A new approach to scalable video coding

This paper introduces a new framework for video coding that facilitates operation over a wide range of transmission rates. The new method is a subband coding approach that employs motion compensation, and uses prediction-frame and intra-frame coding within the framework. It is unique in that it allows lossy coding of the motion vectors through its use of multistage residual vector quantization (RVQ). Furthermore, it selects the motion vector with the best rate-distortion tradeoff among a number of possible motion vector candidates, and provides a rate-distortion-based mechanism for alternating between intra-frame and inter-frame coding. The framework provides an easy way to control the system complexity and performance, and inherently supports multiresolution transmission.
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in a Man Treated With Fingolimod for Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis

A man with relapsing multiple sclerosis, treated with fingolimod 0.5 mg/d for 15 months, developed acute lymphoblastic leukemia and died 4 months after immune ablation and bone marrow allograft, from graft versus host disease. To our knowledge, this is the first case of acute lymphoblastic leukemia reported in a patient treated with fingolimod. Although no causal relationship can be established between fingolimod use and acute lymphoblastic leukemia risk in this single case, future surveillance for lymphatic cell malignancies in patients treated with fingolimod appears justified.