cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A geometric and material nonlinear plate and shell element

Abstract A displacement-based versatile and effective finite element is presented for linear and geometric and material nonlinear analysis of plates and shells. The element is formulated by interpolating the element geometry using the mid-surface nodal point coordinates and mid-surface nodal point normals. A total and an updated Lagrangian formulation are presented, that allow very large displacements and rotations. In linear analysis of plates, the element reduces to well-established plate bending elements based on classical plate theory, whereas in linear analysis of shells and geometrically nonlinear analysis of plates and shells by use of the element, in essence, a very general shell theory is employed. The element has been implemented as a variable-number-nodes element and can also be employed as a fully compatible transition element to model shell intersections and shell-solid regions. In the paper various sample solutions are presented that illustrate the effectiveness of the element in practical analysis.
The frequency and apertures of fractures in rock

Abstract Pressure-test data have been used to estimate the average spacing and the average aperture of water-conducting fractures in undisturbed rock masses. Discharges from packer injection tests show skewed distributions when adjusted to uniform test conditions. Each distribution is a compound of (i), the distribution of numbers of fractures intersected by drill-holes in the intervals between packers, and (ii) the distribution of fracture apertures. The numbers are approximately Poisson-distributed in structurally-uniform rock, thus λ, the mean and variance of fracture frequency, can be estimated from the frequency of intersecting no water-conducting fractures, which is the observed frequency of zero-discharges. Once λ is known, the mean aperture and standard deviation of apertures of equivalent parallel-plate openings can be computed from the parameters of the discharge distribution. Apertures, measured on outcrops by photographing fractures treated with a fluorescent dye penetrant, are lognormally distributed. If the lognormal shape prevails also in undisturbed rocks, then the mean and standard deviation computed from water tests may also disclose fracture sizes at any specified depth in a rock body.
Pectic enzyme production by two strains of pseudomonas fluorescens associated with the pinkeye disease of potato tubers

A bacterium identified asPseudomonas fluorescens was isolated from pinkeye lesions of infected Kennebec potato tubers. Two isolates which rapidly macerated tuber slices were selected for further study. Supernatants from macerated potato tuber slices inoculated previously with either isolate 13 or 31 ofP. fluorescens contained pectic enzyme activity. Trace amounts of pectin methylesterase activity were observed in the supernatants. Optimum viscosity reduction of sodium polypectate (NaPP) or pectin substrates by the enzyme complexes occurred at pH 8.6 and 7.2 respectively.
Solvent Effects on the Fluorescence Depolarization Rates of Coumarins in Solution: The Likely Influence of Site-Selective Hydrogen Bonding

Fluorescence up-conversion gating experiments with resolution of ∼150 fs have compared the fluorescence anisotropy relaxation time profiles for coumarins (C's) 151, 152A, and 153 in different solve...
The use of high-resolution ultrasound to locate parathyroid tumors during reoperations for primary hyperparathyroidism.

In a previous report we compared intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) to preoperative ultrasound (US) in 25 consecutive patients undergoing reoperations for primary hyperparathyroidism. We demonstrated the superior effectiveness of IOUS to image abnormal parathyroid glands compared to US, and a 50% reduction in operative time resulting from this superior imaging capability. The present study extends these comparisons of preoperative imaging techniques to include computed tomography (CT) and technetium/thallium scintigraphy (Tc/Tl) in an updated series of 39 patients undergoing reoperative parathyroid surgery. All 39 patients underwent successful reoperations for either parathyroid adenoma (34 patients), parathyroid hyperplasia (4 patients), or parathyroid carcinoma (1 patient). IOUS was more effective than preoperative US, CT scan, or Tc/Tl scintigraphy in imaging 41 abnormal glands in these 39 patients. IOUS was not dependent on size or anatomic location of an abnormal gland for successful imaging. Abnormal glands in unusual locations, such as intrathyroidal adenomas or undescended adenomas, were imaged accurately with IOUS. Multiglandular disease was detected by IOUS, with correct imaging of 3 hyperplastic glands in a single patient; no other imaging technique was able to identify more than 1 abnormal gland in any patient. No imaging study (including IOUS restricted to the neck alone) was able to identify accurately a mediastinal parathyroid adenoma (1 patient). A clinical decision analysis revealed that IOUS had the highest sensitivity and positive predictive value of any imaging study. IOUS is thus a tool to be used by the surgeon in reoperations for parathyroid disease to facilitate dissection and identification of abnormal glands. When positive, IOUS can help the surgeon proceed quickly and easily to the location of abnormal tissue.
CORR Insights®: Obesity does not affect survival outcomes in extremity soft tissue sarcoma.

This CORR Insights® is a commentary on the article “Obesity Does Not Affect Survival Outcomes in Extremity Soft Tissue Sarcoma” by Alamanda and colleagues available at: DOI: 10.1007/s11999-014-3714-7. The author certifies that she, or any member of her immediate family, has no funding or commercial associations (eg, consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article. All ICMJE Conflict of Interest Forms for authors and Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research® editors and board members are on file with the publication and can be viewed on request. The opinions expressed are those of the writers, and do not reflect the opinion or policy of CORR ® or the Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons®. This CORR Insights® comment refers to the article available at DOI: 10.1007/s11999-014-3714-7.
Disturbance effects on species richness of herbaceous plants in a semi-arid habitat

Abstract Maintaining or increasing plant species diversity is often a goal of habitat managers in semi-arid environments. The author compared herbaceous species richness on disced and untreated plots for 5 years after treatment. Effects of discing once, twice, thrice, and annually (October 1994; October 1990 and 1994; October 1990, 1992, and 1994; and October 1990–1994) during a 5-year period on species richness during the first growing season after the final discing treatment was also determined. Total species richness during spring was 108% and 100% greater on disced plots in the 4th and 5th years post-treatments, respectively, on Delmita fine sandy loam, but species richness between treatments was similar on Ramadero loam. In October 1995, total species richness was 100% greater on plots disced only once than on plots disced annually on Delmita fine sandy loam. Plots disced once had greater species richness than all other treatments on Ramadero loam in October 1995. Discing temporarily increases herbaceous species richness, but results are not consistent in part because of the confounding effects of rainfall patterns, soil series, and season of the year.
Stability of Residual Acid Phosphatase Activity in Cured/ Canned Picnic Samples Stored at -34°C for 15 and 36 Months

Calculated internal temperatures (based on residual acid phosphatase activity values) were determined for samples obtained from domestically prepared cured/canned picnics which previously had been heat-processed to 61°, 62.7°, 65.5°, 68.3°, and 70.9°C, respectively, and stored at -34°C for up to 36 months. There was a greater loss in residual acid phosphatase activity (based on an increase in calculated internal temperature) during the first 15 months of storage, with the least loss occurring during the next 21 months of storage. The greatest loss of activity occurred in those samples heat-processed to 61°C and 62.7°C which also contained the greatest amount of residual acid phosphatase activity.
PERCEIVED TEXTURAL DIMENSIONS OF FRUIT‐BASED BEVERAGES

The major sensory dimensions of the mouthfeel of fruit based beverages were determined by principal components analysis and the degree of correlation between mouthfeel characteristics and the taste and pleasantness of beverages was assessed. Untrained college students rated 35 different beverages on 16 different 10-point scales containing mouthfeel, taste and hedonic terms. Two major mouthfeel dimensions emerged with this set of beverages and they were termed density/thickness and chemical irritant effect. An interdependence between mouthfeel and taste ratings was also found. Sweetness ratings were negatively correlated and sour, salty and bitter tastes were positively correlated with mouthfeel terms describing oral mucosal irritation.
Estimation of aircraft aerodynamic parameters from flight data

Several ways for obtaining aerodynamic parameters of an aircraft from flight data are presented. A brief description of data analysis from steady measurements is given, and a concept of system identification is introduced. This is followed by a mathematical model of an aircraft with aerodynamic forces and moments approximated either by polynomials or splines and a detailed treatment of two often-used techniques for parameter estimation. Because of renewed interest in frequency-domain analysis, one section of the paper is devoted to this problem. The methods are demonstrated in several examples using real flight data.
Specificity of a cognitive operation

Summary The question asked was whether a cognitive operation learned in one language necessarily transferred to a bilingual's second language. The task studied was inverting a list. Five groups of bilingual S s practiced saying either their native alphabet or the English alphabet backwards, and were tested on the other. The general result was that a cognitive operation did not transfer but a particular response did: the closer in sound the two alphabets, the greater the transfer. In a second experiment, native speakers of English were tested on two lists in English with comparable results. When rhythmic or phonetic properties of the two lists were similar, some transfer was shown: but less transfer was shown between an alphabet and a nursery rhyme than between two nursery rhymes of similar structure. Thus, particular cognitive skills seem to be learned within specific response systems and not as a general property of S . Qualitative observations on chunking and on the role of imagery demonstrate that a change occurs in the representation of task skills with performance.
Phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

Importance to the field: Since sildenafil was introduced 10 years ago, highly selective phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5i) have changed the medical management of erectile dysfunction (ED). A significant body of research has been devoted to the use of this class of medication for the treatment of ED and has advanced our understanding of erectile physiology. Recently, investigators have noted the potential benefits of this class of medication in the treatment of various urologic and non-urologic conditions, and novel agents in this class are in late-stage trials.Areas covered in this review: Clinical and basic science articles published between 1990 and 2009 were selected from multiple sources, including PubMed, Lexis-Nexis, EBSCO, and manufacturer websites. Our search focused on clinical outcomes of PDE5i for the treatment of ED and other medical conditions and basic science publications examining pharmacologic effects.What the reader will gain: This review provides a thorough description of the c...
The challenge and advancement of annulus fibrosus tissue engineering

Background Intervertebral disc degeneration, a main cause of back pain, is an endemic problem and a big economic burden for the health care system. Current treatments are symptom relieving but do not address underlying problems—biological and structural deterioration of the disc. Tissue engineering is an emerging approach for the treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration since it restores the functionality of native tissues. Although numerous studies have focused on the nucleus pulposus tissue engineering and achieved successes in laboratory settings, disc tissue engineering without annulus fibrosus for the end stage of disc degeneration is deemed to fail. The purpose of this article is to review the advancement of annulus fibrosus tissue engineering.
Smarter screening for prostate cancer: for the few, not the many? A stratified approach based on baseline risk.

Evaluation of: van Leeuwen PJ, Connolly D, Tammela TLJ et al. Balancing the harms and benefits of early detection of prostate cancer. Cancer 116(20), 4857–4865 (2010).Prostate cancer screening remains controversial, with different countries taking different views on its value. We review the study by van Leeuwen and colleagues, evaluating the risk–benefit ratio for screening from the European Randomized study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC) stratified by age and serum prostate-specific antigen level at study entry. Though the overall results from the ERSPC demonstrated a 20% relative reduction in prostate cancer mortality in the screened arm, the current study demonstrated that the benefit was minimal for men aged 55–74 years with a serum prostate-specific antigen <4 ng/ml and came at the expense of significant overdiagnosis and overtreatment. This study adds to the growing body of evidence that prostate cancer screening works, but not for everyone, and suggests a smarter strategy of targeted scre...
GELATION OF MILK SOLIDS BY ORTHOPHOSPHATE.

Abstract The gelation of milk solids dispersed in high concentrations of orthophosphate was studied by following changes in viscosity of the solutions. The rate of the gelation process was found dependent on the concentration of phosphate, calcium, and caseinate complex. Also, the rate depends on pH, temperature, agitation, and the identity of the phosphate counterion. Below certain critical concentrations, polyphosphates retard gelation. Metal ions also retard gelation but have no critical concentration limits. Viscosity data indicate that the gelation process consists of two phases: An initial, null phase characterized by little change in the viscosity and a second phase characterized by a rapid change in the viscosity. Although a high concentration of phosphate provides the driving force for the gelation process, calcium is also required. During gelation CaHPO 4 may possibly be bound at sites in the interior of the caseinate particles.
Test Development and Materials Characterization Capability for High-Strength Aluminum Alloy Fatigue Crack Growth Response Under Mixed-Mode Loading Conditions

To meet operational efficiency and productivity demands of the 21st century marketplace, aerospace and transportation sector platforms are being driven to incorporate increasingly larger and more highly stressed unitized structural components. This recent trend has prompted the need for improved fatigue crack growth characterization methodologies to understand impact of relevant mixed-mode loading conditions on crack growth direction and life estimation. This paper describes the development of an Alcoa capability to study and model fatigue crack growth behavior under combined mode I and mode II loading in high-strength aluminum products. The objective is to demonstrate the experimental capability necessary to improve the basic understanding of the roles and synergistic effects of mixed-mode loading (modes I and II) and microstructural resistance, as they relate to fatigue crack growth direction and life estimation. The particular alloy selected for this study is aluminum alloy (AA) 7050-T7651 thick plate taken to be representative of a widely used material for aircraft thick structural parts. The specimens chosen for this capability study are based on the compact tension shear (CTS) specimen documented in the literature. Results are presented to demonstrate the development of stress-intensity factor and compliance solutions to automate the fatigue precracking step. Full-field strain measurements for a notched specimen are used to further validate the finite element analysis. In addition, preliminary results are presented to explore the feasibility of a Keq approach based on total strain-energy release rate to evaluate similitude in the fatigue crack growth rate relationship for the mixed-mode loading case. Preliminary fatigue crack growth test results show that under combined modes I and II loading, the fatigue crack growth rate and direction depend strongly on the competition between the mixed-mode crack-tip driving force and microstructural planes offering the weakest crack growth resistance.
Magnetic Field-Induced Ordering of a Polymer-Grafted Biomembrane−Mimetic Hydrogel

A biomembrane−mimetic complex fluid that spontaneously orients in the presence of a magnetic field to yield a highly ordered lamellar structure is described. Macroscopically oriented lamellae were produced by exploiting the inverted thermoreversible phase transition of the material, that is, by aligning the sample below the phase transition temperature (<16 °C) (i.e., in the fluid, hexagonal micellar phase) and warming to produce the lamellar gel phase in a 7.05 T magnetic field. The in situ field-induced alignment was studied by deuterium NMR. The lamellar domains were found to preferentially orient perpendicular to the applied field (negative order). Characterization of the magnetic field-induced anisotropy by polarized optical microscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering/diffraction (SAXS) indicates that it persists even upon field termination. The directional alignment was flipped by 90°, with the lamellar domains oriented parallel to the field (positive order), simply by modifying the composition thro...
A practical test set bound for rank learning

In a world of exponentially growing data and finite computing resources, rank learning methods can play a critical role in data prioritization. While a number of new rank learning algorithms have been developed, there is a relative paucity of work to generate bounds that characterize the performance of these algorithms. When such bounds have been developed, it has often proved difficult to apply them in real-world settings. In this paper, we develop a new performance bound based on a novel application of the test set bound to rank learning. This bound can be applied to any ranking algorithm. We conduct experiments using data from the Web30K set and report results that demonstrate the tightness and validity of the test set bound for this type of application. We provide a discussion of its use for model selection as well as for comparing algorithmic performance.
Leptin Induces Insulin-like Signaling That Antagonizes cAMP Elevation by Glucagon in Hepatocytes

Although many effects of leptin are mediated through the central nervous system, leptin can regulate metabolism through a direct action on peripheral tissues, such as fat and liver. We show here that leptin, at physiological concentrations, acts through an intracellular signaling pathway similar to that activated by insulin in isolated primary rat hepatocytes. This pathway involves stimulation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) binding to insulin receptor substrate-1 and insulin receptor substrate-2, activation of PI3K and protein kinase B (AKT), and PI3K-dependent activation of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase 3B, a cAMP-degrading enzyme. One important function of this signaling pathway is to reduce levels of cAMP, because leptin-mediated activation of both protein kinase B and phosphodiesterase 3B is most marked following elevation of cAMP by glucagon, and because leptin suppresses glucagon-induced cAMP elevation in a PI3K-dependent manner. There is little or no expression of the long form leptin receptor in primary rat hepatocytes, and these signaling events are probably mediated through the short forms of the leptin receptor. Thus, leptin, like insulin, induces an intracellular signaling pathway in hepatocytes that culminates in cAMP degradation and an antagonism of the actions of glucagon.
Threshold quantity criteria for risk management programs: recommendations for toxic releases.

Facilities using hazardous substances are required to comply with risk management programs that aim to reduce the frequency of chemical accidents and the severity of consequences in the event of an accident. Both the European Union and the United States use chemical-specific weight thresholds for toxic substances to determine those facilities and processes that must comply with such programs. This study evaluates whether the establishment and use of these 'threshold quantities' is consistent and protective of public health. The chemical footprint or hazard zone length is calculated using current threshold quantities and 'level of concern' (LOC) concentrations for 77 toxic chemicals in the US regulations. Using the worst-case scenario and the recommended procedure involving the Risk Management Program (RMP)*Comp, footprint lengths range up to 40 km. However, the RMP*Comp program provides inconsistent results. Threshold quantities are then calculated using an atmospheric dispersion model and several meteorological and land-use scenarios. In the base scenario (winds at 4.3 m/s, neutral stability, urban conditions, and distances of 100, 250, and 1000 m), distance-based weight thresholds are considerably smaller than current listings for most toxic substances. Distance-based and current thresholds have low correlation (e.g. r=0.34) and large discrepancies (e.g. differences up to three orders of magnitude). Alternative scenarios evaluated for distance-based threshold quantities, which used using stable atmospheres and rural settings further reduce the distance-based weight thresholds and increase discrepancies. Linear relationships are shown between threshold quantities and level of concerns for each scenario and dispersion mode (neutral or dense) that allow simple calculation of threshold quantities. The current thresholds may exclude facilities that could pose significant off-site risks, and the thresholds are inconsistent with the off-site consequence analysis (OCA). Recommendations include revising the threshold quantities that determine covered facilities/processes; modifying RMP*Comp to eliminate errors; establishing threshold quantities using a more rational approach, e.g. based on hazard zones or distances using credible scenarios; and using the same health-based level of concern in both initial screening and subsequent off-site consequence analyses.
Mobilization-competent Lentiviral Vector-mediated Sustained Transcriptional Modulation of HIV-1 Expression.

Current anti-HIV-1 strategies reduce replication through targeting of viral proteins and RNA; meanwhile, targeting at the level of the integrated provirus has been less explored. We show here that mobilization-competent vectors containing small noncoding RNAs targeted to transcriptionally active regions of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) long terminal repeat (LTR) can take advantage of integrated virus and modulate HIV-1 replication. Transcriptional silencing of HIV-1 correlates with an increase in silent-state epigenetic marks including histone and DNA methylation, a loss of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) recruitment, and requires Argonaute 1 (Ago-1), histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC-1), and DNA methyltransferase 3a (DNMT3a) localization to the LTR. Long-term suppression of the virus was observed for 1 month with no evidence of viral resistance. These data show that RNA-directed transcriptional silencing of HIV-1 can be delivered by a mobilization-competent vector, suggesting that this system could be used to target long-term selective pressures on conserved promoter elements to evolve less pathogenic variants of HIV-1.
Comparison of refinement criteria for structured adaptive mesh refinement

We have investigated and analyzed the grid convergence issues for an adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) code. We have found that the numerical results for the AMR grid may have a larger error than those for the unrefined uniform grid. After a detailed analysis, we have found that the numerical solution at the coarse-fine interface between different levels of the grid converges only in the first-order accuracy. Therefore, the error near the coarse-fine interface can quickly dominate the error in the other regions if the coarse-fine interface is active and not covered by the fine grid. We propose, implement, and compare several refinement criteria. Some of them can catch the large-error region near the coarse-fine interface and refine them with the fine grid.
Velocity measurements of sputtered atoms in excited states

Abstract The decay of intensity as a function of the distance from the target surface has been measured for a number of transitions from excited states in several species of sputtered atoms. The experimental data are fitted to two different models from which the velocity component normal to the target surface and the threshold kinetic energy for the excited atoms can be derived. The implications of the results to the excitation process in sputtering are discussed.
Iron deficiency anemia and scholasticachievement in young adolescents

The composite score of the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills, a measure of scholastic performance, was found to be significantly lower in anemic, presumably iron-deficient, students, ages 12 to 14 years, than in nonanemic student compeers. The male anemic students' test scores showed a progressive decline from ages 12 to 14, while performance remained consistently poor among the anemic females.
Mercury interferes with endogenous antioxidant levels in Yukon River subsistence-fed sled dogs

Before adopting modern corn-and-grain-based western processed diets, circumpolar people had a high fat and protein subsistence diet and exhibited a low incidence of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Some health benefits are attributable to a subsistence diet that is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants. Pollution, both global and local, is a threat to wild foods, as it introduces contaminants into the food system. Northern indigenous people and their sled dogs are exposed to a variety of contaminants, including mercury, that accumulate in the fish and game that they consume. The sled dogs in Alaskan villages are maintained on the same subsistence foods as their human counterparts, primarily salmon, and therefore they can be used as a food systems model for researching the impact of changes in dietary components. In this study, the antioxidant status and mercury levels were measured for village sled dogs along the Yukon River. A reference kennel, maintained on a nutritionally balanced commercial diet, was also measured for comparison. Total antioxidant status was inversely correlated with the external stressor mercury.
Identity of the avian wing digits: problems resolved and unsolved.

Controversy over bird wing digit identity has been a touchstone for various ideas in the phylogeny of birds, homology, and developmental evolution. This review summarizes the past 10 years of progress toward understanding avian digit identity. We conclude that the sum of evidence supports the Frame Shift Hypothesis, indicating that the avian wing digits have changed anatomical location. Briefly, the derivation of birds from theropod dinosaurs and the positional identities of the avian wing digits as 2, 3, and 41 are no longer in question. Additionally, increasing evidence indicates that the developmental programs for identity of the wing digits are of digits I, II, and III. Therefore, the attention moves from whether the digit identity frame shift occurred, to what the mechanisms of the frame shift were, and when in evolution it happened. There is considerable uncertainty about these issues and we identify exciting new research directions to resolve them. Developmental Dynamics 240:1042–1053, 2011. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Biosorption of cadmium, cobalt, nickel, and strontium by a Bacillus simplex strain isolated from the vadose zone

A subsurface Gram-positive, endospore-forming, filamentous bacterium, designated ZAN-044, was isolated from a depth of 96.2 m in the vadose zone of the Hanford Site in Washington State. A phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain ZAN-044 revealed it to be 99.5% similar toBacillus simplex strain DSM 1321, indicating that they may be members of the same species.B. simplex ZAN-044 was studied along withBacillus subtilis 168, andEscherichia coli K-12 (AB264), two well-characterized metal-sorbing bacteria, for the binding of Cd2+, Co2+, Ni2+, and Sr2+. There was rapid (less than 1 h) uptake of 1 μM metal by the three bacteria in the order Cd>Ni≥Co>Sr. Binding followed a saturation isotherm at cation concentrations from 0.1 μM to 1 mM. Cation binding was pH-dependent, with less binding at low pH.B. simplex ZAN-044 bound more metal thanB. subtilis orE. coli, demonstrating that subsurface microorganisms can remove significant quantities of metals from solution and may be able to influence radionuclide and metal transport in the subsurface.
Role of meteorological processes in two New England ozone episodes during summer 2001

[i] We examined the impact of dynamical processes on spatial variability in ozone (O 3 ) mixing ratios at closely spaced air monitoring sites in southern New Hampshire (NH) during two O 3 episodes, July 21-25 and August 2, 2001. The Meso-scale Meteorological Model (MM5) and the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) photochemical model were applied together with ground-based atmospheric chemistry observations conducted by the Atmospheric Investigation, Regional Modeling, Analysis and Prediction (AIRMAP) program at the University of New Hampshire. Observations and model simulations suggested that during the July episode long-range transport via the nocturnal low-level jet (LLJ) played an important role in producing elevated daytime mixing ratios of O 3 . The marine site Isle of Shoals experienced the highest level of O 3 , possibly a result of having more diverse upwind sources and less ventilation compared to continental sites. Our model results suggest that during daytime the shallow sea breeze circulation contributes to high levels of O 3 at coastal and marine sites while the channeling effect of the Appalachian Mountains influences inland locations. In contrast to the July event, the event on August 2 was characterized by weak and transient synoptic flows, indicating insufficient time for transport of O 3 and its precursors from distant sources to inland sites in NH. Backward trajectories for both events showed that 03-rich air masses from the Boston metropolitan area can contribute to the high levels of O 3 (>120 ppbv) at coastal and marine sites in southern NH. Our results suggest that the International Consortium of Atmospheric Research on Transport and Transformation (ICARTT), an international field campaign based in the northeastern United States in summer 2004, should coordinate mobile platforms to investigate the vertical structure and chemical composition of the LLJ, the sea breeze, and the terrain-forced flows, and estimate the influx of O 3 and its precursors to central New England.
High-displacement piezoelectric actuator utilizing a meander-line geometry II. Theory

For pt.I see ibid., vol.38, no.5, p.454-60 (1991). A simple electromechanical model of the meander-line actuator is developed. The model consists of a voltage-actuated force source, which is the result of the piezoelectric properties of the bars that make up the actuator, in parallel mechanically with a stiff spring that models the compression-expansion response of the piezoelectric bars. This parallel combination is in series mechanically with a second spring. This series connection is subjected to large bending moments that cause the stiffness of this second spring to be much less than the stiffness of the spring in parallel with the force source. The addition of stiffeners to the actuator can significantly reduce these bending moments and thus increase the stiffness of this second spring. As a result, the force generation capability of the actuator is significantly increased without affecting its displacement capability. >
Obstetrician–Gynecologists and contraception: practice and opinions about the use of IUDs in nulliparous women, adolescents and other patient populations

Abstract Objectives Use of intrauterine devices (IUDs) by US women is low despite their suitability for most women of reproductive age and in a variety of clinical contexts. This study examined obstetrician–gynecologists' practices and opinions about the use of IUDs in adolescents, nulliparous women and other patient groups, as well as for emergency contraception. Design A survey questionnaire was sent to a computer-generated sample of 3000 fellows who were reflective of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (College) membership. Results After exclusions from the 1552 returned surveys (51.7% response rate), 1150 eligible questionnaires were analyzed. Almost all obstetrician–gynecologists (95.8%) reported providing IUDs, but only 66.8% considered nulliparous women, and 43.0% considered adolescents appropriate candidates. Even among obstetrician–gynecologists who recalled reading a College publication about IUDs, only 78.0% and 45.0% considered nulliparous women and adolescents appropriate candidates, respectively. Few respondents (16.1%) had recommended the copper IUD as emergency contraception, and only 73.9% agreed that the copper IUD could be used as emergency contraception. A total of 67.3% of respondents agreed that an IUD can be inserted immediately after an abortion or miscarriage. Fewer (43.5%) agreed that an IUD can be inserted immediately postpartum, and very few provide these services (11.4% and 7.2%, respectively). Staying informed about practice recommendations for long-acting reversible contraception was associated with broader provision of IUDs. Conclusions Although most obstetrician–gynecologists offer IUDs, many exclude appropriate candidates for IUD use, both for emergency contraception and for long-term use, despite evidence-based recommendations. Implications This study shows that obstetrician–gynecologists still do not offer IUDs to appropriate candidates, such as nulliparous women and adolescents, and rarely provide the copper IUD as emergency contraception.
Recombinant luciferase-expressing human cytomegalovirus (CMV) for evaluation of CMV inhibitors

Recombinant Towne CMV expressing luciferase under the control of CMV-DNA polymerase (POL) or the late pp28 (UL99) promoters were evaluated for potential application in high-throughput screening of anti-viral compounds. POL-and pp28-luciferase displayed maximal expression 48 and 72 hours post infection, respectively. The pp28-luciferase virus achieved a wider dynamic range of luciferase expression (6-7 logs) and was selected for testing of inhibition by five anti-viral compounds. Luciferase expression highly correlated with plaque reduction and real-time PCR. The pp28-luciferase reporter system is rapid, reproducible, and highly sensitive. It may be applied to screening of novel anti-CMV compounds.
Estimation for processes with mixed spectra

Statistical inference for mixed spectral problems based on a parametric time series is studied. The model used here, called the CARD model, represents the underlying random process as the sum of an autoregressive process and sinusoids. An iterative algorithm to implement efficiently the maximum likelihood estimator of the unknown model parameters is presented. This enables investigation of practical issues such as accuracy of parameter estimates, selection of model orders, and sensitivity and robustness of the spectral estimates to modeling inaccuracies. >
Vegetation of forested wetlands in urban and suburban landscapes in New Jersey1

Abstract Ehrenfeld, J. G. (Cook College, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901). Vegetation of forested wetlands in urban and suburban landscapes in New Jersey. J. Torrey Bot. Soc. 132: 262–279. 2005.—Forested wetlands in the northeastern US are increasingly surrounded by urban and suburban land-use, as development spreads outwards from city centers. I have studied a sample of 21 mature deciduous forested wetlands in a densely populated and long-settled region, northeastern New Jersey, in order to 1) describe characteristics of the plant communities of wetlands in such human-dominated landscapes, and 2) test the utility of hydrogeomorphic classification (HGM) in explaining the variation in composition and structure observed among the sites. The wetlands support a rich flora of over 300 species, with a mean richness of 66–92 species per site for the different HGM classes; common species were similar to those reported in previous studies of undisturbed red maple swamps. Structural characteristics (tre...
Reversible inhibition of mitochondrial respiratory control by tetrabutylammonium bromide

Abstract Influences of tetrabutylammonium bromide as a phosphorylation inhibitor and as an uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation in rat liver mitochondria were reversed by washing the organelles. Uncoupling by 2,4-dinitrophenol was also reversible whereas gramicidin and the detergents, sodium dodecylsulfate and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, were tightly bound uncouplers and they were not substantially removed by simple washing.
Decrease in Resting Metabolic Rate During Rapid Weight Loss Is Reversed by Low Dose Thyroid Hormone Treatment

In order to determine if reduced serum T3 concentrations contribute to the decrease in resting metabolic rate (RMR) during rapid weight loss, we administered T3 (30 micrograms/d) and T4 (100 micrograms/d) to obese subjects receiving a very low energy diet to reverse a decrease in serum thyroid hormone concentrations. During the first two weeks of weight loss, before thyroid hormone replacement, the mean RMR of five obese subjects declined to 86% of the baseline level as the mean serum T3 concentration decreased to 72% of the baseline level. Thyroid hormone replacement for one week, while the low energy diet continued, increased the mean RMR to 94% of the baseline level while increasing mean serum T3 and T4 concentrations to approximately 130% of the baseline level. A second week of thyroid treatment caused no further change in RMR. These data suggest that reduced serum T3 concentrations contribute to the decrease in RMR during rapid weight loss. However, the regimen of thyroid hormone replacement employed did not completely restore a normal RMR in obese subjects on a very low energy diet, in spite of elevating serum thyroid hormone concentrations slightly above weight-maintenance levels.
Antagoniści aldosteronu w leczeniu nadciśnienia tętniczego

Aldosteron odgrywa istotną role w patogenezie wielu powaznych chorob ukladu sercowo-naczyniowego, w tym nadciśnienia tetniczego. Uwaza sie, ze aldosteron jest zaangazowany w rozwoj nadciśnienia tetniczego opornego na leczenie. Jedną z najczestszych jego przyczyn stanowi pierwotny hiperaldosteronizm; wedlug publikacji Jansena i wsp. dotyka on okolo 8% pacjentow z nadciśnieniem tetniczym. Wydaje sie wiec oczywiste, ze aldosteron w wielu przypadkach jest podstawowym celem w skutecznej kontroli ciśnienia tetniczego, a antagoniści aldosteronu są niezwykle wartościową grupą lekow hipotensyjnych. W wielu badaniach klinicznych wykazano, ze leki te są skuteczne w monoterapii i dodane do leczenia pacjentow z opornym nadciśnieniem tetniczym, w tym z pierwotnym hiperaldosteronizmem, powodują znaczące dodatkowe obnizenie ciśnienia tetniczego. Wydają sie skuteczne w obnizaniu ciśnienia tetniczego bez wzgledu na aktywnośc reninową osocza i stezenie aldosteronu przed rozpoczeciem terapii. Zmniejszają rowniez przerost lewej komory u pacjentow z nadciśnieniem tetniczym. Spironolakton od kilku dziesiecioleci jest zatwierdzony do leczenia pierwotnego nadciśnienia tetniczego. Powszechne stosowanie spironolaktonu zostalo ograniczone przez czestośc wystepowania dzialan niepoządanych, szczegolnie ginekomastii, bolow piersi, impotencji, ktore stanowią przejaw zaleznego od dawki dzialania antyandrogennego. Te wymienione negatywne skutki spironolaktonu zostaly zminimalizowane przez wprowadzenie eplerenonu, znacznie bardziej selektywnego antagonisty w stosunku do receptora do mineralokortykoidow. Sugeruje sie udzial mechanizmu niezaleznego od reniny w stymulacji nadnerczy do wydzielania aldosteronu u otylych pacjentow. Podgrupa pacjentow z otylością brzuszną i zespolem metabolicznym moze odnosic szczegolne korzyści z leczenia antagonistami aldosteronu, ale ta kwestia wymaga przekonujących danych z badan klinicznych. Nadciśnienie Tetnicze 2010, tom 14, nr 3, strony 216-226
Dis)Organization and Success in an Economics MOOC

Abstract Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs) present the potential to deliver high quality education to a large number of students. But they suffer from low completion rates. This paper identifies disorganization as a factor behind failure to complete a MOOC. Students who enroll one day late are 17 percentage points less likely to earn a certificate than students who enroll exactly on time. This reflects selection, but it does seem to be related to demographic characteristics, motivation to complete the course, or ability. This suggests that building in even more structure in the MOOC could be a factor in improving performance.
Salinity promotes accumulation of 3-dimethylsulfoniopropionate and its precursor S-methylmethionine in chloroplasts

Wollastonia biflora (L.) DC. plants accumulate the osmoprotectant 3-dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), particularly when salinized. DMSP is known to be synthesized in the chloroplast from S -methylmethionine (SMM) imported from the cytosol, but the sizes of the chloroplastic and extrachloroplastic pools of these compounds are unknown. We therefore determined DMSP and SMM in mesophyll protoplasts and chloroplasts. Salinization with 30% (v/v) artificial seawater increased protoplast DMSP levels from 4.6 to 6.0 μmol mg −1 chlorophyll (Chl), and chloroplast levels from 0.9 to 1.9 μmol mg −1 Chl. The latter are minimum values because intact chloroplasts leaked DMSP during isolation. Correcting for this leakage, it was estimated that in vivo about one-half of the DMSP is chloroplastic and that stromal DMSP concentrations in control and salinized plants are about 60 and 130 mm, respectively. Such concentrations would contribute significantly to chloroplast osmoregulation and could protect photosynthetic processes from stress injury. SMM levels were measured using a novel mass-spectrometric method. About 40% of the SMM was located in the chloroplast in unsalinized W. biflora plants, as was about 80% in salinized plants; the chloroplastic pool in both cases was approximately 0.1 μmol mg −1 Chl. In contrast, ≥85% of the SMM was extrachloroplastic in pea ( Pisum sativum L.) and spinach ( Spinacia oleracea L.), which lack DMSP. DMSP synthesis may be associated with enhanced accumulation of SMM in the chloroplast.
Three-dimensional nonlinear image reconstruction for microwave biomedical imaging

Active microwave imaging has attracted significant interests in biomedical applications, in particular for breast imaging. However, the high electrical contrasts in breast tissue also increases the difficulty of forming an accurate image because of the increased multiple scattering. To model such strong three-dimensional (3-D) multiple scattering effects in biomedical imaging applications, we develop a full 3-D inverse scattering algorithm based on the combination of the contrast source inversion and the fast Fourier transform algorithm. Numerical results show that our algorithm can accurately invert for the high-contrast media in breast tissue.
Designing visually servoed tracking to augment camera teleoperators

There are many features to take into consideration when designing servoed vision for robot control, especially if there are redundant degrees-of-freedom (DOF). When human teleoperated platforms like rovers, booms, gantries, aircraft and submersibles are involved, visual-servoing is particularly challenging. Along with the kinematics and dynamics characteristics in the robot DOF one must consider the human-in-the-loop. Another factor that must be considered is potential motion conflicts arising from the shared man-machine control of the camera and can lead to unstable performance. When the DOF are redundant, the tracking problem becomes more complicated because there are many ways to perform tracking. This paper illustrates these issues and suggests control approaches to resolve them.
Analysis of composite walls for short path propagation modeling

For short propagation paths, such as those found in indoor and microcellular environments, correctly representing the reflections of electromagnetic energy from the surfaces is critical for accurate prediction signal characteristics. The method of homogenization is used to determine the effective material properties of composite material commonly used in construction. The reflection and transmission coefficients for block walls and other types of materials calculated with these homogenized effective material properties are presented. The importance of accurately representing the reflections for signal level prediction models is also investigated. It is shown that a 5 to 10 dB error in the received power can occur if the composite walls are not handled appropriately.
Hypertension in aging patients

Hypertension, especially isolated systolic hypertension, is commonly found in older (60-79 years of age) and elderly (≥80 years of age) people. Antihypertensive drug therapy should be considered in all aging hypertensive patients, as treatment greatly reduces cardiovascular events. Most classes of antihypertensive medications may be used as first-line treatment with the possible exception of α- and β-blockers. An initial blood pressure treatment goal is less than 140/90 mmHg in all older patients and less than 150/80 mmHg in the nonfrail elderly. The current paradigm of delaying therapeutic interventions until people are at moderate or high cardiovascular risk, a universal feature of hypertensive patients over 60 years of age, leads to vascular injury or disease that is only partially reversible with treatment. Future management will likely focus on intervening earlier to prevent accelerated vascular aging and irreversible arterial damage.
Parameristomerinx copelandi—a new genus and species of Afrotropical Pachygastrinae and a new generic synonym of Dolichodema Kertész (Diptera: Stratiomyidae)

A new genus and species, Parameristomerinx copelandi gen. et sp. n. (Diptera: Stratiomyidae: Pachygastrinae) is described from material from Kenya. This genus is similar to the Afrotropical genera Meristomerinx Enderlein, 1914 and Meristomeringina James, 1952. A new generic synonym is also proposed, Nemodema Lindner, 1958 = Dolichodema Kertesz, 1916, syn. n. A key is included for the six genera related to Meristomerinx.