cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Numerical simulations of mechanical properties of innovative pothole patching materials featuring high toughness, low viscosity nano-molecular resins

As asphalt pavements age and deteriorate, recurring pothole repair failures and propagating alligator cracks in the asphalt pavements have become a serious issue to our daily life and resulted in high repairing costs for pavement and vehicles. To solve this urgent issue, pothole repair materials with superior durability and long service life are needed. In the present work, revolutionary pothole patching materials with high toughness, high fatigue resistance that are reinforced with nano-molecular resins have been developed to enhance their resistance to traffic loads and service life of repaired potholes. In particular, DCPD resin (dicyclopentadiene, C10H12) with a Rhuthinium-based catalyst is employed to develop controlled properties that are compatible with aggregates and asphalt binders. In this paper, a multi-level numerical micromechanics-based model is developed to predict the mechanical properties of these innovative nanomolecular resin reinforced pothole patching materials. Coarse aggregates in the finite element analysis are modeled as irregular shapes through image processing techniques and randomly-dispersed coated particles. The overall properties of asphalt mastic, which consists of fine aggregates, asphalt binder, cured DCPD and air voids are theoretically estimated by the homogenization technique of micromechanics. Numerical predictions are compared with suitably designed experimental laboratory results.
Daughter cell repair by mammalian cells in culture after potentially lethal radiation damage.

COLONY formation by irradiated surface-attached mammalian cells in culture requires that at least one of the progeny produced at the first post-irradiation division retains the capacity for unlimited division. Abortive colonies result when the irradiated parent cell has experienced sufficient damage to suppress eventual colony formation, but not to prevent the production of a small number of progeny. We now present data which indicate that, if given a suitable environment, progeny from cells “lethally” damaged by X-radiation (not capable of producing a macroscopic colony) can repair damage transferred (sectored) from the parent cell.
A Two-Parameter Family of Hyper-Poisson Distributions

Abstract A two-parameter generalization of the Poisson distributions, called the “hyper-Poisson” family, is derived and discussed. It is in turn a special case of the three-parameter confluent hypergeometric series distributions. When one parameter is fixed, the hyper-Poisson distributions are also power series distributions. The distributions are classified as “sub-Poisson” or “super-Poisson” according as the variance is less than or greater than the mean. The latter category includes the truncated Poisson distributions. Certain properties of the hyper-Poisson distributions are considered, including moment, modified moment, and maximum likelihood estimators of the parameters. Estimation using moments is illustrated on Student's haemacytometer data.
Biochemical characterization of a Dictyostelium myosin II heavy-chain phosphatase that promotes filament assembly.

In Dictyostelium cells, myosin II is found as cytosolic nonassembled monomers and cytoskeletal bipolar filaments. It is thought that the phosphorylation state of three threonine residues in the tail of myosin II heavy chain regulates the molecular motor’s assembly state and localization. Phosphorylation of the myosin heavy chain at threonine residues 1823, 1833 and 2029 is responsible for maintaining myosin in the nonassembled state, and subsequent dephosphorylation of these residues is a prerequisite for assembly into the cytoskeleton. We report here the characterization of myosin heavy-chain phosphatase activities in Dictyostelium utilizing myosin II phosphorylated by myosin heavy-chain kinase A as a substrate. One of the myosin heavy-chain phosphatase activities was identified as protein phosphatase 2A and the purified holoenzyme was composed of a 37-kDa catalytic subunit, a 65-kDa A subunit and a 55-kDa B subunit. The protein phosphatase 2A holoenzyme displays two orders of magnitude higher activity towards myosin phosphorylated on the heavy chains than it does towards myosin phosphorylated on the regulatory light chains, consistent with a role in the control of filament assembly. The purified myosin heavy-chain phosphatase activity promotes bipolar filament assembly in vitro via dephosphorylation of the myosin heavy chain. This system should provide a valuable model for studying the regulation and localization of protein phosphatase 2A in the context of cytoskeletal reorganization.
MicroRNA Expression Analysis in the Cellulosic Biofuel Crop Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) under Abiotic Stress

Switchgrass has increasingly been recognized as a dedicated biofuel crop for its broad adaptation to marginal lands and high biomass. However, little is known about the basic biology and the regulatory mechanisms of gene expression in switchgrass, particularly under stress conditions. In this study, we investigated the effect of salt and drought stress on switchgrass germination, growth and the expression of small regulatory RNAs. The results indicate that salt stress had a gradual but significant negative effect on switchgrass growth and development. The germination rate was significantly decreased from 82% for control to 36% under 1% NaCl treatment. However, drought stress had little effect on the germination rate but had a significant effect on the growth of switchgrass under the severest salinity stress. Both salt and drought stresses altered the expression pattern of miRNAs in a dose-dependent manner. However, each miRNA responded to drought stress in a different pattern. Salt and drought stress changed the expression level of miRNAs mainly from 0.9-fold up-regulation to 0.7-fold down-regulation. miRNAs were less sensitive to drought treatment than salinity treatment, as evidenced by the narrow fold change in expression levels. Although the range of change in expression level of miRNAs was similar under salt and drought stress, no miRNAs displayed significant change in expression level under all tested salt conditions. Two miRNAs, miR156 and miR162, showed significantly change in expression level under high drought stress. This suggests that miR156 and miR162 may attribute to the adaption of switchgrass to drought stress and are good candidates for improving switchgrass as a biofuel crop by transgenic technology.
New Dyes With Fast Voltage-Dependent Changes In Membrane SHG

Laser scanning second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy has shown significant promise for membrane potential imaging with voltage sensitive dyes (VSDs), possessing significant advantages over fluorescence-based imaging modalities. Through simultaneous patch-clamping and non-linear imaging of cells, SHG has been found to exhibit sensitivities to trans-membrane potential that are up to four times better than those obtained under optimal conditions using one-photon fluorescence imaging (Millard et al., 2004). For styryl dyes, while electrochromism is the dominating photophysical mechanism of fluorescence, some ANEP-based dyes display slow SHG voltage responses, suggesting that chromophore membrane reorientation or redistribution may be involved. The mechanism of the SHG response is not entirely understood and necessitates additional study in order to fully optimize this imaging modality. We report on our further investigation of the time dependence of the voltage sensitivity of SHG and simultaneous two-photon fluorescence imaging, using “fast” voltage-switching experiments. The response kinetics of resonance enhanced SHG from several styryl dyes developed in our laboratory, including di-3-ANEPPDHQ, as well as di-4-ANEPPTEA and a new fluorinated derivative, have been determined. Voltage-clamped neuroblastoma cells stained with these dyes were imaged with 1064 nm excitation from a mode locked fiber-based laser source. For SHG, these VSDs were found to exhibit moderately large voltage sensitivities in addition to fast kinetic responses. Our results suggest that voltage sensitive dyes can be developed which have both large SHG signal changes and the requisite speed for use as a practical tool for measuring electrical activity in neuronal systems.(Supported by NIH grant EB001963).
The relative toxicity of amitriptyline, bupivacaine, and levobupivacaine administered as rapid infusions in rats

Intravascular injection of local anesthetics carries the risk of cardiovascular (CV) and central nervous system (CNS) toxicity. Amitriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant, has local anesthetic potency that is more than that of bupivacaine. In this study, we compared the CV and CNS toxicity of the local anesthetics bupivacaine and levobupivacaine with that of amitriptyline. Twentynine Sprague-Dawley rats had their right external jugular vein and carotid artery cannulated under general anesthesia. On Day 2, rats were sedated with midazolam (0.375 mg/kg intraperitoneally) and received rapid infusions of either 1) bupivacaine, levobupivacaine, or amitriptyline at 2 mg · kg 1 · min 1 (5 mg/mL concentration) or 2) normal saline (400 L·k g 1 · min 1 ) through an external jugular vein cannula. Electrocardiogram and arterial blood pressure were measured until the dose to cause impending death was reached (heart rate 50 bpm/asystole or apnea for 30 s). The mean dose required to cause apnea and impending death was significantly larger for amitriptyline (74.0 21 mg/kg and 74.5 21 mg/kg, respectively) than for levobupivacaine (32.2 20 mg/kg and 33.9 22 mg/ kg, respectively) or bupivacaine (21.5 7 mg/kg and 22.7 7 mg/kg, respectively) (P 0.05). A significantly larger dose of amitriptyline, given by rapid infusion, is required to cause CV and CNS toxicity in rats, when compared with bupivacaine and levobupivacaine. (Anesth Analg 2003;97:91–5)
Exploring Links between Systematics and Fisheries Management

Abstract We argue that the sustainable management of fisheries resources depends on an understanding of the taxonomy and systematics of fish. Toward this end, it is necessary for fisheries managers to understand and apply the various species concepts that have been developed by taxonomists and evolutionary biologists and to decide, based on a philosophical position, what is necessary and sufficient for a taxon to be recognized as a distinct species. If species are viewed as ontological individuals and as such exist in nature, then it makes sense for managers to develop strategies to sustain and manipulate given populations to achieve management goals. In this series of papers, the authors explore species concepts with respect to fish and demonstrate the value of understanding species concepts, systematics, and taxonomy in addressing modern fisheries management problems.
Brand Loyalty Programs: Are They Shams?

Brand loyalty and the more modern topics of computing customer lifetime value and structuring loyalty programs remain the focal point for a remarkable number of research articles. At first, this research appears consistent with firm practices. However, close scrutiny reveals disaffirming evidence. Many current so-called loyalty programs appear unrelated to the cultivation of customer brand loyalty and the creation of customer assets. True investments are up-front expenditures that produce much greater future returns. In contrast, many so-called loyalty programs are shams because they produce liabilities (e.g., promises of future rewards or deferred rebates) rather than assets. These programs produce short-term revenue from customers while producing substantial future obligations to those customers. Rather than showing trust by committing to the customer, the firm asks the customer to trust the firm--that is, trust that future rewards are indeed forthcoming. The entire idea is antithetical to the concept of a customer asset. Many modern loyalty programs resemble old-fashioned trading stamps or deferred rebates that promise future benefits for current patronage. A true loyalty program invests in the customer (e.g., provides free up-front training, allows familiarization or customization) with the expectation of greater future revenue. Alternative motives for extant programs are discussed.
A protein stimulatory factor for DNA polymerase α in rat giant trophoblast cells

Summary Rat giant trophoblast cells contain a factor which stimulates DNA polymerase α derived from trophoblast cells as well as from calf thymus. The factor, which has been partially purified on a glycerol gradient, has an approximate M r of 85,000 and is non-dialyzable, heat-labile, sensitive to trypsin and insensitive to N-ethylmaleimide. With activated DNA as the preferred template/primer, the factor stimulates both the initial rate and the extent of DNA synthesis as a linear function of the concentration of the factor. The stimulation is abolished by aphidicol in but is unaffected by 2′, 3′ dideoxythymidine triphosphate.
ESTIMATING DAMPING IN HIGHER ORDER DYNAMIC SYSTEMS

results for the differencing method, while Fig. 4 shows the trajectory method results. Both methods produce tether length profiles comparable to simulation results. Maximum deployed length errors in both tests were approximately 8% for the trajectory method and less than 0.8% for the differencing method. Although the magnitude of either length error might be considered acceptable, the differencing method is clearly superior.
Discovery of Amphibian Tc1-like Transposon Families

Abstract We have discovered transposase sequences in the bull frog (Rana catesbeiana) and in the clawed frog (Xenopus laevis), which demonstrates that there are DNA-mediated transposons inAmphibia. The DNA sequences of 11 newXenopuselements describe two new vertebrate transposon families. Phylogenetic analysis, using these sequences along with pre- viously defined vertebrate and invertebrate elements, reveals at least five families of Tc1-like elements inVertebrata. Some of these families co-exist in the same genome. Furthermore, the grouping of one of the amphibian transposon families with a branch of the teleost transposons raises the possibility of horizontal transfer.
Extended MRI findings of intersection syndrome.

The symptoms and physical findings of intersection syndrome have been well described in the clinical medical literature. However, the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in patients with intersection syndrome of the forearm have only recently been described in a small number of patients. We review our experience with imaging of intersection syndrome, describe previously unreported MRI findings, and emphasize modifications to MRI protocols for its evaluation. Institutional review board approval was obtained for this retrospective review of patients with MRI findings consistent with intersection syndrome of the forearm during the period from January 2004 to September 2006. Six patients were identified, three males and three females, with an average age of 39.3 years. The MRI examinations were reviewed to assess signal abnormalities within and adjacent to the first and second dorsal extensor tendon compartments (DETC): tendinosis, peritendinous edema or fluid, muscle edema, subcutaneous edema, and juxtacortical edema. The overall longitudinal extent of signal alterations was measured as well as the distance from Lister’s tubercle to the crossover of the first and second DETC. Review of the MRIs showed increased intrasubstance tendon signal suggesting tendinosis in two of the six patients, peritendinous edema or fluid in all six patients, muscle edema in five of the six patients, and subcutaneous edema in three of the six patients. Juxtacortical edema was seen in one patient. Peritendinous edema or fluid extended distally beyond the radiocarpal joint in three of the six patients. The average distance from Lister’s tubercle to the crossover of the first and second DETC was 3.95 cm, in keeping with recently published data. Intersection syndrome is an uncommon MRI diagnosis. In addition to the previously described MRI findings of edema adjacent to the first or second DETC, possibly with proximal extension and subcutaneous edema, we have identified additional abnormalities: tendinosis, muscle edema, and juxtacortical edema. In addition, our review shows that first and second DETC signal abnormalities in patients with intersection syndrome are not necessarily limited to the site of crossover but can extend distally beyond the radiocarpal joint. As standard wrist protocols may not include the area of intersection between the first and second DETC, coverage may need to be extended to the mid-forearm.
On certain matters pertaining to electrets

Abstract The object of the paper is to trace the mathematical consequences of the assumption that an electret consists of (1) a distribution of polarization which decays with time, (2) a distribution of surface and volume charge which disappears according to ohmic conductivity having no relation to the decay of the polarization. Theelectret is supposed provides with metal plares permanently attached to its surface and to have a thickness of 1 cm. and a radius of 3 cm. Starting with one plate at zero potential and the other at a negative potential V0, symbolizing in the ordinary terminology the condition in which the electret shows a “heterocharge,” the absolute value of V decays with time to zero.It then rises to a positive maximum, after which it again decays with time, ultimately to zero.It turns out that the functional relation between potential difference and time is absolutely independent of the charge distribution within the electret and of its decay.The only parameters involved are the resistance R connecting the plates and the parameter determining the rate of decay of the polarization. However, while the initially produced polarization plays a part in determining the maximum positive potential Vm attained and while V0 plays a part in determining the time for the potential to change from V0 to zero, neither of these quantities plays any part in determining the subsequent time for rise to the maximum Vm. If the resistance is such as would be determined by ordinary ohmic conductivity in a substance of the normal specific resistance of a wax, if the polarization decays according to a factor e−αt, and if α is 10−8 sec−1, corresponding to a decay of.the polarization to 1 e of its initial value in about three years, then, starting with V0 = − 2000 volts and with the initially produced polarization such as to make Vm = 2000 volts, there results the following: V will change from its original value − 2000 volts to zero in about one and a half days, then it will rise to the positive maximum Vm in about two weeks, after which it will decay to one third of that maximum value in about three years. If the electret be exposed to the open air, the conductivity of the air would produce a smaller resistance than the wax itself, and the maximum would be attained in about 42,000 seconds after the value V = 0 was reached. If, with the conductivity of the wax alone operating in determining R, we desire a maximum value of V equal to 2100 volts, it would only be necessary to have an initial polarization less than 1 per cent of that which would be produced by a complete orientation of the dipole moments of the molecules of the wax in one direction. Expressions are also developed for the case where the charge within the electret disappears by self-repulsion to the plates, in addition to its decay by ohmic conductivity. Such a phenomenon can, of itself, simulate a decaying polarization. A discussion of experiments pertaining to the field outside of the electret is also given.
Multiyear Evaluations of a Cloud Model Using ARM Data

This work uses long-term lidar and radar retrievals of the vertical structure of cloud at the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) program’s Southern Great Plains site to evaluate cloud occurrence in multiyear runs of a cloud system‐resolving model in three configurations of varying resolution and sophistication. The model is nudged to remain near the observed thermodynamic state and model fields are processed to mimic the operation of the observing system. The model’s skill in predicting cloud occurrence is evaluated using both traditional performance measures that assume ergodicity and probabilistic measures that do not require temporal averaging of the observations. The model shows considerable skill in predicting cloud occurrence when its thermodynamic state is close to that observed. The overall bias in modeled cloud occurrence is relatively small in all model runs, suggesting that this field is relatively well calibrated. The Brier scores attained by all configurations also suggest considerable model skill. Greater differences in performance are found between seasons than between model configurations during the same season, despite substantial differences between the computational costs of the configurations. Severalsignificantseasonaldependenciesareidentified,mostnotablygreaterconditionalbias,butbettertiming, of boundary layer cloud in winter, and substantially less conditional bias in high cloud during summer.
Knowledge is Made for Cutting: Foucault, Cognitive Science, and Intellectual Taste

Abstract This paper attempts to situate the contemporary prominence of cognitive science accounts of religion by viewing cognitive science through a Foucaultian lens. The paper focuses on two trajectories in cognitive science: the modular approach of Pascal Boyer and the metaphorical approach of Lakoff and Johnson. Beginning with a brief discussion of Foucault’s Birth of a Clinic, I identify three methodological moves central to empiricism. I then show how these three moves structure the modular and the metaphorical approach, both of which conjoin a particular way of seeing with a particular way of saying. In each case, religion is used to close, rather than open, the biological body. I contend that both approaches are part of a larger cultural incitement to (at least discourse about) religiosity. I conclude by reflecting on disciplinary differences as matters of intellectual taste.
Effect of anti-Lyb3 antiserum on poly (L-glutamic acid, L-lysine)-induced B cell tolerance.

The effect of anti-Lyb3 antiserum on antigen-specific B cell tolerance was investigated. The intraperitoneal injection of the nonimmunogenic copolymer L-glutamic acid60, L-lysine40 (GL) specifically reduces the ability of murine B cells to form GL-specific plaque-forming cell responses following challenge with the immunogenic conjugate of GL coupled to fowl gamma-globulin. It was found that this tolerance could be reversed or blocked by the intravenous injection of microliter quantities of anti-Lyb3 antiserum. However, this dose of antiserum neither reversed T cell tolerance induced with protein-coupled syngeneic erythrocytes nor induced tolerized B cells to secrete antibody. The results suggest that B lymphocytes can be rescued from GL-induced tolerance soon after induction and that Lyb3 determinants may play a functional role in the activation of antigen-specific B lymphocytes.
Theoretical Considerations In Designing Operator Interfaces For Automated Systems

The domains most amenable to techniques based on artificial intelligence (AI) are those that are systematic or for which a systematic domain can be generated. In aerospace systems, many operational tasks are systematic owing to the highly procedural nature of the applications. However, aerospace applications can also be nonprocedural, particularly in the event of a failure or an unexpected event. Several techniques are discussed for designing automated systems for real-time, dynamic environments, particularly when a 'breakdown' occurs. A breakdown is defined as operation of an automated system outside its predetermined, conceptual domain.
Enhancing psychotherapy outcomes via providing feedback on client progress: a replication

Several systems have been developed to monitor and feedback information about a client's responses to psychotherapy as a method of enhancing client outcome. The current study divided 1020 clients into four groups (two experimental and two control) to determine if feedback regarding client progress, when provided to a therapist, affected client outcome and number of sessions attended. Results showed that feedback increased the duration of treatment and improved outcome for clients identified as potential treatment failures thereby replicating an earlier study using nearly identical methodology. Nearly twice as many clients in the feedback group achieved clinically significant or reliable change and fewer were classified as deteriorated by the time treatment ended. For those clients who were predicted to have a positive response to treatment, feedback to therapists resulted in an equal number of treatment sessions and equivalent outcomes compared to the no feedback controls. The results are discussed in terms of quality management in routine clinical practice and the need to base treatment decisions on clients' response to treatment rather than arbitrary session limits. Suggestions for additional research aimed at enhancing the effects of feedback on client outcome are made. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stereoselective thermal transfer of fructose from sucrose to cyclodextrins.

Abstract Branched cyclodextrins (CDs) have been formed by the thermal transfer of a fructosyl group from sucrose to O-6 of one of the glucose residues of cyclomaltohexa- and hepta-ose (α-CD and β-CD). In each case the fructosyl group adds almost entirely in the β configuration. The resultant fructosylcyclodextrins (Fru-CDs) show increased solubility in water and, in the case of Fru-β-CD increased ability to solubilize sparingly soluble compounds by inclusion, relative to the parent cyclodextrins. However, the Fru-CDs have similar abilities to form complexes as their respective parent CDs. Fru-CDs act as inhibitors of invertase.
Use Of Pockers Readout Optical Modulators (PROMS) For Atomic Resolution Electron Image Processing

The usefulness of PROMS for high resolution electron microscopy is outlined. A theoretical model for direct electron beam image storage in PROMS is given, and computed results discussed. Wear-atomic resolution electron images of the Bi12Si020 crystal structure are shown and discussed.© (1980) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Dynamics and structure of hydration water on rutile and cassiterite nanopowders studied by quasielastic neutron scattering and molecular dynamics simulations.

Quasielastic neutron scattering (QENS) experiments carried out using time-of-flight and backscattering neutron spectrometers with widely different energy resolution and dynamic range revealed the diffusion dynamics of hydration water in nanopowder rutile (TiO2) and cassiterite (SnO2) that possess the rutile crystal structure with the (110) crystal face predominant on the surface. These isostructural oxides differ in their bulk dielectric constants, metal atom electronegativities, and lattice spacings, which may all contribute to differences in the structure and dynamics of sorbed water. When hydrated under ambient conditions, the nanopowders had similar levels of hydration: about 3.5 (OH/H2O) molecules per Ti2O4 surface structural unit of TiO 2 and about 4.0 (OH/H2O) molecules per Sn2O4 surface unit of SnO2. Ab initio optimized classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the (110) surfaces in contact with SPC/E water at these levels of hydration indicate three structurally distinct sorbed water layers L 1 ,L 2, and L3, where the L1 species are either associated water molecules or dissociated hydroxyl groups in direct contact with the surface, L 2 water molecules are hydrogen bonded to L1 and structural oxygen atoms at the surface, and L3 water molecules are more weakly bound. At the hydration levels studied, L3 is incomplete compared with axial oxygen density profiles of bulk SPC/E water in contact with these surfaces, but the structure and dynamics of L 1-L3 species are remarkably similar at full and reduced water coverage. Three hydration water diffusion components, on the time scale of a picosecond, tens of picoseconds, and a nanosecond could be extracted from the QENS spectra of both oxides. However, the spectral weight of the faster components was significantly lower for SnO2 compared to TiO2. In TiO2 hydration water, the more strongly bound L2 water molecules exhibited slow (on the time scale of a nanosecond) dynamics characterized by super-Arrhenius, “fragile” behavior above 220 K and the dynamic transition to Arrhenius, “strong” behavior at lower temperatures. The more loosely bound L 3 water molecules in TiO2 exhibited faster dynamics with Arrhenius temperature dependence. On the other hand, the slow diffusion component in L2 hydration water on SnO2, also on the time scale of a nanosecond, showed little evidence of super-Arrhenius behavior or the “fragile”-to-“strong” transition. This observation demonstrates that the occurrence of super-Arrhenius dynamic behavior in surface water is sensitive to the strength of interaction of the water molecules with the surface and the distribution of surface water molecules among the different hydration layers. Analysis of energy transfer spectra generated from the molecular dynamics simulations shows fast and intermediate dynamics in good agreement with the QENS time-of-flight results. Also demonstrated by the simulation is the fast (compared to 1 ns) exchange between the water molecules of the L2 and L3 hydration layers.
Modeling the distribution of optical radiation in diffusely reflecting materials

Diffuse thickness (the sample thickness necessary to bring about complete diffusion of a directed incident light beam) was used to predict the distribution of transmitted radiation in a light scattering medium. The results show that for nonabsorbing wavelengths the shape of the sample is a major factor in determining the distribution of radiation in the medium. As absorption increases the distribution becomes less a function of sample shape. 1.
Reference Work with International Students: Making the Most Use of the Neutral Question.

In the past decade, increasing enrollment of international students at universities and colleges in North America has prompted the exploration and documentation of the issues related to library use by this group. The characteristics and difficulties faced by these students have been studied by Liu and Allen.
Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy is a Safe and Effective Bariatric Procedure for the Lower BMI (35.0–43.0 kg/m2) Population

Background The laparoscopic vertical sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is derived from the biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch operation (Marceau et al., Obes Surg 3:29–35, 1993; Hess and Hess, Obes Surg 8:267–82, 1998; Chu et al., Surg Endosc 16:S069, 2002). Later, LSG was advocated as the first step of a two-stage procedure for super-obese patients (Regan et al., Obes Surg 13:861–4, 2003; Cottam et al., Surg Endosc 20:859–63, 2006). However, recent support is mounting that continues to establish LSG as the definitive procedure for surgical treatment of morbid obesity. We will report our experience with the LSG as a primary bariatric procedure and evaluate if this operation is suitable as a stand-alone procedure.
Ultra-Wideband Direct Sampling Receiver

This paper describes hardware and software architectures for a receiver that was built to demonstrate direct bandpass sampling for real-time demodulation of short-pulse UWB signals.
Umbilical cord blood transplantation: a maturing technology

The use of umbilical cord blood (CB) as a source of hematopoietic progenitor cells for patients with high-risk hematologic disorders receiving allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantations (HCTs) has increased significantly. Single-institution and registry studies have shown a decreased relapse rate and an increased transplantation-related mortality rate with similar overall survival rates after allogeneic HCT with CB compared with other donor sources. The transplantation of double CB units has overcome the dose limitation inherent in a single CB unit and thus has markedly extended the use of CB to larger children and adults. Similarly, the use of reduced intensity conditioning in the CB transplantation setting has allowed the treatment of older patients who would be unable to tolerate the myeloablative regimens used in the original CB transplantation protocols.
Al+-ligand binding energies

Ab initio calculations are used to optimize the structures and determine the binding energies of Mg(+) to a series of ligands. Mg(+) bonds electrostatically with benzene, acetone, H2, CO, and NH3 and a self-consistent-field treatment gives a good description of the bonding. The bonding in MgCN(+) and MgCH3(+) is largely covalent and a correlated treatment is required.
Law and the Natural Sciences in Nineteenth-Century American Universities

In the nineteenth century, American legal educators drew on the idea of “legal science” the claim that the study of law was similar to the study of the natural sciences. In this paper, I propose to examine the particular conceptions of “science” that were incorporated into that idea. The primary point of the paper is to argue that in antebellum America, a particular view of the natural sciences dominated public discourse, and it was this conception that was appropriated by contemporaneous legal scientists. Public discussions of natural science in lyceums, surveys, and journals, were carried out in a language grounded in the same religious commitments and the same normative conception of nature that drove the ideology of laissez-faire. Described under the rubric “Protestant Baconianism,” the approach was characterized by commitments to four elements: natural theology; a constrained version of Baconian inductivism; a belief in grand synthesis and proof by analogy; and claims of moral improvement. These elements were typical of the efforts of a particular influential circle of natural scientists and, similarly, of some of the more influential legal scientists in the antebellum period. This article examines the elements of the Protestant Baconian approach that were incorporated into Christopher Columbus Langdell's model of legal science in the 1870s, a model that continues to influence thinking about both legal education and jurisprudence to this day.
Suppressor of cytokine signalling protein SOCS1 and UBP43 regulate the expression of type I interferon-stimulated genes in human microvascular endothelial cells infected with Rickettsia conorii

Rickettsia conorii, the causative agent of Mediterranean spotted fever, preferentially infects human microvascular endothelium and activates pro-inflammatory innate immune responses as evidenced by enhanced expression and secretion of cytokines and chemokines. Our recent studies reveal that human microvascular endothelial cells (HMECs) infected with R. conorii also launch ‘antiviral’ host defence mechanisms typically governed by type I interferons. To summarize, infected HMECs secrete IFN-β to activate STAT1 in an autocrine/paracrine manner and display increased expression of IFN-stimulated genes, for example ISG15, which in turn activate innate responses to interfere with intracellular replication of rickettsiae. We now present evidence that UBP43 and SOCS1, known negative regulators of JAK/STAT signalling, are also induced in R. conorii-infected HMECs, of which UBP43 but not SOCS1 functions to negatively regulate STAT1 activation. Interestingly, UBP43 induction is almost completely abolished in the presence of IFN-β-neutralizing antibody, implicating an important role for UBP43 as a feedback inhibitor for IFN-β-mediated STAT1 activation. In contrast, SOCS1 expression is only partially affected by IFN-β neutralization, implicating potential involvement of as-yet-unidentified IFN-independent mechanism(s) in SOCS1 induction during R. conorii infection. A number of IFN-stimulated genes, including ISG15, OAS1, MX1, IRF1, IRF9 and TAP1 are also induced in an IFN-β-dependent manner, whereas GBP1 remains unaffected by IFN-β neutralization. Increased STAT1 phosphorylation in HMECs subjected to UBP43 knockdown led to transcriptional activation of OAS1, MX1 and GBP1, confirming the negative regulatory role of UBP43. Although IRF1, IRF9 and TAP1 were induced by IFN-β, siRNA-mediated silencing of UBP43 or SOCS1 did not significantly affect their transcriptional activation. Expression of ISG15 was, however, increased in HMECs transfected with siRNA for UBP43 and SOCS1. Thus, unique regulatory patterns of induced expression of UBP43, SOCS1 and IFN-stimulated genes represent pathogen-specific responses underlying IFN-β-mediated host endothelial signalling during the pathogenesis of spotted fever group rickettsiosis.
Blood Pressure Differences between Blacks and Whites in Relation to Body Size among US Children and Adolescents

No large national studies of ethnic differences in blood pressure among children accounting for body size differences have been published, to the authors' knowledge. This report details the similarities and differences in systolic and diastolic blood pressures between Black children and White children in the United States and examines the effects of age, sex, and body size on ethnic differences in blood pressure levels. Standardized measurements of seated systolic and diastolic pressures from eight large epidemiologic studies published between 1978 and 1991 that included measurements of 47,196 children on 68,556 occasions for systolic pressure and for 38,184 children on 52,053 occasions for diastolic pressure were used; 51 percent (24,048 children) were boys and 37 percent (17,466 children) were Black. Overall, there appear to be few substantive ethnic differences in either systolic or diastolic pressure during childhood and adolescence. The differences that were observed were small, inconsistent, and often explained by differences in body size. There was an ethnic group-body mass index (BMI) interaction that resulted in these findings that at lower levels of BMI Blacks have higher blood pressure and more hypertension than do Whites, but that at the highest levels of BMI, Whites have more hypertension (systolic or diastolic pressure) than do Blacks.
The Netflix Challenge: Datacenter Edition

The hundreds of thousands of servers in modern warehouse-scale systems make performance and efficiency optimizations pressing design challenges. These systems are traditionally considered homogeneous. However, that is not typically the case. Multiple server generations compose a heterogeneous environment, whose performance opportunities have not been fully explored since techniques that account for platform heterogeneity typically do not scale to the tens of thousands of applications hosted in large-scale cloud providers. We present ADSM, a scalable and efficient recommendation system for application-to-server mapping in large-scale datacenters (DCs) that is QoS-aware. ADSM overcomes the drawbacks of previous techniques, by leveraging robust and computationally efficient analytical methods to scale to tens of thousands of applications with minimal overheads. It is also QoS-aware, mapping applications to platforms while enforcing strict QoS guarantees. ADSM is derived from validated analytical models, has low and bounded prediction errors, is simple to implement and scales to thousands of applications without significant changes to the system. Over 390 real DC workloads, ADSM improves performance by 16% on average and up to 2.5x and efficiency by 22% in a DC with 10 different server configurations.
IPEP: an in silico tool to examine proteolytic peptides for mass spectrometry.

UNLABELLED Peptide-based proteomics supports identification and quantification as well as localization of post-translational modifications (PTMs) within proteins extracted from biological samples. The 'bottom-up' approach involves the digestion of proteins into peptide fragments that can be detected and sequenced with liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). A web-based application, iPEP, was developed to compare the effectiveness of different proteolytic digests in detecting specific sequences. Furthermore, peptide populations can be examined to help optimize detection of certain groups of proteins relative to the proteome and the digested peptidome. The application reports proteolytic peptide sequences, theoretical molecular weights and functional annotations using Gene Ontology (GO) terms. The iPEP tool can assist with experimental design by maximizing the detection of proteins, consensus sites and modified residues of interest for individual proteins or as part of large-scale proteomic assays. AVAILABILITY http://ipep.moffitt.org
Feminist Scholarship and Its Relevance for Political Engagement: The Test Case of Abortion in the U.S.

This essay explores how gender studies in academe, including in religious studies, might remain relevant to ongoing feminist political engagement. I explore some specific dynamics of this challenge, using as my test case the issue of abortion in the U.S. After discussing how three formative feminist principles (women’s experience as feminism’s starting point, the personal is political, and identity politics) have shaped approaches to the abortion issue for feminist scholars in religion, I argue that ongoing critique, new theoretical perspectives, and attentiveness to subaltern voices are necessary for these foundational feminist principles to keep pace with fast-changing and complex societal dynamics relevant to women’s struggles for reproductive health and justice. The essay concludes by proposing ‘natality’ as a helpful concept for future feminist theological and ethical thinking on the subject.
A unique family of Mrr-like modification-dependent restriction endonucleases

Mrr superfamily of homologous genes in microbial genomes restricts modified DNA in vivo. However, their biochemical properties in vitro have remained obscure. Here, we report the experimental characterization of MspJI, a remote homolog of Escherichia coli's Mrr and show it is a DNA modification-dependent restriction endonuclease. Our results suggest MspJI recognizes (m)CNNR (R = G/A) sites and cleaves DNA at fixed distances (N(12)/N(16)) away from the modified cytosine at the 3' side (or N(9)/N(13) from R). Besides 5-methylcytosine, MspJI also recognizes 5-hydroxymethylcytosine but is blocked by 5-glucosylhydroxymethylcytosine. Several other close homologs of MspJI show similar modification-dependent endonuclease activity and display substrate preferences different from MspJI. A unique feature of these modification-dependent enzymes is that they are able to extract small DNA fragments containing modified sites on genomic DNA, for example ∼32 bp around symmetrically methylated CG sites and ∼31 bp around methylated CNG sites. The digested fragments can be directly selected for high-throughput sequencing to map the location of the modification on the genomic DNA. The MspJI enzyme family, with their different recognition specificities and cleavage properties, provides a basis on which many future methods can build to decode the epigenomes of different organisms.
Grain boundaries in titania-doped α-alumina with anisotropic microstructure

The microstructure of sol-gel-derived alpha-alumina (Al2O3) doped with 0.6 wt% titania, sintered at 1450°C for 1 h, consisted of thin platelets with (0001) faces in a matrix of equiaxed grains. Short facets at the edges of the platelets developed primarily parallel to the {102} planes, while some were parallel to the {113} planes; other edges showed irregular, curved boundaries. The basal surfaces of the platelets were coated with thin layers (0.5-6 nm) of an amorphous titanium-containing aluminosilicate phase, which also was present at triple points. No amorphous phase was found on the short faceted boundaries, on curved boundaries at platelet edges, or at grain boundaries of equiaxed, matrix grains. However, titanium enrichment was observed at all examined boundaries, suggesting that titanium segregation alone did not account for the development of anisotropic microstructure. Curved incursions on basal facets were associated with occasional particles of aluminum titanate (Al2TiO5).
A Robust System for Longitudinal Knee Joint Edema and Blood Flow Assessment Based on Vector Bioimpedance Measurements

We present a robust vector bioimpedance measurement system for longitudinal knee joint health assessment, capable of acquiring high resolution static (slowly varying over the course of hours to days) and dynamic (rapidly varying on the order of milli-seconds) bioresistance and bioreactance signals. Occupying an area of $78\times 90\ {\rm mm}^{2}$ and consuming 0.25 W when supplied with $\pm$ 5 V, the front-end achieves a dynamic range of 345 $\Omega$ and noise floor of 0.018 ${\rm m}\Omega_{\rm rms}$ (resistive) and 0.055 ${\rm m}\Omega_{\rm rms}$ (reactive) within a bandwidth of 0.1–20 Hz. A microcontroller allows real-time calibration to minimize errors due to environmental variability (e.g., temperature) that can be experienced outside of lab environments, and enables data storage on a micro secure digital card. The acquired signals are then processed using customized physiology-driven algorithms to extract musculoskeletal (edema) and cardiovascular (local blood volume pulse) features from the knee joint. In a feasibility study, we found statistically significant differences $(p between the injured and contralateral static knee impedance measures for two subjects with recent unilateral knee injury compared to seven controls. Specifically, the impedance was lower for the injured knees, supporting the physiological expectations for increased edema and damaged cell membranes. In a second feasibility study, we demonstrate the sensitivity of the dynamic impedance measures with a cold-pressor test, with a 20 ${\rm m}\Omega$ decrease in the pulsatile resistance associated with increased downstream peripheral vascular resistance. The proposed system will serve as a foundation for future efforts aimed at quantifying joint health status continuously during normal daily life.
Agent-Based Real-Time Computing and Its Applications in Traffic Detection and Management Systems

This paper studies the generic architecture and coordination mechanism of an FIPA (Foundation for Intelligent Physical Agents) compliant heterogeneous multi-agent system (MAS) in a distributed control scenario. Proposed generic MAS framework has been applied to a real-time traffic detection and management system. The agent-based real-time traffic detection and management system (ABRTTDMS) is designed for the information fusion of different traffic detection systems on highways to optimize real-time traffic detection and management. ABRTTDMS is a multi-level agent system. The lowest level agents are responsible for processing the real-time traffic data and monitoring traffic conditions. The middle level agents coordinate all of the lowest level agents in a subnetwork. The highest-level agent is located in the transportation management center (TMC) to accept human commands and delegate tasks to lower level agents. The re-configurable hybrid control architecture of the system provides the capability of dynamically grouping distributed heterogeneous agents (intelligent control systems) into virtual clusters to accomplish tasks related to different geographical areas and different purposes. A platform independent agent execution engine has been implemented using an embeddable C/C++ interpreter called Ch. The communication between agents that reside on different hosts has been simulated in the Integration Engineering Laboratory at the University of California, Davis. The use of agent technology greatly enhances the distributed computing and cooperation capabilities of traffic detection and management systems.Copyright © 2004 by ASME