cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Energy harvesting: a key to wireless sensor nodes

Energy harvesting has enabled new operational concepts in the growing field of wireless sensing. A novel energy harvesting device driven by aeroelastic flutter vibrations has been developed and could be used to complement existing environmental energy harvesters such as solar cells in wireless sensing applications. An analytical model of the mechanical, electromechanical, and aerodynamic systems suitable for designing aeroelastic energy harvesters for various flow applications are derived and presented. Wind tunnel testing was performed with a prototype energy harvester to characterize the power output and flutter frequency response of the device over its entire range of operating wind speeds. Finally, two wing geometries, a flat plate and a NACA 0012 airfoil were tested and compared.
A Chebyshev condition for accelerating convergence of iterative tomographic methods-solving large least squares problems

Abstract The Simultaneous Iterative Reconstruction Technique (SIRT) is a variation of Richardson's method for solving linear systems with positive definitive matrices, and can be used for solving any least squares problem. Previous SIRT methods used in tomography have suggested a constant normalization factor for the step size. With this normalization, the convergence rate of the eigencomponents decreases as the eigenvalue decreases, making these methods impractical for obtaining large bandwidth solutions. By allowing the normalization factor to change with each iteration, the error after k iterations is shown to be a k th order polynomial. The factors are then chosen to yield a Chebyshev polynomial so that the maximum error in the iterative method is minimized over a prescribed range of eigenvalues. Compared with k iterations using a constant normalization, the Chebyshev method requires only k and has the property that all eigencomponents converge at the same rate. Simple expressions are given which permit the number of iterations to be determined in advanced based upon the desired accuracy and bandwidth. A stable ordering of the Chebyshev factors is also given which minimizes the effects of numerical roundoff. Since a good upper bound for the maximum eigenvalue of the normal matrix is essential to the calculations, the well known ‘power method with shift of origin’ is combined with the Chebyshev method to estimate its value.
Perspectives of “Functional Failure”

The present dialogue piece briefly examines six perspectives of functional failure (individual-level, societal-level, life spheres impacted, number of severe consequences, attribution of consequences to drug misuse, and socio-environmental generalizability) as they might apply to seven degrees of drug misuse (constant, dependence, heavy, binging, controlled use, “dry,” sober). Variation in judgments of failure is posited across the perspectives and across degrees of drug misuse.
Modulation of Ca2+ oscillations by phosphorylation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptors

Activation of Ins P 3 Rs (Ins P 3 receptors) represents the major mechanism underlying intracellular calcium release in non-excitable cells such as hepatocytes and exocrine cells from the pancreas and salivary glands. Modulation of calcium release through Ins P 3 Rs is therefore a major route whereby the temporal and spatial characteristics of calcium waves and oscillations can potentially be ‘shaped’. In this study, the functional consequences of phosphoregulation of Ins P 3 Rs were investigated. Pancreatic and parotid acinar cells express all three types of Ins P 3 R in differing abundance, and all are potential substrates for phosphoregulation. PKA (protein kinase A)-mediated phosphorylation of Ins P 3 Rs in pancreatic acinar cells resulted in slowed kinetics of calcium release following photo-release of Ins P 3 . In contrast, activation of PKA in parotid cells resulted in a marked potentiation of calcium release. In pancreatic acinar cells the predominant Ins P 3 R isoform phosphorylated was the type 3 receptor, while the type 2 receptor was markedly phosphorylated in parotid acinar cells. In order to further decipher the effects of phosphorylation on individual Ins P 3 R subtypes, DT-40 cell lines expressing homotetramers of a single isoform of Ins P 3 R were utilized. These data demonstrate that phosphoregulation of Ins P 3 Rs results in subtype-specific effects and may play a role in the specificity of calcium signals by ‘shaping’ the spatio-temporal profile of the response.
Synthesis and structure of an unusual complex formed between 1,2-bis(3′-pyridyl)ethyne and C-methyl calix[4]resorcinarene

The X-ray crystal structure of the complex formed between 1,2-bis(3′-pyridyl)ethyne and C-methylresorcinarene is described. The structure (C45H47N3O12) is monoclinic with a = 11.8086(7), b = 31.2037(17), c = 11.2933(6) A, β = 101.9330(10)° and space group P21/c. The structure reveals that the resorcinarene adopts the common bowl-shaped conformation however the four intramolecular hydrogen bonds are arranged asymmetrically. One of the pyridyl rings sits inside the resorcinarene and is hydrogen bonded to two adjacent resorcinarenes.
Biomarkers Associated With Migraine and Their Potential Role in Migraine Management

Objective The focus of this review is to review potential diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers associated with migraine. Background Migraine headache is a common disease that affects millions of individuals worldwide. Although well-accepted diagnostic criteria exist for migraine, it is still a complex disorder that remains both underdiagnosed and misdiagnosed. The causes of migraine are likely a mix of genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors that, together with the individual's life history, translate into the observed clinical heterogeneity. Inherent clinical heterogeneity is an obstacle in developing more effective treatments. The lack of appropriate biomarkers is also an impediment to developing more effective therapeutic/preventive approaches. Ultimately, biomarkers may facilitate the goal of individualized medicine by enabling clinicians to more accurately diagnose and treat migraine and other types of headache. Methods A comprehensive review was conducted of PubMed citations containing the key word “marker” OR “biomarker” combined with “migraine” OR “headache.” Other key words included “serum,” “saliva,” “cerebrospinal fluid,” “genes,” “blood,” and “inflammation.” The only restriction was English-language publication. The abstracts of all articles meeting these criteria were reviewed, and full text was retrieved and examined for relevant references. Results Data from human studies have begun to identify genetic mutations/polymorphisms and altered levels of specific proinflammatory and neuromodulatory molecules that strongly correlate with migraine as well as symptom severity. Results from a smaller number of studies have identified parameters, such as the neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), which are significantly associated with response to specific treatments for acute migraine attacks and prophylaxis. Epigenetic mechanisms may also be involved in the development of migraine, and understanding environmentally induced genetic changes associated with this disease may eventually guide the development of therapies capable of reversing these pathophysiological changes in gene function. Conclusions The understanding of the etiology of migraine is incomplete. Although the identification and validation of biomarkers has greatly advanced diagnostic precision and measures of therapeutic efficacy in other diseases, there are no currently accepted biomarkers for chronic or episodic migraine. However, the continued investigation and identification of genetic, epigenetic, and molecular biomarkers is likely to facilitate the goal of individualizing medicine by enabling clinicians to more accurately diagnose and treat migraine and other headache disorders.
A Brief Report on Predicting Self-Harm: Is It Gender or Abuse that Matters?

Self-harm, which consists of nonsuicidal self-injury and attempted suicide, is a public health problem that is not well understood. There is conflicting evidence on the role of gender in predicting self-harm. Abuse history also is a potentially relevant factor to explore, as it is related to both gender and self-harm. In this study, we hypothesized that abuse history, as opposed to gender, would predict self-harm. Three hundred and ninety-seven undergraduates completed a self-report survey that assessed abuse history, nonsuicidal self-injury, and attempted suicide. The results suggested that abuse history predicted nonsuicidal self-injury and attempted suicide. These findings can inform clinical interventions as they reinforce the importance of including abuse history in the conceptualizations and treatment of self-harm.
Tumor necrosis factor alpha induces adhesion molecule expression on human fetal astrocytes.

Leukocyte adhesion molecules on endothelial cells of the blood-brain barrier may participate in the entry of leukocytes into the central nervous system. Because astrocytes are also a component of the blood- brain barrier and have been associated with inflammation, we studied the ability of astrocytes to express leukocyte adhesion molecules using Northern blot and immunocytochemical techniques. Astrocytes treated with the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) expressed messenger RNA for the adhesion molecules E-selectin, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, and intercellular adhesion molecule 1, as well as their corresponding proteins. In addition, TNF-treated astrocytes expressed a monocyte adhesion protein identified by our laboratory, recognized by the monoclonal antibody IG9. These results indicate that under inflammatory conditions in the central nervous system, such as multiple sclerosis and acquired immune deficiency syndrome, astrocyte expression of adhesion molecules may facilitate the migration of leukocytes and contribute to the disease process.
Effects of sphinigosine on phorbol ester‐mediated changes in astrocyte morphology and protein phosphorylation

Previous studies indicate that phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) can induce morphological changes in astrocytes cultured from the rat neocortex. PMA also increased 32P incorporation into several proteins, including glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), vimentin, and proteins with molecular weights of 80,000 (pI 4.5), 50,000 (pI 4.9), and 30,000 (pI 5.5). The present studies were conducted to determine if the morphological effect and the phosphorylation effect of PMA could be blocked by treatment with sphingosine, a protein kinase C inhibitor. Treatment with 15 microM sphingosine inhibited the effect of PMA on astrocyte morphology. This agent also inhibited the increase in phosphorylation mediated by PMA. The percent inhibition ranged from approximately 20% for the 30,000-Mr protein to 70% for GFAP. Analysis of phosphorylation sites on GFAP and vimentin using two-dimensional tryptic mapping techniques indicate that the partial inhibition of phosphorylation is likely the consequence of partial inhibition of protein kinase C rather than a selective inhibition at some phosphorylation sites and not others. In addition to increasing 32P incorporation into various proteins, PMA also decreased 32P incorporation in several 20,000-Mr proteins (pI values of 6.7, 6.4, 6.2, 4.9). However, this effect was not blocked by treatment with sphingosine. This suggests that the actions of PMA to increase and decrease 32P incorporation are mediated by different mechanisms.
Elevated Expression of Serotonin 5-HT2A Receptors in the Rat Ventral Tegmental Area Enhances Vulnerability to the Behavioral Effects of Cocaine

The dopamine mesocorticoaccumbens pathway which originates in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and projects to the nucleus accumbens and prefrontal cortex is a circuit important in mediating the actions of psychostimulants. The function of this circuit is modulated by the actions of serotonin (5-HT) at 5-HT2A receptors (5-HT2AR) localized to the VTA. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that virally-mediated overexpression of 5-HT2AR in the VTA would increase cocaine-evoked locomotor activity in the absence of alterations in basal locomotor activity. A plasmid containing the gene for the 5-HT2AR linked to a synthetic marker peptide (Flag) was created and the construct was packaged in an adeno-associated virus vector (rAAV-5-HT2AR-Flag). This viral vector (2 µl; 109-10 transducing units/ml) was unilaterally infused into the VTA of male rats, while control animals received an intra-VTA infusion of Ringer’s solution. Virus-pretreated rats exhibited normal spontaneous locomotor activity measured in a modified open-field apparatus at 7, 14, and 21 days following infusion. After an injection of cocaine (15 mg/kg, ip), both horizontal hyperactivity and rearing were significantly enhanced in virus-treated rats (p<0.05). Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed expression of Flag and overexpression of the 5-HT2AR protein. These data indicate that the vulnerability of adult male rats to hyperactivity induced by cocaine is enhanced following increased levels of expression of the 5-HT2AR in the VTA and suggest that the 5-HT2AR receptor in the VTA plays a role in regulation of responsiveness to cocaine.
A note on the existence of the power investor's optimizer

Karatzas et al. (SIAM J. Control Optim. 29:707–730, 1991) ensure the existence of the expected utility maximizer for investors with constant relative risk aversion coefficients less than one. In this note, we explain a simple trick that allows us to use this result to provide the existence of utility maximizers for arbitrary coefficients of relative risk aversion. The simplicity of our approach is to be contrasted with the general existence result provided in Kramkov and Schachermayer (Ann. Appl. Probab. 9:904–950, 1999).
The ethics of animal research: what are the prospects for agreement?

Few human uses of nonhuman animals (hereafter simply “animals”) have incited as much controversy as the use of animals in biomedical research. The political exchanges over this issue tend to produce much more heat than light, as representatives of both biomedicine and the animal protection community accuse opponents of being “Nazis,” “terrorists,” and the like. However, a healthy number of individuals within these two communities offer the possibility of a more illuminating discussion of the ethics of animal research.
Pseudohypobicarbonatemia Caused by an Endogenous Assay Interferent: A New Entity

Serum total carbon dioxide, measured using a chemistry analyzer, and gas panel–derived plasma bicarbonate, calculated from the pH and partial pressure of carbon dioxide, often are used interchangeably for clinical purposes. When they disagree, there is a tendency to accept total carbon dioxide and discredit gas panel–derived plasma bicarbonate values. We report a patient who, during a 5-month hospitalization, had persistently low total carbon dioxide levels (12.4 ± 2.7 [standard deviation] mEq/L [12.4 ± 2.7 mmol/L]), measured using an enzymatic/photometric assay, and a high anion gap (19.2 ± 3.1 mEq/L [19.2 ± 3.1 mmol/L]), suggesting high-anion-gap metabolic acidosis, but who had gas panel–derived plasma bicarbonate (24.0 ± 0.9 mEq/L [24.0 ± 0.9 mmol/L]) and arterial pH values in the reference range. Organic anion levels in blood and urine were unremarkable. Negative interference with the enzymatic assay by the patient's serum was shown by the findings that total carbon dioxide level was 7.0 ± 0.1 mEq/L (7.0 ± 0.1 mmol/L) higher when measured using the electrode-based method than using the enzymatic method ( P
Analysis of wall dynamics and directional components of left ventricular contraction in man.

Abstract The extent and rate of left ventricular wall thickening during systole has previously been shown to be a useful measure of regional ventricular function and to play an important role in the ejection of blood from the left ventricle. The relation among systolic wall thickening, the directional components of contraction, ejection fraction and force velocity measurements is therefore of interest in understanding the dynamics of contraction of the intact ventricle. This report describes a theoretical basis and method for using ventricular angiograms to quantify the separate contributions of longitudinal shortening, circumferential shortening and systolic wall thickening to overall ventricular performance in man. One hundred twenty-two patients with valvular, coronary or myocardial heart disease were studied with biplane angiocardiography during diagnostic cardiac catheterizations. The percent contribution of directional components to total work or power developed by a mid-wall equatorial element of myocardium was shown to be: longitudinal, 14 percent in normal and diseased ventricles; circumferential, 45 percent in normal, increasing to 55 percent in dilated ventricles (P
A quantitative analysis of Beethoven as self-critic: implications for psychological theories of musical creativity

How well can composers judge their own ideas and works? This question remains largely unanswered, in part because qualitative data sources like quotations and anecdotes have not been systematically examined. This archival case study of Ludwig van Beethoven remedies this by comprehensively analyzing his self-critical statements. Explicit self-criticisms of 70 compositions were found in Beethoven's letters or conversations, spanning his whole career and most musical forms. Beethoven's positive or negative assessments are reliably associated with three citation measures of aesthetic success, and the likelihood of correct decisions strongly increased with age. His comments comparing several similar masterpieces are likewise largely consistent with expert ratings and recording counts. Finally, the ranking of works by listener-hours (number of complete recordings multiplied by performance duration) correspond closely to Beethoven's intra-genre preferences. The results suggest considerable self-critical acumen o...
RAT LIVER SLICES AND DIAZEPAM METABOLISM: IN VITRO INTERACTIONS WITH VOLATILE ANAESTHETIC DRUGS AND ALBUMIN

SUMMARY The influence of the volatile anaesthetic agents enflurane, isoflurane, halothane and the halothane metabolite trifluoroacetic acid was studied on the hepatic elimination of diazepam, by incubating precision-cut slices of rat liver in a closed system. The impact of anaesthetic-induced action on enzyme activity and diazepam binding to human serum albumin (HSA) was assessed in protein free and protein containing buffers, respectively. Human serum albumin reduced the elimination of diazepam by 12 and 50% at concentrations of 1 and 10 mg ml−1, respectively. In the absence of albumin, halothane 1 mmol litre−1 reduced the elimination of diazepam by 13%, whereas enflurane at 1.5 mmol litre−1 caused a reduction of 8%. No effect was seen from isoflurane 1 mmol litre−1 and trifluoroacetic acid 4 mmol litre−1. In the presence of the highest concentration of albumin, however, an increased elimination of diazepam of 24% resulted from exposure to enflurane and trifluoroacetic acid, while no statistically significant changes were seen for isoflurane and halothane. The present work supports the view that volatile anaesthetic agents may cause pharmacokinetic drug interactions by interference with both enzyme activity and drug protein binding.
Further results in multistage adaptive filtering

In this paper, we investigate some of the stochastic properties of two recently introduced multistage adaptive filtering algorithms, namely the LMS-Bayesian and the RLS-Bayesian algorithms. We study probability-1 convergence of these algorithms and derive their final mean squared error for stationary Gaussian time series. We will show that under some general independence assumptions, both algorithms are convergent in a probability-1 sense and achieve the performance of the best algorithm used in the mixture.
Power and Politeness: Administrative Writing in an “Organized Anarchy”

In addition to reflecting the social and power relationships between the writer and the reader as well as the degree of imposition, politeness strategies in administrative writing also reflect the values of the organization. Operating in the egalitarian climate perpetuated in a university setting, administrators obscured their legitimate power when they wrote nonroutine memos to faculty. Hiding and de-emphasizing their empowerment by using indirectness, tentativeness, indebtedness, and personalization, academic administrators achieved a high level of politeness. This intensified politeness contrasts with the moderated politeness used in a corporation that openly accepts hierarchy and promotes efficiency. This study, therefore, offers a context-based approach to analyzing administrative writing, an approach that can be used to uncover discourse strategies in other organizational sites.
A Mueller matrix formalism for modeling polarization effects in erbium-doped fiber

The effects of erbium anisotropy in erbium-doped fiber lasers, sources, and amplifiers are examined. Starting from basic ion properties, inversion and gain equations are derived analytically to describe polarization dependencies. A novel matrix form of the Er/sup 3+/ rate equations is presented to propagate powers and polarization states. These equations are then numerically integrated and compared to experimentally observed polarization hole burning and polarization dependent gain. The theoretical predictions agree strongly with experiment in all cases.
Silver-Catalyzed Rearrangement of Propargylic Sulfinates: Synthesis of Allenic Sulfones

But-3-yn-2-yl 4-Methylbenzenesulfinate Tosyl chloride Triethylamine Triphenylphosphine 1-(Buta-1,2-dien-1-ylsulfonyl)-4-methylbenzene Silver hexafluoroantimonate Keywords: allenic sulfones; propargylic sulfinates; propargylic alcohols; silver-catalyzed rearrangement; DNA cleavage; carbon-accelerated Claisen rearrangement
Psychological treatments in the psychiatric emergency service

A survey of psychological techniques that have been applied in the psychiatric emergency service demonstrates their potential for meeting the increased treatment demands of this changing and challenging milieu.
A pilot test of an alcohol skills training programme for Mexican-American college students

Abstract The alcohol skills training program for college students (ASTP) is an empirically supported intervention to reduce the harmful consequences of drinking behaviour among college students in the United States (US). However, ASTP had not been previously tested among college student samples in other cultures. In addition, very little is known about how to intervene upon risky alcohol use among Mexican-American college students, although this population is at high risk for alcohol abuse. In this study, the ASTP was revised to meet the cultural and language needs of bilingual Mexican-American college students. Mexican-American undergraduates ( N =109) attending a predominantly Latino university located along the US-Mexico border were randomly assigned to one of two intervention groups (manual-only and full ASTP). Participants were assessed at three time points (baseline, 3-month follow-up, and 12-month follow-up) to determine drinking patterns and alcohol-related consequences. Study results found that Mexican-American college students in both conditions consumed less alcohol and experienced fewer alcohol-related consequences after the intervention. The culturally relevant ASTP may be a promising harm reduction programme for Mexican-American college students, and ASTP strategies appear to be transportable into other cultures.
On the mechanism of action of the adrenocorticotrophic hormone. The stimulation of the activity of enzymes involved in pregnenolone synthesis.

Abstract Rat adrenal steroidogenesis has been measured in a system consisting of mitochondria, microsomes, succinate, Mg++, TPNH, DPN+, and phosphate. With incubations at 20°, the rate of corticosterone formation has been found to be biphasic with a rapid primary rate lasting for about 4 to 6 min, followed by a slower secondary rate which continues for at least another 15 min. Of the two subcellular fractions, the mitochondrial fraction is the rate-limiting one. Administration of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) 15 min before killing the experimental animals resulted in a 2- to 3-fold increase in the primary rate of corticosterone synthesis. The increase was due to changes which occurred only in the mitochondria; microsomes from ACTH-treated and control animals were identical in their activity. The direct assay of the reactions involved in corticosterone synthesis, that is, the synthesis of pregnenolone, the conversion of pregnenolone to progesterone, the transformation of progesterone to deoxycorticosterone, and the 11-hydroxylation of deoxycorticosterone to corticosterone showed that only the synthesis of pregnenolone in the mitochondria was increased by ACTH. In addition, the rate of pregnenolone synthesis was the slowest reaction, even after ACTH stimulation. Mitochondria were "pretreated" by exposure to water and the inclusion of Ca++ in the incubation medium. Pretreated mitochondria from both control and ACTH-treated rats showed greater rates of pregnenolone synthesis than the corresponding intact mitochondria. Prior administration of cycloheximide to the rats eliminates the ACTH-induced increase in pregnenolone synthesis in the intact mitochondria. However, if the ACTH-treated mitochondria are pretreated, then cycloheximide has no effect on their activity, and the activity is equal to that of pretreated, ACTH-treated mitochondria. The other mitochondrial activity studied, 11-hydroxylation, is not affected. These data indicate that ACTH stimulation of pregnenolone synthesis does not involve an increase in the amount of an enzyme which directly participates in pregnenolone synthesis but does involve an increase in the activity of such an enzyme. Adrenal mitochondria from ACTH-treated rats are more sensitive to swelling agents than mitochondria from control animals. The hypothesis that ACTH controls steroidogenesis by determining the rate of efflux of mitochondrial pregnenolone and hence the extent of the feedback inhibition by pregnenolone of its own synthesis is found to be consistent with the data obtained.
Compartmental model of nitrate retention in streams

[1] A compartmental modeling approach is presented to route nitrate retention along a cascade of stream reach sections. A process transfer function is used for transient storage equations with first-order reaction terms to represent nitrate uptake in the free stream and denitrification in the storage regions. In the context of a short-term nitrate injection we define nitrate assimilative capacity as 1 − , where the attenuation factor, , is the fraction of injected nitrate mass that is flushed past the outlet of stream. Net exchange with groundwater is modeled by allowing free stream discharge to vary from one reach section to the next. A Monte Carlo simulation was used to compare results of the compartmental model with the OTIS numerical model. Out of 350 Monte Carlo simulations of a stream consisting of five reach sections the highest relative percent difference was 15%, most being well below 10%, as determined using moment analysis on breakthrough curves. Moment analysis on published experimental breakthrough curves showed assimilative capacities did not differ from those determined with the compartmental model by more than about 0.035 and were well within the uncertainty due to possible errors in measured stream metrics and net exchange with groundwater. The results show that the compartmental modeling approach, commonly used in analysis of groundwater data, can also be useful in evaluating nitrate retention in streams.
Ocean Renewable Energy Storage (ORES) System: Analysis of an Undersea Energy Storage Concept

Due to its higher capacity factor and proximity to densely populated areas, offshore wind power with integrated energy storage could satisfy > 20% of U.S. electricity demand. Similar results could also be obtained in many parts of the world. The offshore environment can be used for unobtrusive, safe, and economical utility-scale energy storage by taking advantage of the hydrostatic pressure at ocean depths to store energy by pumping water out of concrete spheres and later allowing it to flow back in through a turbine to generate electricity. The storage spheres are an ideal complement to energy harvesting machines, such as floating wind turbines (FWTs). The system could provide near-base-load-quality utility-scale renewable energy and do double duty as the anchoring point for the generation platforms. Analysis indicates that storage can be economically feasible at depths as shallow as 200 m, with cost per megawatt hour of storage dropping until 1500 m before beginning to trend upward. The sweet spot occurs when the concrete wall thickness to withstand the hydrostatic pressure provides enough ballast mass, and this will depend on the strength of used concrete and reinforcement. In addition, the required concrete would use significant amounts of fly ash from coal-fired power plants, and the spheres can serve as artificial reefs.
Mixed-signal system-on-chip verification using a recursively-verifying-modeling (RVM) methodology

The verification of mixed-signal SoC is emerging as the most significant challenge, and with its cost surpassing the chip design cost. This paper presents a new automated verification methodology namely RVM (recursively verifying and modeling) and a set of supporting electronic design automation tools. The RVM methodology is built on the existing design flow and environments but with three major innovations to cope with custom-designed transistor blocks: a tool for automatically generating and validating simulation-efficiently behavioral models from a circuit netlist, a tool for characterizing and verifying the electrical rule correctness of analog blocks, and a hierarchical environment that allows designers to control the modeling and verification complexity. With the RVM methodology, analog circuits are verified in a way similar to the well-established digital verification. A set of industry benchmark results have shown that the RVM methodology is cable of reducing the verification time by potentially 100x to 1000x. With the increasing complexity of full-chip mixed-signal system-on-chip design, the RVM methodology is emerging as the only scalable verification solution.
A case of amoxicillin-induced hepatocellular liver injury with bile-duct damage

Amoxicillin, an antibiotic that is widely prescribed for various infections, is associated with a very low rate of drug-induced liver injury; hepatitis and cholestasis are rare complications. Here we present a case of a 39-year-old woman who was diagnosed with abdominal actinomycosis and received amoxicillin treatment. The patient displayed hepatocellular and bile-duct injury, in addition to elevated levels of liver enzymes. The patient was diagnosed with amoxicillin-induced cholestatic hepatitis. When amoxicillin was discontinued, the patient's symptoms improved and her liver enzyme levels reduced to near to the normal range.
Individual Differences in the Centrality of Visual Product Aesthetics: Concept and Measurement

This research conceptualizes and develops a scale to measure individual differences in the centrality of visual product aesthetics (CVPA), defined as the level of significance that visual aesthetics hold for a particular consumer in his/her relationship with products. Three related dimensions of product aesthetics centrality emerged from the research: value, acumen, and response intensity. A series of eight studies provided evidence that the CVPA measure possesses satisfactory reliability and validity. Additionally, this research illuminates important differences between high and low CVPA consumers in product-design-related evaluations and behaviors and provides suggestions for future research employing the scale.
Negotiating Transitions in Later Life: Married Couples in Assisted Living:

Although a minority in assisted living facilities (ALFs), couples do reside in these settings and the numbers are predicted to rise. Despite this prediction, little is known about these couples' experiences. Endeavoring to advance knowledge and inform policy and practice, this article presents an analysis of qualitative data from an exploratory study involving 20 married couples living in ALFs. Analysis considers couples' pathways and responses to assisted living. Findings show couples' pathways to ALFs typically involved a major health transition for one or both spouses and required enabling resources paired with the desire to remain together. For most, the need for relocation was asynchronous. Couples' ALF experiences were variable in terms of how spouses reported interacting with one another and how they interacted with others. A couple's degree of health synchronicity, level of disability, and previous social patterns influenced activity in ALFs. Implications for research, policy, and practice are dis...
Molecular beam study of the chemiluminescent reaction C + SO2 → SO(A 3Π) + CO

Abstract The reaction C( 3 P) + SO 2 → SO(A 3 Π) + CO has been identified and studied in a beam-cell configuration. Chemiluminescence (240–360 nm) indicates that the SO(A 3 Π) molecules are formed in the lowest vibrational levels ( v = 0–6). The predominance of SO(A 3 Π) production over SO(B 3 Σ − ) formation observed is explained by adiabatic correlation arguments.
The development of a flapping fin for maneuvering

A biorobotic fin has been developed that recreates the motions made by the bluegill sunfish's pectoral fin during maneuvers such as a yaw turn. The design of the fin is an evolution of a design used for a robotic fin that recreated the motions and hydrodynamic forces made by the sunfish during steady swimming. Due to a large number of degrees of freedom, the fin creates hydrodynamics similar to those created by the fish during the maneuver. The fin will serve as the foundation for a flexible, biorobotic fin capable of producing both steady swimming and maneuvering forces. The robotic fin is being developed as an experimental tool to investigate flapping fin propulsion and will lead to flapping based propulsors that will help give UUVs the agility of fish.
The efficiency of an asynchronous flight muscle from a beetle.

SUMMARY Mechanical power output and metabolic power input were measured from an asynchronous flight muscle, the basalar muscle of the beetle Cotinus mutabilis. Mechanical power output was determined using the work loop technique and metabolic power input by monitoring CO2 production or both CO2 production and O2 consumption. At 35°C, and with conditions that maximized power output (60 Hz sinusoidal strain, optimal muscle length and strain amplitude, 60 Hz stimulation frequency), the peak mechanical power output during a 10 s burst was approximately 140 W kg–1, the respiratory coefficient 0.83 and the muscle efficiency 14–16 %. The stimulus intensity used was the minimal required to achieve a maximal isometric tetanus. Increasing or decreasing the stimulus intensity from this level changed mechanical power output but not efficiency, indicating that the efficiency measurements were not contaminated by excitation of muscles adjacent to that from which the mechanical recordings were made. The CO2 produced during an isometric tetanus was approximately half that during a bout of similar stimulation but with imposed sinusoidal strain and work output, suggesting that up to 50 % of the energy input may go to muscle activation costs. Reducing the stimulus frequency to 30 Hz from its usual value of 60 Hz reduced mechanical power output but had no significant effect on efficiency. Increasing the frequency of the sinusoidal strain from 60 to 90 Hz reduced power output but not CO2 consumption; hence, there was a decline in efficiency. The respiratory coefficient was the same for 10 s and 30 s bursts of activity, suggesting that there was no major change in the fuel used over this time range. The mass-specific mechanical power output and the efficiency of the beetle muscle were each 2–3 times greater than values measured in previous studies, using similar techniques, from locust flight muscles, which are synchronous muscles. These results support the hypothesis that asynchronous flight muscles have evolved in several major insect taxa because they can provide greater power output and are more efficient than are synchronous muscles for operation at the high frequencies of insect flight.
Engagement of the CrkL Adapter in Interleukin-5 Signaling in Eosinophils

Interleukin-5 (IL-5) drives the terminal differentiation of myeloid progenitors to the eosinophil lineage; blocks eosinophil apoptosis; and primes eosinophils for enhanced functional activities in allergic, parasitic, and other eosinophil-associated diseases. Here we describe a novel signaling pathway activated by the IL-5 receptor in eosinophils involving the CrkL adapter protein. We determined whether IL-5 induces activation of CrkL and STAT5 in eosinophils using both the human eosinophil-differentiated AML14.3D10 cell line and purified peripheral blood eosinophils from normal donors. Stimulation of AML14.3D10 cells or blood eosinophils with IL-5 induced rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of the CrkL adapter and STAT5 and the association of CrkL and STAT5 in vivo as evidenced by the detection of STAT5 in anti-CrkL immunoprecipitates. The resulting CrkL·STAT5 complexes translocated to the nucleus and bound STAT5 consensus DNA-binding sites present in the promoters of IL-5-regulated genes, as shown in gel mobility and antibody supershift assays. IL-5 also induced marked activity of an 8X-GAS (interferon γ-activated site)-luciferase reporter construct in transient transfections of AML14.3D10 eosinophils, demonstrating that these complexes play a functional role in IL-5 signaling. CrkL was also found to interact, via its N-terminal SH3 domain, with C3G, a guanine exchange factor for the small G-protein Rap1, which was also rapidly activated in an IL-5-dependent manner in these cells, establishing that CrkL mediates downstream activation of at least two signaling cascades in IL-5-stimulated eosinophils. Thus, the CrkL adapter plays an important role in IL-5 signaling in the eosinophil, acting as a nuclear adapter for STAT5 and as an upstream regulator of the C3G-Rap1 signaling pathway.
Integration by migration

Book reviewed in this article: Abstract In terms of trade and capital flows, the Middle East is one of the least economically integrated regions of the world. The major exception is labor mobility, where intraregional migration flows are extensive. The explanation for this pattern lies in the extreme differences in factor endowments across the region and development policies adopted by both labor-importing and exporting countries. Because the obstacles to trade in goods have been greater than the obstacles to migration, labor mobility and its associated capital flows have been the most important mechanism through which the benefits of the oil windfall have been spread to the poorer states of the region. There is evidence that incomes across the Middle East have become more equal.
Progress toward Quantitative Computed Tomography

Progress in the quantitative use of CT numbers for patient diagnosis has been limited because of scanner drift, energy dependence, and various artifacts. The nature of these errors is discussed, and methods of evaluating them are described. In addition, remedial measures are mentioned, including the use of a three-point calibration phantom.
The incidence of Sheehan's syndrome after obstetric hemorrhage.

Objective To estimate the incidence of Sheehan's syndrome in a well-described cohort of patients with obstetric hemorrhage. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Tertiary care center. Patient(s) Two hundred patients. Intervention(s) Questionnaires were sent to study and comparison patients asking about menstrual dysfunction, lactation difficulty, cold intolerance, fatigue, axillary and pubic hair loss, and secondary infertility. Main Outcome Measure(s) Women who experienced two or more symptoms were referred for hormone testing of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), T 4 , PRL, and early morning cortisol (F) levels. Result(s) A total of 109 patients responded to the survey, a 55% response rate. Fourteen of 55 (25%) patients in the hemorrhage group identified themselves as suffering from two or more symptoms on the questionnaire. Eight of the 14 patients were tested, but none had hormonal evidence of hypopituitarism. Four of 54 (7%) comparison patients also identified themselves as suffering from two or more symptoms, but neither of the two tested had hormonal evidence of hypopituitarism. Conclusion(s) Among women with postpartum hemorrhage, subsequent development of clinical symptoms does not correlate well with laboratory evidence of hypopituitarism. Clinically significant Sheehan syndrome is an uncommon consequence of obstetric hemorrhage in today's environment.
Predicting Sudden Death Risk for Heart Failure Patients in the Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Age

One-third to one-half of patients with chronic, dilated heart failure will die suddenly or be resuscitated from a cardiac arrest or sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT).1–3 Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) offer excellent protection from sudden death by providing effective termination of the arrhythmia when it occurs, but they are not without problems. Approximately one-third of patients will experience some adverse effect, including inappropriate shocks, lead problems, and infection.4,5 The implantation and testing procedure occasionally precipitates hemodynamic deterioration.6 DDD or VVI pacing from the right ventricular lead of the ICD may have adverse hemodynamic effects, including increasing dyssynchrony of left ventricular contraction, and may have contributed to the aggravation of heart failure observed in the Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial II (MADIT II).7,8 See p 565 As with any therapy, wider use in lower risk patients increases the number of patients who might not benefit but who still suffer adverse effects. On the other hand, many sudden deaths will be prevented, and the balance, to this point, has been positive. The substantial costs of the ICD hardware, implantation, and follow-up are also a concern. Thus, identifying those patients with depressed ventricular function who are most likely to benefit, or perhaps more importantly, those who are unlikely to benefit, is of interest. The development of tests to identify patients at high risk for fatal arrhythmias typically follows a progression (Table). Retrospective studies determine if a positive test is more common in known high-risk groups (eg, cardiac arrest survivors) compared with lower risk groups. Second, predictive accuracy is evaluated prospectively, often as a substudy of a larger trial. Finally, the test is used to select a high-risk group for testing of a therapy. Despite the extremely high efficacy of ICDs for terminating …
Securing the Second Front: Achieving First Receiver Safety and Security through Competency-based Tools

Introduction: Limited research has focused on the safety and security of First Responders and Receivers, including clinicians, hospital workers, public safety officials, community volunteers, and other lay personnel, during public health emergencies. These providers are, in some cases, at greater peril during large-scale disasters due to their lack of training and inadequate resources to handle major influxes of patients. Exemplified in the 1995 Tokyo sarin gas attacks and the 2008 Wenchuan earthquakes, lack of training results in poor outcomes for both patients and First Receivers. Objective: The improvement of knowledge and comfort level of First Receivers preparing for a medical disaster via an affordable, repeatable emergency preparedness training (EPT) curriculum. Methods: A 5-hour EPT curriculum was developed including nine learning objectives, 18 competencies, and 34 performance objectives. Following brief didactic and small group sessions, interprofessional teams of four to six trainees were observed in a large patient simulator designed to recreate environmentally challenging (ie, flood evacuation), multipatient scenarios using a novel technique developed to utilize trainees as actors. Trained observers assessed successful completion of 16 individual and 18 team performance objectives. Prior to training, team members completed a 24-question knowledge assessment, a demographic survey, and a comfort level self-assessment. Following training, trainees repeated the 24 questions, self-assessment, and course assessment. Results: One hundred ninety-five participants completed the course between November 2012 and August 2013. One hundred ninety-one (98.5%), 150 (76.9%), and 66 (33.8%) participants completed the pretest, post-test, and course assessment, respectively. The mean (SD) percentage of correct answers between the pretest and post-test increased from 46.3 (13.4) to 75.3 (12.2), P , .0001. Thirty-eight participants (19.5%) reported more than three hours of disaster EPT each year while 157 participants (80.5%) reported three hours or less of yearly EPT. Sixty-six (100%) reported the course relevant to care providers and 61 (92.4%) highly recommended the course. Comfort level increased from 37.0/100 (n 5 192) before training to 76.3/100 (n 5 145) after training. Conclusion: The Center for Health Professional Training and Emergency Response’s (CHPTER’s) 5-hour EPT curriculum for patient care providers recreates simultaneous multi-actor disasters, measures EPT performance, and improves trainee knowledge and comfort level to save patient and provider lives during a disaster, via an affordable, repeatable EPT curriculum. A larger-scale study, or preferably a multi-center trial, is needed to further study the impact of this curriculum and its potential to enhance the safety and security of the ‘‘Second Front.’’
Complementary and alternative medicine therapies for the anesthesiologist and pain practitioner: a narrative review

This narrative review provides an overview of the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies that anesthesiologists and pain management practitioners commonly encounter along with recommendations for evaluation and implementation. A literature search of PubMed was performed using the comprehensive MeSH term, “Complementary Therapies OR Dietary Supplements”, and a search was conducted of the various licensing organizations and books published on the topics of CAM and integrative medicine. In North America, the most commonly encountered CAM therapies include 1) manipulation and procedural therapies; 2) herbs, nutritional supplements (nutraceuticals), and dietary therapies; and 3) mind-body and energy therapies. Controversy exists regarding many of these therapies, particularly those with a higher risk of harm, such as chiropractic manipulation, acupuncture, and nutraceutical use. Several well-conducted studies were analyzed to show how research in CAM can control for placebo responses. Practical considerations are provided for patients and practitioners interested in pursuing or already employing CAM in perioperative and chronic pain management settings. Complementary and alternative medicine therapies in general may provide a useful adjunct in the management of chronic pain. Nevertheless, many patients are not aware of the risks and benefits of individual therapies. In the perioperative setting, the most concerning CAM therapy is the use of herbs and other supplements that may produce physiologic and metabolic derangements and may interact with prescription medications. Resources exist to aid pain specialists, anesthesiologists, and patients in the evidence-based utilization of CAM therapies.