cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of blood transfusion on cerebral hemodynamics measured by diffuse optical spectroscopies

Blood transfusion therapy is the current standard of care to reduce elevated risk of primary and recurrent strokes in children with sickle cell disease. Despite great success, chronic transfusion is not without significant risks and comes with a substantial burden. Individualized cerebral monitoring for goal-oriented therapy may better ensure optimal response to treatment and further mitigate risk of infarctions. In this study, we demonstrate diffuse optical spectroscopies (Diffuse Correlation Spectroscopy and Frequency-Domain Near-infrared Spectroscopy) as a simple and low-cost means for bedside assessments of changes in cerebral blood flow, oxygen extraction, and metabolic rate of oxygen in response to transfusion.
Non-Dissipative and Structure-Preserving Emulators via Spherical Optimization.

Approximating a function with a finite series, e.g., involving polynomials or trigonometric functions, is a critical tool in computing and data analysis. The construction of such approximations via now-standard approaches like least squares or compressive sampling does not ensure that the approximation adheres to certain convex linear structural constraints, such as positivity or monotonicity. Existing approaches that ensure such structure are norm-dissipative and this can have a deleterious impact when applying these approaches, e.g., when numerical solving partial differential equations. We present a new framework that enforces via optimization such structure on approximations and is simultaneously norm-preserving. This results in a conceptually simple convex optimization problem on the sphere, but the feasible set for such problems can be very complex. We establish well-posedness of the optimization problem through results on spherical convexity and design several spherical-projection-based algorithms to numerically compute the solution. Finally, we demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach through several numerical examples.
Delivering externally manufactured cell and gene therapy products to patients: perspectives from the academic center experience.

Abstract The recent success of the commercialization of CAR-T and other immune effector cells has led to the rapid expansion of clinical trials using cellular therapy products. The expansion of both investigational and commercially available cell therapies has been driven largely by products that are manufactured outside the point-of-care medical center by industry partners or other third parties. The delivery of externally manufactured products to patients requires a coordinated effort with the medical center, as it may be responsible for collection/processing of starting material, shipping, receipt, storage and release for administration of the drug product. As medical centers are grappling with increasing demands for supporting externally manufactured products, they have been forced to modify their processes to handle this demand in reactive rather than proactive fashion. The cell processing facility (CPF) plays a critical role to ensure proper handling and safety of the product as it is transported from the medical center to the manufacturer and back to the patient for infusion. In this mini-series, we have invited several CPFs from medical centers to share their experience, including how they have implemented processes and procedures to successfully ensure product integrity as they cooperate with industry/third parties to deliver novel cell therapy products. For the purpose of this mini-series, we focus on externally manufactured products that fall into the category of biologics that comprise human cells, tissues or cellular and tissue-based products (HCT/Ps) and are regulated under section 351 of the Food and Drug Administration's Public Health Service Act, or advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) governed by regulatory bodies such as the European Medicines Agency. The goal of this collection of articles is to engage professionals in the discussion about issues related to externally manufactured products and, together, define best practices and potential standards for the cell therapy community to streamline the safety and delivery of externally manufactured products to our patients.
Sympathetic Neural Activity During Early Pregnancy in Women with Prior Gestational Hypertension and Preeclampsia

Background: Sympathetic overactivity likely plays a role in the primary manifestation of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia, and may contribute to the substantially-elevated risk for recurre...
Noninvasive visualization of blood flow in the choriocapillaris of the rat.

Purpose. The rat has been used to generate models of various eye diseases. However, methods to study the choriocapillaris noninvasively have been inadequate in this species. Laser-targeted angiography was applied to generate local, repetitive angiograms of the choriocapillaris in the rat and to assess the similarity between the choriocapillaris of the rat and that of the subhuman primate. Methods. Carboxyfluorescein was encapsulated in heat-sensitive liposomes and injected intravenously in rats. The liposome contents were then released locally in the choroid by the application of a short, noncoagulating heat pulse provided by an argon laser. Videoangiograms of the downstream spread of the bolus of dye were generated with excitation illumination provided by another output from the argon laser. Results. Laser-targeted angiography demonstrated that the bolus of dye perfused the choriocapillaris. Clusters of choriocapillaris lobules were observed and appeared similar to those described in the primate. Dynamic filling and emptying patterns also were similar to those of the primate. Lobules were filled by a central arteriole and drained by a venous annulus. Conclusions. This study demonstrates the feasibility of noninvasively studying the choriocapillaris of the living rat using the technique of laser-targeted angiography. It demonstrates as well the similarity between the rat and the primate choriocapillaris, thus indicating that the rat is an acceptable and convenient model for the study of physiological and pathologic changes in the choroidal vasculature.
Homogeneous Catalysts and Catalysis

The title topic is discussed in relation to general principles of coordination chemistry. Thermodynamics and kinetics are covered, as are the concepts of catalytic cycle, multiphase methods, rapid screening, and combinatorial chemistry as well as general mechanistic studies and types of catalyst. Keywords: coordination chemistry; thermodynamics; kinetics; mechanism; catalytic cycle; asymmetric catalysis; rapid screening; combinatorial chemistry
Neutralinos in vector boson fusion at high energy colliders

Discovering dark matter at high-energy colliders continues to be a compelling and well-motivated possibility. Weakly interacting massive particles are a particularly interesting class in which the dark matter particles interact with the standard model weak gauge bosons. Neutralinos are a prototypical example that arise in supersymmetric models. In the limit where all other superpartners are decoupled, it is known that for relic density motivated masses, the rates for neutralinos are too small to be discovered at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), but that they may be large enough to observe at 100 TeV. In this work we perform a careful study in the vector boson fusion channel for pure winos and pure Higgsinos. We find that given a systematic uncertainty of 1% (5%), with $3000\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{fb}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, the LHC is sensitive to winos of 240 GeV (125 GeV) and Higgsinos of 125 GeV (55 GeV). A future 100 TeV collider would be sensitive to winos of 1.1 TeV (750 GeV) and Higgsinos of 530 GeV (180 GeV) with a 1% (5%) uncertainty, also with $3000\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{fb}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$.
Role of the maternal acute phase response and tumor necrosis factor alpha in the developmental toxicity of lipopolysaccharide in the CD-1 mouse.

Abstract The acute phase response (APR) functions to reset metabolic homeostasis following infectious, toxic, or traumatic insult. TNF-α, a putative mediator of the APR, has been associated with fetal death in rodents and preterm labor and delivery in humans. We hypothesized that physiologic changes associated with the maternal APR may play a role in adverse embryo/fetal outcome. Pregnant CD-1 mice injected i.p. with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a model inducer of the APR, on gestation day (gd) 9 showed a dose-related increase in embryo death on gd 10. Histology indicated placental infarct and necrosis. Maternal serum TNF-α levels, measured by ELISA following administration of 0.05 mg/kg LPS on gd 9, were found to increase significantly and peak within 1 to 1.5 h. Pretreatment with 0.01 mg/kg LPS on gd 8 ameliorated embryotoxicity of the 0.05 mg/kg LPS treatment on gd 9 and also eliminated the increase in serum TNF-α. Direct LPS exposure in whole embryo culture was nontoxic. These data support a maternally mediated mechanism of LPS embryolethality, and suggest that TNF-α may be an important mediator of this developmental toxicity.
Benign neoplastic fibro-osseous lesion of the mandible: report of a case.

Abstract We have described a case in which neoplastic fibro-osseous lesion occurred in a 26-year-old white woman. We have also discussed pertinent features which may permit differential diagnosis of the neoplastic ossifying fibroma from fibrous dysplasia of bone. The roentgenographic appearance and clinical course of fibrous dysplasia and neoplastic ossifying fibroma are sufficiently diagnostic to permit their differentiation from one another.
Proceedings of the 19th ACM International Symposium on High Performance Distributed Computing

On behalf of the organizing committee, we welcome you to the 19th ACM International Symposium on High Performance Distributed Computing (HPDC-19) and to Chicago, Illinois, a city rich in culture, history, technology, and third largest city in the United States. The HPDC Symposium is the premier venue for presenting the latest research on the design, implementation, evaluation, and use of parallel and distributed systems for high performance and high end computing. We are looking forward to lively discussions about HPDC emerging technologies, applications and their challenges. In the last two decades, we have experienced rapid advances in networks and computing, Internet technologies and services, parallel and distributed programming tools that have lead to the developed and deployment of many HPDC systems and services include Grid Computing, Cloud Computing, Pervasive Computing, just to name a few. These advances and technologies bring with them many challenges and exciting opportunities that can be addressed by the HPDC research community. This year's technical program presents high-quality papers in HPDC Workflows, Cloud Computing and Tools, Data Centers and Virtualization, Scheduling, Storage and I/O, Communications, and Applications. We would like to thank Peter Dinda (Program Chair), Northwestern University, for his outstanding and tireless efforts in assembling an excellent program committee, managing the reviews and selection of the papers, and even addressing many other issues related to sponsorship, proceedings, finance, and more to make sure we have an excellent HPDC program for this year. We owe a great debt to Peter, whose dedications and commitments have produced another strong technical program that we all will enjoy and appreciate when we meet in Chicago. Continuing the HPDC tradition, this year's symposium features eight workshops: Emerging Computation Methods for the Life Sciences, LSAP: Large-Scale System and Application Performance, MDQCS: Managing Data Quality for Collaborative Science, ScienceCloud: Workshop on Scientific Cloud Computing, CLADE: Challenges of Large Applications in Distributed Environments, DIDC: Data Intensive Distributed Computing, MAPREDUCE: MapReduce and its applications, and VTDC: Virtualization Technologies for Distributed Computing. We would like to acknowledge the excellent job done by Douglas Thain (Workshop Chair), University of Notre Dame, in putting together a strong workshop program.
Study of the optical rotatory dispersion of proteins with improved spectropolarimetric techniques

The optical rotatory dispersion of a series of proteins was studied and compared by using two improved instrumentations. The measurements were made in the wave length range of 200–400 mμ. The earlier with less perfect instruments obtained results wre corrected. It was found that regarding the rotatory dispersion in far ultraviolet, all native globular proteins can be classified into two groups: (1) those showing a negative COTTON effect with a sharp minimum in the dispersion curves at 233 mμ, and (2) those having in their curves a flat minimum at 220–233 mμ. To the first group belong the proteins which have a strongly negative. MOFFITT-YANG constant (b0) and whose polypeptide chains probably have the α-helical conformation to a large extent. The native proteins of the second group (b0 = 0) probably are devoid of the α-helix or have it only in relatively in significant amount. The amplitude and position of the negative COTTON effect can be applied as an independent criterion for the study of the conformation. The COTTON effect study is especially useful for substances which are available in very small quantities, since the specific rotation measured with the wave length of 233 mμ ranges between −1600 and −12,000°. Die optische Rotationsdispersion wurde an einer Reihe von Proteinen mit zwei vervollkommneten Instrumenten untersucht und verglichen. Die Messungen wurden in dem Wellenlangengebiet von 200 bis 400 mμ ausgefuhrt. Die fruher mit weniger leistungsfahigen Mesinstrumenten erhaltenen Ergebnisse wurden korrigiert. Es wurde gefunden, das hinsichtlich der Rotationsdispersion die nativen Spharoproteine in zwei Gruppen eingeteilt werden konnen: 1. Diejenigen, die einen negativen COTTON-Effekt mit einem scharfen Minimum in ihren Dispersionskurven bei 233 mμ zeigen, und 2. solche, die in den Kurven ein flaches Minimum bei 220–233 mμ haben. Die erste Gruppe umfast die Proteine, die eine stark negative MOFFITT-YANG-Konstante (b0) aufweisen und deren Polypeptidketten wahrscheinlich einen bedeutenden Anteil von α-helikaler Konformation haben. Die nativen Proteine der zweiten Gruppe (b0 = 0) besitzen dagegen keinen oder nur einen unbedeutenden Gehalt an α-Helix. Die Amplitude und Lage des negativen COTTON-Effekts kann als ein unabhangiges Kriterium fiir das Studium der Konformation verwendet werden. Diese Untersuchungsmethode ist besonders brauchbar, wenn die Substanz nur in geringen Mengen zur Vediigung steht, da die spezifische Drehung bei 233 mv Werte von −1600 bis 12000° hat.
The Manner of Government Speech

The government speech doctrine has evolved into a government speech forum doctrine in which the government has the power to exclude unwanted speech in the time, place, and space reserved for its forum. The article explores the possible limits that should be placed on the form of government expressive acts that take place in the government’s exclusive forum. The article is drawn from a speech presented originally at a symposium on government speech sponsored by the Byron R. White Center for the Study of American Constitutional Law at the University of Colorado.
Economics of cryogenic systems for superconducting magnets

The majority of the cryogenic systems installed for cooling superconducting magnet systems over the past ten years have been aimed at providing a reliable experimental facility for proving the viability of superconductor systems and for advancing the state of the art of superconducting magnets. As a result, the criteria for cryogenic system selection has been that of lowest initial cost and maximum reliability. Systems now being installed and those being designed for future installation will be operated on a continuous basis giving impetus to an economic analysis in which the overall operating cost of the cryogenic facility becomes an increasingly important parameter in the design and selection of the system. In addition, conservation of energy through increased efficiency and conservation of helium will become significant design criteria.
Polarized Beam Jets

Handedness and a left-right asymmetry have been proposed as methods of probing the polarization of hard jets. If the analyzing powers for these observables are substantial they would provide useful tools for probing polarized hard scattering. This paper proposes that comparing these to the corresponding quantities in beam jets in polarized hadron-hadron collisions would be useful. These would shed light on the similarities and differences between the fragmentation of hard and soft jets. They would also suggest whether there is any useful possibility of measuring jet polarization. The left-right asymmetry of beam jets has already been measured and is large. But measurements of the handedness of beam jets have still to be done. They could be done in an upgraded HERMES detector at HERA.
Reconstructing African American Cultural DNA: An Action Research Agenda for Howard University

African American Community Development. This article examines the role of culture as a matrix for intelligence and problem-solving, as well as more familiar manifestations such as cuisine and art. For an overview, see they author’s blog.
High differential efficiency (>60%) continuous-wave operation of 1.3gjm inp-based VCSELs with Sb-based DBRs

In this paper, the authors designed a 1.3mum VCSEL with Sb-based DBR technology and demonstrated its first CW operation. It has achieved record-high CW differential efficiencies. High speed modulation was also demonstrated for the first time with this technology. Coupled with previous results at 1.55mum, these results clearly demonstrate this platform's ability to generate high-performance monolithic VCSELs spanning the entire 1.3-1.6mum wavelength window
The Coevolution of Genes, Innovation, and Culture in Human Evolution

Much adaptive human behavior is much too complex to be invented by any single individual in his lifetime. Such complex behavior can be learned and maintained in human populations, however, because our species possesses evolved psychological abilities for acquiring and modifying complex behavior and knowledge. One puzzle surrounding the origin of human behavior, with its strong reliance on socially transmitted knowledge, is how natural selection can favor costly abilities for complex social learning before the existence of complex behavior to be learned. The finding of special-purpose social learning abilities in other apes has only sharpened this puzzle – if other apes are good at imitation, is the key difference between ourselves and chimpanzees instead rates of innovation? In this chapter, I explore this puzzle by considering the simultaneous coevolution of both social learning ability and individual innovation. When one allows both innovation and the accuracy of social learning to evolve independently of one another, natural selection can favor increased investment in social learning, but only if it first favors increased innovation. However, once social learning evolves to high accuracy, high innovation rates are no longer needed, and natural selection favors reduced investment in innovation. Thus, the debate about whether innovation or imitation defines the gap between humans and other apes may be misstated. Instead, the emergence of human culture may have required the coevolution of both kinds of learning.
Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators in Patients with Cardiac Amyloidosis

ICD in Cardiac AmyloidosisBackground Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is associated with increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest. Although ICD therapy improves survival in patients with cardiomyopathy due to other etiologies, the benefit of ICD therapy in patients with CA is unclear in large part due to limited data on the precise mechanism of sudden cardiac arrest and selection of patients with cardiac amyloidosis for ICD therapy. Objective The objective was to determine the benefit of ICD therapy in cardiac amyloidosis. Methods We reviewed all ICD implant indications, procedures, and therapies, of CA patients evaluated at Mayo Clinic between 2000 and 2009. Results A total of 53 patients with CA (33 AL, 10 senile, 9 familial, and 1 AA) who underwent ICD implantation were included. Indication for ICD implantation was for primary prevention of sudden cardiac arrest in 41 (77%) patients and secondary prevention in 12 (23%) patients. The rate of appropriate ICD shocks was 32% in the first year and was observed almost exclusively in AL amyloidosis patients, occurring in 15 patients (12 AL amyloidosis, 2 senile, 1 AA). Appropriate ICD shocks were more frequent in patients with prior sudden cardiac arrest or sustained ventricular arrhythmias (secondary prevention indication), and less frequent in patients who presented with decreased ejection fraction or syncope. Conclusions A high rate of appropriate ICD shocks was observed especially in patients with AL-type amyloidosis. However, appropriate ICD therapy did not translate into overall survival benefit, suggesting that selection of patients with CA who might be candidates for ICD is imprecise.
The Effect of Temperature, Relative Humidity, and Virus Infection Status on off-host Survival of the Wheat Curl Mite (Acari: Eriophyidae).

The wheat curl mite, Aceria tosichella Keifer, is an eriophyid pest of wheat, although its primary economic impact on wheat is due to the transmission of Wheat streak mosaic (WSMV), Wheat mosaic (also known as High Plains virus), and Triticum mosaic (TriMV) viruses. These viruses cause significant annual losses in winter wheat production throughout the western Great Plains. Temperature and humidity are factors that often influence arthropod survival, especially during dispersal from their hosts, yet the impact of these two factors on off-host survival has not been documented for wheat curl mite. Pathogen-infected host plants often influence the biology and behavior of vectors, yet it is not known if virus-infected wheat affects off-host survival of wheat curl mite. The objectives of this study were to 1) determine if temperature, relative humidity, and mite genotype impact off-host survival of wheat curl mite and 2) determine the effect of WSMV- and TriMV-infected host plants on off-host survival of wheat curl mite. Temperature and relative humidity significantly affected off-host survival of wheat curl mite. Length of survival decreased with increasing temperature (106.2 h at 10°C and 17.0 h at 30°C) and decreasing relative humidity (78.1 h at 95 and 21.3 h at 2%). Mites from TriMV-infected host plants had ∼20% reduction in survival at 20°C compared with those from WSMV-infected plants. The duration of off-host survival of wheat curl mite is influenced by environmental conditions. Management strategies that target a break in host presence will greatly reduce mite densities and virus spread and need to account for these limits.
Antagonism of the discriminative effects of ethylketazocine, cyclazocine, and nalorphine in macaques

dl-Ethylketazocine (EKC, 0.01 mg/kg) and saline were established as discriminative stimuli for food-maintained responding in macaque monkeys. Thirty consecutive presses on a right or left lever were reinforced with food, contingent on whether EKC or saline were administered before the session. For tests of antagonism, naltrexone, or UM 979 [(l)-5,9-alpha-dimethyl-2-(3-furylmethyl)-2′-hydroxy-6,7-benzomorphan] was administered concomitantly with EKC,dl-cyclazocine, or nalorphine. Both antagonists blocked completely the EKC discriminative stimulus. The antagonism of the stimulus and rate-altering effects of EKC was surmountable, with considerable intersubject variability in the magnitude of the EKC dose increase required to overcome the blockade. Cyclazocine and nalophine, mixed agonist-antagonist opioids that share stimulus properties with EKC, were also susceptible to antagonism. Naltrexone antagonized completely the EKC stimulus effects of nalorphine; naltrexone and UM 979 antagonized completely the EKC stimulus effects of cyclazocine. Naltrexone antagonism of the cyclazocine stimulus was not surmountable, due to a lack of antagonism of the rate-decreasing effects of high cyclazocine doses.
Clinical Issues and Treatment Strategies in Stress-Oriented Athletes

Psychological stress disorders in athletes have become an increasingly important area of study within the last decade as a result of added interest in sports psychology. Scientific inquiry into the impact of life stress events on the health of athletes has only recently been the focus of clinical study. At the forefront of today’s understanding of stressful events and its impact on the human organism are a variety of theories which argue either that: stress lies within the environmental input; that it is couched in the cognitive appraisal; that it lies toward environmental input; or that it is a multivariant, multiprocess system that views no single variable or process as the aetiology or psychopathology in the organism. Within the framework of sports medicine, it is seen rather as a complex system of variables that address the environment, the personality of the athlete and the impact of stressful life events on both.
P2Y2 nucleotide receptor mediates arteriogenesis in a murine model of hind limb ischemia.

Objective Arteriogenesis represents the maturation of preformed vascular connections in response to flow changes and shear stress. These collateral vessels can restore up to 60% of the native blood flow. Shear stress and vascular injury can induce the release of nucleotides from vascular smooth muscle cells and platelets that can serve as signaling ligands, suggesting they may be involved in mediating arteriogenesis. The P2Y 2 nucleotide receptor (P2Y 2 R) has also been shown to mediate smooth muscle migration and arterial remodeling. Thus, we hypothesize that P2Y 2 R mediates arteriogenesis in response to ischemia. Methods Hind limb ischemia was induced by femoral artery ligation (FAL) in C57Bl/6NJ or P2Y 2 R negative mice (P2Y 2 −/− ). Hind limb perfusion was measured with laser Doppler perfusion imaging and compared with the sham-operated contralateral limb immediately and at 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after ligation. Collateral vessel size was measured by Microfil casting. Muscle specimens were harvested and analyzed with immunohistochemistry for Ki67, vascular cell adhesion molecule, macrophages, and muscle viability by hematoxylin and essoin stain. Results Hind limb ischemia induced by FAL in C57Bl/6NJ mice resulted in significant ischemia as measured by laser Doppler perfusion imaging. There was rapid recovery to nearly normal levels of perfusion by 2 weeks. FAL in P2Y 2 −/− mice resulted in severe ischemia with greater tissue loss. Recovery of perfusion was impaired, achieving only 40% compared with wild-type mice by 28 days. Collateral vessels in the P2Y 2 −/− mice were underdeveloped, with reduced vascular cell proliferation and smaller vessel size. The collaterals were ∼65% the size of wild-type collateral vessels ( P = .011). Angiogenesis at 28 days in the ischemic muscle, however, was greater in the P2Y 2 −/− mice ( P 2 −/− despite significantly more myocyte necrosis. However, inflammation was greater at 28 days in the P2Y 2 −/− mice. Conclusions P2Y 2 R deficiency does not alter baseline collateral vessel formation but does significantly impair collateral maturation, with resultant persistent limb ischemia despite enhanced angiogenesis. These findings reinforce the importance of arteriogenesis in the recovery of perfusion in ischemic tissues compared with angiogenesis. They also support the role of P2Y 2 R in mediating this process. The mechanism by which P2Y 2 R mediates arteriogenesis may involve the recruitment of inflammatory cells to the ischemic tissues, which is essential to arteriogenesis. Approaches to target P2Y 2 R may yield new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of arterial occlusive disease.
THE ZETA SEDIMENTATION RATE (ZSR) IN CHILDREN

The ZSR has certain technical advantages over the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESP), and is not influenced by the presence of anemia. A study was undertaken to establish normal values for the ZSR In infants and children, and to compare the diagnostic utility of the ZSR as opposed to the ESR in children believed to hove active inflammatory processes. The normal values for the ZSP in infants and younger children (mean ±2SD) were significantly lower than in the older age group: The ESR showed a similar, although not statistically significant trend. TVere were 6 children considered normal who, however, had increased ESRs but normal ZSRs. 4/6 were anemic, and may therefore have had falsely elevated ESR values. Among the 70 tests obtained on children believed to have clinically active inflammatory processes, 2/70 (3%) had normal ZSRs and ESRs. 6/70 (9%) had increased ERRs with concomitantly normal ZSRs, whereas 6/70 (9%) had normal ESRs with elevated ZSRs. These findings suggest that the ZSR is comparable to the ESR as an index of disease, and is recommended as a technically superior substitute for the ESR in infants and children.
Chemical conditions inside occluded regions on corroding aircraft aluminum alloys

Corrosion of aluminum alloy structures costs the US Air Force in the order of US$1×109 annually. Corrosion develops in areas of overlap such as aircraft lap-splice joints and under protective organic coatings. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) has been used to determine the local chemistries at these corrosion sites of solutions that were extracted using a microsampling system. Analysis of the local solution within lap-splice joints from aircraft has been performed in two ways: rehydration of corrosion products and direct microsampling. The solutions collected were analyzed with CE to quantitatively determine the species present during corrosion. The most common ions detected were Cl−, NO2−, NO3−, HCO3−, K+, Al3+, Ca2+, Na+ and Mg2+. Studies of the solution chemistry under local coating defects are required to understand coating failure and develop more durable coatings. A microsampling system and micro pH sensor were developed to extract solution from and measure pH in defects with diameters as small as 170 μm. Actively corroding defects contained high concentrations of Cl−, Al3+, Mg2+, Mn2+ and Cu2+ whereas only trace levels of Mg2+ were found in repassivated defects. The effects of these species on initiation and propagation of corrosion are discussed.
Analysis of changes in reflectance measurements on biological tissues subjected to different probe pressures.

Spectral reflectance measurements of biological tissues have been studied for early diagnoses of several pathologies such as cancer. These measurements are often performed with a fiber optic probe in contact with the tissue surface. We report a study in which reflectance measurements are obtained in vivo from mouse thigh muscle while varying the contact pressure of the fiber op- tic probe. It is determined that the probe pressure is a variable that affects the local optical properties of the tis- sue. The reflectance spectra are analyzed with an analyti- cal model that extracts the tissue optical properties and facilitates the understanding of underlying physiological changes induced by the probe pressure. © 2008 Society of
Increased complication rates of cardiac rhythm management devices in ESRD patients

Background Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) have a high incidence of sudden cardiac death and may benefit from implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). However, ESRD also may predispose patients to device-related complications, potentially offsetting some of the benefits of prophylactic ICD placement. The purpose of this study is to compare the incidence of complications after cardiac rhythm management device (CRMD) implantation in patients with and without ESRD. Methods An observational study was performed on 41 patients with ESRD and 123 controls without ESRD who had a CRMD (permanent pacemaker or ICD) implanted at a single institution from 1998 to 2005. Controls were matched for age, sex, type of device, and calendar year of device implantation. Primary and secondary end points were any complication and complications requiring intervention, respectively. Results 23 complications occurred in 16 of 41 patients with ESRD (39%) versus 13 complications in 13 of 123 matched controls (11%; P P P P P = 0.1). There were no fatal complications in either group. Conclusions Patients with ESRD had greater complication rates after CRMD implantation compared with matched controls, but these complications did not result in death. These results should be considered when evaluating patients with ESRD for prophylactic CRMD implantation, but do not support withholding such therapy.
Melting and freezing behavior of indium metal in porous glasses

The size-dependent melting and freezing behavior of In metal in porous silica glasses with mean pore diameters between 6 and 141 nm has been studied by differential scanning calorimetry. The melting and freezing temperatures of the pore In were always less than the corresponding bulk values, and varied in inverse proportion to the diameter of the confining silica pores. In the smallest pores the latent heat of fusion was also determined, and found to be about one-third of its bulk value. The observed size dependence of the melting temperature was in good agreement with the predictions of thermodynamic treatments of melting in finite systems, and allowed the solid-liquid interfacial free energy to be estimated for several different geometrical models. The measured latent heat, however, was smaller than expected based on thermodynamic considerations. No evidence for an energy barrier separating the solid from the liquid was found.
Ab initio studies of the 3nπ* states of glyoxal and methyl glyoxal

Abstract Results of ab initio calculations on the 3nπ* states of glyoxal and methyl glyoxal are reported. The symmetry unconstrained ΔESCF transition energies, unlike the symmetry constrained results, are found to be very similar. These calculations explain some anomalies which have appeared in the literature recently.
Accelerated Deamination of Cytosine Residues in UV-Induced Cyclobutane Pyrimidine Dimers Leads to CC→TT Transitions†

The rate of UV-induced deamination of cytosine to uracil at a specific site in double-stranded (ds) DNA was monitored using a genetic reversion assay. M13mp2C141 ds DNA was exposed to 160 J/m2 UV (254 nm), incubated at 37 °C, pH 7.4, for various time intervals to allow for deamination, and treated with Escherichia coli photolyase in the presence of 365 nm light to reverse cyclobutane-type pyrimidine dimers. Upon transfection into uracil-glycosylase deficient (ung-) E. coli cells, the mutation (i.e., reversion) frequencies in the CCCC target sequence increased greatly with post-UV time of incubation at 37 °C, nearly doubling every day that the DNA had been held at 37 °C. After 8 days, the reversion frequencies had increased by two orders of magnitude upon transfection into ung- cells, relative to isogenic ung+ cells, indicating that most of the mutations arising in UV/photolyase-treated ds DNA were C→T mutations mediated by a uracil intermediate. Sequencing of the revertants revealed that all mutations wer...
Self-Labeling Sexual Harassment

This study was designed to examine personal, stimulus, and organizational factors that predict the self-labeling of sexual harassment. Hypotheses were developed based on the social cognitive schema framework, which suggests that the activation of a victim's schema of sexual harassment influences self-labeling incidents as sexual harassment. Results of a secondary analysis of the 1995 Department of Defense Gender Issues dataset generally supported the hypotheses in that self-labeling is a multi-faceted process. Several findings were in the opposite direction from that predicted (e.g., perceptions that the military was implementing sexual harassment policies were negatively associated with self-labeling). Alternative explanations for the complexity of the self-labeling process were also examined.
Mucosal Fibrosis in Intestinal Transplant Biopsies Correlates Positively With the Development of Chronic Rejection

Endoscopic biopsies of intestinal allografts are limited to the superficial layers of the bowel. We investigated whether the presence of mucosal fibrosis in graft biopsies was indicative of chronic allograft rejection. We examined graft biopsies of 182 intestinal transplant recipients for the presence of mucosal fibrosis. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that within 5 years posttransplantation 33% of intestinal transplant patients had graft biopsies positive for mucosal fibrosis. Although the presence of mucosal fibrosis did not affect patient or graft survival, patients with this lesion were at higher risk of developing chronic allograft enteropathy.
Lagroix Receives 2008 William Gilbert Award

France Lagroix received the William Gilbert Award at the 2008 AGU Fall Meeting Honors Ceremony, held 17 December in San Francisco, Calif. The award recognizes outstanding and unselfish work in magnetism of Earth materials and of the Earth and planets.
Solving Zadeh's Swedes and Italians challenge problem

In this paper, we present a solution to Zadeh's Swedes and Italians challenge problem which involves linguistic quantifiers and linguistic attributes. First, we argue that Zadeh's solution to this problem via the Generalized Extension Principle is very difficult to implement. Then, we use a syllogism based on the entailment principle to interpret the problem so that it can be solved via Linguistic Weighted Averages. We show that the problem can be solved by calculation of the expected values of two belief structures via Linguistic Weighted Averages. Then, we choose vocabularies for height differences and linguistic quantifiers that are involved in the problem statement. The vocabularies are modeled using interval type-2 fuzzy sets. We calculate the expected values of two belief structures, which naturally would be interval type-2 fuzzy sets. Finally, we map the solution to linguistic height differences present in the vocabularies, so that the results can be comprehended by a human.
A pilot study to evaluate nutritional influences on gastrointestinal symptoms and behavior patterns in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Summary Background One in 110 children in the US have autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a debilitating and life-long disorder that affects the health, relationships, and learning of affected children. Existing research on the etiology, contributing factors, and treatment for ASD is limited and controversial. Studies suggest that GI symptoms are related to behavior issues in children with ASD, which may be improved by a gluten-free, casein-free (GFCF) diet. Objectives To evaluate the relationship between a GFCF diet and gastrointestinal symptoms and behavior patterns in children with ASD. Design and setting Cross-sectional design in which parents completed an online survey regarding general health, diet (adapted food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ)), gastrointestinal symptoms, and behavior patterns of their children with ASD. Main outcome measures Scores on the Gastrointestinal Symptoms Rating Scale (GSRS) and Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). Results Seven of thirteen children (median age 9years) were on a GFCF diet, consuming significantly fewer gluten- and casein-containing foods than those not on a GFCF diet. GSRS and CARS scores did not differ significantly according to diet. Parents of all the children on a GFCF diet reported improved GI symptoms and behavior patterns. Conclusions This study provides evidence that the adapted FFQ is an effective tool for evaluating adherence to a GFCF diet. Continued well-controlled research is necessary to elucidate the gut–brain relationship in ASD.
Prismatic Blademaking, Craftsmanship, and Production

Artifacts from an obsidian-blade workshop dump from Ojo de Agua, Chiapas, Mexico, are analyzed to determine levels of craftsmanship and craft specialization. Detailed consideration of knapping errors and rejuvenation flakes reveals that the blademaker at Ojo de Agua was moderately skilled at his craft, which he practiced on a part-time basis. The maximum level of output from his workshop was 26,000, or fewer, fine blades per year, or the equivalent of part-time work during a three-month period. Analysis of knapping strategies evident in the workshop debris suggests that the blademaker's overriding strategy was to achieve a balance between effort and knapping risk at the expense of raw material. Access to obsidian cores does not appear to have been a concern, as little effort was made to economize in this respect, and thousands of usable, irregular blades were discarded in the workshop refuse.
Equation of State for the Phase Behavior of Carbon Dioxide−Polymer Systems

We proposed a hybrid equation of state for CO2−polymer systems that utilizes the Peng−Robinson (PR) equation of state for the molecular excluded-volume effects and the van der Waals attractions, and equations from the statistical associating fluid theory (SAFT) for the polymer intrachain correlations and for the short-ranged forces due to weakly polar or association interactions. The numerical performance of the new equation of state was tested by its application to correlating the PVT behavior of pure CO2, including both the vapor−liquid coexistence densities, the vapor pressure, and the specific density of condensed CO2 at near-critical and supercritical conditions, and to the volumetric properties of high molecular weight alkanes and a few representative polymers. With the parameters from the original PR equation of state for nonpolar monomeric fluids and additional ones to account for the solvent polarity and the solute degree of polymerization, the new equation of state was successfully used to calcu...
Design, analysis and experimental validation of a robust nonlinear path following controller for marine surface vessels

The problem of path following for marine surface vessels using the rudder angle is addressed in this paper. A four-degree-of-freedom nonlinear surface vessel model, together with the Serret-Frenet equations, is introduced to describe the ship dynamics and path following error dynamics. While similar models have been used and reported in the literature for path following control algorithm development, the novelty of the approach presented in this work lies in the following aspects. (a) The back-stepping nonlinear controller design is based on feedback dominance, instead of feedback linearization and nonlinearity cancelation; (b) additional design parameters are employed in the Lyapunov function that lead to simplification of the controller in the design procedure and normalization of different variables in the Lyapunov function to improve the controller performance; (c) relying on feedback dominance and the introduction of the additional parameters in the Lyapunov function, the resulting controller is almost linear, with very benign nonlinearities allowing for analysis and evaluation; and (d) the performance of the nonlinear controller, in terms of path following, is analyzed for robustness in the presence of model uncertainties. The simulation results are presented to verify and illustrate the analytic development and the effectiveness of the resulting control against rudder saturation and rate limits, and delays in the control execution, as well as measurement noises. Furthermore, the control design is validated by experimental results conducted in a tank using a model ship.
Phytase activity in extracts of flour and bran from wheat cultivars: enhanced extractability with β-glucanase and endo-xylanase

Phytase (EC 3.1.3.8) hydrolyzes phytic acid to myo-inositol and inorganic phosphate through intermediate myo-inositol phosphates. Microbial phytase has been employed to minimize the negative effects of phytic acid in cereal-based feeds, however, other sources such as wheat, would be natural alternatives. Investigations were therefore carried out to determine the levels of phytase activity in various cultivars and how the extraction of the enzyme may be enhanced using buffers fortified with glycanases. We screened 23 cultivars and the results showed that bran from hard white wheat cultivars had relatively lower levels of activity, ranging from about 1.5 to about 2.5 FTU/g bran, whereas hard red wheat cultivars had much higher levels, ranging from approximately 2 to 5.5 FTU/g bran. These levels were greatly enhanced, up to 5-fold, when extraction buffer contained a commercial preparation consisting of β-glucanase (EC 3.2.1.6) and endo-xylanase (EC 3.2.1.8) (Natugrain) (opt 1%) from BASF. The effect of glycanases was concentration and cultivar dependent, but not significantly influenced by temperature exposure of mixtures of samples with extraction buffers prior to extraction. Relative increases were more substantial in hard white than in hard red wheat cultivars. The additional value of supplementing grain-based diets with glycanases for monogastric animals is discussed.
Carbohydrate recognition: a nascent technology for the detection of bioanalytes

Abstract Detection, identification and characterisation of biological material, for example micro-organisms, toxins and viruses, occupy an important position in industrial, medical and environmental analysis. Bioanalytes may be investigated by one of numerous analytical techniques available, however, the recognition principle often utilises either antibodies, an alternative protein recognition principle, or nucleic acid probes. Common techniques include ELISA, surface plasmon resonance and other evanescent wave detectors, flow cytometry, immunofluoresence microscopy, and PCR-based assays. Even though antibodies are the most successfully employed recognition component for identifying bioanalytes, they have a number of intrinsic negative aspects to their application. Up until now however, a suitable alternative has not been identified. Carbohydrate recognition is a mechanism by which a high proportion of biological molecules first come into contact with each other in the process of cellular adhesion. This article will discuss the possibility of using this principle as a biosensor recognition element, and will review the current situation.
Small Steps to a Student-Centered Classroom.

ABSTRACT Research supports the view that students should play an active role in the mathematics classroom. This paper describes several techniques that have been used in a variety of mathematics classes (remedial, pre-calculus, liberal arts mathematics, calculus, and geometry) to shift the mathematics classrooms experience from an instructor-centered one to a student-centered one.
A two-grid method for solving elliptic problems with inhomogeneous boundary conditions

Abstract A Galerkin finite element method using a two-grid technique for solving elliptic problems with inhomogeneous essential boundary conditions is considered. At the boundary, the function is approximated by a projection of the given data on a finite dimensional space; in the interior of the domain, a two-grid method is used for solving the algebraic system. An analysis of the L 2 -error is made and sample computations are provided.
Building objects out of Plato: applying philosophy, symbolism, and analogy to software design

If we analyze a program as we do a story, we might ask: "What is the author really saying?"