cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Physiochemical properties of encapsulated bitter melon juice using spray drying

Abstract Bitter melons have been proven with anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic activities. However, due to its short shelf life and bitter taste, the consumption of bitter melon is limited in the United States. Among many encapsulation technologies, spray drying is a cost-effective method for encapsulation of bioactive compounds. Polysaccharides and proteins are vastly used as wall materials for encapsulation of bioactive compounds. The encapsulation of bitter melon juice can provide protection over the bioactive compounds in juice, and can mask the unpleasant taste. In the current study, fresh bitter melon juice was obtained from the common variety, Indian bitter melon. The juice was encapsulated using spray drying with 3 formulas of various material composition and core to wall ratios, namely formula 1 (maltodextrin + gum Arabic), formula 2 (gum Arabic + pectin), and formula 3 (pectin + soy protein isolate). The particle size and encapsulation efficiency were compared among the three formulas. The physiochemical properties of fresh juice and reconstituted juice form the encapsulated powders were compared in terms of antioxidant activities, anti-diabetic activity and anti-inflammatory properties. The results indicated that all the reconstituted juices showed lower antioxidant activities, anti-diabetic activity and anti-inflammatory properties compared to the fresh juice. Among the three encapsulated particles, the particles of formula 3 exhibited the highest antioxidant activity and anti-inflammatory property. The particles from formula 2 exhibited the best anti-diabetic activity. The findings will help to develop encapsulation formulas using natural polymers with desired stability, bioaccessibility and health benefits of encapsulated bioactive compounds. Also, the results will provide guidelines for encapsulation of fruit and vegetable juices with health benefits for industrial practices.
NOT YOUR ROBIN HOOD: GAMESTOP AND PLATFORM ECONOMICS AT PLAY

In January 2021, GameStop and AMC, stocks with no discernable reason for an increase in value, rose abruptly in price. This was soon understood as the result of manipulation by members of the r/WallStreetBets subreddit. While individualized stock trading is often framed as equalizing the playing field, everyday people remain second-class participants in the stock market, which quickly became clear as trading was suspended on stocks the Redditors targeted. Backlash against this decision played out across platforms. We argue that this incident is the inevitable result of treating platforms (and economics) through the lens of gaming and trolling. The first key issue in the r/WallStreetBets incident was content moderation, as the Robinhood trading app stopped the trading, the subreddit the traders used to organize went private, and the corresponding Discord server was banned. The second important factor in this incident was coordinated inauthentic action, as thwarted traders immediately turned to the app store and targeted Robinhood with a review bombing campaign. Third, while the popular response to the r/WallStreetBets saga was frequently celebratory, seeing their actions as a challenge to capitalism and evidence of progressive politics, longstanding tropes associating Jewish people with capital, meant that Redditors’ anti-capitalism slid easily into anti-Semitism. Ultimately, many of the patterns of the Reddit stock incident locate it in a long history of coordinated internet action steeped in toxic technocultures. However, the expansion of these practices into taking direct action on economic systems worth billions of dollars is new and calls for rigorous attention
Human-Centered AI for Medical Imaging

Medical imaging is the primary data source most physicians refer to when making a diagnosis. However, examination of medical imaging data, due to its density and uncertainty, can be time-consuming and error-prone. The recent advent of data-driven artificial intelligence (AI) provides a promising solution, yet the adoption of AI in medicine is often hindered by the ‘black box’ nature. This chapter reviews how AI can distil new insights from medical imaging data and how a human-centered approach can transform AIs role as one that engages patients with self-assessment and personalized models and as one that enables physicians to comprehend and control how AI performs a diagnosis, thus able to collaborate with AI in making a diagnosis.
Examination of Solid-Solution Phase Formation Rules for High Entropy Alloys from Atomistic Monte Carlo Simulations

In this study, we used atomistic simulation methods to examine solid-solution phase formation rules for CoCrFeNi high entropy alloy. Using the Monte Carlo simulations based on the modified embedded atom method (MEAM) potentials, we sampled the thermodynamically equilibrium structures of the CoCrFeNi alloy and further predicted that the CoCrFeNi alloy could form a solid solution phase with high configurational entropy of 1.329R at 1373 K. Furthermore, we examined the stability of this solid solution phase of the CoCrFeNi alloy against the well-recognized solid-solution phase formation rules by varying the MEAM potentials and thus tuning the atom size and mixing enthalpy in the alloy. Our simulation results revealed that it required atom size difference effect $$ \left| \delta \right| < 0.05 $$ and mixing enthalpy effect −10 kJ/mol < ΔH ≈ 0 kJ/mol for the modeled CoCrFeNi alloy to remain a single solid solution phase.
Does bacteremia follow colonoscopy? II. Results with blood cultures obtained 5, 10, and 15 minutes after colonoscopy.

Because sigmoidoscopy and barium enema examination have been associated with a higher frequency of bacteremia 5 minutes following the procedure than at 15 minutes, we cultured blood specimens from 60 patients before colonoscopy and 5, 10, and 15 minutes afterward. Nineteen patients underwent diagnostic colonoscopy, and 41 had additional operative procedures (polypectomy, biopsy, and/or fulguration). Five patients had bacteria cultured from 1 of their blood specimens: Staphylococcus epitiennidix in 3 cases and alpha-hemolytic streptococci, not group D, in 2. Only 1 culture from each patient showed growth, and none of these patients became ill. We conclude these 5 cultures were contaminated. From this study, and others recently reported, we conclude that the danger of bacteremia induced by colonoscopy is small, and doubt the need of antibiotic prophylaxis when patients with susceptible hearts undergo colonoscopy.
Work Force Motivation and Productivity on Large Jobs

A Department of Energy sponsored study employing questionnaires and interviews with over 1,300 craftsmen and foreman from eleven power plant projects and a nuclear processing facility indicated an average 23.14 lost manhours per week. These lost manhours were due to delays resulting from material and tool availability, overcrowded work areas, crew interfacing, inspection delays and instruction time. In addition, the average time spent redoing work was 5.70 hours per week per craftsman. The previous factors reducing productivity plus demotivational concerns, such as disrespectful treatment, little accomplishment, project confusion, lack of recognition, and communication breakdowns, have an adverse effect on morale of the lower level work force. The causes of productivity and motivational problems encountered were developed from a statistical, comparative analysis with different project characteristics.
A three-protein inhibitor of polar septation during sporulation in Bacillus subtilis

We present evidence for a three-protein inhibitor of polar division that locks in asymmetry after the formation of a polar septum during sporulation in Bacillus subtilis. Asymmetric division involves the formation of cytokinetic Z-rings near both poles of the developing cell. Next, a septum is formed at one of the two polar Z-rings, thereby generating a small, forespore cell and a mother cell. Gene expression under the control of the mother-cell transcription factor sigmaE is needed to block cytokinesis at the pole distal to the newly formed septum. We report that this block in polar cytokinesis is mediated partly by sigmaE-directed transcription of spoIID, spoIIM and spoIIP, sporulation genes that were known to be involved in the subsequent process of forespore engulfment. We find that a spoIID, spoIIM and spoIIP triple mutant substantially mimicked the bipolar division phenotype of a sigmaE mutant and that cells engineered to produce SpoIID, SpoIIM and SpoIIP prematurely were inhibited in septum formation at both poles. Consistent with the hypothesis that SpoIID, SpoIIM and SpoIIP function at both poles of the sporangium, a GFP--SpoIIM fusion localized to the membrane that surrounds the engulfed forespore and to the potential division site at the distal pole.
Some bivariate gamma distributions

We introduce two new bivariate gamma distributions based on a characterizing property involving products of gamma and beta random variables. We derive various representations for their joint densities, product moments, conditional densities and conditional moments. Some of these representations involve special functions such as the complementary incomplete gamma and Whittaker functions. We also discuss ways to construct multivariate generalizations.
A small fatigue crack growth relationship and its application to cast aluminum

Abstract Small fatigue crack propagation in two cast aluminum alloys – W319-T7 and A356-T6 – was investigated by initiating cracks from micronotches. It was demonstrated that an underlying relationship describes the growth behavior of these fatigue cracks. This relationship is based on a parameter which is the product of monotonic and cyclic crack tip displacements and under conditions of small scale yielding reduces to the Paris law with an exponent of four. The value of this parameter can be calculated from the mechanical properties obtained from a simple tensile test and it can account for the effect of temperature, maximum stress, microstructure, heat treatment, alloying and load ratio on small fatigue crack growth rates. The crack growth rates are linearly related to the value of this parameter and the validity of this relationship can be supported by physical considerations.
Social Distancing from Journalists Who Engage in Negative Coverage of Firm Leadership

We consider how social and psychological connections among CEOs can explain the propensity for corporate leaders to distance themselves socially from journalists who engage in negative reporting ab...
Fluxes of uranium and thorium series isotopes in the Santa Barbara Basin

Abstract Samples from the MANOP Santa Barbara Basin sediment trap intercomparison were analyzed for the isotopes of uranium, thorium, radium, lead, and polonium. All of the traps showed approximately the same compositions and isotopic ratios, indicating that they trapped similar materials. The234Th flux via falling particles was very close to the flux predicted from the production and scavenging rates of234Th from the water column. The210Pb content of the trapped particles and the surface sediments were the same, however, the measured flux of210Pb was seven times greater than the predicted flux. Predicted and measured fluxes of228Th and210Po were similarly out of balance. To explain this apparent inconsistency, we suggest (as others have done) that the Santa Barbara Basin is an area where scavenging from the water column is intensified and where sediments deposited initially on the margins may be physically remobilized on a short time scale. These two effects increase the apparent area from which the basin derives the longer-lived isotopes but does not increase significantly the supply of the short-lived234Th.
Ternary Phase Diagram of β-Sitosterol–γ-Oryzanol–Canola Oil

β-Sitosterol and γ-oryzanol have been shown to form unique structures in canola oil that have the potential to act as saturated and trans fat replacers [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]. The ternary phase, reported herein, illustrates numerous interesting physical systems. At high canola oil ratios with low β-sitosterol and γ-oryzanol concentrations, the system has a crystal structure capable of mimicking fat crystal networks. Four mesophases are identified based on Bragg’s ratios using small angle X-ray scattering. Two mesophases are lamellar crystals, one is the cubic P phase, and the fourth is an amorphous material due to the low solids content. Wide-angle X-ray further subcategorized the phases based on polymorphic divisions of the hydrocarbon side chain packing. In all, six distinct phases are reported, ranging from lamellar crystals, to liquid crystals to what appears to be a lipid glass.
Giant magnetic moments in 4d clusters.

Electronic structure of 13-atom clusters of 4d nonmagnetic solids Pd, Rh, and Ru has been studied using a linear combination of atomic orbitals molecular-orbital approach within the density functional formalism. ${\mathrm{Pd}}_{13}$, ${\mathrm{Rh}}_{13}$, and ${\mathrm{Ru}}_{13}$ are all found to have nonzero magnetic moments. Unexpectedly, the ground state of ${\mathrm{Rh}}_{13}$ is found to have 21 unpaired electrons and thus a magnetic moment of 21${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\mu}}}_{\mathit{B}}$. These 4d-element magnetic moments are a result of the reduced dimensionality and the enhanced electronic degeneracy due to the symmetry of the cluster. The effect of impurities on the moments is examined through calculations on ${\mathrm{FePd}}_{12}$, ${\mathrm{FeRh}}_{12}$, ${\mathrm{RhPd}}_{12}$, and ${\mathrm{RuPd}}_{12}$ clusters.
Vapor−Liquid Equilibria of Binary and Ternary Mixtures of 2-Propanol, 1-Chlorobutane, and Acetonitrile at 101.3 kPa

Vapor−liquid equilibria were measured at 101.3 kPa for three binary mixtures and one ternary mixture of 2-propanol, 1-chlorobutane, and acetonitrile. Thermodynamic consistency of data for the three binary mixtures was tested using the Herington method. The Soave−Redlich−Kwong equation of state was used to calculate the vapor-phase fugacity coefficients. The experimental vapor−liquid equilibrium data were reduced, and binary parameters for four activity coefficient models, such as van Laar, Wilson, NRTL, and UNIQUAC, were fitted. The four models with their best-fitted parameters were used to predict the ternary vapor−liquid equilibria. A comparison of model performances was made by using the criterion of absolute average deviations in boiling point and in vapor-phase composition.
Rationality, function, and content

To summarize, in order for rational agents to be able to engage in the sophisticated kinds of reasoning exemplified by human beings, they must be able to introspect much of their cognition. The problem of other minds and the problem of knowing the mental states of others will arise automatically for any rational agent that is able to introspect its own cognition. The most that a rational agent can reasonably believe about other rational agents is that they have rational architectures similar to its own, and that they have thoughts related to their rational architectures in certain ways. This leads to Rational Functionalism as an account of what it is to be a cognizer having mental states. That in turn entails that a computer can be a person in precisely the same sense as my next door neighbor if it can appropriately mimic my rational architecture. There is nothing I could know about my neighbor that I could not believe with equal justification about the computer. Rational Functionalism also makes it reasonable to define the narrow content of a thought to be its overall place in the agent's rational architecture, that is, its conceptual role. This is, however, avery narrow notion of content. For practical purposes, we are not interested in knowing the narrow contents of other people's thoughts. We are only interested in rather general properties of those narrow contents. This is what is expressed by the use ofthat-clauses in public language.
Numerical Simulation of Vortical Flows Over a Strake-Delta Wing

The vortical flow fields over a double-delta wing with sweep angles 80 and 60 deg are investigated by means of numerical simulations based on the LU-ADI code of Fujii and Obayashi (1986) for the three-dimensional thin-layer Navier-Stokes equations. The results obtained using an 850,000-point grid at angle of attack alpha = 6-40 deg are presented graphically, compared with experimental data, and characterized in detail. Qualitatively accurate simulations are obtained for transition phenomena such as strake/wing-vortex interaction at alpha = 12 deg, bubble-type vortex breakdown near the trailing edge at alpha = 30 deg, and spiral-type breakdown at alpha = 35 deg. It is suggested that quantitative simulations can be achieved at higher grid resolution.
Fog Droplet Vaporization and Fragmentation by a 10.6-microm Laser Pulse.

A pulsed CO2 laser is used to irradiate single fog droplets. The droplets are photographed before, during, and after irradiation by a high speed back-illuminated photomicrograph system. The laser pulse has an energy of about 0.5 J, and the pulse width is about 300 nsec (full width at half-maximum); the power density in the region of the water droplet is about 10 MW/cm2. In the larger droplets (~20-μm radius) front surface vaporization is observed; this is accompanied by spallation of the droplet at its back surface. Presumably, a shock wave is produced within the droplet in reaction to the rapid blowoff of the vapor at the front surface, and the spallation is produced when the shock wave is reflected from the back surface of the droplet. Smaller droplets (<12-μm radius) undergo volume heating rather than front-surface heating. The photographs are taken with a 20-nsec exposure, and the interval between photographs can be varied in steps of 10 nsec, a typical interval being ~1 μsec.
Stereoselective enzymatic synthesis of chiral alcohols with the use of a carbonyl reductase from Candida magnoliae with anti-Prelog enantioselectivity.

In our effort to search for carbonyl reductases with anti-Prelog enantioselectivity, the activity and enantioselectivity of a carbonyl reductase from Candida magnoliae have been examined with various ketones of diverse structures. This carbonyl reductase catalyzed the reduction of a series of ketones, α- and β-ketoesters, to anti-Prelog configurated alcohols in excellent optical purity. The usefulness of this carbonyl reductase has been demonstrated by synthesis of several chiral alcohol intermediates of pharmaceutical importance.
Heart contains receptors for dihydrotestosterone but not testosterone: Possible role in the sex differential in coronary heart disease

The sex differential in coronary heart disease is well documented but poorly understood. Previous studies have demonstrated receptors for dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the myocardium and smooth muscle cells of arteries from a number of species. In this autoradiographic study, we further investigated and characterized the in vivo uptake and retention of the androgen binding in the male baboon. Adult castrated male baboons were injected with 1 micrograms/kg bw 3H-testosterone; 1 hr after the injection, the animals were rapidly exsanguinated while under anesthesia. The heart and arterial system were removed and processed for autoradiography. As a negative control, one animal received both 3H-testosterone and 100-fold unlabeled testosterone. For positive controls, the pituitary gland, prostate, seminal vesicles, and other tissues were also removed and processed for autoradiography. In contrast to our previous finding with 3H-DHT, no nuclear uptake and retention of 3H-steroid was found in any of the cells in either the heart or the arterial system. In the positive control tissues, pituitary gland, prostate, seminal vesicles, and others, a very distinct nuclear uptake and retention of 3H-steroid was observed, which was completely inhibited by the simultaneous injection of 100-fold unlabeled testosterone. In the binding study, Scatchard analysis of the cytosol prepared from a 17-year-old female baboon demonstrated levels of androgen receptor (as determined by the use of radiolabeled R1881) comparable to that found in young adults.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Isomeric product distributions from the self-reaction of propargyl radicals

We have investigated the isomeric C6H6 product distributions of the self-reaction of propargyl (C3H3) radicals at two nominal pressures of 25 and 50 bar over the temperature range 720−1350 K. Experiments were performed using propargyl iodide as the radical precursor in a high-pressure single-pulse shock tube with a residence time of 1.6−2.0 ms. The relative yields of the C6H6 products are strongly temperature dependent, and the main products are 1,5-hexadiyne (15HD), 1,2-hexadiene-5-yne (12HD5Y), 3,4-dimethylenecyclobutene (34DMCB), 2-ethynyl-1,3-butadiene (2E13BD), fulvene, and benzene, with the minor products being cis- and trans-1,3-hexadiene-5-yne (13HD5Y). 1,2,4,5-Hexatetraene (1245HT) was observed below 750 K but the concentrations were too low to be quantified. The experimentally determined entry branching ratios are: 44% 15HD, 38% 12HD5Y, and 18% 1245HT, which is efficiently converted to 34DMCB. Following the initial recombination step, various C6H6 isomers are formed by thermal rearrangement. Th...
Copper etching by water-in-oil microemulsions

The etching of copper was studied using an aqueous chemical etchant dispersed in water-in-oil microemulsions droplets. The aqueous phase consisted of an equimolar copper chloride/potassium chloride solution, a typical copper etchant. The phase behavior, conductivity, copper etching rate, and surface roughness after etching were studied using microemulsions formed with ionic, nonionic, and mixed ionic/nonionic surfactants. The composition of each microemulsion was fixed, and the conductivities and copper etching rate were measured as a function of temperature. The conductivity offers a route to probe ion exchange between microemulsion droplets, while the etching rate is related to the interaction of the droplets with the solid surface. The data show a correlation between etching rate and electrical conductivity of the microemulsion. For a given microemulsion, the etching rate increases as the conductivity increases. Atomic force microscopy showed that the copper surface roughness after etching with the microemulsion was lower than the surface roughness when etched without the microemulsion. The results demonstrate that it is possible to adjust the etching rate and surface roughness by changing the microemulsion composition and temperature. Confinement in water-in-oil microemulsion droplets significantly alters the transport of the etchant to the surface and may find use in nanoscale metal patterning.
Tandem fluorescent proteins as enhanced FRET-based substrates for botulinum neurotoxin activity

The light chain of botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT/A-LC) is a zinc-metalloprotease that requires two extended exosites for optimal substrate binding and recognition of its intracellular target SNAP25. CFP and YFP connected through SNAP25 peptide (141–206) containing both exosites (CsY) has been used in a FRET-based assay for BoNT/A. To further improve the FRET efficiency in this BoNT/A substrate for in vitro high-throughput assays, we explored the feasibility of enhancing the capture of CFP emission by doubling the number of YFP acceptors. In comparison to CsY, the tandem fluorescence substrates CsYY and YsCsY enhanced the ratiometric fluorescence signal between YFP and CFP. YsCsY, containing two substrate sites, offered the greatest fluorometric change upon toxin-catalyzed cleavage. In addition to known approaches for enhancing fluorescence yield through various mutations, this alternative tandem substrate approach can boost the FRET signal and is particularly useful for substrates requiring extensive exosite recognition for specificity.
Printing approaches for large-area color organic LED displays

In this paper the fundamental properties underlying the transfer of organic fluorescent dyes to local areas in polymer thin films by both liquid phase (ink-jet printing) and evaporation/diffusion transport methods are examined, with the goal of achieving full color displays based on organic light emitting diodes made from such polymers. Ink-jet printing offers a simple non-contact method for forming patterns, but a critical issue is the redistribution of dyes and other molecules in the liquid droplet before it dries. Masked large area evaporations allows one to rapidly pattern large areas, but its rate depends on the ability of dyes to diffuse through polymer films.
Atrial septal defect devices used in the cardiac catheterization laboratory

An atrial septal defect (ASD) is a hole in the atrium of the heart. There are 3 types of ASDs; sinus venosus (high in the atrial septum), secundum ASD (middle of septum), and ostium primum (low in the septum). The most common ASD is a secundum ASD. Secundum ASDs are caused by a failure of the atrial septum to close completely during the development of the heart. The most common reported symptoms are fatigue and shortness of breath. Most patients are found to have an ASD after evaluation for a murmur. All ASDs used to be repaired by open heart surgery. However, with advances in the cardiac catheterization lab and development of new devices, some secundum ASDs are able to be closed in the catheterization lab by an interventional cardiologist. There are various types of devices that may be used for closure of an ASD in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. This paper will address 2 of the devices most commonly used. Anticoagulation therapy will need to be followed for approximately 6 months and echocardiograms will need to be obtained at follow-up visits. Nurses have an important role in preparing and teaching the patient and family about the ASD closure procedure and follow-up care.
Hammett studies of enantiocontrol by PHOX ligands in Pd-catalyzed allylic substitution reactions.

Electronically modified PHOX ligands 3a−e were synthesized to probe the mechanism of the enantioselective palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylation and amination reactions. Alkylation with dimethyl sodiomalonate produced only a small variation in the ee (89.3% to 93.4%), but amination with benzylamine gave a much wider variation in the ee (16.4% to 66.6%). Hammett analysis suggests that the substituents interact more significantly with phosphorus and supports a combined electronic and steric basis for enantioselection.
Pd/Cu site interchange in UCu5−xPdx

Although Pd/Cu site interchange in the non-Fermi liquid (NFL) material UCu 4 Pd has been observed, the relationship between this disorder and the NFL behavior remains unclear. In order to better compare to the UCu 5-x Pd x phase diagram, we report results from Pd K edge X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) experiments on this series (x = 0.3-1.5) that determine the fraction of Pd atoms on the nominally Cu (16e) sites, s. We find that for these unannealed samples, s is at least 17% for all the samples measured, even for x<1.0, although it does climb monotonically beyond its minimum at x = 0.7. These data are compared to changes in the lattice parameter as a function of x.
Increased susceptibility to ventricular arrhythmias is associated with changes in Ca2+ regulatory proteins in paraplegic rats.

Paraplegia may increase susceptibility to ventricular arrhythmias by altering the autonomic control of the heart. Altered cardiac autonomic control has been documented to change the expression of g...
Gene modification identification under flux capacity uncertainty

Re-engineering cellular behavior promises to advance the production of commercially significant biomolecules and to enhance cellular function for many applications. To achieve a desired cellular objective, it is necessary to identify within a metabolic network a set of reactions whose fluxes should be changed using gene modifications. We develop a computational method, CCOpt, to optimize the selection of an intervention set that consists of gene up/down-regulation using uncertainty-aware chance-constrained optimization. In contrast to deterministic approaches where constraints are met with 100% certainty, constraints in CCOpt are probabilistically met at a user-specified confidence level. We investigate the application of CCOpt to two case studies that utilize the Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cell metabolism. Our results demonstrate that CCOpt is capable of identifying optimal intervention sets without the run-time cost of a sampling based (Monte Carlo) approach.
A performance study of object database management systems

Vendors of Object Database Management Systems (ODBMSs) have used a number of different architectural approaches for their products. Generally, most previously published ODBMS performance work focused on engineering applications and very little known about the suitability of ODBMS implementations for other application domains. In this paper, we redress this imbalance and evaluate three commercial products (two pure ODBMSs and one hybrid Object-Relational DBMS) to determine the suitability of each for six different application domains. Our results show statistically significant performance differences between the products under test. Furthermore, the hybrid product consistently performed badly on most of our tests. We also found that testing the scalability of products in terms of database size, as well as the choice of language interface, can be very important. Furthermore, the use of a dedicated database load utility can save considerable time when loading simple data, but generating complex data for the load utility requires considerable manual intervention. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Signal-Transduction Pathways that Regulate Smooth Muscle Function I. Signal transduction in phasic (esophageal) and tonic (gastroesophageal sphincter) smooth muscles

Contraction of esophageal (Eso) and lower esophageal sphincter (LES) circular muscle depends on distinct signal-transduction pathways. ACh-induced contraction of Eso muscle is linked to phosphatidy...
Asymptotic normality for random sums of linear processes

Abstract Let Xj= Σ∞j=0 bjei−j, for i= 1,2,3,…, be the consecutive obeservations of stationary linear processes, with Eei=0, Ee2i= σ2 and E|ei|3 {N n ,n∈ N } be a sequence of integer-valued random variables defined on the same probability space as {e j , i∈ Z } . Under mild conditions on the process, asymptotic normality is established for the random sum, S N n = Σ N n i = 1 X i , of linear processes. Statistical applications of the result are also discussed.
Scale Effects between Body Size and Limb Design in Quadrupedal Mammals

Recently the metabolic cost of swinging the limbs has been found to be much greater than previously thought, raising the possibility that limb rotational inertia influences the energetics of locomotion. Larger mammals have a lower mass-specific cost of transport than smaller mammals. The scaling of the mass-specific cost of transport is partly explained by decreasing stride frequency with increasing body size; however, it is unknown if limb rotational inertia also influences the mass-specific cost of transport. Limb length and inertial properties – limb mass, center of mass (COM) position, moment of inertia, radius of gyration, and natural frequency – were measured in 44 species of terrestrial mammals, spanning eight taxonomic orders. Limb length increases disproportionately with body mass via positive allometry (length ∝ body mass0.40); the positive allometry of limb length may help explain the scaling of the metabolic cost of transport. When scaled against body mass, forelimb inertial properties, apart from mass, scale with positive allometry. Fore- and hindlimb mass scale according to geometric similarity (limb mass ∝ body mass1.0), as do the remaining hindlimb inertial properties. The positive allometry of limb length is largely the result of absolute differences in limb inertial properties between mammalian subgroups. Though likely detrimental to locomotor costs in large mammals, scale effects in limb inertial properties appear to be concomitant with scale effects in sensorimotor control and locomotor ability in terrestrial mammals. Across mammals, the forelimb's potential for angular acceleration scales according to geometric similarity, whereas the hindlimb's potential for angular acceleration scales with positive allometry.
The Effects of Inaccurate Expectations on Experiences with Psychotherapy

Inaccurate expectations have been shown to negatively affect patients’ experiences with medical treatments; however, much less is known about the effects of inaccurate expectations on patients’ experiences with psychotherapy. This may be particularly important at the current time because, while many cultural outlets depict either nondirective or psychodynamic therapy, the majority of empirically supported treatments are guided by cognitive behavioral theory. Two studies examined (1) current expectations for psychological treatment and (2) the effects of accurate versus inaccurate expectations on students undergoing either cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or nondirective therapy for nonclinical academic problems. Results from Study 1 suggest that people presenting for psychotherapy may be unlikely to expect the specific tasks and goals common to many CBTs. Results from Study 2 demonstrate negative effects of inaccurate expectations on affective reactions to treatment regardless of the type of treatment received. The implications for dissemination of empirically supported CBTs are discussed.
Patients' attitudes and attributions to electroconvulsive shock therapy

An attributional analysis of ECT as a placebo was investigated by comparing the attitudes of patients on two psychiatric wards. It was hypothesized that on the ward on which ECT was administered more frequently, general attitudes toward the treatment would be more favorable and more patients would express the opinion that ECT had worked well for them personally. The results, which supported the predictions, indicate that the operation of placebo effects in connection with ECT may account for differential treatment results more adequately than explanations based on physiological models. The findings also suggest that more research is needed to explore the relationship between patients' attitudes and treatment outcomes.
O CARÁTER COMPOSICIONAL DOS CARROS ALEGÓRICOS DAS ESCOLAS DE SAMBA DO RIO DE JANEIRO

The message and the method of expressing visual arts depend on a large scale on the understanding , capacity and ability of using syntactic -visual techniques and resources . This article reflects on the compositional character of allegories of the samba schools in Rio de Janeiro, and proposes some considerations on the specificities of the elaboration of these artistic objects .
Studies on the endogenous phosphatides of mammalian pancreas and their hydrolysis by endogenous phospholipases - I. The lipids of dog pancreas and their in vitro hydrolysis, primed by trypsin, by phospholipase A2.

Abstract 1. 1. The phosphoglyceride and sphingolipid content of dog pancreas has been determined and their in vitro response to the endogenous lipolytic enzymes, initiated by trypsin, at pH 7.4 was examined by TLC technology. 2. 2. The glyceryl ether phosphatides were found to consist primarily of PE and PC, each with alkyl and alk-1-enyl components both of which were hydrolyzed to their respective 1-radyl lyso derivatives under the described incubation conditions. 3. 3. A new TLC visualizing reaction for lipids, OSPAS, is described.
Physiological Considerations in the Design of Clothing and Protective Equipment for Extreme Environments and in Modeling Human Heat Exchange

A new era is commencing in which the design of clothing and protective equipment is increasingly taking into account physiological data about human functioning in extreme environments. In these con...
Effects of music therapy with patients on a post-surgical oncology unit: A pilot study determining maintenance of immediate gains

Abstract Researchers have found that music therapy can be an effective psychosocial intervention for oncology patients. However, due to shortened inpatient hospital stays and the frequency of surgery for patients with cancer, there is a need to determine maintenance of single-session treatment gains with patients on a post-surgical oncology unit. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate maintenance of immediate music therapy treatment gains concerning relaxation, pain, anxiety, nausea, and perception of music therapy with patients on a surgical oncology unit. Participants were adult oncology inpatients (n = 27) and their caregivers (n = 4) receiving care on a surgical oncology unit. Participants completed five separate 10-point Likert-Type Scales at pretest, posttest, and 30–45-min follow-up. Participants received 20-min music therapy sessions consisting of patient-preferred live music. Analyses of variance (ANOVA) were computed on all patient data and indicated significant differences in relaxation, anxiety, and pain between pretest and posttest and pretest and follow-up measures. However, there were no significant differences from posttest to follow-up, indicating maintenance of treatment gains. Although generalizations are premature due to the lack of a comparison condition, it seems that beneficial effects of a single music therapy session for surgical oncology patients may be maintained in the short-term. Limitations, implications for clinical practice, and suggestions for future research are offered.
Use of a non-linear clock in the perturbation analysis of time optimal control problems

Abstract The authors phrase a regular perturbation problem for a time optimal control problem in which the optimal controller is bang-bang. Formal procedures for computing the asymptotic series expansions of the variables and then establishing the uniform validity of these asymptotic series are given. The technique is based upon the idea of introducing a nonlinear change of variables which freezes the switch times and the terminal time of the perturbed problem, and allows for an asymptotic analysis in the new variables. This is necessitated by the fact that a perturbation analysis in the original variables does not, in general, exist because of the discontinuous nature of the control.
Geographic variability of adherence to occupational injury treatment guidelines.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the geographic variability and relationship between six occupational injury practice guidelines. METHODS: Guidelines were developed by an expert panel and evaluated using workers' compensation claims data from a large, national insurance company (1999 to 2010). Percentage compliance for each guideline was adjusted for age and sex using linear regression and mapped by hospital referral region. Regions with the lowest compliance were identified, and correlations between guidelines were calculated. RESULTS: Compliance to the unnecessary home care guideline showed the lowest geographic variation (interquartile range: 97.3 to 99.0), and inappropriate shoulder bracing showed the highest variation (interquartile range: 77.7 to 90.8). Correlation between the guidelines was weak and not always positive. CONCLUSIONS: Different guidelines showed different degrees of geographic variation. Lack of correlation between guidelines suggests that these indicators were not associated with a single underlying health care quality or patient severity construct. Language: en
Crystal Structure of Tl2Ba2Ca2Cu3O10, a 125 K Superconductor

There is now a new series of high-temperature superconductors that may be represented as (A(III)O)(2)A(2)(II)Can-1CunO2+2n where A(III) is Bi or Tl, A(II) is Ba or Sr, and n is the number of Cu-O sheets stacked consecutively. There is a general trend toward higher transition temperatures as n increases. The highest n value for a bulk phase is three and is found when A(III) is Tl. This compound, Tl(2)Ba(2)Ca(2)Cu(3)O(10), has the highest transition temperature( approximately 125 K) of any presently known bulk superconductor. The structure of Tl(2)Ba(2)Ca(2)Cu(3)O(10) has been determined from single-crystal x-ray diffraction data and is tetragonal, with a = 3.85 A and c = 35.9 A. No superstructure is observed, and the material is essentially twin-free. Electron microscopy in the Tl/Ba/Ca/Cu/O system has revealed intergrowths where n = 5; such regions may well be responsible for the superconducting onset behavior observed in this system at about 140 K.
Exploiting Neutron-rich Radioactive Ion Beams To Constrain The Symmetry Energy

The Modular Neutron Array (MoNA) and 4 Tm Sweeper magnet were used to measure the free neutrons and heavy charged particles from the radioactive ion beam induced ${}^{32}$Mg+${}^{9}$Be reaction. The fragmentation reaction was simulated with the constrained molecular dynamics model (CoMD), which demonstrated that the $\ensuremath{\langle}N/Z\ensuremath{\rangle}$ of the heavy fragments and free neutron multiplicities were observables sensitive to the density dependence of the symmetry energy at subsaturation densities. Through comparison of these simulations with the experimental data, constraints on the density dependence of the symmetry energy were extracted. The advantage of radioactive ion beams as a probe of the symmetry energy is demonstrated through examination of CoMD calculations for stable and radioactive-beam-induced reactions.
Postinfarction unstable angina. Pathophysiologic basis for current treatment modalities.

Unstable angina is an acute coronary syndrome characterized by the rapid progression of clinical symptoms which may culminate in acute myocardial infarction, infarct extension or sudden death. The pat
Magnetic field effect on an electron tunneling out of a confining plane.

The influence of a magnetic field on the tunneling of an electron out of a confining plane is studied by a path integral method. We map this 3-d problem on to a 1-d one, and find that the tunneling is strongly affected by the field. Without a perpendicular field the tunneling at zero temperature can be completely suppressed by a large parallel field, but in the small parallel field and low temperature limit the tunneling rate is finite. An explicit formula is obtained in this case. A quantitative explanation without fitting parameter to a recent experiment is provided.
Vacuum-assisted wound closure provides early fascial reapproximation in trauma patients with open abdomens.

Abstract Background: Damage control and decompressive laparotomies salvage severely injured patients who would have previously died. Unfortunately, many of these patients develop open abdomens. A variety of management strategies exist. The end result in many cases, however, is a large ventral hernia that requires a complex repair 6 to 12 months after discharge. We instituted vacuum-assisted wound closure (VAWC) to achieve early fascial closure and eliminate the need for delayed procedures. Methods: For 12 months ending June 2000, 14 of 698 trauma intensive care unit admissions developed open abdomens and were managed with VAWC dressing. This was changed every 48 hours in the operating room with serial fascial approximation until complete closure. Results: Fascial closure was achieved in 13 patients (92%) in 9.9 ± 1.9 days, and 2.8 ± 0.6 VAWC dressing changes were performed. There were 2 wound infections, no eviscerations, and no enteric fistulas. Conclusions: Use of VAWC can safely achieve early fascial closure in more than 90% of trauma patients with open abdomens.
[6 + 4] and [4 + 2] Cycloaddition Reactions of Cobaloxime 1,3-Dienyl Complexes and Tropones

1,3-Dien-2-yl(Rpyr)bis(dimethylglyoximato) cobalt(III) complexes (R = H, NMe2) have been shown to participate in cycloaddition reactions with a variety of tropones. In general, tropones that do not contain electron-withdrawing substituents react with dienyl complexes via [6 + 4] cycloaddition and tropones that are substituted with at least one additional electron-withdrawing group react via [4 + 2] cycloaddition. Both types of metal-substituted cycloadducts ([6 + 4] and [4 + 2]) presented here have also been characterized by X-ray crystallography.
Subject Variables and Cerebral Organization for Language

The present study investigated the usefulness of a variety of subject variables that have been proposed as having predictive value for determining cerebral organization for language. To accomplish this, a total of 373 subjects (117 left-handers and 256 right-handers) were given 240 trials of a consonant-vowel dichotic listening task to assess direction and degree of language lateralization. Each subject was also classified on the basis of eight subject variables (handedness, strength of handedness, familial sinistrality, writing hand posture, sex, sighting dominance, preferred footedness, and overall laterality). The results of the study indicated that left hemisphere language processing is very pervasive and that most of the subject variables examined were not very useful predictors of language lateralization. In addition, surprisingly, footedness and not handedness was the single best predictor of cerebral organization for language.
Spectrally selective infrared absorption in defect-mode photonic-crystal-slab cavity

Significantly enhanced absorption at the defect mode can be obtained at surface-normal direction in a dielectric single-defect photonic-crystal-slab, with an absorption enhancement factor greater than 4,000. Complete absorption suppression within the photonic bandgap region can also be observed in defect-free photonic crystal cavities. High spectral selectivity and tunability is feasible with defect mode engineering, making photonic crystal defect cavities a promising nanophotonic platform for the spectrally selective infrared sensing and hyper-spectral imaging, with the incorporation of quantum well or quantum dot infrared photodetector heterostructures.
The Use of Water as a Medium for Altered States of Consciousness in Early Jewish Mysticism: A Cross‐Disciplinary Analysis

This article combines the disciplines of textual/linguistic analysis, anthropology, and perceptual psychology to examine selected ancient Jewish mystical texts that claim to describe the praxis for ascents into heaven and encounters with angelic spirits in order to reconstruct the psychosocial context of these literary works. Specifically, the article examines Hekhalot or “Divine Palaces” texts that deal with hydromancy, giving attention to their mythic–symbolic assumptions, their described preparatory and triggering rituals, and their accounts of the ASC (altered states of consciousness) visions resulting from these rituals that are experienced by the practitioners. The article suggests that these accounts correlate with ASC practices identified in the literature and additionally suggests that although the mystical texts are written to resemble biblical accounts of revelatory experiences, the texts under consideration are more than works of fabulous imagination; they are literary artifacts of an actual ecstatic ASC praxis among the Jews of Late Antiquity.
Testing Strategies for Detection of Xenotropic Murine Leukemia Virus-Related Virus Infection

Xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus (XMRV) is a newly identified gamma retrovirus and may be associated with prostate cancer- (PC) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Since its identification in 2006 and detection of polytropic murine lenkemia virus (MLV)-like sequences in CFS patients in 2010, several test methods including nucleic acid testing methods and serological assays have been developed for detection of XMRV and/or MLV-like sequences. However, these research assays have not yet been validated and evaluated due to the lack of well-characterized reference materials. Mouse DNA contamination should be carefully checked when testing human specimens in order to avoid false-positive detection of XMRV or MLV-like sequences.