cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Open approach to the ventral transversus abdominis plane in the dog: evaluation and injectate dispersion in cadavers.

Abstract Objective To evaluate a direct intra-abdominal approach to injection of the ventral transversus abdominis plane (TAP) and compare the dispersion of two volumes of injectate. Study design Prospective anatomic and feasibility study. Animals A total of 10 canine cadavers weighing 9 ± 4 kg. Methods A ventral incision was made extending through the linea alba, from the umbilicus and extending 5 cm caudally. A single injection of an isovolumic mixture of iopamidol and new methylene blue was performed with a hypodermic needle placed within the TAP of each hemiabdomen, alternating between 0.5 mL kg–1 in low-volume group (LV) and 1 mL kg–1 in high-volume group (HV). Surgical staples marked the incision. Computed tomography and three-dimensional reconstruction of the tomographic images evaluated the dimensions, cranial and caudal spread beyond the incision and the total area of the injectate. Dissection determined the extent of nerve staining within the TAP adjacent to the abdominal incision. Wilcoxon signed rank (stain) or paired t test was used to compare variables between groups. Data are reported as mean ± standard deviation or median (range). Results Injectate spread was within the ventral TAP. Length of spread was 2.5 ± 1.6 cm greater in group HV than in group LV. There was a strong positive correlation between the surface area (p = 0.02, r = 0.71) and cranial–caudal spread of injectate (p = 0.041, r = 0.65) with volume. All but two LV injections were associated with staining of all nerves adjacent to the incision. Additional nerves caudal to the incision were stained in group HV (p = 0.02). Conclusions This approach to the TAP was easily performed, with volume of injectate positively influencing distribution. Clinical relevance This technique is easily applied and future prospective studies are warranted to determine its analgesic efficacy.
Adaptive System-Level Diagnosis in Real-Time

Distributed real-time systems are subject to stricter fault-tolerance requirements than non-real time systems. This work presents an application of system-level diagnosis to a real-time distributed system as a first step in providing fault-tolerance. An existing algorithm for distributed system-level diagnosis, Adaptive_DSD, is converted to a real-time framework, establishing a deadline for the end-to-end diagnosis latency. Rate monotonic analysis is chosen as the framework for achieving real-time performance. The ADSD algorithm is converted into a set of independent periodic tasks running at each node, and a systematic procedure is used to assign priorities and deadlines to minimize the hard deadline of the diagnosis function. The resulting algorithm, Real-Time Adaptive Distributed System-Level Diagnosis (RT-ADSD), is fully compatible with a real-time environment, where both the processors and the network support fixed-priority scheduling. The RT-ADSD algorithm provides a useful first step in adding fault-tolerance to distributed real-time systems by quickly and reliably diagnosis node failures. The key results presented here include a framework for specifying real-time distributed algorithms and a scheduling model for analyzing them that accounts for many requirements of distributed systems, including network I/O, task jitter, and critical sections caused by shared resources.
Damping Characterization of Polymer Matrix Composite Materials

This article aims primarily at providing basic understanding about the vibrational damping characteristics of polymer composite materials. The materials being looked at are continuous and discontinuous-fiber-reinforced, two-phase as well as three-phase; randomly oriented short-fiber reinforced; laminated fiber reinforced; and carbon nanotube composites. Some basic theoretical considerations and experimental methods are discussed. The primary energy dissipating mechanisms to achieve enhanced material damping in these types of composites are identified as viscoelastic energy dissipation between the fibers and the surrounding matrix material, inherent material damping in fibers, matrices and interphases, and stick-slip energy dissipation between the carbon nanotubes and the surrounding matrix material. Some important conclusions are drawn, and the cited literature can be used for further understanding and usage. Keywords: polymer composite materials; viscoelastic damping; viscoelastic energy dissipation; stick-slip energy dissipation; strain energy/finite element method; storage and loss moduli in composites; discontinuous- and continuous-fiber-reinforced composite damping; discontinuous-fiber-reinforced three-phase composite damping; randomly oriented short-fiber composite damping; laminated fiber composite damping; woven fabric-reinforced composite damping; carbon nanotube composite damping
Burn-injury Alters Brain Catecholamine Levels and β-AR Signaling

The prefrontal cortex is the most evolved brain region sensitive to the detrimental effects of stress exposure. Burn injury causes a dramatic increase in systemic catecholamines (CAs) levels accomp...
Expression of c‐KIT and Its Ligand, Stem Cell Factor, in Normal and Subfertile Human Testicular Tissue

The c-KIT proto-oncogene encodes for a transmembrane receptor and is associated with maturation of several cell types, including germ cells. The ligand of the receptor has been identified as stem cell factor (SCF). Loss or alteration of the expression of either of these factors leads to anemia, albinism, and/or sterility in mice. We examined the expression of c-KIT and SCF by immunohistochemistry in specimens from normal and infertile human testis. All specimens were obtained in the evaluation of male subfertility. We were able to demonstrate staining for c-KIT in Leydig cells in all specimens. Normal testis stained for c-KIT in the cytoplasm of early spermatogenic cells, as well as the acrosomal granules of the round spermatids and the acrosome of testicular spermatozoa. However, staining in testis demonstrating maturation arrest failed to demonstrate acrosomal staining, and Sertoli-only specimens demonstrated staining for c-KIT in Leydig cells only. The results for SCF demonstrated an overall uniform staining of Leydig cells in all specimens. The intensity of staining of Sertoli cells increased from normal to maturation arrest to Sertoli-only specimens. Germ cell staining was consistently negative. We hypothesize that these staining patterns for SCF are due to either lack of staining of the receptor-ligand complex or overexpression of the kit ligand in tissue that does not express the kit receptor. It appears that the c-kit receptor is expressed in the acrosome of developing germ cells, as well as in Leydig cells and early spermatogenic cells, suggesting a role in the acrosome reaction, as well as germ cell maturation and differentiation.
Neuronal nitric oxide synthase isoforms alpha and mu are closely related calpain-sensitive proteins.

The neuronal nitric oxide synthase isoform nNOSμ, which is expressed in striated muscle, differs from nNOSα, the major brain isoform, by the insertion of 34 amino acid residues between the calmodulin- and flavin-binding domains [J Biol Chem271:11204–11208 (1996)]. We show here that recombinant, purified nNOSμ, despite the peptide insertion, has the same spectroscopic properties, l-argininekcat andKm values, optimal pH, and calmodulin binding affinity constant as nNOSα. However, nNOSμ consumes NADPH and reduces cytochrome c at approximately half the rate of nNOSα. The rates of degradation of the two proteins by rat brain and muscle homogenates show that nNOSμ is degraded more slowly than nNOSα. The in vitro half-lives of nNOSα and nNOSμ are 12 and 50 min, respectively, and calpain is important for this degradation. These short in vitro half-lives suggest that the nNOS isoforms are susceptible to rapid degradation in vivo. The elevated (20-fold) levels of calpain in diseased muscle tissue in Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and the hydrolytic sensitivity of both nNOSμ and nNOSα to this enzyme, may contribute to the deficiency of nNOS activity in the diseased tissue.
Health Status and Medical Care Utilization

Each quarter, Health Affairs reports on new developments in one of four sectors of the health sphere: health status and health care utilization in Spring, health care innovation in Summer, national health care spending in Fall, and health personnel in Winter. In this issue, Gerry Hendershot offers an update of health status and the use of medical care in the U.S. Bruce Vladeck and colleagues of the United Hospital Fund report on consumers and hospital mortality data. Finally, Allan Dobson and Elizabeth Hoy of the Consolidated Consulting Group reassess how hospitals are profiting under Medicare prospective payment.
How Literary Rebels Became Cultural Revolutionaries

L anguage, literature and intellectuals were closely intertwined in the culture of traditional China. One or two of these elements had, at times, been thrown into turmoil before I9I9; but only the May Fourth Movement signaled a thorough redefinition of all three. Given the complex totality of traditional culture, it is not surprising that this simultaneous questioning of linguistic form, literary content, and authorial self-consciousness had revolutionary implications for the subsequent course of Chinese history. With the May Fourth Movement of I9I9, the literary rebellion against classical forms of expression, which had begun around the turn of the century, assumed new and weightier cultural connotations. Chinese writers who chose to experiment with the sayable-vernacular fiction-created, in the context of May Fourth, the conditions for the emergence of the unthinkablerevolutionary culture. They served the larger social and political revolution of the I92OS as creative technicians. The literature they wrote was revolutionary not simply because it depicted changes in contemporary social conditions. More important and more enduring was their rejection of prevailing conventions of artistic discourse. Being "producers of art" (to borrow a term from German literary critic Walter Benjamin), their transformation of the means of literary production was from within. May Fourth writers thus functioned as transitional rebels who developed forms of expression that proved to have a range of political uses far broader than those envisaged in I 9 I 9. Until recently, their contribution as intermediate innovators has been frequently noted but rarely analyzed. Modern Chinese Literature in the May Fourth Era, skillfully edited by Merle Goldman, inaugurates a long overdue discussion of the meaning of "dialectical progress" in the intellectual history of modern China. Previously, we had some hints but few explanations as to the connections between literary rebellion and cultural revolution. Now, seventeen scholars have partially elucidated the process through which the literary techniques pioneered by May Fourth writers facilitated-without having directly caused-the transformation of thought in revolutionary China. The May Fourth Era explored here encompasses roughly the two decades from I 9 I 5 to I 93 5, with the event of I 9 I 9 interpreted as both catalyst for and subject matter of modern fiction. May Fourth writers discussed in depth include major figures of all literary circles, although Lu Xun towers over such writers as Mao Dun, Ding Ling, and Yu Dafu. Employing novel methodologies derived from Marxist criticism, psychohistory, and structural linguistics, contributors to this volume present the literature
Berry fruit extracts inhibit growth and induce apoptosis of high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells in vitro

Abstract Dark coloured fruits contain many phytochemicals that have anti-cancer activity. The ability of extracts of berry fruits to kill leukemia cell lines derived from patients with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) carrying the t(4;11)(q21;q23) chromosomal translocation was investigated. Extracts enriched in phenolic compounds were prepared from blackberries, blueberries, red, green, and black grapes, raspberries, and strawberry powder, and the leukemia-derived cell lines SEM, RS4;11, and REH were treated with 0, 25, 50, and 100 μg/ml of each berry extract daily for a total of 72 h. Mitochondrial membrane depolarization, cell death, cell cycle, and nitric oxide generation in response to treatment were measured by flow cytometry. Extracts from blackberries, blueberries, red and black grapes, and strawberry powder induced varying levels of apoptotic cell death in the leukemia cells. For most treatments, cell death was accompanied by an arrest in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. An S phase arrest was also observed for SEM and REH cells treated with strawberry or blackberry extract. Our data suggest that phenolic phytochemicals found in berry fruits may have substantial potential for the prevention or treatment of high-risk ALL and further evaluations are warranted in vivo.
High Performance Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries with Optimized Electrode Configuration and Membrane Selection

The performance of a vanadium flow battery with no-gap architecture was significantly improved via several techniques. Specifically, gains arising from variation of the overall electrode thickness, membrane thickness, and electrode thermal treatment were studied. There is a trade-off between apparent kinetic losses, mass transfer losses, and ionic resistance as the electrode thickness is varied at the anode and cathode. Oxidative thermal pretreatment of the carbon paper electrode increased the peak power density by 16%. Results of the pretreatment in air showed greater improvement in peak power density compared to that obtained with pretreatment in an argon environment. The highest peak power density in a VRB yet published to the author s knowledge was achieved at a value of 767 mW cm 2 with optimized membrane and electrode engineering. 2012 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/2.051208jes] All rights reserved.
Structural Evolution of the Honduras Continental Margin and the Sea Floor South of the Western Cayman Trough

The interpretation of 2,500 km of seismic-reflection profiles and its synthesis with the results of previous work reveal a four-stage development for the Honduras continental margin since late Mesozoic time. Late Cretaceous–early Eocene orogenesis deformed basement rocks and pre-orogenic units offshore Honduras. Following subsidence during middle Tertiary time, postorogenic units I and II blanketed the eroded preorogenic rocks, creating a distinct angular unconformity. The widespread distribution and uniform thickness of the postorogenic sediments suggest deposition during a tectonically quiescent period. Pliocene time marked the onset of block-faulting activity which fragmented the crust into irregular ridges and basins in northern Central America and along the Honduras continental margin and the western Cayman Trough. The continental shelf and slope of Honduras have been prograding since the Miocene Epoch; turbidites are now filling the proximal fault basins offshore Honduras. Assuming that regional tectonism and continental margin development are relatable to lithospheric plate interactions, the deformed preorogenic units are interpreted as having been buckled by convergent plate motions during Late Cretaceous–early Eocene time. Plate slippage may have lapsed during middle Tertiary time, as inferred from the nature of the postorogenic units. This phase of plate passivism was terminated during Pliocene time by block-faulting activity, which presumably represents the resumption of plate motions along the Cayman Trough that have persisted to the present in the northwestern Caribbean.
Poly(dicyclopentadiene) Submicron Fibers Produced by Electrospinning

Summary: We have used the process of electrospinning to produce fibers of poly(dicyclopentadiene) with diameters on the submicron scale. The material, formed from a monomer-catalyst solution, polymerized in flight during the electrospinning process. Fibers were collected over trenches etched in silicon and the Young's moduli were measured using an atomic force microscope to measure force-displacement curves. The resulting values of Young's moduli are larger than typical values for bulk polymer material. SEM image of suspended PDCPD fiber.
Differentiation of filoviruses by electron microscopy

Cultured monolayers of MA-104, Vero 76, SW-13, and DBS-FRhL-2 cells were infected with Marburg (MBG), Ebola-Sudan (EBO-S), Ebola-Zaire (EBO-Z), and Ebola-Reston (EBO-R) viruses (Filoviridae, Filovirus) and examined by electron microscopy to provide ultrastructural details of morphology and morphogenesis of these potential human pathogens. Replication of each filovirus was seen in all cell systems employed. Filoviral particles appeared to enter host cells by endocytosis. Filoviruses showed a similar progression of morphogenic events, from the appearance of nascent intracytoplasmic viral inclusions to formation of mature virions budded through plasma membranes, regardless of serotype or host cell. However, ultrastructural differences were demonstrated between MBG and other filoviruses. MBG virions recovered from culture fluids were uniformly shorter in mean unit length than EBO-S, EBO-Z, or EBO-R particles. Examination of filovirus-infected cells revealed that intermediate MBG inclusions were morphologically distinct from EBO-S, EBO-Z, and EBO-R inclusions. No structural difference of viral inclusion material was observed among EBO-S, EBO-Z, and EBO-R. Immunoelectron microscopy showed that the filoviral matrix protein (VP40) and nucleoprotein (NP) accumulated in EBO-Z inclusions, and were closely associated during viral morphogenesis. These details facilitate the efficient and definitive diagnosis of filoviral infections by electron microscopy.
Gavaging Adult Zebrafish

The zebrafish has become an important in vivo model in biomedical research. Effective methods must be developed and utilized to deliver compounds or agents in solutions for scientific research. Current methods for administering compounds orally to adult zebrafish are inaccurate due to variability in voluntary consumption by the fish. A gavage procedure was developed to deliver precise quantities of infectious agents to zebrafish for study in biomedical research. Adult zebrafish over 6 months of age were anesthetized with 150 mg/L of buffered MS-222 and gavaged with 5 μl of solution using flexible catheter implantation tubing attached to a cut 22-G needle tip. The flexible tubing was lowered into the oral cavity of the zebrafish until the tip of the tubing extended past the gills (approximately 1 cm). The solution was then injected slowly into the intestinal tract. This method was effective 88% of the time, with fish recovering uneventfully. This procedure is also efficient as one person can gavage 20-30 fish in one hour. This method can be used to precisely administer agents for infectious diseases studies, or studies of other compounds in adult zebrafish.
Effects of CB1 cannabinoid receptor activation on cerebellar granule cell nitric oxide synthase activity

Cerebellar granule cells (CGCs) express the CB1 subtype of cannabinoid receptor. CB1 receptor agonists Win 55212-2, CP55940 and HU210 inhibit KCl-induced activation of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in CGCs. Win 55212-2 has no effect on either basal NOS activity or on activation by N-methyl-D-aspartate and its effect is abolished by pre-treatment of the cells with pertussis toxin. The CB1 receptor antagonist/inverse agonist SR141716A both reverses the effects of Win 55212-2 and produces an increase in NOS activity that is additive with KCl. These results support the hypothesis that activation of the CB1 receptor in CGCs results in a decreased influx of calcium in response to membrane depolarization, resulting in a decreased activation of neuronal NOS.
Gallbladder duplication and laparoscopic management.

ABSTRACT Gallbladder duplication can present a significant challenge to the laparoscopic surgeon, primarily due to difficulties with diagnosis and recognition. Previous reports of attempted laparos...
Relieving Parental Anxiety A Booklet for Parents of an Infant in NICU

The transfer of a sick newborn infant to a Newborn Intensive Care Unit evokes an acute emotional crisis for the parents. In order to help the family master this crisis, the authors have developed a parent booklet entitled, "A Sign of Hope." This pamphlet introduces the parents to Newborn Intensive Care even before the transfer of the baby to the regional hospital. By merely changing a few words, telephone numbers, and maps, this brochure can be adapted for use at most Level II or III Newborn Special Care Units.
A numerical study of two-dimensional shock vortex interaction

The numerical analysis of shock vortex interaction in a two-dimensional channel is discussed in this paper. The Euler equations and the two-step MacCormack scheme are employed in this numerical analysis. The comparison of the numerical results with the theoretical analyses and experimental results in the literature has provided unique insights into the dynamics of the transient interaction process and the needs for further theoretical developments. The results are useful in applications to problems in aeroacoustics and the transient aerodynamics of high performance aircraft.
Effect of indentation unloading conditions on phase transformation induced events in silicon

More than 2500 indentations were made on a silicon wafer surface using a range of different unloading rates and maximum applied loads. The unloading curves were examined for characteristic events (pop-out, kink pop-out, elbow followed by pop-out, and elbow) that were assigned to different phase transitions within the affected material based on Raman microspectroscopy analysis of residual imprints. The effect of unloading rate and maximum applied load on the average contact pressure at the beginning of the event was found. A permissible range for each event to occur was established.
Baseball players with the initial “K” do not strike out more often

It has been claimed that baseball players whose first or last name begins with the letter K have a tendency to strike out more than players whose initials do not contain the letter K. This “result” was achieved by a naive application of statistical methods. We show that this result is a spurious statistical artifact that can be reversed by the use of only slightly less naive statistical methods. We also show that other letters have larger and/or more significant effects than the letter K. Finally, we show that the original study applied the wrong statistical test and tested the hypothesis incorrectly. When these errors are corrected, most of the letters of the alphabet have a statistically significant strikeout effect.
Prepartying, drinking games, and extreme drinking among college students: a daily-level investigation.

INTRODUCTION: Daily data collected over 14 consecutive days were used to examine whether extreme drinking was more likely on days college students reported prepartying (i.e., drinking before going out) or playing drinking games in a multi-ethnic sample of college seniors (analysis subsample: N=399; 57% women; M age=21.48years, SD=.40). METHODS: Multilevel modeling with drinking occasions at Level 1 (1265 drinking days) nested within persons at Level 2 (399 drinkers) was used to predict four extreme drinking behavior outcomes at the daily level: consuming at least 8/10 (women/men) drinks, reaching an estimated blood alcohol concentration (eBAC) of.16% or greater, drinking enough to stumble, and drinking enough to pass out. RESULTS: Prepartying only (29% of drinking days) was more common than playing drinking games only (10%) or engaging in both behaviors on the same day (13%). Odds of extreme drinking were greater among students who frequently engaged in prepartying (ORs: 1.86-2.58) and drinking games (ORs: 1.95-4.16), except prepartying frequency did not predict drinking enough to pass out. On days students prepartied (ORs: 1.58-2.02) and on days they played drinking games (ORs: 1.68-1.78), odds of extreme drinking were elevated, except drinking games did not predict eBAC of.16% or greater. CONCLUSIONS: Extreme drinking is attributable to both person-level characteristics (e.g., preparty frequency) and specific drinking behaviors on a given day. Prepartying and drinking games confer elevated risk of extreme drinking and are important targets in alcohol interventions for college seniors. KW: Pregaming Language: en
Run-Time Services for Hybrid CPU/FPGA Systems on Chip

Modern FPGA devices, which include (multiple) processor core(s) as diffused IP on the silicon die, provide an excellent platform for developing custom multiprocessor systems-on-programmable chip (MPSoPC) architectures. As researchers are investigating new methods for migrating portions of applications into custom hardware circuits, it is also critical to develop new run-time service frameworks to support these capabilities. Hthreads (HybridThreads) is a multithreaded RTOS kernel for hybrid FPGA/CPU systems designed to meet this new growing need. A key capability of hthreads is the migration of thread management, synchronization primitives, and run-time scheduling services for both hardware and software threads into hardware. This paper describes the hthreads scheduler, a key component for controlling both software-resident threads (SW threads) and threads implemented in programmable logic (HW threads). Run-time analysis shows that the hthreads scheduler module helps in reducing unwanted system overhead and jitter when compared to historical software schedulers, while fielding scheduling requests from both hardware and software threads in parallel with application execution. Run time analysis shows the scheduler achieves constant time scheduling for up to 256 active threads with a total of 128 different priority levels, while using uniform APIs for threads requesting OS services from either side of the hardware/ software boundary.
Graft versus host disease following transfusion of normal blood products to patients with malignancies

A patient undergoing treatment with cytotoxic chemotherapy for Hodgkin's disease developed graft versus host disease (GVHD) following a transfusion of packed red cells. This is the 28th reported patient with a malignancy who did not have a bone marrow transplant and developed GVHD after transfusion of normal blood or blood products. All patients had received cytotoxic chemotherapy prior to acquiring GVHD. The underlying malignancies included lymphoma, acute leukemia, neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and glioblastoma. Twenty-three of the 28 patients died of GVHD. The incidence of transfusion-related GVHD in this patient population is low but the illness is often fatal as treatment is largely ineffective. Transfusion-related GVHD can be prevented by irradiating all blood products with 1500 rad prior to administration.
Synthesis and analysis of the five-link rear suspension system used in automobiles

Abstract The paper deals with the optimum kinematic synthesis and analysis of the five-link independent suspension system (also known as “multilink” suspension, mechanism commonly symbolized 5S–5S). The synthesis goal is fulfilling a minimum variation of the wheel track, toe angle and camber angle during jounce and rebound of the wheel. Two solutions obtained by synthesis are analyzed and compared to an existing solution, and the displacement, velocity and acceleration of the wheel carrier relative to the car body are determined, together with the variation of the momentary screw axis and the rear axle roll-center height. Both the kinematic synthesis and the analysis are performed in a simplified, easy to program manner, using a fictitious mechanism that has all the links dismounted from their joints.
Model Based Development of a 3D Printed Biped Robot

As 3D printing technology becomes more ubiquitous and pervasive, printed robot structures are likely to become popular. However, these 3D printed structures have inherent flexibility which causes link deflections and vibrations that lead to difficulties in maintaining gait and produce instabilities during motion. In this paper a biped robot, realized with 3D printing techniques, was modeled and its gait was simulated under position control. Spring and damper elements are used within powered joints to model the link flexibility. Servos were placed at the joints and an open-loop gait trajectory was executed by posing the robot through a series of servo angles. The gait of the printed robot was designed using the model. The printed robot’s stability and accelerations during the motion were characterized with 3-axis accelerometers and gyroscopes mounted on the robot. The acceleration measurements from the printed robot are then compared with the model behavior.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF REVENUE BOND FINANCING

General obligation 2,760.5 (44.8) Secured by unlimited, unspecified credit ...... 2,450.7 39.7 Intitial pledge of specific taxes ....... ......... 132.8 2.2 Initial pledge of enterprise revenue ...... ....... 177.0 2.9 Non-guaranteed 3,396.8 (55.2) Specific tax or appropriation from tax funds .... 545.8 8.9 Revenue bonds with collateral pledge of taxes or appropriations 104.9 1.7 Revenue bonds, collateral pledge of earnings of similar enterprises 110.5 1.8 Revenue bonds, "pure strain" .. 2,635.6 42.8
Phenylacetaldehyde Attracts Moths to Bladder Flower and to Blacklight Traps

The fragrant chemical compound volatilized by the bladder flower, Araujia sericofera Brot., was identified as phenylacetaldehyde. It attracted many economically important species of moths, and when it was used with a blacklight trap, it increased trap collections of pest moth species by 48%.
INELASTIC SCATTERING CALCULATIONS WITH PROJECTED HARTREE--FOCK WAVE FUNCTIONS.

Inelastic proton scattering cross sections for target nuclei in 2s-1d shell calculated in distorted wave Born approximation with projected Hartree-Fock wave functions
Empirical Bayes Prediction of 305-Day Milk Production

A lactation curve described by an algebraic formula can be fitted by regression to the milk weights in the partial record of an individual lactation in progress; however, curves that are obtained in this manner do not provide useful predictions of milk production throughout the remainder of the lactation. This study examined the reasons for this failure and introduced a new empirical Bayes statistical method for fitting Wood's curve that was designed to provide good predictions of future production. The results of a comparison between predictions produced by the new method and predictions from Dairy Herd Improvement Association extension factors were quite favorable to the new method, which has advantages other than greater accuracy; the method does not require preparation of extension factor tables and can be readily adapted to individual herds. Comparisons revealed features of the Dairy Herd Improvement Association predictions that limit their usefulness for some herd management purposes.
Acute effects of ingesting a commercial thermogenic drink on changes in energy expenditure and markers of lipolysis

To determine the acute effects of ingesting a thermogenic drink (Celsius, Delray Beach, FL) (TD) on changes in metabolism and lipolysis. Healthy college-aged male (23.2 ± 4.0 y, 177.2 ± 6.1 cm, 81.7 ± 11.3 kg, 22.8 ± 7.3 % fat; n = 30) and female (23.4 ± 3.1 y, 165.6 ± 8.7 cm, 62.1 ± 9.9 kg, 28.3 ± 7.4 % fat; n = 30) participants were matched according to height and weight to consume 336 ml of the TD or a non-caloric, non-caffeinated placebo (PLA). After a 12 h fast, participants reported for pre-consumption measures of height, weight, heart rate, blood pressure, resting energy expenditure (REE), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), glycerol and free-fatty acid (FFA) concentrations. REE and RER were determined at 60, 120, and 180 min post-consumption. Serum glycerol and FFA concentrations were determined at 30, 60, 120 and 180 min post-consumption. When compared to PLA, TD significantly increased REE at 60, 120 and 180 min (p < 0.05). FFA concentrations were significantly greater in TD compared to PLA at 30, 60, 120 and 180 min post-consumption (p < 0.05). No between-group differences were found in RER. Acute TD ingestion significantly increased REE, FFA and glycerol appearance. If sustained, these changes may help to promote weight loss and improve body composition; however, these findings are currently unknown as are the general safety and efficacy of prolonged consumption.
Aphasia revisited: A reply to Buckingham, Kertesz, and Marshall

First of all, my sincere gratitude to Hugh W. Buckingham, Andrew Kertesz, and Jane Marshall for their most important and interesting comments to my paper “A proposed reinterpretation and reclassifi...
Determination of Reproduction Cost with Index Numbers

I. Use of index numbers by Commissions, 105.— II. Advantages of the method, 107.— III. Suggested method of constructing such indexes, 108.— Legal requirements which must be met, 111.— Practical difficulties, 112.— Indexes must be supplemented, 114.— IV. Prospect of acceptance by the Courts, 115.
Photoreversible UV-inactivation of messenger RNA in an insect embryo(Smittia spec., Chironomidae, Diptera).

— Smittia embryos were UV-irradiated during intravitelline cleavage. At this stage, nuclei are heavily shielded by yolk-rich cytoplasm, and do not synthesize detectable amounts of RNA. Irradiation at 265, 285 and 295 nm wavelength caused biological inactivation, and pyrimidine dimer formation in maternal RNA as described earlier (Kalthoff, 1976; Jackie and Kalthoff, 1978). In addition, we observed marked effects on protein synthesis: (1) The overall rate of [35S]-methionine incorporation in vivo was reduced to less than half of the normal rate. (2) Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis revealed quantitative variations in the synthetic rate of some polypeptides, and the appearance of new ones in UV-irradiated embryos. (3) Translation of polyadenylated RNA from Smittia embryos in a cell-free system was inhibited by UV irradiation in vivo. (4) The apparent degradation, during early embryogenesis, of maternal polyadenylated RNA was retarded in UV-irradiated embryos. Exposure to light (400 nm) after UV caused partial photoreversal of all UV effects observed. Both the photoreactivable sector of UV-inactivation, and the photoreactivated portion of UV inhibition of protein synthesis, were correlated with the amounts of pyrimidine dimers generated in maternal RNA by UV irradiation at the three wavelengths used. These correlated effects were produced most efficiently by 295 nm radiation, indicating the involvement of photosensitizing components in the embryos. Our data show, for the first time to our knowledge, that animal mRNA, after UV irradiation, can be photoreactivated in vivo. Moreover, our results strongly suggest that the photorepairable lesions consist of pyrimidine dimers generated in a photosensitized reaction.
The metal-clad semiconductor nanoring laser and its scaling properties.

We proposed a metal-clad semiconductor nanoring laser structure that exhibited a superior scaling properties for D/λ0 > 0.5 where D is the device diameter. We theoretically analyzed the metal-cald nanoring laser and compared its scaling properties with two other similar nanolaser structures. We found that the two design parameters, namely the ring width and the ring diameter, enable independent emission wavelength control from device dimension. This property in combination with other desirable features including in-plane out-coupling and monolithic integration make the metal-clad nanoring laser highly attractive for photonic integration.
Rare cause of bleeding in a young footballer

A 12-year-old male soccer player had a 1-week history of injury to the left lower leg. He was playing football and was involved in a collision with another player. He was wearing shin guards. He was referred to the fracture clinic with a large haematoma on the anterior surface of his left tibia, which measured 12×10 cm; skin was intact and distal pulses were intact. Plain X-rays were normal. Ultrasound indentified a well-defined non-homogenous haematoma. There was no clinical evidence of compartment syndrome. With these results, it seemed that this was an excessive response to an injury; as such, further investigation was undertaken. A full blood count and blood film identified thrombocytopenia (platelet count 22×10/L). Additional investigations undertaken included coagulation screening; renal and liver profiles; vitamin B12, folate and iron studies; coeliac screening; and thyroid function tests. These were normal. He had no petechiae or other constitutional symptoms. There was no evidence of recent viral infection (EBVor parvovirus) to suggest post-viral bone marrow suppression. He had a history of a similar previous injury 2 months prior to this presentation. His mother felt that he bruised easily. He experienced frequent epistaxes (one to two per month). These were not particularly heavy and were relieved by pressure alone. He had no past gum bleeds and no prior surgery. His past medical history included hay fever and G6P deficiency. No relevant family history was described. He had not required medical attention prior to this presentation and was not on anymedication or herbal remedies. He remained well whilst an inpatient under observation. Subsequent repeat full blood counts demonstrated a fluctuating thrombocytopenia. A diagnosis of chronic immune thrombocytopenia was made. Conservative management was sufficient in this case. A 4-day course of prednisone was used to increase and stabilise his platelet count before being discharged. Swelling resolved over 2 weeks with physiotherapy. Recovery was uneventful. Both the patient and his family were advised that any future surgery, dental procedure or serious trauma would require consultation with a haematologist. Patient remained well at follow-up 1 year later and has returned to sport.
Synthesis, Structural Characterization, and Catalytic Properties of Tungsten-Exchanged H-ZSM5†

W-exchanged H−ZSM5 was prepared by sublimation of WCl6 at 673 K followed by hydrolysis of exchanged WClx species at 523 K. D2 exchange with residual OH groups showed that each W initially replaced about two zeolitic protons for W/Al ratios of 0.29 and 0.44, consistent with the formation of (WO2)2+ containing W6+ species bridging two cation exchange sites. As temperatures reached ∼973 K during D2−OH exchange, these species reduced to (WO2)+ with the concurrent formation of one OD group. CH4 conversion turnover rates (per W) and C2−C12 selectivities are very similar to those observed on a Mo/H-ZSM5 sample with similar cation exchange level. As in the case of Mo/H-ZSM5, WOx/H-ZSM5 precursors are initially inactive in CH4 reactions, but they activate during induction with the concurrent evolution of CO, H2O, and an excess amount of H2. The reduction and carburization processes occurring during CH4 reactions and the structure of the exchanged WOx precursors was probed using in situ X-ray absorption spectroscop...
Morphology, microstructure, and mechanical properties of a copper electrodeposit

This paper presents two new experimental observations on electrodeposited copper: unusual morphology as seen in the scanning electron microscope at high magnification, and mechanical properties, as measured by tensile testing. We report detailed characterization of a 2.6 µm thick copper electrodeposit, made on silicon using laboratory procedures and similar to materials now widely used in advanced electronic interconnect structures. The microstructure was characterized by X-ray diffraction, electron backscattered diffraction, imaging in a field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), and microtensile testing. Initial observations indicated microstructural dimensions and mechanical properties in the expected ranges. However, using high-magnification, high resolution imaging in the FESEM, we found a surprising result: the morphology of this electrodeposit resembled an agglomeration of round balls or spheres approximately 30-50 nm in diameter. Both X-ray and electron diffraction results showed grain and subgrain sizes much larger than the individual spheres. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of spheres of copper atoms were carried out to interpret the observations, and produced a degree of interpenetration of the spheres that was consistent with the observations. However, in MD simulations of two initially misoriented spheres of up to a thousand atoms, with diameters up to 3 nm and for durations up to 30 ps, the spheres readily agglomerated but remained misoriented. So, the mechanism and rate of crystallographic grain growth within the agglomeration of spheroids remains unknown. This unusual spheroidal morphology may be related to the unusual room-temperature grain growth observed in electrodeposited copper.
Systemic and uterine responsiveness to angiotensin II and norepinephrine in estrogen-treated nonpregnant sheep☆☆☆

Abstract Pregnancy is associated with uterine and systemic vasodilation and reduced vascular reactivity to angiotensin II and perhaps norepinephrine. The uteroplacental vasculature is relatively refractory to angiotensin II but very sensitive to norepinephrine. To investigate the possible role of the high levels of estrogen in pregnancy mediating these hemodynamic changes, we examined systemic and uterine vascular responsiveness to angiotensin II and norepinephrine in eight chronically instrumented nonpregnant sheep treated with 17β-estradiol. In these animals, 17β-estradiol produced significant systemic and uterine vasodilation without changing arterial pressure; cardiac output increased from 5.3 ± 0.3 to 6.7 ± 0.4 L/min, and uterine blood flow increased from 26 ± 3 to 218 ± 13 ml/min (mean ± SE). Treatment with 17β-estradiol reduced the increases in systemic vascular resistance produced by angiotensin II and norepinephrine by 25% and 35%, respectively. After 17β-estradiol treatment, the uterine vascular responses were compared to the systemic vascular responses; the uterine responses to angiotensin II were only half the systemic responses, whereas the uterine responses to norepinephrine were six times greater than the systemic responses and were associated with decreases in uterine blood flow of 35% to 40%. These hemodynamic features of nonpregnant sheep treated with estrogen are strikingly similar to previous observations in sheep during pregnancy.
‘The people must have plenty of good books’: The Lady Tweedsmuir Prairie Library Scheme, 1936–40

Between 1936 and 1940, the Lady Tweedsmuir Prairie Library Scheme sent approximately 40,000 books to readers in rural areas of the western Canadian provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. Founded and directed by Susan Buchan, Lady Tweedsmuir, the wife of the Governor General of Canada, after visiting Depression-ravaged Prairie communities, the Scheme received the support of philanthropic foundations in Canada and the United States, the Women’s Institute, women’s service organizations, and individual donors of books. While the Scheme is mentioned in passing in biographies and local histories, little is known about the scope and scale of its activities or how it was organized or operated. Using primary and archival sources in Canada and the United States, this paper explores the history of the Scheme and its role in the distribution of books, the promotion of literacy, and the creation of libraries in the Canadian West during the Great Depression.
Differences in the Multiplication of Salmonella enteritidis Strains in Liquid Whole Egg: Implications for Detecting Contaminated Eggs from Commercial Laying Flocks

Abstract Bacterial culturing of eggs for Salmonella enteritidis has become an important tool in efforts to identify laying flocks that potentially threaten public health. As pools of egg contents are generally incubated before culturing to allow S. enteritidis numbers to multiply to easily detectable levels, any differences in the multiplication of S. enteritidis strains in egg pools could result in similar differences in the likelihood of detection. To assess whether 12 S. enteritidis strains would multiply to reach different final levels in pools of egg contents, 100-mL samples of liquid whole egg were experimentally contaminated with
Large grain silicon films on metallurgical silicon substrates for photovoltaic applications

Abstract Metallurgical silicon at a cost of about $ 1/kg is an economical substrate for the deposition of silicon films for photovoltaic applications. To prepare the substrate, pulverized metallurgical silicon, purified by acid-extraction and phosphorus pentoxide treatment, was recrystallized on graphite by unidirectional solidification and zone-melting. The structural and crystallographic properties of metallurgical silicon substrates prepared at different rates of solidification were investigated. Silicon films of controlled electrical resistivity were deposited on metallurgical silicon substrates by the thermal reduction of trichlorosilane containing appropriate dopants. The concentration and distribution of metallic impurities, Hall mobilities, potential barriers and minority carrier diffusion length profile in these films were investigated. Solar cells of 9 cm2 area were prepared from silicon films of 25–30 μm thickness containing a p-n junction. By using a drift field in the surface region and a back surface field at the silicon film/substrate interface, AM1 efficiencies of up to 9.75% have been obtained.
Dominant Texture Descriptors for image classification and retrieval

In this paper, we propose a generic approach for representing image texture features in a compact and intuitive way. Our approach, called Dominant Texture Descriptor (DTD), is inspired by the dominant color descriptor. It is based on clustering the local texture features and identifying the dominant components and their spatial distribution. We also present an enhanced version of the DTD (eDTD) that encodes the spatial distribution of the pixels within each dominant component. We illustrate this approach for the case of two well-known descriptors, namely, the MPEG-7 Edge Histogram, and Ga- bor texture. The performance of the proposed texture feature representation is illustrated by using it to classify a collection of 900 color images. Experimental results are compared with those obtained using the traditional approaches. We show that our representation is more compact, interpretable, and could improve classification results by 10%-20%, especially for images with non-homogeneous texture.