cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The sensitivity of mitochondrial Mg2+ ATPase to DDT and analogs at different temperatures

Abstract Oligomycin-sensitive (O-S) Mg 2+ ATPase from American cockroach muscle was more sensitive to DDT, TDE, methoxychlor, and DDE at cool temperatures than at warm temperature, thus showing a negative temperature effect. In contrast, inhibition by acaricides dicofol, chlorfenethol, and Plictran shows a positive temperature effect. Oxidative phosphorylation in a mitochondrial preparation from cockroach coxal muscle was reduced by DDT, but the reduction was greater at a higher temperature (32°C) than at a cooler temperature (22°C). In addition, Na + K + ATPase from cockroach nerve cord showed a positive temperature effect with DDT. The inhibition by DDT was much less on Na + K + ATPase than on O-S Mg 2+ ATPase. The negative temperature effect by DDT and analogs on O-S Mg 2+ ATPase parallels toxicity effects on insects and fish as reported by numerous researchers. The results provide further evidence for this energy-regulating enzyme being a critical component in the biological action of DDT.
Expression of HOX gene products in normal and abnormal trophoblastic tissue.

Abstract Objective The expression pattern of three homeobox genes products, HOX A11, HOX B6, and HOX C6, was examined in normal human placental tissue and abnormal trophoblastic tissue derived from complete hydatidiform moles and choriocarcinoma tumors. We sought to determine whether expression of these gene products during different states of trophoblastic differentiation and proliferation is constant or demonstrates variation. Variation in expression of these respective homeobox genes may provide insight into predicting which molar tissues are likely to develop into choriocarcinoma tumors. Methods Tissue sections from a total of 12 samples were studied. Among these, six full-term human placentas, three complete hydatidiform moles, and three choriocarcinoma tumors were examined for expression of the homeobox HOX A11, HOX B6, and HOX C6 gene products, using immunohistochemistry staining methods. Results Expression of HOX homeobox gene products, HOX A11, HOX B6, and HOX C6, was detected in full-term human placenta and tissue from complete hydatiform moles. Abnormal trophoblasts from complete moles demonstrated an immunoreactivity expression pattern comparable to that of normal trophoblasts from term pregnancies. However, definitive expression of these respective homeobox genes was not identified in tissue obtained from choriocarcinoma tumors. Conclusion Variation in expression of HOX homeobox gene products, HOX A11, HOX B6, and HOX C6, was established in trophoblast tissue obtained from full-term human placentas, complete hydatiform moles, and choriocarcinoma tumors. This finding indicates that normal full-term trophoblasts and abnormal molar trophoblasts may share similar fundamental regulatory control mechanisms. The absence of definitive expression of these HOX gene products in trophoblastic cells derived from choriocarcinoma tumors indicates that while HOX A11, HOX B6, and HOX C6 genes may be involved in maintenance of some trophoblastic cell states, they may be either downregulated or have alterations in their expression in trophoblasts from choriocarcinoma tumors.
Decreasing disability in the 21st century: the future effects of controlling six fatal and nonfatal conditions.

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the effects of reducing fatal and nonfatal health conditions on the number of functionally limited older Americans in the coming decades. METHODS: Data from the 1990 census and the Longitudinal Study of Aging were used to project the number of functionally limited older Americans from 2001 to 2049, assuming 1% biennial reductions in five conditions that shorten life expectancy (coronary artery disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and confusion) and one condition that decreases functional ability (arthritis). RESULTS: Decreasing the prevalence of arthritis by 1% every 2 years would lead to a much greater reduction in functional limitation between 2001 and 2049 (4 million person-years) than would decreasing any of the other conditions by the same amount. Decreases in two fatal conditions (cancer and coronary artery disease) would lead to increases in functional limitation (0.9 and 0.1 million person-years, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Advances against common nonfatal disabling c...
Kinetics of dehydrogenation of the Mg–Ti–H hydrogen storage system

Abstract Among the proposed hydrogen storage systems, magnesium alloys have proved to be promising since they are rechargeable with high hydrogen capacities (theoretically up to 7.6 wt.%), reversibility and low costs. Small particle size, which can be achieved by milling, and small amounts of transition-metal compounds as catalysts result in increased hydrogen release/uptake kinetics. In this work, we developed the rate expression for the dehydrogenation of milled 7MgH2/TiH2, 10MgH2/TiH2, and MgH2 samples. The complete rate expressions, together with the values of activation energy and other rate parameters, were determined for the three milled samples by analyzing data obtained from non-isothermal thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The MgH2 doped with TiH2 by high-energy milling displayed substantially reduced apparent activation energy of 107–118 kJ/mol and significantly faster kinetics, compared with 226 kJ/mol for similarly milled MgH2 without TiH2 doping.
Mean-field criticality for percolation on planar non-amenable graphs

The critical exponents β, γ, δ and Δ are proved to exist and to take their mean-field values for independent percolation on the following classes of infinite, locally finite, connected transitive graphs: (1) Non-amenable planar with one end. (2) Unimodular with infinitely many ends.
Microalbuminuria in the US population: Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Microalbuminuria (MA) is associated with adverse health outcomes in diabetic and hypertensive adults. The prevalence and clinical significance of MA in nondiabetic populations is less clear. The purpose of this study was to generate national estimates of the prevalence of MA in the US population. Untimed urinary albumin concentrations (UACs) and creatinine concentrations were evaluated in a nationally representative sample of 22,244 participants aged 6 years and older. Persons with hematuria and menstruating or pregnant women were excluded from analysis. The percent prevalence of clinical proteinuria (UAC > or = 300 mg/L) was similar for males and females. However, the prevalence of MA (urinary albumin-creatinine ratio [ACR], 30 to 299 mg/g) was significantly lower in males (6.1%) compared with females (9.7%). MA prevalence was greater in children than young adults and increased continuously starting at 40 years of age. MA prevalence was greater in non-Hispanic blacks and Mexican Americans aged 40 to 79 years compared with similar-aged non-Hispanic whites. MA prevalence was 28.8% in persons with previously diagnosed diabetes, 16.0% in those with hypertension, and 5.1% in those without diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, or elevated serum creatinine levels. In adults aged 40+ years, after excluding persons with clinical proteinuria, albuminuria (defined as ACR > or = 30 mg/g) was independently associated with older age, non-Hispanic black and Mexican American ethnicity, diabetes, hypertension, and elevated serum creatinine concentration. MA is common, even among persons without diabetes or hypertension. Age, sex, race/ethnicity, and concomitant disease contribute to the variability of MA prevalence estimates.
Using video‐tracking to assess sublethal effects of pesticides on honey bees (Apis mellifera L.)

Concern about the role of pesticides in honey bee decline has highlighted the need to examine the effects of sublethal exposure on bee behaviors. The video-tracking system EthoVisionXT (Noldus Information Technologies) was used to measure the effects of sublethal exposure to tau-fluvalinate and imidacloprid on honey bee locomotion, interactions, and time spent near a food source over a 24-h observation period. Bees were either treated topically with 0.3, 1.5, and 3 µg tau-fluvalinate or exposed to 0.05, 0.5, 5.0, 50, and 500 ppb imidacloprid in a sugar agar cube. Tau-fluvalinate caused a significant reduction in distance moved at all dose levels (p < 0.05), as did 50 and 500 ppb imidacloprid (p < 0.001). Bees exposed to 50 and 500 ppb spent significantly more time near the food source than control bees (p < 0.05). Interaction time decreased as time in the food zone increased for both chemicals. This study documents that video-tracking of bee behavior can enhance current protocols for measuring the effects of pesticides on honey bees at sublethal levels. It may provide a means of identifying problematic compounds for further testing.
Duration of oliguria and anuria as predictors of chronic renal-related sequelae in post-diarrheal hemolytic uremic syndrome

Prior long-term retrospective studies have described renal sequelae in 25-50% of postdiarrheal hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) survivors, but the ability to predict the likelihood of chronic renal-related sequelae at the time of hospital discharge is limited. We surveyed 357 children in our HUS registry who survived an acute episode of post diarrheal HUS (D+HUS) and were without end-stage renal disease (ESRD) at the time of hospital discharge. Of the 357 patients surveyed, 159 had at least 1 year (mean 8.75 years) of follow-up. Of these, 90 individuals were identified as having had at least 1 day of oliguria, with 69 individuals having had at least 1 day of anuria. The incidences of renal-related sequelae [proteinuria, low glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and hypertension] were determined among experimental groups based on oliguria and anuria duration. One or more sequelae (e.g. proteinuria, low GFR, hypertension) was seen in 25 (36.2%) of those who had no recorded oliguria and 34 (37.8%) of those with no recorded anuria. The prevalence of chronic sequelae increased markedly in those with more than 5 days of anuria or 10 days of oliguria, with anuria being a better predictor than oliguria of most related sequelae. A particularly high incidence of hypertension was seen in patients with > 10 days of anuria (55.6%) in comparison with those with no anuria (8.9%) [odds ratio (OR) 12.8; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.9-57.5]. Patients with > 10 days of anuria were also at substantially increased risk for low GFR and proteinuria (OR 35.2; 95% CI 5.1-240.5). These findings may help identify children who need periodic and extended follow-up after hospital discharge.
Larval and early post-larval development of the protobranch bivalve Solemya velum (Mollusca: Bivalvia)

Early development in the north-west Atlantic awning clam, Solemya velum (Solemyoida: Solemyidae) was examined by light and scanning electron microscopy. Embryonic and pericalymma larval stages, typical of protobranch bivalves, developed within individual adhesive gelatinous egg capsules and offspring emerged at hatching as benthic crawl-away juveniles. Fertilized eggs were light orange in colour, spherical, and had a yolk-mass diameter of approximately 190 μm. Entirely ciliated cylindrical pericalymma larvae, with a length and width of 318 μm and 208 μn, respectively, were obtained within 24 h. These larvae lacked an apical ciliary tuft, possessed nine rows of calymma cells, and actively rotated within the egg capsule. During metamorphosis, which occurred within 48 h of fertilization, the transitory larval ectoderm was entirely ingested. The prodissoconch measured roughly 320 μm in length by 215 μm in height. The foot and ciliated gill buds were well developed by four days after fertilization and subsequent growth contributed to the dissoconch or adult shell. Hatching began at 13 d after fertilization when the shell measured approximately 402 μm in length by 251 μm in height. Actively crawling and burrowing juveniles were cultured for six months after fertilization and an ontogenetic sequence of encapsulated and juvenile shell morphology was obtained for identification purposes. Current contradictory hypotheses regarding the phylogeny of marine bivalve develop-mental types are reviewed in light of new information on the Order Solemyoida.
Alkali catalysis in biomass gasification

Abstract The mechanism of biomass gasification in the presence of alkali catalysts was investigated using two reactor systems. Tests at both high pressure and low temperature as well as low pressure and high temperature confirmed that an increase in gas production from whole biomass and biomass components is achieved in the presence of alkali. Supporting investigations elucidated the chemical pathways affected by the alkali and the alkali's effect on several physical parameters. The char-steam reaction was judged not to be diffusion limited in our high-temperature system. In addition, alkali-induced swelling of biomass was determined to be unrelated to the catalytic effect.
On the Roles of Temperature and Interfaces in Irradiation and Thermally Induced Solid State Amorphization

The roles of irradiation temperature and interfaces (free surfaces and grain boundaries) in irradiation- and thermally-induced amorphization of ceramics (coesite, apatie, olivines and spinels) have been studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The irradiations were performed with 1.5 MeV Kr{sup +}, 200 keV and 1 MeV electrons over a wide temperature range (20--700 K). The critical amorphization dose at which amorphization is complete, D{sub c}, increased with increasing irradiation temperature for most material except coesite (a high pressure polymorph of SiO{sub 2}) which showed a decreasing D{sub c} with increasing temperature under 1 MeV electron irradiation. Although amorphization may occur directly within a displacement cascade or by cascade overlap, this study shows that free surfaces and grain boundaries are favorable sites for nucleation of amorphous volumes. Once the amorphous volume is formed at interfaces, it may grow rapidly under continued irradiation. Coesite which has a glass transition temperature higher than its melting temperature underwent spontaneous amorphization during thermal annealing at 1,200 K. This thermally-induced amorphization also started at free surface and grain boundaries and propagated into the interior of the crystal. The interface-mediated amorphization is analogous to the process of thermodynamic melting.
Aeromonas aminopeptidase: purification and some general properties.

Abstract An aminopeptidase was purified 87-fold from culture filtrates of the marine bacterium Aeromonas proteolytica . The stability of the aminopeptidase at 70 ° permitted the use of a heat treatment to inactivate a proteinase from which the aminopeptidase was otherwise difficult to separate. Purification of the aminopeptidase from heat-treated culture filtrate was accomplished by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and gel filtration on Sephadex G-75. Moving-boundary electrophoresis, ultracentrifugation, and substrate specificity studies indicated a high degree of homogeneity for the preparations. The enzyme hydrolyzed a number of peptides, amino acid amides, and amino acid β-naphthylamides. It was specific for substrates having a free α-amino group on a residue of the l -configuration; the nature of the amino acid in the N-terminus exerted a considerable effect on hydrolytic rates. The aminopeptidase, as isolated, did not require the addition of activating ions, but was strongly inhibited by ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA). Addition of Zn ++ or Co ++ to the EDTA-inhibited enzyme restored activity to the original level; Mn ++ was partially effective, and Mg ++ , Ca ++ , and Ni ++ were ineffective. Analysis of several individual preparations revealed the presence of zinc in the aminopeptidase. A molecular weight of 29,500 was calculated from measurements of sedimentation velocity and diffusion.
Effects of Visual Priming on Improving Web Disclosure to Investors

This research used online experiments to examine how different types of visual priming affect less knowledgeable and knowledgeable online investors' processing and understanding of disclosure information. It also aimed at addressing what types of visual priming of online disclosure information are most effective at affecting less knowledgeable versus knowledgeable investors regarding their processing and understanding of disclosure information. The results revealed online investors perceived that categorical and semantic priming helped them process and understand the disclosure information better than feature priming. This result was confirmed when investors' knowledge levels did not change how knowledgeable and less knowledgeable investors perceived different types of visual priming. The results concluded that knowledge level did not interact with visual priming to influence investors' processing and understanding of disclosure information.
Personality and the Subjective Experience of Time

Summary A factor analysis of responses to a temporal experience questionnaire from 110 Ss, and related intensive personality assessment research with 17 of them, extracted four bipolar temporal experience factors and investigated their personality correlates. An Immediate Time Pressure factor (harassed lack of control vs. relaxed mastery and adaptive flexibility) was correlated with high emotionality and nervous tension, imaginative fantasy and self-absorption, and sensitivity. A Long-Term Personal Direction factor (continuity and steady purpose vs. discontinuity and lack of direction) correlated with happiness and elated mood levels, and self-esteem and identity. A Time Utilization factor (efficient scheduling vs. procrastination and inefficiency) correlated with precision and orderliness, and confidence and initiative. A Personal Inconsistency factor (inconsistency and changeability vs. consistency and dependability) correlated with affective lability and low repression, and impulsiveness.
Two-Dimensional Pendulum Experiments Using a Spark Generator

Student understanding of the superposition of orthogonal harmonic oscillators can be enhanced using a spark generator to record position-versus-time data for small-amplitude pendulum motion in two dimensions. Sophomore-level physics majors in our Waves and Optics class have used this arrangement to analyze the motion of a spherical pendulum and a “Y-suspended” (Blackburn) pendulum that has two effective lengths. We describe the laboratory exercises and show student data and analysis.
Insulin resistance and obesity.

Type 2 diabetes arises when resistance to the glucose-lowering effects of insulin combines with impaired insulin secretion to raise the levels of glucose in the blood. Studies into the molecular basis of insulin resistance have focused on the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-gamma). Three patients with type 2 diabetes have been identified with loss-of-function mutations in thePPAR-gammagene, indicating that this protein is required for normal insulin sensitivity.
Combined Mode I and Mode II Fracture of Monolithic Ceramics

The mode I, mode II, and combined mode I-mode II fracture behaviors of a coarse-grained silicon nitride, a fine-grained silicon nitride, and an alumina were investigated. These ceramics were fractured from two types of fracture initiating flaws: small surface flaws and large single edge precracks. The small surface flaws were introduced by Knoop indentation in flexural samples at various angles to the tensile stress direction and fractured in four-point bending. The samples with large precracks were fractured in the asymmetric four-point-bend geometry. The mixed-mode fracture toughness values obtained from the two flaw configurations were in good agreement with each other. All three ceramics displayed very similar mixed-mode fracture behavior, although their microstructures were not similar. Comparison of experimental data to mixed-mode fracture theories revealed that the minimum strain energy density theory best described the mixed-mode fracture behavior of all three ceramics.
An Approach to Sub-optimal Feedback Control of Non-linear Systems

Nonlinear system suboptimal feedback control technique based on method for determining approximate solutions for Hamilton-Jacobi- Bellman equation
Two- and three-dimensional micromechanical viscoelastic finite element modeling of stone-based materials with X-ray computed tomography images

Abstract This paper presents 2D and 3D micromechanical finite element (FE) models to predict the viscoelastic properties including dynamic modulus and phase angle of stone-based materials (using an example of asphalt mixtures). Heterogeneous asphalt mixtures are consisted of very irregular aggregates, asphalt matrix and a small amount of air voids. The internal microstructure of asphalt mixtures was captured with X-ray computed tomography (CT) imaging techniques. The 2D and 3D digital samples were created with the reconfiguration of the scanned horizontal surface images. The FE mesh of digital samples was generated with the locations of image pixels within each aggregate and asphalt matrix. Along the boundary of these two phases, the aggregate and matrix FEs share the nodes to connect the deformation. The micromechanical FE model was accomplished by incorporating the captured microstructure and ingredient properties (viscoelastic asphalt matrix and elastic aggregates). The generalized Maxwell model was applied for viscoelastic asphalt matrix with calibrated parameters from the nonlinear regression analysis of the lab test data. The displacement-based FE simulations were conducted for the uniaxial compression under sinusoidal cyclic loading. Overall, the predicted dynamic modulus and phase angle from 2D and 3D micromechanical models were compared favorably with lab test data of the asphalt mixture specimens. The 3D simulation with digital samples generated better prediction than the 2D models. These results indicate that the developed micromechanical FE models have the ability to accurately predict the global viscoelastic properties of the stone-based materials.
The nucleolus and the four ribonucleoproteins of translation.

The classical view of the nucleolus as solely committed to ribosome biosynthesis has been modified by recent studies pointing to additional roles for this nuclear domain. These newly recognized features include the nucleolar presence of several nonribosomal RNAs transcribed by RNA polymerase III, as
Rapid alveolar epithelial fluid clearance following lung lavage in pulmonary alveolar proteinosis.

Study objective To measure the in vivorate of alveolar epithelial fluid clearance of the human lung inpatients with pulmonary alveolar phospholipoproteinosis (PAP). Design Prospective clinical study. Setting The medical-surgical ICUs of a university teachinghospital. Patients Four patients with idiopathic PAPrequiring therapeutic lung lavage. Interventions Large-volume lung lavage with isotonic saline solution using fiberopticbronchoscopy followed by serial sampling of alveolar fluid using awedged bronchial catheter. Measurements and results The rate of alveolar epithelial fluid clearance was calculated bymeasuring the concentration of protein in sequential samples. Alveolarepithelial fluid clearance over the first hour after lung lavage was53 ± 14% (mean ± SD). Sequential samples in two patientsindicated a sustained high rate of clearance over several hours. Plasmaand alveolar fluid epinephrine levels were in the normal range in twopatients. Conclusions and significance Alveolar fluidclearance is rapid after lung lavage in patients with PAP and appearsto be driven by catecholamine-independent mechanisms. The rapid rate ofalveolar epithelial fluid transport explains why patients with PAPtolerate large-volume lung lavage.
Performance of 116 Passive Treatment Systems for Acid Mine Drainage 1

State and federal reclamation programs, mining operators, and citizen- based watershed organizations have constructed hundreds of passive systems in the eastern United States over the past 20 years to provide reliable, low cost, low maintenance mine water treatment in remote locations. In 2000, we evaluated 116 systems comprised of eight system types in eight states. We revisited 14 of these sites in 2004 to confirm results from the earlier study. Each system was monitored for influent and effluent flow, pH, net acidity, and metal concentrations. Performance was normalized among types by calculating acid load removed, and also by converting construction cost, projected service life, and metric tonnes of acid load treated into cost per tonne of acid treated. Of the 116 systems, 105 reduced acid load (90%). Average acid load reductions were 0.8 t/yr for Ponds; about 9 t/yr for open limestone channels (OLC), anaerobic wetlands (AnW), aerobic wetlands (AeW), and vertical flow wetlands (VFW); 76 t/yr for slag leach beds (SLB), and about 15 t/yr for limestone leach beds (LSB) and anoxic limestone drains (ALD). Average removal rates ranged from 18 to 2,334 g/day/t for the limestone systems, and 1.7 to 87 g/m 2 /day for the Ponds and wetlands. Average costs for acid removal varied from $36/t/yr for SLB to $1,468/t/yr for Ponds. The 2004 data showed slightly greater removal efficiencies for two Ponds, two VFWs, and one LSB. Large declines in removal were found for one AnW, two VFWs, one ALD, and one OLC. Two OLCs greatly increased efficiency. Most passive systems were effective for >5 yrs, yet there was wide variation in performance within each system type.
Functional measurement approach to self‐estimation in multiattribute evaluation

Multiattribute analysis depends on measurement of values and weights. Unless these measures reflect the decision maker's true values and weights, the multiattribute formula may put a less-preferred alternative in first place. To avoid such disordinality requires stringent measurement conditions: First, the values and weights must be on linear (equal interval) or ratio (known zero) scales. Second, these scales must satisfy a condition of common unit across disparate attribute dimensions. Most methods of range adjustment beg both of these measurement questions. Functional measurement theory can solve both problems and so can be useful in multiattribute analysis. Past work has established the operation of a general cognitive algebra as an empirical reality. The averaging model, in particular, makes possible the definition and estimation of weights and values as distinct psychological parameters. It can also solve the problem of common unit. Cognitive algebra thus provides a grounded theoretical foundation on which to develop self-estimation methodology, in which decision makers provide direct estimates of their values and weights. The logic is straightforward. Functional measurement can analyze global judgments to obtain validated psychological scales. These scales may then be used as validational criteria for the self-estimates. Procedures to eliminate biases in the self-estimates can thus be tested and refined in well-learned multiattribute tasks, such as judgments of meals, in which global judgments are trustworthy. Once developed, such self-estimation procedures may be used with some confidence for general multiattribute analysis. A number of studies from 20-odd years of work on the theory of information integration are summarized to show good, although not unmixed promise for self-estimation.
NBS/LANL Racetrack Microtron Control System

The distributed intelligence control system for the NBS/LANL racetrack microtron (RTM) is now nearing completion, with all major subsystems implemented and tested, thus providing some operating experience with most of the control system innovations. These include a triple hierarchy of microprocessor-based control elements, consisting of a primary control station and multiple secondary and tertiary control stations; light-link coupling to a tertiary station which operates at a 100 kV potential; a common database shared by separate microprocessors for handling hardware control and operator interactions; and joy stick control of the entire system. A unique secondary station interpreter program was used to great advantage for testing and checkout of various control and monitoring subsystems. The hardware design of the control system is based on Multibus I crates containing commercial Multibus I boards and a few custom designed boards. The primary-secondary data link is a high speed, bidirectional, full-duplex, 8-bit, "byte" parallel link designed for this application. This link permits very fast updating of the monitored data (>5 per second) and timely response to operator control inputs at the primary station.
Leukotriene B4 Activates Pulmonary Artery Adventitial Fibroblasts in Pulmonary Hypertension

A recent study demonstrated a significant role for leukotriene B4 (LTB4) causing pulmonary vascular remodeling in pulmonary arterial hypertension. LTB4 was found to directly injure luminal endothelial cells and promote growth of the smooth muscle cell layer of pulmonary arterioles. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of LTB4 on the pulmonary adventitial layer, largely composed of fibroblasts. Here, we demonstrate that LTB4 enhanced human pulmonary artery adventitial fibroblast proliferation, migration, and differentiation in a dose-dependent manner through its cognate G-protein-coupled receptor, BLT1. LTB4 activated human pulmonary artery adventitial fibroblast by upregulating p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase as well as Nox4-signaling pathways. In an autoimmune model of pulmonary hypertension, inhibition of these pathways blocked perivascular inflammation, decreased Nox4 expression, reduced reactive oxygen species production, reversed arteriolar adventitial fibroblast activation, and attenuated pulmonary hypertension development. This study uncovers a novel mechanism by which LTB4 further promotes pulmonary arterial hypertension pathogenesis, beyond its established effects on endothelial and smooth muscle cells, by activating adventitial fibroblasts.
Revision of the Genus Mulsantina Weise (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

Nine species in the genus Mulsantina Weise are recognized including two new species: one from Mexico ( mexicana sp. nov.) and one from Guatemala and Mexico ( curva sp. nov.). Harmonia quinquelineata Mulsant and Coccinella albopicta Gorham are transferred to Mulsantina , and the latter and Cleis concolor Crotch are placed as synonyms of M. lynx (Mulsant). Mulsantina cyathigera (Gorham) and M. quinquelineata (Mulsant) are reported in the United States for the first time. The species are described and illustrated, and their distributions and plant and host associations are given.
Link Adaptation with Position/Motion Information in Vehicle-to-Vehicle Networks

Wireless communication networks use link adaptation to select physical layer parameters that optimize the transmission strategy as a function of the wireless channel realization. In the vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) networks considered in this letter, the short coherence time of the wireless channel makes link adaptation based on the impulse response challenging. Consequently, link adaptation in V2V wireless networks may instead exploit the large-scale characteristics of the wireless channel (i.e. path loss) since they evolve slowly and enable less frequent feedback. Large-scale channel information may be captured through channel or position/motion measurements. We show, through the definition of new large-scale coherence expressions, that channel measurements render large-scale coherence as a function of time-change while the position/motion measurements render coherence as a function of velocity-change. This letter is concluded with highway simulations of modeled and measured channels to demonstrate the advantage of position/motion information for feedback reduction in V2V link adaptation.
Laser Resistant Endotracheal Tubes -- Protection Against Oxygen-Enriched Airway Fires During Surgery?

The risk of an oxygen enriched airway fire during oropharyngeal surgery with a laser is supposedly minimized by the use of a laser-ignition-resistant endotracheal tube such as those made by Bivona, Mallinckrodt, Baxter Norton, Sheridan, or Xomed; or Merocel, a tube wrap marketed as laser resistant; or 3M copper, 3M aluminum, or Radio Shack sensing metallic tapes which are commonly used to protect standard tubes. We exposed these devices to CO 2 , Nd:YAG, and KTP laser energy in various oxygen-nitrogen and oxygen-helium atmospheres. Only the Baxter Norton tube and the 3M copper taped tubes did not burn under any test conditions. Other tubes were ignition resistant under some conditions, and the Sheridan and Xomed tubes burned under most test conditions.
OCR readability study and algorithms for testing partially damaged characters

Ever since the character strings on silicon wafers have been read using OCR cameras, there has been a problem with damaged characters. This problem is due to reflection from the light source or physical damage of the characters themselves. There, are obvious types of damage that occur frequently on many of the bitmaps that the OCR camera reads. With these types, one can test them to find the most damaging types on each particular character that has occurred. However, currently there is no known research that systematically determines the worst damage or limits of damage to characters for specific OCR methods such as template matching or neural network algorithms. The paper presents algorithms for testing common forms of damage on template-matching optical readers, reading strings on silicon wafers. It also displays results from combining a simple neural network and the algorithms. The results on readability study are critical for the development of robust OCR systems.
Techniques for Measuring Adhesive vs. Cohesive Failure

Techniques have been developed for measuring the fractional area of an adhesive joint that has failed adhesively (near or at the substrate-adhesive interface) and cohesively (in the adhesive). These techniques involve β ray backscattering, light reflection and microscopy from an array of positions on the fracture surfaces of the failed joint.
Stress Fracture of the Lateral Cuneiform Bone in a Lacrosse Player: A Case Report.

Stress fractures result from repetitive loading and occur in two forms: fatigue fractures and insufficiency fractures. Fatigue fractures, the result of abnormal repetitive stress on normal bone, usually occur when a person engages in an activity for a prolonged period. Insufficiency fractures are the result of normal stresses on abnormally weak bone. The locations in which a stress fracture develops depend on the particular activity involved and the stresses it puts on a particular anatomic structure. Stress fractures of the foot are relatively common. In a prospective fourteen-week study of 295 military recruits, the prevalence of stress fractures was 31%, and 8.7% of these fractures were in the foot1. In a study of athletes with stress fractures, 25% had tarsal stress fractures and 9% had metatarsal stress fractures; the tibia was the bone with the largest number of stress fractures2. The cuneiform bones are not usually affected. We describe a case of a stress fracture of the lateral cuneiform in an athlete. The patient and her mother were informed that data concerning the case would be submitted for publication, and they provided consent. A fifteen-year-old female cross-country runner and lacrosse player presented for evaluation of left foot pain of approximately two weeks’ duration. She could not recall any recent trauma. However, she noted that she had been spending more time than usual during training sessions doing conditioning line drills, called “suicide drills,” before the onset of the pain. During this activity, …
Prostate Antigens and Antibodies

SummaryIt was shown that canine prostatic fluid (CPF) could be fractionated into three components by gel filtration on Sephadex G-100. These components were referred to as pools 1, 2, and 3 in order of elution and their relative proportions were 1, 9, and 90%, respectively, of the total recovered protein. The sedimentation coefficients for pools 2 and 3 were 4.0 S and 2.6 S, respectively. Whole CPF, on the other hand, showed only one peak of 2.5 S.Antigenic analysis of whole CPF, in gel diffusion, showed three lines of precipitation when tested against rabbit anti-CPF. Reactions of pools 2 and 3 consisted of two lines each; one faint one and the other more intense and sharp. The more intense line of precipitation of pool 2 was inhibited by a component of pool 3. It was suggested that pool 3 might contain low molecular weight substance(s) with antigenic sites similar to those on the main antigen of pool 2.
The IntXO-PSL Recombination System Is a Key Component of the Second Maintenance System for Bacillus anthracis Plasmid pXO1

ABSTRACT We previously identified three noncontiguous regions on Bacillus anthracis plasmid pXO1 that comprise a system for accurate plasmid partitioning and maintenance. However, deletion of these regions did not decrease retention of certain shortened pXO1 plasmids during vegetative growth. Using two genetic tools developed for DNA manipulation in B. anthracis (the Cre- loxP and Flp-FRT systems), we found two other noncontiguous pXO1 regions that together are sufficient for plasmid stability. This second pXO1 maintenance system includes the tubZ and tubR genes, characteristic of a type III partitioning system, and the IntXO recombinase gene (GBAA_RS29165), encoding a tyrosine recombinase, along with its adjacent 37-bp perfect stem-loop (PSL) target. Insertion of either the tubZ and tubR genes or the IntXO-PSL system into an unstable mini-pXO1 plasmid did not restore plasmid stability. The need for the two components of the second pXO1 maintenance system follows from the sequential roles of IntXO-PSL in generating monomeric circular daughter pXO1 molecules (thereby presumably preventing dimer catastrophe) and of TubZ/TubR in partitioning the monomers during cell division. We show that the IntXO recombinase deletes DNA regions located between two PSL sites in a manner similar to the actions of the Cre- loxP and Flp-FRT systems. IMPORTANCE Tyrosine recombinases catalyze cutting and joining reactions between short specific DNA sequences. Three types of reactions occur: integration and excision of DNA segments, inversion of DNA segments, and separation of monomeric forms from replicating circular DNA molecules. Here we show that the newly discovered site-specific IntXO-PSL recombinase system that contributes to the maintenance of the B. anthracis plasmid pXO1 can be used for genome engineering in a manner similar to that of the Cre- loxP or Flp-FRT system.
U.S. Vertical and Horizontal Intra-Industry Trade Patterns with the Middle East

The main objective of this paper is to examine the extent of the U.S. vertical and horizontal intra-industry trade patterns with the countries in the Middle Eastern region. To deepen our understanding of the development of trade and investment relations between the U.S. and the Middle Eastern countries, we consider both the commodity structure of trade as well as the structure of investment. Based on the hypothesis that intra-industry trade is closely related to offshore production by multinational enterprises, then a model have been develop to capture the main determinants of vertical and horizontal intra-industry trade that explicitly includes the role of the U.S. foreign investment in the region. The model is tested empirically using detailed trade and investment data. The findings of the study indicated that foreign investment plays a significant role in the increase in intra-industry trade in recent years.
Chapter 21 – Graph Drawing*

Graphs are widely used for information visualization purposes since they provide a natural intuitive representation of complex abstract structures. The automatic generation of drawings of graphs has applications to a variety of fields such as software engineering database systems graphical user interfaces. In this survey we overview graph drawing algorithms from a computational geometry perspective.
A Low Power Digital DLL with Wide Locking Range for 3Gbps 512Mb GDDR3 SDRAM

A new low power, low cost and high performance register-controlled digital delay locked loop with wide locking range is presented. The DLL has dual loops with single replica block, duty cycle correction enhance controller (DCCEC), smart power down controller (SPDC) for reducing the standby current during power down, and locking range doubler for wide locking range. The digital DLL used for 3 Gbps 512 Mb GDDR3 SDRAM is fabricated using an 80 nm DRAM Process. Experimental results show less than plusmn1% duty correction from external duty error of plusmn5%, less than 400 cycle locking time, 1.5 GHz operation frequency at 1.9 V, and a wide locking range from 50 MHz to 1.5 GHz.
THE STRUCTURE OF CHITIN-PROTEIN COMPLEXES*

Many chitinous tissues are unique, composite structures in that both the fiber and matrix components are ordered. We have used X-ray methods to investigate, the structure of ordered chitin-protein complexes from three sources
The Effects of Multiplex Social Ties on the Costs of Inter-Firm Resource Acquisition

Researchers have widely evidenced the value of inter-organizational multiplex ties. However, multiplex ties are costly to form and maintain. While well-endowed firms may be able to incur costs, under-resourced organizations may not. Consequently, the same organizations that would most benefit from inter-firm multiplex ties face the relatively steepest costs. Given a rich-get-richer effect, what can under- resourced organizations do? In this paper, I focus on the costs of multiplex ties in one type of persistently under-resourced organization: low-income primary schools. I conduct a multi-methods study involving both interview (N = 52) and survey (N = 559) data on network ties between nine schools and their external partners. From the qualitative study, I theorize a distinction between social multiplexity and resource multiplexity important for understanding the cost of multiplex ties. I hypothesize greater resource multiplexity is associated with greater costs of resource acquisition, but greater social m...
Fighting fake news: a role for computational social science in the fight against digital misinformation

The massive, uncontrolled, and oftentimes systematic spread of inaccurate and misleading information on the Web and social media poses a major risk to society. Digital misinformation thrives on an assortment of cognitive, social, and algorithmic biases and current countermeasures based on journalistic corrections do not seem to scale up. By their very nature, computational social scientists could play a twofold role in the fight against fake news: first, they could elucidate the fundamental mechanisms that make us vulnerable to misinformation online and second, they could devise effective strategies to counteract misinformation.
Discovering Probabilistic Models of Pilot Behavior from Aircraft Telemetry Data

A mobile ground-based sense-and-avoid system for Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) operations was developed by the University of North Dakota. This system detected proximate aircraft with various sensor systems, including a 2D radar and an Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) receiver. Information about those aircraft was then displayed to UAS operators with customized visualization software. Its risk mitigation subsystem was designed to estimate the current risk of midair collision for UAS operations below 18,000 feet MSL. However, accurate probabilistic models for the behavior of pilots of manned aircraft flying at these altitudes were needed before this subsystem could be implemented. In this paper the authors present the results of data mining a Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) data set from a consecutive 9 month period in 2011. Arbitrarily complex subpaths were discovered from the data set using an ant colony algorithm. Then, probabilistic models were data mined from those subpaths using extensions of the Genetic K-Means and Expectation-Maximization algorithms.
Single-shot vibrational energy distributions of a microscale detonation using hybrid fs/ps CARS

Single-shot O2 and N2 vibrational energy distributions behind gaseous detonations are studied using hybrid fs/ps CARS. Differences in measured vibrational temperature and Chapman-Jouguet predictions are discussed using detonation theory and nonequilibrium kinetics.
Continuing Care and Recovery

Reviews of the continuing care research literature indicate that interventions that feature longer planned durations and active efforts to deliver the treatment components are more likely to show positive effects than other interventions. However, this literature has a number of limitations, including a focus on inpatient samples, treatment completers, and traditional treatment models and interventions. In addition, these studies have not attempted to identify which patients are likely to benefit the most from continuing care. Finally, there have been few tests of interventions that attempt to build strengths and other positive factors consistent with a recovery-oriented approach to continuing care. Recent findings from three addiction disease management research programs that have attempted to address many of these limitations are presented and discussed. In addition, several research-based recommendations for improving continuing care are offered, including reducing patient burden, providing incentives for participation, combining continuing care with other services, actively linking patients to other recovery supports, and making the interventions more recovery-oriented. Finally, the potential problems associated with considering abstinence as a requirement for being “in recovery” while participating in extended continuing care or other disease management interventions are discussed.
ORGANIC RESIDUE ANALYSIS

The analysis of organic remains left on pottery, stone tools, or other archaeological artifacts is important because it shows how humans used artifacts. Residues can come in many forms. Visible residues can be seen on the surfaces of stone tools and pots, and can include microscopic remains, as well as biochemical clues. Absorbed residues have soaked into a pot wall and are invisible until destructively extracted. A variety of archaeometric techniques may be used on organic residues, depending on the type of residue and the sort of information being sought by the analyst. Chemical components of residues have generally undergone some sort of degradation through time and environmental effects, and interpretation of chemical residues must take this into account. In general, a combination of analysis types is most effective, if it is possible to do this.
Occlusion of the anterior superior ophthalmic vein in carotid-cavernous fistulae acutely aggravating visual symptoms

Acute occlusion of the anterior superior ophthalmic vein in the setting of a carotid-cavernous fistula (CCF) can produce dramatic and dangerous ophthalmological sequelae, including loss of vision and elevation of intraocular pressure. We present our experience with this phenomenon and its proposed mechanism of action in 11 patients. The treatment regimen includes aggressive embolization to close the fistula urgently, and administration of pharmacological agents (beta-blocker, carbonic anhydrase inhibitor) to reduce aqueous humor production. Physicians who treat CCF patients should be familiar with this phenomenon and its therapy.