cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reconstruction law and building law in post‐war Germany

In the area of urban building and planning law, there was great continuity between the years before and after 1945. The men responsible for the 1931 and 1945 drafts of comprehensive building and planning laws continued to promote such laws after the war, though with adjustments for the condition of the ruined cities. Their efforts led to the passage of reconstruction laws in all of the German states except Bavaria. Though different in detail, these laws all dealt, among other things, with the structure of planning, property consolidations and expropriation with and without appropriate compensation. However, the attempt to pass a national building law foundered, as it had in the state of Bavaria, on the opposition of property owners to provisions for expropriation, jurisdictional conflicts between town, state, and federal authorities, and a general resistance to any kind of strong planning authority — a sentiment partly derived from the experience of Nazi authoritarianism. In the early 1950s, decisions by ...
“American Laughter”: Nietzsche Reads Tom Sawyer

The strength of Friedrich Nietzsche's interest in the works of Mark Twain has not been sufficiently noted. His “special favorite,” The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876), has philosophical parallels to the works of Nietzsche's “middle period,” in which he anatomizes the sources of conventional morality.
Curvulin and O-methylcurvulinic acid: phytotoxic metabolites of Drechslera indica which cause necroses on purslane and spiny amaranth.

Abstract Curvulin was isolated from Drechslera indica and identified by X-ray crystallography. O -Methylcurvulinic acid was also isolated from this source and identified by NMR and HREIMS. Both compounds are phytotoxic to 2 of the normal hosts of this fungus when applied to detached leaves. Some plants are unaffected by these compounds. Host leaf constituents have some role in regulating the production of these phytotoxins by the fungus.
Gas adsorption in single-walled carbon nanotubes studied by NMR

Adsorption isotherms of methane and ethane in single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) were measured by ${}^{1}\mathrm{H}$ nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) at room temperature. It is shown that the interior of SWNTs becomes available for methane and ethane adsorption after cutting of SWNTs. Such endohedral adsorption dominates methane and ethane adsorption in SWNTs, at least below 1 MPa. The average exchange time between molecules adsorbed inside SWNTs and free gas molecules outside was estimated to be on the order of 80 ms. It is shown that exposure to oxygen has no effect on methane and ethane endohedral adsorption in SWNTs, suggesting that the adsorption energy of oxygen molecules inside SWNTs is small compared to that of methane. ${}^{13}\mathrm{C}$ NMR indicates that under atmospheric pressure and room temperature helium atoms could access the interstitial sites of SWNT bundles whereas ${\mathrm{H}}_{2},$ ${\mathrm{CO}}_{2},$ and ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$ molecules could not.
Decomposition and hydrocarbon growth processes for esters in non-premixed flames.

Biomass fuels are a promising renewable energy source, and so, the mechanisms that may produce toxic oxygenated byproducts and aromatic hydrocarbons from oxygenated hydrocarbons are of interest. Esters have the form R-(C=O)-O-R' and are components of biodiesel fuels. The five specific esters studied here are isomers of C 5 H 10 O 2 . The experiments were performed in atmospheric pressure coflowing methane/air non-premixed flames. A series of flames were generated by separately doping the fuel mixture with 5 000 ppm of each ester. This concentration is sufficiently large to produce measurable changes in intermediate hydrocarbon concentrations, yet small enough to not disturb the overall flame structure. Since the overall structure is not perturbed, the measured changes in the intermediate hydrocarbons can be directly attributed to the reactions of the esters. Analysis of these changes reveals that unimolecular six-centered dissociation is the primary decomposition pathway for the three esters with molecular arrangements capable of undergoing that mechanism. The remaining two esters exhibited decomposition rates and products that are consistent with simple fission as the dominant decomposition mechanism, though we do not exclude other pathways from playing a significant role in their decomposition. All of the esters produce aromatic hydrocarbons at higher rates than the undoped fuel, and the molecular arrangement of the ester isomers plays a role in the degree of aromatic formation. Isomer variations also influence the type and quantity of toxic oxygenates that are produced in the flames.
NMR measurement of the surface dynamics of poly(dimethylsiloxane) adsorbed on silica gel

CPMAS-DD 13C NMR spectroscopy was used to examine the mobility of poly(dimethylsiloxane) adsorbed on silica gel (PDMS/SiO2) at submonolayer coverages. The spin-lattice relaxation time in the rotating frame (T1ρH) decreased linearly with increasing loading. This is consistent with a decrease in the mobility of the polymer segments as the loading is increased. The decrease in mobility results from interpolymer interference. We propose a model that explains these results in terms of a surface intrinsic viscosity that incorporates the polymer-polymer interactions on the surface.
Chlorination of Cobalt in an Argon-1 Pct Oxygen-1 Pct Chlorine Mixture at 1000 K

The corrosion in a gas mixture containing 1 pct oxygen and 1 pct chlorine in argon has been investigated at 1000 K. The rate of corrosion is controlled by transport of CoCl/sub 2/(g) in the gas phase, with the effective vapor pressure of CoCl/sub 2/(g) at the gas-solid interface being controlled by the reaction between Co/sub 3/O/sub 4/(s) and the gas when the performed scale is more than 1.5 X 10/sup -3/ cm thick. When the scale is thin, the corrosion rate is higher and may approach the maximum theoretical rate for volatilization of solid CoCl/sub 2/(s).
Oscillatory flow through submerged canopies: 2. Canopy mass transfer

[1] Mass transfer rates from submerged canopies constructed from arrays of vertical cylinders were investigated for a range of different cylinder spacings under both unidirectional and oscillatory flow. Individual canopy elements made from gypsum were dissolved in fresh water to simulate the mass transfer of dissolved metabolites to and from canopies of living benthic organisms. Mass transfer rates under oscillatory flow were up to three times higher than values measured for a comparable unidirectional current. This enhancement was shown to be a strong function of the canopy element spacing. A model was developed to predict canopy mass transfer rates on the basis of the in-canopy flow speed and was generalized to incorporate either unidirectional or oscillatory flow. Agreement between the modeled and experimentally measured mass transfer rates indicate that enhanced mass transfer to/from living benthic canopies under oscillatory flow is driven primarily by the higher in-canopy water motion generated by the oscillatory flow, as detailed in the companion paper (Lowe et al., 2005).
A new curriculum for hysteroscopy training as demonstrated by an objective structured assessment of technical skills (OSATS).

Objective The purpose of this study was to develop an effective curriculum to teach hysteroscopy, as well as to develop an objective assessment instrument (OSATS). Study design All 24 residents in our training program attended a 3-hour hysteroscopy curriculum in each of 3 years. Each year after the curriculum, an OSATS was administered consisting of an assembly and operative task. Each task was evaluated with a task-specific checklist and a previously validated global assessment form. Twenty-four residents from an outside institution served as controls. All residents were examined by blinded and unblinded examiners. Results The reliability coefficient was .7857 for the checklist and .9763 for the global scale. Interrater reliability for the checklist was .7478 and ranged from .4222 to .9329 for the global instruments. Evaluation of construct validity revealed that the junior residents at both locations did significantly worse on the checklist and global scale than the senior residents for all 3 years of the study ( P P = .001 checklist, P = .007 global scale). Conclusion This curriculum is an effective way to impart knowledge and skill in the assembly and use of the operative hysteroscope. The checklist developed for this OSATS has excellent reliability and construct validity.
Performance and alertness on 8 h and 12 h rotating shifts at a natural gas utility

Abstract An 8 h/5-7 day shift schedule was compared with a newly instituted 12 h/2-4 day schedule in this, our second worksite study of extended workshifts. Workers completed a performance/alertness test battery, and a questionnaire on sleep patterns and other personal habits, 2-4 times a week on all shifts. After 10 months adaptation to the 12 h shift schedule, there were decrements in performance/ alertness attributable to the extra 4 h on the extended shift. There were also reductions in sleep across the workweek which were most apparent on 12 h night shifts. The results are consistent with our first worksite study of 12 h shifts and indicate extra caution should be exercised when scheduling critical activities for extended workshifts, especially extended night shifts.
Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases Control Cardiac KChIP2 Gene Expression

Hypertrophied myocardium is associated with reductions in the transient outward K+ current (Ito) and expression of pore-forming Kv4.2/4.3 and auxiliary KChIP2 subunits. Here we show that KChIP2 mRNA and protein levels are dramatically decreased to 10% to 30% of control levels in the left ventricle of aorta-constricted rats in vivo and phenylephrine (PE)-treated myocytes in vitro. PE also markedly decreases Ito density. Inhibition of protein kinase Cs (PKCs) does not affect the PE-induced reduction in KChIP2 mRNA level, whereas activation of PKC with phorbol ester (phorbol myristate [PMA]) causes a marked reduction in KChIP2 mRNA level. Pharmacological inhibition of MEKs or overexpression of a dominant-negative MEK1 increases the basal KChIP2 mRNA expression and blocks the PMA-induced decrease in auxiliary subunit mRNA level. In addition, a constitutively active MEK1 decreases the basal KChIP2 mRNA level, and PMA causes no further reduction in auxiliary subunit mRNA level in active MEK1-expressing cells. F...
A SELF‐CONSISTENT COMPILATION OF ELEMENTAL CONCENTRATION DATA FOR 93 GEOCHEMICAL REFERENCE SAMPLES

Concentration data obtained by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) are presented for up to 36 chemical elements in 93 geochemical reference samples, including some for which there are little previous data. Because all data are based on at least three independent analyses, and for many of the data the uncertainty associated with counting is an insignificant source of error, the values presented here are considered of higher precision than generally reported by INAA. Information on subsampling error (sample heterogeneity) is also presented.
Adjustment of freeway ramp metering rates to balance entrance ramp queues

IN A FREEWAY RAMP METERING SYSTEM THE VARIABLES WHICH CAN BE CONTROLLED ARE THE ENTRANCE RAMP RATES. IN ORDER TO AVOID CONGESTION ON THE FREEWAY THE RAMP RATES SHOULD BE KEPT BELOW CRITICAL LEVELS. TO CONTROL QUEUE BUILDUP, IT IS NECESSARY TO CONTROL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DEMANDS AND RAMP RATES. SINCE DEMANDS ARE UNCONTROLLABLE, THIS IMPLIES THAT RAMP RATES SHOULD BE KEPT AS HIGH AS POSSIBLE TO LIMIT QUEUES. IT IS SHOWN THAT THESE CONFLICTING OBJECTIVES IN THE SELECTION OF RAMP RATES CAN BEST BE COMPROMISED BY SOLVING A QUADRATIC PROGRAMMING PROGRAM. THE RAMP RATES ARE SELECTED TO MINIMIZE THE SUM OF THE SQUARES OF THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE RAMP RATES AND THE CORRESPONDING EQUIVALENT DEMANDS. AN EQUIVALENT DEMAND IS DEFINED AS THE ACTUAL DEMAND PLUS THE RATIO OF THE NUMBER OF QUEUED VEHICLES DIVIDED BY THE TIME BETWEEN ADJUSTMENTS OF THE RAMP RATES. THIS MINIMIZATION IS PERFORMED SUBJECT TO THE CONSTRAINT THAT THE RAMP RATES ARE KEPT LOW ENOUGH THAT NO FREEWAY CONGESTION OCCURS. /AUTHOR/
Room-temperature ballistic transport in narrow graphene strips

We investigate electron-phonon couplings, scattering rates, and mean free paths in zigzag-edge graphene strips with widths of the order of $10\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}$. Our calculations for these graphene nanostrips show both the expected similarity with single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and the suppression of the electron-phonon scattering due to a Dirichlet boundary condition that prohibits one major backscattering channel present in SWNTs. Low-energy acoustic phonon scattering is exponentially small at room temperature due to the large phonon wave vector required for backscattering. We find within our model that the electron-phonon mean free path is proportional to the width of the nanostrip and is approximately $70\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$ for an $11\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{nm}$-wide nanostrip.
An equilibrium analysis to determine the speciation of metals in an incinerator

Abstract An equilibrium analysis is carried out to determine the speciation of metals among their various forms in an incinerator. The Gibbs free energy of the system is minimized by the method of element chemical potentials combined with atom population constraints using a thermodynamic equilibrium computer code. Ninety-one compounds of six metallic species—arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, and tin—are analyzed in this study. The effect of temperature and chlorine content on the speciation is established. The effect of combustion of hydrocarbon fuels on the equilibrium calculations is also evaluated.
Nucleolar RNA synthetic activity in chinese hamster cells in vitro and the effects of actinomycin D and nogalamycin

RNA synthesis was studied by autoradiographic analysis using tritiated uridine incorporation in the Chinese hamster cell line Dede after a one-minute pulse labeling period. RNA synthesis continues during all stages of interphase and mitosis except during metaphase and anaphase. Cytoplasmic RNA was apparently synthesized in the nucleus, since no grains were observed above the background level in the sample immediately following the labeling. Nucleoli synthesize their own RNA and are not reservoirs for RNA synthesized elsewhere. Both actinomycin D and nogalamycin inhibited the RNA synthetic activity of chromatin and nucleoli. However, the nucleolar synthetic activity was more susceptible to these agents than that of chromatin. Furthermore, actinomycin D was a stronger inhibitor than nogalamycin.
Mismatch-Induced DNA Unbending upon Duplex Opening

A DNA duplex can be torn open at a specific position by introducing a branch or bulge to create an asymmetric three-way junction (TWJ). The opened duplex manifests a bent conformation (bending angle ∼60°, relative to the unopened form), which leads to a dramatic decrease in gel electrophoretic mobility. In the presence of a basepair mismatch at the opening position, the DNA backbone becomes less bent and assumes a distorted T-shaped structure, resulting in an increase in polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic mobility. Both conformational changes are confirmed using fluorescence resonance energy transfer experiments and found to be similar to the signature conformational changes of DNA duplex upon MutS protein binding. Our results imply that some structural rearrangements essential for mismatch recognition are achievable without protein interference. The gel electrophoretic mobility data for DNA TWJs with and without base mismatches correlates well with rotational diffusivity, computed by taking into account the conformational change of TWJ induced by base mismatch.
The amn gene product is required in extraembryonic tissues for the generation of middle primitive streak derivatives.

The primitive streak is the defining feature of the gastrulating mouse embryo. Currently, little is known in the mouse about the mechanisms that mediate the assembly of the primitive streak or about the signaling pathways that specify the different types of mesoderm and endoderm generated from the streak. To gain insight into primitive streak assembly and function, we have conducted a detailed phenotypic characterization of amnionless, a transgene-induced insertional mouse mutation that arrests embryonic development during gastrulation. Our histological and molecular analyses, when examined in the context of the mouse gastrula fate map, lead to the model that middle streak formation is specifically impaired in the amnionless mutant. Significantly, these observations argue that the formation of the middle streak is mediated by a pathway that is genetically separable from those that direct the specification of the distal and proximal streak regions. Intriguingly, our findings from wt ES cell left and right arrow amnionless-/- blastocyst chimeras indicate that this proposed separate pathway for middle streak formation is dependent on amnionless gene functions in the visceral endoderm.
Optimization of multivariate simulation output models using a group screening method

Abstract Computer simulation is often used to identify the set of model variable values which appear to lead to optimal performance of the modeled system. When all variables are quantitative, experimental designs and procedures known as response surface methodology (RSM) can be used in dealing with this optimization problem. Previous research has emphasized the situation in which there are only two independent variables. If there are more than two independent variables, it becomes difficult to find optimization and the simulation processes may be expensive. Nevertheless, these are common circumstances. This paper proposes a methodology using a two-stage group screening experimental design to investigate which subset of the variables is most important in explaining the optimum response variable. A simulation of a new generation of flight simulator is analyzed to determine the values of six variables that will optimize the values of a dependent variable simultaneously. The group screening technique is a powerful and robust tool to implement response surface methodology strategies.
Essential trace metals in man: copper.

COPPER, atomic number 29, has played a dominant role in civilization since the Stone Age. Attractive to the eye, malleable and ductile, found native and in many minerals, copper was probably the first metal worked by ancient man some 7000 to 8000 years ago. The earliest known artifacts of hammered copper were found in Anatolia, Syria, Iraq and Iran; they date from the 6th and 5th millennia, B.C. Annealing and toolmaking were developed during the next 500 years, altering the course of human history. After 4000 B.C., melting and casting of copper became common practices in the Near East& Smelting was developed about 3000 B.C., followed in 500 years by the invention of bronze, exploited probably near Byblos (Lebanon), which stimulated an extensive civilization lasting a thousand years. The new art of metallurgy apparently spread over most of the world, although bronze was little used in the Western Hemisphere and not at all in Africa for many centuries [ll. Brass was not developed until Roman times [2]. In the modern age, Western civilization has become even more dependent upon copper. Copper’s electrical conductivity is second only to that of silver. Its abundance has provided the means for the enormous advances based on electricity during the past 80 years. Food has been cooked in copper vessels since the metal was first worked, for copper is the best of all metals as a conductor of heat. One of the Laws of Moses concerned the cleanliness of copper vessels5 which are still used over much of the known world for cooking food. In India, pots and pans of copper are periodically tinned to prevent contact of food with the metal.
CXCL16 Signals via Gi, Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase, Akt, IκB Kinase, and Nuclear Factor-κB and Induces Cell-Cell Adhesion and Aortic Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation

CXCL16, a recently discovered transmembrane chemokine, is expressed in human aortic smooth muscle cell (ASMC). It facilitates uptake of low density lipoproteins by macrophages, resulting in foam cell formation. However, it is not known whether ASMC express CXCR6, the receptor for CXCL16, or whether CXCL16 affects ASMC biology. To dissect the biological and signal transduction pathways elicited by CXCL16, human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMC) were treated with pharmacological inhibitors or transiently transfected with pathway-specific dominant-negative or kinase-dead expression vectors prior to the addition of CXCL16. HASMC expressed CXCR6 at basal conditions. Exposure of HASMC to CXCL16 increased NF-kappa B DNA binding activity, induced kappa B-driven luciferase activity, and up-regulated tumor necrosis factor-alpha expression in an NF-kappa B-dependent manner. However, treatment with pertussis toxin (G(i) inhibitor), wortmannin or LY294002 (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K inhibitors)), or Akt inhibitor or overexpression of dominant-negative (dn) PI3K gamma, dnPDK-1, kinase-dead (kd) Akt, kdIKK-beta, dnIKK-gamma, dnI kappa B-alpha, or dnI kappa B-beta significantly attenuated CXCL16-induced NF-kappa B activation. Furthermore, CXCL16 increased cell-cell adhesion and induced cellular proliferation in an NF-kappa B-dependent manner. In conclusion, CXCL16 is a potent and direct activator of NF-kappaB and induces kappa B-dependent proinflammatory gene transcription. CXCL16-mediated NF-kappa B activation occurred via heterotrimeric G proteins, PI3K, PDK-1, Akt, and I kappa B kinase (IKK). CXCL16 induced I kappa B phosphorylation and degradation. Most importantly, CXCL16 increased cell-cell adhesion and induced kappa B-dependent ASMC proliferation, indicating that CXCL16 may play an important role in the development and progression of atherosclerotic vascular disease.
An isolated mode i three-dimensional planar crack: The stress intensity factor is independent of the elastic constants

It is demonstrated that for an isolated Mode I planar crack embedded in an infinite body, the stress intensity factor along the crack front is a function independent of the elastic constants.
Cloud Computing Vulnerability: DDoS as Its Main Security Threat, and Analysis of IDS as a Solution Model

Cloud computing has emerged as an increasingly popular means of delivering IT-enabled business services and a potential technology resource choice for many private and government organizations in today's rapidly changing computing environment. Consequently, as cloud computing technology, functionality and usability expands unique security vulnerabilities and treats requiring timely attention arise continuously. The primary challenge being providing continuous service availability. This paper will address cloud security vulnerability issues, the threats propagated by a distributed denial of service (DDOS) attack on cloud computing infrastructure and also discuss the means and techniques that could detect and prevent the attacks.
An information retrieval process to aid in the analysis of code clones

The advent of new static analysis tools has automated the searching for code clones, which are duplicated or similar code fragments in a program. However, clone detection tools can report many clones if the source code that is being searched is large. Programmers may have difficulty comprehending the extensive results from the detection tool, which may inhibit the ability to maintain the identified clones. Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI) is an information retrieval technique that attempts to find relationships in a corpus based on the analysis of the documents in the corpus and the terms in the documents. In this paper, LSI is used to cluster clone classes that have been identified initially by a clone detection tool. The goal of this paper is to detect trends and associations among the clustered clone classes and determine if they provide further comprehension to assist in the maintenance of clones. Experimental evaluation of the approach is reported from a sequence of tools that are chained together to perform an analysis of clones detected in the Microsoft Windows NT kernel source code.
Lactational and Chemical Evaluation of Soybean Meals Heat-treated by Two Methods

Abstract A series of experiments was to evaluate regular, commercially-available solvent extracted soybean meal and soybean meal subjected to additional heat either during desolventizing or by extrusion. Soluble nitrogen (14.8, 9.3, and 7.0% of crude protein for regular, heat-treated, and extruded soybean meal) and degradable protein (71.0, 68.7, and 58.7% of crude protein) were reduced by heat-treating soybean meal. Nonessential amino acids in soybean meals were more soluble and degradable than essential amino acids. The first five limiting amino acids (methionine, lysine, valine, leucine, and isoleucine) for milk production were the same, although relative order was altered by heat treatment for all fractions of the three soybean meals except that threonine replaced leucine in the insoluble fraction of extruded soybean meal and the undegradable fraction of heat-treated and extruded soybean meal. Completely mixed rations of 40% (dry matter) corn silage, 10% chopped alfalfa hay, and 50% concentrate mix containing the respective protein sources regular, heat-treated, and extruded soybean meal were fed to 10 cows each during wk 4 through 19 postpartum. Milk production increased when heat-treated soybean meals were fed to high producing cows with most of the increased production during the first 4 wk on the experiment (wk 4 through 7 postpartum). Increases of milk production were modest when heated soybean meals were fed to lower producing cows. Concentrations of milk fat, protein, and solids as well as ruminal ammonia and blood urea were similar for cows fed the three diets.
Preplay Communication, Participation Restrictions, and Efficiency in Initial Public Offerings

The extent to which the observed procedures for selling new issues are efficient is studied. We show that a posted-price mechanism, in conjunction with nonbinding preplay communication and participation restrictions, leads to an allocation of the security (and payment) that maximizes the seller's expected revenue, given the informational constraints imposed by the optimizing incentives of the potential buyers. Article published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Financial Studies in its journal, The Review of Financial Studies.
On nonlocal microfluid mechanics

Abstract The simple microfluid theory of Eringen [1] is generalized to include nonlocal effects. The balance laws, jump conditions, and constitutive equations are obtained. The nonlocal intermolecular forces, energy and entropy are accounted for by nonlocal field residuals and functional constitutive equations of space type. The second law of thermodynamics is used to obtain specific forms of these residuals, constitutive equations and restrictions to be imposed. The linear theory is developed fully for the micromorphic and micropolar nonlocal fluids. The nonlocal effects are shown to include surface tension and surface stresses. Passage is made to material gradient theories.
Complexity Based Risk Evaluation in Engineered Systems

Abstract This work proposes a novel approach to augment program risk management processes by introducing complexity-based risk evaluation which potentially exposes risks that would have otherwise been neglected. The approach is to determine the complexity-based risks by first evaluating system, observer, and behavior entropy models. The suggested metrics created by the models provide the framework for generating complexity-based risks. The results can be used by program management to aid in decision-making processes. The results can also be shared with customers to determine any appropriate short and long-term mitigation actions. The suggested metric are applied to a sample case study. Future work will include impact analysis and mitigation strategies for complexity-based risks.
Dynamics of D-C machine systems

A generalized block diagram representation of the signal transfer properties of d-c machine systems with various kinds of feedback is developed in terms of gain factors, time constants, and feedback ratios, including the mutual coupling effects between windings and the nonlinear effects produced by saturation. The resulting formulation of the dynamic properties is simple enough to permit a rapid evaluation of the action of feedback in d-c machine systems and therefore to help in determining which feedback combinations will secure a desired system performance.
Undocumented and Documented International Students: A Comparative Study of Their Academic Performance

Researchers on international students focus on Fls, or documented students. These students are characterized as high achievers with excellent academic skills. One group of international students, t...
Cardiac cell culture model as a left ventricle mimic for cardiac tissue generation.

A major challenge in cardiac tissue engineering is the delivery of hemodynamic mechanical cues that play a critical role in the early development and maturation of cardiomyocytes. Generation of functional cardiac tissue capable of replacing or augmenting cardiac function therefore requires physiologically relevant environments that can deliver complex mechanical cues for cardiomyocyte functional maturation. The goal of this work is the development and validation of a cardiac cell culture model (CCCM) microenvironment that accurately mimics pressure–volume changes seen in the left ventricle and to use this system to achieve cardiac cell maturation under conditions where mechanical loads such as pressure and stretch are gradually increased from the unloaded state to conditions seen in vivo. The CCCM platform, consisting of a cell culture chamber integrated within a flow loop was created to accomplish culture of 10 day chick embryonic ventricular cardiomyocytes subject to 4 days of stimulation (10 mmHg, ∼13%...
A histochemical and fine structural study of early extracellular connective tissue in the chick embryo

The histochemistry of developing connective tissues and its relation to early connective tissue fibrils was investigated in the perinotochordal area of the chick embryo. Chick embryos were sacrificed at one, two, three, four, six and ten days of incubation and were prepared for both light and electron microscopy. Five histochemical stains (PAS, alcian blue, Hale colloidal iron, metachromatic toluidine blue, methenamine silver) were used to demonstrate polysaccharides, mucoproteins and mucopolysaccharides. Mature connective tissue elements were demonstrated by Mallory's connective tissue stain and Weigert's resorcin-fuchsin stain. Routine electron microscopic techniques served to demonstrate extracellular connective tissue fibrils. The first positive response for all histochemical stains occurs on the third day of incubation. Moderate microfibrillar growth precedes this by one day. Light microscopic staining patterns differ from electron microscopic fibrillar arrangements. In the perinotochordal area microfibrils later contribute to the cartilaginous model of the future vertebral body. By the sixth day, dense microfibrillar concentrations appear in the precartilage area where acid mucopolysaccharides are intensely concentrated. Staining for mature connective tissue fibrils does not occur until the tenth day.
Deviance as history: The future of perversion

An approach to the social construction of concepts of sexual deviance and sexual perversions is considered. Deviance is conceptualized as a problem of control, perversion a problem of desire. These are seen as related to the larger sexual and nonsexual discursive practices of society and given to change as these contextualizing practices change. Changing conceptions regarding masturbation, homosexuality, pedophilia, and sadomasochism are examined.
Auxiliary object knowledge influences visually-guided interception behavior

This work investigated how humans integrate visual information with object knowledge for interception behavior. When attempting to intercept a moving object using only monocular visual information, the optimal interception position may be ambiguous-the observer may be viewing a small object that is near or a large object that is far away. Regardless, humans are quite adept at monocular interception so it is likely that additional information is incorporated to disambiguate the visual information. We hypothesize that object size information is integrated to accomplish this disambiguation. This sort of auxiliary information integration is well-defined by a Bayesian model of information propagation. We derived a Bayesian model that represents scene attributes relevant to intercepting an object and relations among these attributes. Our model combines sensory measurements with prior scene knowledge to infer an object's position. To test our model we asked participants to intercept a moving ball in virtual reality. In some trials participants were able to see and touch the ball before intercepting it, in others they were only able to see it. When allowed to touch the ball, participants showed improved interception performance. Effectively, they discounted the variation in image size that was caused by variation in object size to obtain more accurate knowledge of object distance. This discounting is consistent with Bayesian information propagation and confirms our hypothesis that human participants use Bayesian inference to estimate an object's distance for interception.
The effects of positive end-expiratory pressure on heart-lung interactions

Abstract Pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (Ppao) may not reflect left ventricular (LV) filling pressure during mechanical ventilation with positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) either because the catheter tip is not in zone III conditions or because pericardial pressure (Ppc) is also elevated. Ppc can be estimated from pleural pressure (Ppl) or, when right ventricular (RV) function is normal, from right atria[ pressure (Pra) (Am Heart J 108:603–605,1984). If the pericardium limits LV diastolic filling or RV diastolic compliance changes, then these estimates of Ppc may be inaccurate. We previously showed that nadir Ppao, immediately after abrupt PEEP removal, reflects on-PEEP LV filling pressure (Am J Physiol 249:H770–H776, 1985). We performed this study to determine if (1) the pericardium limits LV filling pressure during PEEP and (2) on-PEEP LV filling pressure can be estimated by on-PEEP Ppao minus Pra or nadir Ppao. We compared these relations when RV performance was normal (control), after induction of acute ventricular failure (AVF) with propranolol, and after subsequent induction of acute lung injury (AVF-OA) with oleic acid in an acute, anesthetized, closed-chest intact canine model (n = 7). PEEP was increased from 0 to 15 cm H2O in 5-cm H2O increments. Nadir Ppao was measured on termination of 15 cm H2O PEEP. Juxtacardiac Ppl and Ppc increased parallel to increasing PEEP in all conditions except at 0 and 5 cm H2O PEEP in two dogs during AVF, when Ppc exceeded Ppl by as much as 4 mm Hg. Pre and Ppc covaried linearly in all conditions and at all levels of PEEP, although Pre was greater than Ppc (by 5.5 + 1.2 mm Hg [x + SE] in control, 7.1 + 2.1 mm Hg in AVF, and 6.6 + 1.5 in AVF-OA; P
A rugged and transferable method for determining blood cadmium, mercury, and lead with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry

Abstract A simple, high-throughput method for determining total cadmium, mercury, and lead in blood in cases of suspected exposure, using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), has been developed and validated. One part matrix-matched standards, blanks, or aliquots of blood specimens were diluted with 49 parts of a solution containing 0.25% (w/w) tetramethylammonium hydroxide; 0.05% v/v Triton X-100 (blood cell membranes and protein solubilization); 0.01% (w/v) ammonium pyrolidinedithiocarbamate (mercury memory effect prevention and oxidation state stabilization, solubilization by complexation of all three metals); 1% v/v isopropanol (signal enhancement); and 10 μg/L iridium (internal standard). Thus the final dilution factor is 1 + 49. The method provides the basis for the determination of total cadmium, mercury, and lead for assessment of environmental, occupational, accidental ingestion or elevated exposures from other means. Approximately 80 specimens, including blanks, calibration standards, and quality control materials can be processed in an 8-h day. The method has been evaluated by examining reference materials from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, as well as by participation in six rounds of proficiency testing intercomparisons led by the Wadsworth Center of the New York State Department of Health. This method was developed for the purpose of increasing U.S. emergency response laboratory capacity. To this end, 33 U.S. state, and 1 district health department laboratories have validated this method in their own laboratories.
Histologic comparison of argon and tunable dye lasers in the treatment of tattoos.

Cosmetic benefit from laser therapy of tattoos may simply be the result of thermal injury and host reparative response which remove pigment by a "slough and bury" mechanism. Tattoo pigment of 4 colors (black, white, red, and blue) was introduced into the skin of guinea pigs and studied histologically at 48 h, 7 days, 4 and 6 weeks, and 3 months. Tattoos of each color were treated with argon laser (488 and 514 nm) and tunable dye laser at 3 different wavelengths (505, 577, and 690 nm). Treated tattoos were biopsied immediately and at 48 h, 7 days, and 3 months. Selective laser absorption by the tattoo pigment was suggested by pigment-related differences in threshold doses for histologic damage. Clinical clearing of tattoo pigment correlated well with the extent of immediate epidermal and dermal necrosis and was as well associated histologically with the deposition of parallel bands of collagen fibers (i.e., scar) between the residual pigment and the overlying epidermis. "Lightening" of tattoos probably depends more on widespread necrosis, subsequent tissue sloughing, and resultant dermal fibrosis than on specific changes in tattoo pigment chemistry, morphology, physical properties, or handling by macrophages.
Discordant e Antigen, DNA Polymerase Activity, and Dane Particle Responses in Two Patients Representing an Index Case-Contact Case Pair with Hepatitis B Virus Infection

Discordant results for e antigen, DNA polymerase activity, and Dane particle frequency were noted in the sera of two patients representing an index case-contact case pair with chronic aggressive hepatitis B. The lack of correlation between presence of e antigen and the infecting viral strain, as well as the strong relationship of e antigen to persistent and significant viremia, emphasize the role of the host's immune response in the expression of this antigen.
Tracheobronchial Histopathology in Habitual Smokers of Cocaine, Marijuana, and/or Tobacco*

Background Marijuana and alkaloidal cocaine (“crack”) are the two most commonly smoked substances in the United States after tobacco. While regular tobacco smoking has been found to be associated with extensive microscopic alterations in bronchial mucosa, little information is available concerning the effect of crack cocaine and marijuana on tracheobronchial histopathology. Study objective To determine the relative impact of smoked substances (cocaine, marijuana, and tobacco) alone and in combination on the histopathology of the tracheobronchial mucosa and to assess whether the effects of habitual smoking of two or more substances (cocaine, marijuana, and/or tobacco) are additive. Design Observational cohort study. Subjects Fifty-three nonsmoking control subjects (NS), 14 current, habitual smokers of crack cocaine only (CS), 40 current, regular smokers of marijuana only (MS), 31 regular smokers of tobacco only (TS), 16 current smokers of both cocaine and marijuana (CMS), 12 current smokers of both cocaine and tobacco (CTS), 44 current smokers of both marijuana and tobacco (MTS), and 31 current smokers of cocaine, marijuana, and tobacco (CMTS). Methods After preliminary screening evaluation, including a detailed respiratory and general health questionnaire and routine pulmonary function studies, subjects underwent fiberoptic bronchoscopy with endobronchial biopsies of the mucosa of the primary carina and randomly selected secondary or tertiary carinae. Biopsy specimens were processed for light microscopy, stained with hematoxylin-eosin or periodic acid-Schiff, and examined to assess epithelial, basement membrane, and submucosal alterations by one or two pathologists who were masked to the smoking status of the subject. Results Smokers of cocaine, marijuana, or tobacco alone all exhibited more frequent abnormalities than NS in 10 (CS) or all 11 (MS and TS) of the histopathologic features assessed. For most features, MS and TS showed significantly more frequent alterations than NS (p ≤ 0.02), while CS showed significantly more frequent abnormalities than NS in only three features (p Conclusions Marijuana and tobacco smoking each produces significant bronchial mucosal histopathology and the effects of marijuana and tobacco appear additive. Cocaine appears to lead to fewer significant bronchial mucosal alterations than marijuana or tobacco when smoked alone and does not add to the changes associated with marijuana. When smoked together with tobacco, however, cocaine appears to augment the bronchial injury caused by tobacco smoking.
Dynamic electromagnetic metamaterials

Electromagnetic metamaterials are designer materials made from ‘artificial atoms’ which provide unprecedented control over light matter interactions. Metamaterials are fashioned to yield a specific response to the electric and magnetic components of light and have realized a multitude of exotic properties difficult to achieve with natural materials. Having matured over the last decade and a half, researchers now look toward realizing applications of metamaterials. The ability to dynamically control novel responses exhibited by electromagnetic metamaterials would bolster this quest thus ushering in the next revolution in materials.
Profiling motor control in spinal cord injury: moving towards individualized therapy and evidence-based care progression.

Summary This article, based on the keynote address at the 5th National Spinal Cord Injury Conference in Toronto, addresses methods to neurophysiologically characterize patients after spinal cord injury and proposes how those methods could be used to individualize therapeutic interventions and monitor their efficacy over the course of neurorehabilitation.
technique for rapid friction factor fluid characterization

A rapid technique for friction factor characterization of dilute polymer solutions and other fluids has been described. The limitations of the device have been explored, and a criterion for its use has been established. In view of the close relation between the drag-reducing friction factor curve at onset and the polymer time-scale distribution, the technique could be used to great advantage in polymer test programs. The apparatus and operational procedures lend themselves well to on-line digital recording and analysis.
Measurement of residual stresses in Ti-15-3 SCS-9 continuously reinforced composites using X-ray diffraction and a matrix etching technique

Abstract Residual stresses in Ti-15-3/SCS-9 composites have been measured in material with controlled matrix and interfacial microstructures. The FEMUR test was used to measure axial residual strains in the reinforcing fibers. Longitudinal and circumferential matrix residual strains were measured using X-ray techniques. Residual stresses were calculated from the residual strain measurements. The residual stress levels obtained in the specimens heat treated at 540 °C were generally much lower than those in the specimens annealed at 815 °C, although some anomalies were observed in the specimens annealed at 540 °C for 10 hours. The trends in the residual stresses calculated from the results of the FEMUR and X-ray measurements were consistent with the requirements for static equilibrium.
Theoretical prediction of muscle forces on the mandible during bite

We present a mathematical model to determine the contribution of each muscle acting on the mandible in the development of a given bite force. We give special attention to the representation of the widely radiated temporalis and account for the attachment of the external pterygoid to the capsular ligament. An optimization technique based on minimizing the maximum stress occurring in the muscles is used to resolve the statically indeterminant nature of the problem formulated. The theoretically predicted values of the muscle forces are compared to experimental results taken from the literature.
Processes of care desired by elderly patients with multimorbidities

Background. Most recommended care for chronic diseases is based on the research of single conditions. There is limited information on ‘best’ processes of care for persons with multiple morbidities. Our objective was to explore processes of care desired by elderly patients who have multimorbidities that may present competing demands for patients and providers. Methods. Qualitative investigation using one-on-one interviews of 26 community-dwelling HMO members aged 65–84 (50% male) who had, at a minimum, the combined conditions of diabetes, depression and osteoarthritis. Participants were chosen from a stratified random sample to have a range of 4–16 chronic medical conditions. Results. Participants’ desired processes of care included: the need for convenient access to providers (telephone, internet or in person), clear communication of individualized care plans, support from a single coordinator of care who could help prioritize their competing demands and continuity of relationships. They also desired providers who would listen to and acknowledge their needs, appreciate that these’ needs were unique and fluctuating and have a caring attitude. Conclusions. These respondents describe an ideal process of care that is patient centered and individualized and that supports their unique constellations of problems, shifting priorities and multidimensional decision making. Individual and ongoing care coordination managed by a primary contact person may meet some of these needs. Achieving these goals will require developing efficient methods of assessing patient care needs and flexible care management support systems that can respond to patients’ needs for different levels of support at different times.
Having and Holding: Storage, Memory, Knowledge, and Social Relations

Starting from Giddens's concept of mutual knowledge, in this article I argue for an expanded definition of storage as a situated practice through which groups construct identity, remember, and control knowledge as part of a moral economy. Drawing on ethnographic and archaeological examples from a range of societies, including those of the Trobriand Islands, Neolithic Europe, and Mesoamerica, I consider the spatial and social meaning of utilitarian, household storage. Many of the social meanings embodied in utilitarian storage are found to also inform other kinds of storage, especially those categorized as burials and votive offerings, or caches, [storage, mutual knowledge, social memory, inalienable wealth, Mesoamerica]