cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Notes on the Essential System to Acquire Information

This paper introduces a short survey on recent information theories and reviews some critical notes expressed on quantum information. The severe difficulties emerging from the literature lead us to argue about the way to follow, and in a preliminary stage, we consider how to proceed in order to provide a reasonable contribution to the conceptualization of information in classical and quantum physics. We conclude that we should go toward the essential elements of the system that acquire information and should define the common components of the measurement processes. In this way we should be able to establish fundamental properties and to circumvent tricky difficulties arisen by the concept of the observer and the variety of interferences that disturb the acquisition of information. Universal experience shows how sharpness is the indispensable feature of detected signals and we calculate the discernability of observables using various mathematical formalisms. The present logical frame brings evidence on how information is not an absolute quantity, and we close with a few notes on the information relativism which modern literature tackles from the operational stance and the philosophical stance.
LUMINESCENT PLATINUM COMPLEXES : TUNING AND USING THE EXCITED STATE

Abstract The focus of recent research on square planar Pt(II) diimine dithiolate complexes has been to understand molecular factors that influence their excited state properties and to develop diad and triad systems based on them for use in light-driven reactions. Regarding the former, two series of Pt(diimine)(dithiolate) complexes have been synthesized and studied. All of the compounds display solvatochromic absorption bands and solution luminescence attributable to metal/dithiolate-to-diimine charge transfer excited states of the same orbital parentage. The excited-state energies can be tuned by approximately 1 eV through ligand variation. Excited-state redox potentials have been estimated for all of the complexes from spectroscopic and electrochemical data, and electron transfer quenching rate constants show the expected driving force dependence. Analogous Au(III) systems have been synthesized and characterized including molecular structure determinations of a cationic diimine dithiolate system and a neutral C-deprotonated-2-phenylpyridine derivative. Striking differences exist in the electronic structures of these Au(III) complexes from those of the Pt(II) systems, underscoring the key role of the metal in the excited state structure of the latter. The creation of diads and triads is being undertaken with ligand bridges capable of connecting the Pt(diimine)(dithiolate) moiety with other metal centers. Toward that end, complexes of dipyridocatecholate (dpcat) have been synthesized and characterized. These complexes may serve as models for the linking of chromophore and quencher components of a possible photosynthetic system. The dpcat complexes have been characterized by absorption and steady-state emission spectroscopies. Luminescence and redox properties of these and a related system containing a tetrapyridophenazine (tppz) bridge are described.
Predicting indoor temperatures in closed buildings with high thermal mass

Abstract This is an architectural science inquiry in which temperatures were simultaneously observed in buildings with low and high thermal mass at the equator. Four environmental test chambers with different thermal mass levels were monitored under different ceiling types in Nairobi, Kenya, during the warm period between January and March 1997. Walling for two test chambers was natural stone while for the other two was timber paneling. Further to this, roofing for two test chambers was heavy concrete tile while for the other two was lightweight galvanized corrugated iron (GCI) sheets. The effect of thermal mass in lowering the maximum indoor daytime temperatures was evaluated. The low mass test chambers closely followed outdoor conditions and did not offer any significant thermal storage. All the light-mass test chambers without ceilings recorded small effect on the indoor maxima. However, high thermal mass was very effective in lowering indoor maximum temperatures below the high outdoor maxima. On a hot day in February, when maximum outdoor temperature was over 33 °C (91 °F), the indoor maximum temperature in high mass building was 25.4 °C (77.7 °F), which is within the comfort zone.
Debridement and closed packing for sterile or infected necrotizing pancreatitis: insights into indications and outcomes in 167 patients.

Necrosis of the pancreas and/or peripancreatic tissues after an attack of acute pancreatitis develops in approximately 10% to 20% of patients, and their management continues to present a challenge.1 As contemporary literature has favored nonoperative management in patients in whom infected necrosis cannot be proven, infection is said to be the only absolute indication, in effect, the sine qua non, for operative debridement.2–4 In those patients that do undergo surgery for debridement, mortality continues to be inordinately high,5,6 but significantly higher in those with infected necrosis compared with sterile necrosis. Since 1980, we have adopted a uniform surgical approach to postpancreatitis necrosis, comprising a single-stage debridement with closed packing.7 Short-term clinical outcomes on 64 patients were described in 19988. The purpose of the present study, in which we are able to add experience with 103 additional patients, is to reassess the indications for surgical intervention and to provide evidence that it is untenable and unsafe to require proof of infection as the only indication for debridement.
Multipath error mitigation using self-encoded spread spectrum for navigation

Self-encoded spread spectrum (SESS) is a novel modulation technique that acquires its spreading sequence from the random input data stream rather than using the traditional pseudo-random-code generators. It has been shown that the memory in SESS can improve the system performance significantly in fading channel. In this study the authors analyse the tracking error of SESS system in the presence of multipath Rayleigh fading channels. Code Shuffling is introduced to randomise the spreading code, which in turn mitigates the effect of reflected path component and enhances the accuracy and performance of iterative detection (ID) against multipath effects. The performance comparison of SESS with C/A code is investigated with the main focus on short multipath delay scenarios. The results demonstrate that ID can significantly mitigate the pseudorange multipath error without any bandwidth expansion.
Gas-phase ion chemistry and ion thermochemistry of phenyltrifluorosilane

Abstract The ion/molecule reactions of phenyltrifluorosilane with F − , CH 3 O − and OH − and the thermochemical properties of the resulting ions were investigated by using a flowing afterglow—triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. The silane reacts with fluoride and methoxide ions by addition, whereas the reaction with hydroxide proceeds by addition and loss of HF to form the phenyldifluorosiloxide ion. Collision-induced dissociation (CID) of the adduct ions produces predominantly phenide ion, although rearrangement processes are also observed for the methoxide adduct. CID of the siloxide ion results in direct cleavage to form the SiF 2 O − ion, in addition to products formed by rearrangement. We also report the formation of the hydroxide adduct of phenyltrifluorosilane, and provide the first confirmation that activated hydroxide adducts of silanes dissociate by loss of RH. The hydride adduct of phenyltrifluorosilane is generated indirectly by the addition of fluoride to phenyldifluorosilane. Bond dissociation energies and rearrangement barriers were obtained for all ions from the energy-resolved CID cross sections. From the measured bond dissociation energies, the fluoride, hydride and methoxide affinities of phenyltrifluorosilane are determined to be 79.4±3.3 and 64.0±3.2, and 76.6±5.9 kcal/mol, respectively, and the fluoride affinity of phenyldifluorosilane is found to be 72.3±4.4 kcal/mol. The hydride affinity (HA) of phenyltrifluorosilane is comparable to that of borane, suggesting that C 6 H 5 SiHF 3 − is a potential hydride reducing agent in the condensed phase.
Molecular Biology Experimental Strategies for Craniofacial-Oral-Dental Dysmorphology

This paper is a minireview of molecular biology experimental strategies for problems within craniofacial-oral-dental biology. Many of these strategies have already made remarkable contributions towards understanding the complex developmental processes associated with craniofacial biology. For example, the utilization of these strategies has resulted in the successful mapping of approximately 70 genes related to craniofacial anomalies (e.g., Pax, retinoic acid receptors, cadhedrins, aggrecan, cell adhesion molecules, substrate adhesion molecules, etc.), 30 genes related to dental tissue disorders (e.g., BMPs, bone morphogenetic proteins; dentin phosphoproteins, dentin sialoglycoproteins, enamelins, amelogenins), 20 genes related to facial clefting defects (e.g., Hox genes, transforming growth factor alpha), and 3 genes related to craniosynostosis (e.g., Msx-2). This minireview highlights selected examples of scientific progress derived from the following experimental strategies: (i) molecular approaches to the organization of the mouse and human chromosomes, with the mapping of specific gene sequences linked to human diseases (e.g., amelogenesis imperfecta, Boston type craniosynostosis, Rieger's syndrome, Treacher Collins syndrome); (ii) reverse genetic approaches for studies of gene function; (iii) homologous recombinations and the advances from "knock-out" transgenic mouse models for human craniofacial-oral-dental diseases; (iv) mutational analyses of congenital craniofacial-oral-dental dysmorphogenesis; (v) structural biology studies using computer-assisted molecular modeling for protein-protein, protein-nucleic acid and protein-inorganic interactions; (vi) computer modeling of genetic paradigms; and (vii) a cluster of newer methodologies including computer-assisted morphometry, new microinjection techniques, new cell membrane and intracellular dyes, and a number of new RNA and DNA viral constructs for the delivery of genes to enhance the resolution of cell fate maps, cell lineage studies and gene therapy approaches to human diseases.
Implications of Developmental Toxicity Study Design for Quantitative Risk Assessment

Standard experimental designs for conducting developmental toxicity studies typically include three- or four-dose levels in addition to a control group. Some researchers have suggested that designs with more exposure groups would improve dose-response characterization and risk estimation. Such proposals have not, however, been supported by the results of simulation studies, which instead back the use of fewer dose levels. This discrepancy is partly due to using a known dose–response pattern to generate data, making model choice obvious. While the carcinogenicity literature has explored implications of different study designs, little attention has been given to the role of design in developmental toxicity risk assessment (or noncancer toxicology in general). In this research, we explore the implications of various experimental designs for developmental toxicity by resampling data from a large study of 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid in mice. We compare the properties of benchmark dose (BMD) estimation for different design strategies by randomly selecting animals within particular dose groups from the entire 2,4,5-T database of over 77,000 birth outcomes to create smaller “pseudo-studies” that are representative of standard bioassay sample sizes. Our results show that experimental designs which include more dose levels have advantages in terms of risk characterization and estimation.
Contribution of Cycle Length History to Myocardial Contractility in Isolated Rabbit Myocardium under Physiological Conditions

Modulation of contractile force via changes in heart rate can occur through processes that are either immediate (intrinsic) and/or through processes that involve prolonged exposure to a given situation and act via post-translational modification. Because the contractile strength of the steady state force-frequency relationship (FFR) and post-rest potentiation (PRP) involve both instant intrinsic responses to cycle length as well as slower acting components such as post-translational modification based mechanisms, it remains unclear how cycle length intrinsically affects cardiac contraction and relaxation. To dissect the intrinsic impact of cycle length changes from slower acting signaling components of the FFR, twitch contractions of right ventricular rabbit trabeculae at 5 different cycle lengths were randomized around a physiological stimulation baseline of 2.85 Hz. Patterns of previous cycle lengths that resulted in changes in force and/or relaxation times were identified. We found that the duration of the cycle length prior to the analyzed twitch contraction (primary) positively correlated with force. In sharp contrast, the cycle length one more removed from the analyzed twitch (“secondary”) was found to have a negative correlation with force. The “tertiary” cycle length impacted force similar to the secondary cycle length, albeit with a lesser magnitude. Using this novel stimulation protocol we can quantify the intrinsic effect of cycle length on contractile strength, as well as avoiding run-down and lengthiness that are often complications of FFR and PRP assessments. The data show that the history of at least 3 cycle lengths prior to a contraction influences myocardial contractility under near physiological conditions, and the secondary/tertiary cycle lengths affect cardiac twitch dynamics in the opposite direction than primary cycle length with decreasing importance as the cycle length is further removed from the current beat.
Intercollegiate Athletic Administration: Preparation Patterns

Abstract Over the past decade the field of athletics has experienced rapid growth and change, underscoring the need for updating knowledges about effective administration of these programs. The main purpose of this study was to ascertain the job responsibilities and essential characteristics of intercollegiate athletic directors (ADs) and to solicit their recommendations for a graduate program of study in athletic administration. The study was primarily exploratory, much of the data being descriptive in nature. A random sample of 320 ADs (163 men and 157 women) participated in the study. Rankings of job responsibilities were significantly affected by the competitive level (division) of the program administered, but not by the gender of the AD or whether the AD headed an NCAA or AIAW program. The implication is that courses of study should reflect the responsibilities in varying competitive divisions while incorporating common areas of responsibilities that apply to all programs. Regardless of the gender o...
The near-infrared spectra of polymers

A series of step reaction polymers have been prepared and studied as melt films or in solution in the overtone region and the combination region of the near-IR. Systems containing aryl rings show bands in the 2.13- to 2.16-μm region which are not observed in those systems not having aryl rings. Polyester, polyamide, and urea-formaldehyde polymers show carbonyl, hydroxyl, and NH overtones. Polyurethanes show only the intense band of NH, in the 2.0- to 2.1-μm region. Ureaformaldehyde and polyamides show this same band. Relative band intensities were compared to the first overtone of CH which appears at 1.67–1.72 μm. In this way, polymers can be compared in a quantitative manner, both with respect to reaction conditions and effect of heat curing.
Two-dimensional analysis of geosynthetic tubes

Geosynthetic tubes containing dredged material or mortar are considered. A two-dimensional analysis of a cross section of the tube is carried out. The tube is modeled as a membrane with negligible weight and extensibility, resting on a rigid foundation and subjected to internal hydrostatic pressure. Closed-form and approximate solutions for the cross-sectional shape and the circumferential tension are presented, depending on the ratio of the pressure head (at the bottom or top of the tube) to the perimeter. An upper bound on the tension is obtained. Solutions are also determined for tubes that are partially or fully submerged in an external fluid, tubes that rest on a deformable foundation such as soil, and the unsymmetric problem of tubes that act as a dike and are subjected to external fluid on one side. A deformable foundation tends to cause the circumferential tension to increase, whereas external pressure tends to cause the tension to decrease.
Protein kinase C modulation of queuine uptake in cultured human fibroblasts

Protein kinase C modulates the activity of a highly specific uptake mechanism for queuine in cultured human fibroblasts. Activators of protein kinase C induce an increased uptake rate for the radiolabeled analog of queuine, rQT3. The protein kinase C inhibitors, H-7, staurosporine and sphingosine all induced a dramatic decrease in the uptake rate of rQT3. This suggests that protein kinase C is tied to efficient cellular uptake of queuine. Uptake is prerequisite to the modification of transfer RNA with queuine. Perturbation of queuine-modified transfer RNA levels has been associated with neoplastic transformation, differentiation and growth control.
Characterization of an oleate 12-desaturase from Physaria fendleri and identification of 5'UTR introns in divergent FAD2 family genes.

Mining of an EST sequence collection representing genes expressed during seed development in Physaria fendleri identified abundant sequences encoding apparent homologues of the Arabidopsis oleate 12-desaturase (AtFAD2 At3g12120). Of the 62 sequenced clones, 59 were identified as encoding the previously characterized bifunctional oleate 12-hydroxylase/desaturase (LFAH12/PfFAH12). The remaining 3 clones encoded a second FAD2 homologue. Isolation of a full length ORF and heterologous expression in yeast revealed that this sequence, designated PfFAD2, is the first full length sequence from any Physaria species that encodes an oleate 12-desaturase. PfFAD2 was expressed in both leaf and developing seed with activity on palmitate (16:1Δ9) and oleate (18:1Δ9). Sequence comparison revealed that PfFAD2 shares 93% amino acid identity with Arabidopsis FAD2 and only 84% identity with PfFAH12. By comparison of EST and genomic sequences it was revealed that the PfFAD2 gene encodes a transcript with a single intron of 1120 bp in the 5′-untranslated region (5′UTR). A short intron, 81 bp in length, was also discovered in the 5′UTR of the PfFAH12 gene, 16 bp upstream of the translation initiation codon. In silico examination of FAD2 like genes from the genome of castor (Ricinus communis) identified putative 5′UTR introns in genes encoding the castor oleate 12-desaturase (RcFAD2) and oleate 12-hydroxylase (CFAH12). By sequencing of genomic DNA the presence of single 5′UTR introns in each gene, and the size of these introns, was confirmed. These findings suggest that 5′UTR introns may be a characteristic feature of FAD2 genes and also of divergent FAD2 genes encoding fatty acid modifying enzymes, and that the selection pressure maintaining these introns is very different.
The hepatic safety and tolerability of the cyclooxygenase-2 selective NSAID celecoxib: pooled analysis of 41 randomized controlled trials.

ABSTRACTObjective: To assess the hepatic safety and tolerability of celecoxib versus placebo and three commonly prescribed nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).Research design and methods: This was a retrospective, pooled analysis of a 41-study dataset involving patients with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, chronic low back pain, and Alzheimer's disease. Criteria for selection of studies were:(1) Randomized, parallel-group design and planned treatment duration of ≥2 weeks(2) ≥1 placebo or NSAID comparator(3) ≥1 arm with celecoxib at total daily dose of ≥200 mg(4) Data available as of October 31, 2004Data were pooled by treatment and subject from the safety analysis population of included studies. Treatment-emergent hepatobiliary adverse events (AEs) were compared for celecoxib <200 mg/day (943 patients), 200 mg/day (12 008 patients), 400 mg/day (7380 patients), and 800 mg/day (4602 patients); placebo (4057 patients); diclofenac 100–150 mg/day (7639 patie...
Abstract 1: Mcl-1 downregulation plays a crucial role in the synergistic anticancer activities between PI-3 kinase inhibitors and histone deacetylase inhibitors in primary NSCLC tumorsin vitroandin vivo

Interactions between the PI-3 kinase inhibitors and histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) were examined in vivo using SCID mice bearing patient-derived primary NSCLC xenografts which contain the “hot spot” mutation PIK3CA [E545K (G1633A)] (K-Ras and EGFR wild-type), and in vitro using the primary cell cultures derived directly from the in vivo xenografts. Co-treatment of primary cell cultures to marginally toxic concentrations of GDC-0941 (1.0 uM) and HDACi LBH589 (2.5 nM) induced a striking increase of apoptosis, as evidenced by Annex V positive staining, cytochrome c release and caspase 3 cleavage. Similar effects were observed using other HDACis (e.g. SAHA or MS275). The combination was associated with profound Akt inactivation, GSK-3β activation and Mcl-1 attenuation without affecting other Bcl-2 family members. Although LBH589 induced p21CIP1/WAF1 expression, GDC-0941 blocked LBH589-mediated p21CIP1/WAF1 accumulation. Ectopic expression of the constitutively active (myristolated) Akt, dominant negative GSK-3β (K85A), Mcl-1, or p21CIP1/WAF1 significantly blocked apoptosis induced by this combination. Inactivation of GSK-3β by either shRNA knockdown or its pharmacological inhibitor markedly diminished GDC-0941/LBH589-induced cell death, and abrogated the Mcl-1 and p21CIP1/WAF1 downregulation seen with the combination, indicating that GSK-3β modulation is the process upstream of Mcl-1 and p21. However, overexpression of either Mcl-1 or p21CIP1/WAF1 did not demonstrate an interaction with each other under the co-treatment, suggesting an independent functional cascade for each Mcl-1 and p21CIP1/WAF1. The downregulation of Mcl-1 and p21CIP1/WAF1 was reversed by proteasome inhibitor, indicating a proteasome-dependent degradation of Mcl-1 and p21CIP1/WAF1. Lastly, the combination of GDC-0941/LBH589 in vivo inhibited the growth of primary tumor xenografts more efficiently than either agent alone. In vivo downregulation of Mcl-1 and p21CIP1/WAF1 was also observed, consistent with the modulation of molecular events presented in vitro. Taken together, our results demonstrate that GDC-0941 potentiates HDACi-mediated apoptosis through PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β pathway, and subsequently attenuates Mcl-1 and abrogates p21CIP1/WAF1 induction in primary NSCLC xenografts in vivo and the primary cell cultures in vitro, thereby suggesting a novel therapeutic approach for NSCLC. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-1
Sparse probabilistic state mapping and its application to speech bandwidth expansion

In this paper we present a probabilistic algorithm that extracts a mapping between two subspaces by representing each subspace as a collection of states. An arbitrary increase in number of states results in over-fitting the training data without exploring the underlying structure of the map. This paper suggests a method to impose sparsity constraints on the state map by using entropic priors. This probabilistic model is applied to the problem of artificial bandwidth expansion that involves estimating the missing frequency components (3.7 – 8 kHz and 0 – 0.3 kHz) of speech given the narrowband speech signal (0.3 – 3.7 kHz).
Evaluated Nuclear Structure Data File (ENSDF)

The Evaluated Nuclear Structure Data File (ENSDF), is maintained by the National Nuclear Data Center (NNDC) on behalf of the international Nuclear Structure and Decay Data (NSDD) network organized under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency. ENSDF provides evaluated experimental nuclear structure and decay data for basic and applied research. The activities of the NSDD network, the publication of the evaluations, and their use in different applications are described. Since 1986, the ENSDF and related numeric and bibliographic data bases have been made available for on-line access. The current status of these data bases, and future plans to improve the on-line access to their contents are discussed.
TRIACYLGLYCEROL STRUCTURE OF ANIMAL TALLOWS, POTENTIAL FOOD FORMULATION FATS, BY HIGH PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY COUPLED WITH MASS SPECTROMETRY

Triacylglycerol (TAG) compositions, as mole percent, were obtained by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), coupled with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (APCI-MS) of lard and mutton tallow fractions under consideration for food formulation products. Accurate identification and quantitation of these TAG compositions were obtained and proved by comparison of the fatty acid composition calculated from the TAG composition which was obtained by APCI-MS with the fatty acid composition, and converted to mole percent as obtained by gas chromatography of the methyl esters of the transmethylated oils. Average absolute errors with respect to TAG quantitation and identification were less than one percent. Our study identified and quantitated the TAG equal to and greater than 0.1% concentration. Concentration of TAG with various fatty unsaturated (U) and saturated (S) fatty acids with TAG, designated as these species UUU, UUS, USS, and SSS, can be determined accurat...
High yield coupling of peptides to protein carriers.

Abstract Coupling of peptides to protein carriers has been achieved at a high level of peptide incorporation. Bovine serum albumin was used as the model carrier protein and several peptides were tested in the coupling reaction. The peptides were coupled to succinylated bovine serum albumin after conversion of its caroxyl side chains to the reactive p- nitrophenyl ester groups by reaction with p- nitrophenol /N,N′- dicyclohexylcarbodiimide in anhydrous dimethylformamide. The reaction afforded succinyl-albumin-peptide conjugates that had high levels of peptide incorporation (18–35 mol peptide/mol albumin). In addition to the high level of peptide coupling, the reaction avoids the production of polymeric forms of peptide, protein or conjugate.
Natural convection in a horizontal circular cylinder

In this paper we examine the steady, two-dimensional convective motion which occurs in a horizontal circular cylinder whose wall is non-uniformly heated. One observes several qualitatively different physical phenomena depending on the wall temperature distribution and the value of the Rayleigh number. The low-Rayleigh-number behaviour for the single convective cell heated from below is related to the classical Rayleigh stability problem. The critical Rayleigh number for the single circular cell is approximately five times the value for Rayleigh's multi-celluar configuration. The flow which exhibits a nearly parabolic velocity profile near the critical Rayleigh number, gradually changes to a rigidly-rotating-core behaviour as the Rayleigh number increases. The speed of core rotation is a function of the Prandtl number, whereas the boundary-layer thickness is primarily a function of the Rayleigh number. When the heating is from side to side, the solution shows that as the Rayleigh number increases the core motion is progressively arrested leaving a narrow circulating band of fluid adjacent to the wall. An oblique heating produces a hybrid phenomenon, a low-Rayleigh-number behaviour which is characteristic of the sideways heating case and a high-Rayleigh-number interior motion characteristic of the bottom heating case. To determine the core motion in the high-Rayleigh-number limit, Batchelor's work concerning the uniqueness of incompressible, exactly steady, closed streamline flows with small viscosity is extended to include flows with small thermal conductivity.
Design and fabrication of a peristaltic micropump

This paper describes the design, fabrication, and electrical characterization of a novel peristaltic thermopneumatic microfluidic (PTMF) pump. Such a pump is required for next-generation implantable medical treatment. To satisfy the demands of an implantable system, the PTMF pump design presented here includes biocompatibility, simple integration with microfluidics, bidirectionality, and particle tolerance. Test devices were fabricated with both silicon micromachining and soft lithography (polydimethylsiloxane micromolding). Electrical characterization and optical measurements have shown that this pump design is feasible, and that further research could result in a device suitable for medical implantation.
Extending sapwood - Leaf area relationships from stems to roots in Coast Douglas-fir

Keywords: sapwood / heartwood / roots / leaf area / Douglas-fir Abstract • Studies of allometric relationships between leaf area and the cross-sectional area (CSA) of sapwood in the stem have shed light on the structural and functional relationships between water-conducting and photosynthetic tissues. • The purpose of this study was to test whether sapwood-leaf area relationships could be extended from stems to roots in coast Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii (Mirb.) Franco). Twelve trees were felled, their stumps were excavated, and the CSA of sapwood and heartwood were estimated for individual roots, entire root systems, and stem section. • Root sapwood CSA was greater than sapwood CSA throughout the stem, and the ratio of leaf area to sapwood CSA (Al:As) was accordingly lower for root sapwood. The relationship between sap- wood CSA and leaf area was more variable in roots and at groundline compared to crown base. Root Al:Asdecreased with relative tree height (tree height/mean stand height). • The strong allometric relationship between leaf area and the CSA of sapwood in the stem gener- ally holds when extended to roots. The greater CSA of sapwood in roots versus stems may reflect differences in their roles in supporting the tree.
Diagnosis of acute hepatitis E infection utilizing enzyme immunoassay

Acute hepatitis E infection was diagnosed in a Pakistani immigrant admitted to the University of Illinois Hospital. Utilizing enzyme immunoassay (EIA) tests, specific IgG and IgM class antibodies to three different epitopes of hepatitis E virus (HEV) were detected 12 weeks after the onset of illness and in the early convalescent stage. Sixteen months after the onset of hepatitis, IgM anti-HEV was no longer detectable. Low levels of IgG class anti-HEV antibodies continued to be detected. We demonstrate the utility of the EIA HEV assay to diagnose prospectively acute HEV infection.
A monoclinic polymorph of venlafaxine hydro­chloride

Venlafaxine hydro­chloride, [(\pm)-N,N-di­methyl-2-(1-hydroxy­cyclo­hex-1-yl)-2-(4-methoxy­phenyl) ethyl­amine hydro­chloride, C17H28ClNO2] is found to crystallize in both orthorhombic and monoclinic crystal systems. The molecular structures in the two polymorphs differ in the conformations of the substituents at the ethyl­amine group. In the monoclinic crystal structure, the mol­ecules translated along the a axis are linked by Cl− ions through O—H⋯Cl and N—H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds to form infinite one-dimensional chains.
Modeling of micro-dielectric barrier discharges

Summary form only given. Arrays of micro-plasmas having dimensions of tens to hundreds of microns are finding use as sources of radicals and charged particles in addition to their conventional use as photon sources. In one variant of these devices, the electrodes are fully or partially covered by dielectrics, and so they operate as dielectric barrier discharges (micro-DBDs). As such, the devices must be pulsed or driven with high frequency (HF) waveforms. When operating at atmospheric pressure in air, the plasma formation and decay times can be as short as tens of ns, and so the plasma may need to be re-ignited with each discharge pulse. In this situation, the physical structure of the micro-DBD and the electron emitting properties are important to its operation.In this presentation, we will discuss the properties of microDBDs sustained in atmospheric pressure N2 and air using results from a 2-d plasma simulation. The micro-DBDs are sandwich structures with openings of tens-of-microns excited with HF voltage waveforms. The model includes solution of Poisson's equation, transport of charged and neutral species, radiation transport, electron photo-emission from surfaces, and beam transport of secondary electrons. We found that, depending on the details of the voltage waveform and surrounding structures, the plasma can be expelled from the micro-DBD cavity during one part of the HF cycle, thereby requiring the plasma to be reformed later in the cycle. This expulsion is partly facilitated by the Debye length being larger (in some cases) than the DBD cavity. Long lived neutral species in the plasma can facilitate restart by production of secondary electrons from surfaces. For example, UV photon emission from long lived states continuously provides seed secondary electrons at surfaces until the potential is favorable to generate the plasma.
Role of Specific Innate Immune Responses in Herpes Simplex Virus Infection of the Central Nervous System

Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) causes a spectrum of disease, including herpes labialis, herpes keratitis, and herpes encephalitis, which can be lethal. Viral recognition by pattern recognition receptors plays a central role in cytokine production and in the generation of antiviral immunity. The relative contributions of different Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in the innate immune response during central nervous system infection with HSV-1 have not been fully characterized. In this study, we investigate the roles of TLR2, TLR9, UNC93B1, and the type I interferon (IFN) receptor in a murine model of HSV-1 encephalitis. TLR2 is responsible for detrimental inflammatory cytokine production following intracranial infection with HSV-1, and the absence of TLR2 expression leads to increased survival in mice. We prove that inflammatory cytokine production by microglial cells, astrocytes, neutrophils, and monocytes is mediated predominantly by TLR2. We also demonstrate that type I IFNs are absolutely required for survival following intracranial HSV-1 infection, as mice lacking the type I IFN receptor succumb rapidly following infection and have high levels of HSV in the brain. However, the absence of TLR9 does not impact survival, type I IFN levels, or viral replication in the brain following infection. The absence of UNC93B1 leads to a survival disadvantage but does not impact viral replication or type I IFN levels in the brain in HSV-1-infected mice. These results illustrate the complex but important roles that innate immune receptors play in host responses to HSV-1 during infection of the central nervous system.
Stress Integration Approach in Resonant Column and Torsional Shear Testing for Soils

Determination of strain in resonant column and torsional shear (RC/TS) tests is complicated due to nonuniform stress–strain variation occurring linearly with the radius in a soil specimen in torsion. The equivalent radius approach is adequate when calculating strain at low to intermediate levels, however, the approach is less accurate when performing the tests at higher strains. The stress integration approach involving integration of an assumed soil stress–strain model was developed to account for this problem more precisely. This approach was used to generate the plots of equivalent radius ratio versus strain developed based upon shear modulus and damping. Results showed that the equivalent radius ratio curves converge to a value of approximately 0.8 at low strains and decrease as strain increases. The equivalent radius ratio curves based upon damping decrease to significantly lower values at high strain than curves based upon shear modulus. This study suggests that using the same values of equivalent r...
Hypodermic-needle-like hollow polymer microneedle array using UV lithography into micromolds

This paper presents a polymer hollow microneedle array for transdermal drug delivery that is fabricated using UV photolithography and a single-step micromolding technique. This fabrication process patterns a 6×6 array of 1mm tall high-aspect-ratio hollow microneedles with sharp beveled tips and 150µm diameter side-opened lumens. The geometry of the beveled tip and the position of the lumen are defined simultaneously by a two-dimensional lithography mask pattern and the topography of the micromold. This three-dimensional geometry improves insertion performance and potentially the drug delivery efficiency without additional fabrication processes. These hypodermic-needle-like microneedles have been successfully constructed, packaged, and tested for fluidic functionality and skin penetrability.
Linear Laplacian Discrimination for Feature Extraction

Discriminant feature extraction plays a fundamental role in pattern recognition. In this paper, we propose the linear Laplacian discrimination (LLD) algorithm/or discriminant feature extraction. LLD is an extension of linear discriminant analysis (LDA). Our motivation is to address the issue that LDA cannot work well in cases where sample spaces are non-Euclidean. Specifically, we define the within-class scatter and the between-class scatter using similarities which are based on pairwise distances in sample spaces. Thus the structural information of classes is contained in the within-class and the between-class Laplacian matrices which are free from metrics of sample spaces. The optimal discriminant subspace can be derived by controlling the structural evolution of Laplacian matrices. Experiments are performed on the facial database for FRGC version 2. Experimental results show that LLD is effective in extracting discriminant features.
Perioperative Patient Movement: Defining the Issues

Musculoskeletal injuries among nursing personnel required to lift and laterally transfer patients manually carries substantial injury, salary, and personnel replacement costs per incident. Unintended hypothermia in surgical patients has been researched and published with resulting recommendations, yet the problem remains. The primary purpose of this article is to question the potential effects that the use of a single transport-procedure-recovery platform might provide. The full range of surgical care that can be delivered using these platforms has not been explored, in part because of the newness of the concept. Numerous potential advantages will not be realized if a specific platform is not able to perform as well as, or better than, the current standard operating room tables and allow the performance of most of the procedures currently being performed.
Testicular touch preparation cytology in the evaluation of male infertility

Background: Male infertility is traditionally evaluated by tissue core biopsies of the testes. Touch preparations (TP) of these biopsies have been infrequently used. The aim of this study is to report our experience with using testicular biopsy TP for the evaluation of male infertility. Materials and Methods: A retrospective search was performed for cases of testes biopsies with concurrent TP. These cases were evaluated for clinical information, specimen adequacy, and cytological-histological correlation. Results: A total of 39 cases were identified from men with a mean age of 34 years (range 23 to 50 years). TP slides were satisfactory for evaluation in 31 (89%) cases, and less than optimal in four due to low cellularity, obscuring blood or air drying artifact. Cytopathology showed concordance with the biopsy in almost all cases. In one discordant case where the biopsies showed no active spermatogenesis, a rare sperm were identified on the TP. Conclusions: TP of the testis is a helpful adjunct to biopsy because of its ability to clearly evaluate all stages of spermatogenesis. These data demonstrate that TP cytopathology of the testes in our experience has an excellent correlation with both normal testicular biopsies and those showing pathological spermatogenesis, and in rare cases may provide added benefit in evaluating the presence of spermatogenesis for male infertility. Albeit uncommon, cytopathologists may be required to identify and evaluate spermatogenic elements in cytology specimens being submitted from men with infertility.
TIME-DEPENDENT QUANTUM METHODS FOR LARGE SYSTEMS

▪ Abstract This review focuses on time-dependent methods suitable for simulating the quantum dynamics of processes in large clusters and condensed-phase environments. A number of mean field, quantum-classical, and quantum statistical approximations that avoid the conventional exponential scaling with the number of degrees of freedom are reviewed. In addition, rigorous semiclassical and path integral approaches are described that are feasible in certain physical situations. Select chemical applications illustrating the capabilities of these methods are discussed.
Solar Thermal Hydrogen Production from Water over Modified CeO2 Materials

A series of cerium oxide based materials for hydrogen production from water was studied by temperature-programmed reduction, X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) in addition to thermal reactions with water vapour. The addition of uranium ions into CeO2, making mixed oxides Ce x U1−x O2, resulted in noticeable modification of the reduction properties of CeO2; with the main observations being the decrease in reduction temperature and the increase of hydrogen consumption when compared to CeO2 alone. XPS U4f of the as prepared Ce0.5U0.5O2 showed the presence of large amounts of U6+ cations at 380.9 eV in addition to the U4+ cations at 379.9 eV; the ratio U4+ to U6+ cations was found equal to 0.35. XPS Ce3d showed, on the contrary, considerable amount of Ce3+ cations with an estimated ratio of Ce3+ to Ce4+ = ca. 0.5. Ar-ions sputtering results in decreasing the U6+ contribution and a dramatic increase of the Ce3+ contribution. The decrease of U6+ cations was, however, not mirrored by the increase in Ce3+ cations. After five minutes of Ar ions sputtering (1 kV, 10 mA) the surface and near surface Ce3d line shapes looked closer to those of Ce2O3 with prominent Ce3d5/2 and Ce3d3/2 lines at 885.6 and 904.0 eV attributed to v′ and u′, respectively. The Ce x U1−x O2 series was tested for hydrogen production from water (where x = 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1). All uranium containing oxides had higher activity than CeO2 or UO2 alone. Ce0.75U0.25O2 was found to have the highest activity in the studied series; about one order of magnitude higher than that of CeO2 alone at the same temperature. The reason for the enhanced activity is linked to the ease by which oxygen ions are removed from the oxide materials.
A robust goodness‐of‐fit test statistic with application to ordinal regression models

We propose a goodness-of-fit test statistic for linear regression with heterogeneous variance, which is asymptotically chi-square if the given model is correct. The test statistic is computed as a quadratic form of observed minus predicted responses. We apply the method to a linear regression for an ordinal categorical response, the wheezing status of a child (no wheeze, wheeze with cold, wheeze apart from cold) as a function of maternal smoking and city of residence.
Mitochondrial targeting of the electrophilic lipid 15-deoxy-Delta12,14-prostaglandin J2 increases apoptotic efficacy via redox cell signalling mechanisms.

Prototypical electrophiles such as the lipid 15-deoxy-Δ 12,14 -prostaglandin J 2 (15d-PGJ 2 ) are well recognized for their therapeutic potential. Electrophiles modify signalling proteins in both the cytosol and mitochondrion, which results in diverse cellular responses, including cytoprotective effects and, at high doses, cell death. These findings led us to the hypothesis that targeting electrophiles to specific compartments in the cell could fine-tune their biological effects. To examine this, we synthesized a novel mitochondrially targeted analogue of 15d-PGJ 2 (mito-15d-PGJ 2 ) and tested its effects on redox cell signalling. Mito-15d-PGJ 2 caused profound defects in mitochondrial bioenergetics and mitochondrial membrane depolarization when compared with 15d-PGJ 2 . We also found that mito-15d-PGJ 2 modified different members of the electrophile-responsive proteome, was more potent at initiating intrinsic apoptotic cell death and was less effective than 15d-PGJ 2 at up-regulating the expression of HO-1 (haem oxygenase-1) and glutathione. These results demonstrate the feasibility of modulating the biological effects of electrophiles by targeting the pharmacophore to mitochondria.
HLA-D Antigens in Progressive Systemic Sclerosis (Scleroderma)

Seven unrelated patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) were studied for HLA-DW antigens. 4/7 possessed the DW1 antigen. This suggests that a common genetic factor, linked to the major histocompatibility complex, may be present in the majority of patients with scleroderma.
Grain-size trends and transport along beaches: Example from eastern England

Abstract Significant changes in grain size along the beach are found, which represent coarsening in the direction of net wave-driven transport. The cause is ascribed to progressive winnowing out of the finer fraction and its dispersal offshore by tidal currents. Other situations without strong tidal currents may allow the winnowed fines to be reintroduced to the beach further downdrift and yield a fining trend. The implications of transport directions for the East Anglian coastal sediment systems include convergence of coastal sand streams and possible loss to sand banks at Lowestoft and other nesses.
A noise model for high electron mobility transistors

A model to explain the noise properties for AlGaAs/GaAs HEMT's, AlGaAs/InGaAs/GaAs pseudomorphic HEMT's (P-HEMT's) and GaAs/AlGaAs inverted HEMT's (I-HEMT's) is presented. The model Is based on a self-consistent solution of Schrodinger and Poisson's equations. The influence of the drain-source current, frequency and device parameters on the minimum noise figure F/sub min/ and minimum noise temperature T/sub min/, for different HEMT structures are presented. The study shows that P-HEMT's have a better noise performance than the normal and inverted HEMT's. The present model predicts that a long gate P-HEMT device will exhibit a better noise performance than a conventional HEMT. There is a range of doped epilayer thickness where minimum noise figure is a minimum for pseudomorphic HEMT's which is not observed in conventional and inverted HEMT's. The calculated noise properties are compared with experimental data and the results show excellent agreement for all devices. >
Testing Adrenocortical Function

The availability of highly specific radioimmunoassays for measurement of practically every steroid synthesized by the adrenal cortex has greatly enhanced and simplified evaluation of adrenal function. The next section of this chapter focuses on the basal tests available to evaluate adequacy of adrenocortical function. These tests employ collection of a single sample of blood or urine. The assays in the plasma or urine available to the clinician and the limitations of these tests are pointed out. The following section of this chapter deals with dynamic tests that are employed in the evaluation of adrenal dysfunction.