cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simulation of intense beams for Heavy Ion Fusion

Abstract Computer simulations of intense ion beams play a key role in the Heavy Ion Fusion research program. Along with analytic theory, they are used to develop future experiments, guide ongoing experiments, and aid in the analysis and interpretation of experimental results. They also afford access to regimes not yet accessible in the experimental program. The U.S. Heavy Ion Fusion Virtual National Laboratory and its collaborators have developed state-of-the art computational tools, related both to codes used for stationary plasmas and to codes used for traditional accelerator applications, but necessarily differing from each in important respects. These tools model beams in varying levels of detail and at widely varying computational cost. They include moment models (envelope equations and fluid descriptions), particle-in-cell methods (electrostatic and electromagnetic), nonlinear-perturbative descriptions (“ δ f ”), and continuum Vlasov methods. Increasingly, it is becoming clear that it is necessary to simulate not just the beams themselves, but also the environment in which they exist, be it an intentionally created plasma or an unwanted cloud of electrons and gas. In this paper, examples of the application of simulation tools to intense ion beam physics are presented, including support of present-day experiments, fundamental beam physics studies, and the development of future experiments. Throughout, new computational models are described and their utility explained. These include Mesh Refinement (and its dynamic variant, Adaptive Mesh Refinement); improved electron cloud and gas models, and an electron advance scheme that allows use of larger time steps; and moving-mesh and adaptive-mesh Vlasov methods.
Mental stress as an acute trigger of ischemic left ventricular dysfunction and blood pressure elevation in coronary artery disease

Abstract Acute mental stress may be a frequent trigger of transient myocardial ischemia, myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death. In an experimental setting, the effect of mental stress on hemodynamics and left ventricular wall motion abnormalities (as detected by radionuclide ventriculography) was measured in 29 patients with exercise-induced myocardial ischemia. Seventy-five percent of the patients demonstrated mental stress-induced wall motion abnormalities. Patients frequently exhibited greater increases in peak systolic arterial pressure during mental stress than during exercise. Personally relevant mental stress is the most potent type of mental stress, both in terms of frequency and magnitude of ischemia. Most mental stress-induced ischemic episodes are clinically and electrocardiographically silent and occur at heart rates significantly lower than those seen during exercise. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure increased during mental stress-induced ischemia, suggesting that increased myocardial oxygen demand plays a role in the pathophysiology of mental stress-induced transient ischemia. The significant magnitude and acute onset of this mental stress-induced blood pressure elevation may in some manner contribute to atherosclerotic plaque rupture. These findings may provide a pathophysiologic link to the epidemiologic association between mental stress and acute ischemic coronary events. A new ambulatory radionuclide detector that can concurrently monitor left ventricular ejection fraction and electrocardiographic ST-segment change may enhance the detection and evaluation of transient myocardial ischemia in ambulatory coronary patients.
Early carotid endarterectomy in symptomatic patients is associated with poorer perioperative outcomes.

Objective The optimal timing of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) after ipsilateral hemispheric stroke is controversial. Although early studies suggested that an interval of about 6 weeks after a completed stroke was preferred, more recent data have suggested that delaying CEA for this period of time is not necessary. With these issues in mind, we reviewed our experience to examine perioperative outcome with respect to the timing of CEA in previously symptomatic patients. Methods A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database of all CEAs performed at our institution from 1992 to 2003 showed that 2537 CEA were performed, of which 1158 (45.6%) were in symptomatic patients. Patients who were operated on emergently ≤48 hours of symptoms for crescendo transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) or stroke-in-evolution were excluded from analysis (n = 25). CEA was considered "early" if performed ≤4 weeks of symptoms, and "delayed" if performed after a minimum of a 4-week interval following the most recent symptom. Results Of nonurgent CEAs in symptomatic patients, in 87 instances the exact time interval from symptoms to surgery could not be precisely determined secondary to the remoteness of the symptoms (>18 months), and these were excluded from further analysis. Of the remaining 1046 cases, 62.7% had TIAs and 37.3% had completed strokes as their indication for surgery. Among the entire cohort, patients who underwent early CEA were significantly more likely to experience a perioperative stroke than patients who underwent delayed CEA (5.1% vs 1.6%, P = .002). Patients with TIAs alone were more likely to be operated on early rather than in a delayed fashion (64.3% vs 46.7%, P P = .05; CVA patients, 9.4% vs 2.4%, P = .003). There were no significant differences in demographics or other meaningful variables between patients who underwent early CEA and those who underwent delayed CEA. Conclusions In a large institutional experience, patients who underwent CEA ≤4 weeks of ipsilateral TIA or stroke experienced a significantly increased rate of perioperative stroke compared with patients who underwent CEA in a more delayed fashion. This was true for both TIA and stroke patients, although the results were more impressive among stroke patients. On the basis of these results, we continue to recommend that waiting period of 4 weeks be considered in stroke patients who are candidates for CEA.
Responsive graphs: understanding engineering concepts through interactive experience

Understanding scientific engineering concepts requires learners to correlate between different model representations. Simple engineering models are formulated mathematically, visualized with one or more graphs, and verbally interpreted with engineering terminology. Past [4] and present systems [1] allow learners to modify a limited set of model parameters but not the graph-plot itself. This paper describes a set of interactive learning models consisting of standard interactors together with novel direct-manipulation Responsive Graphs. By setting values with sliders and visually modifying graph-plots, users qualitatively explore and comprehend abstract engineering concepts through interactive experimentation. All model representations are continuously updated in real-time enabling users to compare and move between different model representations. These highly interactive learning experiences are the result of a collaboration between interaction designers seeking direct manipulation of graphics and engineering domain-experts.
Evolutionary construction by staying together and coming together

The evolutionary trajectory of life on earth is one of increasing size and complexity. Yet the standard equations of evolutionary dynamics describe mutation and selection among similar organisms that compete on the same level of organization. Here we begin to outline a mathematical theory that might help to explore how evolution can be constructive, how natural selection can lead from lower to higher levels of organization. We distinguish two fundamental operations, which we call ‘staying together’ and ‘coming together’. Staying together means that individuals form larger units by not separating after reproduction, while coming together means that independent individuals form aggregates. Staying together can lead to specialization and division of labor, but the developmental program must evolve in the basic unit. Coming together can be creative by combining units with different properties. Both operations have been identified in the context of multicellularity, but they have been treated very similarly. Here we point out that staying together and coming together can be found at every level of biological construction and moreover that they face different evolutionary problems. The distinction is particularly clear in the context of cooperation and defection. For staying together the stability of cooperation takes the form of a developmental error threshold, while coming together leads to evolutionary games and requires a mechanism for the evolution of cooperation. We use our models to discuss simple aspects of the evolution of protocells, eukarya, multi-cellularity and animal societies.
Effect of substituents on in vitro metabolism and covalent binding of substituted bromobenzenes.

Abstract The relative hepatotoxicity of o-bromobenzonitrile, bromobenzene, o-bromotoluene, and o-bromobenzotrifluoride decreases in the order mentioned. In this study, the nature of the substrate-enzyme interaction was investigated by determining spectral binding constants and by following the disappearance of several substituted bromobenzenes in vitro in the presence of the hepatic monooxygenase system. The disappearance rates generally parallel substrate electronic character; all the compounds display spectral binding constants of similar magnitude, and differences are not obviously attributable either to substituent solubility or electronic properties. In addition, the extent to which metabolites of these materials become covalently bound to microsomal proteins following incubation in vitro was determined. Despite an apparently low rate of metabolism, the very toxic o-bromobenzonitrile was covalently bound to a greater extent than bromobenzene. Surprisingly, the less toxic o-bromotoluene was the most efficiently covalently bound substrate studied. Whereas the extent of covalent binding of bromobenzene is increased ninefold by pretreating the animals with phenobarbital, only a 2.4-fold enhancement of o-bromobenzonitrile binding was observed. Glutathione reduced the covalent binding observed for all substrates in concentrations as low as 0.01 m m (except o-bromobenzotrifluoride, which required 0.1 m m ). The in vivo metabolism of o-bromotoluene was also studied, and it was determined that the major urinary metabolites are phenols and mercapturic acids, products of the arene oxide metabolic pathway. There does not emerge a simple correlation between macromolecular covalent binding and toxicity among these compounds.
Expanding the Use of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy: Words of Caution

In a world of diminishing returns, where clinically and statistically significant benefits become increasingly elusive, pharmacologic and devicebased therapies for systolic heart failure (HF) have consistently provided incremental improvement. In the past 20 years, serial clinical trials have demonstrated mortality benefits for betablockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, aldosterone antagonists, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) for selected patients with clinical HF caused by left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction against a background of gradually improving medical therapy. There is no question that millions of patients have benefited from these breakthroughs, and likely many millions more are eligible for these therapies but do not receive them in accordance with consensus guidelines. However, these interventions bear significant costs. Device-based therapy in particular places a substantial and growing financial burden on health care systems, and the devices themselves place patients at risk for serious adverse events at implantation and throughout the experience of
Neonatal Aortic Arch Hemodynamics and Perfusion During Cardiopulmonary Bypass

The objective of this study is to quantify the detailed three-dimensional (3D) pulsatile hemodynamics, mechanical loading, and perfusion characteristics of a patient-specific neonatal aortic arch during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The 3D cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reconstruction of a pediatric patient with a normal aortic arch is modified based on clinical literature to represent the neonatal morphology and flow conditions. The anatomical dimensions are verified from several literature sources. The CPB is created virtually in the computer by clamping the ascending aorta and inserting the computer-aided design model of the 10 Fr tapered generic cannula. Pulsatile (130 bpm) 3D blood flow velocities and pressures are computed using the commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software. Second order accurate CFD settings are validated against particle image velocimetry experiments in an earlier study with a complex cardiovascular unsteady benchmark. CFD results in this manuscript are further compared with the in vivo physiological CPB pressure waveforms and demonstrated excellent agreement. Cannula inlet flow waveforms are measured from in vivo PC-MRI and 3 kg piglet neonatal animal model physiological experiments, distributed equally between the head-neck vessels and the descending aorta. Neonatal 3D aortic hemodynamics is also compared with that of the pediatric and fetal aortic stages. Detailed 3D flow fields, blood damage, wall shear stress (WSS), pressure drop, perfusion, and hemodynamic parameters describing the pulsatile energetics are calculated for both the physiological neonatal aorta and for the CPB aorta assembly. The primary flow structure is the high-speed canulla jet flow (approximately 3.0 m/s at peak flow), which eventually stagnates at the anterior aortic arch wall and low velocity flow in the cross-clamp pouch. These structures contributed to the reduced flow pulsatility (85%), increased WSS (50%), power loss (28%), and blood damage (288%), compared with normal neonatal aortic physiology. These drastic hemodynamic differences and associated intense biophysical loading of the pathological CPB configuration necessitate urgent bioengineering improvements--in hardware design, perfusion flow waveform, and configuration. This study serves to document the baseline condition, while the methodology presented can be utilized in preliminary CPB cannula design and in optimization studies reducing animal experiments. Coupled to a lumped-parameter model the 3D hemodynamic characteristics will aid the surgical decision making process of the perfusion strategies in complex congenital heart surgeries.
Brain state change detection via fiber-centered functional connectivity analysis

Structural and functional brain connectivity has been extensively studied via diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and functional MRI (fMRI) in recent years. An important aspect that has not been adequately addressed before is the connectivity state change in structurally-connected brain regions. In this paper, we present an intuitive approach that extracts feature vectors describing the functional connectivity state of the brain with the guidance of DTI data. The general idea is that the functional connectivity patterns of all of the fiber-connected voxels within the brain are concatenated into a feature vector to represent the brain's state, and brain state change points are determined by the abrupt changes of the vector patterns calculated by the sliding window approach. Our results show that we can detect meaningful critical brain state change time points in task-based fMRI and natural stimulus fMRI data. In particular, the detected brain state change points in task-based fMRI data well corresponded to the stimulus task paradigm given to the subjects, providing validation to the proposed brain state change detection approach.
Why do cows mount other cows

Abstract Cows of European origin were often kept apart from bulls during the past two millenia with the result that herdsmen had to judge by female behavior when to bring them together for mating. Since cow-cow mounting is an accurate sign that the time is right for taking the cow being mounted (“mountee”) to be bred, and that estrus is imminent in most mounting cows (“mounters”), selection for this behavior was probably coincidental.
CONSTANT CAPITAL AND THE CRISIS IN CONTEMPORARY CAPITALISM: ECHOES FROM THE LATE NINETEENTH CENTURY

Because constant capital involves irreversible decisions, understanding this subject is essential for coming to grips with the complexity of the economy, especially crisis theory. This paper attempts to show how both Marx and late 19th century neoclassical economists in the United States realized that the relative growth of constant capital made competitive economies unsustainable.
A Developmental Perspective on Full- Versus Part-Day Kindergarten and Children’s Academic Trajectories Through Fifth Grade

Children’s kindergarten experiences are increasingly taking place in full- versus part-day programs, yet important questions remain about whether there are significant and meaningful benefits to full-day kindergarten. Using the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study’s Kindergarten Cohort (N= 13,776), this study takes a developmental approach to examining associations between kindergarten program type and academic trajectories from kindergarten (ages 4–6 years) through 5th grade (ages 9–12 years). Full-day kindergarten was associated with greater growth of reading and math skills from fall until spring of kindergarten. Initial academic benefits diminished soon after kindergarten. The fade-out of the full-day advantage is in part explained by differences in the children who attend part- and full-day kindergarten as well as school characteristics.
Effect of lauric acid and nisin-impregnated soy-based films on the growth of Listeria monocytogenes on turkey bologna

Research in development of antimicrobial packaging applications for further processed meats has become more common with recent outbreaks of contamination of these products. In this present study, lauric acid (8%, wt/wt) and 2.5% pure nisin (4%, wt/wt) were incorporated singly and together into thermally compacted soy films. Biocide-impregnated films were compared to control films containing no biocide for inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes in liquid medium and on turkey bologna surface. L. monocytogenes suspended in 1% peptone medium exposed to control films increased from 10 to 10 after 48 h exposure at 22 C. Films with nisin alone suppressed cell numbers 1 log cfu/mL after 2 h but cell numbers increased to 10 after 24 and 48 h at 22 C. Films containing lauric acid and nisin completely eliminated detectable cells from a 10 culture after 8 h of exposure to the liquid medium (22 C). Refrigerated bologna exposed to control films increased by 0.5 log from 10 after 21 d at 4 C. Nisin films reduced cell numbers on turkey bologna from 10 to 10 after 21 d, as did films containing nisin and lauric acid. Films with lauric acid alone reduced L. monocytogenes culture from 10 to <10 after 48 h and by 1 log on turkey bologna after 21 d.
Endometrial stromal beta-catenin is required for steroid-dependent mesenchymal-epithelial cross talk and decidualization.

Background: Beta-catenin is part of a protein complex associated with adherens junctions. When allowed to accumulate to sufficient levels in its dephosphorylated form, beta-catenin serves as a transcriptional co-activator associated with a number of signaling pathways, including steroid hormone signaling pathways. Methods: To investigate the role of beta-catenin in progesterone (P4) signaling and female reproductive physiology, conditional ablation of Ctnnb1 from the endometrial mesenchymal (i.e. stromal and myometrial), but not epithelial, compartment was accomplished using the Amhr2-Cre mice. Experiments were conducted to assess the ability of mutant female mice to undergo pregnancy and pseudopregnancy by or through oil-induced decidualization. The ability of uteri from mutant female mice to respond to estrogen (E2) and P4 was also determined. Results: Conditional deletion of Ctnnb1 from the mesenchymal compartment of the uterus resulted in infertility stemming, in part, from complete failure of the uterus to decidualize. E2-stimulated epithelial cell mitosis and edematization were not altered in mutant uteri indicating that the mesenchyme is capable of responding to E2. However, exposure of ovariectomized mutant female mice to a combined E2 and P4 hormone regimen consistent with early pregnancy revealed that mesenchymal beta-catenin is essential for indirectly opposing E2-induced epithelial proliferation by P4 and in some mice resulted in development of endometrial metaplasia. Lastly, betacatenin is also required for the induced expression of genes that are known to play a fundamental role in decidualization such as Ihh, Ptch1, Gli1 and Muc1 Conclusions: Three salient points derive from these studies. First, the findings demonstrate a mechanistic linkage between the P4 and beta-catenin signaling pathways. Second, they highlight an under appreciated role for the mesenchymal compartment in indirectly mediating P4 signaling to the epithelium, a process that intimately involves mesenchymal beta-catenin. Third, the technical feasibility of deleting genes in the mesenchymal compartment of the uterus in an effort to understand decidualization and post-natal interactions with the overlying epithelium has been demonstrated. It is concluded that beta-catenin plays an integral role in selective P4-directed epithelial-mesenchymal communication in both the estrous cycling and gravid uterus.
High‐Temperature Deformation of Single‐Crystal Yttrium‐Aluminum Garnet (YAG)

Single crystals of Y{sub 3}Al{sub 5}O{sub 12} (YAG) were deformed in air along the [135] direction of 1,635 and 1,785 C using constant strain rate compression. The primary creep region, characterized by ``strain softening,`` persists to at least 4% plastic strain before steady-state behavior is achieved. Creep rates, stress exponents, and activation energies were compared to literature results and suggest the operation of multiple mechanisms over the range of conditions studies. Slip trace analysis confirmed that {l_brace}110{r_brace} was the primary slip system. Slip on both highly stressed (211) and ``anomalous`` (1{bar 1}2) planes was also observed. Dislocation structures were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy and consisted of networks and coarse loops. These results are discussed in terms of asymmetric slip geometry classically observed in body-centered cubic (BCC) metals.
Effect of dental restorations and prostheses on radiotherapy dose distribution: a Monte Carlo study

Dental restorations, fixed prosthodontics, and implants affect dose distribution in head and neck radiation therapy due to the high atomic number of the materials utilized. The backscatter of electrons from metallic materials due to the impinging treatment x-ray results in localized dose enhancements. These dose enhancements cause localized mucositis in patients who have dental work, a significant clinical complication. We investigated the backscatter effect of 23 configurations of dental work using the EGS4nrc Monte Carlo (MC) simulation system. We found that all-metal fixed partial dentures caused the highest amount of dose enhancement--up to 33%--while amalgam restorations did not cause a significant amount. Restorations with a ceramic veneer caused up to 8% enhancement. Between 3 mm and 5 mm of water-equivalent material almost completely absorbed the backscatter. MC simulations provide an accurate estimate of backscatter dose, and may provide patient-specific estimates in future.
Velocity-Aligned Discrete Oriented Polytopes for Dynamic Collision Detection

We propose an acceleration scheme for many-body dynamic collision detection at interactive rates. We use the Velocity-Aligned Discrete Oriented Polytope (VADOP), a tight bounding volume representation that offers fast update rates and which is particularly suitable for applications with many fast-moving objects. The axes selection that determines the shape of our bounding volumes is based on spherical coverings. We demonstrate that we can robustly detect collisions that are missed by pseudodynamic collision detection schemes with even greater performance due to substantial collision pruning by our bounding volumes.
Emotion Regulation in Romantic Relationships: The Cognitive Consequences of Concealing Feelings

People frequently regulate the emotions that arise during tense social interactions. Common regulation strategies include cognitive reappraisal, which involves interpreting a situation in positive terms, and expressive suppression, which involves inhibiting overt signs of inner emotional states. According to our analysis, during tense social interactions reappraisal should (i) increase memory for what was said, whereas suppression should (ii) decrease memory for what was said, and (iii) increase memory for emotions. To test these predictions, we experimentally manipulated reappraisal and suppression in dating couples as they discussed a relationship conflict. As predicted, memory for conversation utterances was increased by reappraisal and decreased by suppression, and memory for emotional reactions was increased by suppression. Self-monitoring mediated the effect of suppression on memory for emotional reactions, but not for conversation utterances. These findings suggest that, if it is important to prese...
Statistical software testing with parallel modeling: a case study

Statistical software testing promises to offer a solution to the growing testing burden caused by the ever-increasing complexity of today's software systems. Nevertheless, the complexity of these systems makes it more difficult to provide a model to use as a basis for statistical testing. The flat and hierarchical modeling currently used to create operational profiles leads to enormous models when capturing the usage of these complex systems. This research describes a method to extend formal specification languages, intended for modeling complex systems, with statistical testing components. With this new procedure for defining operational profiles, we can generate statistical test cases from significantly larger models. This sets the stage for conducting future studies comparing statistical testing to other test strategies, such as structural testing.
Two-Dimensional Strain–A Doppler-Independent Ultrasound Method for Quantitation of Regional Deformation: Validation In Vitro and In Vivo

Background A new 2-dimensional strain echocardiography (2DSE) method has been introduced that measures myocardial deformations by tracking localized acoustic markers. We compared strains measured in vitro and in vivo by 2DSE with those obtained by sonomicrometry. Methods For the in vitro study, a tissue-mimicking gelatin block was cyclically compressed and longitudinal strains obtained by 2DSE and sonomicrometry crystals. For the in vivo study, arrays of crystals were implanted into the apical anteroseptal (test region) and midposterior (control region) in 16 open-chest pigs and strains measured by 2DSE and crystals at baseline and after acute ischemia. Results In vitro, pooled data demonstrated good correlation ( r = 0.99, P r = 0.94, P Conclusion The 2DSE demonstrated good overall correlation and agreement with sonomicrometry for the tested in vitro and in vivo values. Some caution with 2DSE measurements is needed for combinations of low strains and strain rates.
Entropically Controlled Nanomechanical DNA Origami Devices

Structural DNA nanotechnology is a rapidly emerging field with immense potential for applications such as single molecule sensing, drug delivery, and manipulating molecular components. Major advances in the last decade have enabled the precise design and fabrication of DNA nanostructures with unprecedented geometric complexity; however, relative to natural biomolecular machines, the functional scope of DNA nanotechnology is limited by an inability to design dynamic mechanical behavior such as complex motion, conformational dynamics, or force generation. Inspired by approaches used in macroscopic machine design, we have recently developed methods to design structures with controllable 1D, 2D, or 3D motion. Moving beyond design of geometry or motion paths, we have recently developed structures with multiple thermally accessible states separated by well-defined energy barriers with tunable height. In particular, we have design a two-state device that transitions between compact and open states driven by thermal energy. We directly measured the dynamic behavior via single molecule fluorescence experiments, which show both the equilibrium distribution of states and the kinetics of switching between states can be tuned via design parameters that regulate the relative configurational space, or equivalently the entropy change, between states. Finally, we show that these dynamic structures can be used to probe local molecular scale forces, specifically depletion forces that result from entropic interactions with a crowding reagent. This work is the first demonstration of an ability to control the kinetics of DNA origami nanostructures down to the second scale and establishes a foundation for exploiting dynamic behavior of these devices to study physical interactions at the molecular scale.
Regulation of endothelial cell gap formation and paracellular permeability.

Abstract Investigation of the regulation of permeability properties of the endothelium has yielded evidence to support the concept of a dual regulation of EC gap formation and barrier function. In this model, the primary determinants of EC permeability are tethering/adhesive properties (Figure 1) and tensile centripetal force generation (Figure 2). The importance of actin-myosin interactions and active cellular contraction and force generation has been reviewed. In the model of thrombin-induced EC barrier dysfunction, there is a strong shift in the MLC species from the unphosphorylated to the diphosphorylated form, indicating activation of MLCK, a key enzyme whose importance in EC contraction has been well established. Although important differences between EC and SMC exist, endothelial cell gap formation involves actomyosin-dependent contractile mechanisms similar to SMC, a cellular system in which MLC phosphorylation correlates with the initial rate of tension development. The increase in MLC phosphorylation and isometric tension is consistent with the hypothesis that activation of signal transduction mediates an increase in isometric tension to a new level of "latch state" through the cytoskeleton. Thus, the available evidence implicates a strong role for cellular force generation and contraction in the evolution of thrombin-induced barrier dysfunction. Accumulating evidence also indicates that modulation of tethering properties, primarily those involving cell-matrix and cell-cell adhesion, is also a key determinant of basal EC barrier properties as well as agonist-mediated barrier dysfunction. Because each of these focal adhesion constituents may be involved in establishing tethering properties in endothelium, they each may be involved in determining barrier permeability and may be involved in the evolution of agonist-mediated barrier dysfunction. Therefore, in addition to MLCK-dependent active tensile force generation, agonist-induced barrier dysfunction may occur via MLCK-independent pathways that rely on basal levels of MLC phosphorylation or by affecting proteins involved in tethering properties of endothelium that contribute to barrier function. Further examination of tethering force properties, combined with elucidation of EC relaxation via MLC dephosphorylation may yield clues as to how this important vascular barrier is maintained and restored after vascular insult.
Study on improving grinding efficiency of oolitic hematite using grinding aids

Based on optimizing the grinding process of oolitic hematite,the effects of sodium hexametaphosphate,sodium tripolyphosphate and Z-164Don the grinding efficiency of oolitic hematite were studied.And the results showed,keeping other grinding parameters as constant and the grinding concentration being 80%,the contents of-0.074mm in the grinding products were increased by 30.25, 29.83and 30.15percentage points respectively under the proper dosages of all three kinds of grinding aids. However,comparing with the optimal grinding conditions without grinding aids,the contents of-0.074 mm in the grinding products were only increased by 0.72,0.30and 0.62percentage points respectively when the grinding concentration was 70%.On the basis of experiments and measurements,the changes of pulp viscosity,the particle morphology and the surface hardness of grinding products were studied and the mechanisms of improving the grinding efficiency of oolitic hematite by grinding aids were revealed.
Here's to the future.

In the near future the thoughtful and creative use of technology can, and should, greatly improve the quality of the curriculum for dyslexic students. The quality of their learning should also be enhanced, provided that educators are fully aware of student needs, have advance training, and have sufficient time and expertise to select and evaluate appropriate software programs.
Expanding the grafts pool for pediatric liver transplantation with segmental grafts from living donor and cadaveric reduced size or split grafts

AIM To compare short and long-term results of pediatric liver transplantation (LT), utilizing segmental grafts from living donors (LD) vs. cadaveric (CAD) reduced size or split grafts. METHODS A retrospective analysis of a single center experience (1993-2000), comparing the surgical outcome, the graft function and the survival rates between these groups. RESULTS Of 195 LTs in pediatric recipients (age < 18), 48 (25%) were with LD grafts and 47 (24%) with CAD grafts (reduced size, n = 27, or split, n = 20). The mean age and weight of the LD recipients were 1.8 +/- 3 yrs and 9.0 +/- 8.1 kg vs. 3.5 +/- 4 yrs. and 15.2 +/- 14.5 kg in the CAD group. The distribution of etiologies was comparable (EHBA, 54% vs. 49%; inborn errors in metabolism, 12.5% vs. 12%; acute idiopathic hepatic failure, 12.5% vs. 14.2%). The severity of pretransplant disease and the fraction of acute hepatic failure cases were also comparable, although less LD grafts were used for urgent re-transplantation due to primary non-function or vascular complications (1 case in the LD group vs. 6 in the CAD group). The median warm ischemia time was similar (43 min; range, 28-87 min vs. 45 min; range 12-82 min), but the median cold ischemia time was significantly different (60 min; range 43-298 in LD vs. 637 min; range, 342-1102 in CAD grafts). Both patient and graft survival in 3 months, 1 and 5 years were significantly superior in the LD group (patient survival, 97%, 91% and 89% vs. 82%, 70% and 62%, p < 0.001; graft survival, 92%, 89% and 77% vs. 66%, 59% and 52%, p < 0.005). The incidence of vascular complications (hepatic artery or portal vein thrombosis) and biliary complications (leak of stricture) was comparable (vascular, 10% vs. 7%, biliary, 16% vs. 9%). The incidence of poor early graft function (6% vs. 21%) and primary non-function (2% vs. 18%) was significantly lower in the LD group. CONCLUSION Although presenting similar surgical complexity, the outcome of segmental grafts from LD is better than of reduced size or split cadaveric grafts.
A methodology for intelligent honeypot deployment and active engagement of attackers

The internet has brought about tremendous changes in the way we see the world, allowing us to communicate at the speed of light, and dramatically changing the face of business forever. Organizations are able to share their business strategies and sensitive or proprietary information across the globe in order to create a sense of cohesiveness. This ability to share information across the vastness of the internet also allows attackers to exploit these different avenues to steal intellectual property or gather information vital to the national security of an entire nation. As technology advances to include more devices accessing an organization's network and as more business is handled via the internet, attackers' opportunities increase daily. Honeypots were created in response to this cyber warfare. Honeypots provide a technique to gather information about attackers performing reconnaissance on a network or device without the voluminous logs obtained by the majority of intrusion detection systems. This research effort provides a methodology to dynamically generate context-appropriate honeynets. Administrators are able to modify the system to conform to the target environment and gather the information passively or through increasing degrees of active scanning. The information obtained during the process of scanning the environment aids the administrator in creating a network topology and understanding the flux of devices in the network. This research continues the effort to defend an organization's networks against the onslaught of attackers.
AGEs and Bone Fracture

Cancellous bone cores were obtained from tibial plateaus of human donors (age: 39-87). Each score was scanned (Scanco Medical AG) to obtain bone mineral density (BMD) and assigned into two groups [(Group 1: Mean age = 57 ±17; N=5); (Group 2: Mean age = 66±20; N=5)] such that their BMD was not different (p=0.92). Cores were tested via unconfined compression tests [1] to determine several mechanical variables including toughness (defined as area under the stress-strain curve). A bone slice was cut for the determination of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs, measured as ng fluorescence/mg of collagen) using protocols well established in our lab [1]. Consistent with clinical studies [2], the results showed that, in contrast to BMD, the toughness values of the two groups were significantly different (p=0.01). More importantly, total AGEs were significantly higher in low-toughness than in the high-toughness group. Higher AGEs have been shown to cause increased bone fragility [3]. Consistent with these results, our study on a larger cohort shows that AGEs predict post-yield fracture properties of tibial cancellous bone independently of BMD [4].
Filtered Rayleigh scattering measurements of velocity, temperature, and density in supersonic flow

There is an increasing need for nonintrusive flow diagnostic capabilities that can be used over a wide range of conditions and that do not rely on the availability of foreign seed materials. Molecular Rayleigh scattering is particularly attractive because of inherently strong signal levels, which allow for flow field imaging, and the availability of suitable lasers and detectors in tire visible region of the spectrum, permitting the use of ordinary glass windows. The traditional difficulties in implementing Rayleigh scattering are the extraction of quantitative data from the scattering spectral profile and interference from window and wall surface elastic scattering.
Confidence Crisis Among General Surgery Residents: A Systematic Review and Qualitative Discourse Analysis.

Importance In the surgical community, there is concern that general surgery residents are choosing subspecialty training in large numbers because of a crisis in confidence at the end of training. Confidence is an essential quality of surgeons, and recent studies have attempted to quantify and measure it in graduating general surgery residents. Objectives To systematically review the quality of evidence provided and to critically analyze the language used to describe the findings using quantitative methods. Evidence Review A systematic review of the PubMed indexed literature on general surgery resident confidence was performed in March 2015. A summative table of each study’s hypothesis, definition of confidence, quality using the Medical Education Research Study Quality Instrument, influence using Web of Science citations, results, and conclusions was created, and qualitative coding was applied to identify emerging themes. No date restrictions were used in the search. Findings Fifteen survey studies have been performed that measure confidence or readiness to practice. Although 5 studies had neutral or positive conclusions, most studies reported low confidence in general surgery graduates. There are conflicting data about definitions of confidence. The relationships between confidence, autonomy, and competence are varied and complex. Comparisons with the past are frequent. Conclusions and Relevance Confidence is difficult to define and measure. Despite limitations, survey studies are used to shape discourse and influence policies. Social and cultural factors influence self-efficacy, and focusing on operative volume and autonomy alone may not address all of the reasons that some residents express concerns about readiness to practice.
Design and Realization of Virtual Line Source Using Metamaterials

A metamaterial-embedded 2-D electric line source radiating inside a ground recess is presented. The media embedding a recessed antenna is designed based on transformation electromagnetics (TE) such that the embedded antenna yields the same far-field radiation characteristics as an antenna over a flat conducting ground plane, i.e., forming a virtual antenna. The transformation media comprise a negative-index superlens of finite dimensions and anisotropic impedance-matching blocks. Resonant inclusion-based metamaterials are designed at 5 GHz for their realization using standard printed-circuit technologies. Required metamaterial blocks are assembled for an effective 2-D TE-polarized configuration in a parallel-plate waveguide simulator. Field-mapping measurement confirms formation of a virtual radiator above the ground.
Cardiac Myocyte and Coronary Endothelial Cell Adenosine Transport

Zero trans rates of adenosine flux into myocytes and endothelial cells isolated from hearts of adult rats were measured and compared. Results from these studies show that cardiac myocyte adenosine influx occurs by a saturable transport system with Km = 6.2 μM and Vmax = 0.96 pmol/mg/s and a nonsaturable process with a rate constant of 1.8 x 10−3/s (24°C). The saturable transporter is inhibited by nitrobenzylthioinosine and verapamil (Ki = 17 μM). Adenosine transported into the cells is rapidly phosphorylated and at extracellular adenosine concentrations below 32 μM there is no time-dependent increase in intracellular adenosine concentrations. Above 32 μM extracellular adenosine, intracellular adenosine progressively increases with time. Intracellular adenosine found at high extracellular adenosine is not bound to cell protein. Noncultured endothelial cells exhibit transport kinetics distinct from those of myocytes. At extracellular adenosine concentrations 50 μM or less, adenosine transport is solely dependent on a saturable transport system. Only at adenosine concentrations 100 μM or greater is there evidence for a nonsaturable component. Saturable transport Km is about 0.4 μM and has a Vmax of 74 pmol/mg protein−1/s−1. Thus, the maximum adenosine transport velocity of endothelial cells exceeds that of myocytes (per mg cell protein) by at least 20-fold, and the adenosine concentration at which inward transport is 50% active is about 15-fold less for endothelial cells than for myocytes. These properties of endothelial cell adenosine transport probably limit the amount of vascular adenosine which reaches smooth muscle cells and serve to reduce myocyte-derived adenosine diffusion into the vascular space.
Re-evaluating the Role of Emperor John VIII in the Failed Union of Florence

Eastern scholars have long accused John VIII Palaiologos of sacrificing the faith for temporal gain when he oversaw the Union of Florence. Westerners have blamed him for the union's ultimate failure. These competing narratives both err by too sharply differentiating between religion and politics, and allowing the opinions of John's contemporary critics to colour their interpretations of his actions. A contextual analysis of John's activities during and after the council finds his behaviour in keeping with the best elements of his tradition and suggests the potential for a new historiography of Ferrara-Florence which might help to dislodge entrenched ecclesial animosities.
Thermally robust: triarylsulfonium ionic liquids stable in air for 90 days at 300 °C

Select triarylsulfonium salts constitute ionic liquids with outstanding long-term, high-temperature aerobic stability (no mass loss in 90 days at 300 °C in air), making them among the most thermally stable organic materials known. A detailed analysis of their thermophysical properties reveals that lowering melting points in these salts by increasing ion size or lowering ion symmetry cannot be assumed, but remains an iterative process.
The Influence of Friendships on Aggressive Behavior in Early Childhood: Examining the Interdependence of Aggression.

The present short-term longitudinal study examined the stability and role of peer influence on both physical and relational aggression in early childhood using a dyadic data analytic framework. Following the peer-individual interaction model, forms of aggressive behavior (i.e., physical and relational) were observed in 43 dyads of close friendships in early childhood (M = 47.37 months, SD = 7.56) to better understand how friendships may maintain aggressive behavior over time. Friendship quality (FQ) was included as a moderator to explain how friendships may maintain aggression. The results provide evidence supporting the affiliation hypothesis for physical aggression with opposite findings for relational aggression. Negative FQ moderated associations with both relational and physical aggression over time whereas positive FQ moderated the dyadic influence with physical aggression over time. Limitations and future directions are discussed.
C1orf64 is a novel androgen receptor target gene and coregulator that interacts with 14-3-3 protein in breast cancer.

// Ali Naderi 1 1 University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Cancer Biology Program, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813, USA Correspondence to: Ali Naderi, email: anaderi@cc.hawaii.edu , a.naderi1996@gmail.com Keywords: androgen receptor, C1orf64, 14-3-3, breast cancer, coregulator Received: January 31, 2017 Accepted: April 11, 2017 Published: May 11, 2017 ABSTRACT This study investigated the network of genes that are co-expressed with androgen receptor (AR) to discover novel AR targets in breast cancer. Bioinformatics analysis of two datasets from breast cancer cell lines resulted in the identification of an AR-gene signature constituted of 98 genes that highly correlated with AR expression. Notably, C1orf64 showed the highest positive correlation with AR across the datasets with a correlation coefficient (CC) of 0.737. In addition, C1orf64 closely correlated with AR expression in primary and metastatic breast tumors and C1orf64 expression was relatively higher in breast tumors with a lower grade and lobular histology. Furthermore, there is a functional interplay between AR and C1orf64 in breast cancer. In this process, AR activation directly represses C1orf64 transcription and C1orf64, in turn, interacts with AR as a corepressor and negatively regulates the AR-mediated induction of prolactin-induced protein (PIP) and AR reporter activity. Moreover, the corepressor effect of C1orf64 results in a reduction of AR binding to PIP promoter. The other aspect of this interplay involves a cross-talk between AR and estrogen receptor (ER) signaling in which C1orf64 silencing intensifies the AR-mediated down-regulation of ER target gene, progesterone receptor. Therefore, the repression of C1orf64 by AR provides an underlying mechanism for the AR inhibitory effects on ER signaling. To elucidate the biochemical mechanisms of C1orf64 function, this study demonstrates that C1orf64 is a phosphothreonine protein that interacts with the chaperone protein 14-3-3. In summary, C1orf64 is a novel AR coregulator and a 14-3-3 binding partner in breast cancer.