cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A flexible Quagga-based virtual network with FIB aggregation

The rapid increase in routers forwarding table size is raising serious concerns for ISPs. In particular, it exhausts the routers forwarding hardware capacity, leading to more frequent upgrades and higher cost. In this article, we present the development of a virtual network framework based on open source software that demonstrates how solutions to this impending problem can be implemented and studied. The system is capable of emulating an operational network environment with intradomain and inter-domain routing protocols as well as real-world Internet routing traffic. By adding performance monitoring and FIB aggregation capabilities to this system, we are able to evaluate the performance of FIB aggregation algorithms in a realistic network environment.
Molecular characterization of a multidrug resistance-associated protein, Mrp2, from the little skate.

Multidrug resistance protein Mrp2 (symbol Abcc2) in liver plays a significant role in the biliary excretion of organic anionic conjugates. Mutations in humanMRP2 result in defects in excretion of c...
Production of Dense Red Band around Growth of Staphylococcus aureus on Blood Agar Plates.

Summary1. When certain strains of S. aureus are grown on human blood agar, a dense broad red band develops around the growth. This band surrounds a hemolytic area produced by strains that are hemolytic for human erythrocytes (e.g., Guy Strain) and surrounds directly the growth of strains that are not hemolytic (e.g., Oxford Strain). 2. Production of the red bands appears to depend upon a substance that diffuses through agar. 3. When sterile agar sections from plates previously inoculated with S. aureus are transferred onto blood plates, red bands develop around the transplanted section. 4. When plain agar is inoculated with the Guy Strain at a point near blood agar, a circular dense red band develops around the hemolytic zone in the blood medium; when inoculated with the Oxford Strain, a dense solid red band (half-moon) develops without hemolytic zone.
Synthesis of Plugged Mesoporous SBA-15-Type Silicas from Sodium Silicate

Nonionic triblock copolymers (P123) templated SBA-15 silicas since 1998 have attracted great interests due to their larger pores, thicker pore walls, etc. Following that, extensive works were devoted to tailor the textural and morphological properties of SBA-15s, among which the SBA-15 with plugs formed in mesoschannels, called plugged hexagonal templated silica (PHTS), was one of famous examples. This work presents a simple but effective method to prepare PHTS-type SBA-15s based on the partitioned cooperative self-assembly process using P123 as template and cheap sodium silicate as silica precursor, which is in contrast with most other works using TEOS as silica precursor. Various techniques, including XRD, TEM and N2 sorption, have been employed to characterize the resultant PHTS-type SBA-15s. For this method, synthetic parameters, especially the interval time and aging temperatures, were found to have great influence on the plugged mesostructures.
Conserved self pattern recognition algorithm with novel detection strategy applied to breast cancer diagnosis

This paper presents a novel approach based on an improved Conserved Self Pattern Recognition Algorithm to analyze cytological characteristics of breast fine-needle aspirates (FNAs) for clinical breast cancer diagnosis. A novel detection strategy by coupling domain knowledge and randomized methods is proposed to resolve conflicts on anomaly detection between two types of detectors investigated in our earlier work on Conserved Self Pattern Recognition Algorithm (CSPRA). The improved CSPRA is applied to detect the malignant cases using clinical breast cancer data collected by Dr. Wolberg (1990), and the results are evaluated for performance measure (detection rate and false alarm rate). Results show that our approach has promising performance on breast cancer diagnosis and great potential in the area of clinical diagnosis. Effects of parameters setting in the CSPRA are discussed, and the experimental results are compared with the previous works.
Creating a Collaborative Campus Culture.

Organizational culture influences whether or not community colleges maintain local support as well as overall institutional effectiveness. This paper discusses culture and the context of culture at River Parishes Community College (RPCC) a new institution within the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, currently in its fifth academic year. Implemented to provide faculty, staff, and students with an opportunity to share ideas and strategies for improving student success, the Education for Success through Partnership Rallies on Instruction and Teaching (ESPRIT) expressly aspires to shape campus culture and promote collaboration. This paper discusses organizational culture as well as it reflects the goals and cultural implications of the ESPRIT program at RPCC.
Internal carotid artery obstruction derived from persistent arterial wall dissection associated with old trivial trauma.

A 59-year-old man presented with acute onset of visual loss in his right eye. He was treated under a diagnosis of retinal artery thrombosis. Ultrasonography revealed obstruction of the ipsilateral internal carotid artery (ICA). He had no risk factor for stroke and he denied any history of trauma. Follow-up ultrasonography obtained 6 months later showed spontaneous ICA recanalization. Cerebral angiography demonstrated an arterial wall flap suggesting ICA dissection at the craniocervical junction. He then remembered suffering hemicranial headache and Horner’s sign of several days’ duration after jumping off a stepladder 1 year earlier. The present case is quite unusual in that persistent carotid arterial wall dissection was thought to proceed to ICA obstruction and manifested as retinal ischemia after a long asymptomatic period.
Mitochondrial translational-initiation and elongation factors in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

C155 and E252 are respiratory-defective mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, previously assigned to complementation groups G37 and G142, respectively. The following evidence suggested that both mutants were likely to have lesions in components of the mitochondrial translational machinery: C155 and E252 display a pleiotropic deficiency in cytochromes a, a3 and b; both strains are severly limited in their ability to incorporate radioactive methionine into the mitochondrial translation products and, in addition, display a tendency to loose wild-type mitochondrial DNA. This set of characteristics is commonly found in strains affected in mitochondrial protein synthesis. To identify the biochemical lesions, each mutant was transformed with a wild-type yeast genomic library and clones complemented for the respiratory defect were selected for growth on a non-fermentable substrate. Analysis of the cloned genes revealed that C155 has a mutation in a protein which has high sequence similarity to bacterial elongation factor G and that E252 has a mutation in a protein homologous to bacterial initiation factor 2. Disruption of the chromosomal copy of each gene in a wild-type haploid yeast induced a phenotype analogous to that of the original mutants, but does not affect cell viability. These results indicate that both gene products function exclusively in mitochondrial protein synthesis. Subcloning of the IFMI gene, coding for the mitochondrial initiation factor, indicates that the amino-terminal 423 residues of the protein are sufficient to promote peptide-chain intiation in vivo.
Artificial Bee Beds for the Propagation of the Alkali Bee, Nomia melander

The construction of artificial beds for the propagation of the alkali bee ( Nomia melanderi Ckll.) was achieved by duplicating the texture, moisture, and alkalinity of the native soils in which the bee was found. Pits, up to 60 by 60 feet in outside dimension, were excavated 3 feet deep and lined with polyethylene. Two to four inches of gravel were added to the polyethylene and the pits backfilled with soil consisting of less than 7% clay-size particles. Salt was rotovated into the upper level of the bed to effect soil dispersion and reduced water loss. Tubes were led through the soil to the gravel layer as a method of introducing the necessary moisture, and transplants were made into the bed to serve as the nucleus of the new colony. Burrowing populations in excess of 250 per square foot were recorded from a 2-year-old bed, which represents an 8-fold increase in population density over the best natural site in Oregon.
Compensatory responses to pyruvate carboxylase suppression in islet β-cells: Preservation of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion

We have previously reported that glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) is tightly correlated with pyruvate carboxylase (PC)-catalyzed anaplerotic flux into the tricarboxylic acid cycle and stimulation of pyruvate cycling activity. To further evaluate the role of PC in β-cell function, we constructed a recombinant adenovirus containing a small interfering RNA (siRNA) specific to PC (Ad-siPC). Ad-siPC reduced PC mRNA levels by 83 and 64% and PC protein by 56 and 35% in INS-1-derived 832/13 cells and primary rat islets, respectively. Surprisingly, this manipulation did not impair GSIS in rat islets. In Ad-siPC-treated 832/13 cells, GSIS was slightly increased, whereas glycolytic rate and glucose oxidation were unaffected. Flux through PC at high glucose was decreased by only 20%, suggesting an increase in PC-specific activity. Acetyl carnitine, a surrogate for acetyl-CoA, an allosteric activator of PC, was increased by 36% in Ad-siPC-treated cells, suggesting a mechanism by which PC enzymatic activity is maintained with suppressed PC protein levels. In addition, the NADPH:NADP ratio, a proposed coupling factor for GSIS, was unaffected in Ad-siPC-treated cells. We conclude that β-cells activate compensatory mechanisms in response to suppression of PC expression that prevent impairment of anaplerosis, pyruvate cycling, NAPDH production, and GSIS.
Cell–matrix adhesion in vascular development

Vascular development requires correct interactions among endothelial cells, pericytes and surrounding cells. These interactions involve many cell adhesion interactions, including cell-matrix interactions both with basement membranes and with surrounding extracellular matrices. Investigations of the contributions of these various interactions in vascular development and angiogenesis have been rather uneven and incomplete over the past 10-15 years. There has been considerable concentration on a few receptors, matrix proteins and proteolytic fragments with the goal of finding means to control angiogenesis. Many other potential contributors have received much less attention. Even for those molecules that have been subject to intensive investigation, our knowledge is incomplete. This review will survey the spectrum of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and cell-matrix adhesion receptors (particularly integrins) that are likely to contribute to angiogenesis and discuss what is known and not known about the roles of each of them.
An improved linear edge bound for graph linkages

A graph is said to be k-linked if it has at least 2k vertices and for every sequence S1,...,Sk, t1,...,tk of distinct vertices there exist disjoint paths P1,...,Pk such that the ends of Pi are si and ti. Bollobas and Thomason showed that if a simple graph G on n vertices is 2k-connected and G has at least 11kn edges, then G is k-linked. We give a relatively simple inductive proof of the stronger statement that 8kn edges and 2k-connectivity suffice, and then with more effort improve the edge bound to 5kn.
Anticipatory Nausea and Vomiting: A Review of Psychological Interventions

Although a cure for cancer continues to elude scientists, modern chemotherapy treatments can typically reduce or reverse the rate of disease progression and can often lead to restored health. However, chemotherapy can also produce severe, sometimes intolerable, side effects. A particularly distressing and aversive side effect that develops in 25 to 32% of all chemotherapy patients is anticipatory nausea and vomiting (ANV). Fortunately, research investigating the prevalence, etiology, predictors, and treatment of ANV has flourished since the early 1980s, and there has been significant progress in understanding this phenomenon. Although antiemetic medications appear to be ineffective in controlling ANV, several psychological interventions, including progressive muscle relaxation training, systematic desensitization, hypnosis, attentional distraction, and stimulus control have produced promising results. The present paper is a review of these interventions.
Comparison of PAX‐2, RCC antigen, and antiphosphorylated H2AX antibody (γ‐H2AX) in diagnosing metastatic renal cell carcinoma by fine‐needle aspiration

Diagnosing metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) by fine-needle aspiration (FNA) can be challenging. Existing antibodies supporting a diagnosis of RCC, including CD10 and RCC-Ma, have problems with specificity and interpretation. In this report, we evaluate the use of two newer immunostains, PAX-2 and gH2AX, which to our knowledge have not been studied in FNA material, in the diagnosis of metastatic RCC and in comparison with RCC-Ma. 29 cases of metastatic RCC were identified as well as a TMA of an additional 30 RCC cases. In the case cohort, RCC-Ma in a membranous pattern of staining identified 15/27 (56%) metastatic RCC, although interpretation was made difficult in many cases due to focality of staining and non-specific cytoplasmic staining. PAX-2 stained 23/29 (79%) of tumors in a nuclear stain, most strongly. Gamma-H2AX stained 19/26 (73%) of metastatic RCC strongly in a nuclear stain. In the TMA, strong, diffuse nuclear staining with g-H2AX was present in 22/30 RCC (73%). If weak staining was also included as positive, 26/30 (87%) were positive. PAX-2 stained RCC TMA with a lower percentage at 56%, including weaker staining intensity. Both PAX-2 and g-H2AX demonstrated patchy staining of normal renal tubules, PAX-2 to a greater extent. Both PAX-2 and g-H2AX are sensitive markers for the diagnosis of metastatic RCC, with improved ease of interpretation when compared with RCC-Ma. A combination of all 3 markers identified 87% of cases, and failure to stain for both PAX-2 and g-H2AX suggests against, but does not disprove, a diagnosis of RCC. Diagn.
Isolation and description of antimicrobic-resistant (marker) strains of select insecticidal and noninsecticidal varieties ofBacillus sphaericus

Single and multiple antibiotic-resistant strains were isolated from four insecticidal and two noninsecticidal parent strains ofBacillus sphaericus. Several of the single resistant strains isolated were also cross-resistant to several antibiotics of different modes of action. All of the parent strains were naturally susceptible to 11 and naturally resistant to two out of 22 antimicrobics examined. The majority, 17 out of 23, of antibiotic-resistant strains, that were isolated from the insecticidal parent strains, retained their insecticidal activity while the noninsecticidal strains remained noninsecticidal. Among the isolates were several strains that would be potentially useful as marker strains in the genetic manipulation of the insecticidal strains.
A Mathematical Model of Atherosclerosis with Reverse Cholesterol Transport and Associated Risk Factors

Atherosclerosis, the leading cause of death in the US, is a disease in which a plaque builds up inside the arteries. The low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) concentrations in the blood are commonly used to predict the risk factor for plaque growth. In a recent paper (Hao and Friedman in Plos One e90497, 2014), we have developed a mathematical model of plaque growth which includes the (LDL, HDL) concentrations. In the present paper, we have refined that model by including the effect of reverse cholesterol transport. By exploration-by-examples of regression of a plaque in mice, our model simulations suggest that such drugs as used for mice may also slow plaque growth in humans. We next proceeded to explore the effects of oxidative stress or antioxidant deficiency, high blood pressure and cigarette smoking as risk factors. We suggest for an individual in one of these three risk categories and with specified (LDL, HDL) concentration, how to reduce or eliminate the risk of atherosclerosis.
The OH collision broadening parameter in the 2900°K H2-NO flame

Abstract The collision broadening parameter of the Q 1 6 line in the OH (0, 0) A → X u.v. transition has been determined by the curve of growth method in atmospheric pressure nitric oxide-hydrogen flames, in the temperature range 2800–2900°K. An average value of 0.05 was found for this parameter for five flames varying in feed composition between 40 and 65% NO. The exact flame gas compositions and temperatures for which these determinations were made are given in the paper. The data obtained are in agreement with those obtained by Carrington 2 for atmospheric hydrogen-oxygen flames at 2600°K.
Maximum-Payload Trajectories for a Laser-Propelled Launch Vehicle

The feasible trajectories of a laser-propelled launch vehicle are restricted by the laser power available, the power lost to atmospheric absorption and beam spreading, and the thruster design. These constraints result in optimal trajectories that are significantly different from those for conventional launch vehicles. The problem formulation and constraints for a launch vehicle using a pulsed-laser thruster with two laser power transmission models are presented. A maximum payload problem for launch to various circular orbits is solved for both transmission models using sequential quadratic programming. An unusual backs wing trajectory feature is obtained for most of the optimal trajectories presented. The optimal trajectories for various circular orbit altitudes are discussed, and the effects of altering the power transmission efficiency are shown. ASER-PROPELLED launch vehicles were first proposed in the early 1970s.1 Advances in laser and optics technology since then have increased the feasibility of very high power, ground-based, laser launch systems.2'3 Such systems offer the potential of thousands of launches to low Earth orbit (LEO) per year at greatly reduced costs over current launch vehicles.4 Kantrowitz5 has proposed an extremely simple (and hence cheap) design for a laser-propelled launch vehicle. The vehicle is essentially a right circular cone of some solid propellant with a payload in the apex as shown in Fig. 1. The conical shape allows the vehicle to turn relative to the laser beam without exposing the payload to the laser. When struck by a double-pulsed laser beam, the entire base of the vehicle acts as a double-pulse planar thruster (DPPT) as described by Kare. 4 A low-power pulse evaporates a desired amount of propellant from the thruster surface to form a thin layer of gas. The gaseous propellant is then heated by a laser-supported detonation (LSD) wave initiated and sustained by a second, highpower laser pulse. The hot gas then expands one dimensionally producing thrust.
The placental transfer of cephalothin.

Various neonatal effects of a single maternal injection of 1 Gm. of cephalothinwithin the hour prior to delivery were studied in 43 patients. Peak drug levels in the infants lagged 15 to 30 minutes behind peak maternal levels, and the neonate achieved absolute plasma-drug levels far below the mothers'. No acute evidences of drug toxicity were noted. Evidence of effective neonatal renal excretion of cephalothin was observed and the rate of plasma decay of drug was relatively rapid.
BRCT Repeats As Phosphopeptide-Binding Modules Involved in Protein Targeting

We used a proteomic approach to identify phosphopeptide-binding modules mediating signal transduction events in the DNA damage response pathway. Using a library of partially degenerate phosphopeptides, we identified tandem BRCT (BRCA1 carboxyl-terminal) domains in PTIP (Pax transactivation domain-interacting protein) and in BRCA1 as phosphoserine- or phosphothreonine-specific binding modules that recognize substrates phosphorylated by the kinases ATM (ataxia telangiectasia-mutated) and ATR (ataxia telangiectasia- and RAD3-related) in response to gamma-irradiation. PTIP tandem BRCT domains are responsible for phosphorylation-dependent protein localization into 53BP1- and phospho-H2AX (gamma-H2AX)-containing nuclear foci, a marker of DNA damage. These findings provide a molecular basis for BRCT domain function in the DNA damage response and may help to explain why the BRCA1 BRCT domain mutation Met1775 --> Arg, which fails to bind phosphopeptides, predisposes women to breast and ovarian cancer.
Wave splitting and the reflection operator for the wave equation in R3

The problem of wave splitting in a nonhomogeneous medium in R3 is considered. Previous results for wave splitting in a planar stratified medium can be generalized to a general nonhomogeneous medium (with sufficiently smooth velocity). The wave equation is factorized into an up‐ and down‐going wave system using certain integral and integral‐differential operators. The equation for the reflection operator (which relates the up‐going wave to a down‐going wave) is then obtained, and certain properties of the reflection operator are deduced.
Large scale synthesis of the Cdc42 inhibitor secramine A and its inhibition of cell spreading

We describe a large scale synthesis of secramine A. Consistent with its ability to inhibit activation of the small GTPase Cdc42, we find that secramine A inhibits cell spreading, a process previously shown to be Cdc42-dependent.
Recombinant human thyroid-stimulating hormone to stimulate 131-I uptake for remnant ablation and adjuvant therapy.

ABSTRACT Objective To review the current literature with regard to the use of recombinant human thyroid stimulating hormone (rhTSH) as an adjunct to radioactive iodine (RAI) remnant ablation and adjuvant therapy. Methods Literature review of clinical studies examining rhTSH and/or thyroid hormone withdrawal preparations for RAI remnant ablation. The primary endpoints evaluated were ( 1 ) effectiveness at ablating the thyroid bed as demonstrated by the lack of significant uptake in the thyroid bed on follow-up diagnostic imaging and ( 2 ) effectiveness in facilitating the adjuvant therapy function of RAI ablation as manifested by follow-up thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)-stimulated serum thyroglobulin levels and clinical outcomes (recurrence rates, likelihood of having no evidence of disease at final follow-up). Results RAI remnant ablation can be successfully achieved using either traditional thyroid hormone withdrawal or recombinant human TSH preparation. While initial studies included primarily thyroid cancer patients at low risk of recurrence, more recent studies suggest that rhTSH can also be effectively used as preparation for RAI ablation in patients with an intermediate or high risk of recurrence. Furthermore, while early studies focused primarily on the endpoint of thyroid bed remnant ablation, more recent retrospective studies suggest that final clinical outcomes (recurrence rates, likelihood of achieving no evidence of disease status at final follow-up) over 5-10 years of follow-up are very similar with either method of preparation. Conclusion rhTSH is an effective alternative to thyroid hormone withdrawal in preparation for RAI remnant ablation in patients without evidence of distant metastases who are at low, intermediate, or high risk of recurrence.
Carbon–Nitrogen Pyrolyzates: Attempted Preparation of Carbon Nitride

Precursors for the preparation of carbon nitride were selected from a number of relatively high nitrogen content organic materials. The precursors were pyrolyzed in a closed system at 700°C under 225 MPa. The resulting residues showed little nitrogen loss, but were amorphous with relatively low densities. Raman spectroscopy and 13C NMR indicate the presence of trigonal carbon.
Not Ozzie and Harriet: Postwar Divorce and the American Liberal Welfare State

This article analyzes divorce as a technology of governance in twentieth-century America in order to examine the emergence of a rights-based liberal welfare-state regime during the postwar era. The author offers an interpretation of the post–World War II “divorce boom” that challenges prevailing notions of postwar domestic tranquillity and highlights the legal formalization of family relations and the administration of the developing welfare state. The article posits an important shift in postwar public policy regarding divorce from the policing of public morality through family preservation to the regulation of public welfare through family structures. The legal consequences of this shift are explored at the local level by focusing on the “problem” of the Chicago divorce courts and the frustrated attempts of postwar reformers in Illinois to employ the traditional methods and rhetoric of Progressive Era reform. At the national level, the author examines the formulation of new governmental objectives and individual rights in the liberal welfare-state regime through an analysis of the United States Supreme Court's decisions regarding migratory divorce.
An open-label pilot trial of alpha-lipoic acid for weight loss in patients with schizophrenia without diabetes.

A possible mechanism of antipsychotic-induced weight gain is activation of hypothalamic monophosphate-dependent kinase (AMPK) mediated by histamine 1 receptors. Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), a potent antioxidant, counteracts this effect and may be helpful in reducing weight for patients taking antipsychotics. The objective of this open-label study was to assess the efficacy of ALA (1,200 mg) on twelve non-diabetic schizophrenia patients over ten weeks. Participants lost significant weight during the intervention (-2.2 kg±2.5 kg). ALA was well tolerated and was particularly effective for individuals taking strongly antihistaminic antipsychotics (-2.9 kg±2.6 kg vs. -0.5 kg±1.0 kg). Clinical Trial Registration: NCT01355952.
Molecular modeling of closed circular DNA thermodynamic ensembles

Many modeling studies of supercoiled DNA are based on equilibrium structures from theoretical calculations or energy minimization. Since closed circular DNAs are flexible, it is possible that errors are introduced by calculating properties from a single minimum energy structure, rather than from a complete thermodynamic ensemble. We have investigated this question using molecular dynamics simulations on a low resolution molecular mechanics model in which each base pair is represented by three points (a plane). This allows the inclusion of sequence-dependent variations of tip, inclination, and twist. Three kinds of sequences were tested: (1) homogeneous DNA, in which all base pairs have the helicoidal parameters of an ideal, average B-DNA; (2) random sequence DNA; and (3) curved DNA. We examined the rate of convergence of various structural parameters. Convergence for most of these is slowest for homogeneous sequences, more rapid for random sequences, and most rapid for curved sequences. The most slowly converging parameter is the antipodes profile. In a plasmid with N base pairs (bp), the antipodes distance is the distance dij from base pair i to base pair j halfway around the plasmid, j = i + N/2. The antipodes profile at time tau is a plot of dij over the range i = 1, N/2. In a homogeneous plasmid, convergence requires that the antipodes profile averaged over time must be flat. Even in the small plasmids examined here, the average properties of the ensembles were found to differ from those of static equilibrium structures. These effects will be even more dramatic for larger plasmids. Further, average and dynamic properties are affected by both plasmid size and sequence.
Geography: From the Product Concept to the Marketing Concept

(1974). Geography: From the Product Concept to the Marketing Concept. The Professional Geographer: Vol. 26, No. 1, pp. 1-4.
Covalent Grafting of Ferrocene to Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanofibers: Electron-transfer Processes at Nanostructured Electrodes

Ferrocene was used as a model system to understand the electron-transfer properties of redox-active molecules covalently linked to the surface of vertically aligned carbon nanofibers. Ultraviolet-initiated grafting of organic alkenes was used to prepare carboxylic acid-terminated layers, and ferrocene was then linked to these layers via amide groups. The electrical properties of the resulting layers were measured using cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Standard rate constants for electron transfer (kapp) of approximately 1.0−1.3 s−1 were found for ferrocene covalently linked to the nanofiber surfaces, compared to about 3 s−1 on glassy carbon surfaces. Measurements of the electron-transfer rates through molecular layers of different length show no significant change. Similarly, no significant changes were observed in electron-transfer rate constants or peak width upon dilution of the ferrocene-containing molecules. Our results show that molecular layers grafted to carbon nanofi...
Linear and non-linear failure analysis of composite laminates with transverse shear

A finite element computational procedure has been developed to find linear and nonlinear (von Karman) first-ply failure loads of composite laminates subjected to in-plane and transverse loads. The FEM is based on first-order shear deformation theory and several phenomenological failure criteria. It is found that the failure loads predicted by various failure criteria differ from one another by a maximum of 35 percent in the case of linear loads and 50 percent in the case of nonlinear loads; the failure locations differ from each other in a random way. It is demonstrated that the difference between the linear and nonlinear failure loads is large in the case of transversely loaded simply supported laminates and thin plates. The difference is found to be quite small in the case of in-plane (tensile) loading and thick laminates.
Importance of acetaldehyde in the action of ethanol on brain norepinephrine and 5-hydroxytryptamine☆

Abstract Ethanol alone produced small decreases in rat and rabbit brain norepinephrine (NE) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) concentrations that were no greater than the effects of intraperitoneal injections of similar volumes of isotonic saline. However, increased acetaldehyde blood levels produced by disulfiram pretreatment before the ethanol doses or by the administration of acetaldehyde itself caused statistically significant decreases in brain NE but no further effects on 5-HT. Chlorpromazine blocked decreases of both 5-HT and NE without producing any change in the blood levels of acetaldehyde or ethanol. The depletion of NE coincided temporally with peak concentrations of acetaldehyde in the brain rather than with blood levels.
Surfactant protein A compared to thyroid transcription factor-1 in identifying metastatic tumors of lung origin in cytopathology.

Introduction Differentiating primary tumors and metastases of lung origin from other neoplasms often cannot be done on cytomorphology alone. Immunocytochemistry using markers such as thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1) is employed for this purpose. Surfactant protein A (SPA) is a glycoprotein with multiple functions in the lung. There have been limited immunohistochemical studies investigating the diagnostic role of SPA. This study aimed to determine the diagnostic utility of SPA compared with that of TTF-1 in identifying tumors of lung origin in cytology samples. Materials and methods A total of 155 consecutive cytology specimens procured outside of the lung were analyzed, in which SPA immunohistochemistry was reported. Cases were reviewed to document final diagnoses, immunostain results (including TTF-1), and histopathology follow-up when available. Results Cytoplasmic SPA immunoreactivity was identified primarily in metastatic lung adenocarcinomas (ADC). SPA was also positive in 3 carcinomas of gynecologic/breast origin. SPA and TTF-1 specificity and positive predictive value were high (>90%) with relatively low sensitivity and negative predictive value for identifying metastatic ADC of lung origin. A panel of SPA and TTF-1 correctly identified most (79.7%) lung metastatic adenocarcinomas. Conclusions SPA is a useful cytoplasmic marker to confirm lung origin in metastatic nonmucinous ADC. However, SPA is limited by having low sensitivity and being negative in up to 35% of metastatic ADCs of lung origin, whereas TTF-1 exhibited better sensitivity. SPA may rarely demonstrate false immunoreactivity in a subset of gynecologic/breast carcinomas. Employing a panel of SPA and TTF-1 has better diagnostic utility than either stain alone.
Characterization of hydrous ruthenium oxide/carbon nanocomposite supercapacitors prepared by a colloidal method

Abstract Amorphous nanostructured composite materials with different RuO 2 loadings on carbon were prepared by colloidal method. The annealing temperature was found to be critical in optimizing the electrochemical performance of this material. FT Raman study confirmed that ruthenium complex converted to ruthenium oxide after annealing at 100 °C. The specific capacitance of RuO 2 /carbon composite electrode (40 wt.% Ru) was calculated by using cyclic voltammetry, which was to be 407 F/g. The specific capacitance of RuO 2 · x H 2 O was estimated to be approximately 863 F/g by subtracting the contribution of double layer capacitance resulting from carbon in the composite. Transmission electron microscopy indicated that the particle size of RuO 2 · x H 2 O on carbon was approximately 3 nm. By increasing the Ru loading over 60 wt.%, the particle size of RuO 2 increased up to several micrometers resulting in a decrease of the utilization of RuO 2 , the specific surface area and the rate capability.
Orthotopic, but reversed implantation of the liver allograft in situs inversus totalis-a simple new approach to a difficult problem.

Situs inversus totalis is a rare congenital anomaly in which the heart and abdominal organs are oriented in a mirror image of normal. It provides a unique challenge as there is no established technique for liver transplantation in these patients. Employing two major alterations from our standard technique, a liver was transplanted in the left subphrenic space of a patient with situs inversus totalis. First, the liver was flipped 180° from right to left (facing backward). Second, a reversed cavaplasty (anterior, not posterior, donor suprahepatic caval incision) was performed. Otherwise, it was standard, with end-to-end anastomoses of the portal vein, hepatic artery and bile duct. Three years after the entirely uneventful transplant, the recipient continues to enjoy the benefits of a normally functioning liver. The described technique prevented torsion, kinking and tension on the anastomosed structures by allowing the liver to sit naturally in an anatomical position in the left hepatic fossa. As it required no special measurements or maneuvers, the technique was easy to execute and required no donor liver size restrictions. This novel technique, with a reversed cavaplasty and a 180° right-to-left flip of the liver into a left-sided hepatic fossa, may be ideal for situs inversus totalis.
Influence of growth rate on specific gravity and other selected properties of Loblolly Pine.

Forty lobiolly pine trees were studied for the purpose of finding a possible reason for the growth rate-specific gravity controversy. In addition, properties such as specific gravity of earlywood and latewood, latewood percentage, and their relations with growth rate and specific gravity of wood were investigated.
Radical Changes in Class Discussion Using Networked Computers.

This study examines the effects of conducting class discussion on a local area network. A real time networking program (INTERCHANGE) was used for class discussion in freshman and senior literature courses and in a graduate humanities computing class. Pseudonyms, collaborative exams and essays, and computer-assisted reading were tested, along with organization of the students by sex and personality type. At the beginning and end of each semester in each class students were asked 50 to 70 multiple choice questions. Their answers revealed that the many advantages of computer assisted class discussion (CACD) clearly outweigh the disadvantages.
Clinical gait and stepping performance measures in older adults

Problems with ambulation and mobility are frequent problems in older adults. Each year, about one in 100 older adults develops new severe mobility disability. Assessment of abnormal gait constitutes a major component of clinical practice and may lead to fall reduction. Clinicians can benefit from simple gait and mobility assessment tools to be used in busy clinical settings. This review focuses on gait and stepping performance measures that can be used by the busy clinician to assess gait, mobility performance, balance, and falls risk in the older adult.
Acetylglyceryl ether phosphorylcholine (AGEPC; platelet-activating factor)-induced stimulation of rabbit platelets: Correlation between phosphatidic acid level, 45Ca2+ uptake, and [3H]serotonin secretion

Abstract When 32Pi-labeled rabbit platelets were incubated with 5 × 10−10 m 1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glyceryl-3-phosphorylcholine (AGEPC), either in the presence or absence (0.1 m m EGTA) of added Ca2+, there was a three- to five-fold increase in the [32P]phosphatidic acid (PA) pool within 15 to 20 s. This event was followed by a gradual decrease in the [32P]PA level to near basal level in 5 min. AGEPC effected this change in [32P]PA in a characteristic dose- and time-dependent manner. Polar head group analogs of AGEPC, such as AGEDME and AGEMME, also effected an increase in PA labeling at levels. comparable to those previously reported for their activity toward rabbit platelets [K. Satouchi, R. N. Pinckard, L. M., McManus, and D. J. Hanahan (1981) J. Biol. Chem.256, 4425–4432] . Other analogs, i.e., lysoGEPC and the enantiomer, sn-1-AGEPC, which are inactive toward rabbit platelets, also showed no effect on the level of [32P]PA. The finding that the PA level in rabbit platelets could be manipulated by the addition of AGEPC, without any added Ca2+, provided an excellent model system for establishinig a correlation between the uptake of Ca2+, serotonin release, and PA level. Thus, PA must be regarded as a sensitive indicator of a reaction mechanism important to the platelet response to AGEPC, and could be the focal point in promoting calcium uptake during the stimulation process.
Attenuation of EPO-dependent erythroblast formation by death-associated protein kinase-2.

The adult erythron is maintained via dynamic modulation of erythroblast survival potentials. Toward identifying novel regulators of this process, murine splenic erythroblasts at 3 developmental stages were prepared, purified and profiled. Stage-to-stage modulated genes were then functionally categorized, with a focus on apoptotic factors. In parallel with BCL-X and NIX, death-associated protein kinase-2 (DAPK2) was substantially up-modulated during late erythropoiesis. Among hematopoietic lineages, DAPK2 was expressed predominantly in erythroid cells. In a Gata1-IE3.9int-DAPK2 transgenic mouse model, effects on steady-state reticulocyte and red blood cell (RBC) levels were limited. During hemolytic anemia, however, erythropoiesis was markedly deficient. Ex vivo ana-lyses revealed heightened apoptosis due to DAPK2 at a Kit−CD71highTer119− stage, together with a subsequent multifold defect in late-stage Kit−CD71highTer119+ cell formation. In UT7epo cells, siRNA knock-down of DAPK2 enhanced survival due to cytokine withdrawal, and DAPK2's phosphorylation and kinase activity also were erythropoietin (EPO)-modulated. DAPK2 therefore comprises a new candidate attenuator of stress erythropoiesis.
Validity of Officer Self-Reported Citizen Complaints: A Research Note

This research note explores the use of self-report surveys in police samples to study citizen complaints. Officer self-reported citizen complaints are compared with official departmental complaints...
Tandem Nitroaldol−Dehydration Reactions Employing the Dianion of Phenylsulfonylnitromethane1

Reaction of phenylsulfonylnitromethane (1) with more than 2 molar equiv of LDA afforded the dilithium salt of phenylsulfonylnitromethane. Condensation of this dilithium salt with unbranched aldehydes occurred readily, but the initial nitroaldols dehydrated to afford unconjugated β,γ-unsaturated α-nitrosulfones in 52−88% yield. Evidence is presented that the β,γ-unsaturated α-nitrosulfones can equilibrate with the conjugated α,β-unsaturated α-nitrosulfones at neutral pH. The normally disfavored α,β-unsaturated α-nitrosulfones have been implicated in the formation of bis(α-nitrosulfones), Michael adducts of phenylsulfonylnitromethane. Three diastereomers (1R,2s,3S, 1R,2r,3S, and 1R,3R/1S,3S) have been identified for the bis(α-nitrosulfones) obtained in these reactions. In the case of acetaldehyde, condensation with the dilithium salt of phenylsulfonylnitromethane afforded only bis(α-nitrosulfones). The main product (three diastereomers) was the bis(α-nitrosulfone) derived from Michael addition of phenylsulf...
Effects of biomass particle size during cofiring under air-fired and oxyfuel conditions

Abstract Carbon capture and storage (CCS), when applied to biomass cofiring systems, can remove atmospheric CO 2 since the CO 2 that is consumed by the biomass during growth is not released back into the atmosphere. Biomass cofiring can also potentially contribute to meeting renewable portfolio standards (RPS), and result in reduced pollutant emissions, including sulfur oxides (SO x ) and mercury. However, biomass fuels are widely variable in composition, particle size, and nitrogen content, which can make utilization of these fuels challenging. In this work, a numerical study was conducted for cofiring of pulverized coal and sawdust under air-fired and oxyfuel conditions to investigate the effects of cofiring on flame length and nitric oxide (NO) formation. Previous experiments have shown an increase in nitrogen conversion to NO when cofiring under both air-fired and oxyfuel combustion, despite the fact that the sawdust cofired had less fuel-bound nitrogen. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is used to determine the cause of the increased NO conversion and to identify differences between air-fired and oxyfuel cofired flames. The simulations reveal that cofired flames have longer volatile-flame regions (the flame envelope), and this length is influenced by the increased volatile fraction and particle size associated with the biomass. Flame length theory for turbulent, non-premixed gaseous diffusion flames was found to be useful in interpreting the observed results in both air-fired and oxyfuel combustion. Large biomass particles that are not entrained in the near-burner region breakthrough the flame envelope, and this was shown to be detrimental to controlling NO formation. During oxy-cofiring combustion, particle breakthrough occurs at smaller diameter, leading to increased nitrogen conversion to NO when compared to air-fired conditions. This is a direct result of a decreased flame envelope length and elevated oxygen concentrations.
The case of Peggy Sue

In a pluralistic society it is important that patients and health care operators be aware of each others’ beliefs and values. A value history allows the practitioners to identify the patients’ goals and desires and to provide a care congruent with these aims. In this respect the scope of a value history goes much beyond than its original intention to probe a practitioner’s standing on controversial issues such as abortion and euthanasia.. The case of Peggy Sue illustrates how the failure to take a value history may result in medically sound but humanly devastating medical treatment.
Do iatrogenic punctures of the labrum affect the clinical results of hip arthroscopy

Purpose To document the effect of iatrogenic labral punctures (ILPs) on the clinical results of hip arthroscopy. Methods From a database of 250 consecutive patients who had their hip arthroscopy performed by the senior author, 50 patients with ILPs were identified. Results of hip arthroscopy in these patients were compared with those of a matched group of 50 patients who did not have labral puncture (NLP). All hips were assessed with Byrd's 100-point modified Harris hip scoring system before arthroscopy and at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery. Results The mean age of the ILP and NLP patients was 40 and 36 years, respectively, and their preoperative scores averaged 36 points. Mean joint distraction was 13 mm and 15 mm in the ILP and NLP patients, respectively, and a positive "Byrd's sign" was seen in both the ILP (84%) and NLP (42%) patients. After surgery, the ILP and NLP patients had 6-month scores that averaged 85 and 88 points, respectively. At 12 months, their scores averaged 88 and 90 points, respectively, and after 24 months, their scores averaged 88 and 89 points, respectively. At all follow-up intervals, there were no significant differences between the scores of the 2 groups ( P > .05). Conclusions ILPs did not affect the 1- and 2-year clinical results of patients who sustained these injuries during hip arthroscopy. Level of Evidence Level III, case-control study.
Photosynthetic reaction centers

The reaction center is the key component for the primary events in the photochemical conversion of light into chemical energy. After excitation by light, a charge separation that spans the cell membrane is formed in the reaction center in a few hundred picoseconds with a quantum yield of essentially one. A conserved pattern in the cofactors and core proteins of reaction centers from different organisms can be defined based on comparisons of the three dimensional structure of two types of reaction centers. Different functional aspects of the reaction center are discussed, including the properties of the bacteriochlorophyll or chlorophyll dimer that constitutes the primary electron donor, the pathway of electron transfer, and the different functional roles of the electron acceptors. The implication of these results on the evolution of the reaction center is presented.
Role of interfacial thermal resistance and laser energy density during laser processing of copper-sapphire couples

The effect of the interfacial thermal resistance and the laser energy density on film morphology and the extent of evaporation was studied in the excimer laser processing of copper-sapphire couples. Copper films of 80 nm thickness were sputter-deposited on sapphire substrates and laser-irradiated with energy densities in the range of 0.2 to 3.5 J/cm2. The changes in film morphology and thickness as a function of laser energy density were analyzed by energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. Four regimes can be established as a function of the laser energy density. First, for low energy densities up to a critical value, the film is partially removed by thermal stresses. Second, as the energy density is increased above that critical value, larger portions of the film remain attached to the substrate. In this regime adhesion enhancement takes place. Third, a further increase in the energy density results in film evaporation. Finally, the decrease in the specific mass removal rate of copper is related to the formation of a laser generated plasma that shields the sample from the incoming radiation. In this last regime, an intermediate compound may form at the substrate surface. The data were correlated with results from a computer model of the heat flow during laser processing of metal-ceramic couples.