cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bilinear noncoherent imaging of patterns on translucent scattering substrates

We treat the imaging of thin absorbing patterns on translucent substrates that are noncoherently illuminated from the side of the imaging lens. Examples of such objects are circuitry on ceramic and ink on paper. With a translucent substrate, the thin-object approximation commonly used in the theory of image formation is invalid, even if the surface pattern is thin. In the process of image formation, part of the incoming light passes through the surface pattern and penetrates into the substrate. The light is scattered, and a portion returns to the surface and passes again through the pattern. The image formed from this light depends linearly on the scattering characteristics of the substrate and bilinearly on the transmittance of the pattern.
Bacteriophage Mu T mutants are defective in synthesis of the major head polypeptide.

Abstract The major head polypeptide of bacteriophage Mu has an apparent molecular weight of 33,000, a pI of 6.4, and is synthesized in large quantities late in the Mu lytic cycle. Two-dimensional gel electrophoretic analysis of extracts of cells growing wild type or amber mutant phages indicate that only T amber mutants are defective in production of the major head polypeptide, suggesting that it is encoded by the T gene.
Sex electric-hormone action in fish

Abstract The very powerful effects of gonadal hormones on reproductive behavior have long been attributed to actions of steroids on the hypothalamus. It therefore came as a considerable surprise when motor neurons and muscles which participate in reproductive behaviors were also shown to accumulate radioactive steroids 1,6,7 . It would seem to make sense to have the steroid-sensitive ‘switch' located exclusively at higher levels in the neural circuit for a behavior, so that hormones could control sequences of behavior in a more executive fashion. Why are the motor neurons and muscles, the ‘blue collar' workers of the system, hormone sensitive?
A New Synthesis of 3-Chloro Butenolides via Rearrangement of 3,3-Dichloro Beta Lactones

Abstract 4,4-Dialkyl 3,3-dichloro oxetan-2-ones rearrange under Lewis acid catalysis, accompanied by loss of HC1, to afford 4,5-dialkyl 3-chloro butenolides. We have recently been investigating the reactions of beta lactones under the influence of Lewis acid catalysis.1 When the lactone ring oxygen is bonded to a secondary carbon atom, a rearrangement occurs in which the beta lactone 1 expands to a butyrolactone 4 with the concommitant migration of a hydrogen or carbon atom into the lactone ring.2 If the oxygen is bonded to a tertiary carbon, an ionization/elimination sequence ensues, producing a β, γ-unsaturated carboxylic acid
Acid hydrolysis and molecular weights of various corn amylopectin and glycogen

Amylopectin samples were obtained from mature and immature sweet, dent, and waxy varieties of corn starch samples by dispersing the starch samples with either 6 M LiBr or bufered amyl alcohol solutions. The degree of branching, molecular weights, and radii of gyration were obtained on these amylopectins. The results were explained assuming that Erlander's proposed mechanism for the synthesis of starch from glycogen is valid. The corn amylopectins and an immature sweet corn glycogen sample obtained from Schoch were hydrolyzed at a pH of 4.2 at the refluxing temperature. Samples were taken at various time intervals. The values of Mw obtained from these samples showed that glycogen and amylopectin behave as randomly formed polymers. The rates of hydrolysis obtained in these studies indicate that the large molecules in all corn endosperm amylopectins and glycogens exist in chemical aggregates of four. These chemical aggregates do not appreciably influence the statistical size distribution of the amylopectin and glycogen molecules. A comparison of the properties of a sweet corn glycogen sample and an immature sweet corn amylopectin sample indicates strongly that glycogen is a precursor to starch.
Toward a Useful Concept of Causality for Lexical Semantics

We do things in the world by exploiting our knowledge of what causes what. But in trying to reason formally about causality, there is a difficulty: to reason with certainty we need complete knowledge of all the relevant events and circumstances, whereas in everyday reasoning tasks we need a more serviceable but looser notion that does not make such demands on our knowledge. In this work the notion of'causal complex' is introduced for a complete set of events and conditions necessary for the causal consequent to occur, and the term 'cause' is used for the makeshift, nonmonotonic notion we require for everyday tasks such as planning and language understanding. Like all interesting concepts, neither of these can be defined with necessary and sufficient conditions, but they can be more or less tightly constrained by necessary conditions or sufficient conditions. The issue of how to distinguish between what is in a causal complex from what is outside it is discussed, and within a causal complex, how to distinguish the eventualities that deserve to be called 'causes' from those that do not, in particular circumstances. One particular modal, the word 'would', is examined from the standpoint of its underlying causal content, as a linguistic motivation for this enterprise.
State-of-charge (SOC) estimation based on a reduced order electrochemical thermal model and extended Kalman filter

Accurate estimation of SOC of a battery is one of the most important issues to prevent the battery from being overcharged and undercharged. Currently, SOC is estimated using Coulomb counting or a stored set of data that includes a relationship between open circuit voltage (OCV) and SOC, where the OCV for a cell in operation is estimated based on the first or second order of electrical equivalent circuit model (EECM). The typical error percentage of those methods range 5-10% because of the integration error of the current over time and ignored effects in the EECM such as lithium ion concentrations, temperature, and other electrochemical phenomena. A new method for estimation of SOC is developed that uses a reduced order model (ROM) derived from a quasi-three dimensional full order physical model (FOM), and Extended Kalman filter (EKF) to minimize errors caused by inaccuracy of the ROM. Static and dynamic responses of the new approach at different charging and discharging current in a single cycle and multiple cycles are compared with those of Coulomb counting, ROM and ROM with EKF. The results show that the accomplished average error is approximately less than 4%.
Decision Technology Systems: A Vehicle to Consolidate Decision Making Support.

Abstract The practice of management is a complex process that requires art, science and technology. Methodologies from a variety of disciplines have been generated to facilitate this process. Computer information systems (CIS) have been developed to deliver these methodologies and to provide knowledge relevant for effective management. Since accurate decisions are required at each step of the process, the development effort has focused on CISs that support decision making. Traditionally, the support has been provided in a segmented fashion and for separate phases of the decision making process. To be absolutely effective, the support should be integrated and complete. There have been efforts to provide the required CIS support, but these systems have inherent conceptual shortcomings. Moreover, the newer and enhanced systems create additional problems that will prevent them from providing integrated support for all phases of the decision making process. This paper examines the practice of management. Then traditional and enhanced information systems support is reviewed and the inherent shortcomings and unresolved integration problems are explained. Finally, an alternative approach, referred to as a Decision Technology System (DTS), is proposed to resolve the difficulties.
Prevention of NSAID-associated gastric ulcers: comparison of PN 400 (enteric-coated naproxen with esomeprazole) versus enteric-coated naproxen alone.

Practice PearlIn patients requiring chronic nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug therapy, PN 400 (enteric-coated naproxen with esomeprazole) effectively reduces the risk of developing gastric and duodenal ulcers compared with enteric-coated naproxen alone.
Diagnostical measurements in a single electrode, atmospheric pressure, microwave plasma

Abstract Several important diagnostic parameters are determined for a single electrode atmospheric pressure plasma system described by HANAMURA et al. [1, 2]. These include excitation temperatures and electron number densities and electron temperatures for various plasma gases at several different input powers. The variation of emission intensity with various plasma gases and their mixtures is investigated, as well as the effect of the chemical form of the sample on emission intensity, for the purposes of optimizing operating conditions for emission spectrochemical analysis.
Spinal anesthesia mediates improved early function and pain relief following surgical repair of ankle fractures.

Background: To our knowledge, no study to date has compared the use of spinal and general anesthesia in patients undergoing operative fixation of an unstable ankle fracture. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of anesthesia type on postoperative pain and function in a large cohort of patients. Methods: Between October 2000 and November 2006, 501 patients who underwent surgical fixation of an unstable ankle fracture were followed prospectively. Patients receiving spinal anesthesia were compared with a cohort who received general anesthesia. All patients were evaluated at three, six, and twelve months postoperatively with use of standardized, validated general and limb-specific outcome instruments. Standard and multivariable analyses comparing outcomes at these intervals were performed. Results: Four hundred and sixty-six patients (93%) who had been followed for a minimum of one year met the inclusion criteria. Compared with the general anesthesia group, the spinal anesthesia group had a greater mean age (p = 0.005), higher classification on the American Society of Anesthesiologists system (p = 0.03), and a greater number of patients with diabetes (p = 0.02). There was no difference in sex distribution between the groups. At three months, patients who received spinal anesthesia had significantly better pain scores (p = 0.03) and total scores on the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society outcome instrument (p = 0.02). At six months, patients in the spinal anesthesia group continued to have better pain scores (p = 0.04), but there was no longer a difference in total scores (p = 0.06). At twelve months, no difference was detected between the groups in terms of functional or pain scores. There was no difference in complication rates between the groups. Conclusions: Patients who undergo fixation of an ankle fracture under spinal anesthesia seem to experience less pain and have better function in the early postoperative period. We recommend that, unless there is a specific contraindication, patients should be offered spinal anesthesia when undergoing operative fixation of an ankle fracture. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level II. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
The Effect of in-furrow Applications of Acibenzolar-S-Methyl on Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus and Thrips in Peanut

Abstract Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) (family: Bunyaviridae) is a continuing threat to several crops in the Southeastern U.S. Acibenzolar-S-methyl is a plant immune-response activator which has been shown to suppress TSWV in tobacco. The following treatments were evaluated for TSWV and thrips suppression: untreated, phorate in-furrow, acibenzolar-S-methyl applied in-furrow, acibenzolar-S-methyl in-furrow + foliar, and acibenzolar-S-methyl in-furrow + phorate in-furrow. Although in-furrow applications of acibenzolar-S-methyl alone and in combination with phorate led to numerical reductions of TSWV during each year of the study, differences were significant only during 1997. Foliar applications of acibenzolar-S-methyl did not provide enough disease suppression during 1997 to warrant additional sprays. However, Acibenzolar-S-methyl also may reduce populations of thrips larvae and suppresses feeding damageby thrips up to 30 d after planting. Acibenzolar-S-methyl applied in-furrow was comparable with in-fu...
How to Do Things With Videogames, by Ian Bogost. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press, 2011. 180 pp. $18.95 paper. ISBN 9780816676477 paper.

On the one hand, it was oddly satisfying to read research about video games that was not mired in the woefully lame “do they cause violence?” trope. In contrast, Ian Bogost in How to Do Things With...
The NF-κB Inhibitor Curcumin Blocks Sepsis-Induced Muscle Proteolysis

We tested the hypothesis that treatment of rats with curcumin prevents sepsis-induced muscle protein degradation. In addition, we determined the influence of curcumin on different proteolytic pathways that are activated in septic muscle (i.e., ubiquitin-proteasome-, calpain-, and cathepsin L-dependent proteolysis) and examined the role of NF-kappaB and p38/MAP kinase inactivation in curcumin-induced inhibition of muscle protein breakdown. Rats were made septic by cecal ligation and puncture or were sham-operated. Groups of rats were treated with three intraperitoneal doses (600 mg/kg) of curcumin or corresponding volumes of solvent. Protein breakdown rates were measured as release of tyrosine from incubated extensor digitorum longus muscles. Treatment with curcumin prevented sepsis-induced increase in muscle protein breakdown. Surprisingly, the upregulated expression of the ubiquitin ligases atrogin-1 and MuRF1 was not influenced by curcumin. When muscles from septic rats were treated with curcumin in vitro, proteasome-, calpain-, and cathepsin L-dependent protein breakdown rates were reduced, and nuclear NF-kappaB/p65 expression and activity as well as levels of phosphorylated (activated) p38 were decreased. Results suggest that sepsis-induced muscle proteolysis can be blocked by curcumin and that this effect may, at least in part, be caused by inhibited NF-kappaB and p38 activities. The results also suggest that there is not an absolute correlation between changes in muscle protein breakdown rates and changes in atrogin-1 and MuRF1 expression during treatment of muscle wasting.
A ground-based technique for millimeter wave spectroscopic observations of stratospheric trace constituents

Recent concern over possible long term stratospheric changes caused by the introduction of man-made compounds has increased the need for instrumentation that can accurately measure stratospheric minor constituents. The technique of radio spectroscopy at millimeter wavelengths was first used to observe rotational transitions of stratospheric ozone nearly two decades ago, but has not been highly developed until recently. A ground-based observing technique is reported which employs a millimeter-wave superheterodyne receiver and multichannel filter spectrometer for measurements of stratospheric constituents that have peak volume mixing ratios that are less than 10 to the -9th, more than 3 orders of magnitude less than that for ozone. The technique is used for an extensive program of observations of stratospheric chlorine monoxide and also for observations of other stratospheric trace gases such as (O-16)3, vibrationally excited (O-16)3, (O-18)2(O-16), N2O, HO2, and HCN. In the present paper, analysis of the observing technique is given, including the method of calibration and analysis of sources of error. The technique is found to be a reliable means of observing and monitoring important stratospheric trace constituents.
Bandwidth allocation and access control in high-speed networks

The problem of bandwidth allocation and access regulation arises in the congestion control of Broadband ISDN networks. This paper assumes that a single user, described by an on-off fluid model, is connected to the network via a leaky bucket access control mechanism. The bandwidth allocated to this user and the leaky bucket parameters are to be selected so as to guarantee a negotiated level of delay probability at the access point and packet loss probability in the network which is modelled as an output buffer. The design problem is to minimize the allocated bandwidth subject to service guarantees and stability conditions for the input and output buffers. We provide a desirable feasible solution to the design problem. The paper studies the effect of non-conforming users on the network performance using the leaky bucket access control corresponding to this feasible solution. We provide expressions that quantify the impact of the leaky bucket parameters in access regulation and the worst-case queueing behavior at the output buffer. Finally, we discuss the extension of this methodology to the multiple leaky buckets case.
An operator formulation of the superstring

Abstract An operator formulation of superstring amplitudes at arbitrary genus is given, based on sewing together the tree-level 3-string amplitudes. The 3-string vertices are generalizations of the ‘3-reggeon’ vertices that now include contributions from world sheet fermions and superconformal ghosts. The superconformal ghost zero-mode insertions have a simple prescription. The formalism incorporates the sum over spin structures, and supermodular integrations. Picture changing is understood as a consequence of OSp(2,1) gauge fixing.
Fuel Assembly Nonlinear Dynamic Model

Fuel assembly finite-element dynamic models are developed to perform the core seismic analysis. The fuel assembly is modeld by a single vertical beam, which represents the cross-sectional inertias of the fuel rods, guide thimbles and instrument thimble, and a series of rotational springs. The rotational springs are located at the intermediate spacer grid locations. Benchmarking to fuel assembly natural frequencies determined by testing is accomplished by adjusting the moment of inertia and the grid rotational stiffness to find their effective values. Most often these models are linear and are appropriate for the small amplitude stiffness representation of the fuel assembly. Large deflection problems are approximated by choosing a fuel assebly stiffness value appropriate to the average deflection range. Some loss of accuracy will naturally result from this approach. This paper presents a nonlinear model to approximate the hysterisis and free vibration response for large amplitudes fuel assembly motion. The force required to impose the initial displacement (pluck) and the free vibration responses are used to compare the nonlinear model’s behavior with the test data. This model correctly predicts fuel assembly deflection shapes as a function of axial position for various lateral loads for several fuel assembly designs. Displacement hysterisis is primarily due to fuel assembly to grid slippage, which is a strong function of grid preload. “Tight” and “relaxed” prototypes were tested to account for grid preload effect. The model correctly analyzes the grid preload effect. A nonlinear fuel assembly model provides better matching of grid impact loads determined by fuel assembly lateral impact testing and also prvides better matching of all of the initial conditions (initial deflection, initial force, initial energy and impact velocity). In this test, the fuel assembly impacts a test wall to determine grid internal stiffness. This value is used in the core model for seismic analyses.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Sensory and Motor Interdependence in Postural Adjustments

The sensory reafference from a movement depends upon the movement, and the movement chosen depends upon the available senses, as demonstrated by vestibular patients who abandon certain movements. Often, one variable is assumed to be dependent whereas the other is independent; however, sensory and motor dynamics in posture are interdependent as conditions upon each other. This paper applies conditional dynamics to characterize the global structure of interdependence between sensory states and motor strategies in fast postural adjustments. The mathematical formalism incorporates rich but disparate experimental, clinical, and theoretical results about sensory and motor control of posture. The control structures presented include relatively stable anatomical, physiological, and functional structures, both continuous and discrete, leading to a composite functional logic for the coordination of these structures in sensorimotor control. Results include sensorimotor control structures for postural adjustments for healthy subjects and certain types of vestibular patients. The sensorimotor control structures for patients with absent vestibular function suggest implications for management of the deficit.
Polylactide-co-glycolide Fiber–Reinforced Calcium Phosphate Bone Cement

Objective To compare the strength of polylactide-co-glycolide fiber–reinforced calcium phosphate bone cement (FRC) with nonreinforced calcium phosphate bone cement (NRC) subjected to simulated dural pulsations in defects larger than 25 cm 2 . Methods Seven NRC and 7 FRC specimens were set in both medium (37.5 cm 2 ) and large (50.0 cm 2 ) model skull defects while subjected to simulated dural pulsations. Specimens were removed after 24 hours and analyzed using 3-point flexural testing. Results All 14 FRC specimens maintained structural integrity during extraction and testing. Only 2 of 7 (29%) medium specimens and 2 of 7 (29%) large NRC specimens survived setting. The mean (SD) energy to peak force (in newton millimeters [Nmm]) of the medium and large NRC specimens was 0.88 (0.83) and 3.00 (3.54) Nmm, respectively, compared with 28.97 (16.52) and 49.91 (38.10) Nmm for the medium and large FRC specimens. The material strength (in megapascals) of the medium and large NRC specimens was 0.17 (0.15) and 0.39 (0.33) MPa, respectively, compared with 3.73 (0.99) and 2.62 (1.34) MPa for the medium and large FRC specimens. The energy to peak force and material strength of the medium and large FRC specimens were significantly greater than for the corresponding NRC specimens; results were not statistically significant between medium and large FRC specimens. Conclusions Fiber-reinforced calcium phosphate bone cement exhibits superior structural integrity and material strength than NRC when subjected to unshielded simulated dural pulsations. Further studies are needed to evaluate the biophysical parameters of FRC in vivo.
Influences of Calcium Intake and Vitamin D Supplementation on the Composition of Lactating Cows’ Blood

Abstract Two rations with Ca:P ratios averaging 1.1 :1 and 2.3 :1, each with and without 300,000 IU supplemental vitamin D 3 weekly by capsule, were fed to study the effects on concentrations of calcium and several phosphorus fractions in blood of 46 Holstein cows, each for 1 to 3 lactations. High energy rations (alfalfa hay-sorghum grain-soybean oil meal), supplemented to furnish more than adequate phosphorus with calcium in the indicated ratios, were group fed to satiety. During the first year, following only 45-day pretrial treatment, serum calcium, inorganic phosphorus and magnesium were not influenced significantly by imposed treatments. During two succeeding years, preceded by at least 5-month pretreatment for all cows, plasma calcium was greater in blood from cows fed the lower calcium ration (432 observations). Vitamin D supplementation did not influence measured blood constituents but interacted with Ca :P ratios so the larger packed cell volume and greater phosphorus content of blood cells were associated with vitamin D supplement in the narrow Ca:P treatment and with no vitamin D supplement in the wider Ca :P treatment. Plasma phosphorus and plasma inorganic phosphorus were not influenced significantly by treatment. All measures, except blood cell phosphorus concentrations in cells and in blood, varied significantly with stage of lactation.
Among Dual Eligibles, Identifying The Highest-Cost Individuals Could Help In Crafting More Targeted And Effective Responses

The nearly nine million people who receive Medicare and Medicaid benefits, known as dual eligibles, constitute one of the nation’s most vulnerable and costly populations. Several initiatives authorized by the Affordable Care Act are intended to improve the health care delivered to dual eligibles and, at the same time, to achieve greater control of spending growth for the two government programs. We examined the 2007 costs and service use associated with dual eligibles. Although the population is indeed costly, we found nearly 40 percent of dual eligibles had lower average per capita spending than non-dual-eligible Medicare beneficiaries. In addition, we found that about 20 percent of dual eligibles accounted for more than 60 percent of combined Medicaid and Medicare spending on the dual-eligible population. But even among these high-cost dual eligibles, we found subgroups. For example, fewer than 1 percent of dual eligibles were in high-cost categories for both Medicare and Medicaid. These findings sugges...
The ultrastructure of the nerve fibers and pinealocytes in the rat pineal stalk.

In view of the increasing interest in the central innervation of the mammalian pineal gland, this aspect was studied in depth in the rat. This species is especially suited since the nerve fibers in question form a distinct bundle running from the deep to the superficial pineal gland through the pineal stalk. The axons were counted and analysed ultrastructurally in the pineal stalks cut transversely at three levels (proximal, intermediate, and distal) relative to the neural axis and in longitudinal sections. The number of nerve fibers was highly variable, ranging from 551 to 1, 132 proximally and from 110 to 448 distally, indicating that many fibers terminate in the stalk or leave the stalk after forming a loop. Large myelinated axons, which are abundant proximally, appear to lose their sheaths along their course through the stalk. Most of the axons were small and unmyelinated. A few of these had the appearance of sympathetic fibers and disappeared after sympathectomy. Others contained abundant neurosecretory granules, and, according to the literature, may originate in the hypothalamic paraventricular nuclei. The majority of the small axons which are apparently devoid of granules and dense-cored vesicles may come from the habenular nuclei and the stria medullaris. In addition to axons, the stalk contains astrocytes, a few oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells, as well as pinealocytes identical to those of the superficial pineal gland.
Improving the quality of a Physical Unclonable Function using configurable Ring Oscillators

A silicon Physical Unclonable Function (PUF), which is a die-unique challenge-response function, is an emerging hardware primitive for secure applications. It exploits manufacturing process variations in a die to generate unique signatures out of a chip. This enables chip authentication and cryptographic key generation. A Ring Oscillator (RO) based PUF is a promising solution for FPGA platforms. However, the quality factors of this PUF, which include uniqueness, reliability and attack resiliency, are negatively affected by environmental noise and systematic variations in the die. This paper proposes two methods to address these negative effects, and to achieve a higher reliability in an RO-based PUF. Both methods are empirically verified on a population of five FPGAs over varying environmental conditions, and demonstrate how practically useful RO-based PUF can be achieved.
Presenilin influences glycogen synthase kinase-3 β (GSK-3β) for kinesin-1 and dynein function during axonal transport

Within axons, molecular motors transport essential components required for neuronal growth and viability. Although many levels of control and regulation must exist for proper anterograde and retrograde transport of vital proteins, little is known about these mechanisms. We previously showed that presenilin (PS), a gene involved in Alzheimer's disease (AD), influences kinesin-1 and dynein function in vivo. Here, we show that these PS-mediated effects on motor protein function are via a pathway that involves glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β). PS genetically interacts with GSK-3β in an activity-dependent manner. Excess of active GSK-3β perturbed axonal transport by causing axonal blockages, which were enhanced by reduction of kinesin-1 or dynein. These GSK-3β-mediated axonal defects do not appear to be caused by disruptions or alterations in microtubules (MTs). Excess of non-functional GSK-3β did not affect axonal transport. Strikingly, GSK-3β-activity-dependent axonal transport defects were enhanced by reduction of PS. Collectively, our findings suggest that PS and GSK-3β are required for normal motor protein function. Our observations propose a model, in which PS likely plays a role in regulating GSK-3β activity during transport. These findings have important implications for our understanding of the complex regulatory machinery that must exist in vivo and how this system is coordinated during the motility of vesicles within axons.
Development and integration of Web-based software tutorials for an undergraduate curriculum: control tutorials for MATLAB

The rapid development of the World Wide Web (WWW) has provided unprecedented opportunities for educators to reach audiences of students and colleagues around the world. This paper discusses the development, use, distribution, and integration into a curriculum of a set of Web-based software tutorials for undergraduate courses in automatic controls. The purpose of the tutorials is to teach students how to use MATLAB, a popular computation and visualization software package, to analyze and design automatic control systems. The tutorials combine explanatory text with sample MATLAB commands and illustrative plots and graphics, are highly interconnected, and are easily accessible over the WWW.
Another Important Lesson from Military Surgery

Knowing when a wound can safely be closed is an iconic problem for surgery. When an extremity wound is closed too soon, with resulting infection requiring further debridement, an amputation can result. Or a minor amputation can be converted into a major amputation. Patient welfare is on the line, and expenses are considerable in these situations. The novel work (Forsberg et al. 2015), published in this issue of EBioMedicine, utilized complex mathematical modeling using machine learning techniques to convert non-predictive individual markers into a useful pool construct with both high sensitivity and high specificity for predicting wound closure. This work needs to be extended to a larger pool of patients. It needs to be tested prospectively. It needs to be assessed in both military and civilian settings. Equipment needs to be designed to perform the multiple assays that are required. Real time computerized analysis of the data needs to be incorporated into the system so that predictive assessments can be available in a timely manner when they can be used to plan patient care. Some would argue that this approach could not be useful in a military setting. It is true that as many as 10 measurements of serum and exudate markers may be necessary, and although computer assistance is required to process the data to produce a predictive assessment, it is conceivable that a device could be developed to make this approach clinically relevant for military casualties. These wounds require surgical debridement every few days. The collection of serum and wound exudate could be carried out at the time of debridement. Even in the military setting the debridement will be done in a surgical setting where these kinds of analyses could be carried out. These debridements would rarely be done in the chaos of the battlefield itself. With the right equipment this type of analysis could be performed for military casualties. Imagining the use of this approach for civilian casualties is less problematic. And this approach would have a very high beneficial impact in the civilian setting where severe trauma is unfortunately an increasing problem. If the approach explored in this paper reaches the clinic, this paper will join the ranks of the major medical advances from military medicine.
Using system dynamics, neural nets, and eigenvalues to analyse supply chain behaviour. A case study

This paper presents a new methodology to predict behavioural changes in manufacturing supply chains due to endogenous and/or exogenous influences in the short and long term horizons. Additionally, the methodology permits the identification of the causes that may induce a negative behaviour when predicted. Initially, a dynamic model of the supply chain is developed using system dynamics simulation. Using this model, a neural network is trained to make online predictions of behavioural changes at a very early decision making stage so that an enterprise would have enough time to respond and counteract any unwanted situations. Eigenvalue analysis is used to investigate any undesired foreseen behaviour, and principles of stability and controllability are used to study several decision configurations that eliminate or mitigate such behaviour. A case study of an actual electronics manufacturing company demonstrates how to apply this methodology and its real benefits for enterprises.
Large-scale wireless LAN design

The design of a large-scale wireless LAN poses a number of interesting questions. Building the Wireless Andrew network at Carnegie Mellon University has given us the opportunity to deal with these questions. This article describes the approaches we have developed for the design of similar networks. A large-scale wireless LAN must be designed so that all of the target space has radio coverage (i.e., there are no coverage gaps). It must also be designed so that its capacity is adequate to carry the expected load. These requirements generally can be met by using the proper combination of access point locations, frequency assignments, and receiver threshold settings.
Community structural predictors of spatially aggregated motor vehicle theft rates: Do they replicate?

Community-level motor vehicle theft (MVT) is not spatially random but is influenced by the structural composition of the community. Work to date did not provide a clear picture of the structural correlates of community-level MVT rates for two reasons. Cross-sectional studies had been limited to a single point in time (one wave design). In addition, studies had not adequately controlled for MVT rates in adjoining communities (spatially autocorrelated rates). The current study addressed these limitations. Drawing on structural correlates highlighted by factorial ecology and past work on motor vehicle theft, it anticipated cross-sectional connections between status, stability, age composition, and racial heterogeneity. It sought to learn if these connections persisted at two points in time spanning a decade. Census block group data from a midwestern city were merged with geocoded vehicle theft data, and a comprehensive spatial lag variable was constructed (Land & Deane, 1992). At both points in time, communities with higher MVT rates had lower socioeconomic status, and were surrounded by other communities with higher MVT rates. Community processes driving the connection between status and vehicle theft were suggested. The strong spatial dependency of MVT rates suggests attributes, events, or longer-term trends located in a section of a city may be affecting the communities located there. Issues for prevention were addressed.
Gamma-amino Butyric Acid (GABA) Prevents the Induction of Nicotinic Receptor–Regulated Signaling by Chronic Ethanol in Pancreatic Cancer Cells and Normal Duct Epithelia

Pancreatic cancer has a high mortality rate and alcoholism is a risk factor independent of smoking. We have shown that nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) regulate pancreatic ductal epithelia and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells in an autocrine fashion by stimulating their production of the stress neurotransmitters noradrenaline and adrenaline that signal through β-adrenergic receptors (β-AR). Our current study has investigated the modulation of this autocrine regulatory loop by chronic ethanol and explored the potential prevention of these effects by γ-amino butyric acid (GABA). Using MTT assays, cell migration assays, Western blotting, immunoassays, and gene knockdown of individual nAChRs in two PDAC cell lines and in immortalized human pancreatic duct epithelial cells, our data show that treatment for seven days with ethanol induced the protein expression and sensitivity of nAChRs α3, α5, and α7 resulting in increased production of noradrenaline and adrenaline, which drive proliferation and migration via cyclic AMP (cAMP)-dependent signaling downstream of β-ARs. Treatment with GABA prevented all of these responses to chronic ethanol, reducing cell proliferation and migration below base levels in untreated cells. Our findings suggest that alcoholism induces multiple cAMP-dependent PDAC stimulating signaling pathways by upregulating the protein expression and sensitivity of nAChRs that regulate stress neurotransmitter production. Moreover, our data identify GABA as a promising agent for the prevention of PDAC in individuals at risk due to chronic alcohol consumption.
Water balance and lung fluids in rats at high altitude.

Abstract A disturbed water and electrolyte homeostasis is not generally held to be a primary mechanism in the pathogenesis of acute mountain sickness (AMS) and high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), but the association of oliguria and weight gain with AMS and HAPE has led to the hypothesis that water retention may be a facilitative mechanism, possibly caused by an effect of hypoxia to release antidiuretic hormone (ADH). To examine the problem, normal Long-Evans rats (N) and the strain with congenital diabetes insipidus (DI) were exposed to hypobaric hypoxia (0.5 atm) for 4 days, and fluid balance in the whole animals and in their lungs was studied. Both strains reduced water intake and were oliguric on acute exposure, but the N rats gained body weight and increased lung water, while the DI rats increased neither body weight nor lung water. Neither strain increased lung blood at high altitude. The oliguria in the DI rats could not have been due to a release of antidiuretic hormone, and was attributed to the diminished water intake in both strains. The production against HAPE in the DI rats was probably due to their more severe dehydration that exists already in normoxia, and its further increase in hypoxia, compared with N rats.
A CMOS-compatible, low power and low noise gated BJT on TFSOI substrate

A novel shallow buried channel gated BJT has been fabricated on SIMOX wafers. The fabrication is simple and highly compatible with a typical SOI CMOS process flow. The device has low turn-on voltage, ideal BJT I-V characteristics with current gain higher than 1000, and 1.5 times better transconductance and current drive than a SOI NMOS of the same dimensions. Careful measurements show that the buried channel device has a noise performance an order of magnitude better than a surface channel gated BJT. This device is suitable for low power applications, especially those with both analog and digital elements. >
Specific features of the consumption characteristics of the chamber feeders fitted with cyclone aeration chambers

Etude des dispositifs pour le gunitage des parois d'equipements thermiques a l'aide de poudres refractaires en vue d'un meilleur dosage de ces poudres
It’s Just a Virus! Viral Etiologies of Fever Without a Source

Colvin JM, Muenzer JT, Jaffe DM, et al. Detection of viruses in young children with fever without an apparent source. Pediatrics. 2012; 130( 6): e1455- e1462; doi: 10.1542/peds.2012-1391[OpenUrl][1][Abstract/FREE Full Text][2] Investigators from Washington University, St. Louis and Biological Mimetics, Inc., Frederick, MD conducted a study to better understand the viral etiologies of fever without an apparent source (FWS) in young children. Children aged 2 to 36 months who presented to the emergency department (ED) at St. Louis Children’s Hospital with a temperature of ≥38°C without an apparent source and who had blood obtained for clinical management were enrolled. Children with symptoms suggestive of a viral respiratory infection or who had a positive rapid test for influenza were excluded. Two comparison groups of children were also enrolled: (1) children aged 2 to 36 months who presented to the ED with a temperature of ≥38°C but had a probable or definite bacterial infection, and (2) afebrile … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DPediatrics%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1542%252Fpeds.2012-1391%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F23129086%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/ijlink?linkType=ABST&journalCode=pediatrics&resid=130/6/e1455&atom=%2Faapgrand%2F29%2F3%2F27.atom
Discovery of Small Molecule Inhibitors to Krüppel-like Factor 10 (KLF10): Implications for Modulation of T Regulatory Cell Differentiation

The Kruppel-like family of transcription factors (KLFs) constitute a subfamily of C2H2-type zinc finger proteins with distinct cell-type expression patterns and regulate functional aspects of cell growth and differentiation, activation, or development. KLF10 has been previously shown to critically regulate the acquisition of CD4+CD25+ T regulatory cell differentiation and function, an effect important to the maintenance of self-tolerance, immune suppression, and tumor immunosurveillance. To date, there are no selective pharmacological inhibitors to KLF10. Herein, we report on the discovery of first-in-class small molecule compounds that inhibit the KLF10-DNA interaction interface using computer-aided drug design (CADD) screens of chemical libraries. Interrogation of a “druggable” pocket in the second zinc finger of KLF10 revealed three small molecules, #48, #48-15, and #15-09, with similar scaffolds and binding patterns. Each of these small molecules inhibited KLF10-DNA binding and transcriptional activit...
Synthesis and application of Mn-sciff base composite catalyst in the aerobic epoxidation of cycloalkenes

The Mn-salicylaldehyde schiff-base complex catalyst has been synthesized,characterized by1 H NMR,13 C NMR,elemental analysis and IR.The catalytic epoxidation of alkenes was carried out at 20 ℃under atmospheric pressure with H2O2 in the presence of amount of 0.2 mol/L Na2HPO4 as buffer solution andDMF as solvent.Results showed that the catalyst exhibited high catalytic activity in the epoxidation ofcyclohexene and cyclooctene,which received 77.9% and 63.5% conversion and the selectivity of epoxide was84.5% and 99.2%,respectively.
Improvement of measuring nitrate nitrogen method in water sample by ion selective electrodes

A improvement ion selective electrodes method for determination of nitrate nitrogen in water samples was set up.A statistics calculator for data handling which obtained in ion selective electrodes method can calculate the concentration of nitrate nitrogen.This method did not need standard curve because of the statistical treating process.The linear range was 0.15~50 mg/L with a correlation coefficient of 0.999 5 and the detection limit for nitrate nitrogen was 0.045 mg/L.The relative standard deviations were 0.084%,0.114%,respectively,and the average recovery was 102%(n=5).The improvement method is used to detect nitrate nitrogen in water and the results are satisfactory in comparison with those obtained by the method of thymol absorption spectrometry.
SAT0336 Development of an Algorithm to Identify Serious Opioid Toxicity in Children

Background The use of opioids is increasing in children; therefore, opioid toxicity could be a public health problem in this vulnerable population. However, we are not aware of a published algorithm to identify cases of opioid toxicity in children using administrative databases. Objectives We sought to develop an algorithm to identify cases of opioid toxicity in children using administrative databases. Methods After review of literature and de-identified computer profiles, a broad set of ICD-9 CM codes consistent with serious opioid toxicity was selected. Based on these codes, we identified 195 potential cases of opioid toxicity in children enrolled in Tennessee Medicaid. Medical records were independently reviewed by two physicians; episodes considered equivocal were reviewed by an adjudication committee. Cases were adjudicated as definite/probable, possible, or were excluded. Results Of the 195 potential cases, 168 (86.2%) had complete records for review and 85 were confirmed cases. The overall positive predictive value (PPV) for all codes was 50.6%. The PPV for codes indicating: unintentional opioid overdose (25/31) was 80.7%; intentional opioid overdose (15/30) was 50.0%, adverse events (33/58) was 56.9%, the presence of signs or symptoms compatible with opioid toxicity (12/47) was 25.5%, and no cases were confirmed in records from the two deaths. Of the confirmed cases, 65.8% were related to therapeutic opioid use. Conclusions The collective and individual PPV for many ICD-9 CM codes consistent with opioid toxicity is low. For studies utilizing administrative claims, medical record review is to be important to accurately identify episodes of opioid toxicity and optimize case ascertainment. Disclosure of Interest None declared