cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bootstrapping Motor Skill Learning with Motion Planning.

Learning a robot motor skill from scratch is impractically slow; so much so that in practice, learning must be bootstrapped using a good skill policy obtained from human demonstration. However, relying on human demonstration necessarily degrades the autonomy of robots that must learn a wide variety of skills over their operational lifetimes. We propose using kinematic motion planning as a completely autonomous, sample efficient way to bootstrap motor skill learning for object manipulation. We demonstrate the use of motion planners to bootstrap motor skills in two complex object manipulation scenarios with different policy representations: opening a drawer with a dynamic movement primitive representation, and closing a microwave door with a deep neural network policy. We also show how our method can bootstrap a motor skill for the challenging dynamic task of learning to hit a ball off a tee, where a kinematic plan based on treating the scene as static is insufficient to solve the task, but sufficient to bootstrap a more dynamic policy. In all three cases, our method is competitive with human-demonstrated initialization, and significantly outperforms starting with a random policy. This approach enables robots to to efficiently and autonomously learn motor policies for dynamic tasks without human demonstration.
“Man and machinery blended in one”: Dexter's wheelchair and the Victorian railway in Wilkie Collins's The Law and the Lady

Miserrimus Dexter, from Wilkie Collins's The Law and the Lady (1875), is remarkably unlike other wheelchair users in Victorian literature. Born without legs, Dexter vigorously “self-propel[s] in hi...
Surgical Technique for Removal of an Ovarian Ectopic Pregnancy: Minimizing Disruption of the Ovarian Stroma

Study Objective To successfully complete laparoscopic removal of an ovarian ectopic pregnancy without the use of electrosurgery and with minimization of damage to the ovarian stroma. Design N/A Setting The patient was placed in dorsal lithotomy position in steep Trendelenburg to aid in performance of pelvic laparoscopy. Insufflation was carried out to 15mmHg. A primary 10mm umbilical trocar was used for the camera and three additional 5mm assist ports were placed. Patients or Participants The patient is a 34-year-old G4P1021 who was diagnosed with presumed left adnexal ectopic pregnancy at 6 weeks gestation following ovulation induction with intrauterine insemination. The patient required three doses of methotrexate in order to experience a decrease in HCG level. The patient then presented with worsening pelvic pain, and repeat transvaginal ultrasound showed presumed left ovarian ectopic pregnancy without evidence of rupture. After options counseling, she opted to proceed with laparoscopic removal of the ectopic pregnancy. Interventions Diagnostic laparoscopy, removal of left ovarian ectopic pregnancy using an Endoloop device Measurements and Main Results Final pathology confirmed ovarian ectopic pregnancy. HCG levels declined to Conclusion Ovarian ectopic pregnancies can be safely and effectively removed using this simple technique while minimizing the risk of damage to ovarian stroma that may occur when performing electrosurgery or a wedge resection.
When Watson Learned the Trick

Arthur Conan Doyle placed two very short Holmes and Watson stories in very similar settings, but very dissimilar chronological contexts: The date when the action in the first story occurred is clear, but the date for the second story is not. This paper is an attempt to clear things up a bit.
Reproducing Shadow Corrosion on Zircaloy-2 Using In-Situ Proton Irradiation

Abstract The shadow corrosion phenomenon has been an unsolved issue for many decades now. Its unique occurrences were only observed in Boiling Water Reactors (BWRs). In the reactor setting, the use of Ni-based alloys or stainless steel near Zircaloy-2 cladding or fuel channel causes localized enhanced corrosion of the zirconium alloy at the contact point or where the two dissimilar metals are in close proximity. Under the radiation field, a galvanic coupling phenomenon has been identified as the governing mechanism for shadow corrosion. This form of corrosion, however, has not been successfully replicated outside of the reactor environment. In-situ proton irradiation-corrosion experiments were carried out to replicate a shadow on Zircaloy-2 with an electrically coupled Ni alloy. The precise control of proton flux and estimated hydrogen peroxide concentration, as well as comprehensive oxide thickness measurements, were used to develop an empirical model for shadow corrosion under neutron irradiation.
Empowering Freshmen with Technology Skills: Wireless Routers.

Most freshmen taking required, introductory information systems courses do not understand why they are required to take such courses and can’t imagine that they will learn anything they don’t already know. This paper presents an exercise that will excite and enthuse students about their computers and Information Systems in general. Every freshman is familiar with wireless network connections having used them with both their computers and their phones. The setup of those wireless networks however is somewhat of a mystery and considered far too complex to deal with by most students. This paper outlines a strategy for demystifying the technology and involving students in hands-on learning. By actually setting up a wireless router students gain confidence in their computer skills and become interested in learning more about information systems. This paper describes the process used to gain their interest and includes a handbook that can be used with students everywhere.
Use of suprapubic cystostomy tube: Helpful adjunct to transurethral resection of prostate

Abstract The use of a suprapubic cystostomy tube is a helpful adjunct to transurethral resection of the prostate. After using the tube in more than 200 transurethral resections of the prostate, the authors believe that it is an easily performed and safe procedure. It promotes greater and uninterrupted visibility by keeping the bladder partially decompressed. The advantages and disadvantages of the suprapubic cystostomy tube are discussed.
Initial design of the "Plug-n-Analyze" framework for architecture tradeoff analysis

The paper presents an initial design of the "Plug-n-Analyze" framework for the tradeoff analysis in determining architecture alternatives that have different strength and weakness on quality attributes. The framework provides: (i) architecture alternative negotiation aids among multiple stakeholders; (ii) visualization aids for understanding complicated interactions and tradeoff dependencies among quality attributes; and (iii) a general environment by integrating independent analysis methods by simply "plugging" and generating architecture options for fully "analyzing".
Protein hydration. II. Specific heat of egg albumin.

Abstract A simple calorimeter capable of measuring the specific heats of proteins as well as the amount of water frozen has been constructed. The apparent partial specific heat of egg albumin in relatively dilute solutions is 0.396 ± 0.022 at about 11 °. Below about 0.4g H2O/g egg albumin, it is 0.282 ± 0.061 and that of the water associated with the protein is 1.247 ± 0.023. The amount of water per gram of egg albumin remaining unfrozen is independent of the protein concentration in solution and depends only on the temperature of freezing. At −1 °, −3 °, −5 ° and −7 ° the unfrozen water in H2O/g protein were 0.606, 0.510, 0.455, and 0.413, respectively. Above about 0.2 g H2O/g protein the apparent partial specific volume of egg albumin is about 0.75 at 25 °. Below this water content the value is 0.781 and that for water associated with the protein is about 0.80.
A General-Purpose Rule Extractor for SCFG-Based Machine Translation

We present a rule extractor for SCFG-based MT that generalizes many of the contraints present in existing SCFG extraction algorithms. Our method's increased rule coverage comes from allowing multiple alignments, virtual nodes, and multiple tree decompositions in the extraction process. At decoding time, we improve automatic metric scores by significantly increasing the number of phrase pairs that match a given test set, while our experiments with hierarchical grammar filtering indicate that more intelligent filtering schemes will also provide a key to future gains.
Beyond Born-Oppenheimer

A combined experimental and theoretical study sheds light on the intricate effects that can occur during chemical reactions.
Estradiol Exerts Neuroprotective Effects When Administered After Ischemic Insult

Background and Purpose—17β-Estradiol (E2) has been reported to exert neuroprotective effects when administered before an ischemic insult. This study was designed to determine whether E2 treatment after ischemia exerts the same effects and, if so, how long this therapeutic window remains open, and whether the effects are related to changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF). Methods—Female Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). In protocol 1, E2 was administered (100 μg/kg IV followed immediately by subcutaneous implantation of crystalline E2 in a silicone elastomer tube) to ovariectomized females (OVX+E2) at 0.5 (n=8), 1 (n=6), 2 (n=7), 3 (n=6), or 4 (n=9) hours after MCAO. Intact (INT; n=6) and ovariectomized females (OVX; n=12) were subjected to MCAO and received vehicle instead of E2. Two days after MCAO the animals were killed, and ischemic lesion volume was determined by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. In protocol 2, CBF was monitored before a...
Teachers Are Making a Difference: Understanding the Influence of Favorite Teachers

Using the theoretical framework of occupational socialization, the purpose of this study was to examine preservice physical education teachers’ beliefs and values of teachers and teaching through analysis and interpretation of favorite teacher narratives. One hundred and eighty six preservice physical education teachers’ narratives were collected and analyzed using open and axial coding (Corbin & Strauss, 2008). The qualities and characteristics identified through analysis were organized into seven inclusive sub-categories of favorite teacher characteristics and abilities and were articulated into three central themes, described as Pay it Forward, Caring in Teaching, and Motivated to Learn. The findings suggest that understanding favorite teacher influences on preservice teachers provides insights into maximizing the impact of physical education teacher education programs. Key Words: Caring, Physical Education, Preservice Teachers, Teacher Socialization, Qualitative Research. Those, whose careers lay firmly intertwined within the corridors of learning and the pathways of formal education, know that teaching is a rewarding and tenuous career of highs and lows, filled with known objectives which are imagined, yet rarely witnessed. Teachers of physical education know this all too well, because the results of one’s efforts are built in the present, but are not seen until well into the learner’s future. For example, the objectives of physical education professionals have included instilling in students a perspective of physical activity and health that students will develop into a lifelong pursuit of healthy, active lives. Yet, the outcomes of these stated objectives and philosophies often are not seen until many years later. Through dedication, passion, caring, knowledge, intelligence, willingness, creativity, and support, teachers inspire students to not only pursue careers and dreams that they helped instill but also to lead healthy, active lifestyles. This is particularly true for individuals wanting to reenter the corridors of education as teachers. It should not be surprising to discover that prospective teachers have a well-developed set of personal beliefs about learning and teaching prior to entering a preservice teacher education program (Calderhead, 1991a, 1991b; Zeichner & Gore, 1990). Lortie's (1975) notion of "apprenticeship of observation" (p. 61) has constantly been used to categorize research examining epistemological beliefs, educational philosophies, and perspectives of preservice physical education teachers. As explained by Schempp and Graber (1992), a preservice teacher’s apprenticeship of observation “has a distinct and traceable influence on an individual’s future decisions, practices, and ideologies as a teacher” (p. 333). How we teach can be traced to beliefs and understandings formed about teaching and learning long before we enter formal teacher education.
Hans-Georg Gadamer and the Philosophy of Religion

Gadamer sought to distinguish his philosophical hermeneutics from theologically driven hermeneutics. Perhaps because of that, even though he has influenced contemporary theological hermeneutics, he has very little to say about theology or religion. What he does say about religion is drawn from a reductive interpretation of religion as myths meant that posit something transcendent to help us cope with our awareness of our death. Here I explain why he thought Christianity was such a paradoxical religion, how his views might be useful for philosophers of religion and how they have been useful for theologians. I end with a critical discussion of Nicholas Wolterstorff's interpretation of Gadamer's views.
Exploring Carbohydrates with Bananas

Bananas can be used in many classroom lab activities to make carbohydrates easier for students to understand. I detail a simple series of banana activities that can be used to investigate carbohydrates across a wide range of levels of organization and that serve to connect carbohydrate concepts that might otherwise seem disparate to students. For example, the taste of a banana is linked to carbohydrate hydrolysis, as well as to organelle content within banana cells. Bananas can be used safely in any classroom, and inquiry-based learning can be used to progress through related course content. In addition, students will gain expertise in understanding cells viewed through the microscope as they try to examine the starch in the bananas.
Micromechanics of coalescence—I. Synergistic effects of elasticity, plastic yielding and multi-size-scale voids

Abstract Void growth and coalescence under physical states similar to those found in highly stressed regions ahead of a crack is investigated. The analysis introduces a representative material volume containing several large voids and a population of microvoids present from the very beginning, all of which are modeled as discrete entities. Plastic yielding has pervaded the material volume of interest. The underlying micromechanics of final rupture is dominated by a succession of rapidly growing microvoids. This involves the synergistic interaction between elasticity associated with high stress triaxiality, stiffness softening caused by plastic yielding and a rich supply of length scales arising from voids of vastly different sizes. A primary feature of the coalescence phase is an unstable deformation mode whereby a minute, benign void rapidly enlarges reaching a size set by the characteristic length of the locally elevated stress field. The process begins with a large void growing in concert with the plastic strain. Simultaneously, a local zone of high stress concentration emanates from the large void and spreads across the material raising the stresses at nearby microvoids. As a result, the hydrostatic stress surrounding one or more microvoids is raised to a level that activates an unstable deformation mode in which the stored elastic energy drives the plastic expansion of the microvoid. Although the overall stress decreases rapidly, small zones of high stress concentration are generated near growing voids—causing even smaller nearby microvoids to grow rapidly. This process continues until the submicron ligament fails by microcleavage or by shearing along crystallographic planes. Plastic yielding plays a crucial role in the above process by lowering the stress level required for the unstable-like growth mode of microvoids. The process outlined above appears to be the main operative mechanism in several observed failure modes in metal alloys. The morphologies of fracture surfaces dominated by flat dimpled rupture and voidsheet formation can be elucidated by the present work. For high-strength metals, our studies suggest that microvoid cavitation and link-up will increasingly dominate the failure process resulting in a brittle-like ductile rupture mode in which very little energy is expended.
Executive Strategic Processing During Verbal Fluency Performance in Children with Phenylketonuria

In the current study, we examined a specific aspect of executive abilities, strategic processing, in 32 children with early-treated phenylketonuria (PKU) and 41 typically-developing control children. To do so, clustering and switching were assessed during semantic (animal, food/drink) and phonemic (S, F) fluency tasks. Specifically, number of words generated, number of subcategory clusters, number of words in subcategory clusters, and number of switches between subcategories were analyzed to provide a refined analysis of strategic processing. Compared with controls, children with PKU generated significantly fewer words and made significantly fewer switches between subcategories in the food/drink trial and the phonemic fluency condition. Number of switches was associated with number of words generated in these tasks. In addition, a significant interaction between age and group in number of switches for the food/drink trial reflected a greater increase in number of switches for the control than PKU group as...
Dynamic Motion Planning for the Design of Robotic Gait Rehabilitation

In this paper we examine a method to control the stepping motion of a paralyzed person suspended over a treadmill using a robot attached to the pelvis. A leg swing motion is created by moving the pelvis without contact with the legs. The problem is formulated as an optimal control problem for an underactuated articulated chain. The optimal control problem is converted into a discrete parameter optimization and an efficient gradient-based algorithm is used to solve it. Motion capture data from an unimpaired human subject is compared to the simulation results from the dynamic motion optimization. Our results suggest that it is feasible to drive repetitive stepping on a treadmill by a paralyzed person by assisting in torso movement alone. The optimized, pelvic motion strategies are comparable to "hip-hiking" gait strategies used by people with lower limb prostheses or hemiparesis. The resulting motions can be found at the web site http://ww.eng.uci.edu/-chwang/project/stepper/stepper.html.
Occurrence of Phenylacetylglutamine in Cow's Milk

PHENYLACETYLGLUTAMINE is a normal constituent of human urine1, but other mammals including the dog, cat, rat, monkey, sheep and horse do not excrete this compound2. Phenylacetic acid administered orally to mammals results in the excretion of phenyl-acetylglycine. The synthesis of phenylacetylglutamine by human tissue has been described by Moldave and Meister3.
Climatic variability and its influence on ozone and PM pollution in 6 non-attainment regions in the United States

Abstract Regional ozone and particulate matter (PM) pollution have a strong dependence on prevailing meteorological conditions. The occurrence of favorable conditions on a regional scale may be influenced by concurrent large scale climatic events like El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). These events evolve over inter-annual and decadal timescales and may result in variability of seasonal/annual frequency of air pollution episodes. The scarcity of measurements of criteria pollutants, especially ozone and PM, limits the scope of observing the influence of climate variability in the past few decades on regional pollution levels. To identify these trends, the frequency of occurrence of conducive conditions during the summer (ozone) and winter (PM2.5) seasons are first obtained for the period 1950–2008. The identified days are subsequently utilized in a generalized linear modeling (GLM) framework to identify the effects of ENSO and PDO on the occurrence of exceedence conducive days. To demonstrate the applicability of the developed methodology, we study the influence of ENSO and PDO on summer ozone and winter PM2.5 pollution at 6 non-attainment regions in the United States.
Analytical Solution for the Stresses Arising in +/− Angle Ply Belts of Radial Tires

Abstract Stresses arising in the belts of radial ply tires, particularly those at the belt edge, are known to be critical to tire durability. Belt edge stresses are commonly calculated using finite element (FE) methods that provide estimates of the levels but do not necessarily give significant insight into the underlying mechanics. In contrast, analytical models can provide physical insight into the mechanisms affecting tire durability but are currently incomplete due to the challenges faced in obtaining closed-form mathematical solutions. Nevertheless, analytical solutions remain important to tire design and development because they can expose the entire design space, show the mathematical relationships between the variables, and allow rapid parameter studies. This work develops an analytical description of the belt deformations and stresses, particularly at the belt edge. The formulation captures all the first-order mechanics pertinent to finite width, antisymmetric +/− angle belt packages present in r...
An Alternative Purging Method: Controlling the Composition-Dependent Interaction in an Analysis of Rates

The purging method controlling for the composition-group interaction developed by Clogg and his associates has proven useful in demographic research. This article proposes an alternative method, partial CD purging, that controls the interaction between composition and the dependent variable. The purged rates from this new method are invariant to changes in the marginal distribution of composition, but those from the earlier purging method are not. Mathematical relationships between the proposed method and other techniques are also explored.
Indoor and outdoor urban atmospheric CO2: Stable carbon isotope constraints on mixing and mass balance

Abstract From July to November 2009, concentrations of CO2 in 78 samples of ambient air collected in 18 different interior spaces on a university campus in Dallas, Texas (USA) ranged from 386 to 1980 ppm. Corresponding δ13C values varied from −8.9‰ to −19.4‰. The CO2 from 22 samples of outdoor air (also collected on campus) had a more limited range of concentrations from 385 to 447 ppm (avg. = 408 ppm), while δ13C values varied from −10.1‰ to −8.4‰ (avg.=-9.0‰). In contrast to ambient indoor and outdoor air, the concentrations of CO2 exhaled by 38 different individuals ranged from 38,300 to 76,200 ppm (avg. = 55,100 ppm), while δ13C values ranged from −24.8‰ to −17.7‰ (avg. = −21.8‰). The residence times of the total air in the interior spaces of this study appear to have been on the order of 10 min with relatively rapid approaches (∼30 min) to steady-state concentrations of ambient CO2 gas. Collectively, the δ13C values of the indoor CO2 samples were linearly correlated with the reciprocal of CO2 concentration, exhibiting an intercept of −21.8‰, with r2 = 0.99 and p The average concentration of outdoor Dallas atmospheric CO2 was ∼17 ppm higher than the average of CO2 concentrations measured on the same campus 10 a ago. In addition, Dallas outdoor CO2 concentrations at both times were higher than the contemporaneous global atmospheric CO2 concentrations. This observation, plus the fact that the increase of ∼17 ppm in the average concentration of Dallas outdoor CO2 was comparable to the global increase of ∼18 ppm over the same 10-a interval, is consistent with a significant role for urban CO2 “factories” in the global atmospheric CO2 budget.
Calcium cycling proteins and heart failure: mechanisms and therapeutics

Ca2+-dependent signaling is highly regulated in cardiomyocytes and determines the force of cardiac muscle contraction. Ca2+ cycling refers to the release and reuptake of intracellular Ca2+ that drives muscle contraction and relaxation. In failing hearts, Ca2+ cycling is profoundly altered, resulting in impaired contractility and fatal cardiac arrhythmias. The key defects in Ca2+ cycling occur at the level of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), a Ca2+ storage organelle in muscle. Defects in the regulation of Ca2+ cycling proteins including the ryanodine receptor 2, cardiac (RyR2)/Ca2+ release channel macromolecular complexes and the sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase 2a (SERCA2a)/phospholamban complex contribute to heart failure. RyR2s are oxidized, nitrosylated, and PKA hyperphosphorylated, resulting in "leaky" channels in failing hearts. These leaky RyR2s contribute to depletion of Ca2+ from the SR, and the leaking Ca2+ depolarizes cardiomyocytes and triggers fatal arrhythmias. SERCA2a is downregulated and phospholamban is hypophosphorylated in failing hearts, resulting in impaired SR Ca2+ reuptake that conspires with leaky RyR2 to deplete SR Ca2+. Two new therapeutic strategies for heart failure (HF) are now being tested in clinical trials: (a) fixing the leak in RyR2 channels with a novel class of Ca2+-release channel stabilizers called Rycals and (b) increasing expression of SERCA2a to improve SR Ca2+ reuptake with viral-mediated gene therapy. There are many potential opportunities for additional mechanism-based therapeutics involving the machinery that regulates Ca2+ cycling in the heart.
Hot Variable Stars in the SMC Cluster NGC 330

In a sample of 150 hot stars in NGC 330, a SMC cluster containing a high fraction of Be stars, we searched for photometric variables using OGLE II data. At least one third of all stars are variable, with 38 being periodic. We found 27 pulsators (λ Eri variables), six eclipsing systems, two bursting sources, and several stars with unusual photometric behavior. Pulsations are present in ~30% of known Be stars, and they are long lived, lasting more than a decade. The strongest pulsators are associated with stars evolved from the main sequence.
Near-superhydrophobic behavior of multi-walled carbon nanotube thin films

Abstract Thin films of multi-walled carbon nanotubes created by standard drop and dry methodology are reported here to give water contact angles of ~ 138° accessing an intermediate region between smooth, apolar materials and superhydrophobic surfaces. Their near-superhydrophobic nature is attributed to hierarchical nanoscale roughness leading to the formation of Cassie–Baxter interfaces. While complete quantitative determination of surface energy parameters was prevented due to the porous nature of the films, the dispersive component of nanotube surface energy was found to be in the range of 39.1–47.8 mJ/m 2 .
Effect of selective surgical interruption of the anterior pituitary's blood supply on ACTH release.

The acute effect of selective surgical interruption of the anterior pituitary’s blood supply on the release of ACTH has been investigated in surgically stressed rats. The corticosterone secretory rate was used to evaluate the release of ACTH. In intact, sham-operated animals, corticosterone secretion was near maximal throughout a 50-min observation period. Removal of the pituitary greatly suppressed the secretion of corticosterone. Posterior lobectomy or transection of the portal vessels in the upper stalk had no apparent effect on ACTH release. This finding was interpreted to mean that the posterior pituitary and post-chiasmatic eminence are not obligatory sources of CRF. Transection of the pituitary stalk greatly suppressed ACTH release. This finding supports the view that the caudal hypophysial arteries do not provide the anterior pituitary with a significant amount of blood via the short portal vessels. Transection of the peduncular arteries or the stalk portal vessels in the lower stalk suppressed AC...
Oxidative heat treatment of 316L stainless steel for effective catalytic growth of carbon nanotubes

Abstract Substrates consisting of stainless steel (SS) type 316L have been typically considered as non-responsive to catalytic formation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MW-CNTs) because of the protective chromium oxide layers on their surfaces. In current practices lengthy multi-step pretreatments are needed to break down these protective layers. This study oxidized 316L SS wire mesh in air, at 800 °C, for time periods ranging from 1 to 20 min prior to its use as a substrate catalyst for CNT synthesis from pyrolyzate gases of polyethylene, i.e., a mixture of hydrocarbons and hydrogen. The shortest pretreatment of the substrate (1 min) produced the maximum yield of CNTs (0.0145 g/g of catalyst) in these experiments, whereas longer pretreatments resulted in progressively lower yields. The 10 min pretreatment produced MWCNT forests vertically growing in planes perpendicular to the substrate surface (the periphery of the cylindrical wires of the mesh), 20 μm long and 21 nm in diameter on the average. Shorter (1–9 min) or longer (11–20 min) substrate heat treatments did not produce aligned CNTs at this temperature. Oxidative heat treatments of the substrate lengthier than 20 min did not produced any nanotubes. The results demonstrated an expedient and cost-effective method to activate the 316L SS substrate, and resulted in controllable CNT growth.
Assessment of Modified Gaussian-2 (G2) and Density Functional Theories for Molecules Containing Third-Row Atoms Ga−Kr†

The performance of G2(MP2) and G2(MP2,SVP) theories for molecules containing third-row nontransition elements Ga−Kr is assessed. The average absolute deviation from experiment for 40 test energies is 1.92 kcal/mol for both methods compared to 1.37 kcal/mol for G2 theory. Four density functional theories (BPW91, BLYP, B3PW91, and B3LYP) are also assessed for the 40 test energies and found to have average absolute deviations of 3.58, 4.75, 2.03, and 2.62 kcal/mol, respectively. The B3PW91 density functional theory gives the best agreement with experiment in contrast to first- and second-row systems, where B3LYP does better than B3PW91. Of the four density functional methods, the B3PW91 method gave the best agreement with experiment for geometries and is about as accurate as second-order perturbation theory.
70 NUTRITION-INDUCED CHANGES IN INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH FACTORS (IGF'S) AND BINDING PROTEINS IN NEONATAL RATS

IGF's are potent hormones that may regulate perinatal growth and are found linked to high affinity binding proteins (BP's) in blood and tissues. To investigate the premise that caloric (cal) intake is a determinant of IGF/BP synthesis, 10d rats were milk deprived and given 24 hr infusions of saline (SAL), glucose (GLU), glucose/amino acids (GA), or glucose/amino acids (aa)/lipid (GAL). Acid chromatography was used to separate IGF's and BP in sera and liver cytosols. When compared to controls (CON), fasting (SAL) induced a marked decline (p<0.001) in serum IGF-1 and 2 concentrations [IGF-1,2] as well as liver [IGF-2]. In addition, serum [IGF-2] but not [IGF-1] was restored in GAL rats to near CON levels. BP activity, as measured in untreated specimens by radioreceptor assay (RRA-IGF-2), rose 2-4x above CON in SAL serum and liver. Infusion of aa suppressed the changes in liver BP activity and in pooled data, liver BP was inversely related to serum aa but not to cal intake. Increased liver BP activity appears due to a 40,000 MW BP. In serum, BP activity was inversely related to cal intake but not to [aa]. The fasting induced rise in serum BP activity appears due to a BP of 180,000 MW. Fasting induced changes in IGF & BP may be a protective mechanism to depress growth during cal restriction.
The Effectiveness of Self-Regulation by the Private Military and Security Industry

Security is generally considered a core public good provided by the state. Since outsourcing military and security tasks erodes the state's monopoly of force, we would expect regulation in this area to be stronger than in areas that do not have potentially lethal consequences. But neither caution nor careful regulation is evident in state responses to the emergence of private military and security companies; instead, the industry's rapid growth has outpaced government efforts to control their activities. This article assesses whether two industry associations, the US-based International Peace Operations Association (IPOA) and the British Association of Private Security Companies (BAPSC), have adopted mechanisms necessary for effective self-regulation, and it evaluates different national approaches to self-regulation. Neither the IPOA nor the BAPSC has established self-regulatory mechanisms able to monitor or sanction member companies' behavior. The IPOA's activities correspond to American patterns of self-regulation, while the BAPSC's efforts suggest weaker linkages with the British government than seen in other self-regulatory mechanisms.
An analytical solution for improved HIFU SAR estimation

Accurate determination of the specific absorption rates (SARs) present during high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) experiments and treatments provides a solid physical basis for scientific comparison of results among HIFU studies and is necessary to validate and improve SAR predictive software, which will improve patient treatment planning, control and evaluation. This study develops and tests an analytical solution that significantly improves the accuracy of SAR values obtained from HIFU temperature data. SAR estimates are obtained by fitting the analytical temperature solution for a one-dimensional radial Gaussian heating pattern to the temperature versus time data following a step in applied power and evaluating the initial slope of the analytical solution. The analytical method is evaluated in multiple parametric simulations for which it consistently (except at high perfusions) yields maximum errors of less than 10% at the center of the focal zone compared with errors up to 90% and 55% for the commonly used linear method and an exponential method, respectively. For high perfusion, an extension of the analytical method estimates SAR with less than 10% error. The analytical method is validated experimentally by showing that the temperature elevations predicted using the analytical method's SAR values determined for the entire 3D focal region agree well with the experimental temperature elevations in a HIFU-heated tissue-mimicking phantom.
Synthesis and Characterization of Nanostructured Pd-Mo Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Fuel Cells

Carbon-supported Pd100-xMox (0 ≤ x ≤ 40) nanoparticles have been synthesized by a simultaneous thermal decomposition of palladium acetylacetonate and molybdenum carbonyl in an organic solvent (o-xylene) in the presence of Vulcan XC-72R carbon, followed by heat treatment up to 900 °C in H2 atmosphere and characterized chemically and structurally. X-ray diffraction data reveal the formation of single-phase face-centered cubic solid solutions for 0 ≤ x ≤ 30 after heat treating at 900 °C and the occurrence of a Mo2C impurity phase for x = 40. The particle size of the Pd100-xMox samples increase with increasing heat treatment temperature as revealed by transmission electron microscopy. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and rotating disk electrode (RDE) measurements reveal that the alloying of Pd with Mo enhances the catalytic activity for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) as well as the stability (durability) of the electrocatalyst. However, the activity reaches a maximum at Pd90Mo10 and then decreases with increasing...
Effect of blood transfusion on the retinitis of pernicious anemia

This paper is based on observation of the effect of blood transfusion in thirteen patients seen at the Mayo Clinic. Hemorrhage was not prevented or its absorption hastened, but retinal edema and the tendency to hemorrhage gradually decreased. Abstract of thesis submitted for degree of Master of Science in Ophthalmology from the University of Minnesota.
The immune system and hypertension

A powerful interaction between the autonomic and the immune systems plays a prominent role in the initiation and maintenance of hypertension and significantly contributes to cardiovascular pathology, end-organ damage and mortality. Studies have shown consistent association between hypertension, proinflammatory cytokines and the cells of the innate and adaptive immune systems. The sympathetic nervous system, a major determinant of hypertension, innervates the bone marrow, spleen and peripheral lymphatic system and is proinflammatory, whereas the parasympathetic nerve activity dampens the inflammatory response through α7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. The neuro-immune synapse is bidirectional as cytokines may enhance the sympathetic activity through their central nervous system action that in turn increases the mobilization, migration and infiltration of immune cells in the end organs. Kidneys may be infiltrated by immune cells and mesangial cells that may originate in the bone marrow and release inflammatory cytokines that cause renal damage. Hypertension is also accompanied by infiltration of the adventitia and perivascular adipose tissue by inflammatory immune cells including macrophages. Increased cytokine production induces myogenic and structural changes in the resistance vessels, causing elevated blood pressure. Cardiac hypertrophy in hypertension may result from the mechanical afterload and the inflammatory response to resident or migratory immune cells. Toll-like receptors on innate immune cells function as sterile injury detectors and initiate the inflammatory pathway. Finally, abnormalities of innate immune cells and the molecular determinants of their activation that include toll-like receptor, adrenergic, cholinergic and AT1 receptors can define the severity of inflammation in hypertension. These receptors are putative therapeutic targets.
Biphasic uptake of iron-transferrin complex by l1210 murine leukemia cells and rat reticulocytes.

The kinetics of the cellular uptake of iron-transferrin complex was studied in L1210 murine leukemia cells and rat reticulocytes using 125I-transferrin. Saturation of transferrin with iron was necessary for optimal uptake. Following the incubation of cells with the radiolabeled complex a biphasic pattern of uptake was observed. The initial phase was rapid and relatively temperature-independent and was not altered by ethylamine, an inhibitor of transglutaminase activity which is necessary for receptor-mediated endocytosis. This phase was considered to result from receptor-ligand interaction which could be reversed to a great degree by replacement with unlabeled transferrin. A plateau was then reached, indicating a saturation of receptors. After 30 min a second phase of uptake was indicated by the second rise in the curve. This phase was slow, relatively temperature-dependent and could be abolished by ethylamine. It was interpreted as evidence of internalization of the ligand. Analysis of the data from competition studies with unlabeled transferrin indicated that the first phase might itself comprise a reversible and an irreversible step with a ratio of 5 to 1.4 for bound transferrin. Thus, the cellular uptake of iron-transferrin complex may consist of a reversible ligand-receptor interaction. Conformational changes may render this interaction irreversible and the internalization of the ligand may then follow.
Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the lung in childhood.

A rapidly progressing fatal primary lung neoplasm in an adolescent girl is presented with a brief literature review.
LONG-WAVE TRANSMISSION THROUGH POROUS BREAKWATERS

Abstract An analytical model for the study of wave transmission through porous breakwaters is developed. The analysis is based on the principles of harmonic treatment of linearized long-wave equations. Wave motion within the porous structure is simulated both by Darcy and Dupuit-Forchheimer types of flow. The model includes the effects of damping due to bottom friction, and provides a more realistic presentation of the breakwater characteristics. A comparison with other existing theories and experimental data shows satisfactory agreement.
Equilibrium faceting shape of auasicrystals at low temperatures: cluster model

Abstract We calculate the zero-temperature eauilibrium crystal shape (ECS), in a model specialized for the atomie structures of known icosahedral alloys such as Al-Cu-Li and Al-Cu-Fe. We use the approximations of assuming a cluster model of the atomie structure, taking a lattice-gas description of the interface and representing the non-periodic structure by a large cubic celi (rational approximant) of 32 clusters. We find that the facets normal to the fivefold and twofold icosahedral symmetry directions dominate the ECS, with additional smaller facets normal to the threefold directions.
Pelvic abscess or pseudoaneurysm: diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma following iliac arterial trauma.

Abstract Intra-abdominal abscesses often complicate operations for abdominal trauma and are particularly dangerous in patients whose injuries involve major vessels. We report our experience with 10 patients who developed pelvic abscesses among 75 survivors of iliac arterial injuries. Pseudoaneurysms of primarily repaired iliac arteries occurred in 8 of these 10 patients. Emergency operations were required for acute arterial thrombosis or hemorrhage in four patients; massive hemorrhage that complicated the drainage of pelvic abscesses led to the recognition of the pseudoaneurysms in the other four patients. Three of the eight patients with pseudoaneurysm died of postoperative complications; ischemic extremity sequelae occurred in all five survivors. The association of pelvic abscesses with the complications of iliac arterial repairs has not been previously emphasized. The integrity of an arterial repair should be arteriographically confirmed before proceeding with drainage of a pelvic abscess that developed after iliac arterial trauma.
Introduction to the special issue of Neuropsychology Review on cognitive enhancement and rehabilitation.

The field of neuropsychology has accomplished much in advancing our understanding of neurobehavioral compromise; yet, guidance for rehabilitating, enhancing, compensating for, or treating discernible impairments has been far more modest. In recent years, more trials than previously conducted are evaluating the worth of cognitive rehabilitation and enhancement approaches for improvement of neuropsychological performance and day-to-day functioning, and mitigation of neuropsychiatric symptoms and disease progression. This special issue of Neuropsychology Review, “Cognitive Enhancement and Rehabilitation,” features five papers, spanning applications in diseases and acquired disorders: some degenerative (i.e., Alzheimer's disease [AD] and mild cognitive impairment) and others fluctuating (i.e., alcohol use disorders and HIV infection). Future issues of the journal will focus on acquired head injury and consider rehabilitation efforts.
Determination of an effective radius from the gamma-ray multiplicities in fusion reactions

The gamma-ray multiplicity and the fusion cross-section data, together, are used to determine the effective radius employed in a previously developed inversion procedure. Implications on the relationship between the gamma-ray multiplicity and the average angular momentum are pointed out.
Public Trust in Health Information Sharing: Implications for Biobanking and Electronic Health Record Systems

Biobanks are made all the more valuable when the biological samples they hold can be linked to health information collected in research, electronic health records, or public health practice. Public trust in such systems that share health information for research and health care practice is understudied. Our research examines characteristics of the general public that predict trust in a health system that includes researchers, health care providers, insurance companies and public health departments. We created a 119-item survey of predictors and attributes of system trust and fielded it using Amazon's MTurk system (n = 447). We found that seeing one's primary care provider, having a favorable view of data sharing and believing that data sharing will improve the quality of health care, as well as psychosocial factors (altruism and generalized trust) were positively and significantly associated with system trust. As expected, privacy concern, but counterintuitively, knowledge about health information sharing were negatively associated with system trust. We conclude that, in order to assure the public's trust, policy makers charged with setting best practices for governance of biobanks and access to electronic health records should leverage critical access points to engage a diverse public in joint decision making.
A method for the quantitative measurement of rare earth elements in the ion microprobe

Abstract An ion probe method for the quantitative measurement of rare earth elements (REE) in phosphates is presented. The measurements are made with a Cameca IMS 3F ion microprobe. All complex molecular interferences are removed effectively with moderate energy filtering and the remaining mass spectrum is deconvoluted into contributions from REE and their monoxides only. Corrections for fluorides, which are present in fluorapatites, can be made. Sensitivity factors relative to Ca are determined from a terrestrial apatite standard. Comparison with other standards of known REE concentrations shows that working curves are linear over a wide range of concentrations. The method allows the measurements of all REE in spots of 5–20 μm in diameter. Detection limits depend on the overall REE pattern but are generally ⩽ 50 p.p.b. for the light REE and ∼ 200 p.p.b. for the heavy REE. Preliminary measurements on oxides show that this technique can be extended successfully to other phases.
Influence of directional strength-to-stiffness on the elastic-plastic transition of fcc polycrystals under uniaxial tensile loading

Abstract Crystal-based finite element simulations have been conducted on virtual face-centered cubic polycrystals under uniaxial tensile loading to study the influence of single crystal elastic anisotropy on the elastic–plastic transition behavior exhibited by the lattice strains. The lattice strain response is examined for different sets of crystals corresponding to different crystallographic fibers. The lattice strain response observed in the elastic–plastic transition is related to crystals associated with different crystallographic fibers yielding on average at different levels of the macroscopic stress. The lattice strain behavior is determined by a combination of the elastic and plastic anisotropies of the single crystals, which is quantified using the directional strength-to-stiffness ratio. The directional strength-to-stiffness ratio for a single crystal and a crystallographic fiber are introduced and they are used to explain the deviation of the lattice strains from linear behavior in the elastic–plastic transition leading up to fully developed plasticity.