cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantitative Analysis of Pedogenic Thresholds and Domains in Volcanic Soils.

Pedogenic thresholds describe where soil properties or processes change in an abrupt/nonlinear fashion in response to small changes in environmental forcing. Contrastingly, soil process domains refer to the space between thresholds where soil properties are either unchanged, or change gradually, across a broad range of environmental forcing. Here, we test quantitatively for the presence of thresholds in patterns of soil properties across a climatic gradient on soils developed from about 20-ky-old basaltic substrate on the Island of Hawai’i. From multiple soil properties, we quantitatively identified a threshold at about 750 mm/y of water balance (precipitation minus potential evapotranspiration), delineating the upper water balance boundary of soil fertility in these soils. From the threshold in the ratio of exchangeable Ca to total Ca, we identified the lower water balance boundary of soil fertility in these soils at − 1000 mm/y; however, this threshold was qualitatively described as it lies near the limit of the climate gradient data where the statistical approach cannot be applied. These two results represent the first time that pedogenic thresholds have been identified using statistically rigorous methods and the limitations of said methods, respectively. Comparing the 20-ky soils to soils that developed on basaltic substrates of 1.2 ky, 7.5 ky, 150 ky, and 4100 ky in a time–climate matrix, we found that our quantitative analysis supports previous qualitatively identified thresholds in the soils developed from older substrates. We also identified the 20 ky as the transition from kinetic to supply limitation for plant nutrients in soil in this system.
A Discretely Assembled Walking Motor

We introduce a discrete approach to robotic construction that enables the integration of structure, mechanism, and actuation and offers a promising route to on-demand robot fabrication. We demonstrate this with the assembly of a centimeter-scale Discretely Assembled Walking Motor (DAWM) capable of producing large scale linear or rotary motion from five millimeter-scale part types. The five part types each embody a limited capability including rigid (strut and node), flexural, magnetic, or coil. Through their arrangement in a three-dimensional lattice, we demonstrate the assembly of actuated mechanical degrees-of-freedom in a useful small-scale machine. This work extends prior research in discrete material systems with the inclusion of flexural and actuation components. Actuation is accomplished with the use of voice coil actuator components that produce up to 42mN of force and strokes of 2mm. This performance compares well with other millimeter scale actuators and provides sufficient force to lift 28 connected nodes in our assembled lattice, or 7 other actuator components. DAWM is capable of stepping at rates of up to 35Hz, resulting in velocities of up to 25mm/s. Multiple DAWM systems can be stacked to add force and can be driven in-phase or out-of-phase to produce intermittent or continuous force, respectively. This approach to robot fabrication discretizes robotic systems at a much finer granularity than prior work in modular robotics and demonstrates the possibility of assembling useful small-scale machines from a limited set of standard part types.
New Somatic Treatments for Child and Adolescent Depression

Depression is a common clinical problem in youth, with prevalence increasing significantly during the adolescent period. Although several evidence-based treatments are currently available for treating depression in adults, only a subset of these have been investigated in a pediatric sample. Unfortunately, even well-established, first-line interventions do not lead to sufficient treatment response for many children and adolescents suffering from depression. However, recent research has been conducted in the area of somatic treatments for youth with depression. This review focuses on current (past 3 years, including published results and ongoing studies) research on somatic treatments for adolescent depression in the following categories: psychopharmacology, nutraceuticals, interventions implicating motor and sensory systems, and neuromodulation. Results from recent randomized, controlled trials testing psychopharmacological options suggest that while antidepressants that have been recently approved for adult patients are safe and tolerable in children and adolescents, none have yet outperformed performed placebo in efficacy. Nutraceuticals, motor-sensory interventions, and neuromodulation techniques present safe and promising results, but few have been tested against controls to support effectiveness over current treatment options. This review of research on pediatric depression treatment from the past 3 years highlights some disappointments (negative results following some of the well-designed clinical trials) and gaps (preliminary studies in need of follow-up with robust methodology) but also some promising directions in research of the efficacy of these treatments in a pediatric sample. We offer suggestions for future research including consideration of treatment timing, sequencing, the role of symptom severity in directing treatment selection, the potential value of combined treatments, consideration of how to best account for high placebo response rates, and the incorporation of neurobiological assessments to examine mechanisms and biomarker predictors of treatment response.
A Multi-Institution Retrospective Case Report Analysis of Emergence of Breakthrough Zygomycoses in Patients on Prior Voriconazole Therapy.

Background: The incidence of Zygomycete infection has been increasing, almost exclusively in patients with hematologic malignancy with or without history of stem cell transplantation. In a single institution case control study, voriconazole was identified as an independent risk factor for the development of Zygomycete infections. A small number of single institution case reports have also been noted. Methods: Investigators for The Research on Adverse Drug Events and Reports (RADAR) project requested collaboration from cancer centers regarding the identification and characterization of Zygomycete infections in patients with prior exposure to voriconazole. 12 centers participated in this study project. Medical records were reviewed and data collected on a standard case report form including diagnosis, transplant type, concomitant risk factors, exposure times, concurrent infection and outcomes. A minimum of 5 days exposure was noted between clinical diagnosis and confirmation with either tissue or histology. Results: 54 cases were identified from 12 centers and with notably almost 75% mortality rate in individuals who were diagnosed with Zygomycoses with prior exposure to voriconazole.Of interest 31/54 cases received voriconazole for prophylaxis. Presenting characteristics were similar to those reported previously with lung as major site of infection. Concomitant risk factors included steroid use, immunosupression, GVH, neutropenia and diabetes. Simultaneous co-infections from diverse bacterial, viral and fungal infections were noted in 60% of patients signifying a compromised immune status. Drug therapy with an amphotericin product used to treat the identified Zygomycosis was highly ineffective with failure in 26/32 patients with resultant mortality. Conclusion: Rates of breakthrough zygomycoses with high mortality rates with prior voriconazole therapy are on the increase. Appropriateness of prophylactic use as well as early diagnosis and institution of antifungal therapy in these patients with Zygomycoses is essential to combat this devastating infection.
The relative importance of phylogeny and habitat in determining the presence and prominence of a granula iridica in hooved mammals.

Purpose To investigate the relationship between phylogeny and amount of shade in a species' habitat regarding the presence or absence of an iridal granula iridica (GI) in a large sample of Artiodactyl and Perissodactyl clades and using online resources. Methods The Comparative Ocular Pathology Laboratory of Wisconsin (COPLOW) archives were searched for glass slide material from Artiodactyl (even-toed) and Perissodactyl (odd-toed) ungulates. The slides were examined, and the presence or absence of the GI was noted. The phylogenetic tree of the ungulate species was inferred using TimeTree (http://www.timetree.org), and the habitat data are derived from Animal Diversity Web (https://animaldiversity.org/). We assessed the probability of the presence of GI occurring given the amount of shade in a species' environment using phylogenetic logistic regression. Results Forty-eight artiodactyl species were able to be evaluated and tabulated. Nine perissodactyl species were able to be evaluated. The phylogenetic logistic regression showed that the probability of GI presence was lower in artiodactyl species that inhabited shaded environments (βshaded = -1.774). Arctiodacyl species inhabiting a nonshaded environment were slightly more probable to have the GI present (βnonshaded = 0.023), with species inhabitating ambiguously shaded environments having a high probability of GI presence (βambiguous = 2.214). Conclusions Our results suggest that the GI may be a common morphological feature to shade the pupil in nonshaded environments, and, in its absence, increase the amount of light reaching the retina to improve vision in shaded environments for hooved mammals. Further research on the functional optics of the GI and studies that include additional ungulate species would further elucidate phylogenetic and ecological factors influencing the occurrence of GI in hooved mammals.
Regulatory Role of the Transcription Factor Twist1 in Cancer-Associated Muscle Cachexia

Muscle cachexia is a catabolic response, usually takes place in various fatal diseases, such as sepsis, burn injury, and chronic kidney disease. Muscle cachexia is also a common co-morbidity seen in the vast majority of advanced cancer patients, often associated with low quality of life and death due to general organ dysfunction. The triggering events and underlying molecular mechanisms of muscle wasting are not yet clearly defined. Our recent study has shown that the ectopic expression of Twist1 in muscle progenitor cells is sufficient to drive muscle structural protein breakdown and attendant muscle atrophy, reminiscent of muscle cachexia. Intriguingly, muscle Twist1 expression is highly induced in cachectic muscles from several mouse models of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), raising the interesting possibility that Twist1 may mediate PDAC-driven muscle cachexia. Along these lines, both genetic and pharmacological inactivation of Twist1 function was highly significant at protecting against cancer cachexia, which translated into a significant survival benefit in the experimental PDAC animals. From a translational perspective, elevated expression of Twist1 is also detected in cancer patients with severe muscle wasting, implicating a role of Twist1 in cancer cachexia, and further providing a possible target for therapeutic attenuation of cachexia to improve cancer patient survival. In this article, we will briefly summarize how Twist1 acts as a master regulator of tumor-induced cachexia, and discuss the relevance of our findings to muscle wasting diseases in general. The mechanism of decreased muscle mass in various catabolic conditions is thought to rely on similar pathways, and, therefore, Twist1-induced cancer cachexia may benefit diverse groups of patients with clinical complications associated with loss of muscle mass and functions, beyond the expected benefits for cancer patients.
Pain intensity, e-cigarette dependence, and cessation-related outcomes: The moderating role of pain-related anxiety.

Abstract Pain and nicotine dependence are prevalent, co-occurring conditions posited to interact in the manner of a positive feedback loop; however, most research to date has been conducted among tobacco cigarette smokers. Initial evidence suggests that pain is a risk factor for greater e-cigarette dependence, and additional research is needed to examine covariation between pain and e-cigarette use. There is reason to suspect that pain-related anxiety (i.e., the tendency to respond to pain with anxiety or fear) may be associated with greater e-cigarette dependence and difficulty quitting, and that pain intensity and pain-related anxiety may interact to confer greater risk for e-cigarette use. The current study represents the first examination of cross-sectional associations between pain intensity, pain-related anxiety, and e-cigarette dependence, motivation to quit, history of lifetime e-cigarette quit attempts, perceived barriers to cessation, and negative expectancies during abstinence from e-cigarettes. Participants (N = 520 e-cigarette users, 52.1% female, Mage = 34.85) completed an online survey assessing health behaviors. Results indicated that pain-related anxiety was positively associated with e-cigarette dependence and perceived barriers to cessation (ps
Role of adjuvant radiation therapy after radical hysterectomy in patients with stage IB cervical carcinoma and intermediate risk factors.

Objective To investigate the outcomes of observation-alone versus adjuvant radiotherapy for patients with lymph node negative FIGO 2018 stage IB cervical carcinoma following radical hysterectomy with negative prognostic factors. Methods The National Cancer Database was accessed and patients with no history of another tumor, diagnosed with intermediate risk (defined as tumor size 2–4 cm with lymph-vascular invasion or tumor size >4 cm) pathological stage IB squamous, adenosquamous carcinoma or adenocarcinoma of the cervix between January 2010 and December 2015 who underwent radical hysterectomy with lymphadenectomy and had negative tumor margins were identified. Overall survival was assessed following generation of Kaplan–Meier curves and compared with the log-rank test. A Cox model was constructed to control for a priori selected confounders known to be associated with overall survival. Results A total of 765 patients were identified and adjuvant external beam radiotherapy was administered to 378 patients (49.4%). There was no difference in overall survival between patients who did and did not receive adjuvant radiotherapy, P=0.44: 4-year overall survival rates were 88.4% and 87.1% respectively. After controlling for patient age, histology, and surgical approach, the administration of adjuvant radiotherapy was not associated with better survival (HR 0.86, 95% CI 0.54 to 1.38). For patients who received adjuvant radiotherapy, there was no survival difference between those who did (n=219) and did not (n=159) receive concurrent chemotherapy, P=0.36: 4-year overall survival rates were 89.8% and 86.3%, respectively. Conclusion In a large cohort of patients with lymph node negative, margin negative, stage IB cervical carcinoma, with negative prognostic factors, the administration of adjuvant external beam radiation therapy was not associated with a survival benefit compared with observation alone.
Accelerated Combinatorial Search for Outlier Detection with Provable Bound on Sub-Optimality

Outliers negatively affect the accuracy of data analysis. In this paper we are concerned with their influence on the accuracy of Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Algorithms that attempt to detect outliers and remove them from the data prior to applying PCA are sometimes called Robust PCA, or Robust Subspace Recovery algorithms. We propose a new algorithm for outlier detection that combines two ideas. The first is "chunk recursive elimination" that was used effectively to accelerate feature selection, and the second is combinatorial search, in a setting similar to A*. Our main result is showing how to combine these two ideas. One variant of our algorithm is guaranteed to compute an optimal solution according to some natural criteria, but its running time makes it impractical for large datasets. Other variants are much faster and come with provable bounds on sub-optimality. Experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Sugar‐sweetened beverages and prevalence of the metabolically abnormal phenotype in the Framingham Heart Study

Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between usual sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption and prevalence of abnormal metabolic health across body mass index (BMI) categories. Methods The metabolic health of 6,842 non-diabetic adults was classified using cross-sectional data from the Framingham Heart Study Offspring (1998-2001) and Third Generation (2002-2005) cohorts. Adults were classified as normal weight, overweight or obese and, within these categories, metabolic health was defined based on five criteria—hypertension, elevated fasting glucose, elevated triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, and insulin resistance. Individuals without metabolic abnormalities were considered metabolically healthy. Logistic regression was used to examine the associations between categories of SSB consumption and risk of metabolic health after stratification by BMI. Results Comparing the highest category of SSB consumers (median of 7 SSB per week) to the lowest category (non-consumers), odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for metabolically abnormal phenotypes, compared to the metabolically normal, were 1.9 (1.1-3.4) among the obese, 2.0 (1.4-2.9) among the overweight, and 1.9 (1.4-2.6) among the normal weight individuals. Conclusions In this cross-sectional analysis, it is observed that, irrespective of weight status, consumers of SSB were more likely to display metabolic abnormalities compared to non-consumers in a dose-dependent manner.
Projection-based methods for stepsize adaptation and their application to the training of feedforward artificial neural networks

Develops several adaptive step-size rules for gradient descent based on projecting weight and gradient vectors onto a set of unit vectors; each unit vector induces a one dimensional optimization problem which is solved by minimizing a fitted quadratic. A sum of squares criterion is then used to find the stepsize which which best fits the solution to each one dimensional optimization. The resulting stepsize rules are applied to train neural networks on parity problems of various sizes. >
Plant size, tenure, and discrimination in internal labor markets Evidence on sex differentials *

Abstract This paper examines the link between the operation of internal labor markets and sex differentials. Using 1983 May CPS data, we test whether male/female differences in returns to tenure increase with plant size. Our results indicate that sex differentials in returns to tenure are only significant in plants employing more than 500 employees. These results suggest that the discrimination that may exist within the framework of internal labor markets is most likely to be found in large plants.
Protein Aggregation and Precipitation, Measurement and Control

Aggregation is both a blessing and a curse to the biochemist seeking to purify and use recombinant proteins. Reversible aggregation/precipitation induced by agents such as polyethylene glycol and salts can be used to purify proteins. However, proteins often undergo uncontrolled and irreversible aggregation that prevents regeneration of activity. This article summarizes methods to measure aggregation and to determine the intrinsic solubility of proteins. Much of this research has been driven by the need to formulate medically useful proteins so that they remain soluble, and to develop treatments for diseases that involve protein aggregation, such as Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases. Theoretical treatments of the effects of co-solvents on the solubility of proteins, including using empirical data to derive atomic solvation parameters (ASP), may be useful for some applications. Mathematical models and protein phase diagrams have been developed for common precipitants, although there is no common basis for their a priori use with a given protein. There are also some general rules for designing mutants with reduced aggregation tendencies. To this end, computational methods may be used to estimate the solvent exposure of residues in 3D-structures, predict surface patches that may dictate protein–protein interactions, and to model the 3D structure. Keywords: aggregation; modeling complexes; protein design; viscosity; macroscopic dielectric constant
On lattices of convex sets in $${\mathbb{R}}^{n}$$

Properties of several sorts of lattices of convex subsets of $${\mathbb{R}}^{n}$$ are examined. The lattice of convex sets containing the origin turns out, for n > 1, to satisfy a set of identities strictly between those of the lattice of all convex subsets of $${\mathbb{R}}^{n}$$ and the lattice of all convex subsets of $${\mathbb{R}}^{n-1}$$ The lattices of arbitrary, of open bounded, and of compact convex sets in $${\mathbb{R}}^{n}$$ all satisfy the same identities, but the last of these is join-semidistributive, while for n > 1 the first two are not. The lattice of relatively convex subsets of a fixed set $$S \subseteq {\mathbb{R}}^{n}$$ satisfies some, but in general not all of the identities of the lattice of “genuine” convex subsets of $${\mathbb{R}}^{n}.$$
Slavic Prosody: The syllable in Slavic: form and function

Background Slavists agree that the syllable played a major role in the history of the Slavic languages and there are various principles, tendencies, and laws to explain how sound change related to syllable structure in Common Slavic. But our understanding of the syllable in Slavic is still fairly rudimentary. After Leskien (1909: 52ff.) observed that several developments in Proto- and Common Slavic had the effect of converting closed syllables to open ones, Iljinskij (1916, 1926) associated the loss of final consonants, the simplification of consonant clusters, the monophthongization of diphthongs, the changes in liquid diphthongs, and the creation of nasal vowels and syllabic liquids with a “law of open syllables.” By formulating this “law” as a “principle of rising sonority,” van Wijk (1931) was able to include the prothesis of glides among the series of innovations consistent with a certain syllable type. Other changes, including palatalization and vowel fronting, seemed to produce a similarity between sounds within a syllable and in 1929 Jakobson extended our understanding of the syllable as a phonological domain by referring to these changes as being consistent with a “tendency for syllable synharmony.” Slavists since then have viewed the development of Common Slavic from Proto-Indo-European (PIE) as governed by open syllable structure or rising sonority, and syllable synharmony. It is also widely claimed that the loss of certain vowels (jers) in Late Common Slavic (LCS) thoroughly restructured the phonological system of Slavic, creating newly closed syllables.
Wind profile constants in a neutral atmospheric boundary layer over complex terrain

The roughness height z 0 and the zero-plane displacement height d 0 were determined for a region of complex terrain in the Pre-Alps of Switzerland. This region is characterized by hills of the order of 100 m above the valley elevations, and by distances between ridges of the order of 1 km; it lies about 20 to 30 km north from the Alps. The experimental data were obtained from radiosonde observations under near neutral conditions. The analysis was based on the assumption of a logarithmic profile for the mean horizontal wind existing over one half of the boundary layer. The resulting (z 0/h) and (d 0/h) (where h is the mean height of the obstacles) were found to be in reasonable agreement with available relationships in terms of placement density and shape factor of the obstacles, which were obtained in previous experiments with h-scales 2 to 4 orders of magnitude smaller than the present ones.
A noncommutative L1-mean ergodic theorem

Abstract We show that operator algebras, as opposed to Banach lattices, provide the more natural structure for L 1 -mean ergodic theory.
The diastolic hyperemic flow versus pressure relation. A new index of coronary stenosis severity and flow reserve.

The measurement of coronary flow reserve, traditionally calculated as the ratio of maximal hyperemic blood flow divided by basal flow, is difficult to interpret in serial studies because fluctuating hemodynamic parameters may affect either basal or hyperemic flow measurements. To determine the magnitude of this problem and to develop alternative approaches for measuring vascular reserve, 10 anesthetized dogs were instrumented with aortic and inferior vena cava occluders, electromagnetic coronary flow probes, and high-fidelity micromanometers in the left ventricle and aortic root. Coronary flow was measured in the basal state and during maximal hyperemia induced by a steady-state adenosine infusion. Observations were made in the absence of a stenosis and in the presence of two incremental degrees of subcritical stenosis produced by a rigid, external screw occluder. Several parameters of vascular reserve were determined: 1) coronary flow reserve (defined above), 2) mean hyperemic flow divided by mean aortic...
INTERACTION BETWEEN CENTRAL PLANNERS AND FIRMS: THE UNCERTAINTY OF TARGET ADJUSTMENT

The interaction between planners and firms in a centrally planned economy has already been treated by a number of authors. They have generally focused upon the firm's performance in the face of various reward structures and have, with the exception of Gindin (1970) and Snowberger (1977), not dealt explicitly with the feed-back effect this performance has on the planners' adjustment of the reward structure for the future. This paper has extended the previous analysis of the feedback mechanism into the case where a firm knows that the planners have the power to make such adjustments but does not know precisely what form they will take. We have developed models which reflect several different ways in which a firm might respond to this uncertainty. Furthermore, we have introduced an adjustment scheme which considers the performance of all firms in the industry when setting a target for any one of them, in addition to treating the ordinary assumption that a firm's future target depends only upon its own present underor overfulfillment.
Red blood cell aggregation in nephrotic syndrome

Red blood cell aggregation in nephrotic syndrome. Red blood cell (RBC) aggregation induced by fibrinogen is a major determinant of the non-Newtonian flow behavior of human blood and has been suggested as a possible contributing factor for thrombogenesis. Given the elevated fibrinogen levels and the high incidence of thrombotic accidents in nephrotic syndrome (NS), a study was designed to assess RBC aggregation in this disease. Three different aggregation assays were used: (1) changes in light transmission through static cell suspensions, aggregation half time (AHT); (2) low gravity centrifugation of blood in nearly vertical tubes, zeta sedimentation ratio (ZSR); (3) direct observation of dilute RBC suspensions, microscopic aggregation index (MAI). The results indicate that RBC aggregation, as measured by AHT and ZSR, is increased significantly in NS patients versus healthy controls (P L'agregation erythrocytaire au cours du syndrome nephrotique. L'agregation erythrocytaire induite par le fibrinogene est un determinant majeur du comportement non-Newtonien du sang humain et son role dans la thrombogenese a ete suggere. Etant donnes les taux eleves de fibrinogene et la grande frequence des accidents thrombotiques dans le syndrome nephrotique (SN), une etude de l'agregation erythrocytaire a ete entreprise dans cette maladie. Trois differentes techniques d'etude de l'agregation ont ete utilisees: (1) variations de la lumiere transmise a travers une suspension cellulaire au repos, temps de demi-agregation (TDA); (2) centrifugation a faible gravite du sang dans un tube pratiquement vertical, rapport de sedimentation zeta (RSZ); (3) observation directe d'une suspension diluee, index d'agregation microscopique (IAM). Les resultats font apparaitre que l'agregation erythrocytaire, mesuree par le TDA et le RSZ, est significativement augmentee chez les patients presentant un SN compares aux temoins sains (P
Histograms of conductance fluctuations induced by alamethicin in black lipid membranes.

Summary Histograms of membrane currents were obtained from alamethicin-induced conductances in black lipid membranes. One molar chloride salt solutions were used as electrolytes. At room temperature the histograms showed striking resemblances to binomial distributions, consistent with a theory that alamethicin pore conductance states may arise in parallel from sets of similar pores functioning independently. A ten-degree rise in temperature produced a new binomial distribution corresponding to an altered probability that an individual pore is in the open state.
Discography. a review.

Abstract Background context: Discography is used today as the basis of the diagnosis of discogenic back and neck pain. As such, it plays a pivotal role in the formulation of treatment plans for patients complaining of chronic axial spine pain. Purpose: A brief history of discography is described here, followed by a discussion of the current uses of discography, the technique involved, and recent studies questioning its validity. Study design/setting: A selective review of discography articles from peer-reviewed literature from 1967 to 2000 is provided. We included articles analyzing the validity of discography as well as those concerning its proper use, technique, and complications. Methods: Articles relevant to the subject of discography were systematically reviewed for recommendations regarding technique, the interpretation of results, and conclusions regarding its validity. Results: The specificity of discography is dramatically affected by the characteristics of the patient examined. In a patient with chronic pain states and psychiatric risk factors, the specifity was determined to be at most 20%. In healthy patients with no chronic pain states and a normal psychiatric profile, the specificity was found to be at most 90%. The ability of a patient to determine reliably the concordancy of pain provoked during discography is poor. We could find no data addressing the sensitivity of the study. Conclusions: Clinicians who use discography to determine treatment pathways for their patients need to critically examine the validity of the test. Recent studies examining the specificity of discography have led us to proceed much more cautiously in interpreting the results of discography.
The Development of Sensory Functions in Infants

The Test of Sensory Function in Infants (TSFI), a 24-item test designed to measure sensory processing and reactivity in infants, was administered to 196 normal infants, 27 infants with developmenta...
Allergy to green coffee: Failure of patients allergic to green coffee to react to chlorogenic acid, roasted coffee, or orange

Abstract Clinical skin tests upon twenty-nine French patients and allergic human serum transfer tests in monkeys indicate that primary allergy to green coffee does not involve chlorogenic acid or its known isomers. Allergy to green coffee appears to be a typical example of atopic hypersensitivity to proteins specific, in this allergy, to the green coffee bean. There were no cross-reactions to castor beans or oranges, nor were there any reaginic reactions to roasted coffee or to coffee beverage.
Objectives for health monitoring and surveillance

A properly designed respiratory disease monitoring and surveillance program for the effects of cotton dust uses tools similar to those used clinically but provides a different focus--the potential for disease prevention in individuals and the control of excess exposures in groups. Both surveillance and monitoring require the use of standard instruments (questionnaires and pulmonary function equipment) with careful attention to equipment calibration and standard methods for administering tests. Monitoring focuses on the individual to identify early evidence of disease and to detect those subjects who are susceptible even under usually well controlled exposure circumstances. Surveillance is successful when designed to collect information at regular intervals (based on type and level of exposure and previously measured response) and the results are interpreted according to reasonably rigorous criteria. A major additional component is the examination of surveillance results according to groups based on job, exposure, work tenure, and other risk factors (e.g., smoking).
Nonlinear Dynamics in Tomlinson’s Model of Atomic Scale Friction

This work presents a detailed computational and analytical investigation of Tomlinson’s model for atomic scale dry friction. The model describes a prototypical mechanism of energy dissipation from an atom dragged across a periodic atomic lattice and is often used to model the dynamics of friction force microscope tips. While a number of articles in the literature utilize this model, there is little work in the literature that utilizes the computational and theoretical tools of modern nonlinear dynamics in analyzing this model. This research demonstrates that the use of computational nonlinear dynamics techniques provides a deep insight into the mechanisms of chaotic stick-slip phenomena and the speed dependence of frictional forces of atomic scale friction.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
An agent based simulation for building energy system modeling

Extensive research has been done on the centralized building energy system modeling and simulation. However the centralized structure is limited to study and simulate the energy interaction between different buildings at different locations. This paper reviews the building energy consumption model, energy storage system and energy generation system in the Net-zero buildings. Incorporate with the real-time price rate model, this paper develops an agent based simulation framework for distributed building energy system under uncertainty. Each sub system is developed as an agent in the simulation model, and a virtual decision agent is designed to simulate the operation strategy. The energy flow between different agents can be easily monitored from the simulation. The differences between on-peak and off-peak control are demonstrated from the simulation result.© 2010 ASME
Investigation and Implications of a Compactor Fatality

A construction worker died August 18, 2003, when the compactor she was operating rolled over. A seatbelt and rollover protective structure (ROPS) were used by the operator. NIOSH investigators visited the scene of the incident and interviewed the employer, witnesses, and compactor manufacturer as part of NIOSH’s Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation program to gather additional incident detail and to collect relevant equipment dimensions. Analysis of the equipment dimensions and victim anthropometry indicate that it is unlikely that the victim’s head struck the ground during rollover if the victim remained seated. Information on ROPS penetration into the ground during overturn was not available and was not considered in this analysis. This incident highlights the need to have a formal established safety and training program where operators must be familiar with the owner’s manual for equipment they operate and demonstrate competence in operating the equipment. Additionally, protective equipment, such as a seatbelt, must be securely fastened to be effective.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Catalytic role of copper and iron ions in the depolymerization of hyaluronic acid by ascorbic acid

Abstract Copper and iron ions at physiological concentrations catalyzed the decrease of viscosity of hyaluronic acid solutions brought about by ascorbic acid. This reaction required the presence of oxygen as did the reaction with ascorbic acid alone. The ascorbic acid was converted by iron and copper ions to products more active than itself. Dehydroascorbic acid and dihydroxymaleic acid were also active autoxidants. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) had no effect on the reaction with ascorbic acid alone. However, EDTA abolished the catalytic effect of copper ions but enhanced the effect of iron ions in the presence of ascorbic acid. Catalase was a strong inhibitor of the ascorbic acid system with and without iron or copper ions but was not as effective for ferrous ions in the absence of ascorbic acid.
On the dynamic snap-through of a shallow cylindrical shell subject to nearly symmetric impulsive loading

Abstract Shallow shell theory is used to investigate the nonlinear response of a cylindrical panel undergoing plane motion in response to nearly symmetric impulsive pressure imparting an initial velocity distribution to the shell. A sufficient condition for stability is obtained by considering the critical or equilibrium configurations. For a cosine distribution the actual critical value to produce immediate dynamic snapthrough is obtained. For most geometries the sufficiency condition is a very conservative estimate of the critical value. The critical value is sensitive to small deviations from symmetry. The shell may also exhibit a delayed snap-through at significantly lower values of initial velocity. In both cases, however, the sufficiency condition remains a conservative estimate It is inferred from a qualitative lopological argument that markedly different results can be expected for other distributions.
A preliminary investigation of the distribution of koalas and their potential habitat in the Tweed Shire, and implications for management

The conservation of koala habitat was identified by Tweed Shire Council in 1989 as a priority for investigation to aid planning and decision making. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of koalas in the shire and to identify potential koala habitat. This was achieved by personal interviews, invitations to the community to report local koala sightings and a literature search. This paper also identifies those planning considerations and constraints that exist within the shire which are relevant to koala preservation. Examples of planning instruments that can affect koala security (e.g., local environmental plan zonings) are also examined. Other issues highlighted include the potential impact of expanding development within the shire and the need for community awareness of the principles underlying koala preservation. The major finding of the study was that the Round Mountain-Cudgen Lake environs hold special importance for koala conservation. Co-operation of the community, rural landholde...
Relay feedback tuning of robust PID controllers with iso-damping property

A new tuning method for proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller design is proposed for a class of unknown, stable, and minimum phase plants. We are able to design a PID controller to ensure that the phase Bode plot is flat, i.e., the phase derivative w.r.t. the frequency is zero, at a given frequency called the "tangent frequency" so that the closed-loop system is robust to gain variations and the step responses exhibit an iso-damping property. At the "tangent frequency", the Nyquist curve tangentially touches the sensitivity circle. Several relay feedback tests are used to identify the plant gain and phase at the tangent frequency in an iterative way. The identified plant gain and phase at the desired tangent frequency are used to estimate the derivatives of amplitude and phase of the plant with respect to frequency at the same frequency point by Bode's integral relationship. Then, these derivatives are used to design a PID controller for slope adjustment of the Nyquist plot to achieve the robustness of the system to gain variations. No plant model is assumed during the PID controller design. Only several relay tests are needed. Simulation examples illustrate the effectiveness and the simplicity of the proposed method for robust PID controller design with an iso-damping property.
Micromechanical studies of crack growth in fiber reinforced materials

Abstract A two dimensional, parametric, micromechanical finite element study of the stress conditions near a crack tip in a fiber reinforced isotropic material was performed. The variables considered include the mechanical properties of the isotropic matrix material, fibers, and interface between the fibers and matrix material and the geometry of the composite. Experimental studies, using methyl methacrylate matrix material reinforced with carefully placed steel fibers were conducted. The close agreement between finite element and experimental values for the loading required for both the initiation of crack growth in the matrix material and crack arrest by the fibers show that micromechanical finite element studies are applicable for the development of engineering models for the fracture toughness of fiber reinforced material. From the parametric finite element studies it was concluded that: 1. (1) A small percentage by volume of higher modulus fibers can result in a significant reduction in opening mode stresses in the matrix material near a crack tip. Thus the presence of the fibers can result in crack arrest and an increase in the effective fracture toughness. 2. (2) In general, shear stresses in the matrix material adjacent to the fiber and bond stresses between the fibers and matrix material are larger for a shear mode loading than for an opening mode loading. Although these stresses may not directly result in crack growth, they may cause fiber delamination which in turn may result in unstable crack growth. Thus for studies of effective fracture toughness, mixed mode loadings must be considered.
Metastatic melanoma in an esophagus demonstrating Barrett esophagus with high grade dysplasia

Metastatic melanoma involving the esophagus is rare; the occurrence of metastatic melanoma in a background of Barrett esophagus is rarer still. We report a case of an 80 year-old male who presented to our institution for workup of Barrett esophagus with high-grade dysplasia and who proved to have metastatic melanoma occurring in the background of Barrett esophagus, the first report of this kind, to our knowledge, in the English literature. An 80 year-old Caucasian male was diagnosed at an outside institution with Barrett’s esophagus with high grade dysplasia and presented to our institution for therapy. The patient underwent endoscopic mucosal resection using a band ligation technique of an area of nodularity within the Barrett esophagus. Microscopic examination demonstrated extensive Barrett esophagus with high-grade dysplasia as well as a second tumor which was morphologically different from the surrounding high-grade dysplasia and which was positive for S-100, HMB 45 and Melan-A on immunohistochemistry, consistent with melanoma. Further workup of the patient demonstrated multiple radiologic lesions consistent with metastases. Molecular studies demonstrated that the melanoma was positive for the 1799T>A (V600E) mutation in the BRAF gene. The overall features of the tumor were most consistent with metastatic melanoma occurring in a background of Barrett esophagus with high-grade dysplasia. This case demonstrates a unique intersection between a premalignant condition (Barrett esophagus with high grade dysplasia) and a separate malignancy (melanoma). This report also shows the utility of molecular testing to support the hypothesis of primary versus metastatic disease in melanoma.
Interpreting pharmacogenetic data in the developing neonate: the challenge of hitting a moving target.

In a 2010 review in Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Nick Holford noted that in neonates and young infants, maturation of the organs responsible for drug clearance is a more important determinant of pharmacokinetics (PK) than is body size. 1 Here we review recent developments that provide new insights into how physiological and environmental changes associated with adaptation to extrauterine life affect the ontogeny of drug biotransformation and interpretation of genotype–phenotype relationships in newborns and infants.
Up-regulation of microRNA-21 mediates isoflurane-induced protection of cardiomyocytes.

Background Anesthetic cardioprotection reduces myocardial infarct size following ischemia-reperfusion injury. Currently, the role of microRNA in this process remains unknown. MicroRNAs are short, non-coding nucleotide sequences that negatively regulate gene expression through degradation or suppression of messenger RNA. In this study, we uncovered the functional role of microRNA-21 (miR-21) upregulation after anesthetic exposure.
MECHANISTIC INDEPENDENCE OF NEF AND CYCLOPHILIN A ENHANCEMENT OF HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS TYPE 1 INFECTIVITY

Abstract Optimal HIV-1 infectivity requires the presence of both the viral factor Nef and the cellular protein cyclophilin A (CyPA) during virion assembly. These two proteins are integral components of HIV-1 particles. Both CyPA and Nef facilitate a step in the viral life cycle occurring between penetration and reverse transcription, suggesting a common mechanism of action. Experiments were performed to test the potential interplay of Nef- and CyPA-mediated enhancement of HIV-1 infectivity. In single-cycle infection assays, nef -defective virions were partially resistant to cyclosporin A (CsA), a drug that inhibits the binding of CyPA to the HIV-1 Gag precursor and CyPA incorporation into virions. Genetic dissection of the relative contributions of Nef and the cyclophilin A-Gag interaction to HIV-1 infectivity demonstrated the independence of these two effects. Nef was not required for incorporation of CyPA into HIV-1 virions and vice-versa. Surprisingly, CyPA-deficient virions remained sensitive to inhibition by CsA, in a manner that depended strongly on the presence of a functional nef gene. These results demonstrate that Nef and CyPA act independently to render HIV-1 particles fully infectious. They further suggest that in addition to blocking the CyPA-Gag interaction, CsA can also inhibit HIV-1 replication through a novel mechanism involving suppression of Nef-directed enhancement of virus infectivity.
Effects of coal fly ash amended soils on trace element uptake in plants

Variations in As, Ba, Bi, Cd, Co, Cu, Hg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Sn, Th, Tl, U, W, and Zn uptake were evaluated in young, middle-aged, and mature basil, tomato, zucchini, and sunflower plants grown in soils amended with 5, 10, and 20% by weight fly ash. Elements susceptible to uptake with increasing fly ash were As and Tl, with As exceeding potentially toxic levels in basil and zucchini. Temporal variations in element uptake included (1) increasing Ba and Cd concentrations in tomato and As, Ba, Cd, and Tl in zucchini, (2) decreasing Co concentrations in tomato, zucchini, and sunflower, Ni in zucchini, and Tl in basil, and (3) increasing As and Ni concentrations in basil and Pb in zucchini and sunflower during early growth followed by decreasing concentrations at maturity. Although most of the trace elements were below reported toxic levels, the elevated concentrations of As in plant tissue suggests that fly ash treatment programs can lead to potentially toxic accumulations of As, and thus, should be carefully monitored.