cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Single incision laparoscopic-assisted intestinal surgery (SILAIS) in 7 dogs and 1 cat.

Objectives To describe the clinical findings and short-term outcome in 7 dogs and 1 cat undergoing single-incision laparoscopic-assisted intestinal surgery (SILAIS) using an SILS™ or EndoCone™ port. Study Design Prospective case series. Animals Dogs (n = 7) and cat (n = 1). Methods An SILS™ port using three 5-mm instrument cannulas or EndoCone™ port was used to perform an initial limited laparoscopic abdominal exploration. The stomach and descending duodenum were explored intracorporeally and the jejunum through orad descending colon was explored extracorporeally. All intestinal procedures (enterotomy, biopsy, resection, and anastomosis) were performed extracorporeally. Omentalization of affected bowel was accomplished either intracorporeally or extracorporeally. Short-term outcome was determined. Results SILAIS was completed successfully in all but 1 dog and all animals had a good short-term outcome. Most (n = 5) animals were discharged the day after surgery. SILAIS was performed in a median of 120 minutes (interquartile range; 82–148 minutes) and was associated with a moderate level of difficulty. No major complications occurred but conversion to celiotomy (n = 1) and enlargement of the incision (n = 3) was required because of inability to exteriorize the affected bowel. Conclusions SILAIS using an SILS™ or EndoCone™ port in dogs and cats is feasible and appears effective in selected cases. Single portal laparoscopic-assisted intestinal surgery might be an effective method of minimizing morbidity in dogs and cats with uncomplicated intestinal disease.
Achieving data privacy on hybrid cloud

In this paper, we propose a novel scheme that can achieve data privacy by hybrid cloud, which consists of public and private cloud, and reduce storage and computation in private cloud, as well as communication overhead between private and public cloud. Meanwhile, we propose a novel algorithm to process private image data. Our experimental results show that 1 our algorithm achieves data privacy but only takes about 1/1000, time of the Advanced Encryption Standard algorithm and 2 the delay of our hybrid cloud approach including the private and public cloud communications is only 3%-5% more compared with the traditional public cloud-only approach. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rigorous Covariant Path Integrals

Our rigorous path integrals costruction for the evolution operators is extended to metric-affine manifolds.
Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Voters in the 2000 U.S. Presidential Election

Lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals (LGBs) in the United States are strikingly more likely to vote for Democratic presidential candidates than heterosexuals. LGBs are one of the Democratic Party's most loyal voting blocs, despite the absence of one of the most important mechanisms for creating party identification: intergenerational transmission. We use the 2000 Presidential election to examine whether LGB voters overwhelmingly chose Al Gore because they viewed him as superior to George W. Bush on LGB-related policy issues or because of their greater overall liberalism and Democratic Party identification. We also examine the impact of socialization within the LGB community for generating political liberalism, Democratic Party identification, and interest in LGB policies. Using logit analysis on a 2000 Harris Interactive poll of 13,000 Americans, including 1,000 LGBs, we find that concern for LGB rights, policy liberalism, and party identification all played a role in the LGB vote. Lesbianas, hombres gay y bisexuales (LGB) en los Estados Unidos son mucho mas propensos a por votar candidatos presidenciales Democraticos que personas heterosexuales. Los LGB son uno de los grupos electoral mas leal del Partido Democratico, a pesar de la ausencia de uno de los mecanismos mas importantes para crear identificacion partidista: la transmision intergeneracional. En este articulo usamos la eleccion presidencial del 2000 para examinar si los electores LGB eligieron a Al Gore porque lo consideraban superior a George W. Bush en politicas relacionadas con asuntos LGB o debido a su mayor liberalismo e identificacion con el Partido Democratico. Tambien examinamos el impacto de la socializacion dentro de la comunidad LGB para generar liberalismo politico, identificacion con el Partido Democratico, e interes en politicas relacionadas con asuntos LGB. Usando un analisis logit en una encuesta interactiva Harris 2000 de 13,000 estadounidenses, incluyendo 1,000 LGB, los resultados muestran que interes por derechos para los LGB, liberalismo politico, e identificacion partidaria juegan un papel importante en el voto LGB.
Coordinated resource management in networked embedded systems

This dissertation shows that with simple programming abstractions, network-wide resource coordination is efficient and useful for programming embedded sensor networks. Existing systems have focused primarily on managing resources for individual nodes, but a sensor network is not merely a collection of nodes operating independently: it must coordinate behavior across multiple nodes to achieve high efficiency. We need tools that can enable system-wide coordination at a higher level of abstraction than what exists today. We present three core contributions. The first is a service called IDEA that enables network-wide energy management for sensor networks. It unites energy monitoring, load modeling, and distributed state sharing into a single service that facilitates distributed decision making. Using simulation and testbed results, we show that IDEA enables improvements in network lifetime of up to 35% over approaches that do not consider energy distribution. Our second contribution is Karma, a system for coordinating insect-sized robotic micro-aerial vehicle (MAV) swarms, an emerging class of mobile sensor networks. Karma's system architecture simplifies the functionality of an individual MAV to a sequence of sensing and actuation commands called behaviors. Each behavior has an associated progress function, a measure of how much of that behavior has been completed. Programming is done by composing behaviors which are coordinated using input from the progress functions. Through simulation and testbed experiments, we demonstrate Karma applications can run on limited resources, are robust to individual MAV failure, and adapt to changes in the environment. Our final contribution is Simbeeotic, a testbed for MAV coordination algorithms. MAV sensors must be codesigned with the software and coordination algorithms that depend on them. This requires a testbed capable of simulating sensors to evaluate them before actual hardware is available and the ability to test with real flight dynamics for accurate control evaluation. In addition, simulation should be able to scale to hundreds or thousands of MAVs at a reduced level of fidelity in order to test at scale. We demonstrate that Simbeeotic provides the appropriate level of fidelity to evaluate prototype systems while maintaining the ability to test at scale.
Optimal trajectories of infinite-horizon deterministic control systems

We study the infinite-horizon deterministic control problem of minimizingź0T L(z, ź) dt, Tźź, whereL(z, ·) is convex inź for fixedz but not necessarily jointly convex in (z, ź). We prove the existence of a solution to the infinite-horizon Bellman equation and use it to define a differential inclusion, which reduces in certain cases to an ordinary differential equation. We discuss cases where solutions of this differential inclusion (equation) provide optimal solutions (in the overtaking optimality sense) to the optimization problem. A quantity of special interest is the minimal long-run average-cost growth rate. We compute it explicitly and show that it is equal to minxL(x, 0) in the following two cases: one is the scalar casen = 1 and the other is' when the integrand is in a separated form $$l(x) + g(\dot x)$$
Recruiting minority students and faculty for graduate and professional schools

This is a selective bibliography of 89 references on recruitment of minority students and faculty for graduate and professional schools and programs. Education, social sciences, and law literature were scanned for the years 1981 to 1991. Resources on recruitment in graduate and professional education are included, as well as a few relevant references of somewhat broader scope on diversity in higher education. This bibliography is divided into two parts: Part 1 is on student recruitment, Part 2 on faculty recruitment. Each part is subdivided into three sections—general literature, strategies and programs, and literature pertaining to particular fields of study or professions.
Primary Carcinoma of the Adrenal: Report of a Case

Primary malignancy of the adrenal is probably not as rare as is commonly supposed, and a review of the literature shows reports of occasional cases. Geschickter has recently classified the types of suprarenal tumors and makes a plea for reports of these unusual cases, in order that interest in them may be stimulated and some of the confusion which now exists may be cleared up. A case which recently came under our observation in the Department of Roentgenology and later for autopsy in the Department of Pathology is, we believe, worthy of report. Case Report1 Miss P. D., aged forty, was first seen in the x-ray department Dee. 24, 1933. She had come to the hospital as an out-patient and requested an x-ray examination of the chest because of a persistent cough. Films made at that time (Fig. 1) show numerous large dense areas, varying in size but of uniform density, in both lung fields but predominantly in the bases. These shadows were interpreted as areas of metastasis, unclassified, and roentgen therapy was given: 200 kv.; 0.5 mm. copper filtration; 575 r (measured in air) per field, anterior and posterior ports of entry over both lungs. This dosage was repeated one week later. Subsequent films, after a lapse of time, failed to show any appreciable changes in the shadows. The metastatic areas were considered resistant to further radiation and the patient was not seen again until April 1934, when films of the chest showed a large collection of fluid in both pleural cavities. Death occurred July 20, 1934, and an autopsy was performed that day.
Monoaminergic influences on temporal patterning of sexual behavior in male rats

We evaluated the effects of the serotonin (5-HT) presynaptic uptake blocker fluoxetine (FLX) and the dopamine (DA)/noradrenaline (NE) releaser amantadine (AMA), separately and in combination, on the temporal patterning of male rat sexual behavior. FLX alone increased intermount-bout intervals, time-outs, grooming time, ejaculation latency, number of mounts per mount bout, and number of mount bouts per ejaculation. AMA alone had the opposite effect on these measures. Additionally, AMA, when given in combination with FLX, completely reversed the FLX-induced deficits in copulatory behavior. We interpret our results as suggesting an interaction between 5-HT and catecholamines in the temporal patterning of male rat copulatory behavior.
A true malignant schwannoma of the eighth cranial nerve: case report.

OBJECTIVE: The clinical presentation, pathology, treatment, and outcome of a 43-year-old woman with a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor arising from a benign schwannoma of the eighth cranial nerve are presented. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: Initially, the tumor was debulked. After finding malignant areas within the benign tumor, it was considered to be a malignant transformation of a previously benign tumor. INTERVENTION: Aggressive total resection was obtained during a second-stage procedure. Postoperatively, the tumor bed was radiated for palliation. CONCLUSION: Despite surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, the patient died rapidly as a result of disseminated metastatic disease.
Conformational Changes in HIV-1 gp41 in the Course of HIV-1 Envelope Glycoprotein-Mediated Fusion and Inactivation†

HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein-mediated fusion is driven by the concerted coalescence of the HIV-1 gp41 N- and C-helical regions, which results in the formation of 6-helix bundles. These two regions are considered prime targets for peptides and antibodies that inhibit HIV-1 entry. However, the parameters that govern this inhibition have yet to be elucidated. We address this issue by monitoring the temporal sequence of conformational states of HIV-1 gp41 during the course of HIV-1-mediated cell−cell fusion by quantitative video microscopy using reagents that bind to N- and C-helical regions, respectively. Env-expressing cells were primed by incubation with target cells at different times at 37 °C followed by washing. The reactivity of triggered gp41 to the NC-1 monoclonal antibody, which we demonstrate here to bind to N-helical gp41 trimers, increased rapidly to a maximal level in the primed state but decreased once stable fusion junctions had formed. In contrast, reactivity with 5-helix, which binds to the C...
Muon depolarization and magnetic field penetration depth in superconducting Gd Ba 2 Cu 3 O x

Positive muon spin-rotation ($\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{SR}$) measurements on $\mathrm{Gd}{\mathrm{Ba}}_{2}{\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}{\mathrm{O}}_{x} (x\ensuremath{\approx}7)$ have been conducted in the temperature interval 5.8-300 K. A temperature-dependent relaxation, attributable to Korringa relaxation of the Gd ion, as well as vortex-state relaxation are observed. Magnetic field penetration depths of approximately 1550 and 1900 \AA{} (two samples) are extracted from the data. Two muon stopping sites exist for $T\ensuremath{\le}80$ K, one being associated with normal regions of the sample and the other with superconducting regions.
Neuropeptide Y: A candidate neurotransmitter for biliary motility

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a recently discovered polypeptide found in neurons throughout the gastrointestinal tract and in especially high concentrations in the biliary tree. This study was designed to test the functional significance of these high concentrations in the biliary tree by determining the effect of intravenous NPY on sphincter of Oddi and gallbladder motility. In adult male prairie dogs a side-hole, pressure-monitored perfusion catheter was placed through a choledochotomy into the duodenum and positioned in the sphincter of Oddi. A perfusion catheter was also placed in the gallbladder fundus. Sphincter of Oddi and gallbladder pressures were recorded before and during intravenous infusions of NPY at doses of 10, 100, and 500 ng/kg/min. Each dose was administered to seven separate animals. No effects were seen at the 10 or 100 ng/kg/min doses. NPY at the 500 ng/kg/min dose significantly increased sphincter of Oddi phasic wave frequency, amplitude, and motility index (MI = F X A). In addition, gallbladder pressure was significantly increased after 20 min of intravenous infusion of NPY at the 500 ng/kg/min dose. No significant changes in blood pressure were noted. These data suggest that in the prairie dog, systemic intravenous infusion of NPY significantly increases sphincter of Oddi phasic wave activity and gallbladder pressure. These findings are similar to those observed with intravenous cholecystokinin but opposite of those seen with peptide YY in this species. We hypothesize that neuropeptide Y may be an important neurotransmitter or neuromodulator regulating bile flow.
A Flexonic Magnetic Car for Ferro-Structural Health Monitoring

This paper presents a new magnetic car as a mobile sensor node for health monitoring and dynamic testing of large civil (ferromagnetic) structures. Unlike traditional car design where the distance between the front and rear wheel pairs is fixed, the electromagnetically driven compliant beam (connecting the front and rear axles) not only offers an effective means to negotiate corners and cross ridges of small dimensions when maneuvering on ferromagnetic surfaces, but also serves as a sensor attachment device. Specifically, this paper presents the design concept of a novel flexonic magnetic car incorporating compliant beams and permanent magnets, and a three-dimensional model for simulating the deformed shape of the compliant beam. The compliant beam that enables direct contact of the accelerometer with the measuring surface eliminating the dynamic effect of the sensor carriers has been validated with the experimental modal analysis for a frame structure. This represents a transformative change from the fixed spatial resolution provided by traditional static sensors.© 2009 ASME
Copulation increases offensive attack in male rats.

Abstract Twenty-four adult male rats with previous sexual experience were tested for aggression against intruders after one of four treatments ( n =6 per treatment): exposure to inaccessible estrous females; exposure to anestrous females; no female exposure, or copulation to ejaculation. Although both exposure to inaccessible estrous females and copulation significantly decreased latency to attack only copulation produced significant elevation of intensity and duration of attack. Results are discussed in reference to the role of aggression in maintaining priority of access to females, and as a means of assuring paternity of offspring by dominant males.
Sesquiterpene action, and morphogenetic signaling through the ortholog of retinoid X receptor, in higher Diptera

Morphogenetic signaling by small terpenoid hormones is a common feature of both vertebrate and invertebrate development. Most attention on insect developmental signaling by small terpenoids has focused on signaling by juvenile hormone through bHLH-PAS proteins (e.g., the MET protein), especially as that signaling axis intersects with ecdysteroid action through the receptor EcR. However, a series of endocrine and pharmacological studies on pupariation in cyclorrhaphous Diptera have remained persistently refractory to explanation with the above two-axis model. Recently, the terpenoid compound methyl farnesoate has been physicochemically demonstrated to exist in circulation at physiological concentrations, in several mecopterid orders, including Diptera. In addition, it has also been recently demonstrated that the receptor to which methyl farnesoate binds with nanomolar affinity (ultraspiracle, an ortholog of retinoid X receptor) requires a functioning ligand binding pocket to sustain the morphogenetic transition to puparium formation. This review evaluates endocrine and pharmacological evidence for developmental pathways reached by methyl farnesoate action, and assesses the participation of the retinoid X receptor ligand pocket in signal transduction to those developmental endpoints.
Automorphisms of Saturated and Boundedly Saturated Models of Arithmetic

We discuss automorphisms of saturated models of PA and boundedly saturated models of PA. We show that Smorynski's Lemma and Kaye's Theorem are not only true for countable recursively saturated models of PA but also true for all boundedly saturated models of PA with slight modifications.
Review of Robert Lewis' Red Hamlet (directed by Robert Lewis) for the Group Theatre, New York, October 1933

Representing the Group Theatre (1931–1941), a left-wing theatre company stationed in New York City, Robert Lewis directed and performed a “skit” called Red Hamlet at a Workers Theatre Night in Octo...
How the Maya Built Their World: Energetics and Ancient Architecture

List of Figures List of Tables Preface 1. Introduction 2. Background to Architectural Energetics at Copan 3. Maya Architectural Forms 4. The Energetics of Construction 5. Costs and the Construction Process 6. Energetics and the Hierarchy of Social Power 7. The Organization of Construction Labor 8. Architecture and Economics 9. Conclusions Appendix A. Costs per Task per Structure Appendix B. Reuse Savings References Index
Formation of [M + 14] anions from fluorene: Negative ion CI studies using GC/MS, MS/MS and FTMS

Under negative ion chemical ionization conditions, fluorene yields an anion at [M + 14] mass units. This species has been determined to correspond to [M + O − 2H]−, with the loss of two hydrogen atoms at the C-9 position and addition of oxygen to form a structure similar to 9-fluorenone.
Benefit of interpregnancy HIV viral load suppression on subsequent maternal and infant outcomes

Objective The objective of the study was to determine whether interpregnancy human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) viral load suppression affects outcomes in subsequent pregnancies. Study Design This is a retrospective review of all women who delivered 2 consecutive pregnancies while diagnosed with HIV from Jan. 1, 1984, until Jan. 1, 2012. Medical records were reviewed for maternal, infant, and delivery data. Pregnancies were divided into index and subsequent pregnancy and analyzed for outcomes. Results During the study period, 172 HIV-infected women who delivered 2 pregnancies at our institution were identified. There was no difference in median HIV viral load at presentation or delivery between the index and subsequent pregnancies. During the subsequent pregnancy, more women presented on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and more often remained compliant with ART; however, there was no difference in vertical transmission risk between the pregnancies. Of those with a viral load less than 1000 copies/mL at the end of their index pregnancy (n = 103), 57 (55%) presented for their subsequent pregnancy with a viral load still less than 1000 copies/mL. Those women who maintained the viral load suppression between pregnancies were more likely to present for their subsequent pregnancy on ART, maintained a greater viral load suppression and CD4 counts during the pregnancy, and had fewer vertical transmissions compared with those who presented with higher viral loads in their subsequent pregnancy (0% vs 9%, P = .02). Conclusion Maintaining an HIV viral load suppression between pregnancies is associated with improved HIV disease status at delivery in subsequent pregnancies. Interpregnancy HIV viral load suppression is associated with less vertical transmission, emphasizing the importance of maintaining HIV disease control between pregnancies.
Maintaining dimensions and mechanical properties of ionically crosslinked alginate hydrogel scaffolds in vitro

Ionically crosslinked alginate hydrogels are attractive scaffolds because of their biocompatibility and mild gelation reaction that allows for gentle cell incorporation. However, the instability of ionically crosslinked hydrogels in an aqueous environment is a challenge that limits their application. This report presents a novel method to control the dimensions and mechanical properties of ionically crosslinked hydrogels via control of the ionic concentration of the medium. Homogeneous calcium-alginate gels were incubated in physiological saline baths adjusted to specific calcium ion concentrations. Swelling and shrinking occurred at low and high ionic concentrations of the medium, respectively, while an "optimal" intermediate calcium ion concentration of the medium was found to maintain original size and shape of the hydrogel. This optimal calcium ion concentration was found to be a function of crosslinking density and polymer concentration of the hydrogel and chemical composition of the alginate. The effects of optimal and high calcium ion concentrations of the medium on swelling behavior, calcium content, dry weight, and mechanical properties of the immersed hydrogels were investigated. It was found that the resulting hydrogel composition and mechanical properties depended on not only the calcium concentration of the medium, but also the crosslinking density and polymer concentration of the gel. In an 8-week experiment, controlled dimensions and mechanical properties of alginate gels in an aqueous environment were demonstrated. This new technique significantly enhances the potential of alginate hydrogels for tissue engineering and other biomedical applications.
A Comparison of Functional and Structural Consequences of the Tyrosine B10 and Glutamine E7 Motifs in Two Invertebrate Hemoglobins (Ascaris suum and Lucina pectinata)

The architecture of the distal heme pocket in hemoglobins and myoglobins can play an important role in controlling ligand binding dynamics. The size and polarity of the residues occupying the distal pocket may contribute steric and dielectric effects. In vertebrate systems, the distal pocket typically contains a "distal" histidine at position E7 and a leucine at position B10. There are several invertebrate organisms that have hemoglobins or myoglobins that display a pattern in which residues E7 and B10 are a glutamine and tyrosine, respectively. These proteins often have very high oxygen affinities stemming from very slow ligand off rates. In this study, two such hemoglobins, one from the nematode Ascaris suum and the other from the sulfide-fixing clam Lucina pectinata, are compared with respect to conformational and functional properties. Ultraviolet resonance Raman spectroscopy and visible resonance Raman spectroscopy are used to probe, respectively, the ligand-dependent hydrogen bonding pattern of the tyrosine residues and the proximal heme pocket interactions. Fourier transform infrared absorption spectroscopy is used to probe the dielectric properties of the distal heme pocket through the stretching frequency of carbon monoxide bound to the heme. Functionality is probed through the geminate rebinding of both CO and O2. The findings reveal two very different patterns indicative of two different mechanisms for achieving low oxygen off rates. In Hb Ascaris, a hydrogen bonding network that includes the E7 Gln, B10 Tyr, and oxygen bound to the heme results in a tight cage for the oxygen. Dissociation of the O2 requires a large amplitude conformational fluctuation that results both in a spontaneous dissociation of the oxygen through the loss of hydrogen bond stabilization and in an enhanced probability for ligand escape though the transient disruption and opening of the tight distal cage. In the case of the Hb from Lucina, there is no evidence for a tight cage. Instead the data support a model in which the hydrogen bonding network is far more tenuous and the equilibrium state of distal pocket is far more open and accessible than is the case in Ascaris. The results explain why Hb Ascaris has one of the highest oxygen affinities known (P50 approximately 10(-)3 Torr) while Hb Lucina II has an oxygen affinity comparable to that of Mb (P50 = 0.13 Torr) even though both of these Hbs contain the B10 Tyr and E7 Gln motif and display very low oxygen off rates. The roles of water and proximal strain are discussed.
Tetracene Aggregation on Polar and Nonpolar Surfaces: Implications for Singlet Fission.

In molecular crystals that exhibit singlet fission, quantum yields depend strongly on intermolecular configurations that control the relevant electronic couplings. Here, we explore how noncovalent interactions between molecules and surfaces stabilize intermolecular structures with strong singlet fission couplings. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we studied the aggregation patterns of tetracene molecules on a solid surface as a function of surface polarity. Even at low surface concentrations, tetracene self-assembled into nanocrystallites where about 10–20% of the clustered molecules were part of at least one herringbone structure. The herringbone structure is the native structure of crystalline tetracene, which exhibits a high singlet fission quantum yield. Increasing the polarity of the surface reduced both the amount of clustering and the relative number of herringbone configurations, but only when the dipoles on the surface were orientationally disordered. These results have implications for the ...
Synthesis and Characterization of Donor−Acceptor Chromophores for Unidirectional Electron Transfer

A series of electron-transfer chromophores containing a donor and acceptor linked by an alkyl spacer were synthesized, and their electronic spectra were investigated. By inclusion with amylose, the supramolecularly encapsulated chromophores exhibit enhanced fluorescence quenching with discrete distance dependence and acquire the ability to sustain self-assemblies of a densely packed supramolecular array on a SiOH/Si substrate.
Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Support the Viability and Differentiation of Follicular Lymphoma-Infiltrating Follicular Helper T-Cells

The biology of follicular lymphoma (FL) is largely dictated by the immune-effector and stromal cells that comprise its tumor microenvironment. FL-infiltrating T-cell populations that are thought to be fundamental to FL biology are follicular helper T-cells (TFH), follicular regulatory T-cells (TFR), a recently described population that regulates TFH activity, and regulatory T-cells (Treg). These T-cell populations have dynamic interactions with mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in the tumor microenvironment. Whereas MSCs have been shown to support FL B-cell and Treg viability, their effects on FL-infiltrating TFH and TFR cells have not been described. Herein we show that MSCs support the viability of FL-infiltrating TFH and TFR, as well as Tregs, in part through an IL-6-dependent mechanism. We further demonstrate that MSCs mediate TFH to TFR conversion by inducing the expression of FoxP3 in TFH cells, demonstrating for the first time that human TFR can be derived from TFH cells. Given that the balance of TFH and TFR populations likely dictate, in part, the biology of this disease, our data support the potential for targeting MSCs as a therapeutic strategy.
High temperature oxidation of formaldehyde and formyl radical: A study of 1,3,5-trioxane laminar burning velocities

Abstract Few studies of formaldehyde flames are available, especially at pressures greater than 55 torr, due to the difficulties and hazards associated with producing formaldehyde vapor. This work experimentally and numerically investigates the flame properties of formaldehyde (CH 2 O) and formyl radical (HCO) at high O 2 loadings and both atmospheric and reduced pressure by measuring and modeling the laminar burning rates of 1,3,5-trioxane/O 2 /N 2 mixtures. Trioxane is shown to decompose nearly exclusively into high concentrations of formaldehyde early in the flame structure before subsequent flame chemistry reactions occur. Kinetic model predictions show that the flame properties are controlled by CH 2 O and HCO kinetics. Laminar burning rate predictions of several combustion kinetic models vary significantly in comparison to experimental data and each other; however, all simulations show that the present observations are particularly sensitive to the competition between reactions HCO + M = H + CO + M (R3) and HCO + O 2 = HO 2 + CO (R4). Monte Carlo optimization of these rate coefficients allows interpretation of the measured flame speeds as indirect rate coefficient measurements at flame relevant temperatures. Although results from simple A-factor optimization agree well with the present measurements, three-parameter optimization is shown to be necessary in order to accurately model kinetics across a wide temperature range, including high temperature flames and low temperature direct rate measurements. A-factor and three-parameter optimization both show that a reduced k 3 /k 4 branching ratio over the temperature range from 1100 to 1700 K improves model predictions compared to present measurements.
Microwave snow signatures (1.5 mm to 3 cm) over Alaska

Abstract Research involving the microwave characteristics of snow has been undertaken in order to expand the information currently available using visible and near infrared sensors. It is because microwave radiation emitted from and beneath the snowpack provides additional information on internal snowpack properties, and it is not affected by cloud cover and lighting conditions. The intensity of microwave radiation emitted from snowpack is a function of the temperature, density, crystal size and free water content of the snow. The 37 GHz sensor on-board the Nimbus-7 SMMR is often used to retrieve snow information because scattering by snow crystals is a dominant factor at this frequency. The 92 GHz radiometer which is more sensitive to snow crystal scattering was on-board the NASA CV-990 airborne experimental laboratory during the Marginal Ice Zone Experiment (MIZEX) of 1983, which provided an opportunity to study the snow signatures over Alaska. A combination of passive microwave radiometers in the mm to cm region with higher spatial resolution will greatly improve remote snowpack parameter monitoring. It was found that, though the 92 GHz data are more sensitive to snow crystal scattering, data at this frequency also are more sensitive to atmospheric parameters. Thus, in cloud-free areas, 92 GHz microwave brightness patterns over snow in Alaska were found to be similar to the microwave brightness patterns from the 37 GHz data.
CRM technology use and implementation benefits in an emerging market

Against a backdrop of growing popularity of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems globally, this study empirically examines CRM awareness, perceptions and extent of CRM technology adoption among organizations in an emerging market – Saudi Arabia. It also examines the specific uses of analytical CRM and the perceived benefits of CRM technology among adopting organizations. Data for the empirical analysis come from 118 responses provided by key informants to a structured self-administered survey. The empirical results show a reasonably high level of CRM awareness and a relatively high CRM technology adoption rate, particularly among large organizations. Contrary to expectations, however, service organizations are no more likely to adopt CRM technologies than their non-service counterparts. The results also show that adopting organizations mainly use the customer analytics capabilities of CRM technologies to obtain insights about current customers and for customer value assessment and information tracking. Analytics relating to potential and past customers and to customer cost determination are relatively less prevalent. Finally, CRM technology-adopting organizations report the greatest implementation benefits in improved customer insight and employee productivity. With a few exceptions, the findings endure irrespective of organization size, industry sector and CRM technology duration in the organization. Implications of the results are outlined and discussed.
Inhibition of angiogenesis in vitro: A central role for β-actin dependent cytoskeletal remodeling

Endothelial cell migration and proliferation, central steps in both physiologic and pathologic angiogenesis, require cytoskeletal-dependent remodeling, which is, in large part, achieved by the dynamic regulation of the β-actin network. Specifically, the β-actin network has previously been shown to be (i) enriched in regions of highly motile cytoplasm, and (ii) modulated by its isoactin-specific barbed-end capping protein, βcap73. We hypothesize that regulated over-expression of βcap73 could disrupt angiogenesis by capping β-actin-filament assembly thus inhibiting the incipient cellular migration and microvascular morphogenesis that ensues. Indeed, upon infection of capillary endothelial cells (cEC) with an adenovirus encoding the full-length βcap73 (Ad-βcap73), there is a robust cellular rounding response that occurs concomitantly with cytoskeletal disruption, as visualized with immunofluorescence microscopy. Further, we demonstrate that over-expression of Ad-βcap73 inhibits cEC migration in wound healing studies. Quantitative in vitro angiogenesis assays reveal that Ad-βcap73 not only prevents endothelial cells from forming capillary-like networks, but also induces the collapse of preformed endothelial tubes. In testing whether Ad-βcap73 impairs angiogenic events by inducing anoikis/apoptosis, we demonstrate that βcap73 infection activates a caspase-3-mediated cell death response as observed by quantitative Western blotting and immunofluorescence analyses. Altogether, these findings suggest that endothelial-specific targeting and βcap73 over-expression may represent an innovative therapeutic approach capable of abrogating pathologic angiogenesis.
Determination of the axially symmetric geometrically nonlinear thermoviscoelastoplastic state of thin layered shells with regard for the damageability of the material

We describe a technique for determining the axially symmetric geometrically nonlinear thermoviscoelastoplastic state of layered shells of revolution with regard for the damageability of the material. This procedure is based on the geometrically nonlinear relations of the theory of thin shells taking into account the transverse shear strains. We use the relations of thermoviscoplasticity, describing the deformation of an element of the body along small-curvature trajectories, as equations of state. The equivalent stress in the kinetic equations of damageability and creep is determined by the criterion of long-term strength taking into account the influence of the kind of stressed state. The procedure is illustrated by numerical results.
Regulation of Growth of Fibroblasts

Present knowledge on regulation of fibroblast growth is based on in vitro culture of fibroblasts from different sources. The research has focused on 2 problems: identification of the signal that reaches the fibroblast from outside and tells it to grow and identification of the metabolic reactions inside the cell that commit it to initiate DNA synthesis after the signal arrives. Although the signal and the metabolic reactions have not yet been clearly identified, and the relationship between in vivo conditions and the result of these in vitro studies still has to be determined, the large body of data collected so far and the steadily growing information concerning these problems suggest a complex interrelation between cellular environment and metabolic processes involved in growth regulation.
Unstable Angina An Etiologic Approach to Management

Unstable angina results from an imbalance between myocardial oxygen supply and demand. Probably the most common cause is reduced myocardial perfusion resulting from a nonocclusive thrombus on a fissured or eroded atherosclerotic plaque that often had caused only mild to moderate obstruction previously.3 Nonocclusive thrombi in patients with unstable angina have been demonstrated by coronary angioscopy and arteriography.4 They occur most commonly on complex, irregular lesions.5 Plaques that have undergone disruption often have a core that is rich in cholesteryl esters and tissue factor. They have a thin fibrous cap; disruption is caused by shear forces acting on the shoulder of the plaque. In patients with unstable angina, products of aggregating platelets are released into the coronary circulation,6 and there appears to be continued thrombus formation, often for months, after the index event.7 Nonocclusive coronary thrombi often become organized and incorporated into the growing plaque. Treatment with antithrombotic agents (unfractionated heparin8 and low-molecular-weight heparin9 ) and antiplatelet agents (aspirin,8 ticlopidine,10 and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors2 ) is beneficial in this form of angina. Perhaps tissue factor inhibitors will prove useful as well. A second form of unstable angina is caused by dynamic obstruction, ie, coronary vasoconstriction. Four subgroups are recognized. (1) The first is Prinzmetal’s variant angina, with intense focal spasm of a segment of an epicardial coronary artery not involved by coronary atherosclerosis. (2) In the second, also called Prinzmetal’s angina, the spasm occurs adjacent to a nonobstructive atheromatous plaque. Both of these forms of vasospastic angina appear to be due to hypercontractility of vascular smooth muscle and endothelial dysfunction occurring in the region of spasm. They are characterized by ST-segment elevation accompanying rest pain and …
Statistical approach to scene change detection

One of the challenging problems in video databases is the organization of video information. Segmenting a video into a number of clips and characterizing each clip has been suggested as one mechanism for organizing video information. This approach requires a suitable method to automatically locate cut points in a video. One way of finding such cut points is to determine the boundaries between consecutive camera shots. In this paper, we address this as a statistical hypothesis testing problem and present three tests to determine cut locations. All the three tests are such that they can be applied directly to the compressed video. This avoids an unnecessary decompression-compression cycle, since it is common to store and transmit digital video in compressed form. As our experimental results indicate, the statistical approach permits accurate detection of scene changes induced through straight as well as optical cuts.
Intracranial paracrine interleukin-2 therapy stimulates prolonged antitumor immunity that extends outside the central nervous system.

Summary: To explore the potential efficacy of local cytokine delivery against tumors in the central nervous system (CNS), C57BL6 mice were simultaneously given intracranial injections of tumor challenge and of irradiated B16F10 melanoma cells transduced to secrete interleukin-2 (IL-2). Intracranial IL-2 therapy generated antitumor responses capable of extending the survival of animals that received simultaneous intracranial tumor challenge either locally or at distant sites in the brain. Nontransduced melanoma cells had little effect. Animals that survived intracranial IL-2 therapy and tumor challenge showed prolonged survival compared with controls when challenged with a second tumor dose 70 days after initial treatment. In addition, animals that rejected intracranial tumors were also protected from tumor growth upon rechallenge at sites outside the CNS (i.e., subcutaneous tumor challenge). Conversely, identical or 10-fold larger doses of IL-2–transduced cells administered by subcutaneous injection failed to generate protection against intracranial tumor challenges. Elimination of T-cell and natural killer (NK) subsets using gene knockout mice and antibody-depletion techniques demonstrated that NK cells were most important for the initial antitumor response, whereas CD4+ T-cells were not necessary. These studies demonstrate that local IL-2 therapy in the brain not only generates an immediate local antitumor immune response, but also establishes long-term immunologic memory capable of eliminating subsequent tumor challenges within and outside of the CNS. Furthermore, the antitumor response to paracrine IL-2 in the brain differed significantly from that in the flank, suggesting that the intrinsic CNS cells involved in initiating immunity within the brain have different cytokine requirements from their peripheral counterparts.
Highly Robust Lithium Ion Battery Anodes from Lignin: An Abundant, Renewable, and Low-Cost Material

The synthesis, processing, and performance of a low-cost monolithic battery electrode, produced entirely of natural and renewable resources, are reported. This anode material exhibits tunable electrochemical performance suitable for both high power and high energy applications. A synthesis method that directly results in electrically interconnected three-dimensional architectures is presented, where the carbon framework functions as current collector and lithium insertion material, eliminating the extra mass and expense of inactive materials in conventional designs. Fibrous carbon electrode materials are produced from solvent extracted lignin using scalable melt processing technology and thermal conversion methods. The resulting free-standing electrodes exhibit comparable electrochemical performance to commercial carbon-based anodes at a fraction of the materials and processing costs. Compositional and electrochemical characterization shows that carbonized lignin has a disordered nano-crystalline microstructure. The carbonized mats cycle reversibly in conventional aprotic organic electrolytes with Coulombic effi ciencies over 99.9%. Moreover, lignin carbon fi bers carbonized at 2000 °C can cycle reversibly in 1 M LiPF 6 in propylene carbonate.
The emissions of broadband electrostatic noise in the near vicinity of the shuttle orbiter

Abstract Measurements of the Space Shuttle environment from the STS -3 and Spacelab 2 missions indicate the presence of oblique ion streams and broadband electrostatic noise. A two-dimensional theoretical model is applied to study a possible causal relationship between the ion streams and the broadband noise; especially in terms of the ion acoustic wave and ion-ion wave modes. This model predicts the generation of waves with frequencies ranging from the ion cyclotron frequency up to values greater than the ion plasma frequency, with the maximum growth rate occurring in the 10 kHz range. These results are consistent with the observational data from the STS -3 mission. The model also shows that these two wave modes can co-exist only when the wave vectors of the two wave modes are nearly perpendicular. The parametric dependence of the wave instabilities on the plasma parameters, e.g. N b / N e , T e / T i and the inclination of the wave propagation vector, is also studied.
Pressure-overload magnitude-dependence of the anti-hypertrophic efficacy of PDE5A inhibition.

Increased myocardial cGMP, achieved by enhancing cyclase activity or impeding cGMP hydrolysis by phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE5A), suppresses cellular and whole organ hypertrophy. The efficacy of the latter also requires cyclase stimulation and may depend upon co-activation of maladaptive signaling suppressible by cGMP-stimulated kinase (cGK-1). Thus, PDE5A inhibitors could paradoxically be more effective against higher than lower magnitudes of pressure-overload stress. To test this, mice were subjected to severe or moderate trans-aortic constriction (sTAC, mTAC) for 6 weeks ±co-treatment with oral sildenafil (SIL 200 mg/kg/d). LV mass (LVM) rose 130% after 3-wks sTAC and SIL blunted this by 50%. With mTAC, LVM rose 56% at 3wks but was unaffected by SIL, whereas a 90% increase in LVM after 6wks was suppressed by SIL. SIL minimally altered LV function and remodeling with mTAC until later stages that stimulated more hypertrophy and remodeling. SIL stimulated cGK-1 activity similarly at 3 and 6 wks of mTAC. However, pathologic stress signaling (e.g. calcineurin, ERK-MAPkinase) was little activated after 3-wk mTAC, unlike sTAC or later stage mTAC when activity increased and SIL suppressed it. With modest hypertrophy (3-wk mTAC), GSK3β and Akt phosphorylation were unaltered but SIL enhanced it. However, with more severe hypertrophy (6-wk mTAC and 3-wk sTAC), both kinases were highly phosphorylated and SIL treatment reduced it. Thus, PDE5A-inhibition counters cardiac pressure-overload stress remodeling more effectively at higher than lower magnitude stress, coupled to pathologic signaling activation targetable by cGK-1 stimulation. Such regulation could impact responses of varying disease models to PDE5A inhibitors.
Subscriber loop economics: defining fiber's competitive edge

Loop economics (capital, operating cost, revenues, and present worth) is not well known for any loop technology, hampering deployment of new loop technologies. Local Exchange Carriers (LECs) must establish a base economic case for copper since the LECs have generally required fiber to be deployed when 'cost competitive with copper for POTS.' However, LEC management information systems do not capture copper costs in a format useful to loop planners. Results of one detailed analysis of loop economics are presented, showing loop density as key cost driver. Work in progress suggests how fiber in the loop (FITL) can be compared to copper's POTS cost, revenue and value structures. Using different revenue streams due to fiber's service enhancements, present worth analysis will demonstrate the range of loop densities that fiber may have an advantage in today.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Late Phase Transitions and the Spontaneous Generation of Cosmological Density Perturbations

Phase transitions occurring after photon decoupling are shown to result in significant density perturbations.