cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Foetal premature atrial contractions during the second and third trimester are not associated with foetal breathing.

AbstractFoetal premature atrial contractions (PACs) are the most commonly encountered and also the most benign foetal arrhythmia. A retrospective cohort study was conducted with the objective to assess whether the presence of foetal breathing was associated with the presence of foetal PACs. A further objective was to evaluate whether this association would affect neonatal outcomes at a high volume referral centre. The diagnosis of PACs was based on the observation of a premature atrial contraction followed by a ventricular contraction on ultrasound myocardial M-mode. Trained ultrasonographers documented in the ultrasound report whether or not foetal breathing was present with PACs. 91 exams were identified, which included 75 individual pregnancies. Six women were identified who had foetal PACs associated with foetal breathing on ultrasound evaluation. Foetuses with PACs did not differ between the associated breathing and no-associated breathing groups with respect to maternal age, parity, mode of delivery...
Is Communication a Mechanism of Relationship Education Effects Among Rural African Americans

Enhancing communication as a means of promoting relationship quality has been increasingly questioned, particularly for couples at elevated sociodemographic risk. In response, the current study investigated communication change as a mechanism accounting for changes in relationship satisfaction and confidence among 344 rural, predominantly low-income African American couples with an early adolescent child who participated in a randomized controlled trial of the Protecting Strong African American Families (ProSAAF) program. Approximately 9 months after baseline assessment, intent-to-treat analyses indicated ProSAAF couples demonstrated improved communication, satisfaction, and confidence compared with couples in the control condition. Improvements in communication mediated ProSAAF effects on relationship satisfaction and confidence; conversely, neither satisfaction nor confidence mediated intervention effects on changes in communication. These results underscore the short-term efficacy of a communication-focused, culturally sensitive prevention program and suggest that communication is a possible mechanism of change in relationship quality among low-income African American couples.
Lincoln's Trident: The West Gulf Blockading Squadron During the Civil War. By Robert M. Browning Jr. (Tuscaloosa, AL: University of Alabama Press, 2015. Pp. xii, 515. $69.95.)

On the one hand the author of this book observes that the US Navy's West Gulf Blockading Squadron was instrumental in President Lincoln's efforts against his Confederate adversaries. The squadron, ...
Synthesis, structure, and photoluminescent behaviour of molecular lanthanide–2-thiophenecarboxylate–2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine materials

The preparation of a lanthanide series, with the exception of promethium, incorporating 2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine (terpy) and 2-thiophenecarboxylate (TC) functionality has been achieved via hydrothermal reaction conditions. The structures of the crystalline products were determined using single crystal X-ray diffraction and bulk purity was confirmed via powder X-ray diffraction and elemental analysis. The series is comprised of four structure types wherein the effects of the lanthanide contraction are manifested in changes in the coordination number and nuclearity of the complexes. From lanthanum through holmium an isomorphous series of symmetric dimers of the general formula [Ln2(terpy)2(TC)4(μ-TC)2(H2O)2]·nH2O (Ln-1, Ln = La–Ho, excluding Pm) was isolated. Using holmium oxide resulted in the formation of Ho-1 whereas use of the holmium chloride precursor resulted in the formation of [Ho2(terpy)2(TC)3(μ-TC)2(H2O)2]TC (Ho-2), that consists of an asymmetric dimer. Beyond Ho, Er–Lu were found to form compounds of the general formula [Ln(terpy)(TC)3(H2O)], the structures of which consist of monomeric units. While Er adopts Er-3, Tm–Lu adopt another structure type (Ln-4, where Ln = Tm, Yb, and Lu), the latter arising from differences in intramolecular hydrogen bonding interactions as well as π–π stacking interactions. The luminescent behaviour of the solid samples was examined and showed ligand-sensitized metal-based visible (Sm, Eu Tb, Dy) and NIR (Nd, Sm, and Yb) emission, with lifetimes up to hundreds of microseconds for select samples. Quantum yields of the visible light emitters have been measured and are additionally presented.
Oxygen ion mobility and conductivity prediction in cubic yttria-stabilized zirconia single crystals

The CALPHAD (calculation of phase diagrams) approach is applied to predict the oxygen vacancy concentration at different temperatures and yttria concentrations of cubic yttria-stabilized zirconia (c-YSZ) single crystals. The quantitative mobility diagrams of oxygen ions are developed in a wide range of temperature and yttria concentration, using the experimental data from the literature. Therefore, the ionic conductivity of c-YSZ single crystals is predicted, using the mobility and oxygen vacancy concentration. Particularly, the conductivity of low-yttria c-YSZ is predicted by applying the CALPHAD approach for the first time. The conductivity prediction of low-yttria c-YSZ can be crucial, since new applications may be designed based on this new information. The activation energy and pre-exponential factor diagrams versus yttria concentration are also plotted.
Combination Treatments in Borderline Personality Disorder: Bridging the Gap Between Clinical Practice and Empirical Data

Purpose of Review This paper presents an empirical basis for combination treatments in borderline personality disorder (PD), including medication combinations, psychotherapy combinations, and psychotherapy with medication. The goals are to synthesize empirical data evaluating combination treatments and to demonstrate gaps between research and clinical practice. Recent Findings The limited research supporting combination treatments displayed mixed results. There is minimal support for the frequent clinical practice of polypharmacy, with some evidence for the use of atypical antipsychotics with antidepressants. The scant research in combination psychotherapies supported its use primarily in individuals with comorbid psychiatric disorders (e.g., borderline PD and PTSD). Similarly, medication combined with psychotherapy had the greatest utility in individuals with comorbid psychiatric diagnoses. Summary Further research is needed before firm conclusions can be drawn on the use of combination treatments in borderline PD. The few studies that exist had mixed results, were often based on small sample sizes, and had abbreviated treatment courses. Nonetheless, there does appear to be a potential utility in the use of combination treatments for this complex neuropsychiatric disorder with significant morbidity and mortality, a wide range of symptoms, and frequent comorbid diagnoses.
Effect of allergic rhinitis on nasal obstruction outcomes after functional open septorhinoplasty.

Abstract Objective To evaluate whether a diagnosis of allergic rhinitis affects surgical outcomes of open septorhinoplasty (OSR) and to examine whether OSR provides the same level of improvement in quality of life to patients with and without allergic rhinitis. Study design, setting, subjects and methods We performed a retrospective evaluation of 646 patients who underwent open septorhinoplasty in a tertiary otolaryngology practice between 2008 and 2015. Preoperative and postoperative quality of life (QoL) measurement using the validated Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) Scale was performed on 307 patients meeting inclusion criteria. These patients were then divided into two groups based on a diagnosis of allergic rhinitis (non-AR vs AR). Comparisons were then made based on quality of life improvements by the NOSE score. Results There were 213 patients in the non-AR group vs. 94 patients in the AR group. After OSR, patients in both groups experienced significant improvement in nasal airway obstruction. Pre-op NOSE score averages were similar for the non-AR and AR groups (69.9 vs 73.4 p = 0.087). Average improvement in NOSE score for the non-AR and AR groups at 30 days was 48.6 vs 45.9 (p = 0.41); and at 90 day of 48.1 vs 51.5 (p = 0.402). Conclusion Patients with and without allergic rhinitis experience similar OSR outcomes as measured by the NOSE score. Open septorhinoplasty addresses multiple components contributing to nasal airway obstruction, and may offset the effects of allergic rhinitis. When indicated, it should be offered to patients with allergic rhinitis after complete medical management.
Visualized classification of multiple sample types

The goal of the knowledge discovery and data mining is to extract the useful knowledge from the given data. Visualization enables us to find structures, features, patterns, and relationships in a dataset by presenting the data in various graphical forms with possible interactions. Recently, DNA microarray technology provides a board snapshot of the state of the cell by measuring the expression levels of thousands of genes simultaneously. Such information can thus be used to analyze different samples by the gene expression profiles. Last few years saw many cluster analysis and classsification methods extensively be applied to capture the similarity pattern of gene expressions. A novel interactive visualization approach, VizCluster, was presented and applied to classify samples of two types. It combines the merits of both high dimensional projection scatter plot and parallel coordinate plot, taking advantage of graphical visualization methods to reveal the underlining data patterns. In this paper, we expand VizCluster to classify multiple types of samples. First, we identify genes which are differentially expressed across the sample groups. Then we apply VizCluster to build classifiers based on those genes. Finally, classifiers were evaluated by either hold out or cross validation. Five gene expression data sets were used to illustrate the approach. Experimental performance demonstrated the feasibility and usefulness of this approach.
The Return of The Repressed: The Fall and Rise of Emotions in Social Movement Theory

In recent years sociologists have made great strides in studying the emotions that pervade social life. The study of social movements has lagged behind, even though there are few arenas where emotions are more obvious or important. We hope to understand this lag as well as make some suggestions for catching up. To do this we examine the history of scholarship on social movements, finding that emotions were poorly specified in the early years, ignored entirely in the structural and organizational paradigms that emerged in the 1960s, and still overlooked in the cultural era of the 1980s and 1990s. Despite isolated efforts to understand the emotions of social movements, they remain today a fertile area for inquiry.
Multi-Domain Design Optimization of DV/DT Filter for SiC-Based Three-Phase Inverters in High-Frequency Motor-Drive Applications

High slew rate of the line voltage (dv/dt) has been a concern for power inverters based on the emerging wide bandgap (WBG) devices, such as Silicon Carbide (SiC) MOSFETs. Particularly, for SiC based power inverters feeding electric machines with long cables, there is more stringent requirement for low dv/dt, due to the concerns of insulation stress on the stator windings in electric machines. Compared to the conventional lower-voltage electric transportation applications (e.g., 270V dc), higher dc bus voltage of 500 V ∼ 600 V can reduce the systematic copper losses, hence improve the power density of power converters. However, high dc bus voltage further increases the dv/dt stress in the converter ac line voltages. Driven by using SiC inverters in high-frequency motor-drive applications with 500V dc bus, this paper presents a multi-domain design approach for dv/dt filters that comprehensively considers the constraints in electrical, magnetic, and thermal domains. Experimental results based on a 75 kW SiC inverter are provided to verify the efficacy of this design approach.
Perspectives of Children From Refugee Backgrounds on Their Family Storytelling as a Culturally Sustaining Practice

Foregrounding the lived experiences and voices of children from refugee backgrounds, the authors adapted culturally sustaining pedagogy and refugee critical race theory frameworks to investigate ho...
Breast Cancer Screening for Women at Average Risk

The purpose of this review is to examine the most recent data and guidelines regarding screening for breast cancer in average risk women. The differing recommendations for screening reflect differences in value judgements between the benefits (decreased cancer-related death and morbidity) and the harms (potential for overdiagnosis, false positives, false negatives, anxiety, and cost of care) of breast cancer screening. There are multiple organizations with recommendations for breast cancer screening in women at average risk. All organizations recommend mammography to screen for breast cancer but differ in the age at which to initiate mammograms, screening interval, and the age at which to stop screening. The final decision regarding breast cancer screening should be individualized based on the patient’s needs and values and include shared decision-making.
Association Between Recalled Exposure to Gender Identity Conversion Efforts and Psychological Distress and Suicide Attempts Among Transgender Adults

Importance Gender identity conversion efforts (GICE) have been widely debated as potentially damaging treatment approaches for transgender persons. The association of GICE with mental health outcomes, however, remains largely unknown. Objective To evaluate associations between recalled exposure to GICE (by a secular or religious professional) and adult mental health outcomes. Design, Setting, and Participants In this cross-sectional study, a survey was distributed through community-based outreach to transgender adults residing in the United States, with representation from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and US military bases overseas. Data collection occurred during 34 days between August 19 and September 21, 2015. Data analysis was performed from June 8, 2018, to January 2, 2019. Exposure Recalled exposure to GICE. Main Outcomes and Measures Severe psychological distress during the previous month, measured by the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (defined as a score ≥13). Measures of suicidality during the previous year and lifetime, including ideation, attempts, and attempts requiring inpatient hospitalization. Results Of 27 715 transgender survey respondents (mean [SD] age, 31.2 [13.5] years), 11 857 (42.8%) were assigned male sex at birth. Among the 19 741 (71.3%) who had ever spoken to a professional about their gender identity, 3869 (19.6%; 95% CI, 18.7%-20.5%) reported exposure to GICE in their lifetime. Recalled lifetime exposure was associated with severe psychological distress during the previous month (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.56; 95% CI, 1.09-2.24;P Conclusions and Relevance The findings suggest that lifetime and childhood exposure to GICE are associated with adverse mental health outcomes in adulthood. These results support policy statements from several professional organizations that have discouraged this practice.
Biomaterials for Abdominal Wall Hernia Repair

The technique of abdominal wall hernia repair was initially limited to suture approximation of the hernia defect. The issue of tension and recurrence lead to the addition of biomaterials to the repair technique.
Retrospective analysis of adverse events with spironolactone in females reported to the United States Food and Drug Administration.

Abstract Background Spironolactone is an off-label acne treatment that is commonly prescribed due to its low cost, efficacy, and tolerability. Objective This study aimed to classify the most common adverse reactions associated with spironolactone in women of all ages and analyze the relative risk of hyperkalemia for different age groups. Methods The U.S. Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database was analyzed for common adverse reactions associated with female patients taking spironolactone. Reported hyperkalemia adverse events with spironolactone were further subdivided by age group. Google Trends was used to examine public interest, and Altmetric was used to quantitate scholarly mentions of spironolactone. Yearly data were compared with adverse events in the FAERS database. Results The most common adverse reaction in women taking spironolactone was hyperkalemia (16.1% of all adverse events), but it was extremely uncommon in women age ≤45 years (1.9% of all hyperkalemia cases). Increased Google searches and scholarly mentions in the Altmetric database for spironolactone were also associated with increased reporting of adverse events in the FAERS database for men and women combined. Conclusion Women taking spironolactone should be counseled that hyperkalemia is the most common adverse event but is uncommon in those age ≤45 years. Public and academic interest in spironolactone has increased in recent years, and although prescribing data are not available, this interest may account for the increased reporting to FAERS during the same time period.
Natural Groundwater Background Levels of Nitrate and Landfill Effects (Apulia, Southern Italy)

High nitrate concentration of fresh groundwater of a coastal karstic aquifer, not far from the Apulian regional capital (Southern Italy), caused public concern and alarm from the authorities. The attention of local communities focused on the effect of a group of landfills, the use of which started from 1975, using improved technological and safety devices to reduce groundwater pollution risks.
What Happens When the Green New Deal Meets the Old Green Laws

The multi-faceted infrastructure goals of the Green New Deal will be impossible to achieve in the desired time frames if the existing federal, state, and local siting and environmental protection statutory regimes are applied. Business, labor, property rights, environmental protection, and social justice interests will use them to grind the Green New Deal to a snail’s pace. Using the renewable energy transition as the infrastructure case study, this Essay is a call to arms for the need to design New Green Laws for the Green New Deal. Part I briefly summarizes what we are learning about the pace and magnitude of climate change impacts and the need for rapid and robust mitigation and adaptation responses. Part II demonstrates the magnitude and urgency of new renewable energy infrastructure needed to fulfill Green New Deal goals. Part III points to the intensity of pushback renewable energy has faced under existing siting and environmental protection laws. Part IV uses the Texas wind power experience to argue that mobilizing the Green New Deal energy transition will require resolving significant trade-offs regarding environmental protection, property rights, process, and sovereignty. Ultimately, for the Green New Deal to succeed in its renewable energy (and other) infrastructure agendas, siting and environmental protection regulatory regimes will need to tolerate more streamlined, top-down, preemptive processes, as well as extensive use of eminent domain powers, which necessarily will require new ways of satisfying demands for distributive justice and public participation.
Long-Range Interactions near Photonic Weyl Points

A general relation between the resonant dipole-dipole interaction range and properties of the iso-surface is described. This work lays the foundation to use Weyl photonic crystals as a platform to extend the interaction range.
Antitrust Exemptions and Immunities in the Digital Economy

Exemptions and immunities limit the reach of the antitrust laws. If the courts and agencies implement exemptions and immunities too expansively, anticompetitive conduct will elude enforcement and thereby injure consumers. The dynamic nature of the digital economy amplifies these concerns. Policymakers, courts, and regulators must diligently assess the ever-changing digital landscape and tailor antitrust doctrine accordingly.
The APA and the Assault on Deference

Recently, in Kisor v. Wilkie, a concurring opinion by Justice Gorsuch argued at length that § 706 of the Administrative Procedure Act prohibits judicial deference to administrative interpretations of law. That section states that “the reviewing court shall decide all relevant questions of law.” This issue remained unresolved in Kisor, but the Supreme Court may well return to it soon as a potential argument against the validity of Chevron deference. Although a substantial academic literature has supported Gorsuch’s position on the APA question, this article disagrees with it. It argues that the text of § 706, surrounding statutory provisions, the legislative history, the case law background, and post-APA reactions all fail to support Justice Gorsuch’s thesis. To the contrary, a substantial tradition of deference antedated the Act, and Congress, not being particularly concerned about this issue, left that tradition undisturbed. The article concludes by arguing that Chevron deference, although not precisely foreseen when the APA was enacted, makes a reasonable extrapolation from that era’s doctrines and is consistent with § 706.
Poverty of the Stimulus Without Tears

Poverty of the stimulus has been at the heart of ferocious and tear-filled debates at the nexus of psychology, linguistics, and philosophy for decades. This review is intended as a guide for reader...
Influence of Temperature and Crystal Orientation on Compressive Strength of Rock Salt Using a Newly Developed High-Pressure Thermal Cell

Rock salt is found in nature either in a single crystal or polycrystalline form, where crystal structure, grain, and grain boundary properties have major effects on its strength. The compressive strength of single-crystal rock salt is highly dependent on the loading direction with respect to rock salt’s crystal orientation. Most salt formations are either located in a hot environment or exposed to elevated temperatures. Therefore, the influence of temperature should be considered when evaluating the constitutive behavior of rock salt. In this paper, the details of the design of a new high-pressure thermal cell that can withstand a confining pressure up to 15 MPa and a maximum temperature of 150 °C are presented. Three types of polycrystalline rock salt specimens with different grain and grain boundary properties were synthesized to study the effects of grain and grain boundary properties on the strength properties of polycrystalline rock salt. The results of the experiments were then used to examine the influences of grain size, grain boundary properties, annealing process, and temperature on the unconfined compressive strength of polycrystalline rock salt. In addition, 18 natural single-crystal rock salt specimens were prepared and tested at three different crystal orientations relative to loading direction at different temperatures. Specimens tested parallel to [1 0 0] and 19° to (1 0 0) in (0 1 0) showed quite a similar behavior. However, specimens tested on 30° to (1 0 0) in (0 1 0) exhibited a much higher unconfined compressive strength at 20 °C, while their unconfined compressive strength was significantly reduced when the temperature was increased.
A web-based system for infectious disease data integration and sharing: evaluating outcome, task performance efficiency, user information satisfaction, and usability

To better support the surveillance of infectious disease and epidemic outbreaks by public health professionals, we design and implement BioPortal, an advanced Web-based system for cross-jurisdictional information sharing and integration. In this paper, we report two empirical studies that evaluate the outcomes, task performance efficiency, user information satisfaction, and usability associated with BioPortal. Overall, our results suggest that the use of BioPortal can improve users' surveillance performance as measured by analysis accuracy and efficiency (i.e., the amount of time required to complete an analysis task). Our subjects were highly satisfied with the information support of BioPortal and considered it reasonably usable. Our evaluation findings show the effectiveness and value of BioPortal and, at the same time, shed light on several areas where its design can further improve.
Mitochondrial complex II is a source of the reserve respiratory capacity that is regulated by metabolic sensors and promotes cell survival

The survival of a cell depends on its ability to meet its energy requirements. We hypothesized that the mitochondrial reserve respiratory capacity (RRC) of a cell is a critical component of its bioenergetics that can be utilized during an increase in energy demand, thereby, enhancing viability. Our goal was to identify the elements that regulate and contribute to the development of RRC and its involvement in cell survival. The results show that activation of metabolic sensors, including pyruvate dehydrogenase and AMP-dependent kinase, increases cardiac myocyte RRC via a Sirt3-dependent mechanism. Notably, we identified mitochondrial complex II (cII) as a target of these metabolic sensors and the main source of RRC. Moreover, we show that RRC, via cII, correlates with enhanced cell survival after hypoxia. Thus, for the first time, we show that metabolic sensors via Sirt3 maximize the cellular RRC through activating cII, which enhances cell survival after hypoxia.
STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY OF TISSUE, FACTOR, THE INITIATOR OF THROMBOGENESIS IN VIVO

Thromboembolic disorders are commonly associated with cardiovascular, infectious, and neoplastic disease. A major link in the pathophysiology of thrombosis is the excessive triggering of the coagulation pathways by the initiating cofactor molecule termed tissue factor, an integral membrane glycoprotein. The tissue factor extracellular ligand binding domain is predicted to fold in an architecture similar to the cytokine receptor homology module. Functional sites in tissue factor have been defined by a combination of antibody, chemical cross-linking, and mutational analyses providing a model for cofactor function that involves discrete interactions with both enzyme and substrate. The understanding of the structural basis of tissue factor function promises to facilitate rational design of inhibitor molecules for defined functional sites, eventually leading to effective in vivo therapeutics.
Tomographic imaging of late Quaternary faulting, Oquirrh Mountains, Utah

[1] Seismic tomography can be used to image colluvial material in the subsurface by inverting first arrival travel times for velocity. Colluvial material deposited at the base of a fault-scarp free face often appears as a low-velocity zone (LVZ) on a tomogram because it is generally less compacted and cemented than the surrounding alluvium. A tomogram generated from a forward model of a synthetic velocity structure successfully images two LVZs stacked in the hanging wall of a normal fault. The Mercur fan, Oquirrh Mountains, Utah, provides an opportunity to look for stacked LVZs in a distributed fault zone. Three tomographic images across fault scarps on an intermediate age alluvial fan can be used to identify two stacked low-velocity zones. Interpretation of a fourth tomogram is less conclusive. These two low-velocity zones are interpreted as colluvial packages separated by higher-velocity alluvial material and suggest that tectonic activity is interspersed with pulses of fan building.
Towards Trustworthy Delegation in Role-Based Access Control Model

The need to delegate, which allows the temporary grant or transfer of access rights, arise in many applications. Although a lot of research appears in extending Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) to support delegation, not much appears on providing a formal basis for choosing delegatees. We provide an approach that allows one to assess the trustworthiness of potential delegatees in the context of the task that is to be delegated. It is also important to ensure that the choice of the delegatee does not cause any security policy violation. Towards this end, we show how to formally analyze the application using existing SAT solvers to get assurance that our choice of delegatee does not cause a security breach. Once the process of choosing delegatee can be formalized, it will be possible to automate delegation and use it for real-time applications.
Personal and professional nutrition-related practices of US female physicians

Background The extent to which female physicians personally and clinically adhere to dietary recommendations is unknown and has implications for patients. Objectives We aimed to identify US female physicians' personal and professional nutrition- and weight-related habits and to identify which, if any, of their personal habits predicted their clinical practices. Design Our sample included the 4501 respondents to the Women Physicians' Health Study, a large, cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study of the health behaviors and counseling practices of US female physicians. Results Forty-three percent of physicians performed nutrition counseling, and 50% performed weight counseling with patients at least yearly. Forty-six percent thought that discussing nutrition was highly relevant to their practices, 47% thought the same about discussing weight, and 21% stated that they had received extensive related training. Primary care physicians, obstetricians-gynecologists, pediatricians, vegetarians, and those with a personal history of obesity were more likely to provide nutrition and weight counseling to patients. Female physicians report regularly performing more nutrition and weight counseling than they do most other types of prevention-related counseling. Female physicians report relatively healthy diet-related habits, and these personal habits are related to their likelihood to counsel their patients about nutrition and weight. Conclusions Nutrition and weight-related issues are important to female physicians in both their personal and professional lives, and these 2 spheres influence each other.
Heat and mass transfer coefficients for natural convection in fruit packages

Abstract The table grape exporting industry faces two major problems associated with long distance refrigerated transportation: damage due to mold growth and unexpected temperature rise, that accelerate mold proliferation and causes water loss in the fruit. To overcome mold growth, a usual practice points toward the use of gas generators. Thermal damage due to refrigeration brake down could be predicted with the help of heat transfer correlations that apply to this specific situation. These correlations, extended to mass transfer prediction by using Nusselt and Sherwood number analogy for heat and mass transfer, allows the evaluation of the behavior of gas generators. In our work, a new heat transfer correlation [Nu = 1.5(GrPr)1/4] was proposed to predict the heat transfer coefficient inside the carton used in grape transport to allow estimation of internal temperature change during transportation. Making use of the heat and mass transfer analogy, the correlation was extended in order to estimate the mass lost in a vapor generator loaded with methyl jasmonate [Sh = 1.5(GrmSc)1/4]. The lost of this volatile compound was measurement with GC/MS. The proposed correlation was experimentally validated for different carton sizes across the temperature range 0–25 °C.
Counting down Bob Dylan: His 100 Finest Songs

To initiate its Counting Down music series, Scarecrow Press has chosen to focus upon the songs of Bob Dylan, an artist whose work and influence extend from the 1960s into the 21st century. Enumerat...
Pulmonary response to ozone: reaction of bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue and lymph node lymphocytes in the rat.

The purpose of this work is to assess the effect of ozone, a reactive product of environmental photochemical oxidation, on lymphocytes of the lung. We exposed male Fischer rats to ozone at a concentration of 0.5 ppm for 20 hr/day for 1–14 days. Animals were treated with radioactive thymidine and were sacrificed at Day 1, 2, 3, 7, or 14 of exposure. Lungs and mediastinal lymph nodes were removed and prepared for histologic examination, evaluation of labeling indexes, and morphometric measurement. We examined two components of the lymphocyte response of the lung: the airway-related response, represented by the reaction of the bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT), and the deep lung-related response, represented by reaction of the mediastinal lymph node. Lymphocytes of both the BALT and the mediastinal lymph node showed elevated radioactive thymidine uptake; however, no evidence of cell death was observed at either site. The cells of the specialized epithelium covering the BALT (lymphoepithelium) showed increased vacuolization, indicating altered cellular function. The average size of BALTs was unchanged by ozone exposure. Under experimental conditions ozone can affect a variety of cells in the lung including bronchial epithelial cells, macrophages, and Type 1 cells. We have shown for the first time that in addition to these cells, the rat BALT also proliferates in response to ozone. In addition we confirm previous work in the mouse which shows that the mediastinal lymph node reacts as well. The airways can be affected by inflammation, can be targets of infection, and can respond to chemical irritants with bronchoconstrictive responses. They are an important target organ for hypersensitivity responses and are a primary site for pulmonary cancer formation. A role for lymphocytes has been implicated in each of these processes. Therefore, the clinical significance of ozone on BALT and mediastinal lymph node responses could be appreciable in terms of potentiation of, or protection against, such responses.
Monte Carlo integration of the Feynman propagator in imaginary time

Abstract The Feynman propagator or “integral over paths” is written with time t replaced by −iτ. The result is a propagator, corresponding to a diffusion equation with the classical Lagrangian replaced by the classical Hamiltonian in the kernel. An evaluation of this propagator, over a sufficiently long time, yields the absolute square of the ground-state wavefunction, viz., ‖ U 0 ( χ )‖ 2 of the quantum system. A biased Monte Carlo integration scheme, where the biasing is exponential in the energy of the system, is used to evaluate functional integrals in the case of the quantum mechanical particle in a box, oscillator, and Morse potential. This scheme and the results of the integrations are described.
A REVIEW OF IN VITRO STUDIES: LOW-FREQUENCY ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS

In vitro studies of effects of low-frequency (LF) electromagnetic (EM) fields have revealed a variety of sensitive cell-physiologic end-points. Effects have been reported on (1) DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis; (2) cell proliferation; (3) cation fluxes and binding; (4) immune responses; and (5) membrane signal transduction (i.e., hormones, enzymes, and neuro-transmitters). Typically such effects occurred as a result of short-term exposure of cells to EM at frequencies of 100 Hz or less and at low field intensities. The dependency on frequency or modulation, as well as the apparent weak cellular interaction of these LF EM fields, lacks theoretic explanation. It has not been determined whether effects are induced by electric or magnetic fields. Confounding interpretation of the results are phenomena such as (1) transient or time-delayed responses; (2) modulation- and intensity-specific effects, referred to as modulation or intensity “windows;” and (3) general lack of dose- (or dose-rate) response data or EM...
Photochemical Production of a Highly Reactive Porphyrin-Iron-Oxo Species

Oxidation of 5,10,15,20-tetramesitylporphyrinatoiron(III) perchlorate, (TMP)FeIII(ClO4), with ferric perchlorate in acetonitrile gave a metastable species identified as (TMP)FeIV(ClO4)2 that decayed within seconds to the known isomeric species (TMP*+)FeIII(ClO4)2. Irradiation of the metastable species with 355 nm laser light gave a highly reactive transient that reacts with simple organic reductants (alkenes and arylalkanes) 5 orders of magnitude faster than known Compound I analogues, (TMP*+)FeIV(O)(X-).
A Stochastic Model Predictive Control Approach for Hybrid Electric Vehicle Energy Management With Road Grade Preview

Road grade preview can benefit the hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) energy management because the energy efficiency performance degrades significantly when the battery state of charge (SOC) reaches its boundaries and the road grade has a great influence on the battery SOC balance. In reality the road grade in front may be a random variable as the future route may not always be known to the vehicle controller. This paper proposes a stochastic model predictive control (MPC) approach which does not require a determined route known in advance. The road grade is modeled as a Markov chain and all the possible future routes are considered in building the transition matrix. A large-time-scale HEV energy consumption model is built. The HEV energy management problem is formulated as a finite-horizon Markov decision process and solved using stochastic dynamic programming (SDP). Simulation results show that the proposed approach can prevent the battery SOC from reaching its boundaries and maintain good fuel efficiency by the stochastic road grade preview.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
The application of information entropy to the estimation of three-dimensional grain or particle size distributions from materialographic sections

Abstract Information entropy was applied to size class selection for the unfolding of grain size distributions and the results were compared with traditional forward and inverse methods using arbitrarily selected size classes. This comparison shows that information entropy provides a better representation of the data.
Characterization and failure analysis of a polymeric clamp hanger component

This paper characterizes the failure of a polymeric clamp hanger component using finite element analysis coupled with experimental methods such as scanning electron microscopy, X-ray computed tomography, and mechanical testing. Using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, the material was identified as a polypropylene. Internal porosity that arose from the manufacturing procedure was determined using three dimensional X-ray computed tomography. From static mechanical experiments, the forces applied on the component were determined and used in a finite element simulation, which clearly showed the process of fracture arising from the pre-existing processing pores. The fracture surfaces were observed under a scanning electron microscope confirming the finite element simulation results illustrating that low-cycle fatigue fracture occurred in which the fatigue cracks nucleated from the manufacturing porosity.
Blood Lead Concentrations in Marine Mammals Validate Estimates of 102- to 103-fold Increase in Human Blood Lead Concentrations

Measurements of ultra-low ambient blood lead (PbB) concentrations (mean +/- SD = 0.13 +/- 0.06 micrograms/dL) in Northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) validate previous estimates of ultra-low PbB levels in preindustrial humans. These estimates had been unsubstantiated, since PbB levels in this range had never been measured in any organisms prior to this study. Similarities in PbB levels among these contemporary and preindustrial mammals are consistent with similarities in their measured and estimated lead exposures, respectively. The marginally higher PbB levels and rates of lead exposure in contemporary marine mammals are, also, consistent with lead isotopic composition analyses that indicate their PbB levels have been elevated from exposure to industrial lead. Consequently, these analyses substantiate concerns that current baseline PbB levels in humans, which are estimated to be two to three orders of magnitude above natural levels, may still constitute public health risks.
Cyclin D3 Mediates Synthesis of a Hyaluronan Matrix That Is Adhesive for Monocytes in Mesangial Cells Stimulated to Divide in Hyperglycemic Medium

Serum-starved, growth-arrested, near confluent rat mesangial cell cultures were stimulated to divide in medium with low (5.6 mm) or high (25.6 mm) glucose. In high glucose cultures Western blots showed large increases in cyclin D3 and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα) at 48–72 h, concurrent with the production of a monocyte-adhesive hyaluronan matrix, whereas low glucose and mannitol osmotic control cultures did not. Cyclin D3 small interfering RNA inhibited both the synthesis of this matrix and the up-regulation of C/EBPα in cultures exposed to high glucose, indicating that cyclin D3 is a key mediator in regulating responses of dividing mesangial cells to hyperglycemia. A complex with cyclin D3, cyclin-dependent kinase 4, and C/EBPα was observed at 48–72 h in the hyperglycemic cultures, and cyclin D3 and C/EBPα were spatially co-localized in coalesced perinuclear honeycomb-like structures with embedded hyaluronan. Furthermore, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3, a marker for autophagy, colocalizes with these structures. These results suggest that cyclin D3 is a central coordinator that controls the organization of a complex set of proteins that regulate autophagy, formation of the monocyte-adhesive hyaluronan matrix, and C/EBPα-mediated lipogenesis. Abnormal deposits of hyaluronan, cyclin D3, and C/EBPα were present in glomeruli of kidney sections from hyperglycemic rats 4 weeks after streptozotocin treatment, indicating that similar processes likely occur in vivo. Mesangial cell cultures treated with poly(I:C) or tunicamycin in normal glucose media synthesized monocyte-adhesive hyaluronan matrices but with concurrent down-regulation of cyclin D3. This indicates that the cyclin D3 mechanism is induced by hyperglycemia and is distinct from those involved in these cell stress responses.
Surface characterization of Ag/Titania adsorbents

Abstract The Ag/Titania adsorbent for selective removal of the desulfurization-refractive polycyclic aromatic sulfur heterocycles (PASHs) from liquid hydrocarbon fuels was prepared, its total and the Ag specific surface area were determined and the surface reaction sites in the sorbent that may be active in the adsorptive selective desulfurization were characterized by several spectroscopic and surface science techniques. The sorbent contains Ag, Ti, O and spurious C on its surface, as by the XPS measurements. Silver is present as an oxide, as judged by the XPS Auger parameter (AP). The complementary electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy confirms that the majority of Ag is present in the diamagnetic Ag 1+ form, with the minor concentration (∼0.1% of total Ag) present as Ag 2+ . The findings by XPS and ESR are confirmed by the XRD, UV–vis spectroscopy and thermodynamic considerations. The supported Ag is highly dispersed on the surface of the titania support, with the particle size of ∼30–60 A depending on Ag content, with an Ag specific surface area of ∼7–14 m 2 /g, vs. the total surface area of ∼114–58 m 2 /g.
Antiluteogenic effects of serial prostaglandin F2α administration in cycling mares

A single dose of PGF2α does not consistently induce luteolysis in the equine CL until at least 5 days after ovulation, leading to the erroneous assumption that the early CL is refractory to the luteolytic effects of PGF2α. We hypothesized that serial administration of PGF2α in early diestrus would induce a return to estrus similar to mares treated with a single injection in mid-diestrus, and fertility of the induced estrus would not differ. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the effects of the 2 approaches as reflected by: (1) concentrations of plasma progesterone; (2) interovulatory and treatment-to-ovulation intervals; (3) the proportion of mares pregnant after artificial insemination. The study consisted of a balanced crossover design in which 10 reproductively normal Quarter Horse Mares were exposed to 2 treatments on 2 consecutive reproductive cycles. At detected ovulation (Day 0), mares were randomly allotted to 1 of 2 treatment groups: I, mid-diestrus treatment, administration of a single 10-mg dose of dinoprost tromethamine (PGF2α) im on Day 10; II, early diestrus treatment, administration of 10-mg PGF2α im twice daily on Days 0, 1, and 2 and once daily on Days 3 and 4. Mares in estrus and with a follicle 35 mm or greater in diameter were artificially inseminated with at least 2 billion motile sperm from a fertile stallion. Pregnancy was defined as detection of a growing embryonic vesicle on 2 consecutive examinations approximately 14 days after ovulation. Serial plasma samples were collected throughout the study period, and concentration of plasma progesterone was determined by RIA. A mixed-model ANOVA for repeated measures was used to analyze hormonal data. Interovulatory and treatment-to-ovulation intervals were compared by a paired t test and fertility by a McNemar chi-square analysis. All mares in group I underwent luteolysis after PGF2α administration denoted by mean (±SD) concentration of plasma progesterone of 0.25 ± 0.21 ng/mL detected 2 days after treatment. In group II, mean concentration of plasma progesterone remained below 1.0 ng/mL during treatment and until the onset of the next estrus. The mean interovulatory interval in group I was 18.5 ± 2.0 days compared with 13.1 ± 3.7 days in group II (P < 0.01). Treatment-to-ovulation intervals were 8.5 ± 2.0 days and 13.1 ± 3.7 days for groups I and II, respectively (P < 0.05). In both groups, 9 of 10 mares were pregnant (P = 1.0). Serial PGF2α administration beginning at ovulation consistently prevented luteal function in 10 of 10 mares in the present study without adversely affecting pregnancy rate of post-treatment cycles.
Frequency of high-quality communication behaviors used by primary care providers of heterozygous infants after newborn screening

Objective To examine the quality of communication likely to be experienced by parents when being first informed about how newborn screening identified heterozygous “carrier” status for cystic fibrosis or sickle cell disease.
Cell ablation and the analysis of plant development

The controlled ablation of cells is an effective technique with which to study and manipulate plant development. Traditional microsurgical techniques have been used to remove plant cells with varying degrees of success, but modern methods using either lasers or genetic ablation are proving to be easier to control. Lasers can be used to remove accessible single cells or small groups of cells, and genetic ablation — employing a tissue-specific promoter to control the expression of a cytotoxic gene — is effective for killing a specific set of cells. Ablation techniques have been instrumental in investigating cell—cell interactions, as well as for more applied research, such as on the control of fertility and disease resistance.
A submerged late Pleistocene delta and other features related to sea level changes in the Malacca Strait

Abstract Bathymetry, sea floor echo characteristics, and shallow subbottom reflectors in the Malacca Strait and the slope of the Mergui—North Sumatra Basin of the southern Andaman Sea show a varied and locally complex character, which we interpret as a Pleistocene lowered sea level alluvial-delta-fan system. Sediment waves and elongate banks in the narrow and shoal southern part of the Strait indicate strong bottom currents, and a rugged subbottom topography demonstrates erosion during low sea level of the late Quaternary. Shallow subbottom reflectors at the northwest approaches to the Strait show progradation and cut and fill valleys and the presence of a compound late Pleistocene delta of the confluent Sumatran and Malayan rivers. The younger prograding layers are probably of mid-Wisconsin (Wurm) age (ca. 40− 20 × 10 3 yr B.P. ), and the deeper foresets may be early Illinoian glacial stage (Riss, ca. 150 × 10 3 yr B.P. ). Farther seaward, a small fan progrades from the slope a short distance into the shallow northeastern part of the Mergui—North Sumatra Basin.