cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Highly Sensitive Detection and Removal of Lead Ions in Water Using Cysteine-Functionalized Graphene Oxide/Polypyrrole Nanocomposite Film Electrode

We synthesized cysteine-functionalized graphene oxide (sGO) using carbonyldiimidazole as a cross-linker via amide and carbamate linkages. The sGO/polypyrrole (PPy) nanocomposite film was grown on the working electrode surface of a screen-printed electrode (SPE) via controlled one-step electrochemical deposition. The sGO/PPy-SPE was used to detect lead ions (Pb2+) in water by first depositing Pb2+ on the working electrode surface for 10 min at −1.2 V, and then anodic stripping by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The DPV signals were linear in the ranges of 1.4–28 ppb (R2 = 0.994), 28–280 ppb (R2 = 0.997), and 280–14 000 ppb (R2 = 0.990) Pb2+. The measurable detection limit of the sensor is 0.07 ppb (S/N = 3), which is more than 2 orders of magnitude below the 10 ppb threshold for drinking water set by the World Health Organization. The average removal efficiency of Pb2+ deposited on the electrode was 99.2% (S/N = 3), with relative standard deviation (RSD) of 3.8%. Our results indicate good affinity of...
Aqueous systems at high temperature—II: Liquid-liquid immiscibility in the system UO3SO3N2O5H2O above 300°C

Apparatus suitable for the observation of liquid-liquid immiscibility in solutions sealed in silica tubes is described. Immiscibility temperatures are reported for 0·04, 0·08 and 0·16 molal uranyl solutions in the system UO3SO3N2O5H2O. A comparison of the effect of nitric and sulphuric acids on the immiscibility temperature of uranyl sulphate solutions on the basis of total added hydrogen ion shows that at low acidity nitric acid produces a greater increase in immiscibility temperature than sulphuric acid and at high acidity sulphuric acid becomes more effective than nitric acid. In solutions containing low concentrations of excess acid, the substitution of nitrate for sulphate raises the immiscibility temperature, but at high acidities the initial substitution lowers the immiscibility temperature. The data seem to indicate that there is an interdependence between acidity and complexing in this system. The data also show that partial substitution of nitrate for sulphate in a sulphate-based aqueous homogeneous reactor fuel at low added acidity may have some advantage in elevating the liquid-liquid immiscibility temperature. Finally, a significant effect of pressure in elevating the immiscibility temperature is reported.
Pretrial Bargaining in the Face of a Random Court Decision: Evidence from Laboratory Games

If negotiation over ownership of an asset is unsuccessful, agents go to court to determine possession. Experiments examine how the presence of a stochastic court decision affects pretrial bargaining behavior. Two players have private information over the value of an asset, owned by one player. If there is no acceptable trade price, a random court decision assigns ownership. The impact of a second stage court decision on bargaining outcomes and the efficiency of trades is measured. Courts reduce the total earnings of players and the frequency of efficient trades. Relative earnings and bargaining behavior depend on which agent proposes the trade price.
STUDIES IN ACUTE RENAL FAILURE. II. INCIDENCE, MORTALITY, URINARY AND PLASMA CHEMICAL ALTERATIONS AND CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF REVERSIBLE ACUTE RENAL FAILURE IN THE RAT.

Summary Acute renal failure may be produced in diettreated, dehydrated rats by the simultaneous intravenous injection of methemoglobin (0.5 gm. per kg.) and sodium ferrocyanide (14.3 mg. per kg.). At this dose level, the average incidence of acute renal failure is 80 per cent (as measured by abnormally elevated levels of plasma urea nitrogen 48 hours following injection), and the mortality approximates 13 per cent. In these studies, as in man, acute renal failure is identified by the characteristic development of azotemia, hyperkalemia, hyponatremia, decreased plasma bicarbonate concentration, oliguria followed by diuresis, changes in urinary specific gravity, sodium and potassium concentrations, proteinuria, cast forms in the urinary sediment, renal histologic alterations and discrete clinical manifestations, all of which are spontaneously reversible.
The cause of the coronal temperature inversion of the solar atmosphere and the implications for the solar wind

The energy contained in suprathermal tails at the base of the transition region is shown to be transformed into the rarefied, but hotter, transition region and low corona without any further addition of energy to the gas above the base of the transition region. Possible critical point location and asymptotic wind speed are shown to be controlled by the suprathermal tail strength parameter used to model possible suprathermal velocity distribution functions at the base of the transition region. This process shows promise for producing temperature profiles that peak near, but outside of, the fluid critical point without ad hoc energy deposition. The coronal temperature inversion above the solar photosphere is argued to be a generic feature around all stars with nonthermal distributions at the heights where the atmosphere last becomes mostly ionized.
Basic Characteristics of Synchrotron Radiation

Many advances have been made in chemical structure research over the past three decades using synchrotron radiation. Synchrotron radiation has a number of unique properties. They include high brightness, high collimation, broad energy spectrum, variable polarization, coherent power, and subnanosecond pulse width. The third-generation storage rings with wiggler and undulator sources and lower electron beam dimensions are delivering over 1012 times higher brightness than laboratory-based sources. The future of synchrotron sources looks very promising with the development of energy recovery linac sources and free-electron laser sources. These will permit dynamic studies of chemical structure with subpicosecond time resolution. Commensurate with the development of X-ray sources, major progress has occurred in optical schemes to meet the challenging needs of chemical structure research. High-resolution monochromatization and submicron focusing of X rays present new avenues for the future.
Maximum Entropy and Equations of State for Random Cellular Structures

Random, space-filling cellular structures (biological tissues, metallurgical grain aggregates, foams, etc) are investigated. Maximum entropy inference under a few constraints yields structural equations of state, relating the size of cells to their topological shape. These relations are known empirically as Lewis’s law in Botany, or Desch’s relation in Metallurgy. Here, the functional form of the constraints is not known a priori, and one takes advantage of this arbitrariness to increase the entropy further. The resulting structural equations of state are independent of priors, they are measurable experimentally and constitute therefore a direct test for the applicability of MaxEnt inference (given that the structure is in statistical equilibrium, a fact which can be tested by another simple relation (Aboav’s law)).
Chain entropy: spoiler or benefactor in pattern recognition?

Although how life began on our planet will always be of intrigue, polymers must have certainly existed before the beginning of life, because life as we now know it requires replicating polymers. There is little doubt (1) that replication of polymers, e.g., DNA, involves complexation among molecules consisting of complementary specific chemical sequences. Such processes of recognition of chemical patterns occur even within one macromolecule leading to tertiary structures (2–6) originating from patterned primary structures, e.g., protein folding. Thus macromolecular recognition of specified chemical patterns, mediated through a combination of coulombic, hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic and hydrophilic, and van der Waals forces, has manipulated evolution of humans and other organisms in this planet over three and half billion years. Yet, little progress has been made in this problem of tremendous significance.
Perioperative coagulation management - fresh frozen plasma

Clinical studies support the use of perioperative fresh frozen plasma (FFP) in patients who are actively bleeding with multiple coagulation factor deficiencies and for the prevention of dilutional coagulopathy in patients with major trauma and/or massive haemorrhage. In these settings, current FFP dosing recommendations may be inadequate. However, a substantial proportion of FFP is transfused in non-bleeding patients with mild elevations in coagulation screening tests. This practice is not supported by the literature, is unlikely to be of benefit and unnecessarily exposes patients to the risks of FFP. The role of FFP in reversing the effects of warfarin anticoagulation is dependent on the clinical context and availability of alternative agents. Although FFP is commonly transfused in patients with liver disease, this practice needs broad reconsideration. Adverse effects of FFP include febrile and allergic reactions, transfusion-associated circulatory overload and transfusion-related acute lung injury. The latter is the most serious complication, being less common with the preferential use of non-alloimmunised, male-donor predominant plasma. FP24 and thawed plasma are alternatives to FFP with similar indications for administration. Both provide an opportunity for increasing the safe plasma donor pool. Although prothrombin complex concentrates and factor VIIa may be used as alternatives to FFP in a variety of specific clinical contexts, additional study is needed.
Application of Raman Spectroscopy and Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering to the Analysis of Synthetic Dyes Found in Ballpoint Pen Inks*

The applicability of Raman spectroscopy and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) to the analysis of synthetic dyes commonly found in ballpoint inks was investigated in a comparative study. Spectra of 10 dyes were obtained using a dispersive system (633 nm, 785 nm lasers) and a Fourier transform system (1064 nm laser) under different analytical conditions (e.g., powdered pigments, solutions, thin layer chromatography [TLC] spots). While high fluorescence background and poor spectral quality often characterized the normal Raman spectra of the dyes studied, SERS was found to be generally helpful. Additionally, dye standards and a single ballpoint ink were developed on a TLC plate following a typical ink analysis procedure. SERS spectra were successfully collected directly from the TLC plate, thus demonstrating a possible forensic application for the technique.
Ray Markov Random Fields for image-based 3D modeling: Model and efficient inference

In this paper, we present an approach to multi-view image-based 3D reconstruction by statistically inversing the ray-tracing based image generation process. The proposed algorithm is fast, accurate and does not need any initialization. The geometric representation is a discrete volume divided into voxels, with each voxel associated with two properties: opacity (shape) and color (appearance). The problem is then formulated as inferring each voxel's most probable opacity and color through MAP estimation of the developed Ray Markov Random Fields (RayMRF). RayMRF is constructed with three kinds of cliques: the usual unary and pairwise cliques favoring connected voxel regions, and most importantly ray-cliques modelling the ray-tracing based image generation process. Each ray-clique connects the voxels that the viewing ray passes through. It provides a principled way of modeling the occlusion without approximation. The inference problem involved in the MAP estimation is handled by an optimized belief propagation algorithm. One unusual structure of the proposed MRF is that each ray-clique usually involves hundreds/thousands of random variables, which seems to make the inference computationally formidable. Thanks to the special property of the ray-clique functional form, we investigate the deep factorization property of ray-clique energy and get a highly efficient algorithm based on the general loopy belief propagation, which has reduced the computational complexity from exponential to linear. Both of the efficient inference algorithm and the overall system concept are new. Combining these results in an algorithm that can reverse the image generation process very fast. 3D surface reconstruction in a 100×100×100, i.e., 106 voxel space with 10 images requires roughly 3 minutes on a 3.0 GHz single-core CPU. The running time grows linearly with respect to the number of voxels and the number of images. And the speed could be further improved with a hierarchical sparse representation of the volume, like octree. Experiments on several standard datasets show the quality and speed of the proposed models and algorithms.
Evaluation of the porcine model to teach various ancillary procedures to gynecologic oncology fellows.

Objective The purpose of this study was to subjectively evaluate the adequacy of the porcine model for training gynecologic oncology fellows. Study Design Following a defined surgical curriculum, fellow-attending pairs operated on female hogs. A predetermined dataset was collected for each procedure. Results Twenty pigs were operated on. The porcine model was determined to be a good model for laparoscopic lymphadenectomy (11), ureteroneocystostomy (7), repair of vascular injury (11), bowel anastamoses (21), distal pancreatectomy (5), nephrectomy (6), partial hepatectomy (5), diaphram stripping (5), and diaphragmatic resection (4). Two attendings and 1 fellow judged the porcine model to be fair (remaining 11 good) for ileocolonic urinary diversion, mainly due to significant differences in anatomy. Liver mobilization (5) and splenectomy (11) were determined to be fair or poor models by all participants due to the limited attachments in the pig. Conclusion The porcine model is adequate for teaching some ancillary gynecologic oncology surgical procedures and is inadequate for others.
Tracking C and N flows through microbial biomass with increased soil moisture variability

Abstract Changes in soil moisture with cycles of soil wetting and drying are associated with shifts in osmotic potentials that can induce physiological stress for microbial communities. These instances of soil moisture stress can be of sufficient magnitude to alter flows of C and N at an ecosystem scale. In this study we manipulated the duration and severity of soil moisture stress and disturbance in grassland soils from four sites along a precipitation gradient. After subjecting soils to a two-month long incubation under two different wetting-drying regimes, one of high and one of low stress and disturbance, we moistened soils with 13 C- and 15 N-labeled glycine solution to trace C and N though the soil and its microbial communities as they dried. Contrary to our predictions, we found evidence for preferential use of N-free osmolytes with increased soil moisture stress in soils from the mesic end of the precipitation gradient. Soils from the western, semi-arid end of the gradient were less sensitive to soil moisture stress and did not differ in N demand under high and low stress. Specific respiration rates were higher in all soils under greater soil moisture stress immediately after re-wetting, then returned to levels equal to or below rates in soils under low soil moisture stress regimes. Nitrification outpaced denitrification processes in soils under the highest levels of soil moisture stress. These results suggest increases in both soil CO 2 release and N losses as stress induced by greater soil moisture variability increases in relatively mesic grassland systems, a predicted consequence of climate change in this region.
Examining children’s health equity under the Chinese basic medical insurance system: A comparison between the United States and Mainland China

Public health insurance for China’s children is analyzed using an equity analysis framework and compared to US public health insurance for low-income children. Four dimensions of comparisons are ad...
Theoretical links between median and coverage location problems

The relationship between the maximal covering problem and the P-median problem is reviewed. It is shown that two multiple coverage models, themaximumexpectedcoverageproblem (MECP) and thebackupcoverageproblem (BACOP), are special cases of thevectorassignmentP-medianproblem (VAPMP). This relationship is utilized to solve both MECP and BACOP on test sets from the literature. Computational experience is reported.
Use of the Ising model in the study of substitutional alloys.

We examine the mathematical and physical basis for choosing the coefficients of an Ising model Hamiltonian, variably known as multisite interactions or effective cluster interactions, used in the study of phase stability of substitutionally disordered alloys. We show that concentration-independent interactions can be defined if and only if the system is assumed to be strictly finite, i.e., to contain a finite number of sites. If the system is infinite, only concentration-dependent interactions can be defined. This strict dichotomy has apparently been missed in previous discussions, and this oversight has led both to erroneous conclusions regarding the relationships between the two types of interactions, and to confusion about methods for determining them. Explicitly, no relationship between the two sets of interactions can exist since these two different types of interactions cannot be defined simultaneously. We also discuss the physical basis for the mapping of alloy configurational energies onto the Hamiltonian of an Ising model, and point out that the use of the model involves the generally unjustified assumption that the kinetics properties of an alloy will allow configurational transformations to occur according to the dictates of the equilibrium thermodynamics of a spin system. In a final section, we present the implications of our results to the study of alloy phase stability and transformations by means of the Ising model.
Comparison of the intrathyroidal fate of iodotyrosine-derived and newly entering iodide in the rat.

Rat thyroid glands were perfused in situ with either 131I-labeled MIT or DIT added to the entering perfusate. Both MIT and DIT entered the thyroid and were promptly deiodinated. The iodide liberated was utilized in the iodination of thyroglobulin. 125I-was added to the perfusate to label the newly entering iodide. Iodide entered 4–8 times more readily than MIT and 20–130 times more readily than DIT. The MIT/DIT and T3/T4 ratios of synthesized labeled iodoamino acids of the thyroid digests were very similar for both isotopes. The data suggest iodide from either source has an identical intrathyroidal fate, i.e., iodide from these sources is incorporated into thyroglobulin to give equal MIT/DIT and T3/T4 ratios. (Endocrinology 89: 184, 1971)
Analysis Of The Stick-Slip Phenomenon Using Downhole Drillstring Rotation Data

The stick-slip phenomenon has been identified in the industry as an inefficient and often damaging drilling vibrational condition. Numerous studies, predominantly focusing on measurements of drillstring torque. have detailed the nature of this phenomenon, and have shown its detrimental effects on drill-string components and especially on PDC bits. Using surface rotary motor current, drilling contractors and surface logging companies have attempted to monitor drillstring torque so as to recognize and correct for this torsional instability. Recent MWD tool developments using downhole drilling rotational speed have established a superior method to identify stick-slip and establish its severity. Measuring actual rotational behavior of the lower BHA gives a better insight to the torsional movement of the drill bit during the drilling process, without the problems involved when inferring this behavior from the surface torque readings, obtained at the opposite end of the drillstring. This paper describes the method of determining the stick-slip behavior downhole from magnetometer readings. The sensors are sampled at a high enough frequency to compute near-instantaneous values of downhole drillstring rotation, and variations in the RPM are then used to establish the incidence and severity of stick-slip. This information is telemetered to the surface and provided to the driller in order to allow for real-time changes in drilling parameters to correct for this mefficiency. Also presented in the paper are several examples using actual field data that detail stick-slip behavior and demonstrate how real-time information about downhole RPM variations can help to reduce the problems associated with this torsional drilling dysfunction.
Left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with renal artery stenosis.

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) has been shown to be 3 times more prevalent in patients with renal artery stenosis (RAS) compared to essential hypertension, but factors that predict LVH in this population are not known. We identified 66 patients with unilateral renal artery stenosis and an interpretable electrocardiogram (ECG). LVH by either Cornell voltage-duration product or Sokolow-Lyon voltage criteria was present in 18 of the 66 patients (27%). The mean intra-aortic blood pressure was 100 ± 14 mm Hg in patients with LVH, and 104 ± 23 mm Hg in those without LVH (P = 0.37). The average stenosis by quantitative computerized angiography was 68 ± 17% in patients with LVH, and 64 ± 13% in those without LVH (P = 0.34). The mean translesional pressure gradient was 11 ± 15 mm Hg in patients with LVH, and 13 ± 20 mm Hg in those without LVH (P = 0.60). Using linear regression models, there was no correlation between intra-aortic blood pressure, percentage of stenosis, or translesional pressure gradient and either Cornell voltage-duration product or Sokolow-Lyon voltage criteria. In summary, LVH using ECG criteria was present in 27% of patients with unilateral RAS but was not associated with blood pressure at the time of the procedure or severity of renal artery stenosis.
Estimate of the Nuclear Moment of Ni 61 from Electron Spin Resonance

The electron spin resonance spectra of nickel and cobalt have been studied in single crystals of MgO. Hyperfine structure was detected from the ${\mathrm{Ni}}^{61}$ isotope in the spectrum of ${\mathrm{Ni}}^{+2}$ and the hyperfine splitting constant ${A}^{61}$ found to be (8.3\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.4)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. X irradiation of cobalt-containing crystals results in the formation of ${\mathrm{Co}}^{+1}$ (isoelectronic with ${\mathrm{Ni}}^{+2}$). The hyperfine splitting constant ${A}^{59}$ is (54.0\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. Comparison between ${A}^{59}$ and ${A}^{61}$ yields a value of 0.30\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02 nm for the nuclear moment of ${\mathrm{Ni}}^{61}$.
Design of kilogram mass scale TES for the cryogenic dark matter search

Recently there has been much interest in the direct detection of the dark matter candidates known as WIMPs. We are developing very sensitive detectors based on phonon detection with transition edge sensors on silicon substrates. These detectors will be deploy ed as part of the Cryogenic Dark Matter Search in collaboration with the Center for Particle Astrophysics. As we extend this technology to practical WIMP searches we will need much higher mass scale detectors. We have demonstrated detectors on 500 µm substrates. To reach the kilogram mass scales we need to pattern wafers that are an order of magnitude thicker with a detector that is at least two orders of magnitude more sensitive. Progress is reported on both these areas and a detector design is discussed.
First report of perithecia of Phaeoacremonium viticola on grapevine (Vitis vinifera) and ash tree (Fraxinus latifolia) in California.

Esca and Petri diseases on grapevine are caused by Phaeomoniella chlamydospora and species of Phaeoacremonium including P. aleophilum, P. viticola, P. angustius, P. parasiticum, P. inflatipes, P. rubrigenum, and P. mortoniae. The teleomorphs of P. aleophilum and P. mortoniae have been recently confirmed as Togninia minima(Tul. & C. Tul.) Berl. (2,3), and T. fraxinopennsylvanica (Hinds) Hausner, Eyjolfsdottir & J. Reid, respectively (1,2,3). Teleomorphs of other Phaeoacremonium spp. have not been identified, although molecular data suggests that Phaeaoacremonium spp. are linked to the genus Togninia. Naturally infected vineyards with symptoms of esca disease were surveyed during the summer and fall of 2004. Samples were collected from declining ash trees surrounding the vineyards, as well as from symptomatic grapevine trunks, cordons, and spurs. Samples were processed as previously described (1). Sterile isolations were also made from symptomatic vascular tissue of the samples and cultured on potato dextro...
The yttrium-cobalt system

Abstract A constitutional diagram for the yttrium-cobalt system is proposed based upon microscopic evidence, thermal analyses and X-ray diffraction data. Evidence was found for the occurrence of nine intermetallic compounds in this system. The structures of three of these, YCo 5 , YCo 3 and YCo 2 have been determined and six other intermediate phases were tentatively identified as having the compositions, Y 2 Co 17 , YCo 4 , Y 2 Co 3 , YCo, Y 3 Co 2 and Y 3 Co. Eutectic reactions occur at 1340°C and 93 at. % Co and at 725°C and 37.5 at. % Co. There appears to be negligible solid solubility of yttrium in cobalt.
Nontraditional surgical approaches for implantation of pacemaker and cardioverter defibrillator systems in patients with limited venous access.

Background Indications for placement of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) and pacemakers have expanded, and traditional transvenous implantation may not be feasible in patients with aberrant anatomy or venous obstruction. In these settings, successful lead placement has required innovative surgical approaches. A case series of successful placement of these systems in challenging patients is presented. Methods A 2-year retrospective study of patients undergoing placement of minimally invasive epicardial pacing leads or ICD coils was performed. Results Eleven patients underwent minimally invasive surgical placement of leads or coils. None were converted to open sternotomy. One required extension to minianterior thoracotomy. Causes of intravenous placement failure included aberrant anatomy with failure to access coronary sinus in 9 and venous occlusion in 2. Four patients had previous operations through a median sternotomy. Procedures included left video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) placement of a left ventricular epicardial lead in 8, left VATS conversion to minianterior thoracotomy left ventricular epicardial lead placement in 1, left VATS placement of ICD coil in 1, subxiphoid placement of a right ventricular epicardial lead in 1, subxiphoid ICD coil in 2, and subcutaneous ICD coil placement in 3. Mean hospitalization was 4.6 days. Postoperative hypotension and pulmonary edema occurred in 27% of patients. No patients died. Conclusions Conventional transvenous lead implantation may be difficult or impossible in some patients with aberrant or occluded venous access. Novel surgical approaches with the use of minimally invasive procedures can establish optimally functional pacing and ICD systems without sternotomy and low associated morbidity.
Do the intervertebral disc cells respond to different levels of hydrostatic pressure

Abstract Objective. To test the hypothesis that hydrostatic pressure directly affects the synthesis of collagen and proteoglycan by intervertebral disc cells. Design. By the use of pressure vessels, hydrostatic pressure was applied to intervertebral disc cells cultured in alginate. Background. The influence of compression (both hydrostatic and axial) on chondrocyte metabolism was examined in a number of earlier studies. However, in most of these studies, articular cartilage, not intervertebral disc was used, and in none of these was hydrostatic pressure applied to intervertebral disc cells cultured in alginate. Methods. Fresh cells were harvested from the lumbar intervertebral discs of dogs. Before their suspension in an alginate gel system, the cells were plated and expanded until they reached confluence. Then, by use of the alginate gel system, the cells were exposed (for up to 9 days) to specific values of hydrostatic pressure inside two stainless steel pressure vessels. One vessel was kept at 0.35 MPa and the other at atmospheric pressure (approximately 0.1 MPa). The effects of 0.35 MPa were compared against atmospheric pressure by measuring the incorporation of [ 3 H ] -proline and [ 35 S ] -sulfate into collagen and proteoglycans, respectively, for the anulus cells and nucleus cells separately, and by determining whether this incorporation was reflected by changes in the levels of mRNA for aggrecan and Types I and II collagen. Results. Proteoglycan synthesis was inhibited at 0.35 MPa as compared to atmospheric pressure for both the nucleus and anulus cells, whereas collagen synthesis was stimulated in the nucleus cells, but inhibited in the anulus cells. The mRNA levels of collagen 1A and collagen 2A decreased in the anulus but showed a differential response in the nucleus (collagen 1A increased, while collagen 2A decreased). The mRNA levels for aggrecan core protein decreased in the anulus and increased in the nucleus. Conclusion. Hydrostatic pressure directly affects the synthesis of collagen and proteoglycan by the intervertebral disc cells. Relevance This in vitro study reveals the direct effect of hydrostatic pressure on disc cells, in the absence of other factors. However, circumspection must be applied when comparisons between these results, from in vitro experiments on dog disc cells, are extrapolated and applied to the whole discs of humans.
Effect of the Power Generation Unit Size on the Energy Performance of Cooling, Heating, and Power Systems

Cooling, Heating, and Power (CHP) systems are a form of distributed generation that can provide electricity while recovering waste heat to be used for space and water heating, and for space cooling by means of an absorption chiller. CHP systems improve the overall thermal energy efficiency of a building, while reducing energy consumption. Since energy conservation has implications on energy resources and environment, CHP systems energy performance should be evaluated based on building primary energy consumption. Primary energy consumption includes the energy consumed at the building itself (site energy) plus the energy used to generate, transmit, and distribute the site energy. The objective of this investigation is to determine the effect of the power generation unit (PGU) size on the energy performance of CHP systems. Since CHP systems energy performance varies with the building energy profiles, in this study the same building is evaluated for three different cities with different climate conditions. This paper includes simulation results for the cases when a CHP system operates with and without a primary energy strategy. Results show that for any PGU size energy savings are guaranteed only when the primary energy strategy is applied. Since CHP system energy performance depends on the building energy use profiles, which depend on climate conditions and other factors such as building characteristic and operation, each case requires a particular analysis in order to define the optimum size of the power generation unit.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Controlling cell–cell interactions using surface acoustic waves

The interactions between pairs of cells and within multicellular assemblies are critical to many biological processes such as intercellular communication, tissue and organ formation, immunological reactions, and cancer metastasis. The ability to precisely control the position of cells relative to one another and within larger cellular assemblies will enable the investigation and characterization of phenomena not currently accessible by conventional in vitro methods. We present a versatile surface acoustic wave technique that is capable of controlling the intercellular distance and spatial arrangement of cells with micrometer level resolution. This technique is, to our knowledge, among the first of its kind to marry high precision and high throughput into a single extremely versatile and wholly biocompatible technology. We demonstrated the capabilities of the system to precisely control intercellular distance, assemble cells with defined geometries, maintain cellular assemblies in suspension, and translate these suspended assemblies to adherent states, all in a contactless, biocompatible manner. As an example of the power of this system, this technology was used to quantitatively investigate the gap junctional intercellular communication in several homotypic and heterotypic populations by visualizing the transfer of fluorescent dye between cells.
Mouse Models of Human Myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) remains incurable despite high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell support. There is need, therefore, for continuous efforts directed toward the development of novel rational-based therapeutics for MM, which requires a detailed knowledge of the mutations driving this malignancy. In improving the success rate of effective drug development, it is equally imperative that biologic systems be developed to better validate these target genes. Here we review the recent developments in the generation of mouse models of MM and their impact as preclinical models for designing and assessing target-based therapeutic approaches.
A digital neuromorphic VLSI architecture with memristor crossbar synaptic array for machine learning

This paper presents a reconfigurable digital neuromorphic VLSI architecture for large scale spiking neural networks. We leverage the memristor nanodevice to build an N×N crossbar array to store synaptic weights with significantly reduced area cost. Our design integrates N digital leaky integrate-and-fire (LIF) neurons and the respective on-line learning circuits for a spike timing-dependent learning rule. The proposed analog-to-digital conversion scheme accumulates pre-synaptic weights of a neuron efficiently and reduces silicon area by using only one shared adder for processing LIF operations of N neurons. The proposed architecture is shown to be both area and power efficient. With 256 neurons and 64K synapses, the power dissipation and the area of our design are evaluated as 9.46-mW and 0.66-mm2, respectively, in a 90-nm CMOS technology.
Neighborhoods, Niches, and Networks: The Religious Ecology of Gentrification:

This article examines the interaction between congregations and the process of gentrification in the sections of Williamsburg and Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY. Gentrification has been thought to encour...
Mapping pyramid algorithms into hypercubes

Abstract In this paper, we present two algorithms to efficiently embed the pyramid network structure into the hypercube. Each algorithm is analyzed with respect to three specific cost gauges: expansion, dilation, and congestion. Both algorithms maintain optimal expansion and low values for the remaining cost gauges. The first algorithm has congestion two and dilation three; the second has congestion three and dilation two.
Safety of bivalirudin during percutaneous coronary interventions in patients with abnormal renal function.

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease is associated with an increased risk of ischemic and bleeding complications after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Bivalirudin, a direct thrombin inhibitor, has been shown to reduce adverse bleeding events compared to unfractionated heparin in patients undergoing PCI. However, the effect of diminished renal function on the safety and efficacy of bivalirudin for PCI is unknown. We aimed to test the safety of bivalirudin in routine practice and to assess whether this benefit was influenced by renal function. METHODS AND RESULTS: The interaction between renal impairment and benefit from bivalirudin was assessed in 115 consecutive patients (age 68.5±12.1, 45% female) undergoing PCI. Bivalirudin dosing was adjusted based on renal function. Creatinine clearance (CrCl) was calculated using the Cockroft–Gault formula. The composite endpoints of in‐hospital death, myocardial infarction or revascularization and bleeding events were assessed. Overall, these events occurred...
The biochemical and physiological effects of insect hosts on the development and ecology of their insect parasites: an overview.

The behavior, development, morphology, and ecology of parasitic insects are known to be influenced by various aspects of their hosts. These aspects include chemical cues emanating from the potential host that influence host location and acceptance by the ovipositing parasite female, as well as the age, size, and general physiological state of the host in which the immature parasite develops. Some parasitic insects develop optimally in the host egg, others in early to mid-larval instar hosts, and still others in late-larval to pupal stage hosts. This niche partitioning among parasites likely reflects parasite strategies to minimize competition. However, important biochemical conditions mediated by endocrine and nutritional factors within the hosts themselves dictate the extent to which these strategies are successful. In this paper I suggest that endocrine-mediated metabolic events in late-larval through pupal stage insects render these stages to be a nutritionally distinct resource from the early through mid-larval stage. Consequently, members of these two groups are exploited by insect parasites which themselves have different nutritional requirements. To support this hypothesis, selected aspects of insect nutrition and endocrinology that may influence the suitability of early to mid-stage larval hosts vs. late-larval to pupal hosts for parasite development are reviewed. The possible impact of host suitability on aspects of parasite ecology, e.g., sex ratios and voltinism, is also briefly addressed.
Self-adhesion among phospholipid vesicles.

A compound was synthesized that binds to a phospholipid bilayer via a hydrophobic steroid thereby projecting a strong multi-hydrogen bonding unit into the surrounding water. As shown by light scattering, light microscopy, and cryo-HRSEM, this latter unit self-adheres and induces membrane−membrane attachments, as found in many biological systems.
Triple-top signal of new physics at the LHC

Abstract We present leading-order (LO) cross sections for the production of three top quarks ( t t t ¯ , t t ¯ t ¯ ) at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). We find a total LO cross section for triple-top production in the Standard Model of σ ≈ 2 fb at s = 14 TeV and we give examples of two new physics models which have a significant enhancement to this channel. In the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM), there are regions of parameter space where the decays of gluino pairs into final states including three tops has a cross section σ ≈ 41 fb . In a leptophobic Z ′ model featuring right-handed couplings of the u-quark to the top, we find σ ≈ 28 fb . With efficient identification and reconstruction of the top quarks, the triple-top signal could potentially provide evidence for new physics at the LHC.
Pityriasis rubra pilaris response to 13-cis-retinoic acid (isotretinoin)

Forty-five patients with pityriasis rubra pilaris were treated with oral 13- cis -retinoic acid (isotretinoin). There was marked improvement in the degree of erythema, induration, and scaling noted within 4 weeks. Remission or maintained improvement persisted after stopping therapy in many of the patients. The drug is a significant addition to the therapeutic armamentarium in this difficult-to-treat disease.
Restarting Anticoagulation and Outcomes After Major Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Atrial Fibrillation

Data regarding the outcomes of restarting anticoagulation in patients who develop gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) while anticoagulated are sparse. We hypothesized that restarting anticoagulation in these patients is associated with better outcomes. This is a retrospective cohort study that enrolled subjects who developed GIB while on anticoagulation from 2005 to 2010. Atrial fibrillation was defined by history and electrocardiography on presentation. GIB was defined as a decrease in hemoglobin by 2 g, visible bleeding, or positive endoscopic evaluation. Time-to-event adjusted analyses were performed to find an association of restarting warfarin and recurrent GIB, arterial thromboembolism, and mortality. Stratified analysis by duration of interruption of warfarin was also performed. Overall, 1,329 patients (mean age 76 years, women 45%) developed major GIB. Warfarin was restarted in 653 cases (49.1%). Restarting warfarin was associated with decreased thromboembolism (hazard ratio [HR] 0.71, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.54 to 0.93, p = 0.01) and reduced mortality (HR 0.67, 95% CI 0.56 to 0.81, p
Immunomagnetic separation of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts using MACS MicroBeads and high gradient separation columns

We evaluated the MACS immunomagnetic separation (IMS) system for concentrating Cryptosporidium parvum. Oocysts were first labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) or rabbit anti-C. parvum antibodies, then linked to MicroBeads coated with anti-FITC or anti-rabbit IgG, and separated through a high gradient separation column. Results indicated that over 95% of oocysts were recovered and their fluorescence and infectivity were retained. The presence of MicroBeads showed no effect on genomic DNA extraction and subsequent polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based analyses, as sensitivity of PCR (10 oocysts) and the band pattern of randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) were identical to those using DNAs extracted from normally purified oocysts. IMS-PCR consistently detected as few as 10 oocysts from 100 ml of apple juice or homogenized milk and IMS-IFA could detect 100 oocysts from 1 g of deer manure, demonstrating the efficiency of IMS in recovering oocysts from environmental and food samples. Our results suggest that the MACS IMS system could be used for multiple applications in Cryptosporidium research.
Integration of the European business cycle: 1871–1910

Abstract This paper presents an analysis of the late-19th century European business cycle by conducting Granger-causality and co-integration tests of both monetary and real interactions. Five European countries—the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and Sweden—and the United States are covered in the 40-year data sample. The results indicate that for the Granger tests, monetary interactions are important among the major European economies, while real interactions are less so. For the co-integration tests, exactly the opposite holds, and consideraable real co-integration is demonstrated. There is an extensive discussion of the literature as well.
Relationships within Cornales and circumscription of Cornaceae-matK and rbcL sequence data and effects of outgroups and long branches.

Abstract Phylogenetic relationships in Cornales were assessed using sequences rbcL and matK . Various combinations of outgroups were assessed for their suitability and the effects of long branches and outgroups on tree topology were examined using RASA 2.4 prior to conducting phylogenetic analyses. RASA identified several potentially problematic taxa having long branches in individual data sets that may have obscured phylogenetic signal, but when data sets were combined RASA no longer detected long branch problems. t RASA provides a more conservative measurement for phylogenetic signal than the PTP and skewness tests. The separate matK and rbcL sequence data sets were measured as the chloroplast DNA containing phylogenetic signal by RASA, but PTP and skewness tests suggested the reverse. Nonetheless, the matK and rbcL sequence data sets suggested relationships within Cornales largely congruent with those suggested by the combined matK – rbcL sequence data set that contains significant phylogenetic signal as measured by t RASA , PTP, and skewness tests. Our analyses also showed that a taxon having a long branch on the tree may not be identified as a “long-branched” taxon by RASA. The long branches identified by RASA had little effect on the arrangement of other taxa in the tree, but the placements of the long-branched taxa themselves were often problematic. Removing the long-branched taxa from analyses generally increased bootstrap support, often substantially. Use of non-optimal outgroups (as identified by RASA) decreased phylogenetic resolution in parsimony analyses and suggested different relationships in maximum likelihood analyses, although usually weakly supported clades (less than 50% support) were impacted. Our results do not recommend using t RASA as a sole criterion to discard data or taxa in phylogenetic analyses, but t RASA and the taxon variance ratio obtained from RASA may be useful as a guide for improved phylogenetic analyses. Results of parsimony and ML analyses of the sequence data using optimal outgroups suggested by RASA revealed four major clades within Cornales: (1) Curtisia–Grubbia , (2) Cornus–Alangium , (3) Nyssa–Camptotheca–Davidia–Mastixia–Diplopanax , and (4) Hydrangeaceae–Loasaceae, with clades (2) and (3) forming a monophyletic group sister to clade (4) and clade (1) sister to the remainder of Cornales. However, there was not strong bootstrap support for relationships among the major clades. The placement of Hydrostachys could not be reliably determined, although most analyses place the genus within Hydrangeaceae; ML analyses, for example, placed the genus as the sister of Hydrangeeae . Our results supported a Cornales including the systematically problematic Hydrostachys , a Cornaceae consisting of Cornus and Alangium , a Nyssaceae consisting of Nyssa and Camptotheca , a monogeneric Davidiaceae, a Mastixiaceae consisting of Mastixia and Diplopanax , and an expanded Grubbiaceae consisting of Grubbia and Curtisia , and two larger families, Hydrangeaceae and Loasaceae.
Fatty acid synthetase activity in Mycobacterium smegmatis. Characterization of the acyl carrier protein-dependent elongating system.

Abstract Mycobacterium smegmatis extracts contain two fatty acyl synthetase systems (Brindley, D.N., Matsumura, S. and Bloch, K. (1966) Nature 224, 666–669). One is the extensively studied multienzyme complex, (molecular weight 1.39 · 106) which produces shorter (C16 and C18) and longer (C24 and higher) fatty acids in a bimodal pattern. The second synthetase is acyl carrierprotein (ACP) dependent and elongates the CoA derivatives of C12 and longer chains. In contrast to the type I synthetase which also extends long fatty acyl chains, the ACP-dependent system produces homologous fatty acids up to 30 carbon atoms long in approximately equal proportions. Other properties which distinguish the ACP-dependent system from the multienzyme complex include the resistance to high concentrations of palmitoyl-CoA and to low ionic strength and the lack of stimulation by mycobacterial polysaccharides. The possibility that the two fatty acid synthetases are complimentary in their function is discussed.