cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modeling and control of an experimental HVOF thermal spray process

This work focuses on the modeling and feedback control of an experimental high velocity oxygen-fuel (HVOF) thermal spray process that is similar to the Metco Diamond Jet (DJ) hybrid gun. Initially, a fundamental process model, which is computationally tractable while capable of capturing the dominant physicochemical phenomena occurring in the HVOF thermal spray process, is used to determine the influence of controllable process variables such as combustion pressure and oxygen/fuel ratio, as well as the effect of powder size distribution, on the values of particle velocity and temperature at the point of impact on substrate. Based on model predictions and available experimental studies, the control problem is formulated as the one of regulating volume-based averages of the liquid fraction and velocity of the particles at the point of impact on substrate (these are the variables that directly influence coating microstructure and porosity, which, in turn, determine coating mechanical and thermal properties) by manipulating the oxygen/fuel ratio and the combustion chamber pressure, respectively. Then, a feedback control system is developed and applied to a detailed mathematical model of the process. Closed-loop simulations show that the average particle velocity and liquid fraction at the point of impact on substrate reach the desired values in a short time, which validates the feasibility of real-time implementation of feedback control on HVOF thermal spray systems. It is also shown that the proposed control problem formulation and the feedback control system are robust with respect to disturbances in spray distance and particle injection velocity, and variations in powder size distribution.
Optical method for fatigue crack detection.

A 1-D optical Fourier spectrum analyzer system is used to detect fatigue cracks as small as 0.5 μm in titanium test samples. Signatures obtained from scans of reflected laser light diffraction patterns show features linked to the presence of surface cracks. Signature characteristics are preserved without a need for critical focusing or optics-to-sample positioning. Analytic modeling of a crack surface profile is used to explain the primary cause of the observed signature properties.
A Southern Antler Foredeep Submarine Fan: The Mississippian Eleana Formation, Nevada Test Site

ABSTRACT Strata of the Eleana Formation in southern Nevada record the history of the Late Devonian through late Mississippian Antler foreland basin in southern Nevada. The Antler foredeep was created in latest Devonian or early Mississippian time, but did not receive significant sediments in southern Nevada until early-middle Mississippian (late Osagean) time. During late Osagean and Meramecian time, sediments deposited in the foredeep were dominantly mature, recycled siliciclastics derived from the uplifted Antler allochthon and foreland basin to the north in central Nevada. At the same time, a heterolithic sediment source, including mafic volcanic rocks and eroded, older limestones, supplied sediment intermittently and sparsely from the west-northwest. In late Mississippian (Chesterian) time siliciclastic sedimentation waned and deposition was dominated by fine-grained, carbonate- and siliciclastic-debris turbidity currents derived from an organically productive shelf or slope, probably to the north and northeast. The Eleana Formation on the Nevada Test Site is preserved in at least two pre-Tertiary thrust sheets that are separated by a fault with potentially large horizontal displacement. Although palinspastic reconstruction is not yet possible, understanding of this thrust juxtaposition allows a preliminary reconstruction of the Eleana basin paleogeography. The stratigraphically lower part of this Mississippian submarine fan comprised mainly channel and interchannel deposits. More proximal fan deposits are found in the upper thrust plate of an east-vergent thrust system, indicating that the axis of the fan was to the west of the present exposures of the Eleana Formation. The Antler foreland basin remained a basin in southern Nevada long after the Antler foredeep had filled in central Nevada. It may have been a peripheral deep marine basin that occupied either a reentrant in the old passive margin or a reentrant in the encroaching allochthon. Foredeep sediments were recycled down the basin axis from central Nevada south into the Eleana basin. Overlying allodapic limestone turbidites in the upper Eleana Formation were deposited as a transgressive deposit and are coeval with a known eustatic sea-level rise in Chesterian time.
Nanopore sensors for nucleic acid analysis

Nanopore analysis is an emerging technique that involves using a voltage to drive molecules through a nanoscale pore in a membrane between two electrolytes, and monitoring how the ionic current through the nanopore changes as single molecules pass through it. This approach allows charged polymers (including single-stranded DNA, double-stranded DNA and RNA) to be analysed with subnanometre resolution and without the need for labels or amplification. Recent advances suggest that nanopore-based sensors could be competitive with other third-generation DNA sequencing technologies, and may be able to rapidly and reliably sequence the human genome for under $1,000. In this article we review the use of nanopore technology in DNA sequencing, genetics and medical diagnostics.
Recurrence of gynecologic malignancy at the vaginal vault after hysterectomy

Objective: Vaginal vault recurrences of genital tract malignancy are not uncommon, and may be the first sign of recurrent disease. This paper reviews the experience at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center. Methods: The tumor lists from 1993 to 1996 of the Division of Ob/Gyn Pathology at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center were reviewed, and correlated with retrospective chart review. Results: Of 36 cases, 13 were from uterine primaries, seven were cervical in origin, eight were ovarian primaries, and in eight cases, the exact primary was not known at the time of biopsy. For the cases where the primary diagnosis and disease free interval were known, the time interval from hysterectomy to vault recurrence ranged from 1.5 months to 84 months, with a mean of 25.6 months. Conclusion: Vaginal vault recurrences are often the site of recurrent female genital tract malignancies. Patients treated for gynecological cancer must have regular pelvic examinations including cytologic examination as part of their oncologic surveillance.
A semiclassical model to incorporate multidimensional tunneling in classical trajectory simulations using locally conserved actions

Abstract Earlier work, within the context of transition state theory, has shown that tunneling through the saddle point region of a potential energy surface can be characterized by locally conversed action variables associated with the saddle point (transition state). The present Letter shows how this idea can be combined with classical trajectory simulation methods and thus allow tunneling effects to be incorporated into a much wider class of dynamical processes. Application of this approach to a two-dimensional model unimolecular decay potential gives good results over a wide range of system parameters.
Fuzzy steering for autonomous MCU-based mobile robotics

Small-scale autonomous vehicle navigation may involve the use of classical or "crisp" sets for control. In this paper, we discuss the successful application of fuzzy sets to such a vehicle's steering module, which results in an improvement in the vehicle's navigational capabilities.
New roller crimper concepts for mechanical termination of cover crops in conservation agriculture

Rollers crimpers have been used in conservation agriculture to terminate cover crops; however, excessive vibration generated by the original straight-bar roller design has delayed adoption of this technology in the United States. To avoid excessive vibration, producers generally reduce operating speeds that increase the time needed to perform the field operation. The objectives of this research were to identify roller crimper designs that terminated rye cover crops consistently, resulted in soil moisture conservation after use, and minimized vibrations when operated in the field. Six different roller types were developed and tested at 3.2 and 6.4 km h−1 in Alabama field experiments during the 2006, 2007 and 2008 growing seasons. All roller types were used alone and one also in combination with glyphosate. Rye mortalities were evaluated 1, 2 and 3 weeks after rolling and compared with the check (non-rolled standing rye). Soil volumetric moisture content (VMC) was measured at the day of rolling, and then at 1, 2 and 3 weeks after rolling. Vibration was measured on the rollers' and tractor's frames during operation. Mortality for rolled rye 2 weeks after rolling was at least 98% compared with 96% for the check in 2006, 93% for rolling compared with 75% for the check in 2007, and 94% for rolling compared with 60% for the check in 2008 (P<0.10). There were no consistent differences in rye mortality across roller types (without glyphosate) and speeds. VMC for soil in non-rolled rye plots was consistently lower than in rolled rye plots, averaging 3% compared with 7% 2 weeks after rolling in 2006, and 4% compared with 8% in 2008. During 2007, VMC was affected by severe drought conditions, and differences between roller treatments were detected but minor. The straight-bar roller generated the highest vibration on the tractor's frame at 6.4 km h−1 (0.71 m s−2, RMS), which exceeded International Standards (International Standard Office (ISO)). At 6.4 km h−1, new roller designs generated significantly lower acceleration levels from 0.12 to 0.32 m s−2 on the tractor's frame and were below detrimental effects on health ‘health limits’ classified by ISO. Overall, 2 weeks after rolling, all roller designs effectively terminated rye above 90%, which is the recommended termination level of rye to plant a cash crop into residue mat, while protecting soil surface from water loss. New roller designs generate less vibration than the original design and can be used safely at higher operating speeds.
Praseodymium and high-temperature superconductivity: Thermodynamic, structural, and critical correlations

The enthalpies of formation and the partial molar enthalpies of oxidation of polycrystalline LnBa2Cu3Oy (Ln = Pr, Nd, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Tm) and Y1−xPrxBa2Cu3Oy (x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0) have been determined at 298 K by drop-solution calorimetry. The thermodynamic characteristics of Pr123 follow the trends of the trivalent-ion-based Ln123 compounds. The thermodynamic data for the (Y,Pr)123 solid solutions show nonideal solution behavior, but no x-dependent valence instability. The superconducting critical temperatures and the enthalpies of oxidation of the (Y,Pr)123 solid solutions are linearly related.
Comprehensive Molecular Structure of the Eukaryotic Ribosome

Despite the emergence of a large number of X-ray crystallographic models of the bacterial 70S ribosome over the past decade, an accurate atomic model of the eukaryotic 80S ribosome is still not available. Eukaryotic ribosomes possess more ribosomal proteins and ribosomal RNA than do bacterial ribosomes, which are implicated in extraribosomal functions in the eukaryotic cells. By combining cryo-EM with RNA and protein homology modeling, we obtained an atomic model of the yeast 80S ribosome complete with all ribosomal RNA expansion segments and all ribosomal proteins for which a structural homolog can be identified. Mutation or deletion of 80S ribosomal proteins can abrogate maturation of the ribosome, leading to several human diseases. We have localized one such protein unique to eukaryotes, rpS19e, whose mutations are associated with Diamond-Blackfan anemia in humans. Additionally, we characterize crucial interactions between the dynamic stalk base of the ribosome with eukaryotic elongation factor 2.
Eye gaze tracking using an active stereo head

In the eye gaze tracking problem, the goal is to determine where on a monitor screen a computer user is looking, ie., the gaze point. Existing systems generally have one of two limitations: either the head must remain fixed in front of a stationary camera, or, to allow for head motion, the user must wear an obstructive device. We introduce a 3D eye tracking system where the head motion is allowed without the need for markers or worn devices. We use a pair of stereo systems: a wide angle stereo system detects the face and steers an active narrow FOV stereo system to track the eye at high resolution. For high resolution tracking, the eye is modeled in 3D, including the corneal ball, pupil and fovea. We discuss the calibration of the stereo systems, the eye model, eye detection and tracking, and we close with an evaluation of the accuracy of the estimated gaze point on the monitor.
Missouri Precision Agriculture Research and Education

A number of projects related to different facets of precision agriculture are being carried out by an interdisciplinary team of scientists and engineers with the University of Missouri and the USDA Agricultural Research Service. This paper provides an overview of those projects. BACKGROUND
Evacuation Through Clustering Techniques

Evacuation and disaster management is of the essence for any advanced society. Ensuring the welfare and well-being of the citizens even in times of immense distress is of utmost importance. Especially in coastal areas where tropical storms and hurricanes pose a threat on a yearly basis, evacuation planning and management is vital. However, modern metropolitan city evacuations prove to be large-scale optimization problems which cannot be tackled in a timely manner with the computational power available. We propose a clustering technique to divide the problem into smaller and easier subproblems and present numerical results that prove our success.
11.6 An Eclectic Approach to Marketing and Economic Development in Developing Countries

Traditional economic development literature places very little emphasis on examining the role of marketing in economic development. Much of the work on the role of marketing is found in the literature on argriculture marketing. Existing studies have adopted an overly narrow perspective. This paper argues for a broader eclectic approach that utilizes perspectives from major social science disciplines (e.g. economics, geography, anthropology, sociology, and political science) to analyze the role of marketing.
Dynamics of phonatory posturing at phonation onset

Introduction In speech and singing, the intrinsic laryngeal muscles set the prephonatory posture prior to the onset of phonation. The timing and shape of the prephonatory glottal posture can directly affect the resulting phonation type. We investigated the dynamics of human laryngeal phonatory posturing. Methods Onset of vocal fold adduction to phonation was observed in 27 normal subjects using high-speed video recording. Subjects were asked to utter a variety of phonation types (modal, breathy, pressed, /i/ following sniff). Digital videokymography with concurrent acoustic signal was analyzed to assess the timing of the following: onset of adduction to final phonatory posture (FPT), phonation onset time (POT), and phonatory posture time (PPT). Final phonatory posture time was determined as the moment at which the laryngeal configuration used in phonation was first achieved. Results Thirty-three audiovisual recordings met inclusion criteria. Average FPT, PPT, and POT were as follows: 303, 106, and 409 ms for modal; 430, 104, and 534 ms for breathy; 483, 213, and 696 ms for pressed; and 278, 98, and 376 ms for sniff-/i/. The following posturing features were observed: 1) pressed phonation: increased speed of closure just prior to final posture, complete glottal closure, and increased supraglottic hyperactivity; and 2) breathy phonation: decreased speed of closure prior to final posture, increased posterior glottal gap, and increased midmembranous gap. Conclusions Phonation onset latency was shortest for modal and longest for pressed voice. These findings are likely explained by glottal resistance and subglottal pressure requirements. Level of Evidence NA. Laryngoscope, 2015
Fungistatic Compounds in Broiler Production.1. Effect on Rate of Gain and Feed Utilization

Abstract Three floor experiments and two battery experiments using 6552 commercial broiler strain chicks and practical type diets were conducted in a cooperative study on the effect of fungistatic compounds in broiler diets. Feed moisture levels of 12.0 or 14.0% were used in the four week battery experiments. The dietary additives were sorbic acid, gentian violet, and calcium propionate. Growth rate and feed efficiency were not affected by the dietary addition of either gentian violet (.05%) or calcium propionate (.10%). In contrast, adding sorbic acid to the diet (.02, .04, or .06%) numerically improved growth rate in most instances. High and low dietary moisture levels were fed in the eight week floor experiments using new and used litter. Feeding sorbic acid in two of the three floor experiments significantly improved both growth rate and feed efficiency. This response to sorbic acid was greater when feed moisture was increased or the birds were maintained on old litter. The optimum dietary level of sorbic acid appeared to be .04%. No significant effects on performance were found due to adding either gentian violet or calcium propionate to the diet. Mortality in these experiments did not appear to be affected by the dietary treatments.
The Diplomatic History Bandwagon: A State of the Field

An era of innovation among historians of American foreign relations is upon us. Gone are the days when, in 1980, Charles S. Maier could claim that social and cultural history had marginalized the state, implicitly relegating the "languishing" field of diplomatic history to the status of "stepchild" to serious historical scholarship.' Grievances against departments that supposedly refuse to hire diplomatic historians or against journals that seemingly shut us out are increasingly rare. The relationship of the field to the profession is no longer characterized by the tired, anecdotal saw of exclusion. Instead, historians of U.S. foreign relations are, in many ways, an advance guard driving the bandwagon of international ization, riding along with those who study mentalites and culture. And that relationship has been reciprocal: while the recent story of U.S. diplomatic history rests on its merger with the majority, the mainstream has also reached out to us. This essay looks at how, over the past two decades, the study of U.S. foreign relations has stood at the intersection of the domestic and international, of theory and empiricism, of security/politics and the cultural turn. Diplomatic history is a clearinghouse of sorts for work on America in the world, and I seek to illustrate how a sample of diplomatic historians approach their field in ways both new and consistent with trends in the profession at large.^ This article will consider three (not mutually exclusive) areas in which reform has enlivened the field: traditional realism's engagement with ideology {mentalites), the embrace of international history, and the study of culture and identity. These reforms have redefined the field in ways that confirm the movement of diplomatic history into the mainstream of the historical profession's interests, and vice versa.
Abstract 2929: MAP/MEK pathway inhibitors reduce cell viability of canine hemangiosarcoma primary cells

Angiosarcoma is a rare endothelial derived soft-tissue tumor with an estimated incidence of 0.2/100,000 persons/year. Current treatment regimes include surgical resection followed by chemotherapy. Even after treatment, reoccurrence is likely and usually fatal. The canine equivalent of angiosarcoma, hemangiosarcoma (HSA), is a relatively common canine endothelial neoplasm with an overall incidence of 24/100,000. In addition, canine HSA is more prevalent in specific breeds suggesting a genetic component. Similar to human angiosarcoma, HSA present as two basic forms: visceral (spleen or cardiac) and dermal. Furthermore, canine HSA occur spontaneously making canine HSA a relevant model system to study human angiosarcoma. Interestingly, MEK/MAPK signaling cascade is activated in Kaposi9s Sarcoma, another human endothelial derived cancer. We hypothesize that the MEK/MAPK signaling cascade is vital for HSA and angiosarcoma growth and survival. We performed expression analysis supplemented by small molecule inhibitor studies utilizing canine primary cell isolates derived from visceral and dermal HSA. MAPK pathway expression signatures are elevated in HSA primary isolates compared to proliferating endothelial cells. Consistent with mRNA expression studies, ERK2 is constitutively phosphorylated in serum starved conditions. In addition, HSA cell viability is reduced by the MEK1/2 inhibitor CI-1040 compared to isolated canine endothelial cells. Other inhibitors targeting tyrosine kinase receptors (Sorafenib, EGFR Inhibitor, and SU11652) also decrease HSA cell viability. We conclude a network of tyrosine kinase receptors constitutively activate the MEK/MAPK signaling pathway in HSA. This work provides insights in the etiology and therapeutic potential for targeting both canine HSA and angiosarcoma. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2929. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-2929
A Three-Step Model for Protein–Gold Nanoparticle Adsorption

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are an attractive delivery vector in biomedicine because of their low toxicity and unique electronic and chemical properties. AuNP bioconjugates can be used in many applications, including nanomaterials, biosensing, and drug delivery. While the phenomenon of spontaneous protein–AuNP adsorption is well-known, the structural and mechanistic details of this interaction remain poorly understood. As a result, predicting the orientation and structure of proteins on the nanoparticle surface remains a challenge. New techniques are therefore needed to characterize the structural properties of proteins as they bind to AuNPs. We have developed a straightforward and rapid NMR-based approach to quantitatively characterize the protein–AuNP interaction. This approach is immune to the inner filter effect, which complicates fluorescence measurements, and it can be performed without prior centrifugation of samples. Using a data set of six proteins, ranging in size from 3 to 583 residues, we measu...
Eleven New American Coleoptera (Scarabaeidae, Cicindelidae)

Holotype male .—Length 19 mm., width 11 mm. Oblong oval, shining, glabrous, dark castaneous, head darker. Antennae 10-jointed, rufotestaceous, club slightly longer than the stem. Clypeus emarginate; margin moderately reflexed; punctures moderately coarse, evenly distributed, close, separated by their diameter or less; suture sinuate, slightly impressed. Head impunctate along suture and occiput; front slightly convex, punctures about as on clypeus, the punctures separated by one diameter across middle, to two diameters or slightly more anteriorly and posteriorly. Pronotum convex, three-fourths wider than long; sides subangulate, widest at middle, straight converging anteriorly, sinuate slightly converging posteriorly; side margins irregularly crenate; all angles distinct, right; base sinuate, impressed margin obsolete middle third; punctures much coarser than on head and clypeus, irregularly and more widely spaced, separated by two to four or more diameters; no indication of median smooth line. Elytra and scutellum strongly punctured, punctures more evenly distributed, closer and somewhat finer than on thorax; sutural costae distinct, others obsolete. Mesosternum with fine yellowish hair, fine punctures. Abdomen glabrous, minutely punctulate especially at sides, with a shallow longitudinal impression. Penultimate segment with a few moderate punctures at sides, a shallow but distinct transverse smooth depression at posterior third. Terminal segment transversely shallowly impressed. Pygidium very finely obsoletely punctured, almost smooth. Fixed spur very short, acute; upper thin, lanceolate, slightly curved, subacute. Tooth of claw median, strong, right angled. Aedeagus, Fig. 1.
Dynastic Treason: National Identity after the Glorious Revolution

Few men in parliament desired the chaos and bloodshed of another civil war, and in spite of political differences they encouraged, or adjusted their consciences to preserve, the Glorious Revolution and a Protestant Succession. Even so, a crisis of allegiance loomed: should Englishmen be faithful to the dynasty claiming title by indefeasible hereditary right or loyal to a new king and queen promising protection against popery and arbitrary government and also claiming an hereditary title? As the events of 1688 and 1689 unfolded, Englishmen described their contingent actions in such a way as to avoid accusations of treason, and ultimately most chose to pledge loyalty to the de facto monarchs. Those taking the oath of allegiance to William and Mary found justification in 11 Hen.VII, c.1 (1495). This Treason Act sanctioned proper allegiance to a de facto king, or a king who reigns ‘for the time being.’1
REGULATION OF NATURAL KILLER CELL-MEDIATED CYTOTOXICITY BY SERINE/THREONINE PHOSPHATASES : IDENTIFICATION OF A CALYCULIN A-SENSITIVE SERINE/THREONINE KINASE

We have recently reported that Ser/Thr phosphatases play a key role in regulating natural killer (NK) cell lytic activity and that calyculin A and okadaic acid affect this activity differently [Bajpai and Brahmi (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 18864-18869]. Here, we investigate a mechanism that might account for this differential action of calyculin A and okadaic acid on NK cells. Calyculin A specifically inhibited the lytic activity of YT-INDY, an NK-like cell line, and hyperphosphorylated 60 and 78 kDa proteins. The kinetics of appearance of these two proteins was correlated with the loss of lytic activity. In contrast, okadaic acid did not significantly affect either of these activities. The 78 kDa protein is localized in the cytosolic compartment whereas the 60 kDa protein is distributed equally between the membrane and the cytosolic fractions. Both proteins display a kinase activity and are phosphorylated mainly at serine and threonine residues but not at tyrosine residues. The activation of these kinases is specific to calyculin A treatment; it is independent of protein kinase C, protein kinase A, Ca2+, phosphotyrosine phosphatase and protein synthesis de novo. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that calyculin A, but not okadaic acid, hyper-phosphorylates two proteins with Ser/Thr kinase activity, thus explaining the differential regulation of NK cells by these two Ser/Thr phosphatase inhibitors.
Comprehensive Management on NOxEmissions and Unit Economics for 300 MW Subcritical Boiler

The paper analyses NOx generating mechanism and the influence factors in the thermal power plant,and points out that the coal,combustion temperature,oxygen concentration and distribution are the direct cause of producing NOx in coal-fired power plants.For operation unit,controlling the oxygen operation,air staging and optimizing coal mill combination are main measures to reduce NOx emissions.By lowering oxygen operation 1%~1.5%,NOx emissions can drop 10%-40%,The power supply coal consumption can drop 1~2 g/kWh;By strengthening air staging,NOx emissions can drop 10%-40%,the power supply coal consumption change is great.By adopting the lower 4 station coal mill combinations,NOx emissions can drop 50~100 mg/Nm3.
A Novel Logistic Regression Model Based on Density Estimation

We propose a density-based logistic regression(DLR) model for classification to address the challenge of the nonlinear classification problem in this domain. Based on a Nadarays-Watson density estimator, the training data is mapped into a particular feature space. Then, an optimization model is set up to optimize the feature weights and the width in the Nadaraya-Watson density estimation algorithm. We show that it is superior to not only standard logistic regression but also kernel logistic regression(KLR) with radial basis function(RBF) kernels. The results show that DLR compares favorably against other nonlinear methods including KLR and support vector machine(SVM). The introduced approach achieves not only better classification accuracy but also better time efciency. Another major advantage of our method is that it can be naturally extended to cope with hybrid data with both categorical features and numerical features. Moveover, our approach shares with logistic regression the same advantage of interpretability of the model, which is not obtained by kernel based methods such as KLR and SVM.
Adrenal physiology and pharmacology.

SUMMARY The human adrenal is composed of an outer cortex and inner medulla. The cortex is the site of enzymatic conversion of cholesterol to steroid hormones, and consists of two functionally distinct parts: the zona glomerulosa, which secretes aldosterone under the trophic influence of angiotensin II, and the zonae fasciculata and reticularis, which respond to adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) by secreting cortisol and androgens. Both cortisol and aldosterone participate in complex feedback systems (e.g., cortisol decreases the output of ACTH from the anterior pituitary, and aldosterone mediates changes in blood volume, which decrease renin output and thereby lower angiotensin II concentrations). The steroid hormones of the adrenal cortex are essential for life, and have widespread metabolic effects that appear to be brought about by a single cellular mechanism—the binding of the steroid to a specific cytoplasmic receptor protein, which initiates the synthesis of other proteins thought to be the ultimate effectors of the hormonal response. The adrenal medulla is the site of the synthesis and storage of catecholamine hormones. Dietary tyrosine is enzymatically oxidized, decarboxylated, and methylated to give norepinephrine and epinephrine, which are stored within intracellular vesicles. Since the medulla arises from neural crest tissue and remains a functional part of the sympathetic nervous system, impulses conducted via the presynaptic splanchnic nerves result in the release of the stored catecholamines of the medulla. These hormones produce effects in a large array of responsive tissues, the net effect of which seems to be to prepare the organism for real or anticipated stress.
A Systematic Review of Mitral Valve Repair With Autologous Pericardial Leaflet Augmentation for Rheumatic Mitral Regurgitation

A systematic review was conducted to assess the efficacy of mitral valve repair using glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardial leaflet augmentation for rheumatic mitral regurgitation (MR). Five retrospective studies were identified, which included 196 patients with moderate or greater MR. There was 1 operative death (0.5%). At a mean follow-up of 3.2 ± 2.2 years, moderate or greater MR reoccurred in 22 patients (11.2%), reoperation was required in 9 (4.6%), and the cumulative survival was 98.9%. Finally, outcomes were similar between the patients who underwent augmentation of the anterior vs the posterior mitral leaflet. Pericardial leaflet augmentation is a viable technique for the treatment of rheumatic MR.
The Challenges of Achieving Rights Based Approach to Food Security in Ethiopia

Ethiopia has long been associated with the famines that have plagued its people in the last half century. In the last decade, however, the country has made significant strides due the various government and the international donor community interventions that aimed at addressing hunger and malnutrition in the country. Despite the various efforts, Ethiopia is still one of the food insecure countries where millions of people need food aid every single year. The most serious challenge the country's food security policy regime faced is the deficit in rights-based approach to achieving food security in the country. The paper examines the entrenched structural and institutional factors that hindered the prospects of realizing a right-based approach to food security in Ethiopia.
Energy-efficient information collection and dissemination in wireless sensor networks

Low-power sensors, equipped with limited capability of sensing, computation, and communication, and limited battery power, can form an ad hoc network, providing versatile scopes into both the physical world and human spaces. For information collection and dissemination in wireless sensor networks (WSNs), a key challenge is the limited energy in each sensor node. Although the sensor hardware platforms have been designed with low-power components, achieving high application performance while minimizing energy consumption is very challenging. To meet this challenge, this thesis proposes energy-efficient protocols and systems for WSNs. First, we develop an opportunistic in-network data aggregation scheme for WSNs, which can compensate for communication losses without incurring computation error, and achieve better energy efficiency than other approaches that rely on retransmission. Next, we propose a data-centric approach for post-deployment performance debugging in WSNs. It focuses on the data flows a WSN application generates, and relates poor application performance to significant data losses or latencies of some data flows (i.e., problematic flows) as they go through the software modules on individual nodes and through the network. It collects debugging information from only those modules and nodes that the problematic flows go through, and therefore consumes much less energy than collecting debugging information indiscriminately from all nodes. WSNs sometimes contain mobile data sinks. Maintaining high packet delivery ratio becomes more difficult as the network gets bigger and mobile moves faster. Thus, we design a distributed location service protocol which can sustain a high packet-delivery ratio in larger networks and at higher mobile speeds, and incur lower energy consumption than other location service protocols. We also determine how to configure the protocol parameters to ensure the scalability of the location service. Last, we explore the tradeoff between location privacy protection and energy consumption in people-centric sensing applications. The key idea of our approach is to prevent the distinguishability of a mobile user's points of interest (POIs), therefore weakening attackers' ability to infer the user's private information or mobility patterns. Our evaluation using real-world traces shows that it protects mobile users' location privacy effectively and consumes battery of their handhelds efficiently.
Effect of Rituximab on the Incidence of GVHD in Lymphoma Patients who Received the BEAM-Conditioning and an Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation.

It has been postulated that B cells functioning as antigen-presenting cells may have an important role in the pathogenesis of GVHD. Depletion of donor cells from B-cells resulted in a low incidence of GVHD in mouse model (Schultz et al. BMT 1995:16:289–289). More recently, we observed a lower incidence of chronic (and to a lesser extent acute GVHD) in patients with CLL who received an allogeneic stem cell transplantation after a non-myeloablative conditioning regimen containing rituximab (Exp Hematol 32:28–35, 2004). The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of rituximab on GVHD in the setting of a more intense chemotherapy with BEAM, in patients who received an allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell from HLA-identical siblings. To test this hypothesis, we retrospectively studied 11 consecutive patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma who received BEAM/Rituximab at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. We attempted to match these patients by age, donor-recipient gender, and donor-recipient CMV reactivity to a historical control of 44 patients with lymphoma, who received BEAM alone as a conditioning regimen, without the Rituximab. Tacrolimus and methotrexate were used for GVHD prophylaxis in both groups. A total of 10 patients in the study group, could be matched with 19 patients in the control group and were included in the final analysis. The outcome of the 2 groups is shown below: | | Rituximab-Study Group | Control Group | -value P | |:----------------------------------------:| --------------------- | ------------- | -------- | | No. of patients | 10 | 19 | | | Median age | 41 | 44 | 0.4 | | (range) | (19–55) | (19–60) | | | Patient-Donor sex-matched | 9(82%) | 18(95%) | 0.6 | | Median # CD34 + cells infused (106/kg) | 5.1 | 4.73 | 0.1 | | Patient or Donor CMV+ | 9(82%) | 18(95%) | 0.6 | | Patient and Donor CMV − | 1(10%) | 1(5%) | | | Median # prior chemoregimens | 3 | 3 | 0.9 | | range | (1–8) | (1–9) | | | Median follow-up | 17 | 38 | | | range | (8–48) | (27–77) | | | Acute GVHD 2–4 (n,%) | 5(50%) | 7(37%) | 0.5 | | Acute GVHD 3–4 (n,%) | 3(30%) | 5(26%) | 0.6 | | Chronic GVHD (n, % cumulative incidence) | 8 (90% + 15) | 10 (53% + 12 | 0.01 | Our data suggest that the described protective effect of Rituximab against GVHD in mouse models or in the setting of non-myeloablative allogeneic transplantation, may be overcome by the BEAM. This more intense conditioning regimen may induce more GVHD by enhancing T-cell cytokines release and by causing more gastrointestinal toxicity, thus allowing for a greater antigen presentation.
Infectious Complications of Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Infections in pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease may occur as a complication of the underlying disease process as well as secondary to surgical and pharmacologic immunosuppressive therapies. Having a high index of suspicion and knowledge of infectious complications may allow for prompt diagnosis, optimal management, and improvement in strategies to mitigate risk.
Well-Defined Chiral Gold(III) Complex Catalyzed Direct Enantioconvergent Kinetic Resolution of 1,5-Enynes

The development of a gold(III) catalyzed direct enantioconvergent 1,5-enyne cycloisomerization and kinetic resolution reaction is described. The transformation results in highly enantioenriched bicyclo[3.1.0]hexenes at all levels of conversion, with no racemization or symmetrization taking place during the course of the reaction, and simultaneously affords optically enriched 1,5-enynes. This report marks the first highly enantioselective transformation catalyzed by a well-defined cationic gold(III) catalyst and demonstrates the unique potential of gold(III) complexes in enantioselective catalysis.
Henoch-Schonlein purpura. Simultaneous demonstration of IgA deposits in involved skin, intestine, and kidney

Recent reports indicate that circulating IgA immune complexes may play a primary role in the pathogenesis of Henoch-Schonlein vasculitis and are responsible for the granular deposits of IgA seen in biopsy specimens of skin and kidney. A patient had classic Henoch Schonlein syndrome, including hematuria, purpura, and abdominal pain; tissue taken simultaneously from the small intestine, skin, and kidney was examined by light immunofluorescent, and electron microscopy. Granular deposits of IgA were found in small-vessel walls of the intestinal tissue and skin, and in the glomerular mesangium. This provides further support for the notion that IgA deposits produce tissue injury in intestine, skin, and kidney in Henoch-Schonlein syndrome.
Dangerous intersections? A review of studies of fatigue and distraction in the automated vehicle

Abstract The impacts of fatigue on the vehicle driver may change with technological advancements including automation and the increasing prevalence of potentially distracting in-car systems. This article reviews the authors’ simulation studies of how fatigue, automation, and distraction may intersect as threats to safety. Distinguishing between states of active and passive fatigue supports understanding of fatigue and the development of countermeasures. Active fatigue is a stress-like state driven by overload of cognitive capabilities. Passive fatigue is produced by underload and monotony, and is associated with loss of task engagement and alertness. Our studies show that automated driving reliably elicits subjective symptoms of passive fatigue and also loss of alertness that persists following manual takeover. Passive fatigue also impairs attention and automation use in operators of Remotely Piloted Vehicles (RPVs). Use of in-vehicle media has been proposed as a countermeasure to fatigue, but such media may also be distracting. Studies tested whether various forms of phone-based media interacted with automation-induced fatigue, but effects were complex and dependent on task configuration. Selection of fatigue countermeasures should be guided by an understanding of the form of fatigue confronting the operator. System design, regulation of level of automation, managing distraction, and selection of fatigue-resilient personnel are all possible interventions for passive fatigue, but careful evaluation of interventions is necessary prior to deployment.
The Relationship Between “Cosmetic Standards” for Foods and Pesticide Use

The American marketplace features nearly perfect fruits and vegetables. Gone are the apples with an occasional blemish, a slightly russetted orange, or fresh spinach with a leaf miner. Less apparent but present in fresh and processed fruits and vegetables are a few small insects and mites. This increase in the “cosmetic standards” of fruits and vegetables has resulted from the development of new pesticide technologies and the efforts of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to limit the levels of insects and mites in fruits and vegetables, and as a consequence of new standards established by wholesalers, processors, and retailers. Consumer preferences have probably influenced these changes.
US Citizen Children of Deportees: Picking Up the Broken Pieces of a Bulimic Society

The examination of toxic environment as a result of poverty, crime rate, limited employment opportunities, poor quality of education, and families with mixed-immigration status demands closer attention at the community level, as the number of children of deportees rapidly increases, subjecting many of these children to an underclass, clustered in ghettoized or toxic environment communities. This chapter looks at the consequences of US parental deportation as many US-born children are left behind in low-income communities to grapple with the challenges of living in a broken home.
Mechanical sensitivity and cell coupling in the ciliated epithelial cells of Mytilus edulis gill. An ultrastructural and developmental analysis.

Transmission electron microscopy has not provided strong evidence for gap junctions inMytilus edulis gill tissue, in spite of extensive physiological evidence for coupled ciliary arrest in lateral cells and coupled activation in abfrontal cells. To investigate the kinds and relative distribution of cell junctions and also to determine whether ciliary membrane particle differences exist in these two types of oppositely mechanically sensitive cells, we analyzed the structure of these and two other ciliated cell types (frontal and laterofrontal) by freeze-fracture replication. Gap junctions occur in all four ciliated cell types, but they are relatively small and of variable morphology, often consisting of elongate, winding complexes of membrane particles. Statistically, such structures rarely would be recognized as gap junctions in thin sections. Gap junctions appear to be most abundant between the highly coupled abfrontal cells, minimal between laterofrontal cells, and not evident in the epithelial cells that separate coupled ciliated cell types. The ciliary necklaces of the mechanically activated abfrontal cilia are typically 4- or 5-stranded while those of the remaining three cell types are mainly 3-stranded. In developing gill tips, ciliated cells have abundant gap junctions and newly formed cilia have a full complement of necklace particles. Nascent lateral cilia are not mechanically sensitive, indicating that the acquisition of mechanosensitivity does not correlate with the presence of ciliary necklace or other membrane particles. Lateral and laterofrontal cells become sensitive to neurotransmitters soon after the appearance of the latter during development, but mechanosensitivity of both lateral and abfrontal cells arises substantially later.
Analysis and evaluation of a near-zero stiffness rotational flexural pivot

Abstract Compared with conventional rigid joints, flexural pivots store strain energy and therefore increase power requirement, posing some design challenges in several fields. A given flexural pivot can be approximately balanced with other compliant components such as springs, but inappropriate parameters and installing positions may lead to a high remaining stiffness induced by external forces. The objective of this paper is to analyze a near-zero stiffness rotational flexural pivot (NZSRFP) via balancing a generalized cross-spring pivot and to evaluate the effect of forces so as to offer useful qualitative and quantitative design insights. Taking advantage of the law of conservation of energy, a mathematical model is developed to determine the stiffness of balancing springs, and thus three special cases are presented to simplify physical models. Meanwhile, the stiffness relation between flexural pivot and balancing springs is analyzed, and the force is evaluated to attenuate its effect on the resulting stiffness. Finally, the analytical model is verified by finite element analysis (FEA) and experiments. Compared with unbalanced flexural pivot, the NZSRFP allows the rotational stiffness to be reduced to 0.55% by appropriately selecting design parameters.
Positroid varieties: juggling and geometry

While the intersection of the Grassmannian Bruhat decompositions for all coordinate flags is an intractable mess, it turns out that the intersection of only the cyclic shifts of one Bruhat decomposition has many of the good properties of the Bruhat and Richardson decompositions. This decomposition coincides with the projection of the Richardson stratification of the flag manifold, studied by Lusztig, Rietsch, Brown–Goodearl–Yakimov and the present authors. However, its cyclic-invariance is hidden in this description. Postnikov gave many cyclic-invariant ways to index the strata, and we give a new one, by a subset of the affine Weyl group we call bounded juggling patterns. We call the strata positroid varieties. Applying results from [A. Knutson, T. Lam and D. Speyer, Projections of Richardson varieties, J. Reine Angew. Math., to appear, arXiv:1008.3939 [math.AG]], we show that positroid varieties are normal, Cohen–Macaulay, have rational singularities, and are defined as schemes by the vanishing of Plucker coordinates. We prove that their associated cohomology classes are represented by affine Stanley functions. This latter fact lets us connect Postnikov’s and Buch–Kresch–Tamvakis’ approaches to quantum Schubert calculus.