cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Conversion of parameters between different variants of Pitzer's ion-interaction model, both with and without ionic strength dependent higher-order terms

Abstract In this article we present a method for converting the parameters between different variants of Pitzer’s ion-interaction model for electrolyte solutions. The original version of Pitzer’s ion-interaction model contains an ionic-strength dependent virial coefficient for two-ion interactions, but the virial coefficient for three-ion interactions is set to an empirically determined constant value. Extended versions of the ion-interaction model are now in common use, where the virial coefficient for three-ion interactions is also allowed to depend on the ionic strength, and terms for higher-order interactions may also be included. These extended ion-interaction equations may have one or more additional ionic-strength dependent terms, and are particularly useful for representing the thermodynamic activity values of highly soluble electrolytes. However, the parameters of the original Pitzer model are often needed to supplement existing databases based on this model. Analytical equations presented here allow the parameters of these extended ion-interaction models to be directly transformed to the parameters of the original Pitzer model. The parameters of the original Pitzer model derived by this approach are compared against parameter values obtained by directly fitting the parameters to values of the osmotic coefficients calculated using the equations and parameters of the extended Pitzer models, with excellent agreement. This approach is demonstrated by application to Rb2SO4(aq), Cs2SO4(aq), NaNO3(aq), and Ca(NO3)2(aq).
Electric-field-enhanced nutrient consumption in dielectric biomaterials that contain anchorage-dependent cells.

Abstract This research contribution addresses electric-field stimulation of intra-tissue mass transfer and cell proliferation in viscoelastic biomaterials. The unsteady state reaction–diffusion equation is solved according to the von Karman–Pohlhausen integral method of boundary layer analysis when nutrient consumption and tissue regeneration occur in response to harmonic electric potential differences across a parallel-plate capacitor in a dielectric-sandwich configuration. The partial differential mass balance with diffusion and electro-kinetic consumption contains the Damkohler (Λ2) and Deborah (De) numbers. Zero-field and electric-field-sensitive Damkohler numbers affect nutrient boundary layer growth. Diagonal elements of the 2nd-rank diffusion tensor are enhanced in the presence of weak electric fields, in agreement with the formalism of equilibrium and nonequilibrium thermodynamics. Induced dipole polarization density within viscoelastic biomaterials is calculated via the real and imaginary components of the complex dielectric constant, according to the Debye equation, to quantify electro-kinetic stimulation. Rates of nutrient consumption under zero-field conditions are described by third-order kinetics that include local mass densities of nutrients, oxygen, and attached cells. Thinner nutrient boundary layers are stabilized at shorter dimensionless diffusion times when the zero-field intra-tissue Damkohler number increases above its initial-condition-sensitive critical value [i.e., {Λ2zero-field}critical ≥ 53, see Eq. (23)], such that the biomaterial core is starved of essential ingredients required for successful proliferation. When tissue regeneration occurs above the critical electric-field-sensitive intra-tissue Damkohler number, the electro-kinetic contribution to nutrient consumption cannot be neglected. The critical electric-field-sensitive intra-tissue Damkohler number is proportional to the Deborah number.
Electrostatic interaction of internal Mg2+ with membrane PIP2 Seen with KCNQ K+ channels.

Activity of KCNQ (Kv7) channels requires binding of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP 2 ) from the plasma membrane. We give evidence that Mg 2+ and polyamines weaken the KCNQ channel–phospholipid interaction. Lowering internal Mg 2+ augmented inward and outward KCNQ currents symmetrically, and raising Mg 2+ reduced currents symmetrically. Polyvalent organic cations added to the pipette solution had similar effects. Their potency sequence followed the number of positive charges: putrescine (+2) 2+ were reversible with sequential whole-cell patching. Internal tetraethylammonium ion (TEA) gave classical voltage-dependent block of the pore with changes of the time course of K + currents. The effect of polyvalent cations was simpler, symmetric, and without changes of current time course. Overexpression of phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase Iγ to accelerate synthesis of PIP 2 attenuated the sensitivity to polyvalent cations. We suggest that Mg 2+ and other polycations reduce the currents by electrostatic binding to the negative charges of PIP 2 , competitively reducing the amount of free PIP 2 available for interaction with channels. The dose–response curves could be modeled by a competition model that reduces the pool of free PIP 2 . This mechanism is likely to modulate many other PIP 2 -dependent ion channels and cellular processes.
The Effect of Instruction on the Acquisition of Conservation of Volume.

Performances of fourth and sixth grade children who had been in a program based on Science—A Process Approach were compared with performances of control groups on two conservation-of-volume tasks. The fourth grade children who had had Science—A Process Approach performed at a higher level than the control group on one of the tasks. There were no other significant differences between groups. The volume tasks were analyzed and learning hierarchies devised. A test based on the hierarchies was constructed and administered to all (189) children. An instructional program based on the hierarchies was carried out with approximately half of the children in each school at each grade level. All children were then post-tested on the volume tasks and the tasks of the learning hierarchies. All groups who had deceived instruction had higher mean scores on the Learning Hierarchies Test but no group made a significant improvement on the volume tasks. Performance of the volume tasks was found to be related to age and score on the Learning Hierarchies Test.
The isolation and characterization of ngm2, a mutation that affects nitrosoguanidine mutagenesis in yeast

We have isolated and characterized a new mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, carrying a single mutant allele that we designate ngm2-1, which is defective with respect to induced mutagenesis. This mutant was isolated by screening mutagenized clones for reduced frequencies of reversion of the his1-7 allele, induced by N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine. As judged by the reversion of his1-7 and ilv1-92, ngm2-1 mutant strains are also deficient with respect to mutability induced by methyl methane sulfonate, ethyl methane sulfonate and, at least partially, by UV. UV-induced reversion of the ochre mutation arg4-17 and the frameshift mutation his4-38 was not much affected by ngm2-1, however. Like rev3 and rev7 mutations, ngm2-1 also has little influence on the reversion of the proline missense allele, cyc1-115. Ngm2-1 mutants are only at best very slightly more sensitive to the toxicity of the four mutagens used, and homozygous diploids sporulate normally.
Will uninsured people volunteer for voluntary health insurance ? Experience from Washington State

OBJECTIVES: In national and local discussions of health care reform, there is disagreement about whether a national health insurance plan should be mandatory or voluntary. This study describes characteristics of low- income people who were more likely or less likely to be covered by a voluntary plan. METHODS: Survey data were available from an evaluation of Washington State's Basic Health Plan, which offered subsidized health insurance to low-income residents. For those subjects who were eligible and uninsured at baseline, those who joined were compared with those who did not join on a variety of demographic and health-related characteristics. RESULTS: There were substantial differences between those who did and did not join the Basic Health Plan. Those who did not enroll were generally less well-off, with less education, lower income, and worse health. Many had never had health insurance. CONCLUSIONS: If health care reform results in a voluntary plan, additional measures may be needed to ensure that less...
Belonging to a Place: Turks in Unified Berlin

IN A POST–UNIFICATION CLIMATE of economic anxiety and crisis over the identity and the future direction of Germany, right–wing attacks on foreigners increased, targeting asylum seekers as well as long–term Turkish residents. This has caused many Turks to reevaluate their interaction with German society, either by withdrawing, consolidating forces, or by distancing themselves from the category of foreigner by emphasizing a local identity of place and a transnational Creole identity.
Fluorescence spectroscopy measures yeast PAH1-encoded phosphatidate phosphatase interaction with liposome membranes.

Phosphatidate (PA) phosphatase, the enzyme that catalyzes the penultimate step in triacylglycerol synthe- sis, is a cytosolic enzyme that must associate with the membrane where its substrate PA resides. Fluorescence spectroscopy was used to measure the interaction of yeast PAH1 -encoded PA phosphatase with model liposome mem- branes. PA phosphatase contains fi ve tryptophan residues and exhibited inherit fl uorescence that increased upon in- teraction with phosphatidylcholine liposomes. The interac- tion was enhanced by inclusion of other phospholipids and especially the substrate PA. Interaction was dependent on both the concentration of phosphatidylcholine-PA liposomes as well as the surface concentration of PA in liposomes. Mg 2+ ions, which were required for catalysis, did not affect PA phosphatase interaction with phosphatidylcholine-PA liposomes. PA phosphatase was a substrate for protein kinase A, protein kinase C, and casein kinase II, and these phosphorylations decreased PA phosphatase interaction with phosphatidylcholine-PA liposome membranes. —Xu, Z., W-M. Su, and G. M. Carman. Fluorescence spectroscopy measures yeast PAH1 -encoded phosphatidate phosphatase interaction with liposome membranes. J. Lipid Res . 2012. 53: 522-528.
Cost-effective graceful degradation in speculative processor subsystems: the branch prediction case

We analyze the effect of errors in branch predictors, a representative example of speculative processor subsystems, to motivate the necessity for fault tolerance in such subsystems. We also describe the design of fault tolerant branch predictors using general fault tolerance techniques. We then propose a fault-tolerant implementation that utilizes the finite state machine (FSM) structure of the pattern history table (PHT) and the set of potential faulty states to predict the branch direction, yet without strictly identifying the correct state. The proposed solution provides virtually the same prediction accuracy as general fault tolerant techniques, while significantly reducing the incurred hardware overhead.
User and Traffic Characteristics of a Commercial Nationwide Wi-Fi Hotspot Network

This paper presents the first analysis of user and traffic characteristics in a commercial nationwide Wi-Fi hotspot network. We examine a five month long log of user activity and traffic collected by a wireless network service provider operating hotspots in cafes, restaurants, serviced apartments, hotels and airports all over Australia. We analyze traffic, user activity, user sessions and account usage. Several differences from previously studied Wi-Fi networks are observed and can be attributed to the user diversity and the commercial nature of the network. Key traffic and user statistics from the network are presented for reference.
FAMILY THERAPISTS' RESPONSE TO AIDS: AN EXAMINATION OF ATTITUDES, KNOWLEDGE, AND CONTACT*

As the number of individuals and families impacted by AIDS continue to multiply, family therapists will increasingly be asked to become engaged in the challenge of caring for those affected. To date, little has been written in family therpy journals regarding the response of family therapists to this crisis. This paper represents an initial attempt to examine the atitudes of clinical members of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy toward AIDS and persons with AIDS. Included in the study are data regarding the therapists' contact with persons with AIDS, gays, and lesbians, and the impact of such contact on attitudes. Implications for future research, training, and treatment of those affected by AIDS are also provided.
FUEL-EFFICIENT PULSE COMMAND PROFILES FOR FLEXIBLE SPACECRAFT

A procedure for designing command profiles for flexible spacecraft is presented. The command profiles are designed to maneuver a spacecraft with very little residual vibration, even in the presence of modeling errors. To model the case where a spacecraft is equipped with on-off reaction jets, the command signals are restricted to positive or negative constant-amplitude pulses. The technique results in command profiles that are much more fuel efficient than the time-optimal commands, yet do not incur a significant time penalty. Robustness to modeling errors of both the time-optimal and the fuel-efficient commands are shown to be highly dependent on move distance; however, the fuel-efficient profiles are always as robust as the time-optimal profiles.
Evaluation of CO2 fluxes from an agricultural field using a process-based numerical model

Summary During 2004, soil CO2 fluxes, and meteorological and soil variables were measured at multiple locations in a 30-ha agricultural field in the Sacramento Valley, California, to evaluate the effects of different tillage practices on CO2 emissions at the field scale. Field scale CO2 fluxes were then evaluated using the one-dimensional process-based SOILCO2 module of the HYDRUS-1D software package. This model simulates dynamic interactions between soil water contents, temperature, and soil respiration by numerically solving partial–differential water flow (Richards) and heat and CO2 transport (convection–dispersion) equations using the finite element method. The model assumes that the overall CO2 production in the soil profile is the sum of soil and plant respiration, whose optimal values are affected by time, depth, water content, temperature, and CO2 concentration in the soil profile. The effect of each variable is introduced using various reduction functions that multiply the optimal soil CO2 production. Our results show that the numerical model could predict CO2 fluxes across the soil surface reasonably well using soil hydraulic parameters determined from textural characteristics and the HYDRUS-1D software default values for heat transport, CO2 transport and production parameters without any additional calibration. An uncertainty analysis was performed to quantify the effects of input parameters and soil heterogeneity on predicted soil water contents and CO2 fluxes. Both simulated volumetric water contents and surface CO2 fluxes show a significant dependency on soil hydraulic properties.
OFDMA-based passive optical networks (PON)

We propose a PON architecture based on orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) technologies. The system produces transparent pipes for transmission of heterogeneous services. A virtual PON scheme based on OFDMA is further introduced.
An heuristic hypothesis of chilling injury in plants: a role for calcium as the primary physiological transducer of injury

. It is suggested that increased levels of free cytosolic calcium ([Ca2+]cyt) may serve as the primary physiological transducer of chilling injury in plants. Numerous similarities between the effects of [Ca2+]cyt-raising treatments on plants and the effects of chilling temperatures on chilling-sensitive (CS) plants are noted. It is proposed that chilling temperatures may lead to increases in [Ca2+]cyt in CS plant cells by reducing the rate at which they exclude Ca2+ from their cytosol and that rapid cooling (coldshock) may cause rapid increases in [Ca2+]cyt due to the activation of voltage-dependent cation channels. Chill-induced increases in [Ca2+]cyt in the cells of CS plants may reflect either an inherent inability of such plants to maintain homeostatic levels of Ca2+ at low temperatures or a stress-induced reaction which has evolved to enable such cells to cope more effectively with the short-term hardships imposed by cold. Previous proposals concerning the physiological transduction of chilling injury are also discussed. It is argued that there is little evidence to suggest that the immediate effects of low temperatures on CS cells include either decreases in ATP levels, general increases in the passive permeability of membranes, or increased rates of fermentation.
Detection of Delaminations in Art Objects Using Air-Coupled Ultrasound°

The possibility of using air-coupled ultrasound to find delaminations between layers in paintings was investigated. Simulations of modern paintings were constructed with hardboard as the support layer, and a layer of gesso, an animal hide glue and chalk, as the upper layer. Delaminations were introduced between the two layers. Scanning the samples using air-coupled ultrasound clearly showed these flaws. A transmitting transducer, which was 25 mm in diameter and had a focal length of 51 mm, was placed 11 mm from the back surface of the sample and an identical receiving transducer was placed 51 mm from the front surface. The transducers were operated in a tone burst mode at a center frequency of 475 kHz. Signal enhancement techniques were used to improve the contrast of the data.
Dynamic X-parameters*: Behavioral modeling in the presence of long term memory effects

An original way is presented to model memory effects of RF and microwave components by extending the X-parameter model. The approach can be used to model hard nonlinear behavior and long term memory effects and is valid for all possible modulation formats, for all possible peak-to-average ratios and for a wide range of modulation bandwidths. The model works for pulsed signals as well as for two-tone and multitone signals. The model has been validated by measurements and is compatible with existing harmonic balance simulators.
Visual Players Detection and Tracking in Soccer Matches

In this paper we present a people tracking algorithm which is able to detect and track soccer players in complex situations with varying light conditions, high frame rate, and real time processing. Object segmentation is performed by means of an algorithm based on background subtraction. In order to cope with presence of moving objects and light changes during the background modeling phase, an approach based on the evaluation of pixels energy content has been developed. Detected objects are then classified by means of an unsupervised clustering algorithm that allows the solution of blobs splitting and merging problems. For people tracking purpose we propose a stochastic approach based on the evaluation of the maximum a posteriori probability(MAP). First of all the algorithm evaluates geometrical information on the blob overlapping and then applies a color feature classification to track players and solve blob merging situations. Experimental tests have been carried out on long soccer image sequences in different weather and light conditions.
mRNA mutations of type I protein kinase A regulatory subunit α in T lymphocytes of a subject with systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder of indeterminate etiology characterized by multiple T lymphocyte immune effector dysfunctions. Protein kinase A (PKA) isozymes contribute to the regulation of T cell immune effector functions. In SLE T cells, there is a profound deficiency of PKA-I isozyme activity characterized by both reduced RI alpha transcript and RI alpha protein levels. To identify a molecular mechanism(s) for this isozyme deficiency, we utilized single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis to detect structural changes in the cDNA. Of 10 SLE subjects, cDNAs from a single subject revealed a shifted band. Sequence analyses demonstrated that a shifted SSCP band from SLE T cells carried heterogeneous transcript mutations, including deletions, transitions and transversions. Most of these transcript mutations are clustered adjacent to GAGAG motifs and CT repeats-regions that are susceptible to transcript editing and/or molecular misreading. By contrast, no genomic mutations were identified. These results suggest the occurrence of mRNA editing and/or defective function of RNA polymerase in a subject with SLE. Mutant RI alpha transcripts are pathophysiolgically significant, for they can encode diverse, aberrant RI alpha isoforms, including truncated, dominant-negative subunits, resulting in deficient PKA-I activity. We propose that deficient PKA-I isozyme activity contributes to the pathogenesis of SLE by hindering effective signal transduction and impairing T cell effector functions.
Habitat and behaviour of yellowfin tuna Thunnus albacares in the Gulf of Mexico determined using pop-up satellite archival tags

This study presents the first data on movement, habitat use and behaviour for yellowfin tuna Thunnus albacares in the Atlantic Basin. Six individuals were tracked in the Gulf of Mexico using pop-up satellite archival tags. Records up to 80 days in length were obtained, providing information on depth and temperature preferences as well as horizontal movements. Thunnus albacares in the Gulf of Mexico showed a strong preference for the mixed layer and thermocline, consistent with findings for this species in other ocean basins. Fish showed a diel pattern in depth distribution, remaining in surface and mixed layer waters at night and diving to deeper waters during the day. The vertical extent of T. albacares habitat appeared to be temperature limited, with fish generally avoiding waters that were >6 degrees C cooler than surface waters. The vertical and thermal habitat usage of T. albacares differs from that of bigeye Thunnus obesus and bluefin Thunnus thynnus, Thunnus orientalis and Thunnus maccoyii tunas. These results are consistent with the results of earlier studies conducted on T. albacares in other oceans.
Complexity of family caregiving and discharge planning

Older adults and their family caregivers face numerous decisions about hospital discharge, including where they will go and how they will receive care. Older adults who account for nearly 37% of all hospital discharges often need care and support of family members at the time of hospital discharge. This study examines decisions made by hospitalized older adults, families, and health care team members (HCTMs) about hospital discharge. The sample included older adults (n = 13, average age 84), family members (n = 12, average age 71), and HCTMs (n = 7, average age 47). Findings revealed the complexity of hospital discharge planning for older adults through five themes as follows: (a) home, (b) staying independent, (c) "advocating for them," (d) deciding what to tell, and (e) changing the plan.
Shrinking lung syndrome as a manifestation of pleuritis: are surface forces and surfactant the pathophysiological link?

To the Editor: I read with great interest the paper by Henderson, et al 1 on shrinking lung syndrome (SLS) as a manifestation of pleuritis. A decrease in lung compliance in patients with SLS was found. Analysis of the computed tomography images did not show any evidence of parenchymal lung disease. Further, the study subjects with SLS had intact corrected DLCO values. The authors appropriately point out that both of these important observations make interstitial lung disease an unlikely … Address correspondence to Dr. Eberlein. E-mail: michael-eberlein{at}uiowa.edu
Fault tolerance of allocation schemes in massively parallel computers

The author examines the problem of locating and allocating large fault-free subsystems in multiuser massively parallel computer systems. Since the allocation schemes used in such large systems cannot allocate all possible subsystems a reduction in fault tolerance is experienced. The effects of different allocation methods, including the buddy and Gray-coded buddy schemes for the allocation of subsystems in the hypercube and in the two-dimensional mesh and torus are analyzed. Both worst-case and expected-case performance are studied. Generalizing the buddy and Gray-coded systems, a family of allocation schemes which exhibit a significant improvement in fault tolerance over the existing schemes and which use relatively few additional resources is introduced. For purposes of comparison, the behavior of the various schemes on the allocation of subsystems of 2/sup 18/ processors in the hypercube, mesh, and torus consisting of 2/sup 20/ processors is studied. The methods involve a combination of analytical techniques and simulation. >
Critical Race Methodology: Counter-Storytelling as an Analytical Framework for Education Research:

This article addresses how critical race theory can inform a critical race methodology in education. The authors challenge the intercentricity of racism with other forms of subordination and exposes deficit-informed research that silences and distorts epistemologies of people of color. Although social scientists tell stories under the guise of “objective” research, these stories actually uphold deficit, racialized notions about people of color. For the authors, a critical race methodology provides a tool to “counter” deficit storytelling. Specifically, a critical race methodology offers space to conduct and present research grounded in the experiences and knowledge of people of color. As they describe how they compose counter-stories, the authors discuss how the stories can be used as theoretical, methodological, and pedagogical tools to challenge racism, sexism, and classism and work toward social justice.
CEO Effectiveness For Leading Pre-Event Natural Disaster Preparedness Planning To Meet The Needs Of Employees And Their Families

The findings of this study suggest that there appears to be some disparity among managers in their perceptions to the degree of the effectiveness of their CEO in leading organizational natural disaster preparedness. In this regard, there appears to be agreement among managers that their leadership has been effective in putting into place practices to assess current risks and to have a back-up infrastructure in place to resume operations quickly once a natural disaster hits. However, they generally disagree that their organizations are prepared to support the individual needs of employees and their families during a natural disaster.
Combined versus Independent Hydrolysis and Extraction of Urinary 17-KetosteroidsWith Special Reference to the Choice of Solvents

AMONG salient of the numerous unsolved ketosteroid problems are those concerned with the extraction from the urine of the estrogenic and androgenic substances which are excreted as products of the metabolism of various precursor hormones, many of which have not yet been identified. A similar situation exists for the neutral 17-ketosteroids, some of which are of the androgenic variety, while others are biologically inactive. The androgenic 17-ketosteroids are derived from the adrenal cortex and the testes; and there is evidence from Hill's transplantation experiments (1, 2) and Friedgood's observations on the post-oophorectomy excretion of 17-ketosteroids (3) that the ovaries also contribute to the fraction. Furthermore, it is possible that a substance which is a nonandrogenic corticosteroid at the time of its secretion may become an androgenic 17-ketosteroid by virtue of the transformation or degradation to which it is subjected during its metabolism and subsequent excretion. Some of the non-androgenic ur...
Parallel — Vector Variable Bandwidth Equation Solver on Shared Memory Computers

In the previous chapter, parallel and vectorized Choleski algorithms which were based on the skyline (column-by-column) storage scheme for shared memory computers (such as the Cray-2, Cray-YMP, Cray-C90, etc..) had been discussed. The factorized algorithms discussed in Chapter 4 have been based upon the “dot product” operations. For certain types of shared memory computers (such as Cray-YMP, Cray-C90, etc.), “Saxpy” operations (to be explained in more detail, later on in this chapter) are known to be faster than “dot product” operations[5.1]. The skyline storage scheme and its associated parallel and vectorized algorithms has been found to prohibit the traditional “loop unrolling” technique used to optimize vector performance, so a less powerful “vector unrolling” strategy was used. This chapter describes a different algorithm that overcomes the deficiency of skyline storage by using a variable bandwidth storage scheme. The objective of this chapter is to describe this new algorithm for solving matrix equations and to demonstrate its accuracy and speed by solving large-scale structural analysis applications on shared memory (such as Cray) supercomputers.
Phantoms for the Assessment of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) Imaging Performance: A Review

A variety of phantoms have been developed to measure image quality-relevant parameters of OCT devices. This presentation will describe those phantoms and their application to test methods which can support OCT performance standardization. Article not available.
Economics of Heavy Fuels in Gas Turbines and Combined Cycles

Operating experience has established the ability of gas turbines and combined cycles to utilize heavy fuel oils for power generation economically and reliably. The technical factors related to operation of gas turbines on heavy oils are discussed and installation and operating costs are developed for each of these factors for economic evaluation. Factors influencing heavy oil use include fuel specifications and treatment to prevent corrosion of hot parts, the effects of ash deposition on turbine nozzles and buckets and on boiler heat transfer surface, turbine and boiler cleaning techniques and their use for maintaining capability, and downtime for cleaning.Copyright © 1981 by ASME
Osteogenesis in Cat Cranioplasty with Composite Hydroxylapatite/Plaster

Composite hydroxylapatite (HA)/plaster alloplasts were studied for frontal and parietal cranioplasty. The experimental defects were created in 61 anesthetized cats. They were filled with a moist 2:1 mixture of durapatite/plaster or Interpore/plaster containing 0.85% potassium sulfate. After setting, the implant site was sutured. The filled defects were very firm by physical examination and showed little particle scatter by radiography. At the time this report was prepared only 43 of the cat skulls were available for examination. After sacrifice, postmortem visual examination (VE) of the skulls suggested that new bone had formed over some implants. In most implants, however, VE could not determine whether new bone had formed between the HA particles. Probing examination (PE) of the parietal implants with a periodontal explorer gave a better indication; the presence of new bone rather than soft tissue between the HA particles was confirmed by x-ray microanalysis. The ventral surfaces (VS) of the parietal implants showed greater degrees of bone formation by PE; only 12 of 43 parietal implants showed a high degree of bone formation on the dorsal surfaces (DS) by PE whereas 34 of 43 showed this on the VS. The highly significant difference (3X) in the amount of bone formation on the VS compared with the DS suggests that this osteogenesis, like that observed in cranial trauma, may be stimulated by the dura which acts as a periosteum by supplying blood vessels to the implant.
Changes in alkaline phosphatase of kidney following renal damage with alloxan.

SummaryThe injection of alloxan in dosage of 300 to 600 mg per kg of rat was followed by a definite decrease in the alkaline phosphatase of the kidney. With the 600 mg dosage this enzyme was reduced 50% or more. The decrease in the renal phosphatase obtained by chemical analysis was roughly paralleled by the reduction demonstrated his-tochemically.
Batang County was Confirmed as Another Plague Foci County in Sichuan Province

Objective To understand whether Marmota himalayana plague natural foci exists in Ba-tang county of Sichuan province,so as to provide basis for plague control.Methods The methods of field epidemiological investigation combined with laboratory test was used to conduct the survey in Batang county.Results Relavent animal samples were collected,in which 31 animal samples were detected in bacteriology,one strain of Y.pestis was detected out from a Marmota himalayana death;72 animal serum samples(20 Marmota and 52 canis) were detected with Plague IHA test;10 serum samples were F1 antibody positive with IHA in 52 canis serum samples,the positive rate was 19.23%,with the serum titer from 1∶160-40 960.Conclusion The Marmota himalayana plague natural foci exists in Ba-tang county of Sichuan province.
Influence of water quality control on economy of circulating cooling water system operation

In view of the operation characteristics of open circulating cooling water systems of power plants in Anhui province,the influence of water quality control on the economy of the said system operation was studied from the aspects of concentration ratio controlling,scale and corrosion inhibitor formula system selection and so on.In addition,the reasonable treatment expense of circulating cooling water system of power plant in Huaihe River basin was also evaluated.The study results showed that: the concentration ratio of the circulating cooling water system of power plant in Anhui province could be properly increased to 4-5,and different formula systems of scale and corrosion inhibitor should be used in different areas;besides,the expense of the scale and corrosion inhibitor of the open circulating cooling water system in the power plant with Huaihe River as the source water should be 0.15 yuan/t.
Investigation of Case Missing Report Situation of Medical Institutions in Anhui Province in 2004

Objective To understand report situation of infectious disease cases in hospitals at various levels in 2004 in Anhui province so as to provide basis for improving case report quality.Methods Review of report data and inspection on site were used.Results 28 legal infectious diseases including class A, B, C and other venereal diseases were reported from January to October. Total report rate was 92.56%. Timely report rate was 79.82%. Missing report rate was 7.47%.Conclusions Awareness of related staff to the law should be improved by learning the law of infectious disease control and prevention in order to improve the report quality further.
Etiology, diagnosis, and management of urethral strictures in children

Urethral strictures in children, like those in adults, are problems whose management embodies all that is basic to urology. It is helpful to think of strictures according to etiology: congenital, infectious-inflammatory, and traumatic (iatrogenic and noniatrogenic). The treatment options are diversion (nearly always temporary), manipulation, and repair. The authors also review their research on urethral healing.
Delayed advancement in the repair of lacerated flexor profundus tendons.

Several methods of treatment are available for repair of the flexor profundus tendon lacerated distal to the insertion of the sublimis. Attention is called to the less well known method of repair by delayed advancement. Uniformly good results may be anticipated if certain basic principles are observed.
Nanomaterials for sample preparation

Due to their unique and often fascinating properties, nanomaterials have attracted much attention in various fields of materials science, electronics, biology, and even medicine. Research on application of nanomaterials in analytical chemistry has also experienced impressive growth in terms of number of papers published in the scientific literature. Sample preparation is often considered to be a fundamental step in analytical procedures, because it helps not only to achieve detection limits that are as low as legislation requires but also to clean up the sample matrix. The most popular sample preparation techniques are solid-phase extraction, solid-phase microextraction that use either fibers or in-tube devices, μ-solid-phase extraction and gas-phase preconcentration. The most novel nanomaterials that significantly contributed toward these techniques are carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The combination of their structures, dimensions, and topologies has provided attractive physical and chemical properties that are unparalleled by most known nanomaterials. This paper provides an overview of the new developments in nanomaterials that improve the sample preparation techniques.
An Amphipathic trans-Acting Phosphorothioate DNA Element Delivers Uncharged PNA and PMO Nucleic Acid Sequences in Mammalian Cells

An innovative approach to the delivery of uncharged peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) and phosphorodiamidate morpholino (PMO) oligomers in mammalian cells is described and consists of extending the sequence of those oligomers with a short PNA-polyA or PMO-polyA tail. Recognition of the polyA-tailed PNA or PMO oligomers by an amphipathic trans-acting polythymidylic thiophosphate triester element (dTtaPS) results in efficient internalization of those oligomers in several cell lines. The authors’ findings indicate that cellular uptake of the oligomers occurs through an energy-dependent mechanism and macropinocytosis appears to be the predominant endocytic pathway used for internalization. The functionality of the internalized oligomers is demonstrated by alternate splicing of the pre-mRNA encoding luciferase in HeLa pLuc 705 cells. Amphipathic phosphorothioate DNA elements may represent a unique class of cellular transporters for robust delivery of uncharged nucleic acid sequences in live mammalian cells. © 2016 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Keywords: PNA oligomers; PMO oligomers; nucleic acid–based drug delivery; cellular internalization; alternate splicing of luciferase pre-mRNA
ASA-FTL: An adaptive separation aware flash translation layer for solid state drives

Abstract The flash-memory based Solid State Drive (SSD) presents a promising storage solution for increasingly critical data-intensive applications due to its low latency (high throughput), high bandwidth, and low power consumption. Within an SSD, its Flash Translation Layer (FTL) is responsible for exposing the SSD’s flash memory storage to the computer system as a simple block device. The FTL design is one of the dominant factors determining an SSD’s lifespan and performance. To reduce the garbage collection overhead and deliver better performance, we propose a new, low-cost, adaptive separation-aware flash translation layer (ASA-FTL) that combines sampling, data clustering and selective caching of recency information to accurately identify and separate hot/cold data while incurring minimal overhead. We use sampling for light-weight identification of separation criteria, and our dedicated selective caching mechanism is designed to save the limited RAM resource in contemporary SSDs. Using simulations of ASA-FTL with both real-world and synthetic workloads, we have shown that our proposed approach reduces the garbage collection overhead by up to 28% and the overall response time by 15% compared to one of the most advanced existing FTLs. We find that the data clustering using a small sample size provides significant performance benefit while only incurring a very small computation and memory cost. In addition, our evaluation shows that ASA-FTL is able to adapt to the changes in the access pattern of workloads, which is a major advantage comparing to existing fixed data separation methods.
Reduced Activity of Mutant Calcium-Dependent Protein Kinase 1 Is Compensated in Plasmodium falciparum through the Action of Protein Kinase G.

ABSTRACT We used a sensitization approach that involves replacement of the gatekeeper residue in a protein kinase with one with a different side chain. The activity of the enzyme with a bulky gatekeeper residue, such as methionine, cannot be inhibited using bumped kinase inhibitors (BKIs). Here, we have used this approach to study Plasmodium falciparum calcium-dependent protein kinase 1 (PfCDPK1). The methionine gatekeeper substitution, T145M, although it led to a 47% reduction in transphosphorylation, was successfully introduced into the CDPK1 locus using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/Cas9. As methionine is a bulky residue, BKI 1294 had a 10-fold-greater effect in vitro on the wild-type enzyme than on the methionine mutant. However, in contrast to in vitro data with recombinant enzymes, BKI 1294 had a slightly greater inhibition of the growth of CDPK1 T145M parasites than the wild type. Moreover, the CDPK1 T145M parasites were more sensitive to the action of compound 2 (C2), a specific inhibitor of protein kinase G (PKG). These results suggest that a reduction in the activity of CDPK1 due to methionine substitution at the gatekeeper position is compensated through the direct action of PKG or of another kinase under the regulation of PKG. The transcript levels of CDPK5 and CDPK6 were significantly upregulated in the CDPK1 T145M parasites. The increase in CDPK6 or some other kinase may compensate for decrease in CDPK1 activity during invasion. This study suggests that targeting two kinases may be more effective in chemotherapy to treat malaria so as not to select for mutations in one of the enzymes. IMPORTANCE Protein kinases of Plasmodium falciparum are being actively pursued as drug targets to treat malaria. However, compensatory mechanisms may reverse the drug activity against a kinase. In this study, we show that replacement of the wild-type threonine gatekeeper residue with methionine reduces the transphosphorylation activity of CDPK1. Mutant parasites with methionine gatekeeper residue compensate the reduced activity of CDPK1 through the action of PKG possibly by upregulation of CDPK6 or some other kinase. This study highlights that targeting one enzyme may lead to changes in transcript expression of other kinases that compensate for its function and may select for mutants that are less dependent on the target enzyme activity. Thus, inhibiting two kinases is a better strategy to protect the antimalarial activity of each, similar to artemisinin combination therapy or malarone (atovaquone and proguanil).
Development of New Small Molecule Bone Marrow Radioprotectors.

New ways to protect the bone marrow from irradiation damage are required. We are currently developing new small molecules that can be given orally to protect the marrow from irradiation damage. One small molecule is EUK-134, a manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) mimetic. A nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, and a nitroxide homologue which have been both conjugated to a mitochondrial localization peptide signal, delivers the NOS inhibitor (another radioprotector) and nitroxide to the mitochondria. In addition, we tested ethyl pyruvate (EP), which has been demonstrated to protect tissues from ischemia-reperfusion injury at the level of the mitochondria. Incubation of 32D cl 3 hematopoietic cells 1 hour before irradiation in the presence of 20 μM EUK-134 or 100 μM of NOS inhibitor demonstrated an increased shoulder on the irradiation survival curve in one case (n = 5.55 ± 0.17 for EUK-134 compared to 1.60 ± 0.38 for control irradiated, respectively, p = 0.0044) and increase in the D 0 for the mitochondrial targeted NOS inhibitor compared to irradiated control 32D cl 3 cells (D 0 = 3.04 ± 0.27 compared to 1.29 ± 0.01 Gy, p = 0.0236). In experiments with 32D cl 3 cells in EP before irradiation or following irradiation, there was an increase in the D 0 to 2.2 ± 0.25 and 2.21 ± 0.15, respectively, compared to irradiated controls 1.42 ± 0.09 Gy for the 32D cl 3 cells (p = 0.0447 and 0.0119, respectively). Furthermore, incubation of 32D cl 3 cells in EP both before and after irradiation significantly increased the shoulder on the survival curve compared to irradiated control 32D cl 3 cells (n = 4.14 ± 1.59 compared to 1.70 ± 0.6 for the control irradiated cells, respectively, p=0.0485). To determine whether EP protected the bone marrow from irradiation in vivo, C57BL/6J mice were injected with EP intraperitoneally (70 mg/kg) 30 minutes before irradiation, daily for 5 days after irradiation, or both before and following irradiation to the LD 50/30 TBI dose of 900 cGy. Mice injected with EP either after irradiation or both before and after irradiation had prolonged survival compared to irradiated control mice or those injected with EP only before irradiation. (Percent survival at 50 days 100% and 100%, respectively, compared to 60%, p
Master Bedrooms and Master Suites: Modern Marriage and the Architecture of American Homes

Nineteenth- to mid-twentieth-century house design situated a “parents’ room” within close proximity to other bedrooms, keeping the marital couple near their children. That placement comported with ...
Data-Driven Subgroups in Depression Derived from Directed Functional Connectivity Paths at Rest

Depressed patients show abnormalities in brain connectivity at rest, including hyperconnectivity within the default mode network (DMN). However, there is well-known heterogeneity in the clinical presentation of depression that is overlooked when averaging connectivity data. We used data-driven parsing of neural connectivity to reveal subgroups among 80 depressed patients completing resting state fMRI. Directed functional connectivity paths (eg, region A influences region B) within a depression-relevant network were characterized using Group Iterative Multiple Model Estimation, a method shown to accurately recover the direction and presence of connectivity paths in individual participants. Individuals were clustered using community detection on neural connectivity estimates. Subgroups were compared on network features and on clinical and biological/demographic characteristics that influence depression prognosis. Two subgroups emerged. Subgroup A, containing 71% of the patients, showed a typical pattern of connectivity across DMN nodes, as previously reported in depressed patients on average. Subgroup B exhibited an atypical connectivity profile lacking DMN connectivity, with increased dorsal anterior cingulate-driven connectivity paths. Subgroup B members had an over-representation of females (87% of Subgroup B vs 65% of Subgroup A; χ2=3.89, p=0.049), comorbid anxiety diagnoses (42.9% of Subgroup B vs 17.5% of Subgroup A; χ2=5.34, p=.02), and highly recurrent depression (63.2% of Subgroup B vs 31.8% of Subgroup A; χ2=5.38, p=.02). Neural connectivity-based categorization revealed an atypical pattern of connectivity in a depressed patient subset that would be overlooked in group comparisons of depressed and healthy participants, and tracks with clinically relevant phenotypes including anxious depression and episodic recurrence. Data-driven parsing suggests heterogeneous substrates of depression; ideally, future work building on these findings will inform personalized treatment.
Hemangioblastoma: Stereotactic Radiosurgery

CNS hemangioblastomas are rare, vascular neoplasms that arise primarily in the posterior cranial fossa. Prognosis is generally favorable, with a recurrence rate of fewer than 25% in multiple surgical series. Although current standard of care for CNS hemangioblastomas is surgical resection, other treatment modalities including endovascular embolization and stereotactic radiosurgery (CyberKnife, LINAC, Gamma Knife) are bing applied. Increasing evidence has suggested the effectiveness of stereotactic radiosurgery in managing CNS hemangioblastomas. Herewithin, we review the indications and multi-institutional experiences in using such a treatment modality.