cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Heat Transfer With Very High Free-Stream Turbulence: Part I—Experimental Data

Boundary layer heat transfer with very high freestream turbulence is investigated. The problem is studied experimentally by placing a constant-temperature heat transfer surface at various locations in the margin of a turbulent free jet and measuring both the surface heat transfer rate and the turbulence in the freestream. Freestream turbulent fluctuations 20 to 60 percent relative to the mean velocity augment heat transfer 1.8 to 4 times that which would be predicted locally using accepted correlations for turbulent boundary layers at the same Reynolds number. The correlations of Simonich and Bradshaw (1989), Pedisius et al. (1983), and Blair (1983) each fail to describe the present data. For flows over flat surfaces in air with very high freestream turbulence, greater than 0.2, u-prime determines h. A new heat transfer parameter, St-prime, characterizes turbulent boundary layer heat transfer with freestream turbulence on the domain 0-0.65 to within +/- 15 percent for high Reynolds number flows with uniform thermal boundary conditions.
Basal cell carcinoma and anthropometric factors in the U.S. radiologic technologists cohort study

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common cancer in Caucasian populations. Although several risk factors are well-established, including ultraviolet radiation (UVR) sensitivity and exposure, few studies have examined anthropometric measures and BCC. Using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, we prospectively investigated the relationship between height, weight and body mass index (BMI) and BCC in 58,213 Caucasian participants (11,631 men and 46,582 women) from the United States Radiological Technologists cohort. This analysis was limited to participants who were cancer-free at baseline. The baseline questionnaire provided self-reported anthropometric factors and the subsequent questionnaire collected skin cancer susceptibility factors, lifetime UVR exposure derived from residential and personal UVR exposure (time outdoors) and health outcomes. During 509,465 person-years of follow-up, we identified 2,291 BCC cases (486 men; 1,805 women). BCC risk increased with increasing height, and decreased with increasing weight and BMI in both sexes, even after adjusting for UVR susceptibility factors and exposures. For BMI categories: <25 (reference); 25-<30; 30-<35 and ≥ 35 kg m(-2) , multivariate hazard ratios (HR) in women were: 1.00; 0.74 (95% CI = 0.66-0.83); 0.67 (0.56-0.81) and 0.57 (0.44-0.74), respectively, p-trend ≤ 0.0001. Risks were similar in men. The inverse association between BMI and BCC was unaffected by controlling for sun-related exposures. Nevertheless, it may at least partly reflect residual UVR confounding. Further research with more detailed sun exposure data, including clothing patterns, would help clarify the relationship between BMI and BCC.
Finite element analysis of axisymmetric sheet stretching process

The incremental updated Lagrangian elasto-plastic finite-element method (FEM) was employed in this study to analyse sheet stretching under the axisymmetric condition. The extended rmin technique is utilized such that each incremental step size is determined not only by the yielding of an element Gaussian point, but also the change of the boundary condition along the tool-metal interface. The frictional force in the contact region between the sheet and the tools is computed by the application of Coulomb’s friction law. Low-carbon (BA-DDQ) sheet plates were used throughout the experiments, which were later performed using a hemispherical punch head. Experimental tests were performed to demonstrate formulation of the theory and development of the computer code. The experimental load shows good agreement with the value of the punch load predicted by the finite-element method. When performing numerical calculation, the entire loading process history, the deformed geometry, the nodal velocity, and the distributions of strain and stress are also obtained by considering carefully the moving boundary condition. From the results of the experiment and the FEM, it may be concluded that the method proposed here provides a good model for simulating the axisymmetric sheet stretching process.
Psychological Needs Underlying the Creative Process

The 25-year follow-up study of the motivation underlying creativity of 10 highly creative women indicated that they create primarily to satisfy inner psychological needs for self-understanding, control, and mastery.
Visual search and the N2pc in children

While there is growing understanding of visual selective attention in children, some aspects such as selection in the presence of distractors are not well understood. Adult studies suggest that when presented with a visual search task, an enhanced negativity is seen beginning around 200 ms (the N2pc) that reflects selection of a target item among distractors. However, it is not known if similar selective attention-related activity is seen in children during visual search. This study was designed to investigate the presence of the N2pc in children. Nineteen children (ages 9–12 years) and 21 adults (ages 18–22 years) completed a visual search task in which they were asked to attend to a fixation surrounded by both a target and a distractor stimulus. Three types of displays were analyzed at parietal electrodes P7 and P8; lateral target/lateral distractor, lateral target/midline distractor, and midline target/lateral distractor. Both adults and children showed a significant increased negativity contralateral compared to ipsilateral to the target (reflected in the N2pc) in both displays with a lateral target while no such effect was seen in displays with a midline target. This suggests that children also utilized additional resources to select a target item when distractors are present. These findings demonstrate that the N2pc can be used as a marker of attentional object selection in children.
Redox Heterogeneity in Mid-Ocean Ridge Basalts as a Function of Mantle Source

The oxidation state of Earth’s upper mantle both influences and records mantle evolution, but systematic fine-scale variations in upper mantle oxidation state have not previously been recognized in mantle-derived lavas from mid-ocean ridges. Through a global survey of mid-ocean ridge basalt glasses, we show that mantle oxidation state varies systematically as a function of mantle source composition. Negative correlations between Fe3+/ΣFe ratios and indices of mantle enrichment—such as 87Sr/86Sr, 208Pb/204Pb, Ba/La, and Nb/Zr ratios—reveal that enriched mantle is more reduced than depleted mantle. Because carbon may act to simultaneously reduce iron and generate melts that share geochemical traits with our reduced samples, we propose that carbon creates magmas at ridges that are reduced and enriched.
Resolving Research Controversy Through Empirical Cumulation: Toward Reliable Sociological Knowledge

Recent years have witnessed an increasing belief that there is a paucity of reliable knowledge in sociology. This belief is attributable, at least in part, to institutionalized methods of summarizing sociological researches which emphasize contradictions and inconsistencies in research findings. Reasoning from the probabilistic nature of social research, attention is drawn to the strategy of empirical cumulation. When the findings of research in an area are pooled, reliable conclusions do emerge. Furthermore, contradictory findings are often found not to be contradictory, but simply the positive and negative details of a distribution of related findings.
THE LUBS, A LARGE UNDISTURBED BOTTOM SAMPLER1

A new benthic collecting device, the LUBS (large undisturbed benthos sampler), which satisfies many of the criteria for a successful soft-bottom quantitative sampler is described. The design is simple, inexpensive, and such that samples may be canned on retrieval. Stratified sediments can be collected in large diameters, so the device also should be useful to geologists. The LUBS recovers stratified sediments intact, impossible with the clam-shell grab. The volume of sediment captured by LUBS is known as soon as the sample arrives on deck and there is no need to dump the sample into a tray or can to measure its volume. A second advantage of LUBS is the capture of epifauna and of the in situ water overlying the sediment. A third advantage is that the sample is collected in its own container and may be preserved in toto for subsequent study of animal-sediment relationships, tracks, tubes, and so on. (12 refs.)
Trends in Antibiotic Treatment of Acute Otitis Media and Treatment Failure in Children, 2000–2011

Objectives Guidelines to treat acute otitis media (AOM) were published in 2004. Initial declines in prescribing were shown, but it's unknown if they were sustained. We examine trends in antibiotic dispensing patterns to treat AOM among a large population of children. We also document trends in antibiotic failure. Study Design Children aged 3 months to 12 years with an AOM diagnosis, enrolled in a commercial claims database between January 1, 2000-December 31, 2011 were included. Pharmacy claims within 7 days of diagnosis were searched for antibiotic prescriptions. Antibiotic failure was defined as a dispensing of a different antibiotic class within 2-18 days after the first prescription. We analyzed trends in antibiotic use and failure by class of antibiotic and year. Results We identified over 4 million children under 13 years with AOM. The proportion of antibiotic dispensing decreased from 66.0% in 2005 to 51.9% in 2007, after which the instances of dispensing rebounded to pre-guideline levels. However, levels began decreasing again in 2010 and the antibiotic use rate in 2011 was 57.6%. Cephalosporin prescriptions increased by 41.5% over eleven years. Antibiotic failure decreased slightly, and macrolides had the lowest proportion of failures, while all other classes had failure rates around 10%. Conclusions In recent years, antibiotic dispensing to treat AOM remains high. In addition, the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics is increasing despite having a high rate of treatment failure. Overprescribing of antibiotics and use of non-penicillin therapy for AOM treatment could lead to the development of antibiotic-resistant infections.
Ventilator-associated pneumonia

Mechanically ventilated patients are at a substantially higher risk for developing nosocomial pneumonia. Overall, there is a relatively constant 1&!TN!150;3% risk per day of developing pneumonia while receiving mechanical ventilation. The sensitivity and specificity of clinical criteria alone for diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonias (VAP) is low. Several techniques have been developed to sample and quantitate the lower respiratory tract to improve the diagnostic yield. Gram-negative bacillary pneumonias account for the majority of the VAP. Strategies for prevention of VAP such as use of sucralfate for stress ulcer prophylaxis and selective decontamination of the digestive tract have been the focus of many clinical studies. Cost-effective preventive measures are needed to combat the increasing antimicrobial resistance, growing population of immunocompromised patients and increasing number of mechanically ventilated patients.
The 8-Silyloxyquinoline Scaffold as a Versatile Platform for the Sensitive Detection of Aqueous Fluoride

Utilizing a novel 8-silyloxyquinoline scaffold, we demonstrate the ability to synthesize fluorogenic probes for the sensitive and selective detection of inorganic fluoride (NaF) in aqueous samples. Our initial probe design (2) is capable of detecting inorganic fluoride at levels as low as 3.8 μM (72 ppb) in aqueous solutions, well below PHS recommended levels for drinking water (0.7–1.2 ppm), placing this probe among the most sensitive fluoride sensors reported to date. Furthermore, our results highlight the utility of the readily modifiable 8-silyloxyquinoline scaffold for the design of tailored fluoride sensing platforms. We demonstrate the ability to rationally tune the fluorescence and physical properties of the 8-silyloxyquinoline scaffold, producing a red-shifted fluoride probe (4) capable of detecting 50 μM (0.95 ppm) NaF in aqueous samples using a straightforward test-strip-based assay format. Taken together this work provides a template for the design of fluoride sensors capable of reporting on r...
Cadmium-113 magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Cadmium-113 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy has been used in studies of the structure and dynamics of inorganic and bioinorganic molecules. Chemical dynamics play an important role in the analysis of relaxation and chemical shift data. Naive interpretations of relaxation data can be checked by performing these experiments at a variety of temperatures and magnetic field strengths. A combination of solid- and liquid-state nuclear magnetic resonance measurements can provide the user with unambiguous data on chemical shielding. These data can be used to characterize zinc and calcium ion binding sites in metalloproteins.
Introduction to symposium on unmeasured heterogeneity in school transition models.

Researchers have used models of school transitions for over 30 years to describe inequality of educational opportunity and have contributed a number of important refinements and extensions. School transition models have the complication that the estimated effects of family background on the probability of continuing in school are affected by differential attrition on unobserved factors at earlier stages of schooling. The articles in this symposium present a variety of useful approaches to unobserved heterogeneity in school transition models. Investigators who use these approaches should attend to several issues: (1) models for school transitions may be used both descriptively (and are not therefore subject to any well-defined “bias”) and as tools for causal inference. (2) The concept of bias presupposes an underlying experiment, structural model, or population model that would, in principle, define the corresponding unbiased parameters – yet these underlying models are difficult to specify for school transition models. (3) Unobserved determinants of whether individuals make school transitions may be both exogenous and endogenous with respect to the observed regressors in the model. Without a model of how unobserved heterogeneity arises, attempted “corrections” for unmeasured heterogeneity may yield misleading estimates of the effects of measured determinants of school continuation.
Process Scheduling Procedure for a Class of Real-Time Comuter Systems

The paper presents the results of the performance evaluation study for a class of real-time computer systems intended for industrial process applications. The developed measures will improve the response time of the system, under the condition of high data arrival rates, where task context switching time and associated overhead are highly exhibited. A discretionary dynamic scheduling and selection discipline is synthesized, producing the minimum global expected waiting time in the system, under the given conditions.
Wetting of nickel by silver

Sessile drop experiments of molten silver and nickel were performed in air and helium at 970‡ C. A NiO layer formed at the interface in air; silver formed a 90‡ contact angle. In helium silver formed a 9‡ contact angle on nickel. The role of solution reactions in forming these angles is discussed.
Inversion layer carrier mobility in metal-oxide-semiconductor devices

Assuming a continuous energy distribution for carrier motion normal to the SiSiO2 interface, the Boltzmann transport equation is solved for the carrier distribution function, from which the carrier effective mobility is calculated. Fermi-Dirac statistics are applied to the thermal equilibrium situation since the carriers are highly degenerate under strong inversion operation of the device. Totally diffuse scattering at the interface is assumed for the boundary condition. An exact theory, which takes into account the discrete nature of the subbands, is outlined. Numerical calculations of the effective mobility μeff, using the potential distribution obtained in a previous paper, are presented, and compared with published experimental results. Unter der Annahme einer kontinuierlichen Energieverteilung fur die Ladungstragerbewegung senkrecht zur SiSiO2-Grenzflache, wird die Boltzmannsche Transportgleichung fur die Ladungstrager-verteilungsfunktion gelost, aus der die effektive Tragerbeweglichkeit berechnet wird. Fur den thermischen Gleichgewichtsfall wird Fermi-Dirac-Statistik angewendet, da die Trager beim Betrieb des Bauelements unter starker Inversion stark entartet sind. Es wird vollstandig diffuse Streuung an der Grenzflache als Randbedingung angenommen. Eine exakte Theorie, die die diskrete Natur der Subbander berucksichtigt, wird angegeben. Numerische Berechnungen der effektiven Beweglichkeit μeff werden unter Benutzung der Potentialverteilung einer fruheren Arbeit ausgefuhrt und mit veroffentlichten experimentellen Ergebnissen verglichen.
An eye pigment of the cockroach.

The visual cells from the eye of the cockroach (Blatta orientalis) were separated by grinding the heads in 45% sucrose-phosphate buffer solution, followed by differential and high-speed centrifugation. This method isolated from the visual cells a rhabdomere (retinal rod) fraction. The rhabdomere fraction was extracted with 1·8% aqueous digitonin. This resulted in a photosensitive pigment complex having an absorption maximum at approximately 500 mμ, typical of a rhodopsin. The bleaching and difference spectra indicate that retinene1 is a part of the pigment complex. The reaction rate constant for bleaching the complex was 6·1 × 10−5 sec−1 at 25°C. In addition, acetone extraction of the cockroach heads and chromatography on columns of alumina eluted a fraction which was also spectrally identified as retinene1.
Specific gene expression during compensatory renal hypertrophy in the rat

The compensatory growth of the kidney which is induced by unilateral nephrectomy is a highly regulated process resulting principally in hypertrophy of the remaining kidney. The events which regulate this process are unknown. We have examined the levels of transcripts for the proto-oncogenes, myc, H-ras, K-ras, and fos, and the cellular genes, H4 histone, ornithine aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, following unilateral nephrectomy in the rat. The pattern of expression of c-myc, c-H-ras, and c-K-ras during compensatory growth of the kidney differs from the pattern of expression of these proto-oncogenes during liver regeneration, in which, unlike the kidney, hyperplasia rather than hypertrophy predominates. The lack of change in the abundance of these proto-oncogene transcripts following unilateral nephrectomy suggests a primary relationship between the expression of these proto-oncogenes and DNA synthesis and indicates there may be separate signals for cell growth, one to double cell size and one to replicate DNA. Increased mRNA transcripts for the enzymes ornithine aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase were induced in the contralateral kidney after nephrectomy. The time course of expression for these two enzymes differs. The early expression of the gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase gene may indicate an involvement of this glutathione-metabolizing enzyme during renal compensatory growth, while the function of the delayed increase in ornithine aminotransferase transcripts in the remaining kidney is not apparent.
Economic impacts of climate change on California agriculture

Using county-level data from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Census of Agriculture, this study evaluates the effect of weather and climate on agricultural profits in the State of California. The approach is to estimate revenue less variable production cost per acre as a function of land characteristics, weather realizations, and climate. This model is then used to evaluate the effect of two scenarios of climate change for the state of California over the coming century. The preferred estimates indicate that climate change is associated with a negative effect on aggregate agricultural profits by the end of the century. There are significant caveats to this result, including the lack of statistical precision, and keeping water supply and farm prices constant.
Block arithmetic coding and error correcting coding

We discuss the combination of block arithmetic coding (BAC), a technique for entropy compression, and error correcting coding. In essence, this is a joint source-channel coding problem. BAC is used to entropy code the input sequence and ordinary linear block codes are used to combat channel errors. >
Can the Genuine Progress Indicator better inform sustainable regional progress?—A case study for Northeast Ohio

Abstract Cities and regions are increasingly accounting for the diverse economic, social, and environmental contributions to sustainability and quality of life. However, most commonly used socioeconomic and environmental indicators are either difficult to use in policy or fail to comprehensively reflect social well-being and environmental sustainability. This paper articulates the limitations of urban and regional indicator sets and macroeconomic measures like the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), presents an alternative indicator, the Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI), and develops, improves and applies it for Northeast Ohio. We calculate the GPI for the State of Ohio, cities of Akron and Cleveland, and 17 Northeast Ohio counties for the years 1990–2005. We evaluate temporal and spatial GPI trends, including inter- (Ohio versus other comparable U.S. local GPI studies) and intra-regional (urban–suburban–rural) comparisons. From 1990 to 2005, we found that per capita GPI grew in 11 counties and the State of Ohio (growth ranging from 0.8% to 19.7%) but declined for six counties and the cities of Akron and Cleveland (declines ranging from 0.6% to 22%). Per capita GPI was greatest in suburban counties and lowest in urban areas, and was greater in Maryland and Vermont than Ohio. These trends are largely driven by gains in personal consumption versus other environmental, social, and economic costs. Important costs include income inequality, climate change, nonrenewable resource depletion, and consumer durables. The GPI is increasingly being estimated at local scales to complement existing urban indicators by providing a common monetary basis for measuring diverse costs and benefits. Finally, we report the effect of renewable portfolio standards and conversion of vacant lots for urban agriculture on the GPI through a series of scenario analyses at the county and city scales. These scenarios demonstrate how GPI can be used as a decision tool for local and regional development. In addition, local GPI measures offer opportunities to better engage the public and decision makers in discussions about economic, social, and environmental goals and policies.
Entecavir: a new nucleoside analog for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B infection.

Background. Chronic hepatitis B infection carries considerable risk for the development of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Treatment options are increasing but are limited to interferon alfa-2b, pegylated interferon alfa-2a, lamivudine, adefovir dipivoxil, and entecavir. Entecavir, a nucleoside analog, is the newest oral antiviral approved in the United States for treatment of chronic hepatitis B. Objective. To review the available data for entecavir regarding its pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, safety, efficacy, and clinical use. Methods. A MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane search of the English-language literature from January 1997–May 2006 was performed. Preapproval studies provided by the manufacturer and abstracts from recent scientific meetings on infectious disease and hepatology were also reviewed. Results. Three phase III clinical trials representing more than 1600 subjects established the superior efficacy and equivalent safety of entecavir compared with lamivudine for treating patients who are hepatitis B early antigen (HBeAg) positive, HBeAg negative, or refractory to lamivudine. Entecavir resistance has not occurred in nucleoside-naive patients but may develop in those who already possess lamivudine resistance mutations. Conclusion. Trial results, along with previously published response rates for adefovir dipivoxil and interferon monotherapy, make entecavir the preferred first-line treatment option for patients with chronic hepatitis B who are nucleoside naive, HBeAg positive or negative, and have compensated liver disease. Both entecavir and adefovir dipivoxil maintain activity against hepatitis B virus in patients with chronic hepatitis B who are refractory to lamivudine, and both agents are reasonable first-line treatment options. Longer trials involving nucleoside-naive, lamivudine-refractory patients are needed to determine entecavir's optimal treatment duration, long-term safety, and durability of response, including rate of resistance.
Predicting Recurrence After Radical Prostatectomy for Patients With High Risk Prostate Cancer

ABSTRACTPurpose: Previous studies have shown that patients with clinical stage T2c-T3 prostate cancer, serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) at diagnosis greater than 20 ng./ml. or a biopsy Gleason score of 8 to 10 are at high risk for disease recurrence after radical prostatectomy. We determined the most important pretreatment predictors of disease recurrence in this high risk population.Materials and Methods: We identified 547 patients with high risk prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy at University of California, San Francisco or as part of the Cancer of the Prostate Strategic Urological Research Endeavor data base, a longitudinal disease registry of patients with prostate cancer. High risk disease was defined as 1992 American Joint Committee on Cancer clinical stage T2c-T3 disease in 411 patients, serum PSA at diagnosis greater than 20 ng./ml. in 124 and/or biopsy Gleason score 8 to 10 in 114. Disease recurrence was defined as PSA 0.2 ng./ml. or greater on 2 consecutive occasions after...
CORRELATIONS OF INDIVIDUAL PLASMA CAROTENOID CONCENTRATIONS IN FREE-LIVING OLDER ADULTS

Correlations between the plasma concentrations of six distinct carotenoids were determined in 958 participants in a sigmoidoscopy-based case-control study of nutritional factors and colorectal polyps. Plasma carotenoid concentrations were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography following a 12-hour fast. Spearman rank correlation coefficients (r) were used to assess the relationships between carotenoids. We first looked at the group as a whole and then stratified the data by sex, age, smoking status, and ethnicity to determine whether these variables modified the correlations. Among all subjects, concentrations of α-carotene versus β-carotene (r=0.73) and lutein versus zeaxanthin (r=0.64) were most highly correlated, likely reflecting common dietary sources among these pairs of carotenoids. In contrast, lycopene was minimally correlated with the other carotenoids (r = 0.23 to 0.27), probably due to this carotenoid having different dietary sources from the others. There was little effect of age, sex, or smoking status on correlations. Correlations between lycopene and the other carotenoids were substantially lower in Asian subjects. While this may reflect distinct dietary patterns in Asians, it could also be due to differences in carotenoid absorption and metabolism.
Novel mechanisms of central nervous system damage in HIV infection.

Human immunodeficiency virus-1 infection of the central nervous system is an early event after primary infection, resulting in motor and cognitive defects in a significant number of individuals despite successful antiretroviral therapy. The pathology of the infected brain is characterized by enhanced leukocyte infiltration, microglial activation and nodules, aberrant expression of inflammatory factors, neuronal dysregulation and loss, and blood–brain barrier disruption. Months to years following the primary infection, these central nervous system insults result in a spectrum of motor and cognitive dysfunction, ranging from mild impairment to frank dementia. The mechanisms that mediate impairment are still not fully defined. In this review we discuss the cellular and molecular mechanisms that facilitate impairment and new data that implicate intercellular communication systems, gap junctions and tunneling nanotubes, as mediators of human immunodeficiency virus-1 toxicity and infection within the central nervous system. These data suggest potential targets for novel therapeutics.
The Character of Interorganizational Task Environments Community Mental Health Centers and Their Linkages

This study describes and characterizes the interorganizational task environments of 30 community mental health centers (CMHCs). Usingfactor analysis, six types of task environment patterns were identified and correlated with aspects of the organizational context."Entrepreneurial" and "collaborative" task environment patterns were charac teristic of privately sponsored CMHCs, serving multi-county areas and using a large number of affiliated organizations to deliver basic services. "Altruistic" task environ ment patterns, were characteristic of rural CMHCs, organizationally diffused over a large number of branch operating sites. The remaining three task environment re lationship patterns were less clearly linked with contextual aspects of the CMHCs.
A prototype object-oriented supply chain simulation framework

We discuss the design, development and testing of a prototype object-oriented framework for performing supply chain simulations. We define the primary objects required for supply chain simulations and design how each of these objects are related to each other to form a supply chain network. We also present how persistence is handled for instantiating supply chain network simulations from a database. Finally, we present a small example simulation to validate and illustrate the concepts.
Time-domain fluorescent plate reader for cell based protein-protein interaction and protein conformation assays

Fluorescence lifetime measurement is widely used in the biological sciences due to its inherent sensitivity and concentration independence. Frequency domain high-throughput plate readers and time-resolved energy transfer TRET plate readers are in common use and have been successful in a variety of applications ranging from basic biochemistry to drug discovery. Time-domain systems would have advantages due to their ability to distinguish both FRETing and non-FRETing populations, but have been difficult to develop due to inherent difficulties with background autofluorescence and lifetime component separation. Using a modified commercial lifetime plate reader, we demonstrate a method for removal of the complex auto- fluorescent background decay, described using a stretched exponen- tial function StrEF. We develop a generalized multi-exponential fit- ting algorithm GeMEF, which progressively accounts for confound- ing lifetime components in FRET-based assays using a series of control experiments. We demonstrate the separability of FRET strength and efficiency and apply the technique to protein-protein interactions and protein conformational assays in a cell-based format. Presenilin 1 PS1 is known to be important in Amyloid Precursor Protein APP processing in Alzheimer's disease. Using transfected cells, we demon- strate APP-PS1 interactions by FRET in a cell-based, 96-well plate
Embodiment, evolution, and social cognition: An integrative framework

This paper integrates concepts from evolutionary and embodied approaches to psychology to generate a theoretical framework for understanding social cognition. We begin with the claim that cognition evolved to facilitate the ability to plan and execute action in the world. This evolution was shaped by the adaptive challenges faced by humans throughout their evolutionary history (e.g., self protection, mate selection, navigating status hierarchies, building social coalitions). We discuss how several elements of the embodied cognitive system (perception–action links, the perception of projectable and non-projectable properties of the environment, and the ability to generate mental simulations) have been shaped by evolution, and how these elements of the cognitive system ground our understanding of social cognition. We also point to areas where our framework can lead to novel directions for research. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Characterization of the Anopheles gambiae octopamine receptor and discovery of potential agonists and antagonists using a combined computational-experimental approach

Background: Octopamine receptors (OARs) perform key functions in the biological pathways of primarily invertebrates, making this class of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) a potentially good target for insecticides. However, the lack of structural and experimental data for this insect-essential GPCR family has promoted the development of homology models that are good representations of their biological equivalents for in silico screening of small molecules. Methods: Two Anopheles gambiae OARs were cloned, analysed and functionally characterized using a heterologous cell reporter system. Four antagonist- and four agonist-binding homology models were generated and virtually screened by docking against compounds obtained from the ZINC database. Resulting compounds from the virtual screen were tested experimentally using an in vitro reporter assay and in a mosquito larvicide bioassay. Results: Six An. gambiae OAR/tyramine receptor genes were identified. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the OAR (AGAP000045) that encodes two open reading frames is an α-adrenergic-like receptor. Both splice variants signal through cAMP and calcium. Mutagenesis analysis revealed that D100 in the TM3 region and S206 and S210 in the TM5 region are important to the activation of the GPCR. Some 2,150 compounds from the virtual screen were structurally analysed and 70 compounds were experimentally tested against AgOAR45B expressed in the GloResponse™CRE-luc2P HEK293 reporter cell line, revealing 21 antagonists, 17 weak antagonists, 2 agonists, and 5 weak agonists. Conclusion: Reported here is the functional characterization of two An. gambiae OARs and the discovery of new OAR agonists and antagonists based on virtual screening and molecular dynamics simulations. Four compounds were identified that had activity in a mosquito larva bioassay, three of which are imidazole derivatives. This combined computational and experimental approach is appropriate for the discovery of new and effective insecticides.
Field modulated wavelength converters

We demonstrate 10Gbit/s operation of two different types of monolithic photocurrent driven wavelength converters (PD-WC). These photonic integrated circuits use a Semiconductor Optical Amplifier (SOA)-PIN photodetector receiver to drive an Electro-absorption (EA), or Mach-Zehnder (MZ) modulator that is integrated with a SGDBR tunable laser. We demonstrate improvements in optical bandwidth, insertion losses, device gain, and modulation efficiency.
Temporary tattoo dermatitis.

Dermatologic conditions are common among persons who have recently traveled. 1 We share our recent experience with a young traveler in whom an allergic contact dermatitis to henna developed. While on vacation in the Dominican Republic, an 11-year-old boy had temporary henna tattoos applied to his upper arms bilaterally by a street artist. Two weeks later an erythematous, pruritic rash developed at the tattoo sites. He was seen by his pediatrician, who prescribed topical steroid therapy with fluticasone propionate ointment, oral prednisone, and cetirizine. On referral, examination revealed erythematous patches with accentuation at the borders of the tattoo sites (Figure). In addition, erythematous papules were clustered on the upper chest, face and extensor aspects of the extremities. A biopsy specimen taken from the left wrist revealed spongiotic dermatitis, subacute type with eosinophilia suggesting an id reaction. At follow-up examination one week later, the eruption had cleared completely. Henna is derived from the Lawsonia tree, which grows in the hot climates of India, the Middle East, and North Africa. 2 Skin painting or pseudotattooing is traditionally performed with henna or other labile vegetable substances, primarily in Muslim and Hindu persons. 3 Temporary henna tattoos are becoming more popular, especially among teenagers and travelers, resulting in more extensive henna use worldwide. 4 Allergic and irritant reactions are rare with henna, which is relatively safe. However, additives such as paraphenylenediamine, a well recognized contact allergen that is sometimes mixed with henna to impart color to the pure reddish-brown paste, may result in more common reactions to henna tattooing.
Production of Flavor Aldehydes Using Nongrowing Whole Cells of Pichia pastoris

Les levures Pichia pastoris sont capables de produire des aldehydes en particulier des acetaldehydes, a partir d'alcool car elles possedent une alcool oxydase. Ces organismes sont cultives sous formes libres ou bien encapsides dans des alginates. La production d'acetaldehyde est comparee, les effets inhibiteurs sont limites. Une etude de production en continu est mise en place
Mapping toxin exposure risk due to children's play: a case study.

During the 1920's and 1930's, a Niagara County, New York residential community, Belden Center, developed in tandem with two adjacent toxic waste disposal sites. During the period that they were in use, both sites were classified as public health hazards. Particularly between 1944 and 1979, as toxins were deposited, neighborhood children swam and played throughout the industrial waste sites. By reference to a large-scale map of the dumps, present residents described locations and types of play during their childhood. Assuming that a child would play away from home between 8 and 19 years of age, this allowed identification of cohorts that used the sites during different periods. An outcome map showing sites, dates, and types of play is the primary product of this investigation. More boys than girls played in the dumpsites, and we identified a subsample that did not use them for play. We conclude that children's play should be considered a major source of risk where communities lie next to toxic waste sites.
Persistent patterns: multi-agent learning beyond equilibrium and utility

We propose an analytic framework for multi-agent learning that, unlike standard approaches, is not connected to convergence to an equilibrium concept nor to payoff guarantees for the agents. We view multi-agent systems as reservoirs that allow for the long term survival of rich spatiotemporal correlations (i.e., patterns) amongst the agents' behaviors. Our aim is to develop abstractions that allow us to capture details about the possible limit behaviors of such systems.Our approach is based on the contrast between weakly and strongly persistent properties. Informally, a property is weakly persistent if for each starting point there exist limit points that satisfy it. A property is strongly persistent if it is satisfied by all limit points. In the case of non-converging dynamics the set of weakly persistent properties can be significantly richer than that of the strongly persistent properties reflecting topological properties of the system limit sets in a concise and algorithmically tractable manner.
Reporting Clinical Trials in General Surgical Journals

Readers need information about the design and analysis of a clinical trial to evaluate and interpret its findings. We reviewed 84 therapeutic trials appearing in six general surgical journals from July 1981 through June 1982 and assessed the reporting of 11 important aspects of design and analysis. Overall, 59% of the 11 items were clearly reported, 5% were ambiguously discussed, and 36% were not reported. The frequency of reporting in general surgical journals is thus similar to the 56% found by others for four general medical journals. Reporting was best for random allocation (89%), loss to follow-up (86%), and statistical analyses (85%). Reporting was most defficient for the method used to generate the treatment assignment (27%) and for the power of the investigation to detect treatment differences (5%). We recommend that clinical journals provide a list of important items to be included in reports on clinical trials.
Diplomacy and the Papal Donation 1493-1585*

The Papal Donation of 1493 has been the subject of propaganda, diplomatic negotiations, and scholarly debate since at least 1512. Recent studies have been more concerned with the doctrine of freedom of the seas than with detailed examinations of the diplomatic events of the 16th century which pitted the Spanish interpretations of the Donation against the desires and ideas of her European rivals. As a consequence, the nuances of the various mid-sixteenth century diplomatic settlements have passed unnoticed.
Species of Synchytrium in Louisiana II. Species of Louisiana Synchytrium

This species attacks the epidermal cells in basal leaves of Erigeron philadelphicus L. causing them to turn yellow. The galls start as very small green papillae visible on either surface but rarely visible on both. A few were found on the stems. They. are more abundant on the margins than on other parts of the leaves, and turn black with age. There is no evidence of a gall until the fungus is about half its full size. The fungus may be entirely submerged in the tissues of the host plant except for the opening to the surface, but in most cases one-half is submerged in the tissue of the leaf and the other half in the gall, which projects above the surface. No true galls are formed in the former type of infection, but the enlarged infected cells frequently extend from epidermis to epidermis. The opening leading to the infected cell is always visible if the sections are cut properly. The leaf may be slightly thickened or about twice as thick as normal. The host cells around the infected cells are not modified but are replaced by the enlarged, infected cells. When the infected cell is ready for segmentation it measures 126-167 t. The fungus is yellow, becoming orange-colored, 45-160 pt in diameter; when mature it is surrounded by a thick, yellow wall consisting of three layers. The
Rationale and study design for a phase I/IIa trial of anakinra in children with Kawasaki disease and early coronary artery abnormalities (the ANAKID trial).

Abstract Background Although Kawasaki disease (KD) is the most common cause of acquired heart disease in children and may result in coronary artery aneurysms (CAA) with an attendant risk of myocardial infarction, there is no recommended therapy to halt progression of arterial wall damage and prevent aneurysm formation in the acute phase of the vasculitis. While intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) reduces the risk of CAA, up to 20% of KD patients are IVIG resistant and have a higher risk for developing CAA. The IL-1 pro-inflammatory pathway is upregulated in children with acute KD and plays a critical role in the experimental animal model of KD. Thus, IL-1 is a logical therapeutic target. Objectives The goal of this study is to determine the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and immunomodulatory effects of anakinra, a recombinant human IL-1 receptor antagonist, in acute KD patients with coronary artery abnormalities on the baseline echocardiogram. Design This is a two-center dose-escalation Phase I/IIa trial in 30 acute KD patients ≥ 8 months old with a coronary artery Z score ≥ 3.0 in the right coronary artery and/or left anterior descending artery or an aneurysm. Subjects will receive a 2- to 6-week course of anakinra by daily subcutaneous injection and will be assessed for resolution of inflammation and dose limiting toxicities (leukopenia, anaphylactoid reaction, or severe infection). Conclusion The safety and tolerability of blocking both IL-1α and Il-1β by anakinra will be evaluated as a strategy to prevent or attenuate coronary artery damage in infants and children with acute KD. Trial registration : Clinical Trials.gov # NCT02179853, registered June 28, 2014
Vibration analysis and disposal of LP rotor of 220 MW steam turbine unit made in russia

The vibration of low pressure(LP) rotor of No.4 unit was often up to alarm value,in order to solve this problem,during shutdown for minor repair,the shafting vibration was monitored and analyzed.In addition,the dynamic balancing solution of LP rotor was made.After repair,aiming at the changing of the shafting vibration during startup,by means of accurate judgment and analysis,the reason was con-firmed: the shafting alignment resulted in this change.Based on it,counterweight was connected to the coupling between LP rotor and gener-ator rotor.Finally,the vibration level of LP rotor became excellent.The processing result shows that the vibration fault of the LP rotor can be solved through reasonable shafting balance with minimum start-up times,which can be as reference when resolving vibration problems of rela-tive units.
An analysis on equity of health resource allocation in Zhejiang province

Objective To evaluate the equity of health resource allocation in Zhejiang province. Methods Statistics descriptive method,Lorenz curve,and Gini coefficient were applied to assess the equity of health resource allocation in Zhejiang based on the number of medical institutes,medical staff,technologists,doctors and registered nurses. Results The Gini coefficient ranged demographically and geographically from 0.100.18and from 0.07-0.26in 2011.The Gini coefficient was the lowest in the year of 2006to 2011 which showed a fairest condition,but the Gini coefficient of registered nurse showed an up ward trend. Conclusions The equity of health resource allocation in Zhejiang is relatively fair and rational,especially in demographical allocation,in which only the allocation of registered nurses needs to be optimized.
Reconstruction of Spatially Varying Random Material Properties by Self-Optimizing Inverse Method

In this paper, a new methodology for reconstructing spatially varying random material properties is presented by combining stochastic finite element (SFE) models with Self-Optimizing Inverse Method (Self-OPTIM). The Self-OPTIM can identify model parameters based on partial boundary force and displacement data from experimental tests. Statistical information (i.e. spatial mean, variance, correlation length and Gaussian normal random variables) of spatially varying random fields (RFs) are parameterized by Karhunen-Loeve (KL) expansion method and integrated into SFE models. In addition, a new software framework is also presented that can simultaneously utilize any number of remote computers in a network domain for the Self-OPTIM simulation. This can result in a significant decrease of computational times required for the optimization task. Two important issues in the inverse reconstruction problem are addressed in this paper: (1) effects of the number of internal measurements and (2) non-uniform reaction forces along the boundary on the reconstruction accuracy. The proposed method is partially proven to offer new capabilities of reconstructing spatially inhomogeneous material properties and estimating their statistical parameters from incomplete experimental measurements.
THE SPECIFICITY OF CONTRAST-ENHANCED BREAST MR IMAGING

The sensitivity of contrast-enhanced breast MR imaging for malignancy is close to 100%, an improvement over traditional methods of cancer detection. The reported specificity of breast MR imaging, however, ranges from approximately 37% to 97%. This range of values is the result of differences in technique and diagnostic criteria. The variation in biologic activity and vascularity of benign and malignant lesions, as well as normal tissue, also complicates MR imaging diagnosis. A review of breast MR imaging research with an emphasis on specificity issues is also presented.