cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Numerical and experimental investigation of vascular suture closure

In order to optimize the performance of the suture for tissue closure, it is essential to develop strategies for devising new and improved techniques that can visualize and compare various suturing techniques. This paper describes an experimental and numerical investigation on the performance of sutured tissue. In the experiments, two pieces of glutaraldehyde cross-linked bovine pericardium were sutured together through simple running suture and tensioned to study the performance of the sutured tissue. During testing, the tension load and the total displacement of the specimen were recorded. The strain field of the specimen was simultaneously captured using two high speed cameras and post processed using its associated image processing software. In addition, nonlinear hyperelastic material models for Shelhigh patch and cryopreserved human aorta were derived through least-square fitting into the tensile testing data. Three dimensional finite element models were developed to replicate the behavior of wound closure. The effect of tissue material mismatch, and stiffness of the suture thread on the mechanical behavior of sutured tissue was examined. The stain distributions obtained from simulation agrees with the captured surface strain map from experiments. A relative softer suture thread could reduce the peak stress concentrations at the knotting location. The mechanical performance of sutured tissue depends on the level of mismatch in material stiffness between the native tissue and the replacement material
Nonclassical Nuclear Localization Signal Provides for High Efficiency, Nonviral Gene Transfer to Nondividing Endothelium

Nonclassical Nuclear Localization Signal Provides for High Efficiency, Nonviral Gene Transfer to Nondividing Endothelium
Temperament correlates with training success in adult rhesus macaques.

In recent years there has been a marked increase in awareness of issues involving the psychological well-being of nonhuman primates (NHPs) used in biomedical research. As a result, many facilities are starting to train primates to voluntarily cooperate with veterinary, husbandry, and research procedures, such as remaining still for blood draws or injections. Such training generally reduces the stress associated with these procedures, resulting in calmer animals and, ultimately, better research models. However, such training requires great investments in time, and there can be vast individual differences in training success. Some animals learn tasks quickly, while others make slower progress in training. In this study, we examined whether temperament, as measured by response to a novel food object, correlated with the amount of time it took to train 20 adult female rhesus macaques to perform a simple task. The monkeys were categorized as “exploratory” (i.e., inspected a novel object placed in the home cage within 10 sec), “moderate” (i.e., inspected the object within 10–180 sec), or “inhibited” (i.e., did not inspect the object within 3 min). We utilized positive reinforcement techniques to train the monkeys to touch a target (PVC pipe shaped like an elbow) hung on their cage. Temperament correlated with training success in this study (Pearson χ2=7.22, df=2, P=0.03). We easily trained over 75% of the animals that inspected the novel food (i.e., exploratory or moderate individuals) to touch the target. However, only 22% of the inhibited monkeys performed the task. By knowing which animals may not respond to conventional training methods, we may be able to develop alternate training techniques to address their specific needs. In addition, these results will allow us to screen monkeys to be assigned to research projects in which they will be trained, with the goal of obtaining the best candidates for those studies. Am. J. Primatol. 65:63–71, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Increasing the efficacy of physician-delivered smoking interventions. A randomized clinical trial

Objective:To assess the relative impacts of three physician-delivered smoking interventions in combination with follow-up contact from behavioral counselors.
Investigation of canted compound sector antennas for wideband aperiodic arrays

A wideband canted compound sector antenna is investigated. Both measurement and simulation results are used to probe the effects of sector bending on impedance match and radiation characteristics.
Effects of narcissistic entitlement and exploitativeness on human physical aggression

Research has demonstrated that narcissism is related to the perpetration of aggression. Despite being commonly considered a pathological form of personality, theorists have argued that narcissism represents a mix of adaptive (e.g., Self-Sufficiency) and maladaptive (e.g., Entitlement and Exploitativeness) traits. The current study sought to examine the relationship between narcissistic traits and aggression. Ninety-one men completed a laboratory aggression task in which participants had the opportunity to administer electric shocks to a confederate or to refrain from doing so. General aggression as well as initial and extreme aggression were measured. Results indicated that narcissistic entitlement and exploitativeness were the narcissistic subtraits that best predicted all measures of aggression. The findings support existing research that identifies these traits as particularly maladaptive traits of narcissism, and are discussed in terms of the linkage between narcissism and perpetration of violence and victimization.
Dear Enemies and the Prisoner's Dilemma: Why Should Territorial Neighbors Form Defensive Coalitions?

Game-theoretic arguments are used to derive two new hypotheses to explain why territorial residents so consistently defeat potential usurpers. Both hypotheses are based on help from established, familiar neighbors. The first hypothesis follows simply from Krebs' (1982) assertion that the value of a territory to a usurper must be decremented by the costs of negotiating dear-enemy relationships with the remaining neighbors. An implication is that the remaining neighbors will also have to pay these renegotiation costs if the usurper succeeds. The first hypothesis is that it may benefit a territorial animal to help its established neighbors defend so it can avoid having to renegotiate territorial boundaries with a new, unfamiliar neighbor. This hypothesis assumes net positive benefits to helping without requiring reciprocation. The second hypothesis requires reciprocation to compensate for immediate net costs of helping. An animal should help its neighbors fight off usurpers only if the neighbors will reciprocate. This hypothesis is based on the prisoner's dilemma game and builds on Axelrod's (1984) work. Cooperative defense (reciprocal help) can be an evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS) if several conditions are met. One critical condition is that the relationship between neighbors is relatively stable. Cooperative defense should help established neighbors retain their territories, and should therefore be a cause, as well as a consequence of stability. It is suggested that the necessary conditions are not very restrictive, that they are often met in nature, and that shared defense is observed but not recognized as such.
The effects of severe hypoxia on the canine electrocardiogram with particular reference to the QRS complex

Summary The effects of progressive hypoxia upon the canine electrocardiogram, with particular reference to the QRS complex, have been investigated. The two mechanisms previously held responsible for all or most of the decrease in QRS amplitude seen during hypoxia are (1) increase in chest girth and (2) change in heart size. Data are presented herein showing that during hypoxia the R wave regularly decreases by a minimum of 50 per cent, which far exceeds that produced by even the greatest changes in chest girth. Furthermore, the R wave diminishes steadily and progressively with the known early decrease in heart size and continues to diminish as the heart becomes larger with further hypoxia. The possible contributory factor of altered skin resistance due to systemic hypoxemia has been eliminated by implanting electrodes subcutaneously. By recording drops in voltage of similar magnitude in epicardial leads, any effect upon QRS caused by changes in the volume conductor has been made less likely. Thus, with the control of factors known to influence the amplitude of QRS during severe hypoxia, present evidence points primarily to an absolute decrease in the electromotive force generated by the heart.
Optimizing public transit quality and system access: the multiple-route, maximal covering/shortest-path problem

Public transit service is a promising travel mode because of its potential to address urban sustainability. However, current ridership of public transit is very low in most urban regionsˆ particularly those in the United States. Low transit ridership can be attributed to many factors, among which poor service quality is key. Transit service quality may potentially be improved by decreasing the number of service stops, but this would be likely to reduce access coverage. Improving transit service quality while maintaining adequate access coverage is a challenge facing public transit agencies. In this paper we propose a multiple-route, maximal covering/shortest-path model to address the trade-off between public transit service quality and access coverage in an established bus-based transit system. The model is applied to routes in Columbus, Ohio. Results show that it is possible to improve transit service quality by eliminating redundant or underutilized service stops.
Cytokinetically quiescent (G0/G1) human multiple myeloma cells are susceptible to simultaneous inhibition of Chk1 and MEK1/2

Effects of Chk1 and MEK1/2 inhibition were investigated in cytokinetically quiescent multiple myeloma (MM) and primary CD138+ cells. Coexposure to the Chk1 and MEK1/2 inhibitors AZD7762 and selumetinib (AZD6244) robustly induced apoptosis in various MM cells and CD138+ primary samples, but spared normal CD138− and CD34+ cells. Furthermore, Chk1/MEK1/2 inhibitor treatment of asynchronized cells induced G0/G1 arrest and increased apoptosis in all cell-cycle phases, including G0/G1. To determine whether this regimen is active against quiescent G0/G1 MM cells, cells were cultured in low-serum medium to enrich the G0/G1 population. G0/G1–enriched cells exhibited diminished sensitivity to conventional agents (eg, Taxol and VP-16) but significantly increased susceptibility to Chk1 ± MEK1/2 inhibitors or Chk1 shRNA knock-down. These events were associated with increased γH2A.X expression/foci formation and Bim up-regulation, whereas Bim shRNA knock-down markedly attenuated lethality. Immunofluorescent analysis of G0/G1–enriched or primary MM cells demonstrated colocalization of activated caspase-3 and the quiescent (G0) marker statin, a nuclear envelope protein. Finally, Chk1/MEK1/2 inhibition increased cell death in the Hoechst-positive (Hst+), low pyronin Y (PY)–staining (2N Hst+/PY−) G0 population and in sorted small side-population (SSP) MM cells. These findings provide evidence that cytokinetically quiescent MM cells are highly susceptible to simultaneous Chk1 and MEK1/2 inhibition.
Normal adaptations to exercise despite protection against oxidative stress

It has been reported that supplementation with the antioxidant vitamins C and E prevents the adaptive increases in mitochondrial biogenesis and GLUT4 expression induced by endurance exercise. We re...
Androgenic regulation of hepatic gene expression.

Abstract Androgen-dependent synthesis of α2u globulin in the rat liver has been used in our laboratory as a model for studying the effect of sex hormones on hepatic gene expression, α2u Globulin is a group of low molecular weight (M r ∼18,000) male specific urinary proteins synthesized and secreted by hepatocytes. In the male rat hepatic synthesis of α2u globulin begins at puberty (∼40 days), reaches a peak level (∼20 mg/day) at about 75 days and declines during old age. Androgens can induce α2u globulin in ovariectomized female rats in vivo and in the liver perfusion system in vitro . However, both prepubertal and senescent (⪢800days) male rats not only do not produce α2u globulin but are also refractory to androgen administration, α2u Globulin is coded by a multigene family comprising about 20–30 gene copies per haploid genome. All of these gene copies seem to express translationally active mRNAs giving rise to individual isofonns of α2u globulin. Appearance and disappearance of the cytoplasmic androgen-binding protein (CAB) correlates with the androgen responsiveness of hepatocytes. Photoaffinity labeling of the hepatic cytosol shows that the biologically active binding protein, found in the cytosol of the mature male rat liver, has a molecular weight of 31 kDa. A molecular transition of the 31-kDa CAB to a biologically inactive 29-kDa form may be the basis of hepatic androgen insensitivity during prepuberty and senescence.
Metal Removal via Slag Attack of the Steel from Building 7 of the World Trade Center— Some Observations

Microstructural examination of a beam from Building 7 showed that temperatures higher than 940 °C were experienced in localized regions. Concurrent examination of the beam surfaces and surface layers showed evidence of extensive metal removal, and the analysis suggests that this removal occurred while the beam was exposed to the fire in the rubble pile after the building had collapsed.
Are sulfur isotope ratios sufficient to determine the antiquity of sulfate reduction

Possible limitations on the use of sulfur isotope ratios in sedimentary sulfides to infer the evolution of microbial sulfate reduction are discussed. Current knowledge of the ways in which stable sulfur isotope ratios are altered by chemical and biological processes is examined, with attention given to the marine sulfur cycle involving various microbial populations, and sulfur reduction processes, and it is noted that satisfactory explanations of sulfur isotope ratios observed in live organisms and in sediments are not yet available. It is furthermore pointed out that all members of the same genus of sulfate reducing bacteria do not always fractionate sulfur to the same extent, that the extent of sulfur fractionation by many sulfate-reducing organisms has not yet been determined, and that inorganic processes can also affect sulfur isotope fractionation values. The information currently available is thus concluded to be insufficient to determine the time of initial appearance of biological sulfate reduction.
Cognitive behavior therapy for social anxiety disorder in the context of Asperger's Syndrome: A single-subject report

Asperger's Syndrome (AS) is a developmental disorder characterized by social impairment, highly circumscribed interests, repetitive behaviors, and motor clumsiness. The social impairment features of AS are similar to characteristics of social anxiety disorder (SAD). However, little is known about the comorbidity of these disorders or the treatment of social anxiety in the context of AS. The present single-subject report examines the use of cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) in treating SAD in an adult with comorbid AS. The results suggest that a 14-week course of CBT was successful in reducing symptoms of anxiety and comorbid depression. In addition, improvements in social skills were observed (e.g., appropriate eye contact, conversational skills). Limitations and future directions for research and treatment are discussed.
The Average Response Computer (ARC): A Digital Device for Computing Averages and Amplitude and Time Histograms of Electrophysiological Response

The Average Response Computer has proved a valuable tool for measuring statistics of neuroelectric activity, particularly of evoked responses. One of the most important aspects of the instrument is it ability to operate "on line," thus enabling the experimenter to observe and modify on the basis of the calculated results while the experiment is in progress. Although the ARC was designed to operate in fixed modes, it has demonstrated a gratifying flexibility in the face of new experimental requirements. With respect to future developments, we feel that greater speed of operation and extension to multiple channels would further extend the range of applications and increase the versatility of the device.
Technological gatekeepers: A managerial perspective

Prior studies dealing with technological gatekeepers leave many avenues open for further research which may be beneficial to R&D managers. The technological gatekeeping literature is briefly summarized and its managerial implications explored.
Water-soluble CdTe quantum dots as an anode interlayer for solution-processed near infrared polymer photodetectors.

Water-soluble cadmium telluride (CdTe) quantum dots (QDs) used as an anode interlayer in solution-processed near infrared (NIR) polymer photodetectors (PDs) were demonstrated. Polymer PDs incorporated with CdTe QDs as an anode interlayer exhibited 10-fold suppressed dark current density and analogous photocurrent density relative to poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), which resulted in enhanced detectivities over 1011 Jones in the spectral range from 350 nm to 900 nm. Moreover, with the substitution of PEDOT:PSS by CdTe QDs, the stability of unencapsulated NIR polymer PDs was extended up to 650 hours, which is more than 3 times longer than those with PEDOT:PSS as an anode interlayer. These results indicated that CdTe QDs can be utilized as a solution-processable alternative to PEDOT:PSS as an anode interlayer for high performance NIR polymer PDs.
Applying update streams in a soft real-time database system

Many papers have examined how to efficiently export a materialized view but to our knowledge none have studied how to efficiently import one. To import a view, i.e., to install a stream of updates, a real-time database system must process new updates in a timely fashion to keep the database "fresh," but at the same time must process transactions and ensure they meet their time constraints. In this paper, we discuss the various properties of updates and views (including staleness) that affect this tradeoff. We also examine, through simulation, four algorithms for scheduling transactions and installing updates in a soft real-time database.
A new diffusion scheme in vortex methods for three-dimensional incompressible flows

We propose and validate a new, accurate, robust, mesh-free method to represent diffusion processes in Lagrangian computations, called "vorticity redistribution". The basic idea of this method is to represent diffusion by modifying the strength of the vortices: circulation is exchanged between vortices in the immediate vicinity of one another in such a way that the correct diffusion is achieved. Our method resolves length scales up to the spacing of the vortices, and it has no inherent limitations on the order of accuracy. Moreover, conservation of circulation, linear and angular momentum are implicit in the formulation. For its validation, we compute the flow over an impulsively started cylinder at Re=9500 (based on diameter); we compare the vorticity field with another recent high resolution simulation. The method is extended to three-dimensions and tested on two linear problems.
R&D knowledge management in a telecommunications consortium: an actor-network perspective

This paper is concerned with the R&D knowledge management in a consortium. It presents an ethnographic study on Mobiconomy group, a consortium designing mobile services. We first demonstrate that the actor–network theory can be linked with theory of organisational knowledge creation, and thus apply it to examining the knowledge creation in Mobiconomy as a 'black-boxing' process. This paper discloses the improvisatory characteristics of knowledge creation process in a consortium. The author argues that a consortium should have a pre-project phase when a common vocabulary is developed and an integrator is introduced. The experience of our case consortium – that the white book has emerged as a tool of R&D knowledge management – can be drawn upon by other consortia. Implications for understanding the future trend of the mobile commerce market have been given.
Kernel classifier with Correntropy loss

Classification can be seen as a mapping problem where some function of x n predicts the expectation of a class variable y n . This paper uses kernel methods for the prediction of class variable, together with a recently proposed cost function for classification, called Correntropy-loss (C-loss) function. C-Loss is a non-convex loss function based on a similarity measure called correntropy and is known to closely approximate the ideal 0–1 loss function for classification. This paper shows via experimental results that, by replacing the cost function - Mean Square Error (MSE) in a conventional kernel based functional mapping, by a non-convex loss function C-Loss, a non-overfitting, and hence, a better classifier can be obtained. Since gradient descent can still be used with the C-loss and the kernel mapper, the classifier can be easily trained without performance penalty, compared to the SVM, which makes the approach very practical.
Deformation of the surface of liquid helium by electrons

Abstract The condenser force exerted by electrons on the surface of liquid helium produces a visible depression. It is shown how this effect places an upper limit on the amount of charge which can be put on the surface.
Implementation of Educational Innovation

(1976). Implementation of Educational Innovation. The Educational Forum: Vol. 40, No. 3, pp. 345-370.
The thermoelectric power of MEM(TCNQ) 2

Abstract MEM(TCNQ) 2 undergoes a first order semiconductor to metal transition at 340.8 K. We have measured the thermoelectric power (TEP) of MEM(TCNQ) 2 in the temperature range above 335 K. Above the transition the TEP is −65 μV/°K, in the low temperature phase it is strongly temperature dependent and approaches zero near the transition. The indicated loss of spin entropy at the transition is discussed.
Diagnosis of partial and complete rotator cuff tears using combined gradient echo and spin echo imaging

Most magnetic resonance (MR) studies evaluating the rotator cuff for tears have used T2-weighted imaging in the coronal oblique and sagittal oblique planes, T2*-weighted gradient echo imaging, however, has advantages over spin echo imaging, including contiguous slices without cross-talk, high contrast around the cuff, and intrinsically shorter imaging times which can be used to increase the number of signals averaged and thus improve the signal-to-noise ratio. We reviewed the shoulder MR scans of 87 consecutive patients who underwent both a MR scan and a shoulder arthroscopy during which the size of tears, if present, was graded. The reviewers were blinded as to the history and arthroscopic results. The MR scans included oblique coronal T2*-weighted gradient echo and oblique sagittal T2-weighted spin echo images. MR cuff grades were correlated with arthroscopic findings. For complete tears, the sensitivity of MR was 0.91 and the specificity 0.95. For partial tears, the sensitivity was 0.74 and the specificity 0.87. This accuracy is similar to two-plane T2-weighted imaging as previously reported in the literature. There was a statistically significant correlation (p < 0.0005) between the cuff grade as determined by MR and the arthroscopic findings.
Mathematical modelling of structural behaviour during earthquakes

Abstract The dynamical behaviour of structures can be modelled and simulated satisfactorily in the linear and slightly nonlinear ranges using finite elements and other analytical models in conjunction with modern computers. However, the highly nonlinear behaviour of structures remains to be studied further. The nonlinear response of complex structures which have been damaged by strong-motion earthquakes lies in this area. It is extremely difficult to collect sufficient field or laboratory data for the construction of accurate mathematical models of such structures for practical applications. This is partly due to the fact that the failure behaviour of a given structure is highly load-history dependent. In the absence of reliable analytical tools, system identification techniques may occasionally be applied to verify and/or update the mathematical model of a structure. The development of mathematical models useful for analysis of structural behaviour to earthquake excitation is an area too large to be covered in detail by a single review. In this paper, an attempt is made to critically review available mathematical models in the random earthquake response analysis of structures. By random, we refer to the excitation, to the properties of the structure itself, or to both. We are especially interested in those models dealing with slightly to highly nonlinear behaviour. Some recent work which utilizes these analytical techniques is highlighted. Also included is a review of system identification techniques as applied to structures. The concept of damage accumulation is mentioned, and a damage index is discussed which may be used in conjunction with an analytical model. A selective bibliography is also given for a more complete introduction into the areas discussed herein.
A New Method for the Investigation of Thermal Sensitivity

(1960). A New Method for the Investigation of Thermal Sensitivity. The Journal of Psychology: Vol. 49, No. 1, pp. 29-41.
Adolescent Girls' Perceptions of Smoking Risk and Protective Factors: Implications for Message Design

ABSTRACT Using a snowball technique, in-depth interviews were conducted with 108 girls emanating from seven demographically dissimilar social networks. Girls were asked to classify 58 items as either a risk or protective factor for smoking initiation and then to assign an importance weighting to each. All items except one (worries about her weight) were clearly categorized as risk or protective; mean levels of agreement were 80.8% for perceived risk items and 92.6% for perceived protective items. Principal components analysis (PCA) of the weights given to the perceived risk items found that 28 items loaded on seven factors (social, affect, access, media, offers, family, and image) and explained 71.26% of the variance. PCA of 25 protective items revealed four factors (health, family, looks, and barriers) that explained 73.35% of the variance. Significant group differences on the importance weights were found, primarily by school (public or private), age (12–14 years or 15–16 years), having a friend who smo...
Acetylcholine and carnitine sensitive growth in a Drosophila cell line.

Abstract Growth yield in cultures of Schneider's line 2 cells was studied as a function of plating cell density. It was measured in the presence of various neurotransmitters, hormones and related chemicals. Of these, acetylcholine and carnitine were studied in detail. Both significantly increased growth yields at low plating cell densities. Atropine and tubocurarine significantly reduced growth yield, suggesting the presence of a cholinergic-like receptor. Cell populations were incubated with [ 14 C]choline and uptake occurred. The [ 14 C]choline was incorporated into the production of secreted molecules which comigrated with carnitine offering evidence for carnitine production and secretion.
LIMITING JULIA SETS FOR SINGULARLY PERTURBED RATIONAL MAPS

In this paper, we consider the family of rational maps given by \[ F_\lambda(z) = z^n + \frac{\lambda}{z} \] where n ≥ 2, and λ is a complex parameter. When λ = 0 the Julia set is the unit circle, as is well known. But as soon as λ is nonzero, the Julia set explodes. We show that, as λ tends to the origin along n - 1 special rays in the parameter plane, the Julia set of Fλ converges to the closed unit disk. This is somewhat unexpected, since it is also known that, if a Julia set contains an open set, it must be the entire Riemann sphere.
Expression of mutant alpha-synuclein modulates microglial phenotype in vitro

Increased reactive microglia are a histological characteristic of Parkinson's disease (PD) brains, positively correlating with levels of deposited α-synuclein protein. This suggests that microglial-mediated inflammatory events may contribute to disease pathophysiology. Mutations in the gene coding for α-synuclein lead to a familial form of PD. Based upon our prior findings that α-synuclein expression regulates microglial phenotype we hypothesized that expression of mutant forms of the protein may contribute to the reactive microgliosis characteristic of PD brains. To quantify the effects of wild type and mutant α-synuclein over-expression on microglial phenotype a murine microglial cell line, BV2, was transiently transfected to express human wild type (WT), and mutant α-synuclein (A30P and A53T) proteins. Transfected cells were used to assess changes in microglia phenotype via Western blot analysis, ELISA, phagocytosis, and neurotoxicity assays. As expected, over-expression of α-synuclein induced a reactive phenotype in the transfected cells. Expression of α-synuclein increased protein levels of cycloxygenase-2 (Cox-2). Transfected cells demonstrated increased secretion of the proinflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), as well as increased nitric oxide production. Transfected cells also had impaired phagocytic ability correlating with decreased protein levels of lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP-1). In spite of the increased cytokine secretion profile, the transfected cells did not exhibit increased neurotoxic ability above control non-transfected BV2 cells in neuron-microglia co-cultures. These data demonstrated that over-expression of α-synuclein drives microglial cells into a form of reactive phenotype characterized by elevated levels of arachidonic acid metabolizing enzymes, cytokine secretion, and reactive nitrogen species secretion all superimposed upon impaired phagocytic potential.
Physical properties and magnetic structure of the layered oxyselenide La 2 O 3 Mn 2 Se 2

We report the characterization of the layered rare-earth manganese oxyselenide ${\text{La}}_{2}{\text{O}}_{3}{\text{Mn}}_{2}{\text{Se}}_{2}$. The susceptibility data show a broad maximum near 350 K, indicating the existence of two-dimensional (2D) short-range ordering in this compound. A sharp feature associated with a short-range to long-range antiferromagnetic phase transition is seen at 163 K. A very small heat-capacity anomaly is detected around 163 K, indicating that most of the magnetic entropy is lost during the 2D ordering process. Both crystal and magnetic structures were studied by neutron powder diffraction at 300, 200, 150, 100, and 6 K. The structure was refined in space group $I4/mmm$ with $a=4.13\text{ }939(3)\text{ }\text{\AA{}}$ and $c=18.8511(2)\text{ }\text{\AA{}}$ at ambient temperature. No structural distortion was detected. The resulted magnetic structure is G-type with a propagation vector of $\mathbf{k}=(0,0,0)$ and an ordered magnetic moment of $4.147(28)\text{ }{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{B}/\text{Mn}$ along $c$ is found at 6 K. Warren peak shape analysis of the neutron-diffraction data near $22\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ is employed to characterize the increase in correlation length in the 2D magnetic state on approaching the three-dimensional ordering transition.
On low-frequency errors of uniformly modulated filtered white-noise models for ground motions

SUMMARY Low-frequency errors of a commonly used non-stationary stochastic model (uniformly modulated filtered white-noise model) for earthquake ground motions are investigated. It is shown both analytically and by numerical simulation that uniformly modulated filter white-noise-type models systematically overestimate the spectral response for periods longer than the effective duration of the earthquake, because of the built-in low-frequency errors in the model. The errors, which are significant for low-magnitude short-duration earthquakes, can be eliminated by using the filtered shot-noise-type models (i.e. white noise, modulated by the envelope first, and then filtered).
Differential Strategies in Coping with Pain as a Function of Level of Experiential Avoidance

Participants displaying high versus low levels of experiential avoidance as assessed by the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (Hayes, Strosahl, et al., 2004) were compared in their reactions to and efforts to cope with pain induced by the cold pressor task. As expected, high avoidant participants were less tolerant of pain and more likely to report using dysfunctional coping strategies, but did not differ from their low avoidant counterparts in their sensitivity to pain nor ratings of its intensity. Implications of the findings for the assessment, further investigation, and conceptualization of experiential avoidance as a possible core pathogenic process are discussed.
Amplitude-dependent losses in ultrasound exposure measurement

Energy losses resulting from the nonlinear propagation of ultrasonic pulses in water have been measured using a polyvinylidene difluoride membrane hydrophone and a radiation-force balance. The focused ultrasonic transducers used were of low focal gain operating at source intensities and frequencies typical of those used in medical diagnostic applications. Energy transfer into harmonic components has been quantified by hydrophone measurements at the focus. At values of shock parameter sigma > pi /2, total loss of intensity was observed, with the greatest loss reaching 2.75 dB of the intensity predicted by linear extrapolation from low-amplitude measurements. A similar but smaller-magnitude reduction in the radiation force measured by a force balance was observed. These results are related to ranges of acoustic parameters obtained from surveys on clinical equipment. It is concluded that a significant majority of contemporary clinical scanners can generate ultrasonic pulses which will lose energy during transmission through water due to amplitude-dependent nonlinear losses, and that it is necessary to consider these, and other nonlinear phenomena, when predicting exposure conditions in vivo. >
Using Delaunay triangulation to construct obstacle detour mobility model

With the rapid growth in wireless communication technologies, mobility management research is in great demand. Simulation has become an effective method to study the performance of many mobility issues. A realistic mobility model not only reflects mobile user behavior, but also affects correctness of the simulation results. In a wireless environment, obstacles usually exist within the coverage area. We propose a new detour model by using Delaunay triangulation through the incorporation of obstacles. The proposed mobility model can create detour paths as long as there exist gaps among obstacles. Comparative studies show that our proposed model can construct more detour paths than the Voronoi model.
The irrelevance of electric power system dynamics for the loading margin to voltage collapse and its sensitivities

The loading margin to a saddle-node or fold bifurcation measures the proximity to voltage collapse blackouts of electric power transmission systems. Sensitivities of the loading margin can be used to select controls to avoid voltage collapse. We analytically justify the use of static models to compute loading margins and their sensitivities and explain how the results apply to underlying dynamic models. The relation between fold bifurcations of the static models and saddle-node bifurcations of the underlying dynamic models is clarified.
Systems biology: Leading the revolution in ecotoxicology

The rapid development of new technologies such as transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics (Omics) are changing the way ecotoxicology is practiced. The data deluge has begun with genomes of over 65 different aquatic species that are currently being sequenced, and many times that number with at least some level of transcriptome sequencing. Integrating these top-down methodologies is an essential task in the field of systems biology. Systems biology is a biology-based interdisciplinary field that focuses on complex interactions in biological systems, with the intent to model and discover emergent properties of the system. Recent studies demonstrate that Omics technologies provide valuable insight into ecotoxicity, both in laboratory exposures with model organisms and with animals exposed in the field. However, these approaches require a context of the whole animal and population to be relevant. Powerful approaches using reverse engineering to determine interacting networks of genes, proteins, or biochemical reactions are uncovering unique responses to toxicants. Modeling efforts in aquatic animals are evolving to interrelate the interacting networks of a system and the flow of information linking these elements. Just as is happening in medicine, systems biology approaches that allow the integration of many different scales of interaction and information are already driving a revolution in understanding the impacts of pollutants on aquatic systems.
The Application of Psychodynamic Principles to Day Treatment

Psychodynamic principles refer to broad applications of findings gained from psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic psychotherapy of adults and children. In addition, direct observations of infants in families, as well as longitudinal studies of individuals, have immensely expanded the body of psychodynamic knowledge. A Psychiatric Glossary (American Psychiatric Association, 1975, p. 127) offers this definition: Psychodynamics: The systematized knowledge and theory of human behavior and its motivation, the study of which depends largely upon the functional significance of emotion. Psychodynamics recognizes the role of unconscious motivation in human behavior. It is a predictive science, based on the assumption that a person’s total make-up and probable reactions at any given moment are the product of past interactions between his specific genetic endowment and the environment in which he has lived since conception.
Management of neurogenic bladder dysfunction with incontinent ileovesicostomy.

Abstract Objectives. Incontinent ileovesicostomy is an alternative form of urinary management applied to patients with neurogenic vesical dysfunction who are either unable or unwilling to perform clean intermittent self-catheterization or assisted catheterization. We review our operative results, urodynamic data, and complications observed in patients who underwent creation of incontinent ileovesicostomy at our institution. Methods. Thirteen patients (mean age 43.2 years) with neurogenic bladder dysfunction underwent an incontinent ileovesicostomy between 1994 and 1998. The etiologies of the neurogenic bladder dysfunction were spinal cord injury in 8 patients, multiple sclerosis in 4 patients, and tuberculous meningitis in 1 patient. The preoperative data, surgical records, urodynamic findings, and postoperative complications were assessed. Results. All patients experienced complications of their pretreatment bladder management. The mean operating room time was 242 minutes (range 170 to 395), including 14 additional procedures in 11 patients. The mean estimated blood loss was 403.8 mL (range 50 to 2000). No patient required blood transfusion. There were no intraoperative complications. Only 1 patient required reoperation for stomal revision. One patient had a ureteral stone 2 years after surgery; 1 patient has continued to have urinary tract infections despite a negative workup. The mean follow-up was 23 months (range 6 to 57). The mean bladder leak point pressure through the stoma was 8.2 cm H 2 O. Conclusions. The incontinent ileovesicostomy is a useful technique in the treatment of patients with neurogenic bladder unable to perform clean intermittent catheterization. It provides patients with a low-pressure urinary conduit that empties readily without an indwelling catheter.
Regulation of BCRP/ABCG2 expression by progesterone and 17β-estradiol in human placental BeWo cells

The breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) is abundant in the placenta and protects the fetus by limiting placental drug penetration. We hypothesize that pregnancy-specific hormones regulate BCRP ...
Dual-comb techniques for precision measurement

Dual asynchronous comb techniques for precision measurement are coming of age. In spectroscopy such systems a can cover 42 THz of optical spectra with 100 MHz point spacing and signal to noise ratios (SNR) better than 3000. Careful examination of the systematic errors has begun and Doppler broadened molecular line centers can be determined reliably to within 200 kHz. In related systems dual and single comb calibrations of swept cw lasers can facilitate rapid (0.5 ms) distance measurement with sub-micron precisions off a diffuse target.
Population Dynamics and Rates of Molecular Evolution of a Recently Emerged Paramyxovirus, Avian Metapneumovirus Subtype C

We report the existence of two distinct sublineages of avian metapneumovirus (MPV) subtype C, a virus which has caused serious economic loss in commercial turkey farms in the United States. This subtype is closely related to human MPV, infects multiple avian species, and is globally distributed. The evolutionary rates of this virus are estimated to be 1.3 × 10−3 to 7 × 10−3 substitutions per site per year, and coalescent estimates place its emergence between 1991 and 1996. The four genes examined show a concordant demographic pattern which is characterized by a rapid increase in population size followed by stable population grown until the present.
Context Awareness: a Practitioner&#146;s Perspective

Context awareness allows applications to adapt themselves to their computing environment in order to better suit the needs of the user. Such a capability is critical to pervasive computing because it promises to reduce the demand for human attention, which arguably is the most limited resource in an environment saturated with computing and communication capability. This paper reflects on our experiences in enabling and exploiting context awareness. These include a general context service that provides infrastructure support for context collection and dissemination, a programming abstraction for supporting the composition of context data and the continual rebinding of context sources, and a series of context-aware systems that enable the unified communication between people and between people and computers. Conducting the work in an industry research lab, we have taken an incremental approach to tackling the problem space and had it as our goal to affect both the state of the art and the state of the practice. The paper concludes with a discussion on some of the challenges in the wide deployment of context-aware technologies
A case of recurrent sterile abscesses following vaccination: delayed hypersensitivity to aluminum.

CASE REPORT A 27-month-old female was evaluated because of a history of recurrent sterile abscess formation at the sites of routine hildhood vaccinations. She had an uneventful course after her first series of vaccinations at age 2 months, which included APTACEL (diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine adsorbed; Sanofi Pasteur Inc, Swiftwater, PA), POL (inactivated poliovirus vaccine; Sanofi Pasteur Inc), COMVAX (Haemophilus b conjugate and hepatitis B vaccine; Merck, hitehouse Station, NJ), and Prevnar (heptavalent pneumococcal conjugated vaccine; Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Inc, Philadelphia, PA). One month after the patient’s second set of vaccinations at age 4 months, she developed a draining abscess on her left thigh t the site of DAPTACEL and IPOL administration. Her right thigh, where she received COMVAX and Prevnar, was naffected. The lesion healed after an incision and drainage and a course of oral antibiotics. At age 6 months, the patient received DAPTACEL and Prevnar in her right thigh. One month later, she developed an abscess n that extremity. The lesion was incised. Wound culture and Gram’s stain were negative, and she was given an empiric course of ntibiotics. At age 18 months, she received the MMRII (measles, mumps, and rubella virus vaccine; Merck), with no complications. At age 2 years, she received COMVAX in her left arm, and 1 month later developed an abscess at the site. The lesion ealed after an incision and drainage, but without antibiotics. Wound culture was negative, and a tissue biopsy was obtained from he base of the abscess (Figure). The patient had no history of other skin lesions or frequent infections. Her mother reported that umbilical cord separation as not delayed. Quantitative immunoglobulins and IgG subclasses were normal at age 8 months. The white blood cell count t that time was 10,300, with 20% neutrophils and 72% lymphocytes. Flow cytometry for CD11b/CD18, performed to exclude eukocyte adhesion defect type 1, was normal. It was felt that the patient’s hypersensitivity to a common ingredient in DAPTACEL, IPOL, COMVAX, or Prevnar vaccines as the cause of the recurrent lesions. Aluminum, formaldehyde, 2-phenoxyethanol, and thimerosal were considered as possible causes f the reactions. Notably, the MMRII vaccine, which contains gelatin and neomycin, was not ssociated with abscess formation in this patient. Patch testing was performed for aluminum (2% aluminum chloride solution), for ndiluted DAPTACEL, and for a normal saline control by applying 0.1 mL of each olution to 1-cm gauze patches, applied to the upper arm and occluded with Tegaderm. he patches were examined at 72 hours. The control patch was negative, and minimal rythema was noted at the DAPTACEL site. A moderate reaction, characterized by rythema, multiple papules, and scattered vesicles, was seen at the aluminum chloride site. atch testing on a negative control subject was negative for all 3 solutions. We diagnosed aluminum hypersensitivity in our patient, and recommended that she ot receive any more aluminum-containing vaccines.
Numerically stable LDLT factorizations in interior point methods for convex quadratic programming

Fletcher & Powell (1974, Math. Comput., 28, 1067-1087) proposed a numerically stable method for updating the LDL T factorization of a symmetric positive-definite matrix when a symmetric low-rank term is added to it. In Goldfarb & Scheinberg (2004, Math. Program., 99, 1-34) we proposed a product-form version of the method of Fletcher and Powell for use in interior point methods for linear programming and studied its numerical stability. In this paper we extend these results to convex quadratic programming where the Hessian matrix of the objective function is, or can be approximated by, a diagonal matrix plus a matrix of low rank. Our new results are based on showing that the elements of the unit lower triangular matrix in the LDL T factorizations that arise in this context are uniformly bounded as the duality gap is driven to zero. Practicable versions of our approach are described for structured quadratic programs that arise in support vector machines and portfolio optimization.
Terminating Protease Receptor Signaling

Signals generated by proteolytic activation of Protease-activated receptors (PARs) must be terminated to avoid uncontrolled cellular events, such as proliferation, cell migration, and inflammation. Because PARs are irreversibly activated, this is of paramount importance because, unlike most other GPCRs, the ligand cannot dissociate or diffuse away. Signal termination within the cell consists of a multi-step process involving desensitization and internalization of receptors. Furthermore, given the wealth of available proteases to activate these receptors, mechanisms exist to disarm these receptors extracellularly, rendering them insensitive to activation. In this chapter, the process of signal termination will be separated into: (1) Receptor uncoupling, in which we discuss intracellular and extracellular mechanisms of receptor desensitization, (2) Receptor Endocytosis, and (3) Termination of downstream signaling pathways. Discussion will focus on PAR1, PAR2, and PAR4, as PAR3 is thought to signal primarily through activation of either PAR1 or PAR4.