cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Efficient continuous electrokinetic dewatering of phosphatic clay suspensions

Abstract Two prototypes are developed for continuous electrokinetic dewatering of phosphatic clay suspensions. A two-stage design comprised an electrophoretic thickening unit followed by a unit that used electro-osmosis to complete the dewatering. A single-stage design carried out the dewatering in one operation. Rheological measurements showed that the clay suspensions exhibited a yield strength for solids contents greater than 7.5 wt.%. The two-stage prototype had low production rates; whereas, the single-stage design demonstrated efficient production of a dewatered cake with a solids content of 35 wt.% at a dry-clay production rate of 4.5 kg/h m2 from a feed clay of 10 wt.%. The poor performance of the two-stage design was attributed to an inefficient design for the electrokinetic thickener unit, which was designed to enhance electrophoretic separation; whereas, the desired range of solids content was better suited for electro-osmotic separation. An economic analysis for the single-stage design yielded an estimated total cost of $11–12/metric ton of dry clay produced. The improved operation of the single-stage system was attributed to its optimization for electro-osmotic separation, which was found to be appropriate for the operating range of solids content.
Insights into the Value of Student/Student Mentoring from the Mentor's Perspective.

Determine and describe the impact of student/student mentoring (SSM) on the senior medical student mentor involved in a formal SSM program. An anonymous online survey was administered to fourth-year medical students at the University of North Carolina with questions regarding participation in SSM programs (formal and informal) as well as the impact of these experiences. Responses from fourth-year mentors were compared to non-mentors’ answers. Data was analyzed to assess the value of, understand motivations for not participating in, and to describe perceptions regarding SSM. One hundred seven of 178 students in the fourth-year class completed the survey, a 60% response rate. Forty-two students participated in the formal SSM program, 48 did not have mentors (non-mentors), and 17 were excluded as they participated in informal mentoring programs. There were no differences in gender, age, or matched specialty between mentors and non-mentors. Ninety-five percent of all students agreed that SSM was valuable in a way that was different from student/resident or student/faculty mentoring. Mentors were nearly twice as non-mentors likely to believe that being the mentee in an SSM relationship would be beneficial. In addition, mentors were 4 times more likely to believe that being a mentor in an SSM program was valuable and 83% stated they would mentor again. Lastly, nearly three quarters of mentors felt that this was a worthwhile experience. Students who served as mentors as part of an SSM program had positive experiences and found it a valuable addition to traditional faculty/student mentoring.
Kinetics of Dechlorination of Molten Chloride Salt Using Protonated Ultrastable Y Zeolite

Investigation of the kinetics of the ion exchange between protonated ultrastable Y-type (USHY) and surrogate electrorefiner (ER) waste salt was performed to optimize the dechlorination process. The...
Beta and gamma oscillations index cognitive interference effects across a distributed motor network.

Abstract The planning and execution of an efficient motor plan is essential to everyday cognitive function, and relies on oscillatory neural responses in both the beta (14–30 ​Hz) and gamma (>30 ​Hz) bands. Such motor control requires not only the integration of salient information from the environment, but also the inhibition of irrelevant or distracting inputs that often manifest as forms of cognitive interference. While the effects of cognitive interference on motor neural dynamics has been an area of increasing interest recently, it remains unclear whether different subtypes of interference differentially impact these dynamics. We address this issue using magnetoencephalography and a novel adaptation of the Multi-Source Interference Task, wherein two common subtypes of cognitive interference are each presented in isolation, as well as simultaneously. We find evidence for the subtype-invariant indexing of cognitive interference across a widely distributed set of motor regions oscillating in the beta range, including the bilateral primary motor and posterior parietal cortices. Further, we find that superadditive effects of cognitive interference subtypes on behavior are paralleled by gamma oscillations in the contralateral premotor cortex, and determine that these gamma oscillations also predict the superadditive effects on behavior.
Death and Rebirth in Platformer Games

Failure is a central aspect of almost every game experience, driving player perceptions of difficulty and impacting core game user experience concepts such as flow. At the heart of failure in many game genres is player death. While techniques such as dynamic difficulty adjustment have addressed tweaking game parameters to control the frequency of player death occurrence, there is a surprisingly limited amount of research examining how games handle what happens when a player actually dies. We posit that this is a rich, underexplored space with significant implications for player experience and related techniques. This chapter presents our exploration into the space of player death and rebirth through the creation of a generalized taxonomy of death in platformer games—one of the genres that features player death and respawning most heavily. In order to create this taxonomy, we collected and catalogued examples of death and respawning mechanics from 62 recent platformer games released on the digital distribution platform Steam after January 2018. Games selected varied equally across positive, mixed, and negative overall reviews in order to provide a broader range of mechanics, both good and bad. We observed gameplays of each individual game and noted the processes of death and rebirth, respectively. A grounded theory approach was then employed to develop the taxonomy of game death and respawning, resulting in five notable dimensions: (1) obstacles, (2) death conditions, (3) aesthetics, (4) changes to player progress, and (5) respawn locations. Finally, we discuss how the different dimensions and mechanics highlighted in our taxonomy have implications for key aspects of player experience, as well as how they could be used to improve the effectiveness of related techniques such as dynamic difficulty adjustment.
Landmark Based Circle Routing in Wireless Sensor Networks

Hole problem is a hot issue of Geographic Routing in Wireless Sensor Networks, which is caused by an area without active sensors that blocks the greedy forwarding process, thus long detour path is produced. One of the common solutions is to find a landmark and generate a routing path from the source sensor to the landmark node first, then the landmark resumes routing until to the destination to avoid long detour path. However, this approach results in a constant path prior to routing process, then the forwarding nodes in the path afford routing while other nodes are idle even if they are very close to the pre-setup routing path, thus the busy nodes run out of their energy soon and the hole is larger. In this paper, we present a novel approach, in which circles are created to guide routing thus the idle nodes near the routing path participate in the forwarding. As such, our new mechanism benefits both geographic routing and energy efficiency routing. Simulation results demonstrate that our approach significantly prolongs the lifetime of sensors over peer approaches while almost keeps the same short path as landmark based routing algorithms.
Dermal EZH2 simultaneously orchestrates Wnt/β-catenin signaling dependent dermal differentiation and retinoic acid signaling dependent epidermal proliferation during murine skin development

Tissue development requires complex interactions between signaling factors, transcription factors, and epigenetic regulators. These complex interactions are tightly regulated to balance proliferation and differentiation of dermal fibroblasts and epidermal keratinocytes during skin development, but how this regulation is achieved is unclear. We found that Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2), a key epigenetic regulator, is present throughout dermal development and is required for differentiation of murine dermal fibroblasts progenitors and for cell-cell communication to the overlying epidermis, two processes that are poorly understood during skin development. We found dermal Ezh2, the catalytic component of PRC2, is required to spatially restrict Wnt/β-catenin signaling to the sub-ectodermal cells fated to become dermal fibroblast progenitors. We also found dermal Ezh2 ablation results in dermal fibroblast progenitor differentiation into ectopic reticular dermal cells and delayed secondary hair follicle initiation. Additionally, dermal Ezh2 deletion leads to elevated proliferation of epidermal basal keratinocytes resulting in hyperplasia of all epidermal layers. Transient elevation in retinoic acid (RA) signaling in wild-type mice leads to epidermal hyperplasia and small molecule inhibition of RA signaling can rescue epidermal hyperplasia in dermal Ezh2 mutants. Together, our study reveals that PRC2 acts as a rheostat to control the levels of Wnt/β-catenin and RA signaling to respectively impact fibroblast differentiation cell autonomously and keratinocyte proliferation non-cell autonomously.
Bayes Factors Based on p-Values and Sets of Priors With Restricted Strength

This article focuses on the minimum Bayes factor compatible with a p-value, considering a set of priors with restricted strength. The resulting minimum Bayes factor depends on both the strength of ...
Standard Model prediction of the $B_c$ lifetime

Applying an operator product expansion approach we update the Standard Model prediction of the $B_c$ lifetime from over 20 years ago. The non-perturbative velocity expansion is carried out up to third order in the relative velocity of the heavy quarks. The scheme dependence is studied using three different mass schemes for the $\bar b$ and $c$ quarks, resulting in three different values consistent with each other and with experiment. Special focus has been laid on renormalon cancellation in the computation. Uncertainties resulting from scale dependence, neglecting the strange quark mass, non-perturbative matrix elements and parametric uncertainties are discussed in detail. The resulting uncertainties are still rather large compared to the experimental ones, and therefore do not allow for clear-cut conclusions concerning New Physics effects in the $B_c$ decay.
Effects of a Bioprocessed Soybean Meal Ingredient on the Intestinal Microbiota of Hybrid Striped Bass, Morone chrysops x M. saxatilis

The hybrid striped bass (Morone chrysops x M. saxatilis) is a carnivorous species and a major product of US aquaculture. To reduce costs and improve resource sustainability, traditional ingredients used in fish diets are becoming more broadly replaced by plant-based products; however, plant meals can be problematic for carnivorous fish. Bioprocessing has improved nutritional quality and allowed higher inclusions in fish diets, but these could potentially affect other systems such as the gut microbiome. In this context, the effects of bioprocessed soybean meal on the intestinal bacterial composition in hybrid striped bass were investigated. Using high-throughput sequencing of amplicons targeting the V1–V3 region of the 16S rRNA gene, no significant difference in bacterial composition was observed between fish fed a control diet, and fish fed a diet with the base bioprocessed soybean meal. The prominent Operational Taxonomic Unit (OTU) in these samples was predicted to be a novel species affiliated to Peptostreptococcaceae. In contrast, the intestinal bacterial communities of fish fed bioprocessed soybean meal that had been further modified after fermentation exhibited lower alpha diversity (p < 0.05), as well as distinct and more varied composition patterns, with OTUs predicted to be strains of Lactococcus lactis, Plesiomonas shigelloides, or Ralstonia pickettii being the most dominant. Together, these results suggest that compounds in bioprocessed soybean meal can affect intestinal bacterial communities in hybrid striped bass.
Modeling Subtypes of Automatically Reinforced Self-Injurious Behavior with the Evolutionary Theory of Behavior Dynamics

The subtypes of automatically reinforced self-injurious behavior (ASIB) delineated by Hagopian and colleagues (Hagopian et al., 2015; 2017) demonstrated how functional-analysis (FA) outcomes may predict the efficacy of various treatments. However, the mechanisms underlying the different patterns of responding obtained during FAs and corresponding differences in treatment efficacy have remained unclear. A central cause of this lack of clarity is that some proposed mechanisms, such as differences in the reinforcing efficacy of the products of ASIB, are difficult to manipulate. One solution may be to model subtypes of ASIB using mathematical models of behavior in which all aspects of the behavior can be controlled. In the current study, we used the evolutionary theory of behavior dynamics (ETBD; McDowell, 2019) to model the subtypes of ASIB, evaluate predictions of treatment efficacy, and replicate recent research aiming to test explanations for subtype differences. Implications for future research related to ASIB are discussed.
Intensive Care Unit Volume of Sepsis Patients Does Not Affect Mortality: Results of a Nationwide Retrospective Analysis.

Background:There is little research evaluating outcomes from sepsis in intensive care units (ICUs) with lower sepsis patient volumes as compared to ICUs with higher sepsis patient volumes. Our obje...
Challenging Immigration Law's Conviction Definition

The “conviction” definition is one of the most misunderstood and odious provisions in our country’s immigration statute. The “conviction” term is a misnomer because it includes criminal dispositions that are often not considered convictions at all. Despite its perplexing definition, “convictions” are frequently used as markers for removal. For example, in FY2017, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) apprehended 143,470 individuals within the interior of the United States and ninety-two percent of those individuals had a criminal conviction, arrest, or an outstanding removal order. In FY2016, ICE’s apprehension totals likewise showed that ninety-two percent of individuals arrested by ICE had a criminal conviction. The purpose of this short article is to explain immigration law’s enigmatic “conviction” definition, its nefarious history, and current efforts to challenge the definition’s interpretation. In so doing, the article draws on my prior scholarship, which — along with a seminal article by immigration scholar Jason Cade — became the blueprint for challenging the “conviction” definition in federal court.
Ultrasonic Device Complications in Endodontics: An Analysis of Adverse Events From the Food and Drug Administration Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience.

OBJECTIVES The author conducted a study to determine the frequency and types of adverse events associated with endodontic ultrasonic devices as reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database. METHODS Endodontic ultrasonic device-related adverse events reported to the MAUDE database from January 1, 2016, to October 31, 2020, were accessed and reviewed. RESULTS A total of 1258 adverse event reports were submitted to the FDA MAUDE database, as classified under FDA product code ELC (ultrasonic scaler) during the study period. Among these reports, 403 were specific to the dedicated use of the 2 main types of ultrasonic devices used in endodontic treatment: ultrasonic tip devices and irrigation-related devices. Device malfunction-associated events, consisting primarily of device breakage, comprised 393 of the 1258 adverse event reports, whereas the remaining 10 reports were identified as being patient injury-related reports. CONCLUSIONS The frequency, root causes, and economic costs of ultrasonic tip device breakage remain largely unstudied. Ultrasonic endodontic device-related adverse events and patient injuries occurring within clinical practice may be underreported at the present time. Consequently, the risks and ultimate impacts to patients from ultrasonic endodontic device breakage, malfunction and unknown cause-related adverse events, and patient injuries during their clinical usage remain largely unknown at the present time. Eight of the 10 patient injury-related reports made to the FDA MAUDE database during the period under study, containing descriptions of varying degrees of injury severity, were associated with an irrigation-related device.
Germinal centre-driven maturation of B cell response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination

Germinal centres (GC) are lymphoid structures where vaccine-responding B cells acquire affinity-enhancing somatic hypermutations (SHM), with surviving clones differentiating into memory B cells (MBCs) and long-lived bone marrow plasma cells (BMPCs) 1-4 . Induction of the latter is a hallmark of durable immunity after vaccination 5 . SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination induces a robust GC response in humans 6-8 , but the maturation dynamics of GC B cells and propagation of their progeny throughout the B cell diaspora have not been elucidated. Here we show that anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike (S)-binding GC B cells were detectable in draining lymph nodes for at least six months in 10 out of 15 individuals who had received two doses of BNT162b2, a SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine. Six months after vaccination, circulating S-binding MBCs were detected in all participants (n=42) and S-specific IgG-secreting BMPCs were detected in 9 out of 11 participants. Using a combined approach of single-cell RNA sequencing of responding blood and lymph node B cells from eight participants and expression of the corresponding monoclonal antibodies, we tracked the evolution of 1540 S-specific B cell clones. SHM accumulated along the B cell differentiation trajectory, with early blood plasmablasts showing the lowest frequencies, followed by MBCs and lymph node plasma cells whose SHM largely overlapped with GC B cells. By three months after vaccination, the frequency of SHM within GC B cells had doubled. Strikingly, S + BMPCs detected six months after vaccination accumulated the highest level of SHM, corresponding with significantly enhanced anti-S polyclonal antibody avidity in blood at that time point. This study documents the induction of affinity-matured BMPCs after two doses of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination in humans, providing a foundation for the sustained high efficacy observed with these vaccines.
OCT shows Different Relationships between Macular Layers and Peripapillary RNFL in Acute versus Chronic Papillitis and Papilledema (P1.325)

Objective: We sought relationships between the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (P-RNFL) and each layer of the macula in acute and chronic papillitis and compared them to eyes with papilledema. Background: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) demonstrates swelling of the optic nerve head (ONH) and P-RNFL in patients with acute papilledema due to intracranial hypertension and with anterior optic neuritis (papillitis). As these conditions become chronic, atrophy of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axons develops. Design/Methods: We analyzed spectral-domain OCT in eyes with papillitis during acute and chronic phases (13 eyes) and compared results to a large cohort of eyes with papilledema associated with intracranial hypertension (88 eyes). We performed regression analysis for each patient group, comparing P-RNFL and individual macular layer values. Results: There were highly significant positive correlations between mean P-RNFL thickness and the volumes of each of the three inner retinal layers (RNFL, GCL and IPL) in chronic eyes with normal or thinned P-RNFLs, but not in eyes with acute ONH swelling. In the latter, there were trends toward positive correlation only in the macular RNFL, which was weakly significant only in the larger papilledema group. In both papillitis and papilledema, there was no correlation between P-RNFL and the outer retinal layers. Relationships of P-RNFL and retinal layer volumes were very similar in papillitis and papilledema eyes. Conclusions: Conditions that cause swelling of RGC axons at the ONH may induce slight thickening of the macular RNFL, but not of the underlying GCL and IPL that contain RGC cell bodies and dendrites nor of the outer retinal layers. In contrast, loss of RGC axons associated with chronic papilledema or papillitis causes retrograde degeneration in the macular RNFL, GCL and IPL. Recognition of the normal, close relationship between the P-RNFL and inner retinal layers may allow early detection of RGC swelling. Disclosure: Dr. Abukhalil has nothing to disclose. Dr. Morrow has nothing to disclose.
Willingness to Pay for Low Probability, Low Loss Hazard Insurance

We estimate the willingness to pay for low probability, low loss hazard insurance with the contingent valuation method. The application is to household hurricane evacuation cost insurance – a new product for which there is currently no market. We find that a majority of respondents would not purchase the product at even the lowest price. In general, respondents are rational in response to the probability and costs of a evacuation. Respondents are not likely to pay anything for evacuation cost insurance.
A Term Rewriting Approach to the Automated Termination Analysis of Imperative Programs

An approach based on term rewriting techniques for the automated termination analysis of imperative programs operating on integers is presented. An imperative program is transformed into rewrite rules with constraints from quantifier-free Presburger arithmetic. Any computation in the imperative program corresponds to a rewrite sequence, and termination of the rewrite system thus implies termination of the imperative program. Termination of the rewrite system is analyzed using a decision procedure for Presburger arithmetic that identifies possible chains of rewrite rules, and automatically generated polynomial interpretations are used to show finiteness of such chains. An implementation of the approach has been evaluated on a large collection of imperative programs, thus demonstrating its effectiveness and practicality.
Measurement of dyspnea in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: what is the tool telling you?:

Aims: Dyspnea is the most common symptom experienced by patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is linked to decreases in patient activity levels and quality of life. Use of ...
The Many Paths to Satisfaction

Constraint satisfaction problems can be represented in may different ways. Here a single, simple problem is approached from a variety of perspectives.
The use of medical scribes in health care settings: a systematic review and future directions.

Background: Electronic health records (EHRs) hold promise to improve productivity, quality, and outcomes; however, using EHRs can be cumbersome, disruptive to workflow, and off-putting to patients and clinicians. One proposed solution to this problem is the use of medical scribes. The purpose of this systematic review is to summarize the literature investigating the effect of medical scribes on health care productivity, quality, and outcomes. Implications for future research are discussed. Methods: A keyword search of the Cochrane Library, OvidSP Medline database, and Embase database from January 2000 through September 2014 was performed using the terms scribe or scribes in the title or abstract. To ensure no potentially eligible articles were missed, a second search was done using Google Scholar. English-language, peer-reviewed studies assessing the effect of medical scribes on health care productivity, quality, and outcomes were retained. Identified studies were assessed and the findings reported. Results: Five studies were identified. Three studies assessed scribe use in an emergency department, 1 in a cardiology clinic, and 1 in a urology clinic. Two of 3 studies reported scribes had no effect on patient satisfaction; 2 of 2 reported improved clinician satisfaction; 2 of 3 reported an increase in the number of patients; 2 of 2 reported an increase in the number of relative value units per hour; 1 of 1 reported increased revenue; 3 of 4 reported improved time-related efficiencies; and 1 of 1 reported improved patient-clinician interactions. Conclusions: Available evidence suggests medical scribes may improve clinician satisfaction, productivity, time-related efficiencies, revenue, and patient–clinician interactions. Because the number of studies is small, and because each study suffered important limitations, confidence in the reliability of the evidence is significantly constrained. Given the nascent state of the science, methodologically rigorous and sufficiently powered studies are greatly needed.
Sixth-Order Effects in Nucleon-Nucleon Scattering

Some of the series resulting from quantum field theory are known to be summable by Pade approximants. As a test of the feasibility of generating such series by numerically calculating the Feynman graphs in each order, we have calculated sixth order graphs for nucleon-nucleon scattering with pseudoscalar pion exchange. Graphs with a λϕ4 interaction of the pions are also calculated. We find that a modification of the Monte Carlo technique is essential to obtain accuracy, and that certain variable transformations are necessary to eliminate integrable boundary singularities which remain after renormalization. A brief discussion of the physical significance of the magnitude of the sixth-order terms is included.
Experimental investigation of a bridge girder made of steel tube filled with concrete

Abstract An experimental investigation was carried out in an effort to comprehend the behavior of a bridge girder consisting of a steel tube filled with reinforced concrete and made composite with an overlying concrete deck. The experimental investigation also provided information for assessing various erection scenarios using such a system in bridge construction. The investigation consisted of designing and constructing a test specimen and loading it to collapse. A moment curvature analysis was used to predict the ultimate capacity of the system. This approach was able to predict the observed test behavior with good accuracy. The test specimen showed good ductility and maintained its strength up to the end of the test. Results of this investigation demonstrated the potential for using a concrete filled tube as a bridge girder.
SU‐FF‐T‐50: A Systematic Approach to Practical Multi‐Criteria IMRT Planning

Purpose: To describe and demonstrate a new practical multi‐objective treatment planning procedure for intensity modulated radiation therapy(IMRT) planning. The approach developed addresses the question of how to generate a useful database of Pareto optimal treatment plans without time consuming human iterations. Method and Materials: The creation of a database of Pareto optimal treatment plans proceeds in two steps. The first step solves an optimization problem which finds a single treatment plan which is close to a set of clinical aspirations. The results of this step are then used to determine mutually satisfiable hard constraints for the subsequent generation of the plan database. Healthy structures are modeled with piecewise linear approximations of EUDs, and targets are modeled with a linear underdose penalty term. Optimizations are done using linear programming. Results: The method is successfully applied to a variety of clinical cases, including a brain, prostate, and lung case. It is shown that the databases generated are both diverse and filled with predominantly clinically interesting plans. Conclusion: The proposed method brings Pareto surface‐based multicriteria IMRT planning closer to clinical usability. With this method, we begin to fulfill the aims of multicriteria IMRT planning: reduce the human‐iteration time common in IMRTtreatment planning and make the trade‐offs involved in treatment planning explicitly known.
The relationship between nasal anatomy and human olfaction

The relationship between nasal anatomy and olfactory ability was evaluated by correlating measurements from nasal cavity CT scans with the results of an established clinical measure of olfactory function (Odorant Confusion Matrix, or OCM). The most appropriate mathematical model of this relationship was developed by analyzing the logarithms of 30 anatomical measures and a logistic transform of the OCM percent correct score. Two nasal cavity regions were found to be the most important factors in accounting for the olfactory test results, with a third region modifying the effects of the first two. The results of this study suggest that nasal anatomy may play a role in controlling the access of an odorant to the olfactory receptor area. The conclusions of this study have implications for nasal surgeons who, when possible, should make attempts to repair or preserve these nasal regions which seem to be so important to olfactory function.
Hittite pai- ‘come’ and uwa- ‘go’ as Restructuring Verbs

The present article provides a new syntactic analysis of the Hittite phraseological construction involving the verbs pai- ‘come’ or uwa- ‘go’ and a second finite verb. Most approaches have treated the construction as monoclausal in terms of verb serialization (Garrett 1990). This study will take a different approach, arguing that pai- and uwa- select a phrasal complement. The features that apparently set the construction apart from other cases of embedding in Hittite will be explained as effects of Restructuring (Rizzi 1982), a phenomenon Hittite also exhibits outside of the construction in question. It will further be argued that uwa- functions as a raising verb while pai- functions as a control verb, accounting for the differences in syntactic behavior between the two.
DEPROGRAMMING, BRAINWASHING AND THE MEDICALIZATION OF DEVIANT RELIGIOUS GROUPS*

Critics claim the brainwashing techniques cults use to win converts have pathological consequences. Deprogramming has restored numerous converts to a state accepted by parents and therapists as normal. The medicalization of the cult phenomena, and its conceptualization as a mental health problem, has expanded the jurisdiction of the medical profession into the areas of religion and social movements.
Lifting Kinematics and Kinetics during Simulated Boat Motions

The purpose of current study was to investigate the effects of vertical ground accelerations induced by simulated wave motions on trunk muscle activation and trunk kinematics during manual materials handling tasks. Sixteen subjects performed lifting, lowering and static weight-holding tasks under ten different combinations of load mass and vertical acceleration of the ground surface (ten different effective loads). The results showed that this effective load had a significant effect on the peak sagittal plane angular acceleration during lifting and peak sagittal plane angular deceleration during lowering. The EMG results indicate that the boat motions tend to amplify the effects of the slant of the lifting surface.
Randomized Controlled Trial Testing the Effects of Weight Loss on Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a chronic liver disease characterized by accumulation of fat in the liver accompanied by necroinflammation and hepatocellular injury(1). Despite being one of the most common chronic liver diseases in the U.S., there is currently no approved pharmacologic therapy for this condition(2). An effective medical treatment of NASH is clearly needed since without treatment this disease can progress to cirrhosis and liver failure in a significant proportion of cases(3). Several pharmaceutical interventions have been evaluated but none has been approved for general use(4, 5). Clinical trials of insulin-sensitizing agents such as thiazolidinediones have shown promising results(6-8) but side effects and the need for long term therapy may limit widespread acceptance(9). Obesity is considered one of the most important risk factors for this condition(10). Weight reduction is generally recommended as an initial step in the management of NASH(11). However, the efficacy of weight reduction for the treatment of NASH has not been carefully evaluated(12, 13). Prior studies of the effects of weight reduction on NASH have been uncontrolled, used poorly defined patient populations and non-standardized weight loss interventions, and lacked a well-accepted primary outcome for NASH(12, 13). The objective of this study was to conduct a randomized controlled trial of a year-long weight reduction in the management of NASH using a standardized state-of-the-art lifestyle intervention program. Overweight or obese individuals with biopsy-proven NASH were randomized to receive either standard medical care and educational sessions related to NASH, healthy eating, weight loss, and exercise (control group); or to an intensive weight management with a goal of at least 7-10 % weight reduction (lifestyle intervention group). The weight loss intervention was modeled on interventions that have been successful in other overweight populations(14) and was similar to the programs implemented in DPP (Diabetes Prevention Program)(15, 16) and Look AHEAD(17, 18), an ongoing study with overweight individuals with type 2 diabetes. We hypothesized that a 7-10% weight reduction through intensive lifestyle intervention would lead to improvements of biochemical and histological features of NASH. The primary outcome measure was improvement in NASH activity score (NAS) of at least 3 points or post treatment-NAS of 2 points or less.
Electrophoresis of ssDNA through nanoelectrode gaps from molecular dynamics: impact of gap width and chain length.

Molecular dynamics simulations were performed to study the translocation of single-stranded (ss) DNA through the nanoscale gap between the nanoscale electrodes of a proposed genomic sequencing device. An applied electric field forces the ssDNA to move in the direction of the nanoscale gap in platinum electrodes. A series of simulations utilizing eight different nanoscale gap distances as well as seven different nucleotide chain lengths were performed to determine the impact of these variables on the overall design of the sequencing device and the translocation behavior of ssDNA. The results clearly indicate a threshold value of the gap width below which the ssDNA will readily enter and traverse the nanoscale gap. Translocation velocities obtained for various chain lengths were consistent with simulated bulk data; however, successful translocation was inconsistent, possibly related to the sample’s affinity for the metal electrodes. An attempt at overcoming this barrier was made through the implementation o...
Exercise for Mood and Anxiety: Proven Strategies for Overcoming Depression and Enhancing Well-Being

Michael Otto & Jasper A.J. Smits, New York: Oxford University Press, 2011, ISBN 978-0-19-979100-2 An impressive body of research has accumulated over the last several decades, indicating that engag...
A heuristic for parallel machine scheduling with agreeable due dates to minimize the number of late jobs

Abstract Given a set of identical parallel machines and a set of jobs with different due dates and release times, we consider the problem of finding a schedule such that the number of late jobs is minimized, where the given due dates and release times are assumed to be agreeable. A heuristic algorithm is presented and a dynamic programming lower bounding procedure is developed. Computational experiments are performed to show the effectiveness of the heuristic.
Solvent Effects on the Barrier to C−N Bond Rotation in N,N-Dimethylaminoacrylonitrile

The barrier to rotation about the conjugated C−N bond of N,N-dimethylaminoacrylonitrile (DMAAN) was determined by dynamic NMR spectroscopy in the solvents methylcyclohexane, dibutyl ether, toluene, dichloromethane, chloroform, acetone, acetonitrile, nitromethane, methanol, and water. The barrier was found to increase with solvent polarity, as is the case for amides. In striking contrast to amides, however, the barrier was found not to depend on solvent hydrogen bond donor ability. For aprotic solvents, the variation of the DMAAN barrier with solvent correlated closely with the solvent dependence previously observed for the rotational barriers of dimethylformamide (DMF) and dimethylacetamide (DMA). Comparison of the solvent dependence of the barriers in these two compounds was used to estimate the gas-phase barrier in DMAAN at 9.3 kcal/mol. High-level ab initio calculations yielded good agreement with the gas-phase barrier extrapolated from the experimental data. For aprotic solvents, the solvent effects w...
PSM AS POUR POINT DEPRESSANT FOR DIESEL

The synthesis of polymer of Maleic anhydride with Pentaerythritol stearic diacetate (PSM) was reported. Its effects as pour point depressant were studied on diesels from different sources. The experimental results show that its effects are satisfactory.
A Case of Hickam's Dictum: Concurrent Appendicitis and Ectopic Pregnancy

Abstract Background Both ectopic pregnancy and appendicitis are surgical emergencies that should be considered in female patients who present with right lower-quadrant pain. Deciding on the appropriate imaging modality in the pregnant patient can be difficult. The challenge of diagnosis is compounded when one considers that both pathologies may be present simultaneously. Objectives We present a case demonstrating co-occurrence of ectopic pregnancy and appendicitis and suggest an algorithm for evaluation and management of cases with this presentation. Case Report A 25-year-old woman presented to the Emergency Department complaining of 3 days of abdominal pain and a positive urine pregnancy test. After consultation with Obstetrics/Gynecology (OB/GYN) and General Surgery, a nondiagnostic pelvic ultrasound (US), and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study consistent with appendiceal inflammation, the patient was taken to the operating room for a laparoscopic appendectomy. While removing the inflamed appendix, the general surgeon noted the right fallopian tube was enlarged, suggestive of an ectopic pregnancy. OB/GYN was consulted again intraoperatively and noted a right ectopic pregnancy. The surgical intervention was completed with a right salpingectomy. Conclusion In a pregnant patient with right lower-quadrant pain, the differential diagnosis includes ectopic pregnancy, acute appendicitis, or in rare cases, both.
Distortion of the Image by Prisms

The distortion of the image formed by a prism, principally an ophthalmic prism, is shown to be adequately described quantitatively by five parameters. Expressions are derived which relate the physical constants of the prism and the position of the prism before the eye to these five parameters. Comparisons of measurements and theory are given. This theory is useful for the study of this distortion and for designing prisms with a minimum of certain aspects of this distortion.
On motions in steady, layered, geostrophic models

The interior motions in steady, layered, geostrophic models of large scale wind-driven phenomena are severely constrained if there is no stress transfer across the interfaces. In particular, there will be no motion in the subsurface layers except in regions where the layers rise to the surface and are exposed to the wind-stress or unless the layers are in contact with lateral boundary layers with which they exchange fluid. These results follow directly from quite general considerations that are outlined in this paper.
NF-κB inhibition by an adenovirus expressed aptamer sensitizes TNFα-induced apoptosis

Abstract Prolonged activation of NF-κB is involved in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases and associated cancers. NF-κB activation is considered to be a main mechanism opposing TNFα-induced apoptosis. We investigated whether inhibition of NF-κB could sensitize tumor and endothelial cells to TNFα-induced apoptosis. As such, we developed a novel H1 RNA polymerase III promoter driven adenoviral vector to express an RNA aptamer, Ad-A-p50, which selectively inhibits NF-κB activation in the nucleus. This event sensitizes human lung adenocarcinoma cells (A549) and human endothelial cells (HUVEC) to TNFα-induced apoptosis through the multiple pathways regulated by NF-κB, including Bcl-XL, HIF-1α, and VEGF. Our findings also suggest a new mechanism of HIF-1α regulation by NF-κB in the normoxic environment. RNA aptamer inhibition of NF-κB offers exciting opportunities for sensitizing inflammatory and tumor cells to TNFα-induced apoptosis.
Tail flagging by young California ground squirrels, Spermophilus beecheyi: age-specific participation in a tonic communicative system

Abstract Abstract. This report describes a field study of tail flagging by young California ground squirrels, and compares their behaviour to that of adults. Focal and scan samples of marked animals were used to determine the context of signalling, and to establish the behavioural concomitants of flagging in the signaller and potential perceivers. Both pups and adults invariably use this signal when encountering a snake, but both tail flag more often when there is no obvious elicitor (Hersek & Owings 1993, Anim. Behav., 45, 129-138). When no snake was present, pups used tail flagging in tonic communication, as adults did. Although tail flagging by adult females was related to the vulnerability of pups, signalling by both adult males and pups reflected their own vulnerability. Tail flagging by adult mates and pups differed, however, in its effects on perceivers. Adult males induced nearby animals to maintain higher levels of snake vigilance, while tail flagging by pups induced others to remain nearby. Pups distinguished more clearly between contexts of tail flagging than did adults. Both pups and adults tail flagged more frequently on days when snakes were on the site (than when snakes were absent), but this difference was greater for pups than for adults. Pups were also more likely than adults to pair tail flagging with calling while dealing directly with snakes (as contrasted with flagging when no snake was present). Overall, the differences between pups and adults appear to fit an age-specific interpretation of ontogeny. Pup use of tail flagging seems appropriate for their developmental stage, and does not simply reflect an incompletely developed signalling system.
Genetic factors in human learning 1

The current situation with regard to aspects of research on learning and individual differences is briefly outlined, and the almost total absence of studies of hereditary factors in learning is underscored. It is proposed that the latter such studies will be most likely to facilitate communication between learning researchers and differential psychologists. To this end, previously unpublished data are described that bear on hereditary factors in learning task performance. Five learning tasks were administered to 84 pairs of like sexed fraternal and 128 pairs of identical twins of high school age. The significance of the increased within pair variance of the fraternal over the identical within pair variance, indicative of an hereditary component, was tested. This test suggested that for four out of the five learning tasks, there was a significant hereditary component. There also were sex differences in the importance of the hereditary component. Some directions that research into the heritable aspects of l...
Internalization of G protein-coupled receptors in single olfactory receptor neurons

Desensitization of many G protein-coupled receptors after ligand binding generally involves phosphorylation of the receptors and internalization of the ligand-bound, phosphorylated receptors by a clathrin-mediated endocytic pathway. Olfactory receptor neurons from the channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) express the G protein-coupled odorant receptors and metabotropic glutamate receptors. To determine whether a clathrin-dependent receptor internalization pathway exists in olfactory receptor neurons, western blotting and immunocytochemistry were used to identify and localize clathrin and dynamin in isolated olfactory neurons. Clathrin and dynamin immunoreactivity was found in the cell bodies, dendrites, and dendritic knobs of the neurons. Using the activity-dependent fluorescent dye FM1-43 to monitor receptor internalization, we show that single olfactory neurons stimulated with the odorant amino acid L-glutamate internalized the dye. Odorant-stimulated neurons showed a consistent pattern of internalized FM1-43 fluorescence localized in the cell bodies and dendritic knobs. Odorant-stimulated internalization was unaffected by the caveolae activator okadaic acid and was significantly decreased by a metabotropic glutamate receptor antagonist, suggesting that a functional, clathrin-dependent, receptor-mediated internalization pathway exists in olfactory receptor neurons.
Biexponential T 2 Discrimination of Normal, Benign, and Malignant Human Breast Tissue

A range of multiple exponential transverse relaxation values (T2) was obtained for a variety of benign and malignant conditions in human breast tissue. In breast tissue containing predominantly fat or fibro-fatty tissue, there was good discrimination between benign and malignant samples based upon T2 values. In the fibrous tissue samples there was significant overlap in relaxation values of benign and malignant tissues. In the fibrous breast the number of carcinoma cells had to be greater than 20% before discrimination could be achieved.
Human cytomegalovirus gene expression during infection of primary hematopoietic progenitor cells: A model for latency

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) resides latently in hematopoietic cells of the bone marrow. Although viral genomes can be found in CD14+ monocytes and CD34+ progenitor cells, the primary reservoir for latent cytomegalovirus is unknown. We analyzed human hematopoietic subpopulations infected in vitro with a recombinant virus that expresses a green fluorescent protein marker gene. Although many hematopoietic cell subsets were infected in vitro, CD14+ monocytes and various CD34+ subpopulations were infected with the greatest efficiency. We have developed an in vitro system in which to study HCMV infection and latency in CD34+ cells cultured with irradiated stromal cells. Marker gene expression was substantially reduced by 4 days postinfection, and infectious virus was not made during the culture period. However, viral DNA sequences were maintained in infected CD34+ cells for >20 days in culture, and, importantly, virus replication could be reactivated by coculture with human fibroblasts. Using an HCMV gene array, we examined HCMV gene expression in CD34+ cells. The pattern of viral gene expression was distinct from that observed during productive or nonproductive infections. Some of these expressed viral genes may function in latency and are targets for further analysis. Altered gene expression in hematopoietic progenitors may be indicative of the nature and outcome of HCMV infection.