cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimal circadian rhythm control with light input for rapid entrainment and improved vigilance

Circadian rhythm is the biological process critical to the well being of all living organisms. The circadian rhythms oscillate with a period of approximately 24 hours due to the light-darkness pattern of the solar day. Circadian disruption, as experienced by night shift workers, travelers, submariners or miners, can lead to lower productivity, sleep disorder, and other more serious health problems. Using artificial light to regulate the circadian rhythm has long been proposed. The common approach is to use the phase response curve — the amount of steady state phase shift due to light pulses applied at specified times. In this paper, we consider a commonly used nonlinear second order oscillator model for the circadian rhythm response with light intensity as the input. Our first goal is to establish a performance bound by solving the minimum time control problem for a specified phase shift with contrained light intensity. The result is a much faster phase shift as compared to natural light-darkness pattern. We further extend the optimal control to vigilance, which is regulated in part by circadian rhythm, to maximize a vigilance lower bound for specified time and duration. Based on the two-process model of vigilance, the problem is formulated as an optimal control of switched system, and the optimization strategy is demonstrated via a simulation example.
Good self-control moderates the effect of mass media on adolescent tobacco and alcohol use: tests with studies of children and adolescents.

Objective To investigate whether self-control moderates the effect of media influences on tobacco and alcohol use among youth and if so how this effect occurs.
Hematologic data of selenium-deficient and selenium-supplemented rats

Effect of dietary selenium as sodium selenite on in vivo hematological parameters of Sprague-Dawley rats was examined over a 7-month period. Dietary selenium did not alter total hemoglobin, hematocrits, erythrocyte counts, or the osmotic fragility pattern of rat blood. Selenium-excessive (1.0 ppm) rats showed slightly lower but not significantly lower methemoglobin levels than selenium-adequate (0.1 ppm) or selenium-deficient rats. Platelet counts tended to be higher in selenium-excessive rats and lower in selenium-deficient rats than in selenium-adequate rats, but the differences were not statistically significant. No clear trends were observed regarding the effect of dietary selenium on total leukocyte and differential leukocyte counts. After 7 months of dietary treatment blood glutathione peroxidase activity in selenium-deficient rats and in selenium-excessive rats was 16.8% and 142.2% of the activity in selenium-adequate rats. The results indicate that long-term selenium deficiency in rats produces no abnormal hematological parameters or any compensated hemolytic anemia in vivo.
Immunomodulation by pycnogenol in retrovirus-infected or ethanol-fed mice

Pycnogenol® is a commercial mixture of bioflavonoids that exhibits antioxidative activity. The effects of dietary pycnogenol on immune dysfunction in normal mice as well as those fed ethanol or infected with the LP-BM5 murine retrovirus were determined. The ethanol consumption and retrovirus infection cause abnormalities in the function and/or structure of a broad array of cells involved in humoral and cellular immunity. Pycnogenol enhanced in vitro IL-2 production by mitogen-stimulated splenocytes if its production was suppressed in ethanolfed or retrovirus-infected mice. Mitogenesis of splenocytes did not show a significant change in mice treated with pycnogenol. It reduced the elevated levels of interleukin-6 produced in vitro by cells from retrovirus infected mice and IL-10 secreted by spleen cells from mice consuming ethanol. Natural killer cell cytotoxicity was increased with pycnogenol treatment.
Multi-spatial-mode single-beam quadrature squeezed states of light from four-wave mixing in hot rubidium vapor.

We present experimental results on the generation of multi-spatial-mode, single-beam, quadrature squeezed light using four-wave mixing in hot Rb vapor. Squeezing and phase-sensitive deamplification are observed over a range of powers and detunings near the 85Rb D1 atomic transition. We observe −3 dB of vacuum quadrature squeezing, comparable to the best single-spatial mode results previously reported using atomic vapors, however, produced here in multiple spatial modes. We confirm that the squeezing is present in more than one transverse mode by studying the spatial distribution of the noise properties of the field.
Embryonic development of the head and neck: Part 4, organs of special sense

A synopsis of the embryonic development of the eye, the ear, and the olfactory organ and taste buds is presented. The eye is discussed in terms of the sensory and nonsensory protions of the eyeball and of such associated structures as the extrinsic eye muscles, eyelids, conjuctiva, and lacrimal apparatus. The embryology of the internal, middle, and external ear is reviewed, as well as positional changes of both the eye and ear relative to other sturctures of the head and neck. Various congenital defects affecting the eye and ear are also discussed.
Abstract 3504: Generation and optimization of a chimeric antigen receptor against human CD22: A new immunotherapeutic agent for adoptive immunotherapy

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL CD22 is expressed on a number of hematologic malignancies. A recombinant immunotoxin composed of an anti-CD22 Fv fused to a 38 kDa fragment of Pseudomonas exotoxin A (Moxetumomab pasudodtox, HA22) is currently being evaluated in the treatment of B cell malignancies. We used the Fv sequence to construct a series of chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) to determine the optimal affinity, domain structure, and signaling required for optimal anti-leukemic activity. The original anti-CD22 binding domain, BL22, or a newer generation high-affinity domain, HA22, were fused to transmembrane and signaling sequences derived from the TCR zeta-chain, CD28, and CD137. In some constructs we extended the binding domain away from the membrane using constant domains from IgG (CH2CH3). Retroviral gene vectors were used to transduce activated primary T cells with CAR constructs. We found: HA22 Fv, 2 as opposed to 3 signaling motifs, and non-CH2CH3 containing CARs were superior in short-term in vitro tumor cell cytolysis assays, indicating that Fv affinity, signaling, and 3-D structure of the CAR all impact the anti-leukemic effectiveness of CARs. Finally, direct comparison to CD19-specific CAR showed an equivalent or superior killing activity in 2 out of 3 ALL lines tested. Using Scatchard analysis to define the number of CD22 molecules on the surface, the ALL line with the lowest number of CD22 molecules was also the least able to be killed by CAR-transduced T cells. The superior lytic activity of CD19-CAR for this single cell line was due to preservation of high levels of CD19 at the cell surface. We are currently testing the in vivo activity of anti-CD22 CAR in an immunodeficient mouse model bearing human cell lines and primary patient-derived ALL. Our results indicate that CD22-CAR should be developed for the immunotherapy of CD22+ malignancies. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3504. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-3504
Yankee Red: Nonorthodox Marxism in Liberal America

Prologue: The Two Cultures of Marxism Learning from Failure: Orthodoxy in America Radical Subjectivity Proletarian Politics Emancipatory Empirical Science Progressive Pluralism Conclusion: The Rude Awakening Bibliography Index
Three-year growth and stability of Honduran provenances and families of Pinus tecunumanii

Abstract Two orthogonal sets of five trials of P. tecunumanii were established by the CAMCORE Cooperative at several locations in Brazil, Guatemala, South Africa and Venezuela. Sets A and B included 46 and 35 half-sib families, respectively, from the provenances of Jocon, San Francisco, San Esteban and Villa Santa, Honduras. Results from assessment of 3-year height indicated that trees from San Francisco, San Esteban and Villa Santa were equally productive across all sites and should be further tested on a modest scale. Provenance x site interaction in both sets was contributed primarily by the poorest source, Jocon. Of the families tested, 17% were found to have b coefficients less than 0.85 or more than 1.15 or R2 values less than 0.90 and were classified as interactive across environments. The relatively few families causing the significant interaction and the positive significant Spearman rank correlations (r) between most sites of close geograpjic proximity suggested that genotype x site interactions were not serious. However, Spearman rank correlations (r) between sites separated by thousands of kilometers were often less than 0.30 and not significant. When selections from one location are moved large geographic distances, they should first be tested in trials in the new environment before being included in the breeding population.
Immunopathogenesis of Sjögren's syndrome.

Sjogren's syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the sicca symptoms of dry eyes and dry mouth. Glandular dysfunction is thought to arise from destruction associated with lymphocytic infiltration. The degree of glandular destruction, however, does not correlate with the severity of sicca symptoms, suggesting that other mechanisms are involved, including abnormalities in parasympathetic neurotransmission. Autoantibodies against the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor have been implicated in this process, but multiple other autoantibodies have been found. Cytokines elaborated in the inflammatory lesions also appear to be involved and dysregulation of apoptosis are also involved in the pathogenesis of SS. A new two-stage model of SS has been proposed. First, there is a lymphocyte-independent phase during which inappropriate apoptosis results in the generation of apoptotic autoantigens which then attract lymphocytes. Subsequently, in the second lymphocyte-dependent phase, an immune attack causes further cell death and salivary dysfunction. Although the disease generally takes a rather stable and benign course, patients with SS have a significant risk of developing B cell lymphoma.
Longevity of potato seed

Yearly tests were made of potato seed stored for a period of thirteen years under four conditions; viz., (1) In envelope, at room temperature. (2) In bottle, at room temperature. (3) In bottle, at 40° F. (4) In bottle, at 32° F.
On Reliability and Number of Principal Components: Joinder with Cliff and Kaiser

Over the years, in editorial review of manuscripts, I criticized and rejected the sole use of the eigenvalue-greater-than-one rule for principal component analysis of various psychological variables. In a recent review of Kaiser's (1992) manuscript, I examined his debate with Cliff (1988) and was invited to address my concerns over their discussion. Without delineating details of the complex issues involved, this note summarizes my remarks on the unpredictability and uselessness of the reliability approach for determining the number of factors in principal component analysis. Principal component analysis of a score matrix from N persons on p items is employed to uncover the underlying psychological constructs embedded in measurement. The hypothetical standard scores of N persons on each component j will have a variance equal to the corresponding eigenvalue (vj) of the input interitem correlation matrix. This eigenvalue is simultaneously equal to the sum of squares of loadings of all p items on the component. The alpha reliability of each component is defined as the corrected ratio of (vi - l)/vj by Kaiser and of (vj - [l - t21)/vj by Cliff. Kaiser asserted that (1) all components should have positive alphas, thus their corresponding eigenvalues should be greater than 1; (2) if the common within-item reliability t2 = 0, then Kaiser's and Cliff's equations are identical; and (3) under the assumed equality between Cliff's and Kaiser's formulations, vj = 1 + t2(p - 1). These assertions require that reliability of individual items be zero to uphold the eigenvalue-greater-than-1 rule for principal component analysis. However, this requirement will necessarily lead to an unacceptable paradox that the communalities of d items in the resultant solution are zeros. In this regard, Kaiser and Cliff are different in their application of the internal consistency reliability. Even under Cliff's formulation, the eigenvalue-greater-than-1 rule is still 'For correspondence regarding this note, please contact the author at Osgood Laboratory for Cross-Cultural Research, Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis, 1125 East 38th Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46205-2810.
EFFECT OF DELIVERY SYSTEM ON THE PHARMACOKINETICS AND TISSUE DISTRIBUTION OF BIS(DI-ISOBUTYL OCTADECYLSILOXY)SILICON 2,3-NAPHTHALOCYANINE (ISOBOSINC), A PHOTOSENSITIZER FOR TUMOR THERAPY

—Bis(di-isobutyl octadecylsiloxy)silicon 2,3-naphthalocy-anine (isoBOSINC) is a representative of a group of naphthalocyanine derivatives with spectral and photophysical properties that make them attractive candidates for photodynamic therapy (PDT). Tissue distributions were studied in tumor-bearing rats as a function of delivery system and time following administration. The tumor model was an N-(4-[5-nitro-2-furyl]-2-thiazolyl) formamide (FANFT)-induced urothelial cell carcinoma transplanted into one hind leg of male Fischer 344 rats; isoBOSINC was delivered to the rats by intravenous injection of 0.50 mg/kg of body weight as a suspension either in 10% Tween 80 in saline (Tween) or 10% (Cremophor® EL + propylene glycol) in saline (Cremophor). The isoBOSINC was isolated from several tissues and organs, as well as tumors and peritumoral muscles and skin. Quantitation was by a high-performance liquid chromatographic technique with detection that utilizes the native fluorescence of the naphthalocyanine derivative. Independent of the delivery system, the dye was retained in tumors at higher concentrations than in normal tissues, except for spleen and liver. The isoBOSINC retention in tumors was high and was vehicle dependent. For Tween, the maximal ratio of dye in tumor versus peritumoral muscle occurred 12 h after injection; for Cremophor, the maximal ratio occurred later, 336 h postinjection. When the drug was delivered in Tween, isoBOSINC in serum showed two compartment kinetics: half-lives of about 2 and 11 h were found for the distribution and the elimination phases, respectively. When Cremophor was the vehicle, the elimination half-life was about 20 h, and one compartment kinetics was observed. The latter findings may explain the generally higher levels of the dye attained by the tissues at later times with Cremophor as the vehicle. An interesting exception wasthat after 7 and 14 days postinjection in Tween, the levels of dye found in testes were six- to seven-fold higher than those found after Cremophor delivery. Levels of dye were very low or not detectable in the brain. Optimal parameters for PDT of tumors with this novel photosensitizer are clearly time- and vehicle-dependent, and future PDT studies will need to incorporate these modulators.
Minimally invasive discectomy for the treatment of disc herniation causing cauda equina syndrome

Abstract Cauda equina syndrome (CES) is a condition associated with significant morbidity that requires definitive surgical decompression of the nerve roots to prevent permanent disability. Traditionally, wide open decompression has been advocated to obtain optimal decompression with minimal complications. Some have been reluctant to employ minimally invasive strategies to treat urgent conditions. The authors present a small series of four patients who presented with CES and were treated with minimally invasive discectomy (MID). Operative length times (mean ± standard deviation, 102.8 ± 30.9 minutes) were comparable to reported operative length for open laminectomies. All patients had either stabilization or resolution of symptoms at the 6-week follow-up examination. No patients suffered a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak post-operatively. This series of patients presenting with CED at a single institution treated with MID demonstrates that MID can be used to successfully treat CES. Even large fragments can be safely removed without increased risk of a CSF leak.
My Sister’s Keeper: Identifying Eating Pathology Through Peer Networks

This study evaluated a novel intervention designed to teach middle and high school girls to inform adults of the early signs of an eating disorder. Students completed measures assessing the likelihood of talking to a peer about her eating behavior, encouraging a peer to talk to an adult, sharing concerns about a peer with an adult, or talking to an adult about concerns related to herself. Participants demonstrated increased likelihood of talking to an adult about a friend’s eating following intervention. Results indicate it may be possible to significantly increase girls’ willingness to address or share concerns about a friend’s eating.
Playback and speaker-replacement experiments on song-based neighbor, stranger, and self discrimination in male Red-winged Blackbirds

Two experiments were conducted to deterine whether territorial male Red-winged Blackbirds discriminate among neighbor, stranger, and self songs. In the first experiment, recordings of the three classes of songs were played to territorial males. Responses to playback of stranger song, as measured by song rate, intensity of Song Spread display, and closest approach, were significantly stronger than to playback of neighbor song. In addition, stranger song elicited significantly more intense Song Spread displays than did self song. In the second experiment, territorial males were removed from their territories and each was replaced with speakers broadcasting recorded songs of a stranger, and of the removed male. Broadcasts of the removed male's own songs were more effective in discouraging trespassing by neighboring male redwings than were broadcasts of songs of a stranger. However, the two broadcasts did not differ in their ability to deter nonneighboring male redwings from flying through or trespassing within the speaker territory. We suggest that neighbor-stranger discrimination in the Red-winged Blackbird develops as a consequence of associative learing.
Considerations for Comprehensive Assessment of Genetic Predisposition in Familial Breast Cancer

About 10–15% of breast cancer cases are family related, classified as familial breast cancer. The disease was first reported in 1866 and determined to be an autosomal dominant genetic disease in 1971. Germline mutations in BRCA1 were discovered and deemed as the first genetic predisposition for the disease in 1994. By now, genetic predispositions for about 40% of familial breast cancer families have been identified. New molecular genetic approaches currently under development should accelerate the process to identify the full spectrum of genetic predispositions for the disease, thereby enabling a better understanding of the genetic basis of the disease and therein providing benefit to high-risk patients.
Predisclosure Information, Firm Capitalization, and Earnings Information Transfers

Abstract Prior evidence shows small firms experience greater stock price revaluations to earnings reports than do large firms. This finding is attributed to different levels of predisclosure information production and dissemination. Accordingly, because information search activities yield higher expected trading profits for larger firms, prices are “more informative” for larger firms and their earnings reports convey less information. This phenomenon is called the size-related differential information hypothesis. Moreover, asset pricing theory views prices as a function of all information—including information about other firms. This multilateral perspective is consistent with earnings reports yielding price revaluations for other firms, called earnings information transfers. This article hypothesizes that the size-related differential information hypothesis extends to earnings information transfers. It predict and shows that price revaluations to earnings are inversely related to the size of both disclosing and non-disclosing firms. This evidence supports the multilateral price implications of earnings.
Managing the negatives of experience in physician teams

Context Experience is a key shaper of thought and action in the health care workplace and a fundamental component of management and professional policies dealing with improving quality of care. Physicians rely on experience to structure social interaction, to determine authority relations, and to resist organizational encroachments on their work and autonomy. However, an overreliance on experience within physician teams may paradoxically undermine learning, participation, and entrepreneurship, affecting organizational performance. Methods Approximately 100 hours of direct observation of normal workdays for physician teams (n = 17 physicians) in two different work settings in a single academic medical center located in the Northeastern part of the United States. Qualitative data were collected from physician teams in the medical intensive care unit and trauma/general surgery settings. Data were transcribed and computer analyzed through an interactive process of open coding, theoretical sampling, and pattern recognition that proceeded longitudinally. Findings Three particular experience-based schemas were identified that physician teams used to structure social relations and perform work. These schemas involved using experience as a commodity, trump card, and liberator. Each of these schemas consisted of strongly held norms, beliefs, and values that produced team dynamics with the potential for undermining learning, participation, and entrepreneurship in the group. Conclusions Organizations may move to mitigate the negative impact of an overreliance on experience among physicians by promoting bureaucratic forms of control that enable physicians to engage learning, participation, and entrepreneurship in their work while not usurping existing and difficult-to-change cultural drivers of team behavior.
A visible light water-splitting cell with a photoanode formed by codeposition of a high-potential porphyrin and an iridium water-oxidation catalyst

A high-potential porphyrin is codeposited on TiO2 nanoparticles together with our Cp*–iridium water-oxidation catalyst to give a photoanode for a water-splitting cell. The photoanode optically resembles the porphyrin yet electrochemically responds like the Ir catalyst when it is immersed in aqueous solutions. Photoelectrochemical data show that illumination of the codeposited anode in water results in a marked enhancement and stability of the photocurrent, providing evidence for light-induced activation of the catalyst.
The oculomotor internuclear pathway: a double retrograde labeling study.

Abstract To determine whether oculomotor internuclear neurons (INOs) establish unilateral or bilateral connections with the abducens nucleus (nVI), horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and either DAPI or Nuclear Yellow (NY) were injected into nVI and the oculomotor complex (nIII) examined for retrogradely labeled cells. Such injections resulted in retrograde labeling of a large number of INOs within and just dorsal to nIII in the ventral periaqueductal gray; approximately 10% of HRP-positive cells were also labeled with a fluorescent marker. Within the conditions of the experiment, this frequency of double-labeling was largely independent of the amount of HRP of fluorescent label injected or the degree of spread of label at the injections sites. It was also independent of which fluorochrome was used as a second label. Individual double-labeled cells were scattered within and immediately dorsal to nIII within the distribution of single-labeled INOs. These findings provide strong evidence for a subset of nIII INOs that have bilateral projections to nVI; the low frequency of double-labeling, however, suggests that the population of INOs projecting to both nVI may be small.
An improved junction capacitance model for junction field-effect transistors

A new junction capacitance model for the four-terminal junction field-effect transistor (JFET) is presented. With a single expression, the model, which is valid for different temperatures and a wide range of bias conditions, describes correctly the JFET junction capacitance behavior and capacitance drop-off phenomenon. The model has been verified using experimental data measured at Texas Instruments.
The influence of the CHIEF pathway on colorectal cancer-specific mortality

Many components of the CHIEF (Convergence of Hormones, Inflammation, and Energy Related Factors) pathway could influence survival given their involvement in cell growth, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and tumor invasion stimulation. We used ARTP (Adaptive Rank Truncation Product) to test if genes in the pathway were associated with colorectal cancer-specific mortality. Colon cancer (n = 1555) and rectal cancer (n = 754) cases were followed over five years. Age, center, stage at diagnosis, and tumor molecular phenotype were considered when calculating ARTP p values. A polygenic risk score was used to summarize the magnitude of risk associated with this pathway. The JAK/STAT/SOC was significant for colon cancer survival (PARTP = 0.035). Fifteen genes (DUSP2, INFGR1, IL6, IRF2, JAK2, MAP3K10, MMP1, NFkB1A, NOS2A, PIK3CA, SEPX1, SMAD3, TLR2, TYK2, and VDR) were associated with colon cancer mortality (PARTP < 0.05); JAK2 (PARTP = 0.0086), PIK3CA (PARTP = 0.0098), and SMAD3 (PARTP = 0.0059) had the strongest associations. Over 40 SNPs were significantly associated with survival within the 15 significant genes (PARTP < 0.05). SMAD3 had the strongest association with survival (HRGG 2.46 95% CI 1.44,4.21 PTtrnd = 0.0002). Seven genes (IL2RA, IL8RA, IL8RB, IRF2, RAF1, RUNX3, and SEPX1) were significantly associated with rectal cancer (PARTP < 0.05). The HR for colorectal cancer-specific mortality among colon cancer cases in the upper at-risk alleles group was 11.81 (95% CI 7.07, 19. 74) and was 10.99 (95% CI 5.30, 22.78) for rectal cancer. These results suggest that several genes in the CHIEF pathway are important for colorectal cancer survival; the risk associated with the pathway merits validation in other studies.
Substrate specificity of a human-specific esterase.

Abstract A human species-specific esterase has been identified in tissues, cell cultures, and urine. It is the most slowly migrating (i.e., cathodal) of the esterase isoenzymes in agarose electrophoresis; it is not a choline estrase, a pseudocholine esterase, an acetyl phenylalanine-3-naphthyl esterase or N -benzoyl-arginine-3-naphthyl esterase. Hydrolysis of N -methyl indoxyl acetate caused by this esterase is not inhibited by eserine, eserine sulfate, or EDTA. Phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, however, did inhibit hydrolysis. Furthermore, this cathodal esterase does not show any chymotrypsin, trypsin, or leucine aminopeptidase enzyme activity.
Customer benefits and company consequences of customer-salesperson relationships in retailing

Building customer relationships is a top priority in many firms. This study examines the benefits customers receive from relationships with clothing/accessories salespeople. We found that relationship benefits are positively associated with satisfaction, loyalty, word of mouth and purchases. Implications and directions for future research are given based on these findings.
The role of endogenous and exogenous nitric oxide on airway function

Coordinated regulation of airway caliber is important for the maintenance of effective ventilation. Therefore, we sought to characterize the role of endogenously released, and exogenously administered, nitric oxide (NO) in mediating airway smooth muscle relaxation during early postnatal life. In both rat pup and piglet models, cholinergically mediated airway contractile responses were diminished by simultaneous release of endogenous NO and cGMP activation in both central airways and peripheral contractile elements. This ability of endogenously released NO to oppose airway constriction may be impaired in response to hyperoxic exposure or in animal models of cystic fibrosis. Additional studies in piglets have shown that exogenously administered NO causes a modest, but significant, reduction in lung resistance, analogous to the decrease in pulmonary vascular resistance induced by inhaled NO. Clinical trials are now underway in preterm infants at risk for chronic neonatal lung injury to determine whether inhaled NO has a beneficial effect on the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia and whether exogenous NO modulates airway function in such infants.
Metastability and instability in model grain piles: scaling below and at the threshold

Abstract We present a careful simulational study of the onset of instabilities in a toy model grain pile as it is tilted through a threshold angle. Our simulations on a system of 1196 grains reveal qualitative differences in the number of grains undergoing translation over extended length scales below and at the threshold angle. The results are consistent with available experimental data and with the mean field treatments of self-organized critical behavior.
An Improved Correlation for Two-Phase Frictional Pressure Drop in Boiling and Adiabatic Downflow in the Annular Flow Regime:

An improved correlation is presented for annular two-phase frictional pressure drop data for vertical downflow. An ideal dimensionless film thickness based on the vapour volume fraction, a characte...
Cd40 ligand-deficient mice are protected against cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis and pancreatitis-associated lung injury

Background & Aims: The interactions between inflammatory cells and their mediators play important roles in many inflammatory processes, but their importance during acute experimental pancreatitis and pancreatitis-associated lung injury is unclear. To address the role of the interaction between CD40 and its ligand CD40L, molecules that mediate major immunoregulatory functions, pancreatitis was induced by administering supramaximal doses of cerulein in mice that do not express CD40L. Methods: The severity of pancreatitis was measured by serum amylase activity, pancreatic edema, acinar cell necrosis, and pancreas myeloperoxidase activity (an indicator of neutrophil infiltration). Lung injury was quantitated by evaluating lung microvascular permeability and lung myeloperoxidase activity. Results: In pancreatic tissue from control mice and cerulein-treated mice, the expression of both CD40 and CD40L was detected. Immunohistochemical analysis performed in isolated acini from wild-type pancreata showed that both CD40 and CD40L were expressed on the acinar cell surface. Interestingly, pancreatitis and pancreatitis-associated lung injury were markedly decreased in mice deficient in CD40L compared with wild-types. Conclusions: These observations indicate that CD40L plays an important proinflammatory role in pancreatitis and pancreatitis-associated lung injury.
Effect of Magnesium and Calcium Complexation on the Photochemical Properties of Norfloxacin

Abstract— The fluoroquinolone antibiotics can induce skin photosensitivity in some patients and this has been ascribed to the generation of reactive oxygen species, such as singlet oxygen (O2[1Δg]). We have studied the photochemical properties of the different ionized forms of the fluoroquinolone norfloxacin upon complexation with Mg2+ and Ca2+ ions, as it is proposed that the antibiotic exists mainly as a complex in the blood plasma. We found that the norfloxacin cation (pH 8.5) and anionic (pH > 9) forms of norfloxacin are able to complex calcium and magnesium, and their generation of O2 (1Δg) is decreased by complexation. The neutral zwitterionic form and the anionic form also quench singlet oxygen by both chemical and physical pathways regardless of complex formation, while physical quenching is observed for the cation. At pH > 7.4, norfloxacin photobleaches and complexation to Ca2+ and Mg2+ increases the rate at which photobleaching occurs. Thus, both the pH of the medium and complexation with metal cations may affect the phototoxic potential of this antibiotic.
The culture history of Madagascar

Madagascar's culture is a unique fusion of elements drawn from the western, northern, and eastern shores of the Indian Ocean, and its past has fascinated many scholars, yet systematic archaeological research is relatively recent on the island. The oldest traces of visitors are from the first century AD. Coastal settlements, with clear evidence of ties to the western Indian Ocean trading network, were established in several places over the next millennium. Important environmental changes of both plant and animal communities are documented over this period, including the extinctions of almost all large animal species. Urban life in Madagascar began with the establishment of the entrepot of Mahilaka on the northwest coast of the island in the twelfth century. At about the same time, communities with ties to the trade network were established around the island's coasts. From the fourteenth to the sixteenth century, social hierarchies developed in several regions of the island. During the succeeding two centuries, Madagascar saw the development of state polities.
Chronic sinusitis pathophysiology: The role of allergy:

BackgroundChronic hyperplastic eosinophilic sinusitis (CHES) is an inflammatory disease characterized by eosinophil infiltration of sinus tissue that can present with and without nasal polyps (NPs)...
Comorbidity-Age Index: A Clinical Measure of Biologic Age Before Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

Purpose Age has long been used as a major factor for assessing suitability for allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). The HCT-comorbidity index (HCT-CI) was developed as a measure of health status to predict mortality risk after HCT. Whether age, comorbidities, or both should guide decision making for HCT is unknown. Patients and Methods Data from 3,033 consecutive recipients of HLA-matched grafts from five institutions contributed to this analysis. Patients were randomly divided into a training set to develop weights for age intervals and a validation set to assess the performance of prognostic models. Results In the training set, patients age 20 to 39 years, 40 to 49 years, 50 to 59 years, and ≥ 60 years had hazard ratios for nonrelapse mortality (NRM) of 1.21 (P = .29), 1.48 (P = .04), 1.75 (P = .004), and 1.84 (P = .005), respectively, compared with those age younger than 20 years. Consequently, age ≥ 40 years was assigned a weight of 1 to be added to the HCT-CI to constitute a composite...
Evaluation of commercial economic forecasts for use in local government budgeting

Abstract Using a decision-making under uncertainty framework, this paper proposes an approach to evaluating commercial macroeconomic forecasts as used by local governments in forecasting revenues. The approach is applied to a case study of Kansas City. Forecasts of GNP and CPI provided by DRI, Chase and Wharton Econometrics are evaluated along with simple time series extrapolations as inputs to the revenue forecasting process. The results indicate that the variance of forecasts errors is minimized by either extrapolating exogenous variables using time series methods, or relying directly on time series extrapolation methods to forecast revenues.
A Large System Approach Toward Operating the Electric Power System by Decision and Control

Techniques for the computer aided operation and control of the large interconnected power system in its Normal, Alert, Emergency and Restoration conditions were in the process of development at Washington University under consecutive sponsorship by NSF-RANN, ERDA and DOE for the last 15 years. At this point at least a broad based consistent foundation for the computer aided operation and control of the large power system is accomplished. Since this body of results is now scattered in some 45 separate publications it seems timely to discuss the overall accomplishments in a summary fashion as is done in this paper. These results differ from the state of art of the control centers on the power system in being more consistent and much more complete (e.g. computer aided emergency control or restoration as defined here are not state of art) more up to date in parts (e.g. automatic generation control has 1950's servo-mechanism implementation in the state of art) and most of all by being a mathematically and computationally sound large system approach taylored to the operating needs and basic structure of the system itself, not to the imposition of existing solution or computation techniques.
Learning the MI Way: The Effects on Students’ Learning of Using the Theory of Multiple Intelligences

Since the 1988 Education Reform Act, issues of curriculum differentiation, varied learning styles and teaching approaches relevant to the needs of individual pupils have maintained high priority on the education agenda. This article discusses the effects on pupils’ learning of using Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences. It is based on explorations carried out in a project ‘using multiple intelligences in the classroom’, initiated by co-ordinators Brenda Hopper, Val Chamberlain and Barbara Jack in the School of Education at Edge Hill College of Higher Education. The project aimed to focus equally on teachers’ individual professional development, and the learning experiences and development of the pupils involved, and was carried out with teachers in local primary and secondary schools, across a wide range of subjects.
Atmospheric ozone measurement with an inexpensive and fully automated porous tube collector-colorimeter.

Abstract The bleaching action of ozone on indigo and related compounds is well known. We describe sensitive automated instrumentation for measuring ambient ozone. Air is sampled around a porous polypropylene tube filled with a solution of indigotrisulfonate. Light transmission through the tube is measured. Light transmission increases as O3 diffuses through the membrane and bleaches the indigo. Evaporation of the solution, a function of the RH and the air temperature, can, however cause major errors. We solve this problem by adding an O3-inert dye that absorbs at a different wavelength. Here we provide a new algorithm for this correction and show that this very inexpensive instrument package (controlled by a BASIC Stamp Microcontroller with an on-board data logger, total parts cost US$ 300) provides data highly comparable to commercial ozone monitors over an extended period. The instrument displays an LOD of 1.2 ppbv and a linear span up to 300 ppbv for a sampling time of 1 min. For a sampling time of 5 min, the respective values are 0.24 ppbv and 100 ppbv O3.
Numerical Investigations of the Jet Breakup Regime of Electrospray Ionization Using a Carbon Fiber Emitter

This paper presents numerical investigations of jet breakup in electrospray ionization using a carbon fiber emitter. The emitter has a pointed carbon fiber located coaxial with a fused silica capillary of 360μm OD and 75μm ID, with its tip extending 30 micron beyond the capillary exit. The model employs leaky-dielectric formulations to solve electrodynamics and volume-of-fluid technique for tracking the interface. The existing leaky-dielectric model is modified to consider presence of free charges both in the bulk of the liquid as well as on the interface. A velocity perturbation is used at the capillary inlet to emulate the naturally occurring disturbance necessary for the jet breakup. The model is first validated by comparing the model predictions with experimental results for a conventional emitter. Then, it is used to simulate electrospray performance of the carbon fiber emitter, including the Taylor cone and jet breakup processes. The influence of emitter geometry and operating conditions are thoroughly investigated. The droplet diameter and velocity are correlated with flow rate and the correlation results are compared with that reported in literature.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Bushing-Type Current Transformers for Metering

This paper describes a new development in connection with bushing type current-transformer metering circuits. While this development utilizes the two-stage principle and has the same order of accuracy as that of two-stage current transformers, it is different from the conventional two-stage current transformers in that it does not require two-stage wattmeters and watthour meters, but may be used with any wattmeter or watthour meter. The principle and connections of the transformer are explained, and performance curves of a typical unit are given.
Proximate composition of raw beef subprimal cuts

The proximate composition of raw beef subprimal cuts from A maturity carcasses of three fat thicknesses (0.5, 1.0 or 1.5 cm) was determined. The top and bottom round, rump, rib eye roll, chuck roll, and shoulder clod were evaluated. All cuts were trimmed to 0.5 cm external fat, weighed, then closely trimmed of all external and major seam fat, ground, and analyzed for moisture, fat, and fat-free solids. Results indicate that the fat contents of the trimmed cuts from the 0.5 cm fat carcasses were from 5.7 to 11.4% greater than those of the completely trimmed cuts and for cuts from the 1.5 cm fat carcasses, the trimmed cuts were from 9.2 to 18.5% fatter than for the completely trimmed cuts. The greatest increase in percentage fat of closely trimmed subprimal cuts occurred between the levels of 0.5 to 1.0 cm fat. Marbling influenced (P < 0.05) percentage fat in the closely trimmed subprimals.
Chasing the metric: Smoothing learning algorithms for keyword detection

In this paper we propose to directly optimize a discrete objective function by smoothing it, showing it is both effective at enhancing the figure of merit that we are interested in while keeping the overall complexity of the training procedure unaltered. We looked at the task of keyword detection with data scarcity (e.g., for languages for which we do not have enough data), and found it useful to optimize the Actual Term Weighted Value (ATWV) directly. In particular, we were able to automatically set the detection threshold while improving ATWV by more than 1% using a computationally cheap method based on a smoothed ATWV on both single systems and for system combination. Furthermore, we did study additional features to refine keyword candidates which were easy to optimize thanks to the same techniques, and improved ATWV by an additional 1%. The advantage of our method with respect to others is that, since we can use continuous optimization techniques, it does not impose a limit in the number of parameters that other discrete optimization techniques exhibit.
Investigation of Ti-doped NaAlH4 by solid-state NMR

In recent years, the development of Ti-doped NaAlH4 as a hydrogen storage material has gained attention because of its large weight percentage of hydrogen (~5 %) compared to traditional interstitial hydrides. The addition of transition-metal dopants, in the form of Ti-halides, such as TiCl3 dramatically improves the kinetics of the absorption and desorption of hydrogen from NaAlH4. However, the role that Ti plays in enhancing the absorption and desorption of H2 is still unknown. In the present study, 27Al, 23Na, and 1H MAS (Magic Angle Spinning) NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) has been performed to understand the titanium speciation in Ti-doped NaAlH4. All experiments were performed on a sample of crushed single crystals exposed to Ti during growth, a sample of solvent-mixed 4TiCl3 + 112NaAlH4, a reacted sample of solvent-mixed TiCl3 + 3NaAlH4 with THF, and a reacted sample of ball-milled TiCl3 + 3NaAlH4. The 27Al MAS NMR has shown differences in compound formation between solvent-mixed TiCl3 + 3NaAlH4 with THF and the ball-milled TiCl3 + 3NaAlH4. 27Al MAS NMR of the ball-milled mixture of fully-reacted TiCl3 + 3NaAlH4 showed spectral signatures of TiAl3 while, the solvent-mixed 4TiCl3 + 112NaAlH4, which is totally reacted, does not show the presence of TiAl3, but suggests the existence of Al2O3.
Chronic Family Adversity and Infant Attachment Security

A beginning step in the prevention of psychopathology in children is the identification of conditions and events associated with a disproportionately high incidence of behavior problems. Rutter, Cox, Tupling, Berger and Yule (1975a, British Journal of Psychiatry, 126, 493-509) have reported a dramatic increase in the probability of children's adjustment difficulties as a function of multiple family stressors. However, this association has never been tested with infants. Among instruments of infant behavior, attachment classification has been found to be a significant predictor of later adjustment problems, particularly among low-income samples. The present investigation examines the relation between six significant familial stressors and infant attachment security in a sample of 100 low-income parent-infant dyads. Family stressors included parental criminality, maternal depressive symptomatology, maternal personality risk, overcrowding in the home, and the quality of the relationship with a significant other. Cumulative family adversity was found to differentiate secure from insecure infants, but only among families with three or four stressors present. There also was moderate support for one hypothesis derived from attachment theory, namely that stressors more closely associated with maternal functioning are more common among families with insecurely attached infants. Conceptual links between stressors and attachment are discussed, including pathways by which chronic stressors may interfere with the formation and maintenance of secure mother-infant attachment relations.
Transcriptional responses to thermal acclimation in the eurythermal fish Gillichthys mirabilis (Cooper 1864)

Thermal acclimation (acclimatization) capacity may be critical for determining how successfully an ectotherm can respond to temperature change, and adaptive shifts in gene expression may be pivotal...
In reply to: “e-Iatrogenesis: The most critical consequence of CPOE and other HIT”

We agree with Weiner et al. that adoption of the term “e-Iatrogenesis”1 is both timely and necessary as we begin to identify what we have called “new kinds of errors”2 resulting from CPOE implementation. The computerization of clinical information capture with software tools such as CPOE will doubtlessly cause the emergence of a wide variety of new kinds of errors: “e-Iatrogenesis” provides a clear and concise rubric for these unintended …
Segmented regression analysis of interrupted time series studies in medication use research

Interrupted time series design is the strongest, quasi-experimental approach for evaluating longitudinal effects of interventions. Segmented regression analysis is a powerful statistical method for estimating intervention effects in interrupted time series studies. In this paper, we show how segmented regression analysis can be used to evaluate policy and educational interventions intended to improve the quality of medication use and/or contain costs.