cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Respiratory response to intraesophageal acid infusion in asthmatic children during sleep

Abstract Nocturnal asthma has been associated with nighttime gastroesophageal reflux (GER). To establish whether the presence of acid in the lower esophagus causes bronchoconstriction, nine children with nocturnal asthma and GER underwent intraesophageal acid-infusion challenges during sleep. The patients were divided into two groups on the basis of presence or absence of a positive Bernstein test for esophagitis. The test was considered positive if acid infusion produced symptoms of heartburn. On two occasions, at approximately midnight and 4 to 5 a.m., 30 ml of normal saline was infused over 15 min into the distal esophagus followed by a similar infusion of 0.1N HCl. Respiration was continuously monitored by inductance plethysmography along with clinical evaluation. The saline and midnight acid infusions had no effect in either patient group; however, with the 4 to 5 a.m. acid infusion, all the patients with a positive Bernstein test developed significant changes in their respiratory pattern indicative of bronchoconstriction as well as overt clinical wheezing. In the patients with a negative Bernstein test, the 4 to 5 a.m. acid infusion had no effect. It is concluded that during sleep the presence of acid in the lower esophagus can trigger bronchoconstriction in asthmatic children with a positive Bernstein test and that these children appear to be more susceptible to the bronchoconstrictive effects of intraesophageal acid at 4 to 5 a.m. than at midnight.
Crystal Structures of CusC Review Conformational Changes Accompanying Folding and Transmembrane Channel Formation.

Gram-negative bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, frequently utilize tripartite efflux complexes in the RND (resistance–nodulation–cell division) family to expel diverse toxic compounds from the cell. These complexes span both the inner and outer membranes of the bacterium via an α-helical, inner membrane transporter; a periplasmic membrane fusion protein; and a β-barrel, outer membrane channel. One such efflux system, CusCBA, is responsible for extruding biocidal Cu(I) and Ag(I) ions. To remove these toxic ions, the CusC outer membrane channel must form a β-barrel structural domain, which creates a pore and spans the entire outer membrane. We here report the crystal structures of wild-type CusC, as well as two CusC mutants, suggesting that the first N-terminal cysteine residue plays an important role in protein–membrane interactions and is critical for the insertion of this channel protein into the outer membrane. These structures provide insight into the mechanisms on CusC folding and transmembrane channel formation. It is found that the interactions between CusC and membrane may be crucial for controlling the opening and closing of this β-barrel, outer membrane channel.
Polish cinema in a transnational context

The genesis for Polish Cinema in a Transnational Context came from a collection of papers presented at a conference with the same title, held in Manchester in 2009. There are, in total, 15 contribu...
Direct high-performance liquid chromatography separation of diastereoisomeric methyl 9,10,12-trihydroxystearates and its application to the stereochemical study of hydroperoxy cyclic peroxides

Les diastereoisomeres separes servent a determiner la configuration de l'(epidioxy-10,12 hydroperoxy-9) stearate de methyle (produit d'autooxydation du linolenate de methyle)
Computational modeling of the structure and elastic constants of the olivine and spinel forms of Mg2SiO4

A computational model of a crystal consists of a description of the structure, a potential function for calculating its energy, and a way of adjusting the structure to minimize the calculated energy. External forces such as hydrostatic pressure or normal and shearing stresses can be simulated, and elastic constants can be calculated. A realistic model should reproduce both the experimental structure and the observed elastic properties.
Routine Measurement of Pleural Fluid Amylase Is Not Indicated

Background The routine measurement of pleural fluid amylase is frequently recommended, but the cost-effectiveness of this procedure is unknown. Methods To assess the utility of routine measurement of pleural fluid amylase in evaluating pleural effusions, we measured amylase, glucose, lactate dehydrogenase, and protein levels and blood cell counts in 379 patients undergoing thoracentesis during a 22-month period from 1997 to 1999. Of these, 199 had effusions after cardiac surgery; 61, malignant; 48, transudative; 28, parapneumonic; 2, chylous; 2, rheumatoid; 1, tuberculous; and 1, from chronic pleuritis. There were 37 exudates of unknown origin. Results Measurement of pleural fluid amylase levels did not assist in determining the origin of the effusion in any of the patients. Amylase levels greater than 100 U/L (normal serum level in our laboratory is 30-110 U/L) were found in 5 (1.3%) of 379 patients: 1 patient with congestive heart failure (amylase, 173 U/L), 2 with post–cardiac surgery effusions (144 U/L and 130 U/L), 1 with pneumonia (109 U/L), and 1 with lung cancer (105 U/L). Conclusions The routine measurement of pleural fluid amylase levels is neither clinically indicated nor cost-effective. We suggest that pleural fluid serum amylase levels be measured only if there is a pretest suspicion of acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatic disease, or esophageal rupture.
Selectivity of direct and network-mediated stimulation of the retinal ganglion cells with epi-, sub- and intraretinal electrodes.

Objective. Intra-retinal placement of stimulating electrodes can provide close and stable proximity to target neurons. We assessed improvement in stimulation thresholds and selectivity of the direct and network-mediated retinal stimulation with intraretinal electrodes, compared to epiretinal and subretinal placements. Approach. Stimulation thresholds of the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in wild-type rat retina were measured using the patch-clamp technique. Direct and network-mediated responses were discriminated using various synaptic blockers. Main results. Three types of RGC responses were identified: short latency (SL, τ 40 ms) originating in photoreceptors. Cathodic epiretinal stimulation exhibited the lowest threshold for direct RGC response and the highest direct selectivity (network/direct thresholds ratio), exceeding a factor of 3 with pulse durations below 0.5 ms. For network-mediated stimulation, the lowest threshold was obtained with anodic pulses in OPL position, and its network selectivity (direct/network thresholds ratio) increased with pulse duration, exceeding a factor of 4 at 10 ms. Latency of all three types of responses decreased with increasing strength of the stimulus. Significance. These results define the optimal range of pulse durations, pulse polarities and electrode placement for the retinal prostheses aiming at direct or network-mediated stimulation of RGCs.
Measurements of minimum ignition energy by using laser sparks for hydrocarbon fuels in air: propane, dodecane, and jet-A fuel

Abstract Minimum ignition energy of fuel–air mixtures involving propane, dodecane, and jet-A fuels has been measured at a range of pressures and equivalence ratios. The minimum ignition energy obtained by using laser sparks shows consistently larger values than corresponding data using electrical sparks for propane–air mixtures at 1 atm and at lower pressures, similar to existing measurements in the literature, perhaps due to the different electromagnetic and thermal conditions that exist within and near the spark plasmas. The heavier hydrocarbon fuels exhibit progressively larger optimum equivalence ratio corresponding to the minimum in the ignition energy, away from the stoichiometric equivalence ratio. The minimum ignition energy of jet-A fuel has also been measured by using laser sparks, and shows a nearly parabolic variation as the temperature and pressure conditions cause a shift in the fuel–air ratio from lean (with respect to an optimum fuel–air ratio) to the rich side. The minimum ignition energy is observed to be ∼2 mJ at ∼25°F above the so-called flashpoint at 1 atm. The fuel loading (the amount of liquid fuel per total chamber volume) affects the ignition characteristics of the jet-A fuel in that a decrease in the fuel loading is accompanied by an increase in the minimum ignition energy. This is attributable to relative decrease in the amounts of light-end hydrocarbon species at low fuel loadings.
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detecting antibodies in sera of patients with adenovirus infection

The 41 distinct antigenic types of adenoviruses (Ads) are responsible for a broad spectrum of diseases in humans. We have developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using adenovirus (Ad) infected MRC-5 cells for detecting IgG and IgM antibodies to Ads. Using the ELISA, we detected IgG antibodies in 100% (20/20) of sera from normal adults (geometric mean titer, GMT = 1840.8, range = 40-20,480) and IgM antibodies in 3 of 20 sera (15%) with a GMT of 25.1. Our indirect immunofluorescence (IF) technique also detected IgG antibodies in 100% of these sera (GMT = 248.3, range = 40-5,120) and IgM antibodies in the 3 samples reactive in ELISA (GMT = 20.0, range = less than 5-40). In contrast, the complement fixation (CF) test detected antibodies to Ads in only 65% (13/20) of these sera (GMT = 10.9, range = less than 4-32). Moreover, IgG and IgM responses could not be distinguished using CF. Thus the sensitivity of these three techniques is greatest for ELISA. Additionally, a study of sequential sera from 3 patients with acute Ad infection disclosed seroconversion using all three methods. Both the ELISA and IF techniques permit the detection of transition from IgM to IgG, whereas CF only detects conversion from seronegativity to seropositivity. Finally, preliminary data suggest that the IgM response as measured by ELISA is specific for subgroups or types of Ad. This newly devised ELISA may be useful for detecting Ad infections.
Building Effective Query Classifiers: A Case Study in Self-harm Intent Detection

Query-based triggers play a crucial role in modern search systems, e.g., in deciding when to display direct answers on result pages. We address a common scenario in designing such triggers for real-world settings where positives are rare and search providers possess only a small seed set of positive examples to learn query classification models. We choose the critical domain of self-harm intent detection to demonstrate how such small seed sets can be expanded to create meaningful training data with a sizable fraction of positive examples. Our results show that with our method, substantially more positive queries can be found compared to plain random sampling. Additionally, we explored the effectiveness of traditional active learning approaches on classification performance and found that maximum uncertainty performs the best among several other techniques that we considered.
Take-Off from Satellite Orbit

The mass ratio or the characteristic velocity for the take-off of a space ship from the satellite orbit is computed for two cases: the radial thrust, and the circumferential thrust. The circumferential thrust is much more efficient in that the required mass ratio is much less than for the radial thrust. Both cases show, however, an increase of the required mass ratio and the characteristic velocity with a reduction in acceleration. With circumferential thrust, the characteristic velocity increases by a factor of two, when the acceleration is reduced from 1/2 g to 1/3000 g.
The Empirical Significance of the Real Balance Effect

I. Introduction, 275. — II. Consumption, 280. — III. Investment, 282. — IV. Removing the assumptions, 284. — V. Conclusion, 289.
Comment on “Teaching Anthropology through Performance”

Analyse critique des methodes pedagogiques decrites dans un precedent article, visant a ameliorer la comprehension et l'enseignement de l'anthropologie grâce au theâtre et aux implications multiples que sa pratique impose.
Benzoquinone derived 1,3-dithiole-2-ones and thiones

The syntheses and structures of 1,3-dithiole and tetrathiafulvalene derivatives of benzoquinone have been investigated. This work extends earlier investigations of naphthoquinone analogues. The X-ray structures, NMR, IR, UV, mass spectra, and E0 1/2 values from cyclic voltammetry measurements are reported.Ab initio STO-6-31G calculations are used to correlate the cyclic voltammetry and UV data for selected compounds.
The Hsi-Yu-Chi: A Study of Antecedents to the Sixteenth-Century Chinese Novel

List of illustrations Preface 1. Introduction 2. The first reflections of a popular cycle 3. A Hsi-yu chi fragment in the Yung-lo ta-tien 4. Fragments of Hsi-yu chi stories in Pak t'ongsa onhae 5. Early dramatic versions of the story 6. Reflections in the Hsias-shih Chen-k'ung pao-chuan 7. Putting the sources to use 8. The white ape 9. Monkey's in tsa-chu litertaure 10. Wu-chih-ch'i 11. Further theories.
Analysis of vehicle use patterns during field training exercises to identify potential roads

Abstract In October of 2001, global positioning system (GPS) – based vehicle tracking systems (VTS) were placed on 20 vehicles involved in an 8-day field training exercise at Yakima Training Center, Washington. Based on the GPS data, an analysis of the potential for identifying new roads was conducted. Analysis of vehicle use patterns within selected 25-m grids was utilized to identify new formed or previously unidentified roads in the training area. The factors used to determine the existence of these new roads were (1) if a vehicle actually passed through the grid, (2) the number of vehicles following the same trail segment, (3) if the vehicles passed on different days, (4) if the vehicles were in different troops, and (5) if the vehicles traveled in both directions. A site visit was conducted and confirmed the existence of new roads along segments that met all five criteria levels. Military road class 4 and 5 roads were identified at sites meeting all five criteria.
Catheter Recording and Validation of Left Bundle-Branch Potentials in Intact Dogs

The left bundle-branch potential (LB), as well as His bundle (H) and atrioventricular nodal (N) potentials, were recorded in intact dogs by using a tripolar electrode catheter positioned in the left ventricle. Simultaneous recordings of H and right bundle-branch (RB) activity from the right endocardial surface were also made. The LB potential was less rapid than the RB potential, but both occurred almost simultaneously after the H potential. Atrial premature stimulation was used to induce aberrant ventricular conduction (right or left bundle-branch block) and to verify the recorded bundle-branch potentials. During LBBB the LB potential became absent, while during RBBB the RB potential became absent, indicating blockade or delay of conduction. Incomplete LBBB showed a delay in the LB potential. Initial spontaneous activity in the left bundle branch or its Purkinje system was manifested by a premature beat which resembled a RBBB pattern electrocardiographically. Spontaneous activity in the right bundle bran...
Ultrastructural Interactions in the Microvasculature of Human Endometrial Adenocarcinoma

Abstract Objectives. Our purpose was to study the ultrastructural morphology of the microvasculature of human endometrial adenocarcinoma and to determine the effect of this malignancy on cell-to-cell communication between the components of the microvasculature and with the other tissue compartments of human endometrium. Methods. Multiple cases of human endometrial adenocarcinoma were studied and graded by light microscopy. Six cases of Grade I and six cases of Grade II were selected. Two blocks per case were studied ultrastructurally. Results. In contrast to our expectation that the ultrastructure of tumor vessels would suggest a great deal of proliferation and new vessel formation, we found that tumor vessels displayed a high degree of cellular differentiation, in the form of numerous and varied cell-to-cell contacts, and large amounts of protein production. Conclusions. The morphology of the microvasculature of endometrial adenocarcinoma suggests an active rather than passive role in tumor vessels.
Water relations and root growth of two populations of Gutierrezia sarothrae

Abstract We hypothesise that genotypic differences in transpiration and root growth in the southern and northern populations of Gutierrezia sarothrae are driven by growing season vapour pressure deficit (VPD) and that ecotypic differentiations are linked to corresponding variations in tissue and leaf water relations. Seedlings from an Idaho (ID) and a Texas (TX) seed source were grown either in an open nursery (full sunlight) or under shade. There were no population differences in transpiration, root growth and tissue water relation parameters when the plants were grown under the shade. However, significant population differences were observed in the plants grown in the open where VPD was substantially higher. Transpiration in the TX population increased twice as rapidly as the ID population in response to rising potential evapotranspiration (PET). In addition, the TX plants grew longer and larger lateral roots than the ID plants when both populations were grown in the open. Moreover, the TX plants had more elastic cell walls (lower bulk cell elastic modulus, E) and were able to maintain leaf turgor at lower relative water content than the ID plants when grown in the open. Similar changes in tissue water relation parameters were observed in the New Mexico (NM) and the ID seedlings subjected to soil water deficit. Cell elastic modulus (E), relative water content at zero turgor (RWC0) and apoplastic water fraction (Wa) were significantly lower in the NM population than in the ID population in response to soil water deficit, suggesting a higher turgor maintenance ability in the NM population. RWC0 was highly correlated with E in the NM (r=0.92, P
On linear lon-odds and estimation of discriminant coefficients

Fisher's Linear Discriminant Function Can be used to classify an individual who has sampled from one of two multivariate normal Populations. In the following, this function is viewed as the other given his data vector it is assumed that the Population means and common covariance matrix are unknown. The vector of discriminant coeffients β(p×1) is the gradient of posterior log-odds and certain of its lineqar functions are directional derivatives which have a practical meaning. Accordingly, we treat the problems of estimating several linear functions of β The usual estimatoes of these functions are scaled versions of the unbiased estmators. In this Paper, these estimators are domainated by explicit alterenatives under a quadratic loss function. we reduce the problem of estimating β to that of estimating the inverse convariance matrix.
Genomic organization and identification of promoter regions for the BDNF gene in the pond turtle Trachemys scripta elegans.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is an important regulator of neuronal development and synaptic function. The BDNF gene undergoes significant activity-dependent regulation during learning. Here, we identified the BDNF promoter regions, transcription start sites, and potential regulatory sequences for BDNF exons I–III that may contribute to activity-dependent gene and protein expression in the pond turtle Trachemys scripta elegans (tBDNF). By using transfection of BDNF promoter/luciferase plasmid constructs into human neuroblastoma SHSY5Y cells and mouse embryonic fibroblast NIH3T3 cells, we identified the basal regulatory activity of promoter sequences located upstream of each tBDNF exon, designated as pBDNFI–III. Further, through chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays, we detected CREB binding directly to exon I and exon III promoters, while BHLHB2, but not CREB, binds within the exon II promoter. Elucidation of the promoter regions and regulatory protein binding sites in the tBDNF gene is essential for understanding the regulatory mechanisms that control tBDNF gene expression.
Analysis of Common Mode Voltage in Fuel Cell Power Conditioners Connected to Electric Utility

Fuel cell stacks produce a DC output with a 2: 1 variation in output voltage from no load to full load. A power conditioner consisting of DC-DC and DC-AC converters is required for utility interface. The DC-DC and DC-AC stages are operated in high frequency employing PWM control for voltage and current regulation. The switch mode nature of the power converter generates common mode voltage with respect to ground. The presence of high frequency common mode voltage with respect to ground contributes to circulating ground current which can interfere with ground fault protection system and also contribute to neutral shift and electro magnetic interference (EMI). This paper presents an analysis of common mode voltage in fuel cell powered converters connected to electric utility and discusses several mitigation methods. Several possible fuel cell power converter topologies are considered for utility scale generation.
Indoor target intercept using an acoustic sensor network and dual wavefront path planning

This paper presents an approach that enables a mobile "interceptor" robot to intercept targets in an indoor environment using information from a distributed acoustic sensor network. The approach assumes the indoor environment has been previously mapped and that the sensor nodes know their position in the map. The targets are localized in the sensor network based upon local maxima of the acoustic volume. The current target localization information is reported to an interceptor robot, which utilizes a dual wavefront path planner to move from its current location to a location that is within visibility range of a target. Results of the complete implementation of this approach using 70 sensor net robots in the player/stage multi-robot simulator are reported, as well as implementation results to date on a team of physical robots. To our knowledge, this is the first implementation of a multi-robot system that combines the use of an acoustic sensor net for target detection with an interceptor robot that can efficiently reach the moving position of the detected target in indoor environments.
The Journey of a Community-Engaged Scholar: An Autoethnography

Community engagement is central to the public and civic mission of a growing number of colleges and universities, and numerous faculty members are applying their expertise to issues of importance to local communities and the larger society. However, there have been few first-hand descriptions of the career paths of faculty who engage in community-engaged scholarship. Faced with the current traditional typology of faculty work—teaching, research, and service—junior faculty in particular are often advised to postpone their community engagement work until after they secure their foundation in research and teaching. The author is a tenured full professor who regards community-engaged scholarship as central to his work. Using an autoethnographic style, he reflects on the motivations, influences, and experiences that have informed his intentional efforts to integrate teaching, research, and service into his professional identity as a community-engaged scholar. His story is an invitation for present and future s...
Probabilistic analysis and optimization of energy absorbing components made of nanofiber enhanced composite materials

Abstract An enhanced thermoset polymer matrix with randomly distributed carbon nanofibers (CNFs) is combined with conventional long fibers to form a hybrid composite material for application to impact energy absorbing components. The multi-inclusion method in combination with functionally graded interphase is used for stiffness characterization and shear-lag theory combined with quasi-isotropic lamination approximation is used for strength prediction. Axial crush simulations are performed using MD Nastran with a micromechanics-based progressive failure analysis constitutive model. The stochastic uncertainties in the geometric and material properties of CNF as well as the three-dimensional, non-homogeneous CNF–matrix interphase are represented using probability theory. Through Monte Carlo simulations, these uncertainties are propagated to the homogenized macroscopic properties of the nano-enhanced matrix and subsequently to the stiffness and strength properties of the composite laminate as well as the energy absorbing characteristics of the crush tube. A probabilistic design optimization problem is formulated for minimizing the failure probability associated with the specific energy absorption of the composite tube. A dual surrogate modeling approach is used for approximating the failure probability and solving the optimization problem using sequential quadratic programming. The modeling approach, uncertainty analysis, and probabilistic optimization results are presented and discussed.
Correction to "Optimum torque control of permanent-magnet AC machines in the field-weakened region"

The authors give the correct version of a table published in a previous article (see ibid., vol.41, no.4, p.1020-8, Jul./Aug. 2005.
A novel algorithm for cardiac biosignal filtering based on filtered residue method

In this paper, a new algorithm is presented for the filtering (de-noising) of cardiac bioelectrical signals. The primary target of this algorithm is the class of cardiac action potentials recorded using voltage-sensitive dyes, although the method is also applied to electrocardiographic signals High periodicity is one of the main features of cardiac biosignals. The proposed algorithm exploits this feature in filtering signals with a minimum amount of distortion. The basic idea is to use signal averaging in time to rind the stationary portion of the signal. The residue is found by subtracting the signal average from the corresponding points of the input. After passing through a low-pass filter, the filtered residue (FR) is added back to the signal average to reconstruct the output. The practical implementation of the filter residue algorithm is discussed. Stretching and shrinking operations are the basis for the conversion of quasi-periodic signals into periodic signals, which can then be subjected to the FR algorithm. Various examples are presented, and error estimation is performed to guide the selection of optimal parameters for the algorithm. The ability of the algorithm to reconstruct the variation among beats is demonstrated, and its limitations are discussed.
Comparison of pose estimation methods of a 3D laser tracking system using triangulation and photogrammetry techniques

In this paper, we compare the accuracy and resolution of a 3D-laser scanner prototype that tracks in real-time and computes the relative pose of objects in a 3D space. This 3D-laser scanner prototype was specifically developed to study the use of such a sensor for space applications. The main objective of this project is to provide a robust sensor to assist in the assembly of the International Space Station where high tolerance to ambient illumination is paramount. The laser scanner uses triangulation based range data and photogrammetry methods to calculate the relative pose of objects. Range information is used to increase the accuracy of the sensing system and to remove erroneous measurements. Two high-speed galvanometers and a collimated laser beam address individual targets mounted on an object to a resolution corresponding to an equivalent imager of 10000 by 10000 pixels. Knowing the position coordinates of predefined targets on the objects, their relative poses can be computed using either the scanner calibrated 3D coordinates or spatial resection methods.
Tom La Touche and the Great Assam Earthquake of 12 June 1897: Letters from the Epicenter

Richard Dixon Oldham's classic memoir on the great Mw = 8.1 Assam earthquake of 1897 is seminal for its seismological observations, insights, and conclusions (Oldham 1899). Teleseismic arrivals of waves from Shillong led Oldham (1858–1936) to distinguish the three types of seismic waves and eventually to recognize from them the distinctive presence of the Earth's core. Oldham, however, did not feel the earthquake. He had left the Calcutta office of the Geological Survey of India (GSI) in the care of his colleague Thomas Henry Digges La Touche (1856–1938) two weeks previously (see figure 1). Now recently discovered letters written by La Touche from Calcutta and the epicentral region to his wife, Nancy, provide a firsthand, day-by-day account of the post-earthquake investigation and include a seismogram from an instrument that he constructed in the field at a cost of “less than sixpence” from pieces of tin, a suspended boulder, a glass bead, and a bamboo needle that scratched a glass plate (LaTouche papers, 1880–1913). In his memoir Oldham notes that he focused his team of geologists on the physics of the earthquake. Their reports were submitted “under specific instructions to report only on the facts observed, and to refrain from any expressions of opinion as to the conclusions to be drawn, as this could only be profitably done after a review of the whole of the facts, of which only part could become known to each individually.” (Oldham 1899, p.257). He deduced from their observations that local accelerations in the earthquake had exceeded 1 g, that velocities had exceeded 3 m/s, that electrical currents in the ground had accompanied aftershocks, that postseismic crustal deformation continued to deform the plateau in the year following the earthquake, and that many of the largest aftershocks lay 15 km beneath the plateau. …
Boundary Conditions for Convergent Radial Tracer Tests and Effect of Well Bore Mixing Volume

Convergent radial flow tracer tests have a complex spatial nonaxial transport structure caused by the flow in the vicinity of the injection well and its finite mixing volume. The formulation of the boundary value problem, and especially the treatment of the boundary conditions at the injection well, is nontrivial. Hodgkinson and Lever [1983],Moench [1989, 1991], and Welty and Gelhar [1994] have developed different models and methods for the analysis of breakthrough curves in the extraction well. To extend interpretation techniques to breakthrough curves in the zone between injection and extraction wells, an analysis of conventional transport models is given, and improved boundary conditions are formulated for a convergent radial tracer test problem. The formulation of the boundary conditions is based upon a more detailed analysis of the kinematic flow structure and tracer mass balance in the neighborhood of the injection well. Two practical applications of revised boundary conditions for field data analysis are given. First, the note explains anomalous high well bore mixing volumes of injection wells found by Cady et al. [1993] and allows one to establish the role of mixing versus other processes (retardation, matrix diffusion, etc.). Second, it is shown that the improper use of Moench's [1989] model can produce bias in the characteristics of breakthrough curves in the extraction well under conditions that involve a significant mixing factor in the injection well. A numerical example indicates an error in peak concentrations on a breakthrough curve by as much as 70% and in peak arrival time by 10% for Peclet numbers Pe=102. The effect becomes slightly less significant for Pe=1.
Screw dislocations in GaN

GaN has received much attention over the past few years because of several new applications, including light emitting diodes, blue laser diodes and high-power microwave transistors. One of the biggest problems is a high density of structural defects, mostly dislocations, due to a lack of a suitable lattice-matched substrate since bulk GaN is difficult to grow in large sizes. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) has been applied to study defects in plan-view and cross-sections on samples prepared by conventional techniques such as mechanical thinning and precision ion milling. The density of dislocations close to the sample surface of a 1 mm-thick HVPE sample was in the range of 3x109 cm-2. All three types of dislocations were present in these samples, and almost 50 percent were screw dislocations. Our studies suggest that the core structure of screw dislocations in the same material might differ when the material is grown by different methods.
Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein and Phospholipid Transfer Protein Have Nonoverlapping Functions in Vivo

Plasma phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) and cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) are homologous molecules that mediate neutral lipid and phospholipid exchange between plasma lipoproteins. Biochemical experiments suggest that only CETP can transfer neutral lipids but that there could be overlap in the ability of PLTP and CETP to transfer or exchange phospholipids. Recently developed PLTP gene knock-out (PLTP0) mice have complete deficiency of plasma phospholipid transfer activity and markedly reduced high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels. To see whether CETP can compensate for PLTP deficiency in vivo, we bred the CETP transgene (CETPTg) into the PLTP0 background. Using an in vivo assay to measure the transfer of [3H]PC from VLDL into HDL or anin vitro assay that determined [3H]PC transfer from vesicles into HDL, we could detect no phospholipid transfer activity in either PLTP0 or CETPTg/PLTP0 mice. On a chow diet, HDL-PL, HDL-CE, and HDL-apolipoprotein AI in CETPTg/PLTP0 mice were significantly lower than in PLTP0 mice (45 ± 7 versus79 ± 9 mg/dl; 9 ± 2 versus 16 ± 5 mg/dl; and 51 ± 6 versus 100 ± 9, arbitrary units, respectively). Similar results were obtained on a high fat, high cholesterol diet. These results indicate 1) that there is no redundancy in function of PLTP and CETP in vivo and 2) that the combination of the CETP transgene with PLTP deficiency results in an additive lowering of HDL levels, suggesting that the phenotype of a human PLTP deficiency state would include reduced HDL levels.
Shaky Methods, Shaky Motives A Critique of the National Council of Teacher Quality’s Review of Teacher Preparation Programs

The National Council on Teacher Quality’s (NCTQ) recent review of university-based teacher preparation programs concluded the vast majority of such programs were inadequately preparing the nation’s teachers. The study, however, has a number of serious flaws that include narrow focus on inputs, lack of a strong research base, missing standards, omitted research, incorrect application of research findings, poor methodology, exclusion of alternative certification programs, failure to conduct member checks, and failure to use existing evidence to validate the report’s rankings. All of these issues render the NCTQ report less than useful in efforts to understand and improve teacher preparation programs in the United States. The article also suggests alternative pathways NCTQ could have undertaken to work with programs to actually improve teacher preparation. The article concludes by noting that the shaky methods used by NCTQ suggest shaky motives such that the true motives of NCTQ for producing the report must...
Electrical Manipulation of Nonvolatile Spin Cell Based on Diluted Magnetic Semiconductor Quantum Dots

In this paper, electrical manipulation of a memory cell based on a semiconductor nanostructure consisting of a diluted magnetic semiconductor (DMS) quantum dot (QD) and a reservoir of itinerant holes separated by an energy barrier is investigated theoretically. The operating principle takes advantage of the paramagnetic-ferromagnetic (PM-FM) phase transition mediated by the itinerant holes in the DMS QD that can lead to electrically controlled write/erase operations. Nonvolatility can be achieved when the structure is properly designed to reach a thermodynamic equilibrium at both the PM and FM configurations (i.e., bistability). Assuming a parabolic confining potential in the QD, the performance characteristics of the proposed nanostructure are analyzed including the scalability and the lifetime. An advantage of this memory concept is the extremely small dissipative energy for write/erase functions due to the open-circuit nature of the process. A readout scheme enabling electrical detection, with the repetition rate up to the 10-100-MHz range, is also explored by utilizing only two contacts. Finally, a potential application of the proposed memory cell is discussed as a rudimentary device for logic AND and OR operations
Neutrophil Homeostasis and Periodontal Health in Children and Adults

This review summarizes the current state of knowledge on neutrophil basic biology and discusses how the breakdown of neutrophil homeostasis affects periodontal health. The homeostasis of neutrophils is tightly regulated through coordinated bone marrow production, release into the circulation, transmigration to and activation in peripheral tissues, and clearance of senescent neutrophils. Dysregulation of any of these homeostatic mechanisms at any age can cause severe periodontitis in humans and animal models. Accordingly, both impaired and excessive neutrophil activity (in terms of numbers or immune function) can precipitate periodontitis. Neutrophil defects of congenital origin (e.g., congenital neutropenia, leukocyte adhesion deficiency, and Chediak-Higashi syndrome) are associated with cutaneous and systemic infections and early-onset forms of periodontitis affecting both the primary and permanent dentitions of children. However, the strong association between congenital neutrophil disorders and early-onset periodontitis is not currently adequately explained mechanistically. This suggests the operation of as-yet-unknown molecular mechanisms, although the available body of evidence leaves no doubt that neutrophils are integral to periodontal tissue homeostasis and health.
Plasma: Shared Memory Dynamic Allocation and Bank-Conflict-Free Access in GPUs

In this paper we present a library for shared-memory dynamic allocation and bank-conflict free accesses for NVIDIA GPUs. The system allows an order of magnitude faster pointer chasing operations for small and medium sized arrays.
Some effects of instruction in feedback utilization on the fluency of college students’ speech

This study investigated the hypothesis that increases in non‐fluency among inexperienced student speakers confronted with adverse audience conditions are a function of cognitive uncertainty associated with the speakers’ inability to utilize feedback and to select appropriate communication strategies. A series of comparisons of the vocal patterns of instructed and uninstructed, inexperienced student speakers confirmed the predictions that instruction and consequent implementation of strategies reduced instances of certain nonfluencies and increased the speakers’ confidence.
Out-of-Pocket Medical Bills and Skewed Incentives: Issues with the NCAA Insurance Policy and Its Ironic Support for the Trite Notion of 'Amateurism'

This Article analyzes the NCAA’s current insurance policy, and argue why its current model gives a student-athlete little to no reasonable alternative than to pursue professional sports, and may also harm the NCAA’s push for amateurism rather than support it.Part II will summarize both categories of the policy; the Catastrophic Injury Program (“CIP”) and the Exceptional Student-Athlete Disability Insurance Program (“ESDI.”) and their intricacies. This section will also identify problems with each of the programs as to the CIP with the current NCAA concussion litigation and other latent injuries, and the ESDI as it has three glaring issues: The current cost allocation method, the inadequacy in covering a wide-range of injuries concussions and other latent injuries, and covers too few NCAA student-athletes.Part III will address the problems in both CID and ESDI, and offer workable solutions to the present issues that will both promote amateurism and ensure fairness for the athlete, because, as the insurance stands, the policy is unfair and inequitable for the NCAA student-athletes.Finally this article will conclude that aside from the proposals to the current policy offered, the NCAA should centralize the health care of all student-athletes because they are what makes the NCAA profitable. It is time for the NCAA to internalize the costs, and support the personnel that put their bodies on the line daily so the “charitable” non-profit under the Internal Revenue Code Section 501-3 can continue to profit and generate tens of millions tax-exempt dollars in revenue directly from the athletic performances of their “amateur” student-athletes.
A finite-depth unified theory for the linear and second-order problems of slender ships

In this paper an extension of the unified slender-body theory is introduced to solve the finite-depth seakeeping problem of a slender ship. The far- and near-field behaviors of the velocity potential in finite depth are introduced, and a new kernel of the integral equation is derived for the heave and pitch motions of a slender ship at zero speed. The kernel of the integral equation is expressed in a series form which makes the integral equation easy to solve. Based on the present theoretical background, computations were carried out, and the hydrodynamic coefficients and motion RAOs were obtained. The computational results are compared with WAMIT, and a nice agreement is shown. The present method is extended to the computation of the second-order mean drift forces and moment in infinite and finite depth. Motion RAOs of sway, roll and yaw are obtained using strip theory, and the drift forces using the far-field momentum equations. The results show favorable agreement with WAMIT. Using the drift forces, the wave drift damping matrix is obtained for infinite depth. Aranha's formula is applied, and the damping coefficients are compared with the existing data. The present study shows that unified theory is an efficient and accurate design tool for slender ships.
Subthreshold current reference suitable for energy harvesting: 20ppm/C and 0.1%/V at 140nW

A new CMOS ultra low power, resistor free, current reference is presented which is composed of two current generators, a current scalar, and a current subtraction circuit. Typical reference topologies generally add two current signals with opposing temperature coefficient (TC) polarities to generate a near zero TC reference current (Ir). The proposed circuit generates two currents (Ia and Ib) with the same polarity TCs that are scaled with differing slopes, and subsequently ratioed and subtracted from each other to form an Ir. In each current generator, the amplifier's built-in offset voltages track thermal voltages (VT) that are forced across resistive MOSFETs, contained in self-cascodes (SC), to make Ia and Ib. The magnitudes of Ia and Ib are adjusted semi independently from their TCs via MOSFET's aspect ratios. Also by setting MOSFET aspect ratios, the current scalar and subtraction circuit deducts the adjusted Ia and Ib from one another to form an Ir optimized for near zero TC. All generated currents are independent of MOSFET's threshold voltage (VTH) and primarily a function of MOSFET's mobility (u) and thermal voltage (VT), thus aiding performance to specifications over changes in temperature and fabrication process variations. Simulations, including montecarlo (MC) and worst case (WC), indicates the following specifications are achievable: current consumption (Idd) ∼ 150nA, TC ∼ 20 ppm/C, Voltage Coefficient (VC) ∼ 0.1 %/V, power supply rejection ratio (PSRR) ∼ −65 db, and power-up time (tsu) ∼ 14 milliseconds. Preliminary die size is about 101 micro meter (um) per side.
Alleviation of neuronal energy deficiency by mTOR inhibition as a treatment for mitochondria-related neurodegeneration

mTOR inhibition is beneficial in neurodegenerative disease models and its effects are often attributable to the modulation of autophagy and anti-apoptosis. Here, we report a neglected but important bioenergetic effect of mTOR inhibition in neurons. mTOR inhibition by rapamycin significantly preserves neuronal ATP levels, particularly when oxidative phosphorylation is impaired, such as in neurons treated with mitochondrial inhibitors, or in neurons derived from maternally inherited Leigh syndrome (MILS) patient iPS cells with ATP synthase deficiency. Rapamycin treatment significantly improves the resistance of MILS neurons to glutamate toxicity. Surprisingly, in mitochondrially defective neurons, but not neuroprogenitor cells, ribosomal S6 and S6 kinase phosphorylation increased over time, despite activation of AMPK, which is often linked to mTOR inhibition. A rapamycin-induced decrease in protein synthesis, a major energy-consuming process, may account for its ATP-saving effect. We propose that a mild reduction in protein synthesis may have the potential to treat mitochondria-related neurodegeneration.
Special Report—National Manpower Survey of 1987: Manpower Needs in Community Hospital and Private Laboratory Practice of Pathology

A new survey of manpower requirements in the community hospital and private laboratory practice of pathology has been completed and analyzed. The survey used a new instrument, the National Pathology Manpower Database, which will be useful in conducting longitudinal surveys. This instrument will permit organized pathology to monitor changes in pathology manpower needs in the years ahead, which are likely to be fraught with change. The results of this survey foretell a significant deficit of pathologists in community hospital and private laboratory practice within the next five years.
THE GUT MICROBIOTA REGULATES MURINE CARDIAC TRANSPLANT OUTCOME

The gut microbiota regulates systemic immunity, and microbiota characteristics can be defined that have pro- or anti-inflammatory effects. We hypothesized that the gut microbiota influences the survival of completely MHC mismatched murine cardiac transplants. Transplants were performed using BALB/c donor hearts grafted to C57BL/6 recipients. Gut microbiota manipulation was performed using an antibiotic cocktail on d -6 to -1, before fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) using fecal pellets from three groups: healthy C57BL/6, mice on d11 of pregnancy, and T-cell receptor transgenic colitic mice. Other groups received immunosuppression with anti-CD40L or tacrolimus plus FMT. 16S rRNA gene sequencing from fecal pellets was used to identify bacteria associated with transplant outcome. Cardiac allografts were harvested at d40 or rejection, and assessed for survival. Higher survival rates and lower fibrosis scores were observed with FMT performed using pregnant mouse feces/antibiotics/anti-CD40L. FMT performed with colitic mouse feces/antibiotics/tacrolimus resulted in higher fibrosis scores. Bifidobacterium pseudolongum was present in pregnant and normal mouse feces, but not colitic mice, and significantly associated with positive transplant outcome. In conclusion, the microbiota has a profound systemic effect on immunity with consequences for graft outcome. Microbiota manipulation could be beneficial in reducing inflammation, subsequent tissue damage, and graft rejection.
Al-doped ZnO contact to CdZnTe for x- and gamma-ray detector applications

The poor adhesion of common metals to CdZnTe (CZT)/CdTe surfaces has been a long-standing challenge for radiation detector applications. In this present work, we explored the use of an alternative electrode, viz., Al-doped ZnO (AZO) as a replacement to common metallic contacts. ZnO offers several advantages over the latter, such as having a higher hardness, a close match of the coefficients of thermal expansion for CZT and ZnO, and better adhesion to the surface of CZT due to the contact layer being an oxide. The AZO/CZT contact was investigated via high spatial-resolution X-ray response mapping for a planar detector at the micron level. The durability of the device was investigated by acquiring I–V measurements over an 18-month period, and good long-term stability was observed. We have demonstrated that the AZO/CZT/AZO virtual-Frisch-grid device performs fairly well, with comparable or better characteristics than that for the same detector fabricated with gold contacts.