cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A process ontology

The paper assumes that to be of practical interest process must be understood as physical action that takes place in the world rather than being an idea in the mind. It argues that if an ontology of process is to accommodate actuality, it must be represented in terms of relative probabilities. Folk physics cannot accommodate this, and so the paper appeals to scientific culture because it is an emergent knowledge of the world derived from action in it. Process is represented as a contradictory probability distribution that does not depend on a spatio-temporal frame. An actuality is a probability density that grounds the values of probabilities to constitute their distributions. Because probability is a conserved value, probability distributions are subject to the constraint of symmetry and must be zero-sum. An actuality is locked-in by other actualities to become a zero-sum symmetry of probability values. It is shown that the locking-in of actualities constructs spatio-temporal locality, lends actualities specificity, and makes them a contradiction. Localization is the basis for understanding empirical observation. Because becoming depends on its construction of being, processes exist as trajectories. The historical trajectories of evolution and revolution as well as the non-historical trajectory of strong emergence are how processes are observed to exist.
Topical Mosquito Repellents IX: Quinolines, Isoquinolines, and Quinoxalines

Various quinoxalines, quinolines, and isoquinolines were evaluated for their effectiveness as topical mosquito repellents. Several tetrahydroquinolines and isoquinolines also were included. None of the compounds tested was superior to diethyltoluamide.
An Introduction to Crystal Optics

An Introduction to Crystal Optics is a reprinting in paperback of a book first published in 1966. The preface states that the only modification made in this version is an updating of the bibliography; however, a comprehensively revised edition is promised “before long.” The book is essentially a treatment of classical optical crystallography, little touched by twentieth century science. The tone is descriptive and qualitative, equations are rare, and the physics tends to be superficial. If physics is not its forte, descriptive clarity is. This little volume is recommended for its well-written exposition of the study of crystals with the aid of the polarizing microscope. It will serve as an excellent introduction to microscopy or optical mineralogy. It will also be useful to the advanced reader seeking elementary explanations of what other works treat in a more erudite manner.
Validating metrics for ensuring Space Shuttle flight software quality

In this article, we cover the validation of software quality metrics for the Space Shuttle. Experiments with Space Shuttle flight software show that the Boolean OR discriminator function can successfully validate metrics for controlling and predicting quality. Further, we found that statement count and node count are the metrics most closely associated with the discrepancy reports count, and that with data smoothing their critical values can be used as predictors of software quality. We are continuing our research and comparing validated metrics with actual results in an attempt to determine whether the use of additional metrics provides sufficiently greater discriminative power to justify the increased inspection costs. >
Prevalence of CYP2C19 variant alleles and pharmacodynamic variability of aspirin and clopidogrel in Native Americans

Background The prevalence of variant alleles of the CYP2C19 gene has been determined for most population groups, but not Native Americans. Furthermore, the overall effectiveness of clopidogrel and aspirin has not been well studied in Native Americans, although this group has high mortality rates for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Methods We recruited 50 volunteers from the Oglala Sioux Tribe with coronary artery disease taking aspirin and clopidogrel. Whole blood was collected for analysis using the VerifyNow P2Y12 and aspirin tests. Samples from the coronary artery disease patients and 50 additional tribal volunteers (n = 100 total) were genotyped for CYP2C19 variants *2, *3, and *17. Results The allele frequencies for CYP2C19*2 and CYP2C19*17 in the population group were 11% (95% CI 7%-16%) and 9% (95% CI 5%-13%), respectively. No subjects carried the CYP2C19*3 allele. The median PRU (P2Y12 reaction units) in the population group was 194 with wide variability (range 29-400). There was no significant effect of genotype on platelet aggregation as measured by the VerifyNow P2Y12 test ( P = .77). The median ARU (aspirin reaction units) for the group was 437 (range 350-659), and 73% had aspirin reaction unit values Conclusions The prevalence of variant CYP2C19 alleles is low in Native Americans of the Oglala Sioux Tribe compared with certain HapMap populations. The variable response to aspirin and clopidogrel in the Oglala Sioux Tribe is consistent with reported values for other groups as measured by the VerifyNow assay (Accumetrics, San Diego, CA).
Water uptake characteristics of individual atmospheric particles having coatings

We used an environmental transmission electron microscope to observe deliquescence and hygroscopic growth of atmospheric particles with hygroscopic coatings over the range 0–100% relative humidity (RH). The particles were collected from polluted and clean environments. Types included a sulfate-coated NaCl/silicate aggregate particle, a sulfatecoated sea-salt particle, and a Mg-rich, chloride-coated sea-salt particle. They all exhibited initial water uptake between 50% and 60% RH, although the first major morphological changes occurred at 70% RH. A deliquescence sphere, adjacent to the core particle, formed between 70% and 76% RH when deliquescence occurred or when the liquid phase was able to break out of the solid exterior coating. The deliquescence sphere grew to engulf the particle with increasing RH. Some particles developed a splatter zone associated with a particle coating. Efflorescence occurred over the range 49–44% RH. Our results indicate that some coated particles undergo a multi-step deliquescence process and that composition of the different phases within the coating affects deliquescence and hygroscopic growth below 76% RH. Above 76% RH, the dominant hygroscopic growth was due to water uptake by NaCl. Efflorescence of these particles also was strongly linked to NaCl, although the presence of other phases inhibited formation of a single NaCl crystal. Our results show that the observed coatings can both enhance particle solubility and lower the effective deliquescence RH of the particle. Thus, these coatings cause important phase and size changes for aerosol particles that could feed back into many other chemical and physical processes that contribute to radiative forcing within the atmosphere. r 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Determinants of blood loss during primary burn excision.

Abstract Background. Excisional therapy for burn wounds is frequently associated with large operative blood losses. Our objective was to identify patient and operative factors that affect surgical blood loss and determine strategies to minimize hemorrhage. Methods. Data from 92 consecutive pediatric patients with severe burns (>40% total body surface area) were evaluated. Patient demographics, burn characteristics, operative factors, and clinical course variables were correlated with blood loss. Blood loss at the time of initial total burn excision was determined by a standardized, previously validated method. Data were analyzed sequentially and cumulatively through univariate and cross-sectional multivariate linear regression. Results. Demographic factors that correlated with increased blood loss were older age, male sex, and larger body size. Area of full-thickness (third-degree) burn correlated with blood loss, whereas total burn size did not. High wound bacteria counts (derived from quantitative tissue cultures), total wound area excised, and operative time were the strongest predictors of the volume of operative hemorrhage. Blood loss increased with delay to primary burn excision at a maximum at 5 to 12 days after burn injury. Conclusions. Early definitive surgical therapy before extensive bacterial colonization and rapid operative excision is a strategy that may decrease operative hemorrhage and transfusion requirements during burn surgical procedures. (Surgery 2001;130:396-402.)
Effects of Communication Load, Affect, and Anxiety on the Performance of Information Processing Tasks

Discrepant claims have been advanced regarding the impact of communication load on information processing. Recent research and theory suggest that an increase in speed results in decreased response accuracy during comprehensive listening. However, despite indicated relationships between cognitive and affective learning, few investigators have explored the impact of communication load on affective responses. In the present study, the impact of communication load on affect, state anxiety, and several types of information processing performance is demonstrated. Moreover, a significant relationship was found between task‐directed affect and three modes of processing. Practical and theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.
Lecithin:Retinol Acyltransferase Is Critical for Cellular Uptake of Vitamin A from Serum Retinol-binding Protein

Vitamin A (all-trans-retinol) must be adequately distributed within the mammalian body to produce visual chromophore in the eyes and all-trans-retinoic acid in other tissues. Vitamin A is transported in the blood bound to retinol-binding protein (holo-RBP), and its target cells express an RBP receptor encoded by the Stra6 (stimulated by retinoic acid 6) gene. Here we show in mice that cellular uptake of vitamin A from holo-RBP depends on functional coupling of STRA6 with intracellular lecithin:retinol acyltransferase (LRAT). Thus, vitamin A uptake from recombinant holo-RBP exhibited by wild type mice was impaired in Lrat−/− mice. We further provide evidence that vitamin A uptake is regulated by all-trans-retinoic acid in non-ocular tissues of mice. When in excess, vitamin A was rapidly taken up and converted to its inert ester form in peripheral tissues, such as lung, whereas in vitamin A deficiency, ocular retinoid uptake was favored. Finally, we show that the drug fenretinide, used clinically to presumably lower blood RBP levels and thus decrease circulating retinol, targets the functional coupling of STRA6 and LRAT to increase cellular vitamin A uptake in peripheral tissues. These studies provide mechanistic insights into how vitamin A is distributed to peripheral tissues in a regulated manner and identify LRAT as a critical component of this process. Background: Cellular uptake of retinol bound to its serum binding protein depends on a cell surface receptor. Results: Functional coupling of this receptor with lecithin:retinol acyltransferase is required for the regulated cellular uptake of retinol. Conclusion: The lecithin: retinol acyltransferase is critical for retinol uptake and homeostasis. Significance: Blood retinol homeostasis is associated with blinding retinopathies and diabetes.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Genomic Picture Predicts a Changing Response From the Laboratory–Part I

IBD-1 Linkage Analysis Hugot and colleagues1 described the first genome screen for CD in 1996. The investigators initially screened 2 consecutive and independent panels of families comprising 40 affected sibling pairs using 270 markers throughout the genome. An analysis of allele sharing by affected sibling pairs showed that only 4 markers achieved statistical significance. Using data obtained from a second set of affected families localized the susceptibility locus to a pericentric region of chromosome 16. The initial work by Hugot was greeted with concern and mild skepticism. Prior to this time, susceptibility loci for other complex diseases had rarely been replicated. Examples of unimpressive attempts to duplicate these sorts of findings can be found in multiple sclerosis, affective disorders, and type II diabetes. At the same time, success had been achieved with high penetrance Mendelian syndromes, most notably the breast cancer-1 gene (BRCA1) which had been discovered using a similar linkage analysis process. The contrasting levels of success diverge according to inheritance patterns. Mendelian inheritance offers hope for finding susceptibility loci, while non-Mendelian (ie, complex) diseases usually failed critical reanalysis. Refinements in the localization of IBD1 proceeded immediately. By employing a positional-cloning strategy, based on linkage analysis followed by linkage disequilibrium mapping and construction of bacterial artificial chromosomes, Hugot and colleagues identified 3 independent single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with CD.2 A frameshift polymorphism and 2 missense variants of NOD2 were found within the LRR domain encoded by the gene. Genotyping of patients with UC did not show an association with these SNPs. This observation agrees with earlier data showing the lack of linkage between UC and the IBD1 susceptibility locus.3 A connection to immune dysregulation is readily apparent. NOD2 belongs to the Apaf-1/Ced-4 superfamily After decades of stagnation, molecular discoveries have altered our view of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This recent change in our understanding of the IBD’s pathogenesis combined with emerging biologic therapeutics will benefit the laboratory, the clinician, and the patient. science [chemistry | molecular diagnostics] Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Genomic Picture Predicts a Changing Response From the Laboratory–Part II
A framework for exploring the interaction between design rules and overlay control

Overlay control is becoming increasingly more important with the scaling of technology. It has become even more critical and more chal- lenging with the move toward multiple-patterning lithography, where over- lay translates into CD variability. Design rules and overlay have strong interaction and can have a considerable impact on the design area, yield, and performance. We study this interaction and evaluate the overall design impact of rules, overlay characteristics, and overlay control options. For this purpose, we developed a model for yield loss from overlay that considers overlay residue after correction and the breakdown between field-to-field and within-field overlay; the model is then incorporated into a general design-rule evaluation framework to study the overlay/design interaction. The framework can be employed to optimize design rules and more accurately project overlay-control requirements of the manufac- turing process. The framework is used to explore the design impact of litho-etch litho-etch double-patterning rules and poly line-end extension rule defined between poly and active layer for different overlay character- istics (i.e., within-field versus field-to-field overlay) and different overlay models at the 14-nm node. Interesting conclusions can be drawn from our results. For example, one result shows that increasing the minimum mask-overlap length by 1 nm would allow the use of a third-order wafer/ sixth-order field-level overlay model instead of a sixth-order wafer/sixth- order field-level model with negligible impact on design. © 2013 Society of
Excess risk of head and chest colds among teachers and other school workers.

BACKGROUND: Work-related injuries and illnesses in the educational services sector have not been well studied. This analysis examined whether teachers and other school workers are at higher risk of head/chest cold compared to all other workers in the United States. METHODS: Seven years (1998-2004) of National Health Interview Survey data on currently employed workers were combined to provide a basis for estimating the incidence proportion of head/chest cold. RESULTS: The adjusted odds ratio for head/chest cold was significantly elevated for teachers and other workers employed at schools compared to all other workers. When examined by month, an excess of increased head/chest cold risk during the school year suggested that a portion of head/chest cold among teachers and other school workers is attributable to their workplace, perhaps due to close contact with students at school. CONCLUSION: Head/chest cold, a surrogate for acute respiratory infection, was more common among school workers during the school year and less common during July than for all other workers in the United States. Targeted training for school workers and students may be beneficial to reduce work-related exposure to viruses and bacteria that infect the respiratory system.
Development of Prediction Models for Physical Work Capacity: Practical and Theoretical Implications

The use of pre-employment physical abilities tests has often been criticized as discriminatory to women, older people, and members of certain minority groups. In the present study, body composition...
Lung surface-active fraction as a model system for macromolecular ultrastructural studies with Crotalus atrox venom

The dog lung surface-active fraction and phos- phatidylcholine constituents were subjected to hydrolysis by Crotalus atrox phospholipase Az. Relative rates of hydrolysis were : dipalmitoyl glycerophosphorylcholine > phosphatidyl- choline isolated from the surface-active fraction > phosphatidyl- choline as an integral component of the intact surface-active macromolecular structure. Cholesterol markedly inhibited, whereas tripalmitin increased, the rate of hydrolysis with both pure phosphatidylcholine substrates. The effect of temperature on the velocity indicated the enzyme was most active when the substrates were in the gel state. These kinetic results, in con- junction with surface chemistry studies, can be interpreted to indicate that the phosphatidylcholine in the intact surface- active macromolecular particle is liquid crystalline due to molecular interactions with other constituents. Gas-liquid chromatographic analysis of the 2-lysophosphatidylcholines and fatty acids produced from the enzymatic hydrolysis of the intact surface-active fraction indicated that palmitoyl residues were more accessible to the enzyme, perhaps because they occupied positions near the surface of the particle.
Cleanliness for the NIF 1ω Laser Amplifiers

AbstractDuring the years before the National Ignition Facility (NIF) laser system, a set of generally accepted cleaning procedures had been developed for the large 1ω amplifiers of an inertial confinement fusion laser, and up until 1999 similar procedures were planned for NIF. Several parallel sets of test results were obtained from 1992 to 1999 for large amplifiers using these accepted cleaning procedures in the Beamlet physics test bed and in the Amplifier Module Prototype Laboratory (AMPLAB), a four-slab-high prototype large amplifier structure. Both of these showed damage to their slab surfaces that, if projected to operating conditions for NIF, would lead to higher than acceptable slab-refurbishment rates. This paper tracks the search for the smoking gun origin of this damage and describes the solution employed in NIF for avoiding flashlamp-induced aerosol damage to its 1ω amplifier slabs.
Acrosswind Response of Buildings

The acrosswind response of buildings is investigated. Expressions for the acrosswind loading are developed through the use of the spatio-temporal measurement of the fluctuating pressure field around a square cross-section building model. Methods of random vibration theory are used to estimate the rms and peak values of displacement, acceleration and jerk components of response. The results are compared with the response of an aeroelastically modeled building. The predicted and measured response agree within the limits of expected experimental errors. The addition of motion induced loads at higher reduced velocities produces still closer agreement between the predicted and measured response. Important features of the measured response characteristics are summarized. A step-by-step procedure and numerical example are presented to illustrate the methodology outlined for predicting the response to be estimated at the preliminary design stages. This would allow early assessment of the requirement to resist the mean deflection and to reduce the acceleration level at the top floors, and to ensure structural safety and occupancy comfort.
Why Gays of Color Protest: Community Identification, Gay Identity and Political Participation

The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community has made significant advances in securing it rights and place in American society. It has however a long way to go in gaining full and comprehensive rights for all LGBTs. The political engagement of LGBTs, including those at the margins, is crucial in achieving this goal. This paper presents initial findings from the author's dissertation research on LGBs of color. A survey data set of 670 LGBs of color is analyzed using ordinal logistic regression to determine the association between LGBs of color's political participation on behalf of the LGBT community and their perceived discrimination by wider society and the predominantly white gay community and their engagement in gay identity activities. Results show a positive association between political involvement and perceived discrimination by wider society and engagement in gay identity activities.
Astral Records Ltd., North America: Some Financial Concerns

A new CEO from outside the firm takes over following the sudden death of the former CEO. Included in the new CEO's in-box are pressing decisions concerning (1) the firm's financing needs, (2) capital equipment, and (3) a general assessment of the firm's financial performance. The task for the student is to analyze these issues and recommend action.
Investigating the feasibility of image-based nose biometrics

The search for new biometrics is never ending. In this work, we investigate the use of image based nasal features as a biometric. In many real-world recognition scenarios, partial occlusions on the face leave the nose region visible (e.g. sunglasses). Face recognition systems often fail or perform poorly in such settings. Furthermore, the nose region naturally contain more invariance to expression than features extracted from other parts of the face. In this study, we extract discriminative nasal features using Kernel Class-Dependence Feature Analysis (KCFA) based on Optimal Trade-off Synthetic Discriminant Function (OTSDF) filters. We evaluate this technique on the FRGC ver2.0 database and the AR Face database, training and testing exclusively on nasal features and have compared the results to the full face recognition using KCFA features. We find that the between-subject dis-criminability in nasal features is comparable to that found in facial features. This shows that nose biometrics have a potential to support and boost biometric identification, that has largely been under utilized. Moreover, our extracted KCFA nose features have significantly outperformed the PittPatt face matcher which works with the original JPEG images on the AR facial occlusion database. This shows that nose biometrics can be used as a stand-alone biometric trait when the subjects are under occlusions.
Atomistic Modeling of Thermal Conductivity of Epoxy Nanotube Composites

The Green–Kubo method was used to investigate the thermal conductivity as a function of temperature for epoxy/single wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) nanocomposites. An epoxy network of DGEBA-DDS was built using the ‘dendrimer’ growth approach, and conductivity was computed by taking into account long-range Coulombic forces via a k-space approach. Thermal conductivity was calculated in the direction perpendicular to, and along the SWNT axis for functionalized and pristine SWNT/epoxy nanocomposites. Inefficient phonon transport at the ends of nanotubes is an important factor in the thermal conductivity of the nanocomposites, and for this reason discontinuous nanotubes were modeled in addition to long nanotubes. The thermal conductivity of the long, pristine SWNT/epoxy system is equivalent to that of an isolated SWNT along its axis, but there was a 27% reduction perpendicular to the nanotube axis. The functionalized, long SWNT/epoxy system had a very large increase in thermal conductivity along the nanotube axis (~700%), as well as the directions perpendicular to the nanotube (64%). The discontinuous nanotubes displayed an increased thermal conductivity along the SWNT axis compared to neat epoxy (103–115% for the pristine SWNT/epoxy, and 91–103% for functionalized SWNT/epoxy system). The functionalized system also showed a 42% improvement perpendicular to the nanotube, while the pristine SWNT/epoxy system had no improvement over epoxy. The thermal conductivity tensor is averaged over all possible orientations to see the effects of randomly orientated nanotubes, and allow for experimental comparison. Excellent agreement is seen for the discontinuous, pristine SWNT/epoxy nanocomposite. These simulations demonstrate there exists a threshold of the SWNT length where the best improvement for a composite system with randomly oriented nanotubes would transition from pristine SWNTs to functionalized SWNTs.
Validation of a Reading Assessment for Persons With Homonymous Hemianopia or Quadrantanopia.

Abstract Objective To preliminarily validate the Visual Skills for Reading Test (VSRT) for assessing reading performance in persons with homonymous hemianopia (HH) or quadrantanopia. Design Retrospective chart review. Setting University-based outpatient low vision rehabilitation center. Participants Persons (N=38) with HH or quadrantanopia who completed the VSRT. Interventions Validation procedures included testing for equivalence of the 3 test versions, estimation of internal consistency reliability, and known-group comparison using VSRT results from previous studies of adults with normal vision and central field loss. Main Outcome Measures Corrected reading rate, reading accuracy rate, type and number of reading errors, and completion time were recorded and evaluated. Results Cronbach α for the VSRT across all participants was .80, which indicated good internal consistency. A known-group comparison showed that persons with a visual field deficit read significantly slower than did normally sighted adults ( t 580 =10.13; P t 36 =2.25; P =.03) or those with central field loss ( t 48 =3.17; P =.0027). These findings confirmed that the VSRT correctly discriminated between groups in terms of reading performance. Conclusions Preliminary validation results indicate that the VSRT demonstrates adequate evidence of reliability and validity to evaluate reading performance in adults with HH or quadrantanopia.
Mass Rearing of Crop Pests with Emphasis on Stem- and Pod-Borers

This paper reviews work on techniques in mass rearing of insect pests, especially stem- and pod-borers. The account covers advances in rearing of insects on native host plants and on artificial diets and possible ways of use of these insects in host plant resistance research.
Management Training for Pathology Residents: I. Results of a National Survey

The professional activities of anatomic and clinical pathologists involve, to a large extent, management issues. To evaluate the management training received by pathology residents, the authors surveyed pathology residency training programs in the United States. Responses were collected from 138 of 187 programs (73.8% response rate). Of the 138 programs, 61 reported that they had a formal training program in management, with an average of 26.8 +/- 4.9 (standard error) hours/year devoted to this discipline. Directors of 64.5% of the programs felt that management training should be expanded. Lectures were used in 61% of the programs, some in combination with case studies. Elements of training in fiscal management were present in 52.8% of the programs, and the presence of fiscal management training was associated significantly with a greater number of hours spent in management training (P < .001). Training in traditional laboratory management and quality control was included in 91.5% of the programs. The principles of total quality management were discussed in only 31.7% of the programs, but 80.6% of the programs encouraged residents' participation in departmental or institutional total quality management activities. These data indicate that there are major differences in the quality of and emphasis on management training for pathology residents in the United States.
Helper Factor(s) Generated by Tumor-Immune Rats for Lymphoproliferative Responses to Syngeneic Tumor Cells

New Zealand Black ( NBR ) rats that are innately immune to challenge with a syngeneic 3-methylcholanthrene [(MCA) CAS: 56-49-5]-induced fibrosarcoma have spleen cells that produce helper effects for in vitro lymphoproliferative responses in the presence of individual MCA-induced fibrosarcoma cells. Spleen cells from MCA-induced fibrosarcoma progressor rats (which lack innate tumor immunity) do not produce demonstrable helper activity. Supernatants from 48-hour cocultures of spleen cells from tumor-immune (TI) rats and syngeneic MCA-induced fibrosarcoma cells replaced the spleen cell helper activity. Comparable spleen cell supernatants from tumor progressor rats or unchallenged rats (controls) as well as supernatants from MCA-induced fibrosarcoma cells cultured alone did not produce any helper factor activity. Supernatants from TI rat spleen cells following inoculation with MCA-induced fibrosarcoma cells did not affect lymphoproliferative responses of NBR spleen cells induced by concanavalin A or alloantigens. The supernatants also did not contain detectable interleukin 2 activity as determined with the use of the thymocyte costimulator assay. These data indicate that the production of soluble helper factors by TI rat spleen cells may be involved in the augmentation of a protective host antitumor response.
Surveillance on Causes of Death in Residents in Gaoping District of Nanchong City in 2012

Objective To understand the causes of death in residents in Gaoping district of Nanchong city and to provide a basis for formulating prevention and control measures. Methods Death reporting and registration information system was utilized to establish excel data base,and SPSS was adopted for analyzing the status quo of the deaths. Results A total of 3798 deaths cases were reported in Gaoping district in2012,with a mortality rate of 633. 68 /105. The top five death causes were successively circulatory system illness,tumor,respiratory system illness,injury and poisoning,and alimentary system illness. The sequence differences on gender was of no statistical significance( P 0. 05),the sequence differences in term of single disease showed statistical significance( P 0. 01). Conclusion Chronic non- communicable diseases are the main causes of death in residents in Gaoping district of Nanchong city. Residents over65 years old account for the highest proportion of all death cases. Therefore,strengthened comprehensive measures with special attention to senior residents should be carried out.
THE BLOOD GROUP POLYMORPHISMS: WHY ARE THEY THERE?

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the blood group polymorphisms and describes the ABO system. Formulation polymorphisms are of two chief types: (1) transitional and (2) balanced. In the case of the transitional polymorphism, a mutant gene replaces an established allele. Differences between the genotypes of a genetic system in viability and/or fertility of the order of 1 or 2% can, over a series of generations, be quite effective in stabilizing a polymorphism. The Rh system is the classic example of how blood group antibodies can act to effect selection. Selection is exercised when mother and child are of the proper Rh types, and the selective affect is greater when mother and child are of the proper ABO type.
Semi-crystalline polymers

Long polymer chains consisting of identical monomeric units are, in principle, capable of being organized into crystalline arrays. Usually the chains are parallel bundles and the unit cell is based in some elementary way on the monomeric repeat unit. However, because of their great chain lengths it is kinetically difficult for polymers to form large crystals or to crystallize completely. In the case of quiescent crystallization from the melt the common morphology involves very thin lamellar crystals in which the crystallizing chains fold back and forth across the growth face. A given chain may be incorporated into several lamellae where the latter are organized in ribbon-like sheaves. It is inevitable that a considerable fraction of chain units will be constrained from being laid down on the growth faces. An appreciable fraction of uncrystallized material results. The local organization is that of stacked lamellae separated by amorphous layers (Figure 9.1). Thus crystallizable polymers are typically semi-crystalline two-phase systems. The degree of crystallinity, i.e., the volume of the crystal phase relative to the specimen volume can vary according to the crystallization conditions. Slow cooling versus rapid quenching, annealing etc. are typical variables. Higher degrees of crystallinity tend to be accommodated by thicker crystal lamellae with a relatively minor role for the amorphous interlayer thickness. Questions of interest that arise are the following. To what extent does the amorphous fraction in a semi-crystalline environment resemble the bulk amorphous phase in respect to its relaxation behavior?
Supporting mixed-initiative emergency flight planning by portraying procedure context information

Determining a suitable airport and planning a trajectory in detail all the way down to landing is a difficult task to do well, especially in emergencies. While a variety of planning aids have been proposed to aid in this task, their evaluation with pilots has led to the question: How do we support a human in a task that is too hard for them to perform well in the time provided, but is too open-ended for automation to perform perfectly in every situation? This paper specifically focuses on whether procedure context information can help pilots evaluate an emergency descent trajectory provided by automation, building on prior studies finding that such information can encourage a more interpretative strategy for evaluating and appropriately following (or not exactly following) procedures. Here, pilots were asked to quickly evaluate emergency flight plans presented both spatially and as a procedure (list of discrete actions). The procedures were presented in a variety of formats, where some explicitly presented the rationale for critical actions and/or emphasized which actions need to be done in a particular sequence. The results indicate that including rationale with a suggested plan can improve some aspects of a human's reasoning about an automatically generated plan. This finding has implications for both the design of plans and procedures, and the design of mixed-initiative planning aids: capturing the underlying rationale for key actions when generating a plan or procedure can then be beneficial when it can be portrayed to the human planner.
A Wirelessly-Powered Homecage With Segmented Copper Foils and Closed-Loop Power Control

A new wireless electrophysiology data acquisition system, built around a standard homecage, is presented in this paper, which can power up and communicate with sensors and actuators/stimulators attached to or implanted in small freely behaving animal subjects, such as rodents. Key abilities of the energized homecage (EnerCage) system is enabling longitudinal experiments with minimal operator involvement or interruption, while providing test subjects with an enriched environment closer to their natural habitat, without the burden of being tethered or carrying bulky batteries. The magnetic resonant multi-coil design used in the new EnerCage-HC2 automatically localizes the transmitted electromagnetic power from a single transmitter (Tx) coil at the bottom of the cage toward the receiver coil (Rx), carried on/in the animal body, obviating the need for tracking the animal or switching the coils. In order to increase the resonators’ quality factor $(Q > 166)$ at the desired operating frequency of 13.56 MHz, while maintaining a high self-resonance frequency $(\text{SRF} > 42\ \text{MHz})$ , they are made of wide copper foils and optimally segmented based on a set of design rules that can be adopted for experimental arenas with different shapes and dimensions. The Rx rectified voltage is regulated at a user-defined window $(4.1\pm 0.3\ \text{V})$ by a Tx-Rx closed-loop power control (CLPC) mechanism that creates a volume inside the homecage with 42 mW of power delivered to the load (PDL), and a homogeneous power transfer efficiency (PTE) plane of 14% on average at ∼7 cm height, plus stability against angular mis-alignments of up to 80°.
Enteric Microorganisms in Rheumatoid Diseases: Causative Agents and Possible Mechanisms

The role of foodborne enteric pathogens in the development of three seronegative spondarthropathies (ankylosing spondylitis, Reiter's disease and reactive arthritis) is discussed. Although the prevalence of the HLA-B27 antigen in blood-related individuals suggests a genetic predisposition to these diseases, exogenous environmental factors are also indicated. A clinical profile is given to clarify certain relationships of the seronegative arthropathies. Evidence of the involvement of enteric pathogens in the onset of these conditions following gastrointestinal illness is considered along with the interactions of general and molecular mechanisms of the disease processes and the immune response.
Maharashtra aurangabad division of India computer oriented load flow study of 21 buses

This paper proposes a power flow computation of 21 buses of Maharashtra Aurangabad Division imposing specified power and voltage input conditions to a power network and producing the complete voltage information at all the system buses. If any Contingency occurs in the load flow Network of Aurangabad Division whole power system will get disturbed. The objective of this paper is to develop a toolbox for power flow analysis that will help the analysis become easier for Power Engineer. The calculation is required for both the steady state analysis and the dynamic performance evaluation of power systems. It is also used to initialize other computer-aided power system software. This paper presents a novel production grade load flow program that can perform the power flow computations of modern electric power systems efficiently and accurately. The new program is capable of providing the power flow information of independent subsystems simultaneously. It possess a unique feature of changing the power levels of generators and loads locally or globally in power systems. The paper also describes the undergoing integration and initialization of the well-known system software MATLAB with the load flow program.
Anterior bladder tube flap reconstruction of the urethrovesical neck after radical retropubic prostatectomy.

AbstractDifficulty with urethrovesical neck anastomosis after radical retropubic prostatectomy led us to form an anterior bladder tube flap for anastomosis to the transected urethra in 5 selected cases. We found that combining the anterior bladder tube flap technique vfith radical retropubic prostatectomy facilitates the urethrovesical neck anastomosis and improves the transient postoperative incontinence sometimes encountered. Results of the 5 patients in whom this technique was used form the basis for a brief discussion of the technique.
George W. Bush’s Decision to Invade Iraq, 2001–2003

In March 2003, US and allied forces invaded Iraq with the aim of overthrowing that country’s dictator, Saddam Hussein. Over 4700 US military personnel were killed in achieving that goal, as well as tens of thousands of Iraqi soldiers and civilians.
Differences in gut microbial composition correlate with regional brain volumes in irritable bowel syndrome

Preclinical and clinical evidence supports the concept of bidirectional brain-gut microbiome interactions. We aimed to determine if subgroups of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) subjects can be identified based on differences in gut microbial composition, and if there are correlations between gut microbial measures and structural brain signatures in IBS. Behavioral measures, stool samples, and structural brain images were collected from 29 adult IBS and 23 healthy control subjects (HCs). 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing was used to profile stool microbial communities, and various multivariate analysis approaches were used to quantitate microbial composition, abundance, and diversity. The metagenomic content of samples was inferred from 16S rRNA gene sequence data using Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICRUSt). T1-weighted brain images were acquired on a Siemens Allegra 3T scanner, and morphological measures were computed for 165 brain regions. Using unweighted Unifrac distances with hierarchical clustering on microbial data, samples were clustered into two IBS subgroups within the IBS population (IBS1 (n = 13) and HC-like IBS (n = 16)) and HCs (n = 23) (AUROC = 0.96, sensitivity 0.95, specificity 0.67). A Random Forest classifier provided further support for the differentiation of IBS1 and HC groups. Microbes belonging to the genera Faecalibacterium, Blautia, and Bacteroides contributed to this subclassification. Clinical features distinguishing the groups included a history of early life trauma and duration of symptoms (greater in IBS1), but not self-reported bowel habits, anxiety, depression, or medication use. Gut microbial composition correlated with structural measures of brain regions including sensory- and salience-related regions, and with a history of early life trauma. The results confirm previous reports of gut microbiome-based IBS subgroups and identify for the first time brain structural alterations associated with these subgroups. They provide preliminary evidence for the involvement of specific microbes and their predicted metabolites in these correlations.
Insights in Climate Dynamics from Climate Networks

This review is a synthesis of work spanning the last 25 years. It is largely based on the use of climate networks to identify climate subsystems/major modes and to subsequently study how their collective behavior explains decadal variability. The central point is that a network of coupled nonlinear subsystems may at times begin to synchronize. If during synchronization the coupling between the subsystems increases the synchronous state may, at some coupling strength threshold, be destroyed shifting climate to a new regime. This climate shift manifests itself as a change in global temperature trend. This mechanism, which is consistent with the theory of synchronized chaos, appears to be a very robust mechanism of the climate system. It is found in the instrumental records, in forced and unforced climate simulations, as well as in proxy records spanning several centuries.
Increasing Rates of Surgery for Patients With Nonmalignant Colorectal Polyps in the United States

Background & Aims Despite the availability of endoscopic therapy, many patients in the United States undergo surgical resection for nonmalignant colorectal polyps. We aimed to quantify and examine trends in the use of surgery for nonmalignant colorectal polyps in a nationally representative sample. Methods We analyzed data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project National Inpatient Sample for 2000 through 2014. We included all adult patients who underwent elective colectomy or proctectomy and had a diagnosis of either nonmalignant colorectal polyp or colorectal cancer. We compared trends in surgery for nonmalignant colorectal polyps with surgery for colorectal cancer and calculated age, sex, race, region, and teaching status/bed-size–specific incidence rates of surgery for nonmalignant colorectal polyps. Results From 2000 through 2014, there were 1,230,458 surgeries for nonmalignant colorectal polyps and colorectal cancer in the United States. Among those surgeries, 25% were performed for nonmalignant colorectal polyps. The incidence of surgery for nonmalignant colorectal polyps has increased significantly, from 5.9 in 2000 to 9.4 in 2014 per 100,000 adults (incidence rate difference, 3.56; 95% confidence interval 3.40–3.72), while the incidence of surgery for colorectal cancer has significantly decreased, from 31.5 to 24.7 surgeries per 100,000 adults (incidence rate difference, –6.80; 95% confidence interval –7.11 to –6.49). The incidence of surgery for nonmalignant colorectal polyps has been increasing among individuals age 20 to 79, in men and women and including all races and ethnicities. Conclusions In an analysis of a large, nationally representative sample, we found that surgery for nonmalignant colorectal polyps is common and has significantly increased over the past 14 years.
Hypertriton production in relativistic heavy ion collisions

Abstract Based on the phase-space distributions of freeze-out nucleons and Λ hyperons from a blast-wave model, we study hypertriton production in the coalescence model. Including both the coalescence of Λ with proton and neutron as well as with deuteron, which is itself formed from the coalescence of proton and neutron, we study how the production of hypertriton is affected if nucleons and deuterons are allowed to stream freely after freeze-out. Using central Pb+Pb collisions at s N N = 2.76 as an example, we find that this only reduces slightly the hypertriton yield, which has a value consistent with the experimental data, even if the volume of the system has expanded to a size similar to the freeze-out volume for a hyertriton if its dissociation cross section by pions in the system is given by its geometric size. Our results thus suggest that the hypertriton yield in relativistic heavy ion collisions is essentially determined at the time when nucleons and deuterons freeze out, although it still undergoes reactions with pions.
Association of Hemoglobin A1c and Wound Healing in Diabetic Foot Ulcers

OBJECTIVE This study evaluated the association between hemoglobin A 1c (A1C) and wound outcomes in patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We conducted a retrospective analysis of an ongoing prospective, clinic-based study of patients with DFUs treated at an academic institution during a 4.7-year period. Data from 270 participants and 584 wounds were included in the analysis. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to assess the incidence of wound healing at any follow-up time in relation to categories of baseline A1C and the incidence of long-term (≥90 days) wound healing in relation to tertiles of nadir A1C change and mean A1C change from baseline, adjusted for potential confounders. RESULTS Baseline A1C was not associated with wound healing in univariate or fully adjusted models. Compared with a nadir A1C change from baseline of −0.29 to 0.0 (tertile 2), a nadir A1C change of 0.09 to 2.4 (tertile 3) was positively associated with long-term wound healing in the subset of participants with baseline A1C CONCLUSIONS There does not appear to be a clinically meaningful association between baseline or prospective A1C and wound healing in patients with DFUs. The paradoxical finding of accelerated wound healing and increase in A1C in participants with better baseline glycemic control requires confirmation in further studies.