cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cardiovascular Disease in Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury: Toward Best Practice

Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) have improved long-term survival and are enjoying the rewards of aging. Associated with improved longevity is the increased likelihood of aging-related chronic diseases. Several reports have documented disorders of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in persons with chronic SCI that increase risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, a recent evidence-based report casts doubt on the presence of elevated risk of CVD or premature CVD in persons with SCI. This monograph will guide the clinician in reconciling apparently disparate evidence, analyzing critical elements of CVD risk, and assembling vital information for individualized risk assessment and management, thereby fostering best practice.
Patient adherence with postoperative restrictions after rotator cuff repair.

Hypothesis This study aimed to measure self-reported patient adherence to postoperative restrictions after rotator cuff repair, to evaluate correlations between adherence and functional outcome, and to identify possible indicators of poor adherence. We believed that poor adherence would correlate with poor functional outcome. Methods Fifty consecutive patients undergoing repair for rotator cuff tears were included and instructed to wear an abduction brace for 6 weeks after surgery. Functional evaluations, including American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, University of California–Los Angeles shoulder score, and Simple Shoulder Test, were made preoperatively and postoperatively. Patients commented on their adherence with a medical adherence measurement questionnaire. Results Average adherence was 88% (range, 59.2-100). There were no significant correlations between adherence and improvement in American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, University of California–Los Angeles, or Simple Shoulder Test scores after rotator cuff repair (P = .06245, .5891, and .7688). Of the patient demographics analyzed, only smoking status had a positive effect on adherence (P = .00432; coefficient, 9.867). All other demographics, including hand dominance, mechanism of injury, repair complexity, comorbidities, living status, employment status, and age, had no significant effect on self-measured adherence to postoperative restrictions (P = .7876, .5889, .6444, .4190, .0609, .4171, .5402). Conclusions Patients' self-reported adherence did not correlate with shoulder outcome as measured on any of 3 functional outcome scores.
On the finite convergence of interior-point algorithms for linear programming

It has been shown [8] that numerous interior-point algorithms for linear programming (LP) generate solution sequences that converge to strict complementarity solutions, or interior solutions on the optimal face. In this note we further establish a theoretical base for Gay's test (Gay, 1989) to identify the optimal face, and develop a new termination procedure to obtain an exact solution on the optimal face. We also report some numerical results for solving a set of LP test problems, each of which has a highly degenerate and unbounded optimal face.
The plasma membrane NADH oxidase of HeLa cells has hydroquinone oxidase activity

The plasma membrane NADH oxidase activity partially purified from the surface of HeLa cells exhibited hydroquinone oxidase activity. The preparations completely lacked NADH:ubiquinone reductase activity. However, in the absence of NADH, reduced coenzyme Q10 (Q10H2=ubiquinol) was oxidized at a rate of 15+/-6 nmol min-1 mg protein-1 depending on degree of purification. The apparent Km for Q10H2 oxidation was 33 microM. Activities were inhibited competitively by the cancer cell-specific NADH oxidase inhibitors, capsaicin and the antitumor sulfonylurea N-(4-methylphenylsulfonyl)-N'-(4-chlorophenyl)urea (LY181984). With coenzyme Q0, where the preparations were unable to carry out either NADH:quinone reduction or reduced quinone oxidation, quinol oxidation was observed with an equal mixture of the Q0 and Q0H2 forms. With the mixture, a rate of Q0H2 oxidation of 8-17 nmol min-1 mg protein-1 was observed with an apparent Km of 0.22 mM. The rate of Q10H2 oxidation was not stimulated by addition of equal amounts of Q10 and Q10H2. However, addition of Q0 to the Q10H2 did stimulate. The oxidation of Q10H2 proceeded with what appeared to be a two-electron transfer. The oxidation of Q0H2 may involve Q0, but the mechanism was not clear. The findings suggest the potential participation of the plasma membrane NADH oxidase as a terminal oxidase of plasma membrane electron transport from cytosolic NAD(P)H via naturally occurring hydroquinones to acceptors at the cell surface.
A FORMALIZATION OF THE DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION THEORY

According to the transition theory, the transformation of an agricultural society into an industrial urbanized society is associated with a decline of the death rate and with a lagged decline of the birth rate. A variety of mathematical formulations of these trends are conceivable. In this paper, the following assumptions were adopted: (1) that the rate of change of the death rate is a maximum when the death rate is midway between an upper and a lower equilibrium level, and that it is the closer to zero, the closer the death rate is to the equilibrium levels, and (2) that the birth rate follows the death rate after a time lag. This formulation of the transition theory yields a doubly asymptotic population trend corresponding to a modified logistic curve.
Role of turbulent shear stresses in particle dispersion

Introduction T HE technological applications of combustion processes in many cases involve the use of two phase flows or sprays. A large number of other important industrial and physical processes make use of turbulent two phase flows. The calculation of these flows is not at all trivial, particularly if the sprays are dense and the turbulence is modulated by the particle phase. Several methods have been developed for the calculation of these flows. If the two phases are treated separately, then the stochastic simulation technique' has considerable attraction for the modeling of practical spray systems. In the stochastic simulation method a turbulence closure model is used to develop an Eulerian description of the turbulent flowfield. Statistics of the velocities at a single point in the flow are obtained from this calculation; these statistics include the means and the variances of the velocity components. If a Gaussian probability distribution function (PDF) for the velocity is assumed, in reasonable accord with available measurements, then a random number generator may be used to sample the PDF. With these velocity samples the position of particles may be advanced by integrating the particle equation of motion through the flowfield. The equation of motion is, in most cases, simply the equation for the rate of change of momentum due to the drag operating on the particle. In the case of a fluid particle, the motion is obtained by simply integrating the particle velocity to obtain updated particle positions. Many authors' have assumed that turbulent shear stresses do not play a role in the dispersion of particles in their stochastic simulations. However, there is no a priori justification for the omission of the shear stresses from stochastic, Lagrangian simulations of the type that have been discussed so far. Berlemont et al. have developed the most complete formulation of the particle dispersion problem, wherein they used a mathematical process to impose the correct correlations between the fluid velocity components. The correlations or turbulent shear stresses were obtained from an algebraic closure model. In addition, their approach was extended to include a realistic autocorrelation function for fluid velocity in contrast to the older methods of Shuen et al., who assumed that the
Semiclassical theory of strong-field harmonic generation

The Schrodinger equation is integrated in space and time for calculation of the photoionization dynamics and harmonic generation in a generic one-dimensional model in a strong monochromatic field. These results are compared with classical results for the ionization and with semiclassical results for the harmonic generation, and generally good agreement is obtained. The semiclassical method introduced here for calculation of the harmonic generation consists of approximating the Heisenberg dipole moment operator by a classical trajectory and then averaging over an ensemble of such trajectories by means of the initial wave function. This average represents a semiclassical approximation to the temporally oscillating, field-induced dipole moment, which is used to calculate the photoemission spectrum.
Rational synthesis of unidimensional mixed valence solids. Structural, spectral, and electrical studies of charge distribution and transport in partially oxidized nickel and palladium bisdiphenylglyoximates

A detailed study is presented of solid-state structure, oxidation state, and electron transport in Ni(dpg)/sub 2/I and Pg(dpg)/sub 2/I, dpg = diphenylglyoximato. The crystal structure of Ni(dpg)/sub 2/I has been studied by x-ray diffraction at 23 and -160/sup 0/C. The compound crystallizes in the tetragonal space group D/sub 4h//sup 8/-P4/ncc, with four formula units of Ni(dpg)/sub 2/I in a unit cell having dimensions at -160/sup 0/C of a = 19.774 (8), c = 6.446 (3) A. Full-matrix least-squares refinement of 31 variables gave a final value of the conventional R index (on F) of 0.093 for 353 reflections having F/sub 0//sup 2/ > 3 sigma(F/sub 0//sup 2/). The crystal structure consists of stacked Ni(dpg)/sub 2/ units (staggered by 90/sup 0/) and disordered chains of iodine atoms extending in the c direction. At -160/sup 0/C the Ni--Ni separation is 3.223 (2) A; other important distances are Ni--N = 1.868 (15), N--C = 1.33 (3), N--O = 1.34 (3) A. The Ni(dpg)/sub 2/ moiety is decidedly nonplanar (D/sub 2/ symmetry) with coordinated N atoms displaced 0.12 (2) A above or below the mean molecular plane. Analysis of diffuse x-ray scattering associated with the disordered iodine chains is consistent with I/sub 5//sup -/more » being the predominant species. This result is in agreement with resonance Raman spectroscopic studies on Ni(dpg)/sub 2/I and Pd(dpg)/sub 2/I as well as on model compounds. Fundamental polyiodide transitions in the M(dpg)/sub 2/I materials are observed(..nu../sub 0/ = 4880--6471 A)at 161 vs and 107 w cm/sup -1/; weak M(dpg)/sub 2/-centered scattering is also noted. Iodination brings about an increase in conductivity of > 10/sup 8/ (Ni) and > 10/sup 7/ (Pd), which is especially noteworthy since the only major change in crystal structure upon iodination is a ca. 0.27 A decrease in the M(dpg)/sub 2/ stacking distance. Variable-temperature studies show the Ni(dpg)/sub 2/I and Pd(dpg)/sub 2/I conductivities to be thermally activated.« less
Characterization of a Thiol Proteinase in Giardia lamblia

Sonicated preparations of Giardia lamblia hydrolyze a variety of protein substrates including human immunoglobulin. Activity is increased by thiol-activating agents and inhibited by thiol proteinase inhibitors. About 55% of activity remains in the soluble fraction after high-speed centrifugation, and pretreatment with a nonionic detergent results in increased soluble activity. This suggests that the enzyme is membrane bound or associated with subcellular particles. Activity elutes as a major peak at 38,000 molecular weight by calibrated sieve chromatography. The favored sites of enzymatic cleavage of IgA1 are between the CH2 and CH3 domain and near the hinge region of the heavy chain. Similar cleavage patterns were identified using sonicated preparations of Entamoeba histolytica and Trichomonas vaginalis.
Physiological evidence for the possible existence of anhydrolevuglandin E2-like activity in extracts and media from uteri of rats

Abstract Physiological evidence is presented for the possible existence of anhydrolevuglandin E 2 -like activity in extracts of uteri from diestrous rats and after treatment of adult rats with estradiol and progesterone. The extracts were able to inhibit contractions in rat uterine preparations stimulated by PGE 2 . Uteri of vaginal Stage 3 (metestrus) were quiescent and showed decreased responsiveness to PGE 2 and PGF 2α . These uteri showed some contractility when incubation medium from diestrous uteri (Stage 5) were transferred to them and incubation medium from them inhibited the contractility of Stage 5 uteri. When incubation media were exchanged between contractile uteri from of stages other than Stage 3, there was no change in the contraction patterns. Taken together, we believe these data indicate that AnLGE 2 may be a normal constituent of the rat uterus and is physiologically increased during Stage 3 (metestrus) of the estrous cycle.
An acoustical and perceptual analysis of the vocal behavior of classroom teachers.

This study examined perceptual evaluations of classroom teachers, acoustic measures of their voices ( fundamental frequency [F0], frequency range [F0SD], % jitter, and % shimmer), and behavioral measures (rate, dysfluencies, and episodes of vocal fry). This preliminary study attempted to identify perceptual and acoustic measures that discriminate between effective and less effective classroom teachers. Seven teachers were recorded on audiotape while presenting a 10-12 minute lecture. Voice samples (N > 200) for each teacher were subjected to acoustic analysis. Audiotapes were evaluated by listeners (N = 180), who scale-rated and used an adjective checklist to determine teachers' overall effectiveness. A three-member team evaluated global aspects of voice (e.g., use of pauses, inflections, contours, and phrasing). Results indicated that frequency range, frequency variability, rate, and number of dysfluencies appeared to correlate with perceptual judgments of teaching effectiveness and specific adjective descriptors. F0, % jitter, and % shimmer did not appear to be linked to perceptual judgments. Individual case profiles were established and recommendations were made for future empirical research involving larger samples of teachers.
Coordinate Hormonal and Synaptic Regulation of Vasopressin Messenger RNA

Previous studies have shown that adrenalectomy augments arginine vasopressin (AVP) messenger RNA levels in the adult paraventricular nucleus. It is now demonstrated that unilateral lesions in the lateral septal nucleus enhance the adrenalectomy-induced expression of AVP mRNA. This effect was entirely ipsilateral to the lesion and most prominent in the rostral paraventricular nucleus and related nuclei. Moreover, AVP and AVP mRNA were found to be colocalized with oxytocin in a few neurons. These results indicate that mRNA expression is modulated by synaptic influences and raise the possibility that synaptically mediated selection of neuronal phenotypes is a dynamic feature of the mature central nervous system.
Phosphorimaging detection and quantitation for isotopic ion flux assays

Abstract A 96-well-microplate-based ion flux method utilizing readily available autoradiographic phosphorimaging detection is described. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-mediated 22Na influx in four cultured cell lines provided satisfactory concentration-response data for epibatidine and several other nicotinic agonists. The data were consistent with data obtained using standard 6-well assays. Assays for nicotinic-receptor-mediated 86Rb efflux produced data similar to data obtained with the 22Na influx assay. However, assays for 45Ca influx were not successful, although 45Ca was readily detected and quantified. Voltage-gated sodium channel-mediated 22Na influx in a neuroblastoma cell line allowed assay of the effects of such sodium channel activators as batrachotoxin and a pumiliotoxin B/scorpion venom combination. Phosphorimaging detection allows for reliable beta counting of up to 1200 simultaneous samples with excellent sensitivity and is amenable for application to high-throughput screening.
High-resolution X-ray computed tomography observations of the thermal drying of lump-sized subbituminous coal

Abstract Drying of low-rank coals affects: coal cleaning, combustion, comminution, gasification, liquefaction, and in-seam fluid-flow (water, coalbed methane, and carbon dioxide for sequestration/enhanced coalbed methane). To evaluate the extent of drying-induced transitions, 3 lump-sized (approximately 6 × 2 × 2 cm) Powder River Basin subbituminous coal samples were thermally dried in an air-drying coal oven at 50 °C over two weeks. A high-resolution industrial X-ray computed tomography scanner was utilized to generate (non-destructively) three-dimensional regional volumetric renderings, as-received and over 3-stages of drying. The lumps had cleats, both open and mineral filled, with a degree of fracture diversity along the longitudinal plane. Comparison of the virtual slice surfaces, at identifiable locations, allowed the induced cracking and shrinkage accompanying the transitions during 19% moisture loss to almost dry to be observed. Under these drying conditions, the heat transfer, and thus extent of drying, proceeded radially inward. With increased drying time the fractures extend and become larger in aperture as the coal shrinks. The major fractures mostly followed the existing cleat system. With additional drying, these cleats widened and the aperture increase propagated deeper into the coal extended into the butt cleats. New fractures were located mostly perpendicular to the cleat fracture surface. The external volume of the coal lumps had limited shrinkage. The axial extent of the shrinkage length (lump edge to lump edge) was on the order of 4–6%, the bulk of the shrinkage being accommodated by the internal shrinkage between cleats.
The effect of local life circumstances on female probationers' offending

This article examines the influence of change in local life circumstances on the short-term criminal behavior of female drug-abusing probationers. Using a binomial hierarchical generalized linear model, we examine the probability that certain “discrete life events” act to modify or change criminal behavior in the short term. The findings indicate that participants' involvement in conventional activities results in the decreased likelihood of engaging in nondrug crimes but an increased likelihood of drug dealing. Faced with this contradiction, we suggest that the dynamics of offending are altered by the nature of the criminal activity itself and the way in which gender structures criminal involvement.
Transposition of IS117 (the streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) mini-circle) to and from a cloned target site and into secondary chromosomal sites

IS117, previously known as the 2.6 kb minicircle, is a transposable element found in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2). It integrates predominantly into one preferred site when introduced into the closely related Streptomyces lividans 66, which lacks IS117. This preferred integration site was deleted from the S. lividans chromosome by replacement with an erythromycin resistance gene delivered by a ϕC31 phage vector. When IS117 was introduced into the resulting strain it integrated into many other sites, with some indication of site preference. By cloning a 200 by fragment centred on the preferred integration site onto a low copy number, self-transmissible Streptomyces plasmid derived from SCP2* it was shown that this sequence is sufficient to define the preferred site: IS117 integrates efficiently into this sequence from its preferred site in the host chromosome and at a lower frequency from the plasmid into the preferred site on the S. lividans chromosome.
Optical tracking of deep-space probes

Abstract Specular reflection of sunlight from plane mirror surfaces on deep-space probes is sufficiently bright to be detected with large telescopes and Earth. The optical requirements for the reflector surface and the pointing requirements for its orientation are not stringent because the Sun is an extended source. Curves are derived for the apparent stellar magnitude as a function of Earth-spacecraft range for a variety of reflector properties. The feasibility of optical tracking was demonstrated recently when sunlight reflected from solar panels and mirrors on Lunar Orbiter V was detected photographically at Earth. Moderate-sized reflectors will allow optical tracking with surface telescopes as far as Venus and Mars, and observations above the Earth's atmosphere would permit tracking in a large portion of the solar system. Significant improvements in the ephemerides of the Moon and planets are possible by photographing orbiters with respect to the stellar background. Optical data in the plane perpendicular to the line of sight may also be a useful supplement to the radar tracking data during critical maneuvers.
Qualitative methods in field research: An Indonesian experience in community based practice

Occupational therapy is increasing its focus on community based practice, a focus that necessitates innovative approaches to evaluating rehabilitation programs. The appropriate match of methodology to research question is important, but conducting rigorous research in a community setting has numerous practical and academic difficulties, particularly in the cross-cultural context. A lack of cultural and religious sensitivity may compromise the quality of data collected, while thorough reliability procedures are required to enhance the credibility of study findings. The purpose of this article is to illustrate how a qualitative, multimethod approach to research (questionnaires, key informant interviews, and focus group interviews) was used in a cross-cultural evaluation study of volunteer community based rehabilitation cadres in Indonesia. The strengths and limitations of each method are examined in the context of their application to this experience in the field.
Childhood overweight and orthodontists: results of a survey.

OBJECTIVES A survey among orthodontists to assess clinical procedures of overweight screening and nutrition intervention among youth was conducted. METHODS Orthodontists identified through professional society membership were invited to participate via email. The web-based survey collected information regarding overweight screening, nutrition counseling, and referral habits. RESULTS 91% of 111 respondents reported counseling children and families on nutrition recommendations. Referral of overweight youth to a dietitian or pediatrician was sporadic. Orthodontists who felt that overweight had a severe negative impact on dental health were more likely to screen patients for overweight and perform dietary counseling for all patients than orthodontists who felt the impact of overweight on dental health was less severe. CONCLUSIONS Orthodontists report regularly engaging in dietary discussions with their pediatric patients and may serve as important clinical advocates for healthy dietary choices among youth. Overweight screening and referral practices among orthodontists to appropriate health professionals should be further evaluated as interventions for pediatric obesity.
Exome sequencing: the sweet spot before whole genomes

The development of massively parallel sequencing technologies, coupled with new massively parallel DNA enrichment technologies (genomic capture), has allowed the sequencing of targeted regions of the human genome in rapidly increasing numbers of samples. Genomic capture can target specific areas in the genome, including genes of interest and linkage regions, but this limits the study to what is already known. Exome capture allows an unbiased investigation of the complete protein-coding regions in the genome. Researchers can use exome capture to focus on a critical part of the human genome, allowing larger numbers of samples than are currently practical with whole-genome sequencing. In this review, we briefly describe some of the methodologies currently used for genomic and exome capture and highlight recent applications of this technology.
Branch Point Identification and Sequence Requirements for Intron Splicing in Plasmodium falciparum

Splicing of mRNA is an ancient and evolutionarily conserved process in eukaryotic organisms, but intron-exon structures vary. Plasmodium falciparum has an extreme AT nucleotide bias (>80%), providing a unique opportunity to investigate how evolutionary forces have acted on intron structures. In this study, we developed an in vivo luciferase reporter splicing assay and employed it in combination with lariat isolation and sequencing to characterize 5' and 3' splicing requirements and experimentally determine the intron branch point in P. falciparum. This analysis indicates that P. falciparum mRNAs have canonical 5' and 3' splice sites. However, the 5' consensus motif is weakly conserved and tolerates nucleotide substitution, including the fifth nucleotide in the intron, which is more typically a G nucleotide in most eukaryotes. In comparison, the 3' splice site has a strong eukaryotic consensus sequence and adjacent polypyrimidine tract. In four different P. falciparum pre-mRNAs, multiple branch points per intron were detected, with some at U instead of the typical A residue. A weak branch point consensus was detected among 18 identified branch points. This analysis indicates that P. falciparum retains many consensus eukaryotic splice site features, despite having an extreme codon bias, and possesses flexibility in branch point nucleophilic attack.
The role of job strain on return to work after carpal tunnel surgery.

Aims: To examine the impact of job strain (that is, high psychological job demands and low job control) on return to work and work role functioning at two months, six months, or both, following carpal tunnel release surgery. Methods: A community based cohort of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) patients from physician practices was recruited between April 1997 and October 1998 throughout Maine (USA). 128 patients at two months and 122 at six months completed all relevant questions. A three level outcome variable indicated whether patients had: (1) returned to work functioning successfully, (2) returned to work functioning with limitations, or (3) not returned to work for health reasons. Two job strain measures were created: one, by combining psychological job demands and job control; and two, by dividing demands by control. Ordinal logistic regression was used to identify predictors of the three level work outcome variable. Results: After adjustment, workers with high demands and high control (active work) were less likely to successfully return to work (OR = 0.22; p = 0.014) at two months. Having a job with higher demands than job control (high strain) predicted not returning to work or returning to work but not successfully meeting job demands (OR = 0.14; p = 0.001), at six months. Conclusions: The findings underscore the role of psychosocial work conditions, as defined by the Karasek demand-control model, in explaining a worker’s return to work. Clinicians, researchers, and employers should consider a multidimensional and integrative model of successful work role functioning upon return to work. Moreover, since the evidence of the effects of work process changes on the reduction of CTS is very scarce, these findings point to the opportunity for collaborative workplace interventions to facilitate successful return to work.
Update in Acute Pain Management in Children

A little more than a decade ago, most children presenting themselves for a surgical procedure had to limit their expectation for pain relief to infrequent, intermittent doses of an analgesic. Since then, intense research has significantly advanced our understanding of pediatric pharmacology and pharmacodynamics. The development of child-sized equipment has improved the safety and ease of the placement of regional blocks. Regional analgesia techniques can offer superior pain management and improved surgical outcomes with a low incidence of side effects. Continuous infusions through epidural or peripheral catheter are able to extend analgesia well beyond the immediate postoperative period and offer prolonged pain relief in trauma or other medical conditions. Acute pain management in children should follow a multimodal approach. An integration of opioid, nonopioid, adjunctive, behavioral-cognitive, and regional techniques will be most successful for achieving optimal analgesia, safety, and patient satisfaction. This report will be limited to new developments in regional analgesia, particularly to methods of continuous administration of analgesia.
Assessment of NASA GISS CMIP5 and Post-CMIP5 Simulated Clouds and TOA Radiation Budgets Using Satellite Observations. Part I: Cloud Fraction and Properties

AbstractAlthough many improvements have been made in phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5), clouds remain a significant source of uncertainty in general circulation models (GCMs) because their structural and optical properties are strongly dependent upon interactions between aerosol/cloud microphysics and dynamics that are unresolved in such models. Recent changes to the planetary boundary layer (PBL) turbulence and moist convection parameterizations in the NASA GISS Model E2 atmospheric GCM (post-CMIP5, hereafter P5) have improved cloud simulations significantly compared to its CMIP5 (hereafter C5) predecessor. A study has been performed to evaluate these changes between the P5 and C5 versions of the GCM, both of which used prescribed sea surface temperatures. P5 and C5 simulated cloud fraction (CF), liquid water path (LWP), ice water path (IWP), cloud water path (CWP), precipitable water vapor (PWV), and relative humidity (RH) have been compared to multiple satellite observations ...
The influence of surface roughness on the particle-pair distribution function of dilute suspensions of non-colloidal spheres in simple shear flow

The pair distribution function of 3.18 mm diameter particles was measured in the plane of shear of a simple shear flow at concentrations of 5%, 10% and 15% by volume. A new direct flow-visualization procedure and a new pattern recognition algorithm were used in the investigation. The measurements show a depletion of bound pairs of particles in the direction of flow. A simple model which includes the effect of particle surface roughness on the particle interactions and the pair distribution function is presented. An important effect of surface roughness is that the particles in a suspension can experience irreversible interactions in the presence of an externally imposed simple shear flow. The model shows that such irreversibilities eliminate all bound pairs of particles in the plane of shear by displacing particles out of the closed orbit trajectory region. Surface roughness is found to induce significant asymmetry in the fore and aft region of a two-particle interaction. The measurements and predictions are in qualitative agreement with these conclusions.
Anomaly detection based on unsupervised niche clustering with application to network intrusion detection

We present a new approach to anomaly detection based on unsupervised niche clustering (UNC). The UNC is a genetic niching technique for clustering that can handle noise, and is able to determine the number of clusters automatically. The UNC uses the normal samples for generating a profile of the normal space (clusters). Each cluster can later be characterized by a fuzzy membership function that follows a Gaussian shape defined by the evolved cluster centers and radii. The set of memberships are aggregated using a max-or fuzzy operator in order to determine the normalcy level of a data sample. Experiments on synthetic and real data sets, including a network intrusion detection data set, are performed and some results are analyzed and reported.
Rejuvenation of the muscle stem cell population restores strength to injured aged muscles

The elderly often suffer from progressive muscle weakness and regenerative failure. We demonstrate that muscle regeneration is impaired with aging owing in part to a cell-autonomous functional decline in skeletal muscle stem cells (MuSCs). Two-thirds of MuSCs from aged mice are intrinsically defective relative to MuSCs from young mice, with reduced capacity to repair myofibers and repopulate the stem cell reservoir in vivo following transplantation. This deficiency is correlated with a higher incidence of cells that express senescence markers and is due to elevated activity of the p38 a and p38b mitogen-activated kinase pathway. We show that these limitations cannot be overcome by transplantation into the microenvironment of young recipient muscles. In contrast, subjecting the MuSC population from aged mice to transient inhibition of p38a and p38b in conjunction with culture on soft hydrogel substrates rapidly expands the residual functional MuSC population from aged mice, rejuvenating its potential for regeneration and serial transplantation as well as strengthening of damaged muscles of aged mice. These findings reveal a synergy between biophysical and biochemical cues that provides a paradigm for a localized autologous muscle stem cell therapy for the elderly.
Packaging system S-parameter model decomposition and on-demand composition using directional junctions for signal integrity transient simulation

A simple method for packaging system S-parameter model decomposition and on-demand composition on the circuit model level is proposed in this paper to make the multi-aggressor single-victim channel group circuit modeling easier, more flexible, and more manageable. This approach uses the concept of the directional junction model proposed in [1][2] combined with small two-port single-channel circuit model and four-port single crosstalk circuit model as building bricks. The system SI transient simulation using the composited model is very accurate compared with the one using the original full-matrix or sparse matrix channel group S-parameter model.
Three-dimensional flow induced by the torsional motion of a cylinder

The flow induced outside a highly flexible cylindrical sheet executing pure torsional motion is studied. The problem is governed by the torsional Reynolds number R= γa2/ν, where γ is the axial rate of rotation, a is the cylinder radius and ν is the fluid kinematic viscosity. An interesting feature of this problem is that the axial pressure gradient of the primary flow induces a weak transverse flow in the meridional plane. The axial component of this motion takes the form of a wall jet. The high Reynolds number asymptotics for the shear stress parameters and the radially entrained flow are presented and compared with full numerical results computed over the large range of Reynolds numbers 10− 2 ≤ R ≤ 106.
Nurse practitioners in community health settings today.

During a typical week as a Family Nurse Practitioner, I provide primary care to uninsured immigrant patients on a mobile van, teach an undergraduate nursing course entitled Community and Environmental Health Nursing at the Catholic University of America, screen Hispanic women for breast and cervical cancer through Celebremos La Vida (Celebrate Life) at Georgetown University’s Lombardi Cancer Center and lead continuing professional education programs for health care providers who work with the poor and underserved through the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved (ACU)’s Pediatric Asthma Prevention Project and Early Childhood Caries Prevention Project. As a Family Nurse Practitioner, I am trained for a variety of practice settings, including primary care, teaching, research, and management. It is this flexibility and variety of work that I thrive on and that allows me the opportunity to be part of many exciting public health projects, while still having time for my family and community. This varied skill set allows me and other Nurse Practitioners to take on multiple roles in the evolving health system. The ACU is a non-profit, transdisciplinary organization of clinicians, advocates, and health care organizations united in a common mission to improve the health of America’s underserved populations and to enhance the development and support of the health care clinicians serving these populations. The ACU defines transdisciplinary care as a holistic approach to patient assessment and treatment through a highly collaborative team of health care professionals. This approach only allows health care professionals other than physicians increased decision-making powers in patient care; furthermore, through continuing cross-disciplinary education and regulated overlapping roles, greater efficiency in patient care can be achieved. This collaboration is beneficial to patients and could be a cost-effective way to improve the U.S. health system, and to expand it to treat those who currently go without regular health care. Furthermore, for people living with long-term illnesses such as HIV, hypertension and diabetes, Nurse Practitioners (NPs) can help provide long term patient education and preventive care.
Catatonia: a review.

Background. To write an up-to-date review paper on catatonia using published literature.Methods. This review involved a search using the terms “catatonia,” “stupor,” “catatonic schizophrenia” and “catalepsy” in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the Medline database and EMBASE and PsychINFO. Additional use was made of these databases in searching for randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, cohort studies, case-control studies, case series, case reports and reviews.Results. Available evidence indicates that catatonia is a common neuropsychiatric syndrome characterized by the presence of various motor signs and symptoms. The underlying pathophysiologic-mechanisms points to a heterogeneous group of etiologies. Current classifications are based on the type of presentation and the duration of symptoms; agitated versus retarded and acute versus chronic. Available data supports the efficacy of benzodiazepines and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in the treatment of this condition, but the treatment...
Public interventions in agricultural markets in Malaysia: rice and palm oil.

This paper explores the goals, nature and results of government interventions into the rice and palm oil markets of Malyasia since independence. Its purpose is to compare the relatively successful way in which the government has promoted the palm oil industry with the failure of interventions in the rice market. The historical comparison of public efforts in these two industries points up the importance of setting consistent goals, of encouraging crops which match the natural resource endowment of the country, of having a private sector which is capable of responding to production incentives, and of letting supply and demand determine prices when designing a strategy of market intervention. Above all, it is important to distinguish programs of intervention based primarily on efficiency criteria from those which seek to perform social welfare (e.g. income support) and political (e.g. food security) functions as well.
Impedance spectra in the abdominal aorta of dogs: response to vasoactive drugs

Impedance spectra were measured in the abdominal aorta of dogs under normal and altered physiological states. A bolus injection of norepinephrine was given to provide an acute simulation of a hypertensive state. Nitroprusside, a common antihypertensive agent, is infused to indicate the effects of vasodilation. Norepinephrine induces an increase in impedance modulus and a corresponding reduction in phase angle relative to a normal state. Nitroprusside's effects are just opposite to those of norepinephrine. >
Procedural End Points in Pulmonary Vein Antrum Isolation Are We There Yet

If you have ever been on a long car trip with a small child, you have almost certainly encountered the age-old question, “Are we there yet?” Although a careful review of the literature reveals surprisingly little in the way of rigorous studies on this matter, strong anecdotal evidence suggests that the longer or more arduous the journey and the more desirable the destination, the more likely it is this question will be asked. In our quest to develop a cure for atrial fibrillation (AF) with our catheters, electrophysiologists have found ourselves asking the very same question. This is no surprise, because the journey has been difficult, with long, technically demanding procedures, and the destination, the cure of a disease with often profound symptoms and morbidity that affects millions, is coveted. In the world of pulmonary vein antrum isolation (PVAI), what we are really asking is whether our lesions will provide our patients with a lasting cure of their AF: “Are we there yet?” Article p 136 Unfortunately, the answer to this question has not come easily. AF is notoriously sporadic. Just because a patient’s AF is gone one moment does not mean it will not return the next. No imaging or serological testing can yet identify or rule out the heart’s propensity to develop this arrhythmia. Instead, we must hunt for surrogates to tell us whether or not we have adequately diminished the ability of a patient’s heart to develop AF. Here again, though, the questions and their answers are difficult to illuminate. Ablation strategies aimed at curing AF have sought to either eliminate the triggers of AF by isolating them from the rest of the atrial myocardium or to alter the atrium in such a way that reentrant wave fronts of AF can no longer be maintained, also referred …
Evaluation and simplified and complex thermal finite element models for 3-die stacked chip scale ball grid array package

Thermal performance testing was conducted on a 16/spl times/16mm, 2-metal layer, 591-ball, 0.50mm pitch, 1.20mm overall height chip scale package (CSP) containing an offset pyramid configuration of three stacked Delco thermal test die. Die sizes from bottom-to-top wee 10.16/spl times/10.16mm (Delco PST6), 6.35/spl times/6.35mm (Delco PST-4), and 3.817ties;3.81mm (Delco PST-2). Testing was carried out using eight different multi-die power configurations in a natural convection environment to highlight the effects of radiant and convective heat transfer. Measured data was obtained on a sample size of five packages to calculate Theta JA, Psi JT, and Psi JB values at each of the eight different multi-die power configurations. Furthermore, Theta JC and theta JB cold plate measurements were also obtained. For the purpose of thermal testing, each of the five CSP test samples were mounted on a JEDEC standard 101.5/spl times/1.60mm IS2P thermal test board. Measured results are used to suggest a methodology for the generation of linear superposition matrix equations as a means to present multi-die package thermal test data such that it may account for changes in thermal cross talk between die at varying die power configurations. The ANSYS finite element analysis modelling software was used to simulate the eight aforementioned thermal test configurations for the purpose of verifying the acquired test data. Both simplified and complex package substrate metal layer trace patterns were evaluated for simulation accuracy. The simplified patterns consisted of conductor traces that do not follow the detailed routing of the actual design, but instead extend straight outward towards the substrate edge. Alternatively, the complex patterns consisted of the detailed trace layers exactly as they are physically routed on the CSP susbtrate. In both the complex and simplified metal layer trace pattern finite element models, vias that connect the top and bottom trace layers were represented by two-dimensional thermal conduction elements. Simulated results for both the simplified and complex metal layer trace pattern models are compared to the acquired test data. The CSP package structure, thermal test data, and finite element models are presented and discussed.
Kinetic studies of cellodextrins hydrolyses by exocellulase from Trichoderma reesei

The kinetics of the hydrolyses of cellotriose and of cellotetraose by cellobiohydrolase were studied using a convenient integral technique. Reaction mechanisms and mathematical models were postulated to describe the reactions. The end-products of the reaction were found to be inhibitory toward hydrolysis in a competitive mode. Hydrolysis of cellotraose produces cellobiose and hydrolysis of cellotriose produces cellobiose and glucose. Both sugars inhibit the enzyme with cellobiose being a stronger inhibitor.
Representing intestinal drug transport in silico: an agent-oriented approach

A prototype epithelio-mimetic device (EMD) was developed and tested. EMD components are designed to map logically to biological components at multiple levels of resolution. Those components are engineered to represent actual components within an in vitro cellular system used to study intestinal drug transport. Our goal is that the behaviors of the EMD closely match observed behaviors of the in vitro systems for a wide variety of drugs. Early stage system verification is achieved. The general patterns of experimental results from the EMD for a set of hypothetical drugs having a variety of physicochemical properties reasonably match observed patterns for a wide range of experimental conditions.
Lifetime effects of drive voltage for a commercially-available ohmic-contact RF MEMS switch

This work presents the first report on the influence of actuation voltage on high-voltage-switching lifetime with a population study of commercially-available ohmic contact RF MEMS switches manufactured by Omron. For switches actuated with a bias voltage of 15% less than Omron's specified operating point a greater than 6× increase in lifetime is observed for 75% of devices. This is despite the fact that a 15% reduced voltage increases the bouncing behavior of the switch. Simulated results suggest that it is likely more important that the 15% reduced voltage decreases the impact velocity and force by 24% and 42% respectively. While the increase in switch lifetime is significant, it comes with a penalty of increased dispersion in the achieved contact resistance (1-3.1 Ω versus 1-2.5 Ω) and increased settling time (48 μs versus 13 μs).
Long-Range Chromatin Interactions

To accommodate genomes in the limited space of the cell nucleus and ensure the correct execution of gene expression programs, genomes are packaged in complex fashion in the three-dimensional cell nucleus. As a consequence of the extensive higher-order organization of chromosomes, distantly located genomic regions on the same or distinct chromosomes undergo long-range interactions. This article discusses the nature of long interactions, mechanisms of their formation, and their emerging functional roles in gene regulation and genome maintenance.