cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The comparative effects of pulsatile and nonpulsatile myocardial perfusion during cardiopulmonary bypass

Abstract The salutary effects of pulsatile perfusion (P) during clinical cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) remain controversial. The notion exists that coronary blood flow may be enhanced by P, especially when a significant coronary stenosis occurs. In this study pressure-flow characteristics were assessed during CPB with and without P in 13 fibrillating dog hearts (37°C). Radionuclide microspheres measured transmural blood flow in normal myocardium (NR) and in regions supplied by collateral coronary arteries (CR) which restrict blood inflow at mean pump pressures of 80 and 50 mm Hg during either P or nonpulsatile perfusion (NP). Retrograde circumflex pressure (RC P ) also served as an index of CR perfusion. At both pressures, mean myocardial blood flow to both NR and CR was not augmented by P despite aortic pulse pressures of approximately 50 mm Hg. Moreover, endocardial/epicardial flow ratios were unchanged from control in both regions after beginning pulsatile flow. At the same time, the mean RCP in CR was not affected by P even though a pulsatile pattern was transmitted across the collateral bed. Thus, the most significant factors affecting transmural blood flow during pulsatile CPB appear to be the coronary perfusion pressure and degree of inflow limitation, not the perfusion wave form. Therefore, any benefits which might be associated with clinical pulsatile perfusion during CPB appear to result from factors other than coronary blood flow augmentation.
Catalytic Mechanism and DNA Substrate Recognition of Escherichia coli MutY Protein

Escherichia coli MutY protein cleaves A/G- or a/7,8-dihydro-8-oxo-guanine (A/GO)-containing DNA on the A-strand by N-glycosylase and apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease or lyase activities. In this paper, we show that MutY can be trapped in a stable covalent enzyme-DNA intermediate in the presence of sodium borohydride, a new finding that supports the grouping of MutY in that class of DNA glycosylases that possess concomitant apurinic/apyrimidinic lyase activity. To potentially help determine the substrate recognition site of MutY, mutant proteins were constructed. MutY proteins with a Gly116 --> Ala (G116A) or Asp (G116D) mutation had reduced binding affinities for both A/G- and A/GO-containing DNA substrates. The catalytic parameters, however, were differentially affected. While A/G- and A/GO-containing DNA were cleaved by MutY with specificity constants (kcat/Km) of 10 and 3.3 min-1 microM-1, respectively, MutY(G116D) cleaved these DNAs 2, 300- and 9-fold less efficiently. The catalytic activities of MutY(G116A) with A/G- and A/GO-containing DNA were about the same as that of wild-type MutY. Both MutY(G116A) and MutY(G116D) could be trapped in covalent intermediates with A/GO-containing DNA, but with lower efficiencies than the wild-type enzyme in the presence of sodium borohydride. MutY(G116A) also formed a covalent intermediate with A/G-containing DNA, but MutY(G116D) did not. Since Gly116 of MutY lies in a region that is highly conserved among several DNA glycosylases, it is likely this conserved region is in the proximity of the substrate binding and/or catalytic sites.
Plagiogranites as late-stage immiscible liquids in ophiolite and mid-ocean ridge suites - An experimental study

A study of relationships between basic and acidic rocks was made by fractionating primitive basalt at low pressure anhydrous conditions at various fugacities. Fractionally crystallized basalt became increasingly enriched in iron which became silicate liquid immiscible, producing Fe-enriched basaltic and granitic liquids. The latter is similar to plagiogranites found in mid-oceanic rift (MOR) regions, showing that silicate liquid immiscibility could be the petrogenic process which produces plagiogranites in some MOR regions and ophiolites. The major problem in considering plagiogranites as products of silicate liquid immiscibility is absence of any description of the Fe-enriched conjugate liquid in the ophiolite or MOR literature, and the identification of this magma is essential for a definite case of silicate liquid immiscibility.
Compression regulates mitotic spindle length by a mechanochemical switch at the poles.

Summary Background Although the molecules involved in mitosis are becoming better characterized, we still lack an understanding of the emergent mechanical properties of the mitotic spindle. For example, we cannot explain how spindle length is determined. To gain insight into how forces are generated and responded to in the spindle, we developed a method to apply controlled mechanical compression to metaphase mitotic spindles in living mammalian cells while monitoring microtubules and kinetochores by fluorescence microscopy. Results Compression caused reversible spindle widening and lengthening to a new steady state. Widening was a passive mechanical response, and lengthening was an active mechanochemical process requiring microtubule polymerization but not kinesin-5 activity. Spindle morphology during lengthening and drug perturbations suggested that kinetochore fibers are pushed outward by pole-directed forces generated within the spindle. Lengthening of kinetochore fibers occurred by inhibition of microtubule depolymerization at poles, with no change in sliding velocity, interkinetochore stretching, or kinetochore dynamics. Conclusions We propose that spindle length is controlled by a mechanochemical switch at the poles that regulates the depolymerization rate of kinetochore fibers in response to compression and discuss models for how this switch is controlled. Poleward force appears to be exerted along kinetochore fibers by some mechanism other than kinesin-5 activity, and we speculate that it may arise from polymerization pressure from growing plus ends of interpolar microtubules whose minus ends are anchored in the fiber. These insights provide a framework for conceptualizing mechanical integration within the spindle.
Repeated mechanical trauma to the skin: occupational aspects

Many of today's jobs involve repetitive tasks, often resulting in mechanical trauma to the skin. Trauma from pressure, pounding, friction, vibration, and penetration of foreign materials produce a great variety of skin lesions. Mechanical insults contribute directly or indirectly to a number of distinctive problems that are work related, viz, infections, contact dermatitis, occupational skin stigmata, reactions to unabsorbable materials, vibration effects, dermatoses among athletes, the Koebner phenomenon in palmar psoriasis, pressure urticaria, and cutaneous neoplasms arising in burns and scars.
Gold nanopyramidal plasmonic crystals for label-free biosensing

We developed a wafer-scale 3D plasmonic crystal consisting of gold nanopyramid arrays using a colloidal templating technique. These surface plasmons in the arrays allow us to obtain real-time, label-free and high sensitivity biomolecular binding measurements. In our research, we found the sensing capabilities improved while the detection limit of the alcohol dehydrogenase sensing was down to pM. The features of low cost fabrication and real-time, label-free, specific and quantitative measurement capabilities suggest promise for the gold nanopyramid arrays in both biological and chemically based analytical detection systems.
Integrated processing for microelectronics science and technology

This paper is a review of integrated processing-an approach to microelectronics fabrication in which sequential processes are linked by wafer transfer through a clean, controlled environment (e.g., high vacuum or inert gas). The approach is rapidly becoming the state of the art in microelectronics research, development, and manufacturing. In microelectronics research, it provides a means for advancing mechanistic understanding and material quality through in situ fabrication of test structures and extensive in situ diagnostics. In microelectronics development and manufacturing, it promises process simplification, improved contamination control and yield, and potentially more flexible equipment utilization. With increasing emphasis on ultraclean processing, involving control of reactive impurities as well as particles, and on real-time process monitoring and control, applications of integrated processing are moving toward a common ground in which state-of-the-art research techniques can be used to address key issues in development and manufacturing, and provide in return substantive guidelines for manufacturing design and practice.
America and the Japanese Miracle: The Cold War Context of Japan's Postwar Economic Revival, 1950-1960

In this text, Aaron Forsberg presents an account of Japan's postwar economic resurgence in a world polarized by the Cold War. His interpretation highlights the many connections between Japan's economic revival and changes that occurred in the wider world during the 1950s. Drawing on a wealth of released American, British and Japanese archival records, Forsberg demonstrates that American Cold war strategy and the US commitment to liberal rtade played a central role in promoting Japanese economic welfare and in forging the economic relationship between Japan and the United States. The price of economic opportunity and interdependence, however, was a strong undercurrent of mutual frustration, as patterns of conflict and compromise over trade, investment and relations with China continued to characterize the postwar US-Japanese relationship. Forsberg's emphasis on the dynamic interaction of Cold War strategy, the business environement, and Japanese development challenges ""revisionist"" interpretations of Japan's success. In exploring the complex origins of the US-led international economy that has outlasted the Cold War, Forsberg refutes the claim that the US government sacrificed American commercial interests in favour of its military partnership with Japan.
The Surgical Correction of Buried Penis: A New Technique

AbstractPurpose: We report a new surgical technique for the correction of buried penis.Materials and Methods: The study comprised 10 boys with buried penis. The technique consisted of resection of abnormal dartos attachments, unfurling of the prepuce and correction of the deficient shaft skin by reapproximation of the preputial skin flaps in a defined way to obtain sufficient penile skin coverage.Results: Outcome was excellent in 6 cases, good in 3 and unsatisfactory in 1.Conclusions: Perfect cosmetic results were obtained and no serious complications developed.
Structural availability influences the capacity of autoantigenic epitopes to induce a widespread lupus-like autoimmune response.

A subset of lupus patients with severe nephritis and anti-nRNP reactivity produces autoantibodies primarily against two major epitopes of the nRNP A (also known as U1A) protein. These sequences span amino acids 44-56 (A3) and amino acids 103-115 (A6). These two epitopes represent structurally different regions of the protein, as both epitopes are located on the surface, but the A6 epitope is functionally masked in vivo by binding between nRNP A and the U1 RNA. Rabbits were immunized with either the A3 or A6 peptides constructed on a branching polylysine backbone. Rabbits immunized with each of these peptides first developed antibodies directed against the peptide of immunization. With boosting, the immune response of rabbits immunized with the A3 peptide spread to other common antigenic regions of nRNP A. These regions of nRNP A bound by A3 immunized rabbits are very similar to common epitopes in human systemic lupus erythematosus. These A3 immunized rabbits also develop antibodies to common antigenic regions of nRNP 70K, nRNP C, Sm B/B′, and Sm D1 proteins, as well as clinical symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus such as leukopenia and renal insufficiency. On the other hand, rabbits immunized with the A6 peptide only develop antibodies to the peptide of immunization. Anti-A3, but not anti-A6, antibodies are capable of immunoprecipitating native small nuclear ribonucleoprotein complexes. Immunization with the A3 peptide of nRNP A (a surface epitope), but not the A6 peptide (masked), induces an extensive, varied immune response against multiple small nuclear ribonucleoprotein autoantigens similar to that seen in human systemic lupus erythematosus.
A concrete cracking analysis for the proposed arch raise of roosevelt dam

Abstract A proposed modification of an arch dam was subjected to parallel linear and nonlinear static analysis using ADINA 84. The load path selected for comparison produced high tensile stresses in the linear model and therefore significant cracking in ADINA's concrete model. The analysis clearly shows the ability of the arch dam to redistribute the loads after extensive cracking has occurred.
Enzymic Degumming of Pineapple and Pineapple Mill Juices

Commercial pectinase, cellulase and hemicellulase preparations reduced percent suspended solids, decreased viscosity, and reduced foaming of pineapple juice. These preparations also lowered the viscosity of pineapple mill juice and syrups prepared therefrom to levels approaching sucrose solutions at equivalent Brix. These effects are attributed to enzymic hydrolysis of the neutral polysaccharide pineapple gum and are consistent with the effects of enzymic hydrolyses of purified gum reported previously. Model systems consisting of purified gum in sucrose solution suggest the gum accounts for about 75% and 97% of the nonsugar viscosity of juice, and mill juice, respectively. Ease of filtration, higher clarity, and improved flow are advantages which can be expected with enzymic degumming.
Psychological factors in violent persons.

The psychoaggressive aspect of mental development is examined, showing that problems in identification and unresolved aggressive conflicts are expressed by violent persons. Sociologic and psycholog...
Vibration welding of thermoplastics. Part II: Analysis of the welding process

The vibration welding process for thermoplastics is known to consist of four phases: (1) initial heating of the interface to the melting temperature by Coulomb friction; (2) unsteady melting and flow in the lateral direction; (3) steady-state flow; and (4) unsteady flow and solidification of the film after the vibratory motion is stopped. Simple analytical models are developed for the first three phases. These models are used for estimating the molten film thickness, the size of the heat affected zone, and the weld time as functions of the weld parameters: the amplitude and frequency of the weld motion, and the weld pressure. The steady-state film thickness and the heat-affected zone are shown to be very small.
Concomitant cholecystectomy should be routinely performed with laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

As the popularity of a laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) surpassed that of an open approach, practice of concomitant cholecystectomy declined. Low rates of gallbladder disease following RYGB and high complication rates of concomitant cholecystectomy have been published, but these population-based studies have lacked long-term outcomes and survival data. The California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development longitudinal database was queried for patients who underwent RYGB with or without cholecystectomy between 1995 and 2009. Additionally, patients who underwent cholecystectomy after RYGB were compared to all cholecystectomy patients. Primary outcome was survival; secondary long-term outcomes included cholangitis, common duct stones, dumping syndrome, metabolic derangements, ventral hernia, any hernia, marginal ulcers, and reoperation. Cox proportional hazard analysis was performed to determine adjusted survival and outcomes. Of 134,584 RYGB patients, 21,022 underwent concomitant cholecystectomy. Concomitant cholecystectomy improved both survival (HR[95 % CI] 0.51[.48–.54]) and long-term outcomes (HR 0.84[.77–.91]). Incidence of gallbladder disease following RYGB was 6.8 and 15.2 % at 1 and 5 years. In subsequent analysis of 829,333 cholecystectomy patients, 7,099 underwent prior RYGB with higher risk of conversion to open (HR 1.58[1.41–1.78]), post-operative complication (HR 1.47[1.36–1.6]) and death (HR 1.32[1.17–1.5]). Concomitant cholecystectomy is safe for RYGB patients. Given high rates of gallbladder disease and increased risk when cholecystectomy is performed following RYGB, cholecystectomy should be considered at the time of RYGB.
The spectrum of the algebra of skew differential operators and the irreducible representations of the quantum Heisenberg algebra

The left spectrum of a wide class of the algebras of skew differential operators is described. As a sequence, we determine and classify all the algebraically irreducible representations of the quantum Heisenberg algebra over an arbitrary field.
Films of Highly Disperse Electrodeposited Poly(N-vinylcarbazole)–Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites

The electrodeposition of polymer nanocomposite thin films of PVK–GO is demonstrated. Highly exfoliated and stable graphene oxide (GO) solutions are prepared by incorporating poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVK) through mixing. Enhanced stability up to 30 d is observed in both aqueous and organic solvents. TGA, XRD, FTIR, and UV-vis measurements confirm nanocomposite formation. CV enables electrodeposition of the films. The presence of GO on the PVK–GO surface is confirmed by the appearance of the C=O and OH stretching vibrations, attributed to the carboxylic and hydroxyl groups of GO. AFM measurements show homogeneous and well-defined film morphology.
Compression-relaxation: a new approach to performance driven placement for regular architectures

We present a new iterative algorithm for performance driven placement applicable to regular architectures such as FPGAs. Our algorithm has two phases in each iteration: a compression phase and a relaxation phase. We employ a novel compression strategy based on the longest path tree of a cone for improving the timing performance of a given placement. Compression might cause a feasible placement to become infeasible. The concept of a slack neighborhood graph is introduced and is used in the relaxation phase to transform an infeasible placement to a feasible one using a mincost flow formulation. Our analytical results regarding the bounds on delay increase during relaxation are validated by the rapid convergence of our algorithm on benchmark circuits. We obtain placements that have 13% less critical path delay (on the average) than those generated by the Xilinx automatic place and route tool (apr) on technology mapped MCNC benchmark circuits with significantly less CPU time than apr.
Successful renal transplant outcome after intravenous gamma-globulin treatment of a highly sensitized pediatric recipient.

Abstract: Approximately 10% of patients on the renal transplant (Tx) cadaver waiting list have high (> 20%) panel-reactive antibody (PRA) levels to human leukocyte antigens (HLA). Intravenous gamma-globulin (IVIG) has been shown to reduce anti-HLA cytotoxic antibody levels through an anti-idiotypic antibody-blocking effect. We report a successful renal Tx outcome in a 7-yr-old-girl with high PRA levels owing to a failed renal Tx who experienced a significant reduction in PRA levels (from 96% to 0%) concomitant with IVIG therapy. IVIG was infused weekly (500 mg/kg/week) for 3 consecutive weeks every 12 weeks. Thirty-four months after starting IVIG therapy, the PRA activity dropped to zero and IVIG was stopped. Then IVIG therapy was resumed after 8 months due to a rebound in PRA activity to 52%. Forty-four months after starting IVIG therapy, the patient was cross-matched with a cadaver donor who shared three antigens with the first living donor. The cross-match was positive with the recipient's sera obtained prior to IVIG therapy and negative with the recipient's sera obtained post-IVIG therapy. A successful cadaver renal Tx was performed using anti-thymocyte globulin (ATGAM) induction therapy and a tacrolimus-based immunosuppression protocol. IVIG was given (1 g/kg) prior to Tx and at day 4 post-operatively. A single mild acute rejection episode occurred 10 days post-transplantation that responded to pulse methylprednisolone therapy and an increase in the tacrolimus oral dose. We conclude that a prolonged course of IVIG infusions, without immunosuppressive medications or plasmapheresis, is likely to have been beneficial in modulating the immune response in this highly sensitized recipient. Randomized multicenter trials are required to define the role of IVIG in this specific population.
Stability of a thick elastic plate under thrust

When a rectangular plate of incompressible neo-Hookean elastic material is subjected to a thrust, bifurcations of the flexural or barreling types become possible at certain critical values of the compression ratio. The states of pure homogeneous deformation corresponding to these critical compression ratios are states of neutral equilibrium. Their stability is investigated on the basis of an energy criterion, without restriction on the thickness of the plate.
Friedel–Crafts alkylation properties of aluminosilica SBA-15 meso/macroporous monoliths and mesoporous powders☆

The catalytic activities of SBA-15 aluminosilica meso/macroporous monoliths (Si/Al = 72) and mesoporous powders (Si/Al = 70) have been investigated using batch Friedel–Crafts alkylation of single-ring aromatic compounds, including toluene, ethylbenzene, cumene, and styrene, with benzyl alcohol. The toluene alkylation activities of the meso/macroporous monolith catalysts were compared with nanoporous zeolite Beta (Si/Al = 75, average particle size ∼ 10 µm) and mesoporous SBA-15 aluminosilica (average particle size ∼ 25 µm), as powders and pellets (0.5 cm thick × 1 cm diameter) to study the effects of framework crystallinity, particle size, pore size, and pore structure on the overall conversion. Apparent reaction rate coefficients were quantified based on a model for the alkylation of toluene with benzyl alcohol via two parallel reaction schemes to benzyl toluene. Moderate toluene alkylation rates ( ∼ 10 −4 s −1 ) and high selectivities (> 90%) for benzyl toluene were observed for meso/macroporous aluminosilica SBA-15 monoliths, compared to the mesoporous SBA-15 and zeolite Beta powders, which displayed faster alkylation rates (∼ 10 −3 s −1 ), though were less selective (79 and 59%, respectively). In pellet form, both the mesoporous SBA-15 and the zeolite Beta materials yielded lower rates of alkylation (∼ 10 −4 s −1 ), due to slower internal diffusion of reactants and products within the smaller pellet macropores, compared to the meso/macroporous monoliths. Diffusive resistances to mass transfer were quantified by estimating Thiele moduli and effectiveness factors for the different catalysts, based on benzyl alcohol diffusivities measured by PFG NMR. The aluminosilica meso/macroporous SBA-15 monoliths deactivated more slowly, retaining 92% of their original activities after one use, compared to 75, 76, and 0.6% for SBA-15 powder, SBA-15 pellet, and zeolite Beta powder catalysts, respectively.
In vitro methods of assessing renal damage.

AEISTRAC~ Freshly isolated and primary cultures of rat kidney cells derived from specific nephron segments can be useful in vim models for studying processes such as drug metabolism, membrane transport, and biochemical mechanisms of chemically induced toxicity. Proximal tubular (IT) and distal tubular (DT) cells were isolated from rat renal cortex by collagenase perfusion and Percoll densitygradient centrifugation. Oxidants produced glutathione (GSH) oxidation and lipid peroxidation and were markedly more cytotoxic to DT cells than to PT cells. Similarly, alkylating agents that target soft nucleophiles such as GSH and protein sulfhydryls were more toxic to DT cells than to PT cells, whereas an alkylating agent that targets hard nucleophiles was equally cytotoxic in the 2 cell types. DT cells were also more sensitive to brief periods of oxygen deprivation and were markedly more susceptible to ATP depletion by treatment with iodoacetate and cyanide than were PT cells. Serum-free, hormonally defined conditions have been optimized for primary culture of rat renal PT and DT cells to maintain differentiated function for up to 9 days. Primary cultures exhibited similar susceptibilities as freshly isolated cells to acute injury from chemical toxicants and the cultures express several isoforms of cytochrome P450. These studies show that freshly isolated and primary cultures of rat renal F'T and DT cells can be used to study both short-term and long-term responses to toxic chemicals. Kejwords. Proximal tubule; distal tubule; isolated cells; primary cell culture; glutathione; drug metabolism
Performance modeling of a shared-memory multiprocessor system

Two different approximate state models are presented for the performance analysis of a shared-memory multiprocessor system. The steady-state solutions for the state transition matrices were obtained by applying an iterative numerical technique. The numerical results illustrate that the state models produce less than 5% approximation error compared to simulation results. It has been observed that the coefficient of variation for the service time of the shared memory has little effect on the system performance. >
Radiative Heat Transfer

We have focused on the turbulent fluid mechanics, the chemical reactions, and the interactions between these two aspects of combustion and gasification. In this chapter we change emphasis and briefly examine the dominant heat-transfer mechanism in coal-fired combustors and gasifiers; namely, radiative heat transfer. Radiation is electromagnetic energy in transport. A photon of energy interacts with an individual molecule to excite it to increased energy states. As the molecule relaxes to lower-energy levels, different photons are emitted. Radiation can be transmitted at wavelengths anywhere from 1 nm to 1 km corresponding to x-ray radiation and radiowave radiation, respectively. Of interest to heat-transfer calculations is thermal radiation within the range of 0.1–100 μm in wavelength. In combustion and gasification processes, the most significant contributions to thermoenergy arrive from radiation having wavelengths between 0.5 and 10μm.
Anatomy is strategy: Skilled reading differences associated with structural connectivity differences in the reading network

Are there multiple ways to be a skilled reader? To address this longstanding, unresolved question, we hypothesized that individual variability in using semantic information in reading aloud would be associated with neuroanatomical variation in pathways linking semantics and phonology. Left-hemisphere regions of interest for diffusion tensor imaging analysis were defined based on fMRI results, including two regions linked with semantic processing – angular gyrus (AG) and inferior temporal sulcus (ITS) – and two linked with phonological processing – posterior superior temporal gyrus (pSTG) and posterior middle temporal gyrus (pMTG). Effects of imageability (a semantic measure) on response times varied widely among individuals and covaried with the volume of pathways through the ITS and pMTG, and through AG and pSTG, partially overlapping the inferior longitudinal fasciculus and the posterior branch of the arcuate fasciculus. These results suggest strategy differences among skilled readers associated with structural variation in the neural reading network.
An investigation of variable power collective pitch control for load mitigation of floating offshore wind turbines

This paper investigates the loads on offshore floating wind turbines and a new control method that can be used to reduce these loads. In this variable power collective pitch control method, the rated generator speed, which is the set point that the collective pitch control attempts to drive the actual generator speed towards, is no longer a constant value but instead is a variable that depends on the platform pitch velocity. At a basic physical level, this controller achieves the following: as the rotor of a floating turbine pitches upwind, the controller adjusts so as to extract more energy from the wind by increasing the rated generator speed and thus damps the motion; as the rotor pitches downwind, less energy is extracted because the controller reduces the rated generator speed and again damps the motion. This method is applied to the NREL 5 MW wind turbine model, in above rated conditions where the platform motion is most problematic. The results indicate significant load reductions on key structural components, at the expense of minor increases in power and speed variability. The loads on the blades and tower are investigated more generally, and simple dynamic models are used to gain insight into the behavior of floating wind turbine systems. It is clear that for this particular design, aerodynamic methods for reducing platform motion and tower loads are likely inadequate to allow for a viable design, so new designs or possibly new control degrees of freedom are needed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pigment epithelium-derived factor mitigates inflammation and oxidative stress in retinal pericytes exposed to oxidized low-density lipoprotein

Oxidized and/or glycated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) may mediate capillary injury in diabetic retinopathy. The mechanisms may involve pro-inflammatory and pro-oxidant effects on retinal capillary pericytes. In this study, these effects, and the protective effects of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), were defined in a primary human pericyte model. Human retinal pericytes were exposed to 100 microg/ml native LDL (N-LDL) or heavily oxidized glycated LDL (HOG-LDL) with or without PEDF at 10-160 nM for 24 h. To assess pro-inflammatory effects, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) secretion was measured by ELISA, and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation was detected by immunocytochemistry. Oxidative stress was determined by measuring intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)) formation, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression, and nitric oxide (NO) production. The results showed that MCP-1 was significantly increased by HOG-LDL, and the effect was attenuated by PEDF in a dose-dependent manner. PEDF also attenuated the HOG-LDL-induced NF-kappaB activation, suggesting that the inhibitory effect of PEDF on MCP-1 was at least partially through the blockade of NF-kappaB activation. Further studies demonstrated that HOG-LDL, but not N-LDL, significantly increased ONOO(-) formation, NO production, and iNOS expression. These changes were also alleviated by PEDF. Moreover, PEDF significantly ameliorated HOG-LDL-induced ROS generation through up-regulation of superoxide dismutase 1 expression. Taken together, these results demonstrate pro-inflammatory and pro-oxidant effects of HOG-LDL on retinal pericytes, which were effectively ameliorated by PEDF. Suppressing MCP-1 production and thus inhibiting macrophage recruitment may represent a new mechanism for the salutary effect of PEDF in diabetic retinopathy and warrants more studies in future.
The association of hypertriglyceridemia with cardiovascular events and pancreatitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background Hypertriglyceridemia may be associated with important complications. The aim of this study is to estimate the magnitude of association and quality of supporting evidence linking hypertriglyceridemia to cardiovascular events and pancreatitis.
Molecular biology techniques and applications for ocean sensing

Abstract. The study of marine microorganisms using molecular biological techniques is now widespread in the ocean sciences. These techniques target nucleic acids which record the evolutionary history of microbes, and encode for processes which are active in the ocean today. Molecular techniques can form the basis of remote instrumentation sensing technologies for marine microbial diversity and ecological function. Here we review some of the most commonly used molecular biological techniques. These techniques include the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse-transcriptase PCR, quantitative PCR, whole assemblage "fingerprinting" approaches (based on nucleic acid sequence or length heterogeneity), oligonucleotide microarrays, and high-throughput shotgun sequencing of whole genomes and gene transcripts, which can be used to answer biological, ecological, evolutionary and biogeochemical questions in the ocean sciences. Moreover, molecular biological approaches may be deployed on ocean sensor platforms and hold promise for tracking of organisms or processes of interest in near-real time.
Modeling and online control of generalized energy storage networks

The integration of intermittent and volatile renewable energy resources requires increased flexibility in the operation of the electric grid. Storage, broadly speaking, provides the flexibility of shifting energy over time; network, on the other hand, provides the flexibility of shifting energy over geographical locations. The optimal control of general storage networks in uncertain environments is an important open problem. The key challenge is that, even in small networks, the corresponding constrained stochastic control problems with continuous spaces suffer from curses of dimensionality, and are intractable in general settings. For large networks, no efficient algorithm is known to give optimal or near-optimal performance.This paper provides an efficient and provably near-optimal algorithm to solve this problem in a very general setting. We study the optimal control of generalized storage networks, i.e., electric networks connected to distributed generalized storages. Here generalized storage is a unifying dynamic model for many components of the grid that provide the functionality of shifting energy over time, ranging from standard energy storage devices to deferrable or thermostatically controlled loads. An online algorithm is devised for the corresponding constrained stochastic control problem based on the theory of Lyapunov optimization. We prove that the algorithm is near-optimal, and construct a semidefinite program to minimize the sub-optimality bound. The resulting bound is a constant that depends only on the parameters of the storage network and cost functions, and is independent of uncertainty realizations. Numerical examples are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the algorithm.
Histidine-Tag-Specific Optical Probes for Analytical Ultracentrifugation Analysis

The hexahistidine (His6)/nickel(II)-nitrilotriacetic acid (Ni2+-NTA) system is a universal tool for the affinity purification of recombinant proteins. Additionally, the NTA group can be exploited for the attachment of fluorophores and chromophores to His6 proteins at unique user-defined locations. The applications of one such derivative, (Ni2+-NTA)2-Cy3 is characterized. The derivative binds two model His6 proteins, N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor (NSF) and O6-alklyguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT) with moderate affinity (K∼1.5x106M−1). The activity of these proteins remains unaffected by the attachment of the derivative. The (Ni2+-NTA)2-Cy3 has high specificity which makes it suitable for the detection of His6 proteins within complex mixtures containing other proteins. This property allows the derivative to be used as a probe of crude cell extracts and as a His6-specfic gel stain. The binding of the (Ni2+-NTA)2-Cy3 derivative is reversible in the presence of 10 mM ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) or 500 mM imidazole, and in the absence of such agents the exchange occurs slowly (kexchange∼5x10−6S−1 with 0.2 M labeled protein in the presence of 1 M His6 peptide). The hydrodynamic properties can be explored with the attachment of the (Ni2+-NTA)2-Cy3 derivative utilizing fluorescent anisotropy or analytical ultracentrifugation within environments which prevent direct detection of the protein. Additionally, the (Ni2+-NTA)2-Cy3 derivative can be utilized during fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between labeled proteins and suitable donors/acceptors creating a practical assay for binding interactions and measurements of donor-acceptor distances.
The Birth Weight “Paradox” Uncovered?

Low birth weight (LBW) infants have lower infant mortality in groups in which LBW is most frequent. For example, in 1991, US infants born to smokers had higher risks of both LBW and infant mortality than infants born to nonsmokers. However, among LBW infants, infant mortality was lower for infants born to smokers (relative rate = 0.79). There are competing theories regarding this so-called "paradox." One is that maternal smoking is beneficial for LBW infants. The authors use causal diagrams to show that, even in the absence of any beneficial effect of smoking, an inverse association due to stratification on birth weight can be found. This variable is affected by the exposure of interest and shares common causes with the outcome. That is, LBW infants born to smokers may have a lower risk of mortality than other LBW infants whose LBW is due to causes associated with high mortality (e.g., birth defects). Under realistic causal diagrams, adjustment for birth weight is unwarranted when the analytical goal is to estimate overall effects of prenatal variables on infant mortality. Even for estimating direct effects of prenatal variables, adjustment for birth weight may be invalid when there is an unmeasured common cause of LBW and mortality. An appropriate justification for conditioning on birth weight requires specifying 1) the causal question motivating this analytical approach and 2) the assumptions regarding the proposed underlying biologic mechanisms.
Achieving Competence in Offshore Emergency Egress Using Virtual Environment Training

As a precursor to simulation transfer studies, this research assessed the level of competence in basic offshore safety gained through a virtual environment training program and investigated the training time required to reach competence. The experiment demonstrated that the offshore egress learning objectives can be taught using the All-hands Virtual Emergency Response Trainer (AVERT) training program with some limitations. The two main findings were: 1. due to individual differences in spatial learning, some individuals required more exposure to the virtual setting to ensure knowledge retention; and 2. the procedural learning objectives required reinforcement during training scenarios to ensure knowledge acquisition. Overall, this research recommends modifications to the training and technology design in order to prepare for future transfer studies and offshore applications.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Computer-Aided Processing of Design Specifications

Generalization of design process has been hampered by the fact that design constraints, as presented in the various codes and specifications, are written with hand computation in mind and are not readily adaptable to computer processing. Decision table format for specfications has been suggested to overcome this problem. A general algorithm for constraint checking, using the design constraints in the form of decision tables, is presented. The algorithm minimizes the volume of data required and optimizes on execution time by (1) Conditionally executing subsequent tables in the hierarchy only when the data generated by such tables is actually required; and (2) grouping data in the form of ingredients and dependence arrays. Conditional execution is implemented by recursive use of the same program segment. Provisions are included for recycling of the constraint checking for testing alternate designs or alternate design approaches by changing only a few elements of data, or both. Examples have been solved using the 1969 AISC Specification.
Decomposition of Database Preferences on the Power Set of the Domain

Database preferences allow defining strict orders on the tuples of a data set and selecting the optimal elements w.r.t. this order. In our prior work we have shown that in common implementations of preferences a small set of preference operators and operands is sufficient to express arbitrary strict orders. We have suggested preference decomposition algorithms to prove this expressiveness. In the present paper we define the induced preference on the power set of the original data set and transfer our decomposition results to this setting. We modify the algorithms of our prior work to reduce the term length and complexity of the resulting decompositions. This optimization turns out to be very efficient especially for power set preferences.
Nonequilibrium effects on the aerodynamic heating of lifting hypersonic vehicles

The aerodynamic heating aspect of a generic lifting hypersonic vehicle configuration is examined in the high altitude hypersonic flight regime when nonequilibrium dissociationlrecombination in the flow field and finite surface catalysis effects are both important. Analyses of these effects are given for three important heating regions: the nose, the swept wing leading edge attachment line, and the windward body centerline. Moreover, closed form relationships for the relative nonequilibrium effects are developed for each region that enable both computer code-prediction validation and cost-effective parametric engineering studies.
Ultrafast Optical Processes in Carbon Nanotubes

We report results of ultrafast optical studies of single-walled carbon nanotubes. We identify intraband ( 50 ps) dynamics and show that excitons in nanotubes are highly stable against the Mott transition.
GAMETIC DISEQUILIBRIUM BETWEEN ESTERASE LOCI IN POPULATIONS OF CEPAEA NEMORALIS IN WESTERN NEW YORK.

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Alternate Methods of Sample Introduction for Plasma Mass Spectrometry

The most common method of sample introduction for plasma mass spectrometry is solution nebulization, which suffers from a number of short-comings; therefore, a great deal of effort has been placed on the investigation of other sample introduction methods. The common solution nebulization method and its disadvantages are discussed and, in some detail, several alternative methods of sample introduction are reviewed. The methods include electrothermal vaporization, hydride generation, liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, and supercritical fluid chromatography. Advantages and disadvantages of each of these methods will be discussed along with examples from work performed in our laboratory.
Informing Early Design via Crowd-Based Co-Creation

Customer inputs in the early stages of design can potentially lead to completely new outlooks in concept generation. We propose crowd-based co-creation as a means to this end. Our main idea is to think of the customer as a source of initial design concepts rather than a means for obtaining preferences towards designer-generated concepts. For analyzing a large collection of customer-created prototypes, we develop a framework that focuses on generating hypotheses related to customer perception of design attributes. We demonstrate our approach through a web interface to gather design requirements for a computer mouse, a bicycle seat, a pen holder, and a cola bottle. This interface was used in a crowdsourcing study with 253 users who represented potential end users for these products. Results from this study show that web-based co-creation allows designers to capture a variety of form and function-related design requirements from user-created virtual prototypes. We also found that such studies can be instrumental in identifying innovative product concepts, and gaining insights about how user perception correlates with product form. Therefore, we make the case that customer creation through distributed co-creation platforms can reinforce concept exploration in future early design processes.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Comparison of Domain Nucleation Mechanisms in a Minimal Model of Shoot Apical Meristem

Existing mathematical models of the shoot apical meristem (SAM) explain nucleation and confinement of a stem cell domain by Turing's mechanism, assuming that the diffusion coefficients of the activator (WUSCHEL) and inhibitor (CLAVATA) are significantly different. As there is no evidence for this assumption of differential diffusivity, we recently proposed a new mechanism based on a bistable switch model of the SAM. Here we study the bistable-switch mechanism in detail, demonstrating that it can be understood as localized switches of WUSHEL activity in individual cells driven by a non-uniform field of a peptide hormone. By comparing domain formation by Turing and bistable-switch mechanisms on a cell network, we show that the latter does not require the assumptions needed by the former, which are not supported by biological evidences.
Macro Monopoly: Applying Game-Based Economic Development Lessons

This series of in-class activities utilizes a familiar favorite, Hasbro’s Monopoly board game, in order to demonstrate economic development concepts that are common to most principles level macroeconomics courses. The basic Monopoly game rules are rigged in a variety of iterations to provide opportunities for a robust classroom discussion as well as authentic student engagement. The abbreviated method of play and simplified rules allow this author’s version of using Monopoly as a game-based learning experience to be offered in almost any type of course structure: face-to-face, hybrid and online. In each experimental simulation, students practice learning-by-doing and connect with theories about income distribution, initial endowments, wealth and income inequalities, intergenerational transfers, imperfect information, and risk aversion. Ultimately students will uncover how an economy’s rules of the game, institutions, and resource allocation methods factor into producing outcomes which may not be found to be fair or envy-free.
Managed Care: Impact on Pharmacy Personnel Selection

Objective: To review how managed care is changing the traditional practice of pharmacy and the selection of pharmacy personnel. Data Sources: Pharmacy practice journals and health care management journals were reviewed. Search terms included managed care, case management, pharmacists and Gallup Poll, drug use review, and patient compliance. Study Selection: References were used based on their relevance to describing managed care-driven changes in pharmacy and the potential threats and opportunities associated with these changes. Data Synthesis: The literature reviewed confirms that managed care is an increasing presence in the health care delivery system and that its influence is spreading to pharmacy. Health care practitioners, including pharmacists, are realigning and redefining their scope of practice to remain viable within the evolving system. Conclusion: As the drug delivery system changes, the expectations and roles of its practitioners are changing. The practice of pharmacy is changing from a distributive function to a cognitive one. This change will affect all pharmacy practice sites and will necessitate the hiring of pharmacists who are well qualified to deal with additional requirements. Failure to select qualified personnel may well exclude pharmacy from a major portion of the health care delivery system.