cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Persistence of the Western Interior Seaway Historical background and significance of ichnogenus Rhizocorallium in Paleocene strata, south-central Wyoming

We report and describe abundant, well-preserved, parallel-sided, U-shaped spreite burrows ( Rhizocorallium ) in the upper part of the latest Cretaceous into early Paleocene Ferris Formation of south-central Wyoming's Hanna Basin. Rhizocorallium typically is a component of the widely represented ‘ Cruziana ichnofacies,’ principally involving benthic marine environments seaward of the intertidal zone in shallow to offshore settings. Traditionally, this Ferris section has been interpreted as coal-bearing, continental deposits formed after full withdrawal of the Western Interior Seaway from eastern Wyoming and adjacent areas. The burrowed strata overlie fossiliferous rocks diagnostic of parts of the Puercan Land Mammal Age, early Paleocene. At time of burrow formation, and for several million years thereafter, the vicinity of the future Hanna Basin remained as an undivided, eastern component of an enormous, greater Green River Basin that encompassed almost all of Wyoming's southern half. The Rhizocorallium -bearing marine strata represent westward expansion of a previously more restricted Western Interior Seaway that persisted through latest Cretaceous time in what is now the western Great Plains. Even though tidal influences may have affected rapidly aggrading fluvial systems far upstream to the west in Montana and Wyoming, we regard actual Paleocene marine inundations to have been uncommon and geologically ephemeral events as far west as the Hanna Basin. Diverse fossil assemblages from strata of the Williston Basin, representing the first five million years of Paleocene time, have led to documentation of fully open, marine conditions as the Cannonball Formation was deposited. Stratigraphic distribution of fossils within the Cannonball shows persistence of the Western Interior Seaway in the northern Western Interior through the Cretaceous, followed by expansion (renamed the ‘Cannonball Sea’) during early Paleocene time. Connections of that seaway to the south, however, remain poorly understood because of later Cenozoic massive erosion of any Paleocene rock record that had existed south of the borderland between the Dakotas. No Paleocene localities in southern Wyoming or Colorado have yet yielded assemblages of marine invertebrate body fossils or microfossils as known from the Williston Basin. No verifiable means, therefore, have been recognized to characterize the Paleocene marine record of the Hanna Basin in terms of species uniquely shared with the Cannonball biota. Short-lived, Paleocene seaway excursions into the Hanna Basin may have been: (1) direct and exclusively from the Gulf Coast; (2) solely from the Cannonball Sea, with seaway contiguity east of the emerging Black Hills; or (3) initiated from a more extensive, midcontinental seaway connecting the Arctic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico. Substantial structural uplift of the Laramie Mountains prior to mid-Paleocene time would have precluded even brief westward pulses of marine inundation into the vicinity of the presumptive Hanna Basin.
Draft Genome Sequence of Methylobacterium sp. Strain ARG-1 Isolated from the White-Rot Fungus Armillaria gallica

ABSTRACT Methylobacterium sp. strain ARG-1 was isolated from a cell culture of hyphal tips of the white-rot fungus Armillaria gallica. We describe here the sequencing, assembly, and annotation of its genome, confirming the presence of genes involved in methylotrophy. This is the first genome announcement of a strain of Methylobacterium associated with A. gallica.
Open Problem: Property Elicitation and Elicitation Complexity

The study of property elicitation is gaining ground in statistics and machine learning as a way to view and reason about the expressive power of emiprical risk minimization (ERM). Yet beyond a widening frontier of special cases, the two most fundamental questions in this area remain open: which statistics are elicitable (computable via ERM), and which loss functions elicit them? Moreover, recent work suggests a complementary line of questioning: given a statistic, how many ERM parameters are needed to compute it? We give concrete instantiations of these important questions, which have numerous applications to machine learning and related fields.
Life Cycles of Eukarya

Overview Sexually reproducing organisms alternate between haploid and diploid phases during one sexual generation , which extends from haploid phase to haploid phase (for animals and plants, from egg to egg). During a sexual cycle, diploid cells produce haploid cells by meiosis, and haploid cells and their nuclei produce diploid cells by syngamy (fusion). Sexual life cycles are broadly classified according to whether mitotic nuclear division cycles occur in the diploid phase, the haploid phase, or both. These three types are as follows: Haplontic – predominantly haploid; mitosis does not occur in the diploid phase Diplontic – predominantly diploid; mitosis does not occur in the haploid phase Haplodiplontic – mitosis occurs in both the haploid and diploid phases Eukarya also reproduce asexually. The kinds of asexual reproduction are classified at the end of the chapter. Parthenogenesis , an asexual mode of reproduction that evolved from sexual reproduction, is given special attention. Evolutionary Considerations There are wags who never tire of asking children, “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?” While this nonsensical question has no answer, it leads to a valid evolutionary question, “What was the relationship between haploidy and diploidy in ancient eukarya?” It is reasonable to assume that mitosis evolved before meiosis, at the beginnings of eukarya, and that the earliest eukarya were monoploid. Perhaps monoploid cells fused from time to time, yielding diploid cells.
Dapagliflozin Enhances Fat Oxidation and Ketone Production in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE Insulin resistance is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and decreased ATP synthesis. Treatment of individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with sodium–glucose transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) improves insulin sensitivity. However, recent reports have demonstrated development of ketoacidosis in subjects with T2DM treated with SGLT2i. The current study examined the effect of improved insulin sensitivity with dapagliflozin on 1) mitochondrial ATP synthesis and 2) substrate oxidation rates and ketone production. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS The study randomized 18 individuals with T2DM to dapagliflozin (n = 9) or placebo (n = 9). Before and after 2 weeks, subjects received an insulin clamp with tritiated glucose, indirect calorimetry, and muscle biopsies. RESULTS Dapagliflozin reduced fasting plasma glucose (167 ± 13 to 128 ± 6 mg/dL) and increased insulin-stimulated glucose disposal by 36% (P CONCLUSIONS Dapagliflozin improved insulin sensitivity and caused a shift from glucose to lipid oxidation, which, together with an increase in glucagon-to-insulin ratio, provide the metabolic basis for increased ketone production.
Equivalence of Transformed and Invariant Radiative Transfer Kernels

Equivalence between a proposed Lorentz invariant and the standard Lorentz transformed description of the radiative scattering kernel is established for arbitrary distributions of moving electrons, ...
All Bi Myself: Analyzing Television's Presentation of Female Bisexuality

ABSTRACTAs queer lifestyles become mainstream, television reflects this trend with more queer representation. There are several lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) characters currently on the airwaves. However, overly stereotypical representations of such characters present overtly negative presentations of such lifestyles. This research effort seeks to determine if there are any underlying themes—and what they are—in the way that television presents bisexual female identities. To achieve this, three television shows are analyzed: Grey's Anatomy, Lost Girl, and Orange Is the New Black. The themes that emerge are unilaterally negative in nature and paint those who identify as bisexual very poorly. The overwhelming conclusion is that more bisexual characters are not needed. More diverse bisexual characters are needed.
Are Trends in Total Hip Arthroplasty Bearing Surface Continuing to Change? 2007-2015 Usage in a Large Database Cohort.

Abstract Background Bearing surface issues related to trunnionosis or metal-on-metal (MoM) articulations have likely impacted recent trends in bearing surface choice. The purpose of this study is to evaluate trends in total hip arthroplasty (THA) bearing surface use, including 2015 data, with respect to the date of operation and patient demographics. Methods The Humana dataset was reviewed from 2007 through 2015 to analyze bearing surface usage in primary THA. Four bearing surface types were identified by International Classification of Disease, 10th Revision codes and trended throughout the years: metal-on-polyethylene (MoP), ceramic-on-ceramic (CoC), ceramic-on-polyethylene (CoP), and MoM. Prevalence was analyzed as a function of age and sex. Results Of the 28,504 primary THA procedures, the most commonly used bearing was MoP (46.1%), followed by CoP (33.2%), MoM (17.1%), and ceramic-on-ceramic (3.6%). The use of CoP bearings significantly increased from 6.4% in 2007 to 52.0% in 2015, while MoM bearings decreased during this period. MoP bearings decreased over 2012-2015 (P Conclusion Bearing surface choice in primary THA has changed tremendously from 2007 to 2015. MoM bearing use has decreased as a result of adverse effects. Age continues to remain a significant factor in bearing surface choice.
Patterned polycaprolactone-filled glass microfiber microfluidic devices for total protein content analysis.

Abstract Membrane based microfluidic devices have gained much popularity in recent years, as they make possible rapid, inexpensive analytical techniques that can be applied to a wide variety of areas. The ability to modify device hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity is critically important in fabricating membrane based microfluidic devices. Polar hydrophilic membranes, such as glass microfiber (GMF) membranes, hold great potential as they are inexpensive, chemically inert, and stable. Filling of these membranes with non-polar polymers such as polycaprolactone (PCL) converts the hydrophilic GMF into a hydrophobic medium. Controlled alteration of the surface chemistry of PCL/GMF substrates allows for the fabrication of microfluidic patterns on the surface. Using this approach, we have developed a simple and rapid technique for fabrication of highly adaptable complex multidimensional (2D and 3D) microfluidic pathways on a single membrane. PCL-filled GMF media were masked and selectively exposed to oxygen radicals so that the exposed surface became permanently superhydrophilic in its behavior. The desired microfluidic pattern was cut into the mask prior to assembly and exposure, and the mask was removed after exposure to reveal the ready-to-use microfluidic device. To verify and demonstrate the performance of this novel fabrication method, a colorimetric total protein assay was applied to the determination of protein concentrations in real samples.
Metal-organic framework-derived CoNi-embedded carbon nanocages as efficient electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction

The major challenge of electrocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen production is the sluggish kinetics of oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Herein, we report a facile synthesis of CoNi alloy embedded carbon nanocages (CoNi-C) through one-step annealing treatment of bimetallic organic frameworks as the precursors for application as efficient and economical electrocatalysts for OER. As a result, the optimized CoNi-C-200 sample with a Co/Ni atomic ratio of 9:1 exhibits a lower overpotential of 408 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm−2 and a smaller Tafel slope of 83 mV dec−1 compared to as-prepared CoNi-C-100 (410 mV, 93 mV dec−1), CoNi-C-400 (420 mV, 94 mV dec−1), and Co-C (447 mV, 97 mV dec−1). Moreover, it shows an excellent long-term stability during 5000 CV sweeps. Such improved performance can be attributed to the unique morphology and the synergistic effects of CoNi alloy nanoparticles and conductive carbon matrix in the composite.
Longitudinal MRI data analysis in presence of measurement error but absence of replicates

ABSTRACTLongitudinal data analysis has found immense importance in biomedical fields to assess relationships between an outcome and its explanatory variables over time. However, this analysis is unreliable in presence of measurement errors in response data because the errors confound the effect of any signal caused by process changes. This confounding can be easily resolved by estimating and isolating the measurement errors using replicated measurements; i.e., multiple measurements in a small (stationary) time interval. However, in many medical applications, such as in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), taking replicated measurements is not possible due to cost and/or risk considerations. This makes measurement error estimation and data analysis very challenging. In this article, we propose a novel method for the analysis of unreplicated longitudinal data under the presence of measurement errors. We formulate the problem using mixed-effect regression and develop a new EM-Variogram technique to estimate reg...
The World’s Beer: The Historical Geography of Brewing in Mexico

In 1850, beer was scarce in Mexico; most Mexicans instead drank traditional fermented beverages made from a variety of plants, such as maize and maguey. But by 1930, beer had become one of the country’s largest modern industries, and by mid-century it was the alcoholic beverage of choice for most Mexicans. Today, Mexico is the world’s largest exporter of beer. The geography of beer in Mexico thus has a relatively recent history. Its origins lie in the 1890s, when a number of dominant breweries emerged to command regional markets from their bases in rapidly growing provincial cities. Through the twentieth century, as urbanization accelerated and Mexicans increasingly turned to beer, three of these fought for a national presence. By the 1980s, buy-outs and mergers yielded a duopoly poised to pursue exports aggressively. The historical geography of Mexican beer can thus be mapped globally as well as over a century of shifting regional and national production.
Future Technology in Healthcare

Technology in healthcare continues to evolve. There are many areas in which healthcare technology innovation continues to develop, including in the fields of medical devices, digital technologies, genomics, and pharmaceuticals. Personalized healthcare will continue to develop with the help of technology.
Incidence of intrathoracic (IT) metastases detected by 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET in early stage prostate cancer (PC).

5056Background: Standard imaging in early stage PC has focused on detecting metastases (mets) within the abdomen and pelvis. The incidence of IT mets (lung, mediastinal, or supraclavicular) mets is...
Underground science initiatives at Los Alamos

Recently, the Los Alamos National Laboratory has proposed two major new initiatives in underground science. Following the dissolution of the original gallium solar-neutrino collaboration, Los Alamos has formed a new North American collaboration. We briefly review the rationale for solar-neutrino research, outline the proposal and new Monte Carlo simulations, and describe the candidate locations for the experiment. Because there is no deep underground site in North America suitable for a dedicated permanent laboratory, Los Alamos has conducted a survey of possible sites and developed a proposal to create a new National Underground Science Facility. This paper also reviews that proposal.
Evaluation of Peptic Ulcer Disease

Peptic ulcers are defects in the gastric or duodenal mucosa through the muscularis mucosa. Unlike erosions or gastritis which are small or superficial lesions that involve only the mucosa, peptic ulcers can vary from as small as 5 mm to several centimeters, and the depth of injury may lead to life-threatening complications such as GI bleeding, perforation, or gastric outlet obstruction. Traditionally, peptic ulcer disease was thought to be secondary to acid hypersecretion. However, recent evidence suggests that the pathogenesis of peptic ulcers is multifactorial and due to an imbalance of inciting factors and protective factors. A robust literature has shown that eradication of H. pylori can reduce the rate of ulcer recurrence. Additionally, the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and aspirin have also been closely linked to the formation of peptic ulcers due to the inhibition of cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) which results in impaired mucosal healing. Evaluation of peptic ulcer disease now largely rests on the diagnosis of these two predisposing factors of H. pylori infection and impaired mucosal healing from NSAID use.
Preparation and NMR characterization of C70H10: cutting a fullerene pi-system in half

Three isomers of C70H10 were prepared by Zn(Cu) reduction of C70. Three chromatographic bands were identified as C70H10 species by MALDI-FT mass spectrometry, and these compounds were isolated by repeated HPLC treatments. The major isomer (2) was characterized by 1H and 13C NMR, while the minor isomers 3−4 were isolated in such small quantities that only 1H NMR analysis was possible. 1H-coupled and 1H-decoupled 13C NMR of 2 established a 7,8,19,26,33,37,45,49,53,63-substitution pattern. This assignment was confirmed by HMBC and DFQ-COSY experiments. This structure is completely reasonable, as we found that 2 results exclusively from reduction of the 7,19,23,27,33,37,44,53-C70H8 that is formed in the course of the Zn(Cu) reduction of C70.
Distributed Graph Routing and Scheduling for Industrial Wireless Sensor-Actuator Networks

Wireless sensor-actuator networks (WSANs) technology is appealing for use in the industrial Internet of Things (IoT) applications because it does not require wired infrastructure. Battery-powered wireless modules easily and inexpensively retrofit existing sensors and actuators in the industrial facilities without running cabling for communication and power. The IEEE 802.15.4-based WSANs operate at low-power and can be manufactured inexpensively, which makes them ideal where battery lifetime and costs are important. Almost, a decade of real-world deployments of WirelessHART standard has demonstrated the feasibility of using its core techniques including reliable graph routing and time slotted channel hopping (TSCH) to achieve reliable low-power wireless communication in the industrial facilities. Today, we are facing the fourth Industrial Revolution as proclaimed by political statements related to the Industry 4.0 Initiative of the German Government. There exists an emerging demand for deploying a large number of field devices in an industrial facility and connecting them through the WSAN. However, a major limitation of current WSAN standards is their limited scalability due to their centralized routing and scheduling that enhance the predictability and visibility of network operations at the cost of scalability. This paper decentralizes the network management in WirelessHART and presents the first Di stributed ${G}$ raph routing and autonomous ${S}$ cheduling (DiGS) solution that allows the field devices to compute their own graph routes and transmission schedules. The experimental results from two physical testbeds and a simulation study shows our approaches can significantly improve the network reliability, latency, and energy efficiency under dynamics.
The ABC-D score improves the sensitivity in predicting need for massive transfusion in pediatric trauma patients.

Abstract Purpose Early and accurate identification of pediatric trauma patients who will require massive transfusion (MT) remains difficult, and MT activation criteria are not well established. In children, the addition of shock index-pediatric age-adjusted (SIPA) to the ABC score (ABC-S) only modestly improves the sensitivity of the ABC score. We hypothesized that the discriminate ability of the ABC-S score would improve with the addition of elevated serum lactate and base deficit (ABCD score). Methods We identified children between 1 and 18 years old who received a pRBC transfusion between 2008 and 2018 from our trauma registry. We calculated sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the ABC, ABC-S, and ABCD scores to determine the need for MT. Results We included 211 children, of which 66 required MT. The best predictor of MT was achieved by adding BD and lactate to the ABC-S score, with an AUC of 0.805. An ABCD score of 3 or greater was 77.4% sensitive and 78.8% specific at predicting the need for MT. Pediatric trauma patients that required MT had higher injury severity score (p = 0.005), lactate (p = 0.002), base deficit (p = Conclusions The ABCD score improves the sensitivity of activating MT in pediatric trauma patients. Study Type Treatment Study. Level of Evidence Level III.
Hair cortisol in pregnancy interacts with maternal depressive symptoms to predict maternal disrupted interaction with her infant at 4 months.

Disrupted maternal interaction in early infancy is associated with maladaptive child outcomes. Thus, identifying early risk factors for disrupted interaction is an important challenge. Research suggests that maternal depressive symptoms and maternal cortisol dysregulation are associated with disrupted maternal interaction, but both factors have rarely been considered together as independent or interactive predictors of disrupted interaction. In a sample of 51 women, hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) and depressive symptoms were assessed during pregnancy, and depressive symptoms were assessed again at 4-month postpartum. Maternal disrupted interaction was assessed during the Still-Face Paradigm at 4 months. Results indicated that HCC and depressive symptoms interacted to predict both maternal withdrawing and inappropriate/intrusive interaction. Withdrawing interaction was associated with high levels of HCC in pregnancy in the context of high depressive symptoms at 4 months; inappropriate/intrusive interaction was associated with high levels of HCC in the context of low depressive symptoms. Thus, high HCC potentiated both forms of disrupted interaction. Results raised questions about the meaning of very low reported depressive symptoms, and underscored the importance of chronic stress physiology and maternal depressed mood as risk factors for distinct forms of maternal disrupted interaction, both of which are deleterious for infant development.
The church bridge project: Lessons learned from comparing the outcomes of an adapted church-based weight management intervention targeting african american adults

Introduction: Church-based interventions improve weight-related outcomes among underserved populations. African Americans, particularly young to middle age adults, are seldom represented in the literature and are key health intervention targets to prevent obesity-related chronic disease. Thus, the objective of this study was to describe the lessons learned from comparing the intervention outcomes of a two-phase, weight management intervention targeting younger to middle aged adult African Americans in Mississippi. Methods: A weight management intervention was tested and data were collected over two phases using the Bridge2U platform. Descriptive methods examined retention and attendance rates, and anthropometric and demographic data; Wilcoxon signed-rank and Fisher’s exact tests examined group differences in pre and post outcomes. Results: Attendance rates were 39.9 and 55.4% for phases 1 and 2, respectively. Differences were noted between those who dropped out of the phase 1 intervention and those who remained. Weight loss was significant at 5.6 and 4.8% of baseline body weight for phases 1 and 2, respectively. Significant changes were also noted among other variables. Conclusions: Disease diagnosis, more intensive intervention format and technology-assisted delivery may be key factors for improved participation and engagement of young to middle aged African Americans in weight management interventions. This study provides future implications for weight management intervention and chronic disease prevention among young to middle aged adult African Americans in the Deep South.
Pinhead signaling regulates mesoderm heterogeneity via the FGF receptor-dependent pathway

Among the three embryonic germ layers, mesoderm plays a central role in the establishment of the vertebrate body plan. Mesoderm is specified by secreted signaling proteins from the FGF, Nodal, BMP and Wnt families. No new classes of extracellular mesoderm-inducing factors have been identified in more than two decades. Here we show that the pinhead (pnhd) gene encodes a secreted protein that is essential for the activation of a subset of mesodermal markers in the Xenopus embryo. RNA sequencing revealed that many transcriptional targets of Pnhd are shared with those of the FGF pathway. Pnhd activity was accompanied by Erk phosphorylation and required FGF and Nodal but not Wnt signaling. We propose that during gastrulation Pnhd acts in the marginal zone to contribute to mesoderm heterogeneity via an FGF receptor-dependent positive feedback mechanism.
Peritonsillar Phlegmon: An Addition to the Spectrum of COVID-19

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was first reported in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, then declared to be a pandemic associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. It has shown to exhibit a vast array of symptoms, among which fever, shortness of breath, and cough are the most commonly reported. Lymphadenopathy and tonsillar enlargement is a less common finding reported with this infection. This case describes a patient with tonsillar inflammation which was complicated by peritonsillar phlegmon, with negative throat culture and positive COVID-19 test, suggesting a COVID-19-related etiology of the disease. After the literature search, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of COVID-related peritonsillar inflammation and phlegmon formation.
Neural Responses to Social Reward Predict Depressive Symptoms in Adolescent Girls During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective Adolescent depression is increasing during the COVID-19 pandemic, possibly related to dramatic social changes. Individual-level factors that contribute to social functioning, such as temperament and neural reactivity to social feedback, may confer risk for or resilience against depressive symptoms during the pandemic. Methods Ninety-three girls (12-17 years) oversampled for high shy/fearful temperament were recruited from a longitudinal study for a follow-up COVID-19 study. During the parent study (2016-2018), participants completed a functional magnetic resonance imaging task eliciting neural activity to performance-related social feedback. Depressive symptoms were assessed during the parent study and COVID-19 follow-up (April-May 2020). In 65 participants with complete data, we examined how interactions between temperament and neural activation to social reward or punishment in a socio-affective brain network predict depressive symptoms during COVID-19. Results Depressive symptoms increased during COVID-19. Significant interactions between temperament and caudate, putamen, and insula activation to social reward were found. Girls high in shy/fearful temperament showed negative associations between neural activation to social reward and COVID-19 depressive symptoms, whereas girls lower in shy/fearful temperament showed positive associations. Conclusions Girls high in shy/fearful temperament with reduced neural activation to social reward may be less likely to engage socially, which could be detrimental during the pandemic when social interactions are limited. In contrast, girls lower in shy/fearful temperament with heightened neural reactivity to social reward may be highly motivated to engage socially, which could also be detrimental with limited social opportunities. In both cases, improving social connection during the pandemic may attenuate or prevent depressive symptoms.
Extraction-Free Rapid Cycle Quantitative RT-PCR and Extreme RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 Virus Detection.

Since the start of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, molecular diagnostic testing for detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has faced substantial supply chain shortages and noteworthy delays in result reporting after sample collection. Supply chain shortages have been most evident in reagents for RNA extraction and rapid diagnostic testing. This study explored the kinetic limitations of extraction-free rapid cycle quantitative real-time RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 virus detection using the commercially available capillary-based LightCycler. After optimizing for time and reaction conditions, a protocol for sensitive and specific quantitative RT-PCR of SARS-CoV-2 RNA from nasopharyngeal swabs in
The Theorem of the Square

In the first section, we recall the notion of algebraic equivalence, analogous to the notion of homotopy in topology, except that we require all objects entering into its definition to be algebraic, so that we really end up with an equivalence which is more like that of homology.
Carbon Fiber Composites

Carbon fiber reinforced polymer matrix composites can be said to have had their beginning in the 1950s and to have attained the status of a mature structural material in the 1980s. Not unexpectedly, applications in the defense-related aerospace industry were the main driving force for the carbon fiber reinforced polymer matrix composites, followed by the sporting goods industry. The availability of a large variety of carbon fibers (Chap. 2), coupled with a steady decline in their prices over the years, and an equally large variety of polymer matrix materials (Chap. 3) made it easier for carbon fiber polymer composites to assume the important position that they have. This is the reason we devote a separate chapter to this class of composites. Epoxy is the most commonly used polymer matrix with carbon fibers. Polyester, polysulfone, polyimide, and thermoplastic resins are also used. Carbon fibers are the major load-bearing components in most such composites. There is, however, a class of carbon fiber composites wherein the excellent thermal and, to some extent, electrical conductivity characteristics of carbon fibers are exploited; for example, in situations where static electric charge accumulation occurs, parts made of thermoplastics containing short carbon fibers are frequently used. Carbon fibers coated with a Metal, e.g., nickel, are used for shielding against electromagnetic interference.
A TQM evaluation framework for hospitals

Aims to offer a generic tool to evaluate the health of TQM programmes in hospitals. The developed TQM evaluation tool includes ten management dimensions and eight control and implementation dimensions. To test the validity of the tool and also to obtain a cross‐sectional overview of the status of TQM implementation in hospitals it is used to evaluate the TQM programme in six mid‐western US hospitals. The study was carried out over a period of one year by groups of executive MBA students. Uses a detailed questionnaire to interview three to four personnel directly involved with TQM planning and implementation in these hospitals. Validates this evaluation framework and offers insights into the status of TQM implementation in hospitals. Suggests that TQM efforts have been successful in the support functions; however, in the patient care activities implementation has been minimal. Most importantly, physician involvement in this effort has been very low in the hospitals studied. To remain competitive within the...
Diet and Coronary Heart Disease

Diets low in total fats are widely recommended for the general public for the purpose of prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD). These diets lower the plasma cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins, and they are consumed in many countries where the prevalence of CHD is low. However, low-fat diets have not been widely accepted in the United States and other countries where rates of CHD are high. Although there has been a moderate reduction in fat intake among Americans, this change has not been sufficient to produce a major reduction in plasma cholesterol. For this reason, an alternate approach to lowering the plasma cholesterol by diet is needed.
An introduction to computer chess

Chess has been an intriguing problem for individuals interested in machine intelligence for many years. Claude Shannon, the American mathematician, first proposed a plan for computer chess in 1949 [81]. The literature on mechanical chess-playing prior to this time reveals that the early automatons were merely facades which concealed a skilled human player [50]. Shannon believed that chess was an ideal problem for experimentation with machine intelligence since the game is clearly defined in terms of allowed operations (the legal moves) and in the ultimate goal (mate). At the same time, chess is neither so simple as to be trivial nor so complex as to be impossible. Shannon felt that the development of a credible chess program would demonstrate that “mechanized thinking” was feasible.
Floodplain connection buffers seasonal changes in urban stream water quality

Urban streams in the Northeastern United States have large road salt inputs during the winter, increased nonpoint sources of inorganic nitrogen and decreased short-term and permanent storage of nutrients. Restoration activities that re-establish connection between streams and riparian environments may be effective for improving urban stream water quality. Meadowbrook Creek, a first-order stream in Syracuse, NY, provides a unique setting to explore impacts of stream–floodplain connection because it flows along a negative urbanization gradient, from channelized and armoured headwaters to a broad, vegetated floodplain with a riparian aquifer. In this study, we investigated how reconnection to groundwater and introduction of riparian vegetation impacted urban surface water chemistry by making biweekly longitudinal surveys of stream water chemistry in the creek from May 2012 until June 2013. We used multiple methods to measure groundwater discharge rates along the creek. Chloride concentrations in the upstream, disconnected reach were influenced by discharge of road salt during snow melt events and ranged from 161.2 to 1440 mg/l. Chloride concentrations in the downstream, connected reach had less temporal variation, ranging from 252.0 to 1049 mg/l, because of buffering by groundwater discharge, as groundwater chloride concentrations ranged from 84.0 to 655.4 mg/l. In the summer, there was little to no nitrate in the disconnected reach because of limited sources and high primary productivity, but concentrations reached over 1 mg N/l in the connected reach because of the presence of riparian vegetation. During the winter, when temperatures fell below freezing, nitrate concentrations in the disconnected reach increased to 0.58 mg N/l but were still lower than the connected reach, which averaged 0.88 mg N/l. Urban stream restoration projects that restore floodplain connection may impact water quality by storing high salinity road run-off during winter overbank events and discharging that water year-round, thereby attenuating seasonal fluctuations in chloride. Contrary to prior findings, we observed that floodplain connection and riparian vegetation may alter nitrate sources and sinks such that nitrate concentrations increase longitudinally in connected urban streams. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Acid phosphatase activity and color changes in consumer-style griddle-cooked ground beef patties.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration have issued temperature requirements to help consumers cook beef patty products that are free of pathogens. Verification of end-point temperature (EPT) is needed in cooked meat products due to concerns over outbreaks of Escherichia coli O157:H7. Acid phosphatase (ACP) activity was studied as a potential method for determination of EPT in ground beef patties cooked nonfrozen, patties frozen 7 days and thawed at room temperature 4 h in a refrigerator or by microwave, and patties made from ground beef frozen in store packages, then thawed in a refrigerator overnight. Pressed-out meat juices were analyzed from patties (n = 314) cooked to 57.2 degrees C (135 degrees F). 65.6 degrees C (150 degrees F), 71.1 degrees C (160 degrees F), and 79.4 degrees C (175 degrees F) target EPTs. Expressed meat juice and internal meat patty color decreased in redness as EPT increased. Freezing whole packs with slow refrigerator or room temperature thawing caused significantly greater loss of redness in expressed cooked meat juice than did other handling methods. Log10 ACP had a significant linear (R2 = 0.99) response to EPT. Results show that the 3- to 5-min ACP test could be used to verify EPT in griddle-cooked hamburger patties.
Metallocene electrochemistry : I. Evidence for electronic stabilization with alkylated cyclopentadiene: electrochemical synthesis of decamethylferricinium dication

Abstract Constant potential coulometry at −0.1 V of decamethylferrocene in a 1.5/l aluminum chloride/1-butylpyridinium chloride melt gave a deep brown solution containing the decamethylferricinium dication.
DUT input impedance measurement in an automated load-pull system

Using a Load pull system to find the input matching needed for a device has become a standard practice in the industry. However, this information can be misleading if care is not taken to reduce the measurement uncertainties. The largest contributor to the uncertainties of the return loss measurement comes from the directional coupler, its directivity and the losses between the coupler and the DUT. These uncertainties are systematic and therefore can be mathematically calibrated out. One of the limitations is the lack of phase information needed measure the impedance of the DUT. With the correction method being used the phase information is now available and the DUT impedance can now be measured. I will show some of the theory behind correction techniques, the measurement used and the test results.
The EMC Directive

Compliance with the EMC Directive is an on-going process. The manufacturer can do much of the testing for himself. In-house testing can be cost effective. Using EMC instruments as design tools will result in better products.
Integrative Complexity Coding Raises Integratively Complex Issues

Conway, Conway, Gornick, and Houck (2014) report a major effort to automate integrative complexity coding. Judging this effort requires researchers to be more explicit in articulating key methodological assumptions about the coding process and theoretical assumptions about the construct. Unresolved issues include: (1) when, and on what basis, we should attribute divergences between human coders and algorithms to overestimations or underestimations by one or the other approach; and (2) to what extent second-generation algorithms can yield Pareto improvements that reduce errors of both underestimation and overestimation. Further progress in developing natural language processing measures of this cognitive style will require sharper definitions of target constructs: in particular, different types of differentiation (dialectical and elaborative) and integration (hierarchical and flexible) and clearer guidelines for factoring context into assessments.
Finite element modeling of the surface roughness of 5052 Al alloy subjected to a surface severe plastic deformation process

The surface of 5052 Al alloy plates is severely plastically deformed via multiple impacts by high-velocity tungsten carbide/cobalt (WC/Co) balls in a surface nanocrystallization and hardening (SNH) process. The surface roughness of 5052 Al alloy plates as a function of the impacting ball size and processing time has been evaluated via non-contact 3D profilometry. A three-dimensional finite element (FE) model has been developed to simulate the formation of peaks and valleys during the SNH process. The peak-to-valley distance predicted from the FEM matches the maximum PV value measured experimentally quite well, indicating that surface roughening of 5052 Al alloy plates during the SNH process using WC/Co balls is mainly dictated by the indentation process of the impacting balls. The implications of this surface roughening mechanism in the final surface roughness, processing time, related microstructure change, and property alteration are discussed.
Blastomycosis-epidemiology and biology of its etiologic agent Ajellomyces dermatitidis

From this review of previous publications and unpublished data it was concluded that there was little evidence that blastomycosis is contagious. Yet in spite of some reports thatB. dermatitidis has been isolated from soil no claim has been made that the ecologic niche in nature has been found. The logical assumption that soil is the natural habitat of the pathogen has been made less certain by demonstrations that this fungus, unlikeHistoplasma capsulatum, soon disappears from natural soils into which it is introduced. Furthermore,B. dermatitidis is lysed by microorganisms obtained from such soils. Therefore it was considered to be questionable how much epidemiologic significance is to be applied to chance contaminations of soil by animals with blastomycosis. Only one species ofAjellomyces dermatitidis, the heterothallic, perfect stage ofB. dermatitidis, may exist in the United States of America. Evidence for this was obtained through pairing cultures isolated in that country since ascospores were produced when an isolate from a dog was paired with an isolate from a person and fertile cleistothecia were produced by pairing isolates from widely distributed geographic regions. Individual pairings of 6 African isolates with testorB. dermatitidis strains from the U.S.A. resulted in each case in production of ascocarps. However, unquestioned ascospore production has not been obtained, although a few spherical cells having the dimensions of ascospores have been found in some cleistothecia. On this, and the other evidence so far obtained, it was concluded that the African isolates are closely related to the American isolates and could belong to the same species.
6 Current concepts of polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) may be loosely defined as unexplained hyperandrogenism, with variable degrees of cutaneous symptoms, anovulatory symptoms, and obesity. The vast majority of patients with the full-blown Stein-Leventhal syndrome have functional ovarian hyperandrogenism (FOH). However, FOH often occurs without the LH excess or polycystic ovaries of classic PCOS. Functional adrenal hyperandrogenism (FAH) is often found in the syndrome, but it is less closely associated with anovulatory symptoms than is FOH. The vast majority of FOH seems to arise from abnormal regulation (dysregulation) of ovarian androgen secretion. This typically is due to escape from desensitization to luteinizing hormone (LH); this appears to occur because of a breakdown in the processes that normally coordinate ovarian androgen and oestrogen secretion so as to prevent hyperoestrogenism. Similar dysregulation of adrenal androgen secretion in response to ACTH seems to account for most FAH. Dysregulation of androgen secretion may affect the ovary alone (isolated FOH), the adrenal alone (isolated FAH), or both together. Modest insulin resistance is common in PCOS/FOH, and the resultant hyperinsulinaemia is a major candidate as the cause of the dysregulation. The hyperinsulinaemia may arise from either 'nature' (genetic defects) or 'nurture' (exogenous obesity). Although hyperinsulinaemia alone does not have an obvious effect on steroidogenesis, it may act in genetically predisposed women as a 'second hit' to unmask latent abnormalities in steroidogenesis. The ovary, the adrenal cortex, and several other organs paradoxically function as if responding to the hyperinsulinaemic state in spite of resistance to the effects of insulin on glucose metabolism. PCOS should be viewed as an early manifestation of a hyperinsulinaemic condition that will predispose to cardiovascular and metabolic complications later in life. A subset of PCOS patients appear to have not only insulin resistance but also beta-cell secretory dysfunction, which may indicate a relationship of the disorder to NIDDM. The fundamental genetic defects remain to be elucidated.
Evaluation of the Kodak Surecell Chlamydia test for the laboratory diagnosis of adult inclusion conjunctivitis.

Purpose: The Kodak Surecell Chlamydia test, a rapid enzyme immunoassay, has been reported to be highly sensitive (93%) and specific (96%) for detecting chlamydial lipopolysaccharide antigen in conjunctival specimens from infants, but has not been evaluated previously in adult conjunctival specimens. This study was designed to determine the efficacy of the Kodak Surecell Chlamydia test for the laboratory diagnosis of adult inclusion conjunctivitis. Methods: Twenty Chlamydia culture-positive conjunctival specimens from adults (true-positives) and 20 true-negative specimens were tested with the Kodak Surecell Chlamydia test. Results: The Kodak Surecell Chlamydia test was 40% (8/20) sensitive, 100% (20/20) specific, and 70% (28/40) efficient. Conclusion: This study indicates that the Kodak Surecell Chlamydia test, though highly specific, is less sensitive in its ability to diagnose chlamydial conjunctivitis in adults than has been reported previously in infants.
Skeletal Muscle and Liver Glucose Transporter Protein Expression in Obese Offspring of the Gestational Diabetic Rat † 467

Insulin resistance in diabetes mellitus has been associated with aberrant expression of glucose transporter proteins. We examined the effect of gestational diabetes on skeletal muscle Glut-4 and liver Glut-2 protein expression in the macrosomic offspring of the hyperglycemic rat. Five time-dated pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were made mildly hyperglycemic (plasma glucose 100-300mg/dl) by intraperitoneal injection of 37 mg/kg streptozotocin on day five of gestation. Two rats were injected with vehicle alone to serve as controls. Macrosomia was selectively defined as birth weight >2SD of mean control pup birth weight (Control pups' mean birth weight: 6.29g±0.49, Macrosomia pups' mean birth weight: 7.40g±0.16). Animals were sacrificed at 10-12 weeks of age. Skeletal muscle and liver samples were quickly removed and frozen in liquid nitrogen. 100 mg of muscle or liver homogenate was solubulized in Laemmli buffer. Protein content was determined by Bio-Rad assay with bovine serum albumin as the standard. Samples were separated by SDS-PAGE and transferred to nitrocellulose. Membranes were incubated with primary antibody (rabbit anti-rat Glut-4 for muscle and rabbit anti-rat Glut-2 for liver) followed by anti-rabbit Ig, horseradish peroxidase linked secondary antibody. Western blot analysis was performed using Amersham ECL reagent. Densitometric quantitation data (OD units) are as follows: Control muscle Glut-4 9.18±0.14, Macrosomic muscle Glut-4 3.51±0.07 p<0.01; Control liver Glut-2 2.38 ±0.54, Macrosomic liver Glut-2 3.49 ±0.19 p <0.05. In the macrosomic offspring of the diabetic dam, muscle GLUT-4 protein expression was decreased by 62% and liver Glut-2 protein expression was increased by 46% compared to controls. Decreased Glut-4 protein expression in muscle peripherally, in contrast to increased Glut-2 protein expression in liver centrally, may partially account for the presence of insulin resistance known to occur in the offspring of the gestational diabetic.