cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modelling& Simulation and Protection& Control Verification Method for Asynchronous Motor-Synchronous Generator Sets

Power supply system made of asynchronous motor-synchronous generator sets (M-G sets) is often used as power supply for important loads. The system usually consists of two M-G sets. Unlike synchronous generators connecting to large power grid, the two generators in the system can have significant effect on the other when field loss fault occurs. If the protection settings are inappropriate, the two generators may trip one after another during a fault on a single generator, causing the important load losing all the power supply. This paper proposed a simulation and protection verification method based on the RTDS digital modelling for M- G sets including detailed excitation system. The modelling and simulation methods can effectively verify the reasonability of settings of the P-Q restriction of the excitation regulator and the PID controllers, and provide the important basis for the setting of over-current protection and loss of excitation protection, ensuring the safe operation of the power supply system made of M-G sets.
Risk prediction model for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in adult cardiac allograft recipients

Risk prediction model for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in adult cardiac allograft recipients
The impact of flanking sequence features on DNA CpG methylation.

Abstract Epigenetics and DNA methylation play a pivotal role in many processes of the cell and we often observe that an aberrant methylation pattern characterizes pathologies. In this work we investigate the role that the flanking sequences of CG s play in the methylation process in human. We built four different CG datasets: methylated, unmethylated, and two randomly extracted ones. We evaluated features associated to the flanking sequences of those CG sets, for different size around the CG , through five measures accounting for different aspects of sequence composition complexity and structure. The analysis performed through those measures revealed evident different behaviors between methylated and unmethylated probe sets. Major differences were observed for GC content and CG dinucleotide frequency in a window size of 300–400 bp and for CG self-attraction in 3K bp. It is remarkable as the effect of methylated CG lasts much more than expected far from the CG .
Applying decision curve analysis to spine surgery

Abstract Spine surgery is expensive, invasive and associated with important risks. The potential benefits of intervention must be balanced against these harms and risks. Decision curve analysis is a statistical method for evaluating models, rules and tests to indicate patients for intervention. The net benefit of a proposed tool can be compared with the clinical default strategies of “treat all” vs. “treat none” across a range of clinically reasonable threshold probabilities, thereby demonstrating whether the use of a prediction model or diagnostic test is clinically useful. Here we discuss the current applications of decision curve analysis within the spine population.
Rat bite fever with osteomyelitis and discitis: case report and literature review.

Rat bite fever (RBF) is a rare systemic febrile illness transmitted by rats. Streptobacillus moniliformis is a pleomorphic Gram-negative bacillus which is the usual etiologic organism for rat bite fever in the United States. Here we present a case of rat bite fever complicated by vertebral osteomyelitis and discitis. The patient revealed an exposure history of being bitten by pet rats. The patient’s symptoms dramatically improved with a six-week course of cephalexin therapy. It is important to obtain a thorough zoonotic exposure history and maintain rat bite fever in the differential when considering potential causes of discitis and osteomyelitis.
Impact of a Novel Emergency Department Forward Treatment Area During the New York City COVID-19 Surge

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused a disproportionate number of patients to seek emergency care at hospitals in New York City (NYC) during the initial crisis. Our urban emergency department (ED), a member of the NYC public hospital system had to process the increased volume while also differentiating our patients’ critical needs. We established a forward treatment area (FTA) directly in front of the ED to accomplish these goals from March 23–April 16, 2020. Methods: A clinical greeter evaluated patients 18 years and older who presented to the walk-in entrance of the ED where they were screened for COVID-19-like complaints. If they did not appear critically ill and could ambulate they were directed into the FTA. Clinical and non-clinical staff worked in concert to register, evaluate, and process patients with either a disposition of directly home or into the ED for further care. Results: A total of 634 patients were seen in the FTA from March 23–April 16, 2020. Of the 634 patients evaluated, 135 (21%) were referred into the ED for further evaluation, of whom 81 (12.7% of the total) were admitted. These patients were disproportionately male (91 into the ED and 63 admitted) and tended to have a higher heart rate (105.4 vs 93.7), a higher respiratory rate (21.5 vs 18.1), and lower oxygen saturation (93.9% vs 97.8%). Conclusion: A forward treatment area is an effective method to rapidly screen and process an increased volume of COVID-19 patients when resources are limited. This treatment area helped decompress the ED by being rapidly deployable and effectively screening patients for safe discharge home. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Western Journal of Emergency Medicine: Integrating Emergency Care with Population Health is the property of Western Journal of Emergency Medicine: Integrating Emergency Care with Population Health and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Cellular Biology of Listeria monocytogenes Infection

In this chapter, the molecular and cellular biology of Listeria monocytogenes infection is reviewed and, at the end, a model which attempts to bridge the immunology with the pathogenesis is discussed. A number of factors facilitate in vitro assays. First, and most importantly, L. monocytogenes actually grows intracellularly. Second, gentamicin can be used to sterilize the extracellular medium without affecting the intracellular growth rate. Third, the infection of host cells is relatively nontoxic, so that cells do not detach from the substrate and gentamicin does not enter the cell cytoplasm. Lastly, the stages in the infection can be examined and quantitated by electron microscopy and video microscopy. The current model also has serious implications for the nature of antigen presentation. Current models describe two distinct pathways of antigen presentation. The first involves the processing of antigens within an acidic vacuolar compartment and presentation to CD4+ T cells in the context of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigens. The second involves presentation of cytosolic antigens and presentation to CD8+ T cells in the context of MHC class I antigens. Nevertheless, all mutants which enter the cytoplasm were shown to immunize mice to subsequent challenge. Thus, the data are consistent with the requirement that the organism must enter the cytoplasm for the induction of immunity. Whether entry into the cytoplasm is sufficient for long-lived immunity or whether cell-to-cell spread is also necessary remains to be determined.
PC12 Cells as a model for parkinson's disease research

Publisher Summary This chapter presents various aspects of PC12 cells as a model for Parkinson's disease research. PC12 cells are established as a clonal cell line from an induced, transplantable rat pheochromocytoma. It is observed that when maintained in growth medium, the cells proliferate and like their chromafﬁn cell counterparts, they synthesize, store, and can be stimulated to release catecholamines. The capacity to undergo neuronal differentiation in response to nerve growth factor (NGF) is a useful and important feature of PC12 cells for Parkinson's disease (PD) studies. It is possible to generate large numbers of cells, and on the other, to convert the population to a postmitotic state with many of the features of sympathetic and dopaminergic neurons. Among potential advantages of this for PD research is that the neuronally differentiated cells directly model sympathetic neurons which are one of the neuron types affected by the disease. The transcriptional changes associated with PD and unfolded protein response and endoplasmic reticulum stress are also elaborated.
Nature-Nurture Controversy

The so-called nature-nurture controversy is a family of controversies about the relative roles of heredity (nature) and environment (nurture) in shaping human characteristics. These controversies exist not so much because the scientific questions involved are difficult—although many are—but because the proposed alternative solutions are perceived as having profound implications for cherished beliefs concerning human equality, social justice, and individual responsibility. Keywords: evolution; heredity; environment; behavior; genetics
Economics BA's and Ph.D.'s from Liberal Arts Colleges: Do Degree Requirements or Faculty Scholarship Matter?

We investigate how economics degree requirements and faculty scholarship at 106 elite liberal arts colleges in the United States are related to the percent of a college's students who major in economics and the percent of a college's graduates who go on to earn a Ph.D. in economics. We find that degree requirements are related to these educational outcomes in a natural way. Additional requirements tend to drive undergraduates away from the major, while imposing more technical requirements is associated with more graduates eventually earning a Ph.D. in economics. Faculty scholarship is positively related to the number of undergraduate majors, but only at the top 40 colleges. In terms of affecting Ph.D. creation, faculty scholarship has a positive effect but only at the top 40 colleges that do not offer an undergraduate business degree. In particular, a one standard deviation increase in faculty publications is associated with a department producing one more economics Ph.D. about once every four years.
PRODUCIBILITY IN THE NAVAL SHIP DESIGN PROCESS: A PROGRESS REPORT.

Abstract : In October 1989, a 'Ship Design for Producibility Workshop' was held by the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) at the David Taylor Research Center (DTRC). The purpose of the workshop was 'to develop the framework of a plan to integrate producibility concepts and processes into the NAVSEA Ship Design Process.' The major recommendations of the workshop included initiatives related to increased training of NAVSEA design engineers in modern ship production concepts, development of producibility design tools and practices for use by NAVSEA design engineers, improved cost models, implementation of producibility strategies for ship design process improvements, modification to existing acquisition practices, and improved three-dimensional (3-D) digital data transfer. The workshop was one of NAVSEA's first Total Quality Leadership (TQL) initiatives and was subsequently expanded into the Ship Design, Acquisition and Construction (AC) Process Improvement Project. This paper reports on the major findings and recommendations of the workshop, the near term accomplishments since the workshop, and the long range strategic plan for continuously improving producibility in the Naval Ship Design Process.
Ubiquitination--More Than Two to Tango

The ubiquitin pathway in the cell is an elegant system for targeting unwanted proteins for degradation. Three enzymes, E1, E2, and E3, are responsible for attaching the ubiquitin tag to proteins destined to be chopped up. In their Perspective, Joazeiro and Hunter discuss new structural findings that reveal the part played by an E3 called c-Cbl in this ubiquitinating process.
The contribution of neural pathways to blood volume homeostasis in the subhuman primate

Studies are presented which indicate that the neural components of an atrio-renal reflex appear to be present in the primate and thus presumably in man. However, this reflex does not appear to contribute importantly to blood volume homeostasis in the primate. It is our hypothesis that it is the high-pressure baroreceptors, i.e., those in the carotid sinus and those in the aortic arch which play the major role in the neural control of blood volume in the primate and thus in man. This apparent evolutionary change in the importance of high pressure vs. low pressure receptors in the neural modulation of blood volume may be related to the assumption of an upright or semi-upright posture.
Assessment of Strength-Probability-Time Relationships in Ceramics

Abstract : In the past few years a number of test procedures have evolved as a result of attempts to observe stable crack growth in ceramics under constant stress conditions. These procedures are briefly reviewed. The available slow crack growth data which has been presented in the literature is used to estimate survival times for various stress levels. The computations are completed in several ways: (a) use of strength data obtained at various loading rates; (b) deterministic integration of the equations; and (c) in a Monte Carlo sense, wherein the controlling parameters are assumed to possess realistic variability. The end product of each set of computations is a design stress-survival time relationship and the purpose of this paper is to compare these life estimates and comment on the adequacy of each method.
The role of molecular genetics in speciation studies

Systematists and population geneticists can both use molecular data sets to construct evolutionary trees (species and gene trees, respectively), and then use the resulting historical framework to test a variety of hypotheses. The greatest prospect for future advances in our understanding of speciation is to extend these historical approaches to the species/population interface, for only by straddling this interface can we actually study the processes involved in the origin of a new species. This chapter illustrates how the bottom-up historical approaches used in population genetics can be extended upwards to this critical interface in order to separate the effects of population structure from population history, to rigorously test the species status of a group, and to test hypotheses about the process of speciation by using gene trees to define a nested, statistical analysis of biogeographic and other types of data.
Chapter 26 A Strategy to Study Development and Pattern Formation: Use of Antibodies against Products of Cloned Genes

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses λgt11 system that is useful for studying products of cloned Dictyostelium genes. This system is used to make antibodies against four different Dictyostelium cell type-specific proteins. One antibody is against Dictyostelium ras and shows that ras protein is present in vegetative cells and developing cells. After ∼15 hours of development, levels of ras begin to decrease and also examines the distribution of ras in prespore and prestalk cells and in cell fractions at various times in development. Another antibody is against a prespore-specific protein and a third is against a prestalk protein. These two antibodies each stain a single band on Western blots. The fourth antibody is at present uncharacterized. It is revealed that the antibodies stain different parts of slugs. These antibodies also examine the distribution of prestalk and prespore cells in aggregates at different stages of development. Other studies are using these antibodies for immunofluorescent assays of cell differentiation. These antibodies become the central assay for many cell biological, molecular, and physiological studies.
What is the Impact on MF Global from the Recent UK Supreme Court Decision Involving Lehman Brothers International (Europe)

This paper analyzes the U.K. Supreme Courts' decision on how customers of Lehman Brothers (International) Europe, the U.K. affiliate of Lehman Brothers Inc., ruled on Part 7 of the U.K. Client Money Fund regulations. The paper also compares the differences between the U.S. Customer Segregation laws and regulations and the U.K. Money Client Fund regulations.
Widespread Inducible Transcription Downstream of Human Genes

Pervasive transcription of the human genome generates RNAs whose mode of formation and functions are largely uncharacterized. Here, we combine RNA-seq with detailed mechanistic studies to describe a transcript type derived from protein-coding genes. The resulting RNAs, which we call DoGs for downstream of gene containing transcripts, possess long non-coding regions (often >45 kb) and remain chromatin bound. DoGs are inducible by osmotic stress through an IP3 receptor signaling-dependent pathway, indicating active regulation. DoG levels are increased by decreased termination of the upstream transcript, a previously undescribed mechanism for rapid transcript induction. Relative depletion of polyA signals in DoG regions correlates with increased levels of DoGs after osmotic stress. We detect DoG transcription in several human cell lines and provide evidence for thousands of DoGs genome wide.
Bleach in the diabetic kidney destabilizes basement membrane collagen.

Bleach, or hypochlorous acid (HOCl), is a very old chemical that is widely used as a decolorizing and disinfectant agent. The addition of a few drops of bleach to a cashmere sweater not only decolorizes the stain within 24 h at room temperature but also oxidizes the wool protein itself, such that the fine meshwork is replaced by a hole within a few days (Fig. 1, left panel). The chemistry behind this phenomenon begins with a reaction between chlorine (or bromine) gas and water, leading to the powerful oxidizing agent, HOCl. At physiological pH, HOCl is in equilibrium with hypochlorite anion (ClO−), and both chemical species are oxidizing agents, with HOCl being much more potent than ClO−. Cysteine and methionine residues are attacked first, followed by slower reactions with lysine, tryptophan, terminal amines, and histidine. Other targets include backbone amides, arginine, tyrosine, and other residues or even DNA (1). Products of these reactions include chlorinated compounds, such as 3-chlorotyrosine, 2-chlorotryptophan, or chlorinated lysine residues, as well as hydroxylated compounds such as 3-hydroxyphenylalanine and hydroxytryptophan. Importantly, some of these modifications are labile and eventually form fully oxidized residues such as 2-aminoadipic acid, N-formylkynurenine, or kynurenine. Thus, many of the oxidized amino acids are nonspecific advanced oxidation products of proteins (AOPPs) (2). Unless one is able to …
Latent‐Period Responses of Stem Rust in Tall Fescue Incubated at Four Temperatures

Stem rust, caused by Puccinia graminis Pers.:Pers. subsp. graminicola Z. Urban, has recently been found on tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea L.) grown for seed in western Oregon. Development of stem rust in the field is affected, to a large extent, by environmental conditions. We conducted controlled environment studies to determine the effect of incubation temperature on development of uredinia in five tall fescue cultivars (...)
Isopolar actin filament pathways using AC electrokinetic pump

To demonstrate unidirectional transport using actomyosin system in vitro, polarized F-actin pathway is essential. Polarized F-actin pathway whose ends are immobilized using biotinylated actin-capping proteins on a surface can provide directional movement of myosin coated microbeads. Creating polarized F-actin pathway requires the generation of proper flows in which flow speed and direction in high ionic solution is critical. In the present work, various AC electrokinetic pump designs are investigated to create a flow field in a microchannel. Moreover, the polarity of F-actin is determined using SEM. Once these two techniques are established, it will help the development of a device utilizing actomyosin system. This investigation will lay foundation for the future applications of autonomous transport and actuation systems, whether biological or synthetic in nature at nanoscale.
Comparative activation studies with extracted and purified human proacrosin.

Abstract 1. 1. Proacrosin was purified from acid extracts of human spermatozoa by concanavalin A precipitation and Bio-Gel P-100 chromatography. 2. 2. Two molecular weight forms of proacrosin were obtained, a major one with a M r of 70,000–71,000 and a minor one with a M r of 47,000–53,000. 3. 3. In contrast to sperm extracts, the purified forms of proacrosin were free of acrosin inhibitor(s) and nonzymogen acrosin. 4. 4. By modulating pH, ionic strength and temperature, the activation of proacrosin in sperm extracts was compared to only the major form of purified proacrosin, since it seemed to be the source of the lower molecular weight form of proacrosin. 5. 5. In both preparations, proacrosin activation occurred maximally over a broad pH range (7.6–8.8 for purified proacrosin and 7.6–9.6 for extract). 6. 6. Additionally, an ionic strength of 0.1 and above caused a decrease in proacrosin activation in both preparations. 7. 7. Similarly, proacrosin was sensitive to short incubation periods at 45°C and above which caused a decrease in the amount of proacrosin found in both preparations.
Status of the T2K Experiment

Reported here are the physics goals and status of the Tokai‐to‐Kamioka (T2K) long baseline neutrino oscillation experiment.
Atmosphere of Venus: Implications of Venera 8 Sunlight Measurements

Venera 8 measurements of solar illumination within the atmnosphere of Venus are quantitatively analyzed by using a multilayer model atmosphere. The analysis shows that there are at least three different scattering layers it the atmosphere of Venus and the total cloud optical thickness is [unknown] 10. However, because of the nature of the observations it is not possible to determine the vertical distributiont of absorbed solar energy, which would reveal the drive for the atmospheric dynamics and the strength of the greenhouse effect. Future spacecraft observations should be designed to (i) measure both upward and downward solar fluxes, (ii) include measurements of the highest clold lavers. and (iii) employ narrow-band and broad-banzd sensors.
Amino acids in pediatric and neonatal nutrition.

Modern infant formulas contain sufficient indispensable as well as dispensable amino acids to support normal growth of both term and preterm infants. However, current parenteral and specialized enteral amino acid preparations do not appear to be optimal. Many of the problems with parenteral preparations reflect the fact that ingested amino acids (protein) undergo more extensive enteric and hepatic metabolism than parenterally administered amino acids, including conversion to other amino acids (e.g. arginine) that reach the plasma for support of ongoing protein synthesis. Because this important source of amino acids is bypassed when nutrients are delivered parenterally, parenteral requirements of these amino acids are increased. In addition, while ingested phenylalanine and methionine appear to be converted to tyrosine and cysteine, respectively, it seems that parenterally administered phenylalanine and methionine are not. While glutamine, the branched-chain amino acids and arginine appear to be important in stressed infants and infants with compromised gastrointestinal function, specific roles have not been defined. Finally, because some amino acids are insoluble (e.g. tyrosine) and others are unstable in aqueous solution (e.g. glutamine and cysteine), suitable ways to provide these amino acids are needed. Soluble dipeptides of all types are available and have been shown to be both efficacious and safe in adults. This is also likely to be true for pediatric patients but data concerning their efficacy and safety in this population are lacking. Although recent research has been helpful, further research is necessary to define the optimal amino acid requirements of infants who are dependent on specialized nutrition regimens and to investigate whether these needs may differ depending upon the reasons why parenteral nutrition is required (e.g. growth versus response to stress).
Statistical dynamics of crystalline diffusion III. Self-diffusion in an order-disorder system

Abstract Self-diffusion coefficient in a β -brass type order-disorder alloy is derived theoretically using the path probability method of irreversible cooperative phenomena and the cluster-variation technique, assuming the vacancy mechanism of atomic migration. The diffusion coefficient is expressed in terms of the probability for a unit jump of an atom into its adjacent vacancy, and near-neighbor interaction potentials between atoms. It is shown that at the Curie point the diffusion coefficient decreases more rapidly on the ordered side than the disordered side ; this result agrees with experiment qualitatively.
Resort Workers: Adaptations in the Leisure-Work Nexus:

Sociological studies of the relationship between work and leisure have not yet focused on the arena where the two are juxtaposed most significantly: hospitality workers who manufacture resort leisu...
The North American free trade area, Mexican debt constraint and structural reform

Mexican policy reform can only be understood in the context of the severe economic conditions following the debt crisis of the 1980s. Faced with long term declines in real per capital incomes, broad based reforms have been taken in the country's trade and payments regime, and structural reforms that have decreased quasi state enterprise by two thirds. These reforms have attracted capital flows back into the country, increased capital investments and substituted private for public external debt.
What value did broadband create

The author analyses the economic values created by the increasing use of broadband in the USA. The paper also shows the proper calculation for dial-up and broadband revenues and illustrated that there is more economic values created in broadband than it is shown in the standard government statistics.
Introduction to Engineering Resilient Networks Minitrack

The papers presented in this minitrack will address various aspects of these technical challenges.
Tactual Poggendorff Illusion in Blind and Blindfolded Subjects

Tactual Poggendorff illusions were presented to 11 blind and 19 blindfolded normal Ss according to the method of constant stimuli. The reports of both groups showed small illusions which did not differ significantly in magnitude. These results indicate that sensory experience per se is probably not an important determinant of the illusion's magnitude since the greater experience of the blind Ss should produce a smaller illusion. The equivalence of the illusions obtained for the two groups argues against receptor sensitivity as an important factor, although the direction of the difference favors Pollack's (1969) explanation. Theoretical explanation of illusions should rely on central mechanisms and not the visual system.
Person-Environment Congruence and Personality Domains in the Prediction of Job Performance and Work Quality.

This study examined the contributions of the 5-Factor Model (FFM; P. T. Costa & R. R. McCrae, 1992) and RIASEC (J. L. Holland, 1994) constructs of consistency, differentiation, and person-environment congruence in predicting job performance ratings in a large sample (N = 514) of employees. Hierarchical regression analyses conducted separately by gender indicated that the interaction of differentiation with Agreeableness and Conscientiousness explained statistically significant variance in work performance for men, and that the interaction of congruence with Agreeableness, Artistic, and Social subscales was statistically significantly related to work performance in women. Findings suggested that the most successful model of job performance prediction would be substantially more complex than simple RIASEC or FFM approaches, and would likely incorporate interactions with constructs of worker adjustment, person-environment fit, types of work environments, and gender.
Inflation and price change variability: Some new evidence from old data

Abstract The research presented here uses annual data for Germany (1850–1914) and the United States (1881–1913) to explore the relationship between inflation, relative price variability and output. No previous study has used data from this period. The purpose of the paper is to consider the (neo)classical proposition that the price level and relative prices are independent. The impact of price uncertainty on output is also considered. The study shows that there is a strong relationship between inflation and price variability, though it is not consistent across countries. There seems to be little role for relative price change variance in explaining changes in output.
British Resources for the Study of American Literature

The Center for Editions of American Authors has been in full operation since 1966 and our experience confirms the crying need for a major inventory of the British resources for the study of American literature : the more we find, the more we worry about what we have not found. The key documents for the preparation of definitive editions are the manuscripts for the works. But the process of locating American literary manuscripts in Britain involves hunches and detection and luck. When Fredson Bowers and I were organizing the Centenary Edition of the Works of Nathaniel Hawthorne, a first step was to assemble a finding-list of Hawthorne's manuscripts. Although we were told by other scholars that the manuscript for The Marble Faun (or Transformation, as it was titled in England) had vanished, we had the fact that Hawthorne was believed to have presented the manuscript to his English friend, Henry A. Bright. We started tracing from that point. Bright had one daughter, Mrs E. P. Merivale, who was no longer alive. A letter to the library thank God for English librarians in the town she died in elicited the information that part of her private library had gone to the British Museum. A letter to the B.M. brought the information that the manuscript for Transformation had been at Great Russell Street since 1936. And what a manu script it is : the setting copy with printer's markings and compositor's stints as well as Hawthorne's (and Mrs Hawthorne's) revisions. As a result of the find, Professor Bowers was able to establish the text for The Marble Faun for the first time in the
Compression behavior of micro-scale truss structures formed from self-propagating polymer waveguides

Abstract The structure–property relationships in newly developed polymer micro-truss structures were investigated, correlating compressive behavior with structural features, including density, cell size and truss angle. These open-cellular polymer micro-truss structures were formed from an interpenetrating array of self-propagating polymer waveguides. Compression experiments verified that the effective modulus scaled linearly with the measured relative density of the micro-trusses and was reliably predicted from a simple analytical model. However, the measured peak strength at initial truss member buckling was well below the values predicted from inelastic buckling theory, which was attributed to imperfections in the structure and the nonlinear compressive behavior of the solid polymer. In addition, a micro-truss structure was post cured at a higher temperature in an oxidizing environment which suppressed the tendency for truss members to prematurely buckle. The polymer modulus increased by approximately 40% and the peak strength of the micro-truss structure nearly doubled to 5.9 MPa.
Automatic registration of megavoltage to kilovoltage CT images in helical tomotherapy: An evaluation of the setup verification process for the special case of a rigid head phantom

Precise daily target localization is necessary to achieve highly conformal radiation delivery. In helical tomotherapy, setup verification may be accomplished just prior to delivering each fraction by acquiring a megavoltage CT scan of the patient in the treatment position. This daily image set may be manually or automatically registered to the image set on which the treatment plan was calculated, in order to determine any needed adjustments. The system was tested by acquiring 104 MVCT scans of an anthropomorphic head phantom to which translational displacements had been introduced with respect to the planning image set. Registration results were compared against an independent, optically guided positioning system. The total experimental uncertainty was within approximately 1 mm. Although the registration of phantom images is not fully analogous to the registration of patient images, this study confirms that the system is capable of phantom localization with sub-voxel accuracy. In seven registration problems considered, expert human observers were able to perform manual registrations with comparable or inferior accuracy to automatic registration by mutual information. The time to compute an automatic registration is considerably shorter than the time required for manual registration. However, human evaluation of automatic results is necessary in order to identify occasional outliers, and to ensure that the registration is clinically acceptable, especially in the case of deformable patient anatomy.
Analysis of membrane topology of neutral sphingomyelinase 2.

Neutral sphingomyelinase 2 (nSMase2), which has two hydrophobic segments at its NH2-terminus, plays an important role in ceramide-mediated cell regulation. Here, we investigated the membrane topology of nSMase2. When a double-tagged nSMase2 at both the NH2 and COOH termini, was overexpressed in MCF-7 cells, the signals from both tags were detected in the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane. Furthermore, insertion of a tag into the internal sequence and green fluorescent protein-fused deletion mutants revealed that the entire catalytic region of the protein was located on the cytosolic face of the membranes and each hydrophobic segment is integrated into the membranes, but unlikely to span the entire membrane. These results indicate the presence of the enzyme in the inner leaflet of plasma membrane.
Identification of an RNA-binding Site in the ATP Binding Domain of Escherichia coli Rho by H2O2/Fe-EDTA Cleavage Protection Studies

Transcription factor Rho is a ring-shaped, homohexameric protein that causes transcript termination through actions on nascent RNAs that are coupled to ATP hydrolysis. The Rho polypeptide has a distinct RNA binding domain of known structure as well as an ATP binding domain for which a structure has been proposed based on homology modeling. Treatment of Rho with H2O2 in the presence of Fe-EDTA caused single-cut cleavage at a number of points that coincide with solvent-exposed loops in both the known and predicted structures, thereby providing support for the validity of the tertiary and quaternary structural models of Rho. The binding of ATP caused one distinct change in the cleavage pattern, a strong protection at a cleavage point in the P-loop of the ATP binding domain. Binding of RNA and single-stranded DNA (poly(dC)) caused strong protection at several accessible parts of the oligosaccharide/oligonucleotide binding (OB) fold in the RNA binding domain. RNA molecules but not DNA molecules also caused a strong, ATP-dependent protection at a cleavage site in the predicted Q-loop of the ATP binding domain. These results suggest that Rho has two distinct binding sites for RNA. Besides the site composed of multiples of the RNA binding domain, to which single-stranded DNA as well as RNA can bind, it has a separate, RNA-specific site on the Q-loop in the ATP binding domain. In the proposed quaternary structure of Rho, the Q-loops from the six subunits form the upper entrance to the hole in the ring-shaped hexamer through which the nascent transcript is translocated by actions coupled to ATP hydrolyses.
764-3 Transesophageal Dobutamine Stress Echocardiography for the Evaluation of Patients with Chest Pain and Normal Coronary Arteries

Demonstration of myocardial ischemia with noninvasive testing has been inconsistent in patients with chest pain and normal coronary arteries (CPNCA), thus raising doubts about the ischemic nature of their symptoms. We have shown that transesophageal dobutamine stress echocardiography (TEDSE) accurately reveals inducible myocardial ischemia in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. Accordingly. to determine whether patients with CPNCA have similar evidence of myocardial ischemia during TEDSE. we studied 52 patients with CPNCA (17 men; age 49 ± 9 years). 16 (31%) of whom had ischemic-appearing ECG responses to treadmill exercise. Their results were compared to those of 62 CAD (≥70% stenosis of ≥1 coronary artery) patients (54 men; age 61 ± 10 years) and 21 normal volunteers (NV) (15 men; age 56 ± 7 years). Dobutamine was infused in stepwise increments up to 40 μg/kg/min. TEDSE induced chest pain in 44(85%) patients with CPNCA, in 31 (50%) CAD patients. and in none of the NV (p l 0.001). Ischemic-appearing ECG changes developed in 17 (33%) patients with CPNCA. in 32 CAD patients (51%), and in only 1 15%) NV (p l 0.001). New or worsening wall motion abnormalities occurred in none of the patients with CPNCA. in 55 (89%) CAD patients. and in none of the NV Thus. despite successful provocation of chest pain and/or ECG changes, patients with CPNCA do not have evidence of myocardial ischemia during TEDSE. Therefore. TEDSE appears as a useful method for the identification of patients with chest pain of non-ischemic origin.
Effect of Blood Ph and CO2 Tension on the Performance of the Heart-lung Preparation

Abstract : When the performance of heart-lung preparations was evaluated by the relationship between stroke work and left atrial pressure, a change of the CO2 content of the inspired air from zero to 10 per cent caused a progressive decrease in performance. The use of HCl or NaHCO3 allowed for changing the pH and pCO2 of the arterial blood separately. Arterial blood pH rather than blood pCO2 appeared to be the decisive factor in mediating this change. Whenever a change of inspired air composition was made in either direction, the new performance level was preceded by a marked overshoot. A fall in arterial pH was accompanied by a slowing of the heart rate. (Author)
Impacts of Gasoline Prices on New Jersey Transit Ridership

This study analyzes the impacts of changes in gasoline prices on New Jersey Transit facility ridership on the basis of observed ridership data between 1980 and 2008. Two separate gasoline price increases are considered: (a) summer 2005 because of Hurricane Katrina and (b) spring 2008 because of oil price increases. New Jersey has been among the nation's leaders in transit investment, with ridership growth that exceeds the national average. Thus, investigating transit ridership trends in the New Jersey area is crucial. To understand the ridership behavior in New Jersey, after controlling for seasonal fluctuation and economic growth factors, cross-elasticity values with respect to gasoline prices are calculated with time-series regression models. Estimation results show that several months elapse before travelers respond to gasoline price changes. Moreover, correlations between transit ridership and employment rate, transit fare, and service rate are statistically significant. Cross-elasticity values with r...
Defining and adjusting divergent host responses to viral infection

Our laboratory focuses on the signal-transduction basis for mucosal immunity, inflammation, and remodeling, especially in relation to respiratory viral infection. Our approach aims to answer two major questions: (1) What are the mechanisms that control common viral infections? and (2) How can these transient infections cause longterm diseases, such as asthma? Our studies show that antiviral defense depends critically on a specialized network of mucosal epithelial cells and macrophages. When this network is compromised, the host is highly susceptible to infection, but when it is engineered to be broadly hyperresponsive to interferon, the host is markedly resistant to otherwise lethal viral infections. Similar but less effective hyperresponsiveness appears in asthma, suggesting that evolving attempts to improve antiviral defense may instead cause inflammatory disease. Indeed, in susceptible genetic backgrounds, respiratory viruses can also cause a hit-and-run phenomenon that is manifest by the development of a permanent asthmatic phenotype long after the infection has been cleared. This complex phenotype can be segregated into individual traits using pharmacologic, immunologic, and genetic strategies to achieve more precise definition of just how viruses can reprogram host behavior. Evidence of reprogramming is manifest by persistent abnormalities in epithelial cell survival and macrophage activation that when corrected can prevent the development of disease phenotypes. Our results led us to pursue the hypothesis that specific components of the innate immune system may manifest an aberrant antiviral response as a basis for chronic inflammatory diseases and that adjusting this response can improve short-and long-term outcomes after viral infection.
Molecular profiling of primary and metastatic neoplasms in the lung using cytologic material obtained by fine-needle aspiration: report of two cases.

Two cases are presented in which molecular analyses of cytologic material obtained by fine-needle aspiration were helpful in establishing relationships between morphologically similar neoplasms in the same patient. For appropriate clinical management, it is important to ascertain whether the tumors represent independent primaries or metastases. Alcohol-fixed cytologic material prepared as cell blocks and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue were microdissected and analyzed for allelic loss of heterozygosity at multiple preselected genetic loci. The first case illustrates a 69-yr-old man with multiple intrapulmonary nodules involving the upper and lower lobes of the left lung. Genomic analysis showed that the neoplasms in the left upper and lower lung lobes were independent primaries, because the loss of heterozygosity (LOH) patterns were substantially different. By contrast, the second case is that of a 58-yr-old man with a right thyroid nodule and multiple pulmonary tumors. LOH analysis confirmed that a sampled pulmonary tumor represented a metastasis from the thyroid primary, as similar LOH patterns involving locus D9S252 were observed on comparison of the thyroid and pulmonary neoplasms. These cases illustrate the practical diagnostic utility of genomic analysis using cytologic material in the assessment of primary and metastatic malignancies. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2004;30:342–346. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Separation control with nanosecond-pulse-driven dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuators

Abstract : The efficacy of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasmas driven by high voltage (approximately 15 kV) repetitive nanosecond pulses approximately 100 ns FWHM) for flow separation control is investigated experimentally on an airfoil leading edge up to Re=1x106 (62 m/s). Unlike AC-DBDs, the nanosecond pulse driven DBD plasma actuator transfers very little momentum to the neutral air, but generates compression waves similar to localized arc filament plasma actuators. A complex pattern of quasi-planar and spherical compression waves is observed in still air. Measurements suggest that some of these compression waves are generated by discharge filaments that remain fairly reproducible pulse-to-pulse. The device performs as an active trip at high Re pre-stall angles of attack and provides perturbations that generate coherent spanwise vortices at post-stall. These coherent structures entrain freestream momentum thereby reattaching the normally separated flow to the suction surface of the airfoil. Coherent structures are identified at all tested frequencies, but values of F(subponent c, exponent +)=4-6 are most effective for control. Such devices which are believed to function through thermal effects could be an alternative to AC-DBD plasmas that rely on momentum addition.
Studies on avian heart pyruvate kinase during development.

Abstract During early embryonic development chicken heart pyruvate kinase exhibits kinetic properties similar to the mammalian type L isozyme. Pyruvate Kinase in the adult heart exhibit kinetic properties similar to the mammalian type M isozyme. The embryonic isozyme is probably the K isozyme of fetuses and the adult isozyme is probably the M isozyme. The changeover from isozymes K to M can be monitored kinetically during development.
Protein phosphatase inhibitors prolong Ca2+-transients and divalent cation-dependent action potentials in leech Retzius cells

Elevation of [K+]o for 30 s from 4 to 120 mM produced a fast and reversible depolarization and transient increase in [Ca2+]i in fura-2 loaded Retzius cells of the leech. The protein phosphatase inhibitor, okadaic acid, significantly slowed the return of [Ca2+]i toward baseline without affecting the amplitude of depolarization or rate of repolarization. Furthermore, okadaic acid and another phosphatase inhibitor, calyculin A, prolonged Ba(2+)-dependent action potentials. These results suggest that the kinetics of Ca2+ influx may be regulated by the activity of phosphatases PP-1 and/or PP-2A.
Evaluation and adaptation of TOMGRO model to Italian tomato protected crops

Abstract A simplified version of TOMGRO, a well-known model for tomato growth simulation, was delivered by its authors in 1999, with the aim to adapt the program to operational exigencies. This model version was chosen to integrate the functions of a decision support tool, oriented to support Italian tomato growers in soilless crop fertigation management. During the preliminary evaluation phase, its application on data collected in three greenhouse experiments conducted on tomato cv. Jama in Pisa (central Italy) in 2004 and 2005, showed an insufficient accuracy in the Leaf Area Index (LAI) estimation of tomato crops. Consequently, node number and LAI computational algorithms were modified. This paper discusses model modifications, analysing their effects on tomato growth simulation. In comparison with the observed data, the modified model showed a good enhancement of estimation accuracy of node and LAI, with significantly positive effects also on plant and fruit biomass estimation.
Pressure dependence of Raman spectra of solids. Phase transition in TlI

Abstract A hydrostatic pressure cell that can be used for the study of laser excited Raman spectra of solids as functions of pressure (up to 10 kbar) is described. Results on pressure induced phase transition and long-wavelength phonon frequency shifts of TlI are reported.
Counting unrooted planar maps

Two planar maps are identified if one can be transformed to the other by any homeomorphism of the sphere. The number of such maps is found by determining the numbers of maps which have been rooted in various ways.
Participatory Democracy the Case of the Brazilian Ecclesial Base Communities: 1981-1991

In the early stages of Brazil's democratisation, ecclesial base communities (CEBs) were regarded by liberation theologians as models for a participatory democracy. However, as democratisation advanced, this model became increasingly difficult to uphold. Reasons for this included differences among liberation theologians on how to approach the fact of political options presented by political parties, the increasing polarisation in the institutional Catholic Church which had previously supported the CEBs, and weaknesses within the CEBs themselves which effectively limited national political participation.