cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Polycrystalline shape-memory materials: effect of crystallographic texture

Abstract A crystal-mechanics-based constitutive model for polycrystalline shape-memory materials has been developed. The model has been implemented in a finite-element program. In our finite-element model of a polycrystal, each element represents one crystal, and a set of crystal orientations which approximate the initial crystallographic texture of the shape-memory alloy are assigned to the elements. The macroscopic stress–strain responses are calculated as volume averages over the entire aggregate. Pseudoelasticity experiments in tension, compression, and shear have been performed on an initially textured polycrystalline Ti–Ni alloy. In order to determine the material parameters for Ti–Ni, the stress–strain results from a finite-element calculation of a polycrystalline aggregate subjected to simple tension have been fit to corresponding results obtained from the physical experiment. Using the material parameters so determined, the predicted pseudoelastic stress–strain curves for simple compression and thin-walled tubular torsion of the initially textured Ti–Ni are shown to be in good accord with the corresponding experiments. Our calculations also show that the crystallographic texture is the main cause for the observed tension–compression asymmetry in the pseudoelastic response of Ti–Ni. The predictive capability of the model for the variation of the pseudoelastic behavior with temperature is shown by comparing the calculated stress–strain response from the model against results from experiments of Shaw and Kyriakides (J. Mech. Phys. Solids 43 (1995) 1243) on Ti–Ni wires at a few different temperatures. By performing numerical experiments, we show that our model is able to qualitatively capture the shape-memory effect by transformation. We have also evaluated the applicability of a simple Taylor-type model for shape-memory materials. Our calculations show that the Taylor model predicts the macroscopic pseudoelastic stress–strain curves in simple tension, simple compression and tubular torsion fairly well. Therefore, it may be used as a relatively inexpensive computational tool for the design of components made from shape-memory materials.
Laser in situ keratomileusis versus long-term contact lens wear: Decision analysis

Purpose To compare the risk for vision loss from laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) versus long-term contact lens wear using decision analysis. Setting Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA. Methods Based on previously published data, a decision tree was constructed using Markov modeling to calculate the probability of vision loss from LASIK versus contact lenses over time. An outcome variable, visual acuity–adjusted life-year (VALY), was defined to account for timing and severity of vision loss. The VALYs were tallied over a 30-year simulation to determine whether the risk for vision loss with contacts exceeded that with LASIK. Sensitivity analyses were performed to test the effect of changes in key variables including probability of contact lens–related keratitis, probability of ectasia after LASIK, and probability of early post-LASIK vision loss. Results The model's conclusions were highly sensitive to changes in several variables tested, especially risk for post-LASIK ectasia, risk for early vision loss after LASIK, and risk for contact lens–related keratitis (which correlated with type of lenses worn). Rigid gas-permeable lenses were safer than LASIK in every analysis. The safety of LASIK exceeded that for daily-wear soft lenses only when assumptions were most favorable to LASIK, whereas the safety of LASIK always exceeded that for extended-wear lenses except when assumptions were least favorable to LASIK. Conclusion This decision analysis found that the risk for vision loss associated with LASIK and with long-term contact lens wear might be closer than generally assumed.
Chemi-ionization in Collisions between Helium Metastable Atoms and Argon

We have measured cross sections for chemi-ionization in thermal energy collisions of $\mathrm{He}({2}^{1}S)$ and $\mathrm{He}({2}^{3}S)$ metastable atoms with argon using both crossed-beams and gas-cell techniques. The results indicate that several earlier measurements of these cross sections were in error.
COMPUTER VISION SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC VEHICLE CLASSIFICATION

In the present paper, a computer vision system composed of five models is proposed for vehicle classification. The five models are: (1) The perspective projection model; (2) the length measurement model; (3) the width and height estimation model; (4) the profile character extraction model; and (5) the tree‐type classification model. As a significant feature, the third model provides an effective way to estimate width and height of vehicles from video images. This capability is not available in loop detector systems at present. The fourth model provides an approach to obtain two important profile characters of vehicle namely: (1) The front shape of a vehicle: flat front of projecting front; and (2) the number of units of which a vehicle is composed. With these characters, not only can buses be differentiated from trucks, but also vans can be separated from cars. Therefore, common drawbacks of present vehicle‐classification systems are remedied. Experimental results and suggestions for the future improvemen...
Endothelial cell loss and trauma during intraocular lens implantation: a specular microscopic study

Summary We analyzed the results of a retrospective specular microscopic study of 80 cases with unilateral medallion suture implants and contralateral unoperated eyes. In all cases a clinical. estimation of operative endothelial trauma (ET), graded from 0 to 3+, was made at the time of surgery. The mean decrease in endothelial cell density (compared to the unoperated eye) for those 3 3 patients with ET 0 was 19%. There was a direct correlation between ET and decrease in endothelial cell density up to a mean of 59% for those 18 patients graded ET 2.5 to 3.0. The role of sample bias and small case sampling is significant in explaining the large discrepancy in endothelial cell loss after intraocular lens implantation reported in the literature.
A SURVEY OF EQUATING METHODS BASED ON ITEM CHARACTERISTIC CURVE THEORY

A variety of equating methods based on ice theory are surveyed and compared with nonlinear conventional methods. In many cases, the ice model replaces a nonlinear equating problem by a linear one. This helps the stability of the equating near the extremes of the data. Strictly speaking, ice methods are the only methods appropriate when the tests to be equated are given (with an anchor test) to groups differing in ability. It seems likely that ice methods can reduce drift in equating chains involving many links. Research into the practical value of preequating is recommended.
Auger and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic depth profiling techniques applied to ultra-thin titanium films

Abstract Auger electron spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy in combination with sputter profiling techniques were employed to study ultra-thin (100–500 A) titanium films. The composition of the films was studied as a function of substrate, deposition temperature and heating. Particular attention was given to the interfacial region. The data indicated that the films were a mixture of titanium and TiO 2 . At no point was a pure titanium phase present. At a deposition temperature of 450°C the interface was composed of titanium, TiO 2 , silicon and SiO 2 when quartz was the substrate and titanium, TiO 2 , aluminum and Al 2 O 3 when sapphire was the substrate. The silicon and aluminum resulted from reduction of the substrate. When the deposition temperature was approximately 25°C the reductive interaction was minimized.
Nonshivering thermogenesis during acute cold exposure in adult and aged C57BL/6J mice

Abstract In C57BL/6J adult and aged mice, housed at room temperature (22.5 ± 1°C), we measured O 2 consumption and CO 2 production and calculated metabolic heat production under conditions of anesthesia and myorelaxation during acute cold stimulation when body temperature was lowered 7.5°C below control level. An independent group of mice was subjected to a three hour partial physical restraint at 6°C and concentration of uncoupling protein (thermogenin) was measured in interscapular brown adipose tissue mitochondria at different times after cold exposure. Heat production under anesthesia and myorelaxation was about 57–66% lower than in nonanesthetized conditions, but increased significantly during cold stimulation in both age groups. Under anesthesia and myorelaxation before and during cold stimulation aged mice produced about 20% more heat than adult mice. Because in these experiments all sources of facultative thermogenesis, except nonshivering, were suppressed by anesthesia and myorelaxation, and because brown adipose tissue is the major source of nonshivering thermoproduction, we concluded that aged mice housed at room temperature have an increased thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue. This conclusion was also supported by the finding that the concentration of uncoupling protein measured in the mitochondria of brown adipose tissue after single cold exposure was significantly higher in aged than in adult mice. Therefore, we propose that the lower, cold-induced, heat production typically observed in nonanesthetized aged mice may reflect reduced thermogenic capacity of skeletal muscles. While aged mice have less brown adipose tissue than adult animals, the remaining brown adipose tissue may compensate by increasing the concentration of uncoupling protein.
Maladapting preschool children: identification, diagnosis, and remediation.

This article evaluates a preschool intervention program conducted as a part of the Wayne State University Preschool Project. The project's aim is (a) to provide early identification of preschool age children experiencing mental health problems, and (b) to reverse the diagnosed deficiencies, particularly among high risk children. The program was evaluated with children ranging in age from 3 to 4 years, within demographically comparable regions in the Detroit School System. Pretest and posttest measures were taken on the AML Scale and the Caldwell Preschool Inventory. Pretest scores were used to establish high risk children. A prescriptive intervention program was established within one region, aimed primarily at reducing adjustment problems among high risk children. The analysis of posttest data revealed more favorable scores among experimental children when compared to control children. In addition, evidence is provided of specific benefits for high risk children in the experimental program. Language: en
Selective attenuation of the antinociceptive effects of mu opioids by the putative dopamine D3 agonist 7-OH-DPAT.

Rationale: The purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate the effects of the D3 agonist (±)-7-hydroxy-dipropylaminotetralin (7-OH-DPAT), various dopamine (DA) agonists and DA antagonists on the antinociceptive effects of μ opioids. Methods: Antinociception was assessed using a warm-water tail-withdrawal procedure in rats. Results: The μ opioids morphine (0.3–10 mg/kg) and dezocine (0.03–3.0 mg/kg) produced dose-dependent increases in antinociception with maximal effects obtained at the higher doses tested. Pretreatment with the putative D3 agonist 7-OH-DPAT (1.0–10 mg/kg) produced a dose-dependent attenuation of the antinociceptive effects of morphine and dezocine. At the highest dose of 7-OH-DPAT tested, the morphine dose-effect curve was shifted rightward by approximately 1.5 log units and the dezocine curve by greater than 2.3 log units. The (+)-isomer of 7-OH-DPAT (1.0 and 3.0 mg/kg) also shifted the morphine dose-effect curve to the right in a dose-dependent manner. The DA D3/D2 agonist (−)-quinpirole (0.1–10 mg/kg) attenuated the effects of morphine, but these effects were small in magnitude, not dose-dependent and observed only under a limited set of conditions. The DA D2/D3 antagonist spiperone failed to alter the morphine dose-effect curve, but reversed the effects of 7-OH-DPAT on morphine antinociception. Pretreatment with the DA D1 agonist (±)-SKF38393 (1.0 and 10 mg/kg) and the D1 antagonist (+)-SCH23390 (0.1 and 1.0 mg/kg) failed to alter the morphine dose-effect curve. Conclusion: The finding that 7-OH-DPAT markedly attenuated the effects of morphine and that these effects were reversed with spiperone suggests that activity at the D3, and possibly the D2, receptor can modulate μ agonist-induced antinociception.
B-cell Translocation Gene 2 (BTG2) Stimulates Cellular Antioxidant Defenses through the Antioxidant Transcription Factor NFE2L2 in Human Mammary Epithelial Cells

The B-cell translocation gene 2, BTG2, a member of the BTG/TOB (B-cell translocation gene/transducers of ErbB2) gene family, has been implicated in cell cycle regulation, normal development, and possibly tumor suppression. Previously, it was shown that BTG2 expression is lost or down-regulated in human breast cancers. We now report that BTG2 protects human mammary epithelial cells from oxidative stress due to hydrogen peroxide and other oxidants. BTG2 protection against oxidative stress is BRCA1-independent but requires the antioxidant transcription factor NFE2L2 and is associated with up-regulation of the expression of antioxidant enzymes, including catalase and superoxide dismutases 1 and 2. BTG2 stimulation of antioxidant gene expression is also NFE2L2-dependent. We further demonstrate that BTG2 is a binding partner for NFE2L2 and increases its transcriptional activity. In addition, BTG2 is detectable at the antioxidant response element (ARE) of several NFE2L2-responsive genes. Finally, we show that the ability of BTG2 to associate with NFE2L2, to protect cells against oxidative stress, and to stimulate antioxidant gene expression requires box B, a short highly conserved amino acid motif characteristic of BTG2/TOB family proteins, but does not require boxes A or C. These findings suggest a novel role for BTG2 as a co-activator for NFE2L2 in up-regulating cellular antioxidant defenses.
Improving donation outcomes: hospital development and the Rapid Assessment of Hospital Procurement Barriers in Donation.

Context—Deficiencies in the donation process continue to contribute to the shortage of organs available for transplant. Continuous quality improvement of hospitals' donation processes is needed to identify and correct the problems.Objective—To test the Rapid Assessment of Hospital Procurement Barriers in Donation (RAPiD), a direct observation technique with a focused ethnographic strategy, for assessing hospitals' donation processes and identifying areas in need of continuous quality improvement interventions.Design—A pre-post assessment of hospitals' barriers to patient identification and referral, and family consent to donation.Setting and Participants—Seventeen hospitals within the catchment area of a Northeastern organ procurement organization were assessed by using the RAPiD method. Hospital administrators, health care providers, and staff (N = 537) were interviewed as part of the assessments.Intervention—Interventions, including on-site training and education, and the use of in-house coordinators, w...
Flow cytometric analysis of the granulocyte respiratory burst: a comparison study of fluorescent probes.

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a rare recessive disorder caused by defects in the NADPH oxidase enzyme complex of phagocytes (neutrophils, eosinophils and monocytes). CGD phagocytes fail to produce superoxide and other reactive oxygen species following cell activation (Malech, 1993). The products of oxidase activation can be measured in individual cells by flow cytometry using specific fluorescent probes that increase fluorescence upon oxidation (Trinkle et al., 1987). This approach can be used to confirm a diagnosis of CGD, and to detect the normal/abnormal phagocyte mixture that characterizes the X-linked CGD carrier state. Three fluorescent probes have been described as useful for this purpose: 2′7′-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCF) (Bass et al., 1983), 5,6-carboxy-2′7′-dichlorofluorescein diacetate, bis(acetoxymethyl) ester (C-DCF) (Hockenbery et al., 1993) and dihydrorhodamine 123 (DHR) (Rothe et al., 1988; Kinsey et al., 1987). A direct comparison between these three probes has not been reported. In this study we performed a direct comparison between these three probes, evaluating their ability in flow cytometric analysis to maximize fluorescent separation between activated CGD patient and normal granulocytes. Using a whole blood technique with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) as an activator, it was found that DHR loaded normal granulocytes had a fluorescence intensity which, upon activation, was 48-fold higher than that of C-DCF loaded granulocytes and seven-fold higher than DCF loaded granulocytes (P < 0.001). Use of sodium azide to decrease the catabolism of H2O2 enhanced the fluorescence of DCF by 140%, C-DCF by 45% and DHR by 25%, suggesting that DCF is primarily sensitive to H2O2. DCF and DHR were then evaluated for sensitivity in the detection of small percentages of normal cells in a CGD/normal granulocyte mixture. Normal sub-populations as small as 0.1% could clearly be distinguished using DHR, while DCF was insensitive at this level. Based on these findings, we used DHR in an effort to detect normal granulocytes in a CGD patient following therapeutic granulocyte transfusion. We were able to detect normal granulocytes in the circulation for up to 18 h after transfusion. With these data we show that DHR is the most sensitive flow cytometric indicator for the detection of oxygen reactive species in activated granulocytes and is the best probe for evaluating CGD patients and carriers. In addition, our data suggest that DHR is a useful tool for monitoring circulating normal granulocytes in CGD patients following transfusion, and potentially will be a sensitive probe for assessing the success of such future technologies as gene therapy for CGD.
Who Avoids Going to the Doctor and Why? Audience Segmentation Analysis for Application of Message Development

This exploratory study examines the prevalent and detrimental health care phenomenon of patient delay in order to inform formative research leading to the design of communication strategies. Delayed medical care diminishes optimal treatment choices, negatively impacts prognosis, and increases medical costs. Various communication strategies have been employed to combat patient delay, with limited success. This study fills a gap in research informing those interventions by focusing on the portion of patient delay occurring after symptoms have been assessed as a sign of illness and the need for medical care has been determined. We used CHAID segmentation analysis to produce homogeneous segments from the sample according to the propensity to avoid medical care. CHAID is a criterion-based predictive cluster analysis technique. CHAID examines a variety of characteristics to find the one most strongly associated with avoiding doctor visits through a chi-squared test and assessment of statistical significance. The characteristics identified then define the segments. Fourteen segments were produced. Age was the first delineating characteristic, with younger age groups comprising a greater proportion of avoiders. Other segments containing a comparatively larger percent of avoiders were characterized by lower income, lower education, being uninsured, and being male. Each segment was assessed for psychographic properties associated with avoiding care, reasons for avoiding care, and trust in health information sources. While the segments display distinct profiles, having had positive provider experiences, having high health self-efficacy, and having an internal rather than external or chance locus of control were associated with low avoidance among several segments. Several segments were either more or less likely to cite time or money as the reason for avoiding care. And several older aged segments were less likely than the remaining sample to trust the government as a source for health information. Implications for future research are discussed.
WINNERS AND LOSERS IN EC 1992: THE COUNTERINTUITIVE IMPACT OF REGIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS AND PROTECTIONISM ON GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS

The intent of EC 92 (European Community, 1992) is to unite Europe into a gigantic trading block and turn it into the dominant world trading partner. Presumably European corporations will then be able to compete head to head with Japanese and American firms. We predict, however, that instead of being a boon to European competitiveness EC 92 will have the opposite effect. Our prediction is based on three assertions: (1) a unified Europe will become protectionist, thereby encouraging foreign direct investment and increased competition in its home markets; (2) a new, unified Europe is a far more favorable business environment for American and Japanese multinational corporations (MNCs) than for European companies; and (3) most European firms are not strategically or operationally equipped to compete in the new EC environment.
Will China adopt western management practices

China may be modernizing its economy, but it is still Communist and Eastern in outlook. So don't expect Western management practices to surface there very soon.
Use of the WAIS-III Picture Completion Subtest as an Embedded Measure of Response Bias

In the present study a large sample of credible patients (n = 172) scored significantly higher than a large sample of noncredible participants (n = 195) on several WAIS-III Picture Completion variables: Age Adjusted Scaled Score, raw score, a "Rarely Missed" index (the nine items least often missed by credible participants), a "Rarely Correct" index (nine items correct <26% of the time in noncredible participants and with at least a 25 percentage-point lower endorsement rate as compared to credible participants), and a "Most Discrepant" index (the six items that were the most discrepant in correct endorsement between groups-at least a 40 percentage point difference). Comparison of the various scores showed that the "Most Discrepant" index outperformed all the others in identifying response bias (nearly 65% sensitivity at 92.8% specificity as compared to at most 59% sensitivity for the other scores). While no differences in Picture Completion scores were observed between less-educated (<12 years) and better-educated (≥12 years) credible participants, noncredible participants with <12 years of education scored significantly poorer than noncredible participants with 12 or more years of education. On the "Most Discrepant" index, 76.7% of less-educated noncredible participants were detected as compared to 58.3% of better-educated noncredible participants. Results of the current study suggest that the Picture Completion subtest of the WAIS-III is an effective measure of response bias, and that it may have a unique role in identifying suboptimal effort in less-educated test takers.
Abridgment of arc welding of steel buildings and bridges

The paper treats of the important matters of the revision of building codes, the preparation of specifications for welded buildings, the accumulation of cost data, the training of designers, the qualification of welders and inspectors, and additional tests of welded joints, which are now receiving attention. Investigations made toward the definite betterment of present conditions are cited and in the appendix are given proposed specifications for the arc-welding of steel buildings, with regard to general application, definitions, quality of structural steel and welding electrodes, welding apparatus, workmanship, qualifications of welders, the proportioning of parts and the protection of steel.
DRD4 gene variant associated with body mass: The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health

In this article we report a novel statistically significant association between the D4.7/D4.7 genotype of the DRD4 gene and the body mass of black and Hispanic participants in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). We investigated the role of the 48-bp repeat polymorphism of the dopamine receptor 4 gene (DRD4) in body mass regulation in 2,277 adolescents and young adults followed in 1995 (12-18 years old), 1996, and 2002 by Add Health. After the effects of age, sex, and ethnicity were adjusted, the D4.7/D4.7 genotype reduced the body mass index (BMI)-percentile score by 15 and 12.5, as compared to those with other genotypes, for African-Americans (P = 0.0047) and Hispanic-Americans (P = 0.037), respectively. Although the D4.7/D4.7 genotype was associated with a lower BMI-percentile score in white individuals compared to other genotypes, the difference was not significant. Individuals heterozygous for D4.7 did not differ from those with the other/other genotype.
Interest Groups and Governmental Institutions The Politics of State Funding of Public Higher Education

In attempting to explain state support of public higher education, this study develops a theory-driven, comprehensive conceptualization of the state political system within a larger theoretical framework that consists of state economic and demographic factors and higher education system attributes. Furthermore, although the higher education policy and finance literature has largely ignored the impact of interest groups on state policy and state support of higher education, they play a central role in the model presented here. The inclusion of politics in the explanatory model results in a more robust and pragmatically useful model.
Scale-Dependent 3D Geometric Features

Three-dimensional geometric data play fundamental roles in many computer vision applications. However, their scale-dependent nature, i.e. the relative variation in the spatial extents of local geometric structures, is often overlooked. In this paper we present a comprehensive framework for exploiting this 3D geometric scale variability. Specifically, we focus on detecting scale-dependent geometric features on triangular mesh models of arbitrary topology. The key idea of our approach is to analyze the geometric scale variability of a given 3D model in the scale-space of a dense and regular 2D representation of its surface geometry encoded by the surface normals. We derive novel corner and edge detectors, as well as an automatic scale selection method, that acts upon this representation to detect salient geometric features and determine their intrinsic scales. We evaluate the effectiveness and robustness of our method on a number of models of different topology. The results show that the resulting scale-dependent geometric feature set provides a reliable basis for constructing a rich but concise representation of the geometric structure at hand.
Improved Metrics for Workplace Dispute Resolution Procedures: Efficiency, Equity, and Voice

Many debates surround systems for resolving workplace disputes. In the United States, traditional unionized grievance procedures, emerging nonunion dispute resolution systems, and the court-based system for resolving employment law disputes have all been criticized. What is missing from these debates are rich metrics beyond speed and satisfaction for comparing and evaluating dispute resolution systems. In this paper, we develop efficiency, equity, and voice as these standards. Unionized, nonunion, and employment law procedures are then qualitatively evaluated against these three metrics.
Infantile cystinosis: ocular findings and pigment dilution of eye and skin*

Three children with nephropathic infantile cystinosis are reported. The classical conjunctival and corneal cystine thesaurismosis with peripheral and progressive central granular pigmentary retinopathy are present. In addition, the fundi are distinctly albinotic and quite similar in appearance to some forms of heritable oculocutaneous albinism. Little melanogenic activity was noted in tyrosine-incubated hair bulbs from these patients. A model is proposed, suggesting that the large amounts of intracellular cystine provide a superabundant pool of cysteine which, on combination with dopa derivatives of the (eu) melanin pathway, prevents formation of normal quantities of melanin in the skin, eyes and hair of cystinotic patients.
Evaluation of a national physical activity intervention for children: VERB campaign, 2002-2004.

Background Amid concern for the consequences of physical inactivity among children, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention started a campaign using commercial marketing methods to promote physical activity to children. Design Longitudinal study using a telephone survey to assess physical activity behaviors and attitudes at baseline and for 2 years of follow-up. Relationships of campaign awareness to behavioral and psychosocial effects were analyzed with use of propensity scoring. Participants Nationally representative cohort of 2257 parent–child dyads. Intervention Marketing campaign (VERB) directed to all U.S. children aged 9 to 13 years. Components included general market and ethnic-specific advertisements on television and radio, in print, and through promotions in communities, schools, and on the Internet. Advertising ran nationally at consistent levels from June 2002 through June 2004. Main outcome measures Psychosocial measures and self-reports of free-time and organized physical activity during nonschool hours in the week before the interview and on the day before the interview. Results After 2 years, a dose–response effect was detected in the study population. The more children who reported seeing VERB messages, the more physical activity they reported and the more positive their attitudes were about the benefits of being physically active. Children aware of VERB reported engaging in significantly more physical activity than children unaware of VERB. These results were considerably stronger than the effects after Year 1, which were only for physical activity among subpopulations. Conclusions The VERB campaign continued to positively influence children’s attitudes about physical activity and their physical activity behaviors and expanded the effects to more children. With adequate and sustained investment, health marketing shows promise to affect the attitudes and behavior of children.
An efficient and highly available read-one write-all protocol for replicated data management

A read-one write-all (ROWA) protocol for replicated data that allows a system to adjust to failures dynamically in order to keep the data available is proposed. If failures arrive mostly sequentially, the protocol keeps the data available as long as there is at least one operational replica. This is achieved by making the epoch mechanism, previously applicable to non-ROWA schemes only, usable within the ROWA discipline. Also, adjusting the system to a new configuration in the protocol is done completely asynchronously with reads and writes. In contrast, in the existing dynamic schemes (both ROWA and non-ROWA), system reconfiguration may interfere with and delay user transactions. >
The Histopathologic Spectrum of Kidney Biopsies in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Summary Background and objectives Kidney disease as a complication of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), has been the subject of case reports. However, no cases series examining IBD and kidney disease has been published to date. This study aimed to evaluate a large series of kidney biopsy specimens from patients with IBD to better define the spectrum and relative frequencies of IBD-associated kidney pathology. Design, setting, participants, & measurements A retrospective review of native kidney biopsy specimens obtained from March 2001 to June 2012 identified 83 patients with IBD. Standard processing of all biopsy specimens included light microscopy, immunofluorescence, and electron microscopy. Results There were 45 cases of CD and 38 cases of UC represented. The most common indication for kidney biopsy was acute or chronic kidney failure (63% [52 of 83]) and nephrotic-range proteinuria (16% [13 of 83]). IgA nephropathy was the most common diagnosis (24% [20 of 83]), followed by interstitial nephritis (19% [16 of 83]), arterionephrosclerosis (12% [10 of 83]), acute tubular injury (8% [7 of 83]), proliferative GN (7% [6 of 83]), and minimal-change disease (5% [4 of 83]). When compared, the frequency of IgA nephropathy in IBD was significantly higher than in all other native renal biopsy specimens from the same time period (24% [20 of 83] versus 8% [2734 of 33,630]; P Conclusions IBD is associated with a spectrum of kidney diseases most commonly affecting the glomerular and tubulointerstitial compartments. IgA nephropathy is the most frequent kidney biopsy diagnosis in IBD and has a significantly higher diagnostic prevalence compared with all non-IBD kidney biopsy specimens. This may reflect a common pathogenic mechanism. Although many cases of tubulointerstitial nephritis are related to aminosalicylate exposure, the possibility of a direct relationship with IBD cannot be ruled out.
Dioxin may promote inflammation-related development of endometriosis.

Laboratory and population-based studies suggest that exposure to environmental toxicants may be one of several triggers for the development of endometriosis. We discuss evidence that modulation of the endometrial endocrine–immune interface could mechanistically link toxicant exposure to the development of this disease.
Blood borne transit of CJD from brain to gut at early stages of infection

In Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) and other related transmissible spongiform encephalopathies it is critical to understand the various pathways by which the infectious agent spreads to different organs. We injected a CJD agent into mice, either intracerebrally (ic) or intraperitoneally (ip) and monitored the progressive appearance of abnormal PrP in peripheral tissues over time. Abnormal PrP was detected in lymphoreticular tissues of the gastrointestinal tract as early as 28 to 32 days after infection by both routes. This change persisted until the terminal stages of disease. In contrast, abnormal PrP was not detected in brain or spinal cord until 80 to 120 days after ic inoculation, or until 170 days after ip inoculation. Brain lacks significant lymphatic drainage, and has little infectivity before 40 days, even after ic inoculation. Thus the infectious inoculum must spread to the gut by a vascular route, a direction opposite to that generally assumed. This interpretation is consistent with previous studies demonstrating white blood cell infectivity as well as perivascular PrP accumulations in CJD. Notably, enteric infection at early as well as later stages of disease, and regardless of the route of agent entry, implicates potential environmental spread by fecal matter.
Longitudinal dynamics of a perching aircraft

This paper introduces a morphing aircraft concept whose purpose is to demonstrate a new bioinspired flight capability: perching. Perching is a maneuver that uses primarily aerodynamics, as opposed to thrust generation, to achieve a vertical or short landing. The flight vehicle that will accomplish this is described herein with particular emphasis on its addition levels of actuation beyond the traditional aircraft control surfaces. The dynamics of this aircraft are examined with respect to changing vehicle configuration and flight condition. The analysis methodologies include an analytical and empirical aerodynamic analysis, trim and stability analyses, and flight simulation.Forthisstudy,theaircraft’smotionsarelimitedtothelongitudinalplaneonly.Specifically,cruiseandthe perching maneuver are examined, and comparisons are drawn between maneuvers involving vehicle reconfiguration and those that do not.
Resistance of CD7-deficient mice to lipopolysaccharide-induced shock syndromes.

CD7 is an immunoglobulin superfamily molecule involved in T and natural killer (NK) cell activation and cytokine production. CD7-deficient animals develop normally but have antigen-specific defects in interferon (IFN)-γ production and CD8+ CTL generation. To determine the in vivo role of CD7 in systems dependent on IFN-γ, the response of CD7-deficient mice to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced shock syndromes was studied. In the high-dose LPS-induced shock model, 67% of CD7-deficient mice survived LPS injection, whereas 19% of control C57BL/6 mice survived LPS challenge ( P < 0.001). CD7-deficient or C57BL/6 control mice were next injected with low-dose LPS (1 μg plus 8 mg D-galactosamine [D-gal] per mouse) and monitored for survival. All CD7-deficient mice were alive 72 h after injection of LPS compared with 20% of C57BL/6 control mice ( P < 0.001). After injection of LPS and D-gal, CD7-deficient mice had decreased serum IFN-γ and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels compared with control C57BL/6 mice ( P < 0.001). Steady-state mRNA levels for IFN-γ and TNF-α in liver tissue were also significantly decreased in CD7-deficient mice compared with controls ( P < 0.05). In contrast, CD7-deficient animals had normal liver interleukin (IL)-12, IL-18, and interleukin 1 converting enzyme (ICE) mRNA levels, and CD7-deficient splenocytes had normal IFN-γ responses when stimulated with IL-12 and IL-18 in vitro. NK1.1+/ CD3+ T cells are known to be key effector cells in the pathogenesis of toxic shock. Phenotypic analysis of liver mononuclear cells revealed that CD7-deficient mice had fewer numbers of liver NK1.1+/CD3+ T cells (1.5 ± 0.3 × 105) versus C57BL/6 control mice (3.7 ± 0.8 × 105; P < 0.05), whereas numbers of liver NK1.1+/CD3− NK cells were not different from controls. Thus, targeted disruption of CD7 leads to a selective deficiency of liver NK1.1+/ CD3+ T cells, and is associated with resistance to LPS shock. These data suggest that CD7 is a key molecule in the inflammatory response leading to LPS-induced shock.
Polyunsaturated fatty acid regulation of gene transcription: a mechanism to improve energy balance and insulin resistance

This review addresses the hypothesis that polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), particularly those of the n -3 family, play essential roles in the maintenance of energy balance and glucose metabolism. The data discussed indicate that dietary PUFA function as fuel partitioners in that they direct glucose toward glycogen storage, and direct fatty acids away from triglyceride synthesis and assimilation and toward fatty acid oxidation. In addition, the n -3 family of PUFA appear to have the unique ability to enhance thermogenesis and thereby reduce the efficiency of body fat deposition. PUFA exert their effects on lipid metabolism and thermogenesis by up-regulating the transcription of the mitochondrial uncoupling protein-3, and inducing genes encoding proteins involved in fatty acid oxidation (e.g. carnitine palmitoyltransferase and acyl-CoA oxidase) while simultaneously down-regulating the transcription of genes encoding proteins involved in lipid synthesis (e.g. fatty acid synthase). The potential transcriptional mechanism and the transcription factors affected by PUFA are discussed. Moreover, the data are interpreted in the context of the role that PUFA may play as dietary factors in the development of obesity and insulin resistance. Collectively the results of these studies suggest that the metabolic functions governed by PUFA should be considered as part of the criteria utilized in defining the dietary needs for n -6 and n -3 PUFA, and in establishing the optimum dietary ratio for n -6 : n -3 fatty acids.
ATP-activated channels in rat and bullfrog sensory neurons: concentration dependence and kinetics.

The concentration dependence and kinetics of ionic currents activated by extracellular adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) were studied in voltage-clamped dorsal root ganglion neurons from rats and bullfrogs. About 40% of neurons of both species responded to ATP with an increase in membrane conductance. The ATP-activated currents were similar in the 2 species, except that currents in rat neurons desensitized faster. In bullfrog neurons, the conductance was half-maximally activated by about 3 microM ATP; at low concentrations, the conductance increased 3- to 7- fold for a doubling in [ATP], suggesting that several ATP molecules must bind in order to activate the current. A steeper concentration- response relationship than expected from 1:1 binding was also seen in rat neurons. The current activated quickly upon application of ATP and decayed quickly when ATP was removed. Activation kinetics were faster at higher [ATP], with time constants decreasing from about 200 msec at 0.3 microM ATP to about 10 msec at 100 microM ATP. Deactivation kinetics (tau approximately 100–200 msec) were independent of the ATP concentration. The rapid activation and deactivation make it seem likely that the ATP-activated current is mediated by direct ligand binding rather than by a second-messenger system. The experimental observations can be mimicked by a simple model in which ATP must bind to 3 identical, noninteracting sites in order to activate a channel. The potency and kinetics of ATP action were voltage-dependent, with hyperpolarization slowing deactivation and increasing ATP9s potency. Deactivation kinetics were also sensitive to the concentration of external Ca, becoming faster in higher Ca.
Moving On Up? Regions, Megaregions, and the Changing Geography of Social Equity Organizing

In recent years, some advocates for social equity have sought to develop new solutions to urban poverty and build new forms of political power at a metropolitan or regional scale. The evolution of American urban areas into sprawling megaregions raises a concern that these “regional equity” advocates today may be facing the same dilemma as urban reformers in the 1960s: They are arriving to a new policy table just as the scale of the economy is shifting up and out. In trying to assess how the potential emergence of megaregions affects opportunities for addressing equity, the authors examine the Northern and Southern California megaregions and argue that “thinking megaregionally” may help to identify some new issues for equity organizing, but there are important challenges: (1) the issues most likely to gain traction at a megaregional scale seem to be primarily related to infrastructure and the environment and may not have the immediacy usually associated with successful mobilization of constituencies and (2...
Monitoring the surface coverage of W/TiO2 catalysts by ion scattering spectroscopy

A series of W/TiO 2 catalysts was prepared by incipient wetness impregnation with W loadings varying from 1.64 to 28.4 wt.% WO 3 . The coverage of the TiO 2 surface by W species was monitored by ion scattering spectroscopy (ISS). The results indicated that the W coverage increased from 21.6% for the 1.64 wt.% WO 3 /TiO 2 catalyst to ∼85% for catalysts with W loadings ≥10.3 wt.% WO 3 . These values agreed with those predicted from monolayer-like dispersion. The relatively constant coverage for W loadings >10.3 wt.% WO 3 was taken as an indication of multilayer or WO 3 formation. These results were consistent with Raman and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) data previously obtained in our laboratory
Effect of macroscopic or microscopic blood and mucus on the success rates of embryo transfers

Objective To assess the effect of microscopic and macroscopic contamination of embryo transfer (ET) catheters with blood or mucus on in vitro fertilization (IVF)–ET success rates. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Infertility practice in teaching community hospital. Patient(s) Four hundred seventy patients undergoing IVF-ET. Intervention(s) Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and IVF-ET. Main Outcome Measure(s) Implantation rate (IR) and clinical pregnancy rate (CPR). Result(s) The IR and CPR of IVF-ETs were comparable regardless of the presence (26.59% and 48.78%, respectively) or absence (23.49% and 44.44%, respectively) of any type of contamination. Even when analyzing specific contamination categories (i.e., macroscopic blood, microscopic blood on the outer catheter, microscopic blood on the inner catheter, blood anywhere without mucus, mucus only, or blood and mucus combined), there was no statistical significance in IR (range: 21.17% to 26.69%) or CPR (range: 32.69% to 49.5%). Conclusion(s) In general, IR and CPR appear to be unaffected by ET catheter contamination, whether it is macroscopic or microscopic presence of blood or mucus.
Alterations in Immune Function in Rats Caused by Dietary Lipotrope Deficiency: Effect of Age

Weanling male Sprague-Dawley rats were maintained on a control (C), folacin-deficient (F) or marginal methionine-choline diet (M/C) for 3 weeks, 3 months or 12 months. The immunocompetence of the animals was determined by in vivo (response to infection with Salmonella typhimurium) and in vitro (lymphocyte trans formation assay) methods. It was found that young animals were most sensitive to dietary lipotrope deficiency, and the in vivo response to bacterial infection did not always correlate with in vitro assessment of immune function. Histopathologic examination of spleens from S. ti/p/iimurium-infected rats maintained for 3 weeks on the experimental diets showed an overall decreased cellularity especially in the follicular area, compared to controls. No differences were seen in the spleens of infected animals at later time points. A short-term (3-week) lipotrope deficiency resulted in a depressed lymphocyte transformation response to concanavalin A (Con A) in the spleen, thymus and lymph nodes; to phytohemagglutinin A (PHA) in the spleen and lymph nodes only. After 3 months on the F or M/C diets, a depressed Con A-induced transformation response was still seen in the spleen, but the normal aging-induced immunosuppression resulted in a low response in all animals, with few significant differences existing among groups. J. Nutr. 112: 2333-2341, 1982.
Midlife Women’s Attitudes Toward Physical Activity

ABSTRACT Objective To explore attitudes toward physical activity among a multiethnic group of midlife women. Design A qualitative cross-sectional study using an online forum. Recruitment settings Internet communities/groups for midlife women and for ethnic minorities. Participants A multiethnic group of 15 midlife women. Instruments Ten online forum topics on attitudes toward physical activity and seven on ethnic-specific contexts. Data analysis Thematic analysis, involving line-by-line coding, categorization, and theme extraction. Results Six themes across all ethnic groups emerged from the data analysis process, although there were some ethnic differences in details related to each theme. The themes were (a) gendered experience, (b) physical activity as all body movements, (c) no time for physical activity, (d) environment matters, (e) health concerns made me do it, and (f) need a companion. Conclusions Nurses need to consider and further investigate the influence of women's multiple roles, cultural factors, and environmental factors on physical activity in order to promote physical activity of midlife women.
Feedback stabilization of a spherical mobile robot

In this paper we discuss the problem of reconfiguring a sphere, rolling without slipping on a flat surface, from an arbitrary initial configuration to a desired final configuration. We propose a control algorithm that utilizes two control actions that are applied alternately. The individual control actions cause trajectories that are circular arcs and straight line segments. Through judicious choice of the sequence of individual control actions based on state feedback, we construct a control strategy that stabilizes the sphere to its desired configuration. Simulation results are presented to demonstrate the efficacy of the strategy.