cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Performance and discomfort during ischaemic accustomed exercise (typing).

Abstract The- development of muscle pnin and fatigue during the accustomed exercise of typing was exaniinod in 85 tests on SO subjects in arms made ischaemic by a tourniquet. Fatigue which caused weakness or inability to contract tho muscles developed within 2 to 5 min. Reports of pain were rare. A tendency to decrease in the number of contractions was associated with increasing age. The results are consistent with the concept that each muscle contraction produces a eatabolite which diffuses slowly out of the muscle cell into the extracellular spncos. Blood flow removes the eatabolite which cannot be metabolized locally. Accustomed exercise against a minimal load appears to lead to fatigue, rather than to pain.
It Is Not Just Folklore: The Aqueous Extract of Mung Bean Coat Is Protective against Sepsis

Mung bean (Vigna Radiata) has been traditionally used in China both as nutritional food and herbal medicine against a number of inflammatory conditions since the 1050s. A nucleosomal protein, HMGB1, has recently been established as a late mediator of lethal systemic inflammation with a relatively wider therapeutic window for pharmacological interventions. Here we explored the HMGB1-inhibiting capacity and therapeutic potential of mung bean coat (MBC) extract in vitro and in vivo. We found that MBC extract dose-dependently attenuated LPS-induced release of HMGB1 and several chemokines in macrophage cultures. Oral administration of MBC extract significantly increased animal survival rates from 29.4% (in saline group, N = 17 mice) to 70% (in experimental MBC extract group, N = 17 mice, P < 0.05). In vitro, MBC extract stimulated HMGB1 protein aggregation and facilitated both the formation of microtubule-associatedprotein-1-light-chain-3-(LC3-)containing cytoplasmic vesicles, and the production of LC3-II in macrophage cultures. Consequently, MBC extract treatment led to reduction of cellular HMGB1 levels in macrophage cultures, which was impaired by coaddition of two autophagy inhibitors (bafilomycin A1 and 3-methyladenine). Conclusion. MBC extract is protective against lethal sepsis possibly by stimulating autophagic HMGB1 degradation.
The Distribution of the Chi-Squared Statistic under Clustered Sampling from Contingency Tables

Abstract When the entries in a contingency table arise from clustered sampling, the chi-squared statistic conventionally calculated to testsimple and complex hypotheses about the parameters of the table may not have the distribution of a χ2 variate. Assuming a model for positively associated clustering, this article finds the distribution of the conventional chi-squared statistic and shows how to correct it to an asymptotically χ2 variate. A numerical example from the epidemiology of mental illness is given.
The energetics of metabolism in hydrothermal systems: Calculation of the standard molal thermodynamic properties of magnesium-complexed adenosine nucleotides and NAD and NADP at elevated temperatures and pressures

Abstract Calculation of the thermodynamic properties of biomolecules at high temperatures and pressures is fundamental to understanding the energetics of metabolism in hydrothermal systems. Perhaps the most direct interaction between hyperthermophilic microbes and their aquatic and mineralogic habitat involves conversion of environmentally available redox potential into biochemically useful energy. Although chemical thermodynamics can be used to quantify this process, little is known about the thermodynamic properties of the biomolecules involved, especially at high temperatures. However, recent advances in theoretical biogeochemistry make it possible to calculate these properties using the limited experimental data available in the literature, together with group additivity and correlation algorithms, reference model compounds and reactions, and the revised-HKF equations of state. This approach permits calculation of the standard molal thermodynamic properties and equations of state parameters for magnesium-complexed adenosine nucleotides, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotides (NADs), and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphates (NADPs) as a function of pressure and temperature. The thermodynamic properties and revised-HKF equations of state parameters generated in the present study can be used to carry out comprehensive mass transfer and Gibbs energy calculations to quantify the energetics of microbial energy production in hydrothermal systems.
Melanomacrophages in three species of free-ranging sharks from the northwestern Atlantic, the blue shark Prionacae glauca (L.), the shortfin mako, Isurus oxyrhinchus Rafinesque, and the thresher, Alopias vulpinus (Bonnaterre).

The melanomacrophage aggregates or cells (MMC) are commonly used as biomarkers of exposure to pollution in fish, albeit their numbers and morphological characteristics can be influenced not only by environmental toxins but also by a range of physiological parameters and pathological conditions. Accordingly, before we can use MMC as biomarkers in any fish species, their normal, ‘background’ characteristics have to be established in apparently healthy fish. The knowledge of MMC in sharks is minimal. The aim of this study was to characterize MMC from 51 free-ranging, large pelagic sharks from the northwestern Atlantic, including shortfin mako, Isurus oxyrhinchus, thresher, Alopias vulpinus and blue shark, Prionacae glauca. The rationale of this study was twofold. First, because, sharks have life histories predisposing them to the accumulation of environmental toxins they constitute good sentinel species of the health of the global marine ecosystem. Second, because many shark populations are in decline or threatened by extinction, we need to expand our understanding of their health status in order to develop appropriate protective measures. All sharks were collected by sports fishing gear between June and August in 2007. Their health condition was assessed by necropsy, morphometrics, and by microscopic examination of gonads, livers, spleens and kidneys. Routine, haematoxylin and eosin and/or Pearl’s reagent-stained paraffin embedded sections were studied by light microscopy. Our results provide the first data on the morphometric and morphological characteristics of MMC in viscera of apparently healthy free-ranging sharks from the northwestern Atlantic.
Genetic reinforcement learning for neural networks

It is pointed out that the genetic algorithms which have been shown to yield good performance for neural network weight optimization are really genetic hill-climbers, with a strong reliance on mutation rather than hyperplane sampling. Neural control problems are more appropriate for these genetic hill-climbers than supervised learning applications because in reinforcement learning applications gradient information is not directly available. Genetic reinforcement learning produces competitive results with the adaptive heuristic critic method, another reinforcement learning paradigm for neural networks that employs temporal difference methods. The genetic hill-climbing algorithm appears to be robust over a wide range of learning conditions. >
Higher cardiovascular disease prevalence and mortality among younger blacks compared to whites

Abstract Background Blacks have higher rates of cardiovascular disease than whites. The age at which these differential rates emerge has not been fully examined. Objective We examined cardiovascular disease prevalence and mortality among black and white adults across the adult age spectrum and explored potential mediators of these differential disease prevalence rates. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 1999-2006. We estimated age-adjusted and age-specific prevalence ratios (PR) for cardiovascular disease (heart failure, stroke, or myocardial infarction) for blacks versus whites in adults aged 35 years and older and examined potential explanatory factors. From the National Compressed Mortality File 5-year aggregate file of 1999-2003, we determined age-specific cardiovascular disease mortality rates. Results In young adulthood, cardiovascular disease prevalence was higher in blacks than whites (35-44 years PR 1.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-3.4). The black-white PR decreased with each decade of advancing age ( P for trend=.04), leading to a narrowing of the racial gap at older ages (65-74 years PR 1.2; 95% CI, 0.8-1.6; ≥75 years PR 1.0; 95% CI, 0.7-1.4). Clinical and socioeconomic factors mediated some, but not all, of the excess cardiovascular disease prevalence among young to middle-aged blacks. Over a quarter (28%) of all cardiovascular disease deaths among blacks occurred in those aged Conclusions Reducing black/white disparities in cardiovascular disease will require a focus on young and middle-aged blacks.
Bird response to grit and pesticide granule characteristics: Implications for risk assessment and risk reduction

Granular pesticides (insecticides and nematicides) pose a hazard for birds because of the potential for birds to ingest the granules. Avian risk from granular pesticides is currently assessed by using a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency risk index based on the acute toxicity of the pesticide, the pesticide concentration on the granules, and the number of granules available on the soil surface after application (LD50/ft2). Recent evaluations have demonstrated that avian response to pesticide granules as a source of grit also can influence exposure to pesticide granules; such information should be included in the risk assessment process. Herein we review the limitations of the current risk assessment process and summarize the extant information regarding bird response to grit and granule characteristics (i.e., granule carrier type, color, size, shape, and surface texture) and pesticide load per granule. Suggestions are made for assessing and reducing avian risk from granular pesticides by testing granular formulations against standards for various granule characteristics and by using frequency distributions of avian responses to granules. Granule characteristics selected as standards should be similar to grit used by free-ranging birds (e.g., silica particles, earth-tone hues). Comparisons of granular formulations against the standards would demonstrate the potential for birds to consume pesticide granules as grit, relative to naturally occurring particles. Frequency distributions constructed for grit sizes used by birds and gizzard grit counts can be used to estimate the effect of granule size and pesticide load per granule, respectively, on avian risk. Because bird response to pesticide granules is highly variable, we recommend using probabilistic approaches when assessing avian risk from pesticide granules to account for the ranges of response.
Design and fabrication of a Gaussian fan-out optical interconnect

A phase-retrieval algorithm is described and used to optimize the phase profile of a multilevel phase grating that achieves a two-dimensional Gaussian fan-out. Binary-optics technology is used to fabricate a surface-relief structure that implements this optimized phase profile. The results of the fabrication process are summarized, and the experimental measurements on the fan-out element are presented. Differences between theory and experiment arise from scalar-theory approximations used in the design algorithm. In order to illustrate the scalar-theory limitations, a rigorous formulation is used to analyze the diffraction efficiency and the reconstruction error of a representative binary surface-relief phase grating as a function of the period-to-wavelength ratio. The analysis serves to show qualitatively the effects of the period-to-wavelength ratio on the performance of free-space optical interconnects designed with a scalar-theory formalism.
Effectiveness of a Barber-Based Intervention for Improving Hypertension Control in Black Men: The BARBER-1 Study: A Cluster Randomized Trial

BACKGROUND: Barbershop-based hypertension (HTN) outreach programs for black men are becoming increasingly common, but whether they are an effective approach for improving HTN control remains uncertain. METHODS: To evaluate whether a continuous high blood pressure (BP) monitoring and referral program conducted by barbers motivates male patrons with elevated BP to pursue physician follow-up, leading to improved HTN control, a cluster randomized trial (BARBER-1) of HTN control was conducted among black male patrons of 17 black-owned barbershops in Dallas County, Texas (March 2006-December 2008). Participants underwent 10-week baseline BP screening, and then study sites were randomized to a comparison group that received standard BP pamphlets (8 shops, 77 hypertensive patrons per shop) or an intervention group in which barbers continually offered BP checks with haircuts and promoted physician follow-up with sex-specific peer-based health messaging (9 shops, 75 hypertensive patrons per shop). After 10 months, follow-up data were obtained. The primary outcome measure was change in HTN control rate for each barbershop. RESULTS: The HTN control rate increased more in intervention barbershops than in comparison barbershops (absolute group difference, 8.8% [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.8%-16.9%]) (P = .04); the intervention effect persisted after adjustment for covariates (P = .03). A marginal intervention effect was found for systolic BP change (absolute group difference, -2.5 mm Hg [95% CI, -5.3 to 0.3 mm Hg]) (P = .08). CONCLUSIONS: The effect of BP screening on HTN control among black male barbershop patrons was improved when barbers were enabled to become health educators, monitor BP, and promote physician follow-up. Further research is warranted. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00325533.
Patient characteristics associated with participation in a practice-based study of depression in late life: the Spectrum study.

Objective:An important component of generalizing study results to patients is the extent to which study participants adequately represent individuals targeted for the study. The Spectrum study of d...
Direct observation of weight counselling in primary care: alignment with clinical guidelines

Primary care physicians provide care to a disproportionate number of overweight and obese patients and are uniquely positioned to help patients manage their weight in the context of a continuity relationship. The US National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) developed evidence-based guidelines for the effective and efficient care of overweight/obese patients, but little is known about the use of these guidelines in practice. To determine the content of weight discussions and assess the elements of the NHLBI guidelines that were accomplished, office visits of 544 adult, overweight/obese patients to 28 primary care physicians were observed and audio recorded. Associations between type of weight management discussion and patient, physician and visit characteristics were examined. Fifty per cent (n = 270) of visits included weight discussions; 47% and 38% included use of at least one NHLBI assessment or treatment element during discussions about weight, respectively. Only 35% (n = 193) of discussions included an assessment and treatment strategy; none included all NHLBI-recommended elements. Overall, adherence to guidelines was poor, particularly with regard to reporting body mass index to the patient, measuring waist circumference and setting realistic weight loss goals. Weight discussions did not clearly vary by the patient, physician or visit characteristics examined. These findings suggest opportunities to develop and further tailor resources for improved physician training in patient weight management communication and treatment techniques that are both consistent with current standards for effective, evidence-based care and efficient enough for routine use during busy primary care visits.
IMPACT OF BOUNDARY NUCLEATION ON PRODUCT GRAIN SIZE DISTRIBUTION

We examine quantitatively the impact of boundary nucleation on the size distribution of product grains in a computer simulation of a two-dimensional phase transformation. This is accomplished by determining the probability distribution of product grain areas under different nucleation conditions. Specifically, a comparison of the moments of normalized area distributions of product grains arising from site-biased nuclei with the corresponding moments of the area distribution of Voronoi grains reveals those spatial features of the collection of catalytic sites which most affect product microstructure. The impact of other relevant length scales, including the square root of the inverse nucleation site density, the lattice parameter, and the system size, on microstructure is also discussed.
Teaching Approach for Developing Nonverbal Communication Skills in Students with Social Perception Deficits Part I. The Basic Approach and Body Language Clues

Social perception deficits are viewed as the most serious of all types of learning disabilities and yet little attention has been given to remediating such deficits. In Part 1 of this two-part article an approach for ameliorating such disabilities based on task analysis and diagnosis and prescription is described. Nonverbal communication skills are task analyzed into step-by-step sequences with a four-stage teaching approach: discrimination of specific social cues, understanding of the social meanings of such cues, appropriate usage of such cues, and application of such cues to actual social problems.In Part 1, teaching activities based on this four-stage approach are given for the nonverbal communication areas of kinesics, or body language. In Part 2, teaching activities for these educationally less familiar nonverbal communication areas will be described: proxemics, or the use of space; vocalics, or the use of prosodic, paralinguistic, and nonlinguistic features; and artifactual cues such as cosmetics a...
Effect of Thyroxine and Propylthiouracil on Magnesium Metabolism in the Rabbit. Study with Mg28.

Summary1) In rabbits given thyroxine or propylthiouracil, external balance studies for magnesium were performed, and Mg28 used to measure exchangeable body content of magnesium. In 8 rabbits given 2 intravenous injections of thyroxine sodium (0.3 mg/kg) no significant changes were noted in body weight, magnesium balance, or exchangeable magnesium content, although a decrease in serum magnesium concentration occurred. In another group of 8 rabbits the tissue relative activity of Mg28 was determined following 3 intravenous injections of thyroxine (1.0 mg/kg) given within 4 days. The relative activity was increased in liver, skin, appendix, and heart. 2) Eight rabbits given propylthiouracil orally showed a decrease in exchangeable body content of magnesium at end of third week. A significant decrease was found also in relative radioactivity of liver and bone. 3) The value for exchangeable body content of magnesium appears related to rate of turnover of Mg28 in bone and muscle, the 2 largest body stores of ma...
Transfer of dietary conjugated linoleic acid to egg yolks of chickens

Abstract There is interest in increasing the conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) content of foods because of purported benefits of CLA for human health. Two experiments were conducted to determine the influence of dietary CLA concentration on CLA content of eggs. In Experiment 1, diets containing 0, 0.5, 2.5, or 5.0% CLA were fed to 26-wk-old White Leghorn hens (Hy-Line W-77) for 29 d. No CLA was detected in the yolk lipids of hens fed the control diet. Concentration of CLA in the yolk lipids linearly increased as dietary CLA increased. The maximum concentrations of CLA in the yolk lipids of hens fed 0.5, 2.5, or 5.0% CLA occurred 11 d after the start of the experiment and were 0.82, 5.82, and 11.20% of the total fatty acids, respectively. Concurrent decreases were observed in concentrations of C18:1, C18:2, C18:3, C20:4, and C22:6. Rate of egg production, body weight gain, and feed intake were not affected by dietary CLA. Average weights of eggs and yolks were decreased for hens fed 5.0% CLA compared with other dietary treatments. In Experiment 2, 62-wk-old hens were fed diets containing 0 or 5.0% CLA. Maximum CLA concentration in the yolk lipids of hens fed 5.0% CLA was less (7.43%) than that observed in Experiment 1. Feeding 5.0% CLA decreased feed intake but did not affect rate of egg production, weight of eggs, albumens, or yolks, or body weight gain through 36 d. Results of these experiments show that eggs produced by hens fed 5.0% CLA will contain 310 to 365 mg of CLA per egg. Such eggs could provide a substantial amount of CLA source in human foods.
Complex segregation analysis of LDL peak particle diameter

A predominance of small low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles, as determined by gradient gel electrophoresis (GGE), has been proposed to be a common genetic marker for risk of coronary heart disease. Previous analyses of the families in the Berkeley data set defined a dichotomous trait based on the LDL size distribution by GGE: subjects with a predominance of small LDL particles have LDL subclass "pattern B," while those with a predominance of large LDL particles have LDL subclass "pattern A." Using this definition, previous complex segregation analyses demonstrated a single major gene effect on pattern B with a dominant or additive mode of inheritance, and reduced penetrance in young males and premenopausal women. In the present analyses, a continuous variable denoted LDL peak particle diameter is used, reflecting the size (diameter in A) of the major LDL subclass, for comparison with the dichotomous LDL subclass pattern classification. After adjusting for age and gender, the results demonstrate a single major Mendelian gene effect, but the exact mode of inheritance could not be established. Thus, analysis of the continuous variable was not superior to that of the dichotomous classification in determining the mode of inheritance of the proposed single gene controlling LDL subclasses.
NOS inhibitors modulate LPS-induced gastric MMP and TIMP production

Abstract Introduction. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are zinc-endopeptidases that are closely modulated by their endogenous inhibitors, the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases, or TIMPs. We have previously demonstrated that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces gastric MMPs and that these MMPs contribute to LPS-induced gastric injury. Prior studies in our laboratory have also shown that LPS increases gastric inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), the inhibition of which ameliorated LPS induced gastric injury. While nitric oxide has been shown to modulate MMP production in cell lines, the effect of NOS inhibition on LPS-induced gastric MMP production is unknown. The purpose of these studies was to determine what effects selective and nonselective NOS inhibition had on LPS-induced gastric MMP and TIMP production. Methods. Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with L-NAME (5 mg/kg sc), a nonselective NOS inhibitor, 1400w (1 mg/kg ip), a selective iNOS inhibitor, or vehicle followed by saline or LPS (20 mg/kg ip). After 24 h the rats were sacrificed and the gastric mucosa was harvested for protein and RNA extraction. MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 production were assessed by Western analysis and quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Results. Both L-NAME and 1400w blocked the LPS induced TIMP-1 transcription and protein production. While both agents markedly decreased LPS-induced MMP-9 transcription, no MMP-9 protein was detected in the gastric mucosa. Neither agent had any effect on MMP-2 or TIMP-2 transcription nor did they inhibit the LPS-induced increase in MMP-2 protein. L-NAME had no effect, while 1400w induced TIMP-2 protein; however, the fold increase in TIMP-2 was not as great as for MMP-2, favoring continued matrix degradation. Conclusions. Both constitutive and selective NOS inhibitors modulate gastric MMP and TIMP transcription and protein production. However, neither agent appears to significantly affect the predominant active gelatinase, MMP-2.
Three-Dimensional Imaging of the Highly Bent Architecture of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus by Using Cryo-Electron Tomography

Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus cells are small deltaproteobacterial cells that feed on other gram-negative bacteria, including human pathogens. Using cryo-electron tomography, we demonstrated that B. bacteriovorus cells are capable of substantial flexibility and local deformation of the outer and inner membranes without loss of cell integrity. These shape changes can occur in less than 2 min, and analysis of the internal architecture of highly bent cells showed that the overall distribution of molecular machines and the nucleoid is similar to that in moderately bent cells. B. bacteriovorus cells appear to contain an extensive internal network of short and long filamentous structures. We propose that rearrangements of these structures, in combination with the unique properties of the cell envelope, may underlie the remarkable ability of B. bacteriovorus cells to find and enter bacterial prey.
Progressive half-toning of images

A novel digital half-toning technique is presented for the efficient transformation of grey scale images into bilevel ones. The bilevel image pixels are divided into classes, which are progressively generated in a parallel fashion, utilising a simple criterion. A continuous-tone image can thus be progressively coded and transmitted in bilevel form.
Beryllium-hydrogen and zinc-hydrogen shallow acceptor complexes in germanium

Abstract New shallow acceptor complexes with hydrogenically-spaced excited states have been discovered in intentionally-doped crystals of otherwise ultra-pure germanium. The doping consists of >10 14 cm −3 of group II impurities, and the crystals were grown under hydrogen atmosphere. The identification proposed in this paper is that of a hydrogen-group II impurity complex, with piezospectroscopic behavior of a 〈111〉-oriented defect.
PERCEPTIONS OF CONSUMER RACIAL PROFILING AND NEGATIVE EMOTIONS An Exploratory Study

Racial profiling has been an interest among society and scholars for several years. The main focus of racial profiling has been on law enforcement’s use of the technique, with little investigation of it occurring in consumer environments, that is, consumer racial profiling (CRP). Moreover, even less research has focused on the negative emotions that occur as a result of perceptions of CRP. Using data from a telephone survey of citizens of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the present study indicates that perceptions of experiencing CRP do result in negative emotions. Furthermore, the present study identifies a profile of individuals who are likely to experience these negative emotions due to perceptions of CRP. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitor–Induced Angioedema of the Small Bowel—A Surgical Abdomen Mimic

Abstract Background Angioedema is an infrequent complication of the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) that has an incidence of up to 0.5%. The oropharynx is most commonly affected. Angioedema of the small bowel is a much rarer occurrence; it uniformly presents with abdominal pain of variable duration. Case Report A 51-year-old man presented to the emergency department (ED) with generalized abdominal pain, emesis, diarrhea, and bloating. Medical history was significant for hypertension and medications included captopril, metoprolol and aspirin. Vital signs and laboratory tests were unremarkable. Due to the presence of significant abdominal tenderness with guarding on examination, a FAST (focused assessment with ultrasound in trauma) examination was performed and revealed free fluid in the abdomen. A computed tomography scan of the abdomen was quickly obtained, which revealed a large amount of simple-appearing free fluid within the abdomen and mucosal edema throughout the small bowel. The patient underwent an emergent diagnostic laparoscopy and was ultimately diagnosed with angioedema of the small bowel, deemed secondary to captopril usage. Captopril was discontinued and symptoms gradually resolved with supportive care. When imaging is obtained in cases such as this one, small bowel submucosal edema and ascites are often present. Supportive care and cessation of ACEi usage are the cornerstones of treatment. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? In patients on ACEi, it is important to keep this diagnosis in mind to potentially avoid an unneeded surgical intervention, as the condition is self-limiting and can be treated primarily with supportive measures.
Quantifying Uncertainties Associated With Reservoir Simulation Studies Using a Surrogate Reservoir Model

Reservoir simulation is routinely used as a reservoir management tool. The static model that is used as the basis for simulation is the result of an integrated effort that usually includes the latest geological, geophysical and petro-physical measurements and interpretations. As such, it is inherently a model with some uncertainty. Analysis of these uncertainties and quantification of their effects on oil production and water cut using a new and efficient technique is the subject of this paper. Typical uncertainty analysis techniques require many realizations and runs of the reservoir model. In the day and age that reservoir models are getting larger and more complicated, making hundreds or sometimes thousands of simulation runs can put considerable strain on the resources of an asset team. This paper summarizes the results of uncertainty analysis on a giant oil field in the Middle East using a new technique that incorporates a Surrogate Reservoir Model (SRM). A Surrogate Reservoir Model that runs and provides results in real-time is developed to mimic the capabilities of a full field model that includes about one million grid blocks and takes 10 hours to run on a cluster of twelve 3.2 GHz CPUs. This Surrogate Reservoir Model is used as the objective function of a Monte Carlo Simulation to study the impact of the uncertainties associated with several parameters on the model outcome, i.e. oil production and water cut is analyzed. The analysis can be performed individually on each of the 165 horizontal wells. During the analyses of uncertainty, the Surrogate Reservoir Model will serve as an objective function for the Monte Carlo Simulation. In this study, uncertainties associated with several reservoir parameterts and their quantitative effect on cumulative oil production and stantaneous water cut are examined.
Let the sisters speak: understanding information technology from the standpoint of the 'other'

In this paper, I examine how and why the situated knowledge and lived experiences of working-class African American women shape their standpoint on information technology (IT). Using the biblical metaphor of the exodus and narratives of ascent, these women view IT access and training as part of a strategy for escaping poverty and despair. Whereas most of the extant gender and IT research provides rich insights into the marginalization of women, the women in this study felt empowered by IT. This contradictory outcome has three implications for the study of gender and IT. First, researchers must consider the multiple identities such as gender, race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, and sexuality that shape and are shaped by women's engagement with IT. Second, the notion of IT workforce should take into account not only the highly skilled IT workers who design and build IT artifacts, but should also consider the lower skilled workers who indirectly use IT. Third, IT training programs that serve working-class women must go beyond the transfer of IT skills to individuals. They must also redress the persistent structural barriers of poverty, spatial isolation, illiteracy, sporadic work, and racial and ethnic discrimination that systematically limit women's ability to compete for jobs that provide higher incomes, greater safety, more security, full-time hours, increased benefits, higher status, and less stressful work environments.
Predictability of a Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere Model

Abstract This paper presents an analysis of a coupled ocean-atmosphere model used to study ENSO (El Nino–Southern Oscillation). Our interest here is in the growth of initial error: that is, the predictability of ENSO. The analysis proceeds by constructing a linear model that optimally fits the behavior of the original nonlinear coupled model. By construction, this approximate linear model has only a few degrees of freedom. Because the linear model is so much smaller than the original, it is possible to understand it in much finer detail, indirectly offering insight into the properties and behavior of the original model. As it turns out, even linear models with only a few degrees of freedom can have rather elaborate and surprising short-term error behavior. It has been shown that if a system is not self-adjoint that there is a possibiliiy of error growth in a mode completely unrelated to the classic nation of a fastest growing linearly unstable mode. This holds for simple linear models as well. The work he...
Greater substrate activity of 4’-thio-arabinofuranosylcytosine (T-araC) 5’-monophosphate (T-araCMP) with UMP/CMP kinase as a likely factor for the longer intracellular retention of its triphosphate

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 46, 2005 4104 T-araC is a new cytosine analog that exhibits excellent in vivo antitumor activity against a variety of human solid tumor xenografts in mice. Our research goal is to elucidate the reason why T-araC shows profound difference in anti-solid tumor activity from arabinofuranosylcytosine (araC) in spite of the structural similarity of these compounds. Our previous studies indicated that there was a substantial difference in intracellular retention time between araC 5’-triphosphate (araCTP) and T-araC 5’-triphosphate (T-araCTP) in solid tumor cells, which correlated with the difference in cytotoxicity between araC and T-araC. In the current studies, we have studied the enzymes involved in nucleotide degradation to determine the reason why T-araCTP has a longer retention time than araCTP in HCT-116 (human colon cancer) cells. Because T-araC and T-araCMP are poorer substrates for Cyd deaminase and dCMP deaminase than araC and araC 5’-monophosphate (araCMP), respectively, we determined the intracellular half-life of araCTP in the presence of deoxytetrahydrouridine (a potent inhibitor of both deaminases). However, inhibition of these deaminases did not affect the retention time of araCTP, which indicated that the differences between araC and T-araC as a substrate for these deaminases were not responsible for the difference in retention time between araCTP and T-araCTP. The retention time of araCTP also did not change in the presence of aphidicolin (a potent inhibitor of DNA synthesis), which indicated that DNA incorporation/removal was also not rate-limiting for araCTP degradation. Moreover, the rates of disappearance of the triphosphates and monophosphates of araC and T-araC in a crude extract from HCT-116 cells were similar, which indicated that the enzymes responsible for dephosphorylation of araC or T-araC mono- and tri-phosphates also did not discriminate between these two compounds. However, when investigating the monophosphate degradation using ATP as a stimulator, we discovered that the rate of phosphorylation of T-araCMP was much greater than that of araCMP. Using crude extracts from HCT-116 and CEM (human leukemia) cells, the rate of phosphorylation of T-araCMP was comparable to that of CMP, which is a natural substrate of UMP/CMP kinase, and was about 10-fold greater than that of araCMP. These results suggested that the 10-fold greater activity of T-araCMP with UMP/CMP kinase was responsible for the 10-fold greater half-life of T-araCTP in solid tumor cells. When T-araCTP was degraded to T-araCMP there was a greater chance that it would be rephosphorylated by UMP/CMP kinase (thus maintaining triphosphate pool), whereas with araCMP more compound would be dephosphorylated or deaminated. This work was supported by NIH grant # CA 34200.
Terminal fusions of skeletal elements as indicators of maturity in squamates

ABSTRACT Terminal fusions—fusions of skeletal elements thought to mark the cessation of significant growth—can be used to estimate the relative maturity of fossilized individuals. Little is known of how the absolute timing of terminal fusions relates to sexual and skeletal maturity in squamates. Examination of postnatal ontogenetic series of extant representatives of 14 crown squamate clades reveals that no terminal fusion universally coincides with the achievement of either sexually or skeletally mature size; however, certain fusions may serve as benchmarks of maturity within particular crown clades. Complete fusion of the braincase is a reliable benchmark for skeletal maturity in scleroglossans, but not iguanians. Complete fusion of long bone epiphyses will indicate that a squamate individual is within roughly 20% of maximum size, whereas complete fusion of the scapula and coracoid, the pelvis, and the astragalus and calcaneum can be taken as evidence only that an individual has achieved at least half o...
Ferroelectricity and Ferroic Like Signature in Biological Species: ‘Bio-Multiferroics’—An Overview

The presence of piezoelectricity, pyroelectricity and ferroelectricity in biological samples has been envisaged since the 1950s, the earliest studies being done on wood, bones, collagen, etc. Pioneer work reporting piezoelectricity in bones, tendons, dentin, etc. has been in existence for quite some time however it was only in the recent past that ferroelectricity was suggested to be present in bio-species like aortic wall, nail and certain form of shells. Recent focus of uncovering bio-ferroelectricity has progressed into natural and artificial bio-molecules such as glycine, peptides, tubulin, etc due to the advancement in instrumentation with nanoscale measurement capabilities. This paper makes an attempt to discuss the chronological developments in the field of ferroelectricity in biological samples, recent upsurge in this field of science with the aid of better resources and our perspective of bio-ferroelectricity/bio-multiferroicity along with experimental results on some selected biological material...
Estimation of Lithium-Ion Concentrations in Both Electrodes of a Lithium-Ion Battery Cell

For control and estimation tasks in battery management systems, the benchmark Li-ion cell electrochemical pseudo-two-dimensional (P2D) model is often reduced to the Single Particle Model (SPM). The original SPM consists of two electrodes approximated as spherical particles with spatially distributed Li-ion concentration. However, the Li-ion concentration states in these two-electrode models are known to be weakly observable from the voltage output. This has led to the prevalent use of reduced models in literature that generally approximate Li-ion concentration states in one electrode as an algebraic function of that in the other electrode. In this paper, we remove such approximations and show that the addition of the thermal model to the electrochemical SPM essentially leads to observability of the Li-ion concentration states in both electrodes from voltage and temperature measurements. Then, we propose an estimation scheme based on this SPM coupled with lumped thermal dynamics that estimates the Li-ion concentrations in both electrodes. Moreover, these Li-ion concentration estimates also enable the estimation of the cell capacity. The estimation scheme consists of a sliding mode observer cascaded with an Unscented Kalman filter (UKF). Simulation studies are included to show the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Descriptions of the Larva and Pupa of Callirhopalus (subg. Pseudocneorhinus)bifasciatus, the Twobanded Japanese Weevil, with New Host Plant Records

The mature larva and pupa of the twobanded Japanese weevil, Callirhopalus bifasciatus (Roelofs), are described and illustrated. New host plants reported for the adults of the species are species of Abelia, Viburnum, Acer, Morus, Populus, Sedum, Lythrum, Campsis, Thunbergia , and Coleus .
Assessing the sociology of sport: On the mediasport interpellation and commodity narratives

On the 50th anniversary of the ISSA and IRSS, Lawrence A Wenner, Editor-in-Chief of the IRSS and a key foundational scholar of media and sport, considers how the study of media in the sociology of sport is “unavoidable” as media is central to how sport is framed, understood, enacted, and transacted. The early reluctance to study mediated sport is traced to disciplinary challenges in both physical education and communication studies. These challenges were overcome by the rise of British cultural studies and concerns over agency in the study of “money and power” and “framing and identities” as central to inquiry. Key challenges for the study of media and sport are fueled by the need to go beyond textual analysis, to recognize the “dirtiness” of sport narratives, and interrogate the dynamic of inherently commodified logics. Posing the lasting power of the “mediasport interpellation” as a form of address anchored in gender, fan, and consumer identities, it is argued that new media will encounter embedded cult...
The Use of Milrinone in Arterial Switch Operations

Objective To evaluate the hemodynamic effects of milrinone on arterial switch operations.Methods 40 neonats or infants undergoing Switch were randomly divided into two group:M group, milrinone was administered at a 50ug/kg bolus intravenously at ten minutes,followed by a continueous infusion of 0.5μg.kg-1.min-1 at post release of the cross clamp.N group, the same volume of normal saline bolus dose intravenously,Nitroglycerin was followed by a continueous infusion of 0.5～2.0μg.kg-1.min-1 at post release of the cross clamp. The changes of HR,MAP,CI,PCWP,SVR,PVR,LVSWI and RVSWI were obtained at the following points: before CPB and at 5、15、30,60min and skin close.Results Compared with N group,the level of CI,LVSWI and RVSWI were significantly higher(P0.05),while PCWP,SVR and PVR were significantly lower after administration of milrinone(P0.05),HR and MAP in two group had no obvious changement(P0.05).Conclusion Milrinone can improve hemodynamics and myocardial contractile function by increasing cardiac output and by decreasing SVR and PVR on Switch.
Effect of Postoperative Nursing in Low Birth Weight Infants with Severe Congenital Heart Disease

Objective To analyze the postoperative nursing methods and nursing effect of low birth weight infants with severe congenital heart disease. Methods 118 cases of low birth weight infants with severe congenital heart disease in our hospital were randomly divided into two groups, with 59 cases in each group. After surgery, the control group was given routine nursing, while the experimental group was given intensive nursing intervention including endotracheal intubation care, high concentrations of potassium, temperature monitoring, infection prevention, and hypoglycemia prevention. The incidence of complications and body weight before and after nursing were compared between two groups. Results The incidence of complications of experimental group was significantly lower than that of control group(P 0.05). There was no statistical difference between two groups in the body weight before intervention(P 0.05), but both groups had improved body weight after nursing(P 0.05), and the experimental group had better improvement compared with control group(P 0.05). Conclusions For low birth weight infants with severe congenital heart disease, intensive nursing intervention after surgery has significant clinical effect. It can reduce the incidence of complications, and promote the increase of infants' body weight.
Can a CRNA be medically directed and be an independent contractor for tax purposes at the same time

Employee or independent contractor designation has significant tax implications for the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). On superficial view, it appears that a CRNA who is medically directed would be under a number of controls that would force the CRNA to be in an employee status. However, on analysis, it seems that for tax purposes a CRNA can be medically directed while also being an independent contractor. But when looking closer at all of the controversy in the legal system and the protections available to an employee that are not available to an independent contractor, a CRNA may find the employee status a better option.
A novel adaptive synchronous rectification method for digitally controlled LLC converters

In this paper, a novel adaptive synchronous rectification method for digitally controlled LLC converters is proposed. By sensing the synchronous rectifier (SR) body diode forward drop, both the SR turn-on and turn-off edges are optimized for efficiency. Negative current prevention is utilized to improve the system robustness and is enhanced by simple digital control capabilities. Compared with a conventional analog SR control approach, this method achieves higher system efficiency and flexibility. This control method has been implemented in a Texas Instruments digital power controller UCD3138A and a companion gate driver UCD7138 [1][2].
The dynamics of emergence: the case against reductionism

Several preliminary arguments were offered in the previous chapter countering the moves of reductive materialists and indicating possible meanings of the concept of emergence. In this chapter we will focus on the positive characteristics of emergence, and answer three basic questions: what exactly is emergent and how is it brought about; how could step-wise emergence be possible; and what are the results of emergence, which presumably appear as entities in the hierarchy of phenomenological levels. Some preliminaries: emergence as irreducibility As argued earlier, the size or quantity-, time-, context-, loop-, and selection-dependence of higher-level phenomena frustrate the purposes and efforts of microreduction. These forms of dependence demonstrate persuasively that contrary to the main reductionist argument, because of their history, evolutionary, emerging higher-level phenomena are in principle irreducible to lower-level phenomena. Instead, they show, at the very least, that microreduction cannot be done trivially – that even though diachronic reduction may be theoretically possible, synchronic reduction is in practice impossible (Simon's [1965] minimalist thesis on emergence). The minimalist position is, perhaps, able to rebut extreme forms of reductive materialism, that is, a belief in the causally determinative power of microparts to bring forth by themselves alone, intrinsically and fully, higher-level forms of organization in our universe. Yet, minimalism may not be sufficient to counter more moderate reductionist programs such as that of eliminative materialism, which are actually based on a conflation of the reductive and constructionist strategies
Urbanization Is Here

This chapter overviews and discusses urbanization and some good sides of it, notably freedom. It introduces the city fetish—an idea that cities allure by a promise of power, prestige, greatness, etc.
Mea Culpa and the Abuse of the Virtual Economy’s Freedoms

Who has been responsible for the devastation of American homeowners, the destruction of the American Dream,1 and the perilous situation in which the global economy found itself as 2008 came to a close? In short, for the triple whammy? Dr Alan Greenspan said mea culpa, and he should be believed.