cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Respecting autonomy in the setting of acute traumatic quadriplegia.

pliance with ACCME Accreditation Criteria, the American e of Surgeons, as the accredited provider of this journal CME, must ensure that anyone in a position to control the content of the educational activity has disclosed all relevant financial relationships with any commercial interest. The editor and author(s) of this article were required to complete disclosures and any reported conflicts that have been managed to our satisfaction. However, if you perceive a bias within the article, please advise us of the circumstances on the evaluation form. The requirement for disclosure is not intended to imply any impropriety of such relationships, but simply to identify such relationships through full disclosure, and to allow readers to form their own judgments regarding the material.
Rapid assay for cell age response to radiation by electronic volume flow cell sorting.

SummaryA new technique is described for measuring cell survival as a function of cell cycle position using flow cytometric cell sorting on the basis of electronic volume signals. The sorting of cells into different cell age compartments is demonstrated for three different cell lines commonly used in radiobiological research. Using flow cytometric DNA content analysis and [3H]thymidine autoradiography of the sorted cell populations, we demonstrate that the resolution of the age compartment separation is as good as or better than that reported for other cell synchronizing techniques. The variation in cell survival as a function of position in the cell cycle after a single dose of radiation as measured by volume cell sorting is similar to that determined by other cell synchrony techniques. This new method has several advantages, including: (1) no treatment of the cells is required, thus, this method is noncytotoxic; (2) no cell cycle progression is needed to obtain different cell age compartments; (3) the ce...
Process versus Product: A Perspective on Tools for Communal and Informal Electronic Learning.

This article explores new paradigms for the use of computers in learning. Two concepts crucial to the development of qualitatively new kinds of computer-based learning environments are identified: the importance of focusing on the underlying process rather than just the product of a creative effort; and the importance of the computer's ability to record, represent and communicate that underlying process. We discuss the cognitive, pedagogical, and sociological issues relevant to the creation of learning environments in five domains, along with examples of specific possibilities in each: 1) Empowering environments. How can we design computer-based tools that both promote creativity and aid the development of artistic discipline? 2) Games. How can the motivational aspects of arcade-style games be transferred to more fertile learning environments? 3) Communication. How can we break away from the fundamentally linear structuring of ideas necessary in print-based communication and create tools to aid the repres...
Some unsolved problems in evolutionary dynamics in the solar system

Several unsolved problems in the evolutionary histories leading to current dynamical configurations of the planets and their systems of satellites are discussed. These include the possibilities of rather tight constraints on the primordial rotation states of Mercury and Venus and the stabilizing mechanism for the latter's retrograde spin, a brief mention of the problem of origin of the moons of earth and Mars, the excessive heat flow from Jupiter's satellite Io which is not compatible with an otherwise self-consistent model of origin of the Laplace three-body libration, the mechanism for the long history of resurfacing of Saturn's satellite Enceladus and the possibly short lifetime of the A ring and the mechanisms for resurfacing the satellites of Uranus, especially Ariel, if the high stability of the mean motion orbital resonances at the 2/1 commensurability involving Ariel and Umbriel precludes a long term occupancy of the resonance. Finally, excessive times of accumulation of the outer planets in current models may possibly be reducible from the effects of nebular gas drag.
Heteroclitic XBP1 peptides evoke tumor-specific memory cytotoxic T lymphocytes against breast cancer, colon cancer, and pancreatic cancer cells

XBP1 is a critical transcriptional activator of the unfolded protein response (UPR), which increases tumor cell survival under prolonged endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and hypoxic conditions.This study was designed to evaluate the immunogenicity of heteroclitic XBP1 unspliced (US)184-192 (YISPWILAV) and heteroclictic XBP1 spliced (SP)367-375 (YLFPQLISV) HLA-A2 peptides, and to characterize the specific activities of XBP1 peptides-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (XBP1-CTL) against breast cancer, colon cancer, and pancreatic cancer cells.The XBP1-CTL had upregulated expression of critical T cell markers and displayed HLA-A2-restricted and antigen-specific activities against breast cancer, colon cancer and pancreatic cancer cells. XBP1-CTL were enriched withCD45RO+ memory CTL, which showed high expression of critical T cell markers (CD28, ICOS, CD69, CD40L), cell proliferation and antitumor activities as compared to CD45RO- non-memory CTL. The effector memory (EM: CD45RO+CCR7-) subset had the highest level of cell proliferation while the central memory (CM: CD45RO+CCR7+) subset demonstrated enhanced functional activities (CD107a degranulation, IFNγ/IL-2 production) upon recognition of the respective tumor cells. Furthermore, both the EM and CM XBP1-CTL subsets expressed high levels of Th1 transcription regulators Tbet and Eomes. The highest frequencies of IFNγ or granzyme B producing cells were detected within CM XBP1-CTL subset that were either Tbet+ or Eomes+ in responding to the tumor cells.These results demonstrate the immunotherapeutic potential of a cocktail of immunogenic HLA-A2 specific heteroclitic XBP1 US184-192 and heteroclictic XBP1 SP367-375 peptides to induce CD3+CD8+ CTL enriched for CM and EM cells with specific antitumor activities against a variety of solid tumors.
The influence of adrenalectomy on the metabolic actions of glucagon in the fasted rat.

The metabolic effects of daily injections of glucagon during a 5-day fast were investigated in adrenalectomized female rats maintained on either saline or hydrocortisone. As in the intact fasting rat, administration of glucagon to the adrenalectomized animal maintained on saline caused an increased urinary excretion of nitrogen, phosphorus and creatinine; a greater loss in body weight and decreased mass of liver and muscle tissues; and a fall in blood a-amino nitrogen. However, these changes were lesser in magnitude than the changes observed in the intact fasted rat. In contrast to its effects in the intact rat, administration of glucagon to the adrenalectomized animal maintained on saline did not depress liver glycogen but did elevate blood sugar and muscle glycogen. The metabolic responses to glucagon by adrenalectomized rats maintained on hydrocortisone were similar to those noted in the intact fasted animal. These studies suggest that the protein catabolic action of glucagon is not dependent on the pr...
Active T-cell receptor genes have intron deoxyribonuclease hypersensitive sites

The T-cell receptor beta-chain gene has a nuclease hypersensitive site in several kinds of T cells, which does not appear in B cells expressing immunoglobulins. Conversely, the kappa immunoglobulin gene shows a known hypersensitive site at its enhancer element in B cells, as expected, but this site is absent in T cells. As is the case with immunoglobulin genes, the T-cell receptor site lies within the gene, in the intron separating joining and constant region segments. These nuclease hypersensitive DNA configurations in the introns of active T-cell receptor and immunoglobulin genes may arise from control elements that share ancestry but have diverged to the extent that each normally acts only in lymphoid cells which use the proximal gene product.
Aerodynamic damping of sidewall bounded oscillating cantilevers

Abstract As a result of their simplicity, low power consumption, and relative ease of implementation, oscillating cantilevers have been investigated for use in multiple applications. However, the in situ operation in many cases, requires oscillating near one or more solid walls. When the separation distance between the vibrating cantilever and the solid wall becomes small, damping from the surrounding fluid is increased, which in turn can increase the power required to maintain certain operational performance characteristics (e.g., vibration amplitude). This increase in damping is a well-studied phenomenon for certain configurations (e.g., microcantilevers in Atomic Force Microscopy, or AFM), but is largely unexplored for a cantilever sweeping across a solid wall, which has direct impact for many macro-based applications including electronics cooling and propulsion. In this paper, we experimentally investigate the aerodynamic damping as a function of the gap between two sidewalls parallel to the oscillating motion of the cantilever. Multiple voltage and frequency inputs are considered in addition to the magnitude of the wall to cantilever gap. Experiments performed across a range of operating conditions reveal that decreasing the distance between the walls and the oscillating cantilever can increase the aerodynamic damping as much as 5 times that of the isolated (i.e., without sidewalls) operation. The resonance frequency is also shown to decrease when the gap spacing is extremely small, suggesting the added mass of the fluid is also sensitive to this variable. However, this change is much smaller (~0.5%) compared to the change typically observed in damping. The findings in the paper help to quantify the overall effect of solid enclosure walls on the performance of an oscillating cantilever, which will better enable the designer to achieve the maximum operational effectiveness. The experimental findings also suggest viscous damping with sidewalls could be predicted from first principles in a similar manner to well accepted analytical models of a cantilever vibrating above a solid surface.
Politics and health in eight European countries: A comparative study of mortality decline under social democracies and right-wing governments

Recent publications have argued that the welfare state is an important determinant of population health, and that social democracy in office and higher levels of health expenditure promote health progress. In the period 1950-2000, Greece, Portugal, and Spain were the poorest market economies in Europe, with a fragmented system of welfare provision, and many years of military or authoritarian right-wing regimes. In contrast, the five Nordic countries were the richest market economies in Europe, governed mostly by center or center-left coalitions often including the social democratic parties, and having a generous and universal welfare state. In spite of the socioeconomic and political differences, and a large gap between the five Nordic and the three southern nations in levels of health in 1950, population health indicators converged among these eight countries. Mean decadal gains in longevity of Portugal and Spain between 1950 and 2000 were almost three times greater than gains in Denmark, and about twice as great as those in Iceland, Norway and Sweden during the same period. All this raises serious doubts regarding the hypothesis that the political regime, the political party in office, the level of health care spending, and the type of welfare state exert major influences on population health. Either these factors are not major determinants of mortality decline, or their impact on population health in Nordic countries was more than offset by other health-promoting factors present in Southern Europe.
Microspheres for use in determining accelerations during head impacts

Study objectives: Significant neurologic injury can be sustained by athletes, military personnel, and individuals participating in a wide range of leisure and professional activities whether by a single blow to the head or by the cumulative effects of repeated blows. For example, as many as 300,000 concussions are reported annually in athletic activity alone, and the incidence is underreported. Studies have suggested that even mild blows to the head can lead to permanent injury, as in the case of soccer heading. The purpose of this research is to develop a simple device for measuring impacts to the head. This device will be an indicator of head injury and will be developed in such a way that it can be manufactured for general use with a low cost to the consumer. Methods: Microspheres in the range of 100 to 600 microns that will rupture at a specific G forces were used to indicate acceleration. The microspheres contain a dye within a gelatin capsule (Thies Technology, Las Vegas, NV). A testing system using a triaxial accelerometer to determine the coefficient of variation of the microspheres was developed. The triaxial accelerometer was attached to a hanging weight with a flexure system attached at one end. The flexure was weighted to allow breakage of the microspheres. A blow to the weight-accelerometer complex produced movement of the microspheres into the center of the flexure, which lagged behind the movement of the accelerometer-weight complex, allowing rupture of the microspheres and release of dye. The rupture of the microspheres used a flexure system because at lower accelerations manufacturing limitations precluded intrinsic methods of rupture. An electronic indicator of acceleration was also developed. Results: A system was developed to indicate acceleration by microsphere rupture. This was accomplished by means of a flexure system for rupture of the microspheres. The mass of the weight on the flexure being several thousand times the mass of the inner spheres, a commensurate increase in momentum impacting the sphere was achieved. This momentum was sufficient to rupture the spheres, releasing their indicator dye. Using this method, success in rupturing the spheres was noted in a range of acceleration commonly seen in low-grade human head trauma. An electronic flexure system was also developed initially for testing the microspheres, but was found to be an indicator of acceleration independently. Further testing of the spheres, including drop-testing, accelerometer testing, color analysis, and development of the test strips, will take place on the Washington University campus.
Dimensions of police types: a study of perspective and passion

In his book, Police: Streetcorner Politicians (1977), William Ker Muir, Jr., presents a typology of police officers that is undeniably appealing, intuitively and logically. The typology of four off...
Unidirectionality of Replication in Mouse Mitochondrial DNA

IT has been shown1,2 that mitochondrial DNA replication begins on a covalently closed circular DNA. In the first identifiable step, a 450-nucleotide strand is synthesized by a displacement mechanism with a unique region of the light strand (L) as a template (Fig. la). After a nicking system becomes operative, displacement synthesis continues (Fig. lb), and the short heavy strand (H) is extended. Light strand synthesis occurs on the displaced heavy parental strand with the formation of a duplex. This duplex synthesis begins at 0.6 or more genome units from the origin for displacement replication (Fig. lc). The foregoing model implies that replication is unidirectional as in a→b→c rather than bidirectional as in a→b′. An experimental test of the directionality of replication is presented here.
Dicarboxylic acids from electric discharge

An investigation was conducted concerning the possible synthesis of a suite of dicarboxylic acids similar to that found in the Murchison meteorite. The investigation included the conduction of a chemical evolution experiment which simulated electric discharge through the primitive atmosphere of the earth. The suite of dicarboxylic acids obtained in the electric discharge experiment is similar to that of the Murchison meteorite, except for the fact that 2-chlorosuccinic acid is present in the spark discharge.
On ISP-friendly rate allocation for peer-assisted VoD

Peer-to-peer (P2P) content distribution is able to greatly reduce dependence on infrastructure servers and scale up to the demand of the Internet video era. However, the rapid growth of P2P applications has also created immense burden on service providers by generating significant ISP-unfriendly traffic, such as cross-ISP and inter-POP traffic. In this work, we consider the unique properties of peer-assisted Video-on-Demand (VoD) and design a distributed rate allocation algorithm, which can significantly cut down on ISP-unfriendly traffic without much impact on server load. Through extensive packet-level simulation with both synthetic and real-world traces, we show that the rate allocation algorithm can achieve substantial additional gain, on top of previously proposed schemes advocating ISP-friendly topologies.
Radiative Lifetimes of N ii Using N 2 + and N + Beams Incident on a Helium Gaseous Target*

Mean radiative lifetimes have been measured for several levels of singly ionized nitrogen, using the ion-beam technique with an N2+ beam. The lifetimes in nanoseconds are given in parentheses following the state: 3p1D2 (8.8±0.3), 4f3G (7.3±0.4), 3d3F°2,3 (8.6±0.6), 3d3F°4 (11.0±1.1), 3p3D (16.5±0.6). In each case, the uncertainty is the standard deviation from the mean of several independent values. In addition, the lifetime of the combined 3d3F2,3.4 levels was measured with both N+ and N2+ beams, yielding a value of 9.9±1.0 ns. Systematic errors associated with the method make each of the above lifetimes uncertain by amounts ranging from 10% to 25%.
Dynamic Triaxial Test on Sand

Triaxial experiments are a common method for measuring shear strength. Usually the loading in the shear phase in these experiments are done at a quasi-static rate but in many real instances the loading is dynamic in nature. Therefore, a triaxial setup has been developed based on a Kolsky bar experimental technique to characterize the shear response of the material at high rates. Using this setup, a systematic investigation of the undrained behavior of sand at high pressures has been performed to study the rate effects on the stress-strain behavior. The dynamic experiment results show that the stress-strain response of the sand specimens is only sensitive to pressure levels while it is insensitive to loading rates.
A motion-based approach to abdominal clutter reduction

In ultrasound images, clutter is a noise artifact most easily observed in anechoic or hypoechoic regions. It appears as diffuse echoes overlying anatomical structures of diagnostic importance, obscuring tissue borders and reducing image contrast. A novel clutter reduction method for abdominal images is proposed, wherein the abdominal wall is displaced during successive-frame image acquisitions. A region of clutter distal to the abdominal wall was observed to move with the abdominal wall, and finite impulse response (FIR) and blind source separation (BSS) motion filters were implemented to reduce this clutter. The proposed clutter reduction method was tested in simulated and phantom data and applied to fundamental and harmonic in vivo bladder and liver images from 2 volunteers. Results show clutter reductions ranging from 0 to 18 dB in FIR-filtered images and 9 to 27 dB in BSS-filtered images. The contrast-to-noise ratio was improved by 21 to 68% and 44 to 108% in FIR- and BSS-filtered images, respectively. Improvements in contrast ranged from 4 to 12 dB. The method shows promise for reducing clutter in other abdominal images.
Artifacts of the 1.9x feline genome assembly derived from the feline-specific satellite sequence

Two percentage of the cat genome is a repetitive, feline-specific satellite sequence (FA-SAT) of 483 bp and 65% guaninecytosine content. Previous chromosomal localization of the satellite has demonstrated the satellite’s presence on several discrete regions of the telomeres of chromosomes, predominately on the D, E, and F chromosome groups. The recent assembly of the 1.9� whole-genome shotgun (WGS) sequence of cat illustrates the challenge of the assembly of these large numbers of relatively short, similar sequences. Clones with paired end reads that include FA-SAT sequence have a high level of assembly discrepancies compared with clones with other types of repetitive elements, such as short interspersed nuclear elements (SINEs) and long interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs). The influence of the presence of FA-SAT but not SINEs and LINEs on genome assembly may likely reflect the evolutionary emergence of FA-SAT, which has lead to an excess of FA-SAT copies with identical sequence, which is less an issue with older, more diverse SINE and LINE sequences. The FA-SATs are restricted to a few hundred discrete regions of the cat genome, and associated errors in the assembly seem to be restricted to these loci. The findings regarding the feline-specific sequence should be considered in the pending 8x assembly of the cat genome.
Extraction of periodic signals in colored noise

Parameter estimation for a periodic signal in colored noise of unknown power spectral density is examined. The estimator is based on the minimum descriptive length criterion and maximum likelihood theory developed for the CARD model. Computer simulations to demonstrate the excellent performance of the proposed estimator are included. >
SadB Is Required for the Transition from Reversible to Irreversible Attachment during Biofilm Formation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14

Current models of biofilm formation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa propose that (i) planktonic cells become surface associated in a monolayer, (ii) surface-associated cells form microcolonies by clonal growth and/or aggregation, (iii) microcolonies transition to a mature biofilm comprised of exopolysaccharide-encased macrocolonies, and (iv) cells exit the mature biofilm and reenter the planktonic state. Here we report a new class of P. aeruginosa biofilm mutant that defines the transition from reversible to irreversible attachment and is thus required for monolayer formation. The transposon insertion carried by the sadB199 mutant was mapped to open reading frame PA5346 of P. aeruginosa PA14 and encodes a protein of unknown function. Complementation analysis and phage-mediated transduction demonstrated that the transposon insertion in PA5346 was the cause of the biofilm-defective phenotype. Examination of flow cell-grown biofilms showed that the sadB199 mutant could initiate surface attachment but failed to form microcolonies despite being proficient in both twitching and swimming motility. Closer examination of early attachment revealed an increased number of the sadB199 mutant cells arrested at reversible attachment, functionally defined as adherence via the cell pole. A positive correlation among biofilm formation, irreversible attachment, and SadB level was demonstrated, and furthermore, RpoN and FleR appear to negatively affect SadB levels. Fractionation studies showed that the SadB protein is localized to the cytoplasm, and with the use of GPS-linker scanning mutagenesis, the C-terminal portion of SadB was shown to be dispensable for function, whereas the two putative domains of unknown function and the linker region spanning these domains were required for function. We discuss the results presented here in the context of microbial development as it applies to biofilm formation.
Next-generation concurrent engineering: developing models to complement point designs

Concurrent engineering design (CED) teams have made routine the rapid development of point designs for space missions. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Team X is now evolving into a "next-generation" CED; in addition to a point design, the team develops a model of the local trade space. The process is a balance between the power of model-developing tools and the creativity of human experts, enabling the development of a variety of trade models for any space mission. This paper reviews the modeling method and its practical implementation in the CED environment. Example results illustrate the benefits of the approach.
Dimensional Analysis of Airline Quality

Dimensional analysis is widely used in physics and engineering to contribute to modeling systems in which variables are measured in incompatible units. I used dimensional analysis to rank the airlines in overall quality based on US Department of Transportation data: on-time arrivals, denied boardings, mishandled baggage, and customer complaints. The results conflict with the well-known airline quality rating (AQR), published annually since 1991 by Bowen and Headley. Weighted averages of quality data in the AQR are dimensionally incorrect and produce rankings that are virtually independent of on-time arrivals. For example, the 2001 AQR ranks Alaska Airlines first in overall quality, despite the worst on-time performance in the industry. Dimensional analysis places Alaska Airlines near the bottom of the industry, seventh in overall quality.
Conservation and evolutionary divergence in the activity of receptor-regulated smads

Activity of the Transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) pathway is essential to the establishment of body axes and tissue differentiation in bilaterians. Orthologs for core pathway members have been found in all metazoans, but uncertain homology of the body axes and tissues patterned by these signals raises questions about the activities of these molecules across the metazoan tree. We focus on the principal canonical transduction proteins (R-Smads) of the TGFβ pathway, which instruct both axial patterning and tissue differentiation in the developing embryo. We compare the activity of R-Smads from a cnidarian (Nematostella vectensis), an arthropod (Drosophila melanogaster), and a vertebrate (Xenopus laevis) in Xenopus embryonic assays. Overexpressing NvSmad1/5 ventralized Xenopus embryos when expressed in dorsal blastomeres, similar to the effects of Xenopus Smad1. However, NvSmad1/5 was less potent than XSmad1 in its ability to activate downstream target genes in Xenopus animal cap assays. NvSmad2/3 strongly induced general mesendodermal marker genes, but weakly induced ones involved in specifying the Spemann organizer. NvSmad2/3 was unable to induce a secondary trunk axis in Xenopus embryos, whereas the orthologs from Xenopus (XSmad2 and XSmad3) and Drosophila (dSmad2) were capable of doing so. Replacement of the NvSmad2/3 MH2 domain with the Xenopus XSmad2 MH2 slightly increased its inductive capability, but did not confer an ability to generate a secondary body axis. Vertebrate and cnidarian Smad1/5 have similar axial patterning and induction activities, although NvSmad1/5 is less efficient than the vertebrate gene. We conclude that the activities of Smad1/5 orthologs have been largely conserved across Metazoa. NvSmad2/3 efficiently activates general mesendoderm markers, but is unable to induce vertebrate organizer-specific genes or to produce a secondary body axis in Xenopus. Orthologs dSmad2 and XSmad3 generate a secondary body axis, but activate only low expression of organizer-specific genes that are strongly induced by XSmad2. We suggest that in the vertebrate lineage, Smad2 has evolved a specialized role in the induction of the embryonic organizer. Given the high level of sequence identity between Smad orthologs, this work underscores the functional importance of the emergence and fixation of a few divergent amino acids among orthologs during evolution.
Traveling wave electrodes for wide-bandwidth substrate-removed electro-optic modulators

Traveling wave electrodes suitable for wide bandwidth substrate removed electro-optic modulators containing buried electrodes are reported. Experimental results indicate modulator bandwidths in excess of 35 GHz along with sub volt drive voltage.
Precision VLSI Cross-Sectioning and Staining

This paper describes a unique and novel approach to VLSI cross-sectioning. It incorporates the discipline needed to achieve cross-sectioning to any given area on an integrated circuit to within ± 0.2 microns with a greater than 90% confidence level. Coupled to the precision cross-sectioning technique a stain was formulated and refined to enhance the observation by scanning electron microscopy of sub-surface, sub-micron features. This provides the failure analyst a powerful technique to assist in the analysis of complex VLSI devises.
Interaction of a Finite-Span Synthetic-Jet and a Cross-Flow over a Sweptback Finite Wing

An experimental investigation was performed to study the three-dimensional flow structures and interactions of a finite-span synthetic jet (located near the tip on the wing) with the flow over a finite and swept back wing (cross-sectional profile of the NACA 4421, AR = 4, sweep angle of 30°), at a Reynolds number of 10 5 and two angles of attack, 0° and 9°. Three blowing ratios of the jet were considered, 0.8, 1.2 and 2. SPIV data were collected at multiple 2-D planes, which were then used to reconstruct the flow volume. The effect of the blowing ratio was analyzed based on the three-dimensional flow field using time-averaged and phase-averaged statistics. The study showed that the flow field in the vicinity of the synthetic-jet orifice becomes highly three-dimensional and is governed by the streamwise structures that are associated with the finite span of the jet (edge vortices). The presence of a spanwise boundary layer over a swept wing enhances the development of threedimensional flow structures, where the interaction domain and the secondary flow structures are less pronounced at α = 9° than at 0° due to the increased velocity and pressure gradient in the vicinity of the synthetic jet.
Inhibition of methylglyoxal-mediated protein modification in glyoxalase I overexpressing mouse lenses.

Objective. Here we tested the role of Glo I in the prevention of advanced glycation end product (AGE) formation in transgenic mouse lenses. Methods. A transgenic animal line that expressed high levels of human Glo I in the lens was developed from the C57B6 mouse strain. The role of Glo I in the inhibition of MGO-AGE formation was tested in organ-cultured lenses. Results. Organ culture of Wt and Glo I lenses with 5 mM D, L-glyceraldehyde (GLD) enhanced MGO by 29-fold and 17-fold in Wt lenses and Glo I lenses, respectively. Argpyrimidine levels were pmoles/mg protein, and hydroimidazolone levels were units/ protein in GLD-incubated Wt lenses. In Glo I lenses, formation of AGEs was significantly inhibited; the argpyrimidine levels were pmoles/mg protein, and the HI levels were units/ protein. Incubation of Wt lens proteins with 5 mM ribose for 7 days resulted in the formation of pentosidine. However, the levels were substantially higher in Glo I lens proteins incubated with ribose. Conclusion. Our study provides direct evidence that Glo I activity plays an important role in the regulation of AGE synthesis in the lens; while Glo I activity blocks the formation of MGO-AGEs, it might promote the formation of sugar-derived AGEs.
Thermally activated unpinning of screw dislocations in the anomalous regime in L12 compounds

We present a model for the anomalous increase of the yield stress exhibited by many L12 compounds. It is based on two thermally activated processes that describe respectively the pinning and unpinning of [101] screw dislocations in the (111) plane. The model explains all the important characteristic features observed in the anomalous regime. We discuss the applications of the model to Ni3Ga and Ni3(Al,Ta).
In Vitro Activity of Human β-Defensin 2 against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the Presence of Tear Fluid

Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes vision-threatening keratitis and is difficult to treat due to emerging resistance. Human β-defensin 2 (hBD-2) is an antimicrobial peptide expressed by ocular surface epithelia with broad-spectrum activity against various pathogens, including P. aeruginosa. The activity of hBD-2 against P. aeruginosa in the presence of human tears or NaCl was studied. In some experiments, tears were heat-inactivated, filtered, and separated into cationic/anionic fractions or mucin MUC5AC was removed by immunoprecipitation before use. Immunoprecipitation was performed to study the interaction between hBD-2 and MUC5AC. hBD-2 activity was reduced by 40 to 90% in the presence of 17.5 to 70% (vol/vol) tears. NaCl reduced hBD-2 activity, but at most it could account for only 36% of the inhibitory effect of tears. Heat inactivation and filtration attenuated the ability of tears to inhibit hBD-2 activity by 65 and 68%, respectively. Anionic tear fractions significantly reduced (86%) the activity of hBD-2, whereas only a 22% reduction was observed with the cationic fractions. In the absence of MUC5AC, the activity of hBD-2 was restored by 64%. Immunoprecipitation studies suggested that the loss of hBD-2 activity in tears is due to a direct binding interaction with MUC5AC. Our data showed that the antimicrobial activity of hBD-2 is sensitive to the presence of human tears and that this is partly due to the salt content and also the presence of MUC5AC. These data cast doubt on the effectiveness of hBD-2 as an antimicrobial peptide, and additional studies are required to conclusively elucidate its role in innate immunity at the ocular surface in vivo.
Novel Method to Evaluate Angular Stiffness of Prosthetic Feet From Linear Compression Tests

Prosthetic foot stiffness has been recognized as an important factor influencing the walking performance of amputees [1–3]. Commercial feet are available in a range of stiffness categories and geometries. The stiffness of linear displacements of the hindfoot and forefoot for several commercially available feet have been reported to be within a range of 27–90 N/mm [4,5] and 5–76 N/mm [5,6], respectively, but these values are relevant only to the earliest and latest portions of stance phase, when linear compression or rebound naturally occur. In contrast, midstance kinetics are more related to the angular stiffness of the foot, which describes the relationship between ankle torque and the angular progression of the lower limb over the foot during this phase. The variety of commercially available foot designs makes a direct prediction of effective angular stiffness from foot design challenging, because of geometric changes under different loading conditions, intricate deformation mechanics of the structural components, and mechanical interaction between hindfoot and forefoot components. Mechanical testing could, in principle, measure stiffness directly, but it is nontrivial to produce pure rotations for comparison against measured moments and to control for the variations in induced external force. The most common approximation is to estimate ankle “quasistiffness” from ankle torque versus moment plots measured with gait analysis [7,8]. However, this technique does not isolate the properties of a foot prosthesis, because the ankle moment measurements include confounding effects due to fluctuating ground reaction forces and the unique gait behaviors of different subjects. Furthermore, it requires a gait laboratory for analysis, which is expensive and not always available to clinicians. A technique is thus needed that will provide estimation of angular stiffness in a variety of prosthetic feet, using a minimal set of equipment, so that researchers and clinicians can begin to utilize this important property. Therefore, the objective of this study was to derive and evaluate a method to estimate angular stiffness from measurements easily obtained from linear displacement tests. We performed linear compression tests using several configurations of an experimental multicomponent foot, in which angular stiffness properties were predicted from measured component properties and design geometry, to evaluate the derived method.
Nonlinear phenomena in adaptive LMS filter signals

It is demonstrated that the adaptive LMS (least mean square) filter does not necessarily converge to the Wiener solution. Iteration analysis is introduced and applied to the LMS adaptive filter. A 1 tap filter is examined in detail, and the structure of the estimate and error signals is investigated for an N tap filter. Simulation results are provided which confirm the theoretical findings. >
Phenotypic Diversity of Puccinia helianthi (Sunflower Rust) in the United States from 2011 and 2012

Puccinia helianthi, causal agent of sunflower rust, is a macrocyclic and autoecious pathogen. Widespread sexual reproduction of P. helianthi was documented in North Dakota and Nebraska for the first time in 2008 and has since frequently occurred. Concurrently, an increase in sunflower rust incidence, severity, and subsequent yield loss on sunflower has occurred since 2008. Rust can be managed with resistance genes but determination of virulence phenotypes is important for effective gene deployment and hybrid selection. However, the only P. helianthi virulence data available in the United States was generated prior to 2009 and consisted of aggregate virulence phenotypes determined on bulk field collections. The objective of this study was to determine the phenotypic diversity of P. helianthi in the United States. P. helianthi collections were made from cultivated, volunteer, and wild Helianthus spp. at 104 locations across seven U.S. states and one Canadian province in 2011 and 2012. Virulence phenotypes o...
A Numerical Study of Flow Circulations in the Central Valley of California and Formation Mechanisms of the Fresno Eddy

Abstract In this study, the authors have conducted a series of numerical experiments to investigate the flow circulations in the Central Valley of California and the formation mechanisms of the Fresno eddy. The authors have found the following: Under an adiabatic northwesterly, low–Froude number flow over the Central Valley, two cyclonic vortices form in the basin. One is located on the lee slope of the northern Coastal Range, while the other is located to the south of the San Joaquin Valley. The first may be identified as the Sacramento eddy, while the second may be identified as the Fresno eddy, although the Fresno eddy is located slightly farther to the south. The formation of the Sacramento eddy may be explained by either the generation of potential vorticity (Smith) or the generation of vorticity due to baroclinicity (Smolarkiewicz and Rotunno) on the lee slope in a low–Froude number flow. The Sacramento eddy may also be classified as a lee mesocylone since it is collocated with a lee mesolow (Lin et...
The Certain Uncertainty: The Political Ecology of Environmental Security

Aligning with the effort to establish warfare ecology as a disciplined bridge to advance ecological science to inform policy decisions and implementation and offset negative environmental consequences, this chapter suggests linking two propositions. The first is that the praxis of security should be understood as extreme efforts within a state’s larger management of uncertainty about the future. By focusing on a motivation for government action rather than a locus of bureaucratic activity, such an approach may open the possibility for a more nuanced discussion about the idea of security. Within this wider frame, it is possible to recognize relationships among sources of uncertainty and alternative responses. Further, there is the conceptual flexibility for issues to be escalated when great uncertainty is identified and de-escalated as the means to address an uncertainty are developed and incorporated into normal routines of public administration. The second proposition is that the planning, design, and use of the environment are fundamental aspects of a state’s response to uncertainty and vulnerability. We examine military lands and their surrounding regions as sites where the management of multiple uncertainties are negotiated for the needs of national defense and ecological sustainability. Equally, for military operations themselves, we also give brief consideration to the environments where military forces are adapting themselves for future engagements and their implications for warfare ecology.
Live-cell imaging of mitochondria and the actin cytoskeleton in budding yeast

Maintenance and regulation of proper mitochondrial dynamics and functions are necessary for cellular homeostasis. Numerous diseases, including neurodegeneration and muscle myopathies, and overall cellular aging are marked by declining mitochondrial function and subsequent loss of multiple other cellular functions. For these reasons, optimized protocols are needed for visualization and quantification of mitochondria and their function and fitness. In budding yeast, mitochondria are intimately associated with the actin cytoskeleton and utilize actin for their movement and inheritance. This chapter describes optimal approaches for labeling mitochondria and the actin cytoskeleton in living budding yeast cells, for imaging the labeled cells, and for analyzing the resulting images.
Gender and Age Differences in Hourly and Daily Patterns of Sedentary Time in Older Adults Living in Retirement Communities

Author(s): Bellettiere, John; Carlson, Jordan A; Rosenberg, Dori; Singhania, Anant; Natarajan, Loki; Berardi, Vincent; LaCroix, Andrea Z; Sears, Dorothy D; Moran, Kevin; Crist, Katie; Kerr, Jacqueline | Abstract: BackgroundTotal sedentary time varies across population groups with important health consequences. Patterns of sedentary time accumulation may vary and have differential health risks. The purpose of this study is to describe sedentary patterns of older adults living in retirement communities and illustrate gender and age differences in those patterns.MethodsBaseline accelerometer data from 307 men and women (mean age = 84±6 years) who wore ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometers for ≥ 4 days as part of a physical activity intervention were classified into bouts of sedentary time (l100 counts per minute). Linear mixed models were used to account for intra-person and site-level clustering. Daily and hourly summaries were examined in mutually non-exclusive bouts of sedentary time that were 1+, 5+, 10+, 20+, 30+, 40+, 50+, 60+, 90+ and 120+ minutes in duration. Variations by time of day, age and gender were explored.ResultsMen accumulated more sedentary time than women in 1+, 5+, 10+, 20+, 30+, 40+, 50+ and 60+ minute bouts; the largest gender-differences were observed in 10+ and 20+ minute bouts. Age was positively associated with sedentary time, but only in bouts of 10+, 20+, 30+, and 40+ minutes. Women had more daily 1+ minute sedentary bouts than men (71.8 vs. 65.2), indicating they break up sedentary time more often. For men and women, a greater proportion of time was spent being sedentary during later hours of the day than earlier. Gender differences in intra-day sedentary time were observed during morning hours with women accumulating less sedentary time overall and having more 1+ minute bouts.ConclusionsPatterns identified using bouts of sedentary time revealed gender and age differences in the way in which sedentary time was accumulated by older adults in retirement communities. Awareness of these patterns can help interventionists better target sedentary time and may aid in the identification of health risks associated with sedentary behavior. Future studies should investigate the impact of patterns of sedentary time on healthy aging, disease, and mortality.
Detection of Staphyloccocus aureus and its enterotoxin in quick-frozen foods

Objective:To study the possible contamination in quick-frozen foods by Staphyloccocus aureus and its product enterotoxin.Methods: Samples of various batches were collected from the supermarket in a random fashion,and the detection of S.aureus was performed according to protocol GB4789.10-2010.Samples with positive results were further analyzed for enterotoxin.Results: Of the 985 samples from 7 main categories,one hundred and eight samples were positive for S.aureus,which constituted 10.96% of all samples.Toxicity rate of the S.aureus isolated from the positive samples reached up to 62.96%.Conclusion: Quick-frozen foods are substantially contaminated by S.aureus.It is urgent that the regulatory authorities strengthen the supervision and constantly conduct examinations.Meanwhile,active measures should be taken to establish risk assessment models for S.aureus in the quick-frozen food industry so as to provide scientific basis for risk management decision-makings and relevant activities.
Triple-continuum numerical well test interpretation method of oil-water flow for a naturally fractured vuggy reservoir

Based on conceptual mathematical model of multi-continuum seepage flows,a triple-continuum numerical well testing model of oil-water flow for a naturally fractured vuggy is presented.The model was solved using numerical method and pressure response curve and its characteristic were obtained.It was pointed that pressure buildup curve of two phase flow is different from that of single phase flow and is depended on initial oil saturation.The result indicates that the well testing curve of two phase flow condition can not be analyzed using single phase flow model.Through analyzing influencing factor of pressure response curve,the two phase flow well testing interpretation method was presented,in which oil-water rate should be matched before pressure response curve is matched.
Mathematical Modeling and Assessment of Microbial Migration during the Sprouting of Alfalfa in Trays in a Nonuniformly Contaminated Seed Batch Using Enterobacter aerogenes as a Surrogate for Salmonella Stanley

Raw seed sprouts have been implicated in several food poisoning outbreaks in the past 10 years. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends that sprout growers use interventions (such as testing of spent irrigation water) to control the presence of pathogens in the finished product. During the sprouting process, initially low concentrations of pathogen may increase, and contamination may spread within a batch of sprouting seeds. A model of pathogen growth as a function of time and distance from the contamination spot during the sprouting of alfalfa in trays has been developed with Enterobacter aerogenes. The probability of detecting contamination was assessed by logistic regression at various time points and distances by sampling from sprouts or irrigation water. Our results demonstrate that microbial populations and possibility of detection were greatly reduced at distances of ≥20 cm from the point of contamination in a seed batch during tray sprouting; however, the probability of detecting microbia...
Methods of Studying Cerebral Monoamines and Their Enzymes

Most of the major metabolic products of catecholamines and indole-amines are now well known. They include 4-hydroxy-3-methoxymandelic acid (HMMA), homovanillic acid (HVA), normetadrenaline, metadren-aline, 3-methoxytyramine, and 4-methoxyphenylglycol (HMPG). Other minor metabolic products have also been shown: 3,4-dihydroxymandelic acid (DHMA), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol (DHPG), N-methyladrenaline, and N-metamethyladrenaline (Fig. 8).