cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neuroprotective and metabolic effects of resveratrol: Therapeutic implications for Huntington's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders

Resveratrol is a naturally occurring polyphenolic compound associated with beneficial effects on aging, metabolic disorders, inflammation and cancer in animal models and resveratrol is currently being tested in numerous clinical trials. Resveratrol may exert these effects by targeting several key metabolic sensor/effector proteins, such as AMPK, SIRT1, and PGC-1α. Resveratrol has also received considerable attention recently for its potential neuroprotective effects in neurodegenerative disorders where AMPK, SIRT1 or PGC-1α may represent promising therapeutic targets. A recent study published in Experimental Neurology (Ho et al., 2010) examined the therapeutic potential of a micronised proprietary resveratrol formulation, SRT501 in the N171-82Q transgenic mouse model of Huntington's disease (HD). HD is a progressive and devastating genetic neurodegenerative disorder that is associated with downregulation of PGC-1α activity. The Ho et al. study found that SRT501 treatment did not lead to significant improvement in weight loss, motor performance, survival and striatal atrophy. However, other studies have reported neuroprotective effects of resveratrol and a distantly related polyphenol, fisetin, in HD models. HD has been associated with diabetes mellitus. Interestingly, evidence from the Ho et al. study suggests a resveratrol formulation induced beneficial anti-diabetic effect in N171-82Q mice. This commentary summarizes the pertinent outcomes from the Ho et al. study and discusses the further prospects of resveratrol and other polyphenols, including novel grape-derived polyphenols, in the treatment of HD and other neurodegenerative disorders.
Nogo: A Molecular Determinant of Axonal Growth and Regeneration

Following injury, axons of the adult mammalian central nervous system (CNS) fail to regenerate. As a result, CNS trauma generally results in severe and persistent functional deficits. The inability of CNS axons to regenerate is largely associated with nonneuronal aspects of the CNS environment that are inhibitory to axonal elongation. This inhibition is mediated by the glial scar, including reactive astrocytes, and by the myelin-associated neurite outgrowth inhibitors chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans, myelin-associated glyco-protein, and Nogo. Nogo is an integral membrane protein that localizes to CNS, but not peripheral nervous system, myelin. In vitro characterization of Nogo has demonstrated its function as a potent inhibitor of axon elongation. In vivo neutralization of Nogo activity results in enhanced axonal regeneration and functional recovery following CNS injury as well as increased plasticity in uninjured CNS fibers. These findings suggest that Nogo may be a major contributor to the nonpermissi...
Fields of opportunity: How marketers design the transaction game with transaction field maps

Abstract While the importance of transaction institutions, or rules, has long been established in the area of marketing governance, marketers and academics alike would benefit from guidance in the strategic use of the rules of the transaction game. This is particularly important in B2B and industrial markets where innovations in the rule-making environment have a significant effect on innovation. Strategically, the organization achieves its customer objectives by creating arenas for transacting, termed transaction fields, in which social actors transact. The fundamental argument is that organizations create transaction fields to depict the benefits of transacting to customers. Accordingly, managers must focus on strategic transactions; those that fundamentally change the way that transacting takes place in the transaction field. Using a historical case of the American cotton factor, this research demonstrates how marketers overcome factors that limit transacting by mapping their actions in transaction fields using rules. This specialization may result in the emergence of marketing intermediaries and lead to competitive advantage.
Epidemiology of sexually transmitted infections in rural southwestern Haiti: the Grand'Anse Women's Health Study.

The study attempts to define socioeconomic, clinical, and laboratory correlates in vaginitis and other sexually transmitted infections in rural southwestern Haiti. A convenience sample of subjects recruited from a rural women's health clinic and attending an established clinic at the Haitian Health Foundation (HHF) clinic was studied. A standardized history and physical examination, including speculum examination, and collection of blood, urine, and vaginal swabs were obtained from the women at the rural clinic. Additional vaginal swab samples only for Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) testing were obtained from women at the HHF clinic in Jeremie. Laboratory results from Leon subjects were positive for Gardnerella vaginalis in 41% (41 of 100), Trichomonas vaginalis in 13.5% (14 of 104), Candida sp. in 9% (9 of 100), Mycoplasma genitalium in 6.7% (7 of 104), Chlamydia trachomatis in 1.9% (2 of 104), and Neisseria gonorrhea in 1% (1 of 104) of patients. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody tests were negative in 100% (103 of 103) of patients, and syphilis antibody testing was positive for treponemal antibodies in 7.7% (8 of 104) patients. For subjects from the HHF, 19.9% were positive for T. vaginalis, 11.9% were positive for C. trachomatis, 10.1% were positive for M. genitalium, and 4.1% were positive for N. gonorrhea. Infections with G. vaginalis, T. vaginalis, and Candida were the most common. N. gonorrhea, C. trachomatis, Candida sp., T. vaginalis, and M. genitalium infections were associated with younger age (less than 31 years old).
Female voluntary surgical contraception via minilaparotomy under local anesthesia

Abstract Objective: To examine changes in prevalence and acceptance of sterilization methods in a developing country from 1986 to 1990. Method: Data from 5182 voluntary female sterilizations performed at 52 service sites in Nigeria were retrospectively reviewed for sterilization method, anesthesia technique, demographic factors, and patient acceptance. Results: The annual number of sterilization procedures increased dramatically over this period from 688 in 1986 to 1911 in 1989. Overall, 74.3% of the procedures were performed by minilaparotomy under local anesthesia (ML/LA), 6% by laparascopy/general anesthesia, and 19.7% by laparatomy/general anesthesia. ML/LA was found to be a very safe method, with a complication rate of 1.4% 98.6% of ML/LA patients expressed complete satisfaction with the procedure. Conclusion: Female sterilization increased in acceptance in Nigeria over the period 1986–1990 concomitant with the increased use of ML/LA. This approach is safe, cost-effective, and appropriate for the developing world.
Microstructured hollow-core rib waveguides

We examine the properties of a new type of hollow-core fiber with a rib-waveguide geometry. Based on photonic band-gap fibers, these new designs offer intriguing possibilities for gas and liquid sensing.
Adaptive multiwavelet initialization

The multiwavelet concept uses a set of scaling functions and a set of wavelets to generate an orthogonal multichannel multiresolution pyramid decomposition for finite energy signals. The multiple scaling functions extract the lowpass information of the input data set, and the multiwavelets extract the bandpass information. When the lowpass filters associated with the scaling functions are cascaded, a multiresolution pyramid decomposition/reconstruction system is formed with each pyramid convolution operator having several inputs and several outputs. However, there is only one data set available to initialize this process. This paper addresses the question of how to best modify the data set using prefilters so that its decomposition contains the most useful information for the chosen application. The "best" prefilters are determined by the minimization of the energy of preselected decomposition components. The resulting decomposition is, therefore, signal adaptive, and under appropriate conditions, perfect reconstruction of the input data set can be achieved with a proper postfiltering. The detailed discussions in the paper are focussed on the two-wavelet and two-scaling function case; the general multiwavelet case is addressed at the end of the paper. A compression example is provided to demonstrate the performance of the optimally initialized multiwavelet method and to compare it with a single wavelet method and another multiwavelet initialization method proposed by other authors.
Loop flattening & spherical sampling: highly efficient model reduction techniques for SRAM yield analysis

The impact of process variation in deep-submicron technologies is especially pronounced for SRAM architectures which must meet demands for higher density and higher performance at increased levels of integration. Due to the complex structure of SRAM, estimating the effect of process variation accurately has become very challenging. In this paper, we address this challenge in the context of estimating SRAM timing variation. Specifically, we introduce a method called loop flattening that demonstrates how the evaluation of the timing statistics in the complex, highly structured circuit can be reduced to that of a single chain of component circuits. To then very quickly evaluate the timing delay of a single chain, we employ a statistical method based on importance sampling augmented with targeted, high-dimensional, spherical sampling. Overall, our methodology provides an accurate estimation with 650X or greater speed-up over the nominal Monte Carlo approach.
Rectal Procidentia: Diagnosis and Management

Rectal prolapse or procidentia is a common condition with detrimental effects on continence and social function. One of the most devastating complications for patients suffering from this disorder is fecal incontinence. The psychologic trauma these patients experience can be debilitating. This article provides an overview of rectal procidentia, including a review of the symptomatic presentation, etiology, classification, diagnosis, and treatment.
Implementing Business Process Reengineering: The Role of Organizational Justice

This article argues that many business process reengineering projects fail because they do not consider justice issues. Drawing on the literature on organizational justice and business process reengineering, the article outlines a theoretical framework integrating these two concepts. It contends that to improve the success of business process reengineering projects, managers should consider justice issues at four levels: distributive, procedural, interactional, and systemic.
Composition and structure of a chronosequence of young, mixed-species forests in southeastern Ohio, USA

Clearcutting, a commonly used silvicultural practice in southeastern Ohio, often results in a forest stand with a different species composition than the parent stand. The time frames during which shifts in species composition occur on different sites are unclear. While some studies have documented species composition at specific points in time, none have attempted to examine differences throughout the first decades of stand development. This study focused on the early successional dynamics of young, mixed-species forests of southeastern Ohio. Species compositions were examined across a chronosequence of sixteen stands that developed following clearcutting. Stand ages ranged from six to 26 years. The sample was limited to dry-mesic hardwood forests on southerly aspects and on soils derived from residuum or colluvium. Across the chronosequence, stand density ranged from 17 636 stems ha-1 at age 6 to 2759 stems ha-1 at age 26, and basal area ranged from 8.2 m2 ha-1 to 22.1 m2 ha-1. Clumps comprised a substantial portion of the total stand density and basal area. At age 6–8 years after clearcutting, clumped stems accounted for 35.1% of the density and 48.2% of the basal area. At age 26 years, these proportions were 25.7% and 29.4%, respectively. Clumped stems were significantly larger (p<0.05) than non-clumped stems at each age group except 26 years. Total Quercus spp. density was greatest at age 6–8 years (3386 stems ha-1), and least at age 26 years (581 stems ha-1). When considered as a proportion of the total stand, however, the proportion was relatively stable, averaging 21.3%. However, importance value (IV=[relative density + relative basal area]/2) of Quercus in the upper canopy (dominant and codominant crown classes) was twice as much (72%) at age 26 years compared to age 6–8 years (35%). Quercus prinus L. was the major species across the chronosequence. For all age groups except 18–20 years. Q. prinus IV was the highest of any individual species in the upper canopy, and it ranged from 27 in the youngest stands (6–8 years) to 69 in the oldest stand (26 years). Within the intermediate crown class, the IV of Q. prinus equaled or exceeded those of all other species, except for the 18–20 year age group where it was second to A. rubrum. Quercus alba L. and Quercus velutina Lam. were minor components at age 26 years, although they dominated a comparison sample of six mature stands of the same ecosystem type. Liriodendron tulipifera L. was abundant 6–8 years after clearcutting, but nearly absent at age 26 years. Acer rubrum L. was the major species in both the intermediate and overtopped crown classes throughout the chronosequence. As gaps in the canopy occur. A. rubrum may become a more common species within the dominant-codominant crown class.
Fast Thermal Simulation for Runtime Temperature Tracking and Management

As the power density increases exponentially, the runtime regulation of operating temperature by dynamic thermal management (DTM) becomes necessary. This paper proposes two novel approaches to the thermal analysis at the chip architecture level for efficient DTM. The first method, i.e., thermal moment matching with spectrum analysis, is based on observations that the power consumption of architecture-level modules in microprocessors running typical workloads presents a strong nature of periodicity. Such a feature can be exploited by fast spectrum analysis in the frequency domain for computing steady-state response. The second method, i.e., thermal moment matching based on piecewise constant power inputs, is based on the observation that the average power consumption of architecture-level modules in microprocessors running typical workloads determines the trend of temperature variations. As a result, using piecewise constant average power inputs can further speed up the thermal analysis. To obtain transient temperature changes due to the initial condition and constant/average power inputs, numerically stable moment matching methods with enhanced pole searching are carried out to speed up online temperature tracking with high accuracy and low overhead. The resulting thermal analysis algorithm has a linear time complexity in runtime setting when the average power inputs are applied. Experimental results show that the resulting thermal analysis algorithms lead to 10times-100times speedup over the traditional integration-based transient analysis with small accuracy loss
Initiation factor distribution in Xenopus laevis eggs.

The distribution of activity similar to that of one of the initiation factors (1F2) was determined as a function of developmental stage in Xenopus laeviseggs and embryos. In vivo exposure of mature oocytes to hormone increases the total amount of detectable factor activity and facilitates the binding of 1F2-like factor to ribosomes. The quality of factor bound is not correlated with polysome content.
Differential interference contrast microscopy imaging of micrometer-long plasmonic nanowires

We report polarization- and wavelength-sensitive differential interference contrast (DIC) images and intensities of 2 μm-long gold nanowires. The feasibility and usefulness of the gold nanowires as optical sensors and probes in biological systems are demonstrated through combining with a DIC microscope.
Contesting the Equivalency of Continuous Sedation until Death and Physician-assisted Suicide/Euthanasia: A Commentary on LiPuma

Patients who are imminently dying sometimes experience symptoms refractory to traditional palliative interventions, and in rare cases, continuous sedation is offered. Samuel H. LiPuma, in a recent article in this Journal, argues that continuous sedation until death is equivalent to physician-assisted suicide/euthanasia based on a higher brain neocortical definition of death. We contest his position that continuous sedation involves killing and offer four objections to the equivalency thesis. First, sedation practices are proportional in a way that physician-assisted suicide/euthanasia is not. Second, continuous sedation may not entirely abolish consciousness. Third, LiPuma's particular version of higher brain neocortical death relies on an implausibly weak construal of irreversibility--a position that is especially problematic in the case of continuous sedation. Finally, we explain why continuous sedation until death is not functionally equivalent to neocortical death and, hence, physician-assisted suicide/euthanasia. Concluding remarks review the differences between these two end-of-life practices.
Representational content in humans and machines

Abstract This article focuses on the problem of representational content. Accounting for representational content is the central issue in contemporary naturalism: it is the major remaining task facing a naturalistic conception of the world. Representational content is also the central barrier to contemporary cognitive science and artificial intelligence: it is not possible to understand representation in animals nor to construct machines with genuine representation given current (lack of) understanding of what representation is. An elaborated critique is offered to current approaches to representation, arguing that the basic underlying approach is, at root, logically incoherent, and, thus, that standard approaches are doomed to failure. An alternative model of representation— interactivism is presented that avoids or solves the problems facing standard approaches. Interactivism is framed by a version of functionalism, and a naturalization of that functionalism completes an outline of a naturalization of r...
Runtime verification of kernel-level concurrency using compiler-based instrumentation

To approach the challenge of exploiting the performance potential of multi-core architectures, researchers and developers need systems that provide a reliable multi-threaded environment: every component of the underlying systems software must be designed for concurrent execution. But concurrency errors are difficult to diagnose with traditional debugging tools and, as not all schedules trigger them, can slip past even thorough testing. Runtime verification is a powerful technique for finding concurrency errors. Existing runtime verification tools can check potent concurrency properties, like atomicity, but have not been applied at the operating system level. This work explores runtime verification in the systems space, addressing the need for efficient instrumentation and overhead control in the kernel, where performance is paramount. Runtime verification can speculate on alternate schedules to discover potential property violations that do not occur in a test execution. Non-speculative approaches detect only violations that actually occur, but they are less prone to false positives and are computationally faster, making them well suited to online analysis. Offline monitoring is suited to more types of analysis, because speed is less of a concern, but is limited by the space needs of large execution logs, whereas online monitors, which do not store logs, can monitor longer runs and thus more code. All approaches benefit from the ability to target specific system components, so that developers can focus debugging efforts on their own code. We consider several concurrency properties: data-race freedom, atomicity, and memory model correctness. Our Redflag logging system uses GCC plug-ins we designed to efficiently log memory accesses and synchronization operations in targeted subsystems. We have developed data race and atomicity checkers for analyzing the resulting logs, and we have tuned them to recognize synchronization patterns found in systems code. Additionally, our Adaptive Runtime Verification framework (ARV) provides monitoring for concurrency properties when overhead constraints make it impractical to monitor every event in the system. Even with this incomplete knowledge, ARV can estimate the state of the monitored system and dynamically reassign monitoring resources to objects that are most likely to encounter errors.
Consuming, Saving, and Spending Most of Income

This paper extends the traditional life-cycle hypothesis to allow for rewards from consumption and savings. In the new model, the utility function depends both on consumption and savings, resulting in differing marginal propensities to consume (DMPC) from current income, current wealth, and future income. Specifically, consumption is financed mostly by current income. The model explains various empirical regularities not captured by the traditional life-cycle model including the hypersensitivity of consumption to current income shocks, and the drop in individual consumption at the time of retirement.
Prediction and Management of Readmission Risk for Congestive Heart Failure

This position paper investigates the problem of 30-day readmission risk prediction and management for Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), which has been identified as one of the leading causes of hospitalization, especially for adults older than 65 years. The underlying solution is deeply related to using predictive analytics to compute the readmission risk score of a patient, and investigating respective risk management strategies for her by leveraging statistical analysis or sequence mining techniques. The outcome of this paper leads to developing a framework that suggests appropriate interventions to a patient during a hospital stay, at discharge, or post hospital-discharge period that potentially would reduce her readmission risk. The primary beneficiaries of this paper are the physicians and different entities involved in the pipeline of health care industry, and most importantly, the patients. This paper outlines the opportunities in applying data mining techniques in readmission risk prediction and management, and sheds deeper light on healthcare informatics.
We Want in: The African American Press's Negotiation for a White House Correspondent

Abstract Almost sixty years ago, Harry S. McAlpin shook the hand of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and held a brief conversation with him after a White House press conference. It marked the first time an African American reporter had participated at a White House press conference as an official correspondent. Though African American editors and publishers had been pressuring the White House to allow a journalist to represent them since the beginning of Roosevelt's administration, the most concerted efforts did not occur until just before and during America's involvement in World War II. This study will focus on the efforts of African American journalists to gain permission to cover the White House. During the war, the African American press could not continue its militant rhetoric and the government could not continue to support discrimination if both sides hoped to reach their goals of full support for the war abroad and equality for all at home.
Getting Students to Evaluate Student Evaluations

Almost all students at American colleges and universities use student evaluations to rate their professors. However most probably know relatively little about the process and what determines aggregate faculty ratings. This paper uses data from an internet rating site to explore potential econometric applications arising from the student evaluation process. The data both engage students in empirical work and produce some interesting results.
COX-2 is induced by the COX-2 selective inhibitors celecoxib and etodolac and the non-selective inhibitor ibuprofen in several human tumor cell lines (397.8)

The COX-2 selective inhibitor, celecoxib, causes cancer cell death in vitro. However, the mechanism(s) behind the observed cytotoxic effects are still being debated. We have demonstrated that celecoxib treatment induces caspase-dependent apoptosis in several human tumor cell lines (A375 melanoma, HT-29 colon carcinoma and CRL-1620 glioblastoma). Given protective effects of certain prostaglandins, we hypothesized that the apoptotic effects of celecoxib may be in part due to COX-2 inhibition. However, western blotting for COX-2 in A375, HT-29 and CRL-1620 cells treated with celecoxib for 24 hours revealed a surprising result. Celecoxib induced COX-2 levels in each of these lines in a dose-dependent manner. To determine whether COX-2 induction by celecoxib is a class effect, we included the COX-2 selective inhibitor etodolac and the non-selective COX inhibitor ibuprofen. Etodolac treatment for 24 hours induced COX-2 in a dose-dependent manner in A375 and CRL-1620 cells and at the highest dose in HT-29 cells....
Sucrose Density Gradient Analysis of Erythrocyte Membranes in Hemolytic Anemias

To investigate the membrane abnormalities that may play a pathophysiologic role in several hemolytic anemias we determined the density distribution on sucrose density gradients of human red blood cell (RBC) membranes from patients with these disorders, from normal controls, and from incubated normal RBC. We analyzed the fractions for membrane-adsorbed hemoglobin (Hb), globin, and nonglobin cytoplasmic proteins. The relationship between the cytoplasmic proteins adsorbed on the membranes and the specific gravity (SG) of the membranes was linear. An increase in SG of the entire membrane population was seen in Hb C disease due to adsorbed Hb. Subpopulations of membranes with increased SG due to adsorption of nonglobin protein were evident in the membranes from two splenectomized patients with hemolytic glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) variants. Dense membrane subpopulations found in RBC membranes from three splenectomized patients with Hb Koln were associated with adsorbed globin, while similar subpopulations in RBC membranes from three splenectomized patients with hereditary spherocytosis demonstrated increased SG due to adsorbed Hb. Splenectomized normals had no such abnormality in membrane density. Sucrose density gradients demonstrate that membrane bound cytoplasmic protein is characteristic of the RBC membranes in several hemolytic disorders. Additionally, gradients are useful for the isolation and further analysis of those subpopulations of RBC membranes with abnormal SG and exaggerated membrane protein abnormalities.
Using a Technological Augmentation to Enhance Parent-Infant Interactions With Parents at Risk

ABSTRACTEffective parent training programs may need to be tailored for at-risk parents by using simple language, presenting concrete concepts, and simple technologies. We present four single-case research-design studies examining if the use of digital frames enhances parent-infant interactions with a diverse range of mothers with varied levels of risk for maltreatment. Based on self-modeling, the frames contain photographs of mother-infant dyads in posed interactions representing desired criterion behaviors from the parent-infant interaction (PII) module of SafeCare®. Results indicate that the use of inexpensive digital frames appears to enhance already good outcomes of the SafeCare PII module.
Filtering of Nanoparticles with Tunable Semiconductor Membranes

Translocation dynamics of nanoparticles permeating through the nanopore in an n-Si semiconductor membrane is studied. With the use of Brownian Dynamics to describe the motion of the charged nanoparticles in the self-consistent membrane-electrolyte electrostatic potential, we asses the possibility of using our voltage controlled membrane for the macroscopic filtering of the charged nanoparticles. The results indicate that the tunable local electric field inside the membrane can effectively control interaction of a nanoparticle with the nanopore by either blocking its passage or increasing the translocation rate. The effect is particularly strong for larger nanoparticles due to their stronger interaction with the membrane while in the nanopore. By extracting the membrane permeability from our microsopic simulations, we compute the macroscopic sieving factors and show that the size selectivity of the membrane can be tuned by the applied voltage.
Unsteady Low Mach Preconditioning with Application to Rotorcraft Flows

A modified low Mach number preconditioning algorithm for the unsteady Navier-Stokes equations is implemented within a diagonalized-implicit dual-time stepping framework. The method utilizes preconditioning based on the unsteady time scales and a novel blended artificial dissipation model, which are shown to be instrumental in preserving both accuracy and convergence over a wide range of Mach number and physical time scales. For demonstration purposes, the method is applied to a simple convecting inviscid vortex as well as to a complex helicopter rotor-fuselage configuration. The test cases highlight the improved accuracy and convergence characteristics of the proposed method and demonstrate that significant performance gains are obtained over traditional methods.
Polarization and angular distribution of the Λ0 in associated production

In an experiment performed at the BNL Cosmotron, we have used an array of spark-chambers and scintillation counters to study the angular distribution and polarization of the Λ0 produced in the reaction π−+p→Λ0+K0. The data have been analysed to provide distributions in dσ/dΩ Λ cm and αP Λ(Θ Λ cm in six intervals (ΔP π=25 MeV) of incident pion momentum from 900 to 1050 MeV/c. For each ΔP π, a value of αP Λ, summed over angle, is presented. From a sample of 585 events in which both K0 and Λ0 were detected, and for which the λ0 proper-times extended from 1.5τΛ to 6τΛ, we have obtained a value τΛ=(2.68 −0.11 +0.13 · 10−10s for the Λ0 mean life.
L-Valve Behavior in Circulating Fluidized Beds at High Temperatures for Group D Particles

The L-valve, as a solids flow control device, has been used extensively in fluidized beds and circulating fluidized beds for controlling the solids circulation rate. Knowledge on L-valves, however,...
Seismicity of the southeastern United States

Review and analysis of the existing data base for southeastern United States earthquakes indicate that the spatial pattern of energy release can be interpreted to occur in zones both parallel (southern Appalachian seismic zone) and transverse (central Virginia and South Carolina-Georgia seismic zones) to the regional Appalachian structural trend. The temporal pattern, for events V ≦ Io ≦ VIII, can be expressed by the recursion relationship, log N = 3.01 − 0.59 Io. Felt areas are, in general, one order of magnitude greater than for similar west coast events. Their configuration is elliptical and aligned with regional structure, except in central Virginia and Alabama and in coastal South Carolina. These latter areas have circular or lobate felt areas that may be caused by differences in focal depths and/or focal mechanisms. A tentative local magnitude formula is developed that employs the vertical component of the short-period Lg phase. It appears that the regional attenuation characteristics of this phase are similar to those found by Nuttli (1973a) in the central United States.
P-glycoprotein mediated drug-drug interaction of central nervous system drugs

P-glycoprotein(P-gp)which belongs the ATP binding cassette transporter superfamily is one of the major transporters investiga- ted.It is widespread on humans' lumina epithelial cells of intestines, lungs,kidneys and brain capillaries endothelium cells.As a great many drugs are substrates or modulators of P-gp,drug-drug interactions might be involved in clinical therapy.The review addressed P-gp and blood brain barrier;the research progress concerning role of P-gp played on central nervous system drugs;P-gp mediated drug-drug in- teraction and therapeutic effect or side effect on central nervous system.
Effect of dietary fiber in insulin-dependent diabetics: insulin requirements and serum lipids.

Four young adult (18 to 26 years old), nonobese human subjects (two men and two women) with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus volunteered to consume a series of three diets: baseline (normal daily intake), wheat bran (normal daily intake+78 gm wheat bran per day), and cellulose (normal daily intake+30 gm cellulose per day). Wheat bran and cellulose diets both contained 60 gm dietary fiber, with 50% of the dietary fiber from wheat bran or cellulose, respectively. Each patient served as his or her own control. Randomized diets were of 6 weeks' duration, separated by a 4-week “recovery” period. At the conclusion of each diet, subjects were hospitalized and underwent 12 hours of computer-controlled, insulin-glucose infusions. Significant decreases were seen in fasting cholesterol (p
The Theory of Contract Law: Promises and Contracts

INTRODUCTION The similarity between a promise and a contract is so obvious that it is natural to suppose that there is much to be learned about one of these notions by studying the other, or even that the legal notion of a contract can be understood by seeing it as based on the moral idea of a promise. This essay will examine some of the similarities between these two notions. These similarities are due to the fact that contract and promise arise in response to, and are consequently shaped by, some of the same underlying values. They are in this respect parallel ideas. But they respond to these values in different ways and are independent notions, neither of which is properly seen as based on the other. The law of contracts is clearly a social institution, backed by the coercive power of the state and subject to modification through judicial decisions and legislative enactments. Promising is also often seen as a social institution of a more informal kind, defined by certain rules which are not enacted but rather backed by moral argument and enforced through the informal sanction of moral disapproval. Many have argued that the wrong involved in breaking a promise depends essentially on the existence of a social practice of this kind. Hume, for example, maintains that fidelity to promises is “an artificial virtue,” dependent on the existence of a convention of keeping agreements, and other accounts of this kind have been advanced in our own day by Rawls and others.
Baseliner: An open-source, interactive tool for processing sap flux data from thermal dissipation probes

Estimating transpiration from woody plants using thermal dissipation sap flux sensors requires careful data processing. Currently, researchers accomplish this using spreadsheets, or by personally writing scripts for statistical software programs (e.g., R, SAS). We developed the Baseliner software to help establish a standardized protocol for processing sap flux data. Baseliner enables users to QA/QC data and process data using a combination of automated steps, visualization, and manual editing. Data processing requires establishing a zero-flow reference value, or “baseline”, which varies among sensors and with time. Since no set of algorithms currently exists to reliably QA/QC and estimate the zero-flow baseline, Baseliner provides a graphical user interface to allow visual inspection and manipulation of data. Data are first automatically processed using a set of user defined parameters. The user can then view the data for additional, manual QA/QC and baseline identification using mouse and keyboard commands. The open-source software allows for user customization of data processing algorithms as improved methods are developed.
Neprilysin inhibition: A brief review of past pharmacological strategies for heart failure treatment and future directions

Heart failure (HF) is a manifestation of aberrant vascular responses and remains a public health concern with a worldwide prevalence of around 23 million and a 5-year mortality numerically equivalent to many cancers. Over the last two decades, mortality from HF reached a plateau with current pharmaceutical agents and mechanical cardiac support. In the last several years, various "novel" pharmaceutical agents have been tested in clinical trials and ultimately met with disappointment, showing only incremental benefit in the treatment of HF. Designing a HF drug with enhanced efficacy over existing agents seemed like a Sisyphean task. Yet again, pharmaceutical chemists have demonstrated their prowess in lateral thinking by developing a vasoactive agent which is a co-crystallized compound of valsartan and sacubitril in a one-to-one molar ratio; the former molecule belongs to a family of agents that are the current standard of care for HF and the latter molecule is a novel agent which inhibits neprilysin - a neutral endopeptidase found in human plasma which alters neurohumoral responses. In July of 2015, a drug which is a combination of valsartan and sacubitril was formally licensed by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of HF. This review describes the evolution of HF medications focusing on rational drug design with the first HF medication, the beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist. We then discuss the biochemical and physiological properties of sacubitril/valsartan which likely lead to its dramatic ability to ameliorate HF mortality.
Fuzzy system based maximum power point tracking for PV system

Maximum power point tracking for PV systems traditionally uses either perturbation and observation method or incremental conductance method. Both methods require modulation of the output voltage and this leads to significant power loss. In this paper, a method, which senses output circuit voltage and short circuit current and use the above two parameters for optimum control with a fuzzy controller, is introduced. The short circuit current of PV cell represents illumination, and the output circuit voltage carry on information about the temperature.
FDG-PET findings in pathologically identified lymph node, adenoid or splenic hyperplasia

642 Objectives False-positive results have been noted in the context of non-malignant inflammatory conditions. This study seeks to characterize FDG-PET (PET) findings in the specific context of biopsy proven non-malignant lymphoid hyperplasia. Methods A patient search was performed using the PowerPath database of hematopathology specimens to identify lymph node, adenoid, and spleen cases with a diagnosis of hyperplasia. The database was searched from September 1, 2005 to May 5, 2008. Any cases which were diagnosed as malignant or lymphoma were excluded. Following patient identification, medical records were screened to determine if a PET scan had been performed. All PET scans were reviewed by at least one board certified nuclear medicine physician. SUV calculation were performed on the area later biopsied and maximum value using SUV max recorded. Results Two hundred one (201) cases satisfied our criteria as being positive for hyperplasia and negative for malignancy or lymphoma. These cases consisted primarily of lymph node cases (173); the balance consisted of adenoid (25) and spleen (3) specimens.Of the 201 patients identified with lymphatic hyperplasia, fifty-two (52) had received a PET scan. Of the 52 patients who received a PET scan, forty-one (79%) were interpreted as PET positive. Mean SUV=4.4 ± 2.8 Range = 1.1 – 14.7. Conclusions FDG-PET detects non-malignant lymphoid hyperplasia. This may result in a false- positive study in the context of cancer screening. Quantification of SUV levels is not helpful in differentiating benign from malignant cases.
Pure and applied metrology

Afew years ago I joined a team of experts writing a revised standard for phasor measurement units (PMUs), devices that seemed to perform amazing feats of measurement in electric power systems. Not long after I joined the group, I began to be troubled by what we were writing about the measurement of frequency. In particular, it seemed to me that the term frequency had not been defined if it was changing, and since the PMU was expected to return a value for the rate of change of frequency (ROCOF), it was obviously expected to be changing. If the term is not defined precisely, I thought, how would you know if the measurement was being made accurately?
Use of focus groups to explore consumers' preferences for content and graphic design of nutrition publications.

The purpose of this research was to determine consumers’ preferences for the content and design of nutrition print materials through the use of focus group interviews. Thirty-seven non-pregnant, non-nursing female consumers 20 to 50 years of age attended one of six focus group interviews. Existing nutrition print materials were used to stimulate discussion on content and graphic design features of the materials. Content features discussed included glossaries, quizzes, diet evaluation checklists, diet monitoring forms, and “factual” vs. “how to” information. Graphic design features discussed included color, format, size, organization, and general appearance. Participants were asked to discuss the personal impressions and practical considerations that formed the basis of their opinions regarding each feature and to elaborate on how the existing materials might be improved to meet their particular needs. Features that drew the most positive reactions were bright food colors, organizational cues, clear information and explanations, features that help personalize the issue being addressed, and “how to” information. J Am Diet Assoc 89:1612-1614, 1989.
Dipterous larval endoparasitoids of the African honey bee subspecies Apis mellifera capensis Esch. and Apis mellifera scutellata Lep. (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

Six large, late instar larvae of, possibly, two species of dipterous endoparasitoids were found, one each, inside the abdomen of six out of 2200 South African honey bees. Four specimens had very large, round, black, posterior spiracles resembling those of Rondaniooestrus apivorus (Tachinidae), the only known tachinid bee endoparasitoid. However, the ecdysial scars of the spiracles had different diameters. The spiracular morphology of the other two specimens were in marked contrast to the four – both had two small, paired, spicate, cone-shaped, posterior spiracles. These two are considered to be the same species. Pictures of key features are provided, but inasmuch as there are no modern, rigorous works on identification of these larvae, the four cannot be concluded to belong to R. apivorus, and the two cannot be assumed to belong to Tachinidae. Their occurrence relative to the hive’s sampled population was very low, however, inasmuch as the honey bee hosts were alive and in position to interact orally with...
Multiple Property Tolerance Analysis for the Evaluation of Missense Mutations

Computational prediction of the impact of a mutation on protein function is still not accurate enough for clinical diagnostics without additional human expert analysis. Sequence alignment-based methods have been extensively used but their results highly depend on the quality of the input alignments and the choice of sequences. Incorporating the structural information with alignments improves prediction accuracy. Here, we present a conservation of amino acid properties method for mutation prediction, Multiple Properties Tolerance Analysis (MuTA), and a new strategy, MuTA/S, to incorporate the solvent accessible surface (SAS) property into MuTA. Instead of combining multiple features by machine learning or mathematical methods, an intuitive strategy is used to divide the residues of a protein into different groups, and in each group the properties used is adjusted. The results for LacI, lysozyme, and HIV protease show that MuTA performs as well as the widely used SIFT algorithm while MuTA/S outperforms SIFT and MuTA by 2%–25% in terms of prediction accuracy. By incorporating the SAS term alone, the alignment dependency of overall prediction accuracy is significantly reduced. MuTA/S also defines a new way to incorporate any structural features and knowledge and may lead to more accurate predictions.
Composition and Physicochemical Characterization of Fiber-Rich Food Processing Byproducts

A wide range of fiber‐rich food processing byproducts from various sources have been proposed as value‐added ingredients for producing healthier food products. Characterizing their composition and physicochemical properties is crucial to understand their potential uses. Eight fiber‐rich byproducts from different sources were fractionated into 2 different particle‐size ranges. Different (P≤ 0.05) proximate composition and physicochemical properties (pasting properties, water‐binding capacity, and oil‐binding capacity) were exhibited by them. These properties enabled hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis to group the byproducts into 3 different clusters by functionality and from this, assigned ingredients in each cluster to a potential end‐uses. Some end use examples include, as a source of fat, protein, sugar, and insoluble fiber; and for uses as a thickening agent, water‐binder, emulsion‐enhancer, and fat‐binder. The data presented in this study can be used by food manufacturers and product developers as the basis for choosing fiber‐rich byproducts for specific applications and assist them in developing specific formulation and processing strategies. This characterization will reduce the time for development of fiber‐rich foods, increasing industrial uses of byproducts, and decreasing food waste.
The Attraction of Magnetically Susceptible Paper

We have imparted magnetic susceptibility to lignocellulosic fibers by adding iron powder to the fibers during hydrogen peroxide bleaching chemistry. We have, therefore, generated carboxylic acid groups in the fibers by deliberately inducing cellulose degradation through Fenton catalysis of the hydrogen peroxide during the chemical oxidation process at a specified level of iron. The iron particles consequently have an exposed layer of iron oxide that allows ionic neutralization of the negatively charged fiber acid groups. After removal of non-attached excess iron, these fibers have been cast into two-dimensional sheets with two different original iron concentrations and tested for physical and chemical properties. Physical tests included tensile, zero-span tensile, caliper, and surface resistivity. Chemical tests included surface charge, kappa, and viscosity. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) emission spectroscopy were also conducted. Remarkably, the magnetically susceptible sheets with incorporated iron were able to retain a tensile strength similar to the unbleached sheets despite attenuation in fiber strength. This is likely due to a chemical refining phenomenon that allowed for increased fiber-fiber bonding. The introduction of the retained iron also significantly alters the surface resistivity of the paper sheets. Such fibers may have a use in applications where charge conduction or dispersion is necessary.
Limit Theorems in Discrete Stochastic Geometry

We survey two general methods for establishing limit theorems for functionals in discrete stochastic geometry. The functionals are linear statistics with the general representation \(\sum _{x\in \mathcal{X}}\xi (x,\mathcal{X})\), where \(\mathcal{X}\) is finite and where the interactions of x with respect to \(\mathcal{X}\), given by \(\xi (x,\mathcal{X})\), are spatially correlated. We focus on subadditive methods and stabilization methods as a way to obtain weak laws of large numbers, variance asymptotics, and central limit theorems for normalized and re-scaled versions of \(\sum _{i=1}^{n}\xi (\eta _{i},\{\eta _{j}\}_{j=1}^{n})\), where η j , j ≥ 1, are i.i.d. random variables. The general theory is applied to deduce the limit theory for functionals arising in Euclidean combinatorial optimization, convex hulls of i.i.d. samples, random sequential packing, and dimension estimation.