cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Soft-x-ray spectroscopy study of nanoscale materials

The ability to control the particle size and morphology of nanoparticles is of crucial importance nowadays both from a fundamental and industrial point of view considering the tremendous amount of high-tech applications. Controlling the crystallographic structure and the arrangement of atoms along the surface of nanostructured material will determine most of its physical properties. In general, electronic structure ultimately determines the properties of matter. Soft X-ray spectroscopy has some basic features that are important to consider. X-ray is originating from an electronic transition between a localized core state and a valence state. As a core state is involved, elemental selectivity is obtained because the core levels of different elements are well separated in energy, meaning that the involvement of the inner level makes this probe localized to one specific atomic site around which the electronic structure is reflected as a partial density-of-states contribution. The participation of valence electrons gives the method chemical state sensitivity and further, the dipole nature of the transitions gives particular symmetry information. The new generation synchrotron radiation sources producing intensive tunable monochromatized soft X-ray beams have opened up new possibilities for soft X-ray spectroscopy. The introduction of selectively excited soft X-ray emission has opened a new field of study by disclosing many new possibilities of soft X-ray resonant inelastic scattering. In this paper, some recent findings regarding soft X-ray absorption and emission studies of various nanostructured systems are presented.
Metachromatic Leukodystrophy: A Case of Triplets With the Late Infantile Variant and a Systematic Review of the Literature:

Metachromatic leukodystrophy is a rare disorder with great clinical variability. We report the first case of triplets with the late infantile form of the disease and their systematic progression of symptoms. We reviewed the literature and identified all human studies that reported new cases since 1921. We analyzed survival by decade to assess the impact of historical changes in the management of care. Mean age at death and the 5-year survival from onset of symptoms for late infantile, juvenile, and adult phenotypes were 4.2 years and 24.9%, 17.4 years and 70.3%, and 43.1 years and 88.6%, respectively. The 5-year survival of cases reported after 1990 was significantly better than cases reported before 1970 in all subtypes of metachromatic leukodystrophy (late infantile: 52% vs 14%, juvenile: 100% vs 46%, adult: 95% vs 67%). Survival in the late infantile subtype was worse than that in other subtypes. Survival significantly improved over time in all subtypes.
Silent myocardial ischemia monitoring predicts late as well as perioperative cardiac events in patients undergoing vascular surgery

Abstract In a previous study we have shown that perioperative monitoring for silent myocardial ischemia can noninvasively identify those patients undergoing peripheral vascular surgery who are at significantly increased risk for perioperative myocardial infarction. In the present study a group of 385 patients undergoing peripheral vascular surgery was studied long-term as well as short-term to determine whether perioperative monitoring for silent ischemia can identify those patients who are at significantly increased risk of late cardiac death or late cardiac complications as well as those patients at increased risk of perioperative myocardial infarction. All patients were monitored before, during, and after operation and were divided into two groups on the basis of results of monitoring: patients whose total duration of silent ischemia as a percentage of the total duration of perioperative monitoring was 1% or greater (group I, n = 120) and those for whom this value was less than 1% (group II, n = 265). Among patients in group I 13.3% (16 of 120) suffered a perioperative myocardial infarction in contrast to only 1.1% (3 of 265) patients in group II (p J Vasc Surg 1992;16:171–80.)
SAC1P OF SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE IS NOT INVOLVED IN ATP RELEASE TO THE EXTRACELLULAR FLUID

One activity ascribed to Sac1p is the transport of ATP into the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae;therefore, the question of whether this protein plays a role in ATP efflux from yeast was addressed. Preliminary results suggested that deletion of theSAC1gene eliminated nigericin-stimulated ATP efflux. However, further experimentation revealed that this result was caused by a pronounced extracellular ATPase activity forsac1Δ cells at alkaline pH, conditions required to measure extracellular ATP in wild type cells. At acid pH,sac1Δ cells exhibit glucose-dependent, nigericin-stimulated ATP efflux.sac1Δ cells express less acid phosphatase activity in the periplasm than do wild type cells, thus increasing the stability of extracellular ATP. At alkaline pH, however,sac1Δ cells tend to lose structural integrity and release lactate dehydrogenase as well as an unidentified ATPase activity to the extracellular fluid. Therefore, Sac1p is not involved in ATP efflux fromS. cerevisiae.
Anatomy teaching assistants: Facilitating teaching skills for medical students through apprenticeship and mentoring

Background: Significant increase in the literature regarding “residents as teachers” highlights the importance of providing opportunities and implementing guidelines for continuing medical education and professional growth. While most medical students are enthusiastic about their future role as resident-educators, both students and residents feel uncomfortable teaching their peers due to the lack of necessary skills. However, whilst limited and perhaps only available to select individuals, opportunities for developing good teaching practice do exist and may be identified in courses that offer basic sciences. The Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic offers a teaching assistant (TA) elective experience to third- and fourth-year medical students through integrated apprenticeship and mentoring during the Human Structure didactic block.Aim: This article, aims to describe a curriculum for a TA elective within the framework of a basic science course through mentoring and apprenticeship.Results...
Possible resolution of the black hole information puzzle.

The problem of information loss is considered under the assumption that the process of black hole evaporation terminates in the decay of the black hole interior into a baby universe. We show that such theories can be decomposed into superselection sectors labeled by eigenvalues of the third-quantized baby universe field operator, and that scattering is unitary within each superselection sector. This result relies crucially on the quantum-mechanical variability of the decay time. It is further argued that the decay rate in the black hole rest frame is necessarily proportional to ${\mathit{e}}_{\mathrm{tot}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{S}}$, where ${\mathit{S}}_{\mathrm{tot}}$ is the total entropy produced during the evaporation process, entailing a very long-lived remnant.
Contribution of Endotoxin to Antibody Formation against T2 Phage

INDUCTION of a primary immune response in vitro remains one of the most ambitious aims of the experimental immunologist. Fishman suggested that the initial step in antibody formation is the processing of the antigen by macrophages; in these cells “reactive RNA” is formed which is assumed to transmit information for the synthesis of antibody to lymphoid cells1. To prove this experimentally, Fishman and other investigators used T2 phage as the test antigen. They reported that RNA extracted from macrophages, which had phagocytosed T2 phage, induced synthesis of antiphage antibodies in untreated lymph node cells. But stocks of T2 phage contain soluble cellular substances from the E. coli hosts on which they were grown, including bacterial somatic antigen. This antigen is an effective non-specific stimulant of immune reactions and we therefore investigated the possible effects of the somatic antigen on the immune response to T2 phage. Endotoxin has been shown to have adjuvant properties2 and also to cause release of preformed antibodies from antibody forming cells3,4.
Ubiquitin-mediated degradative pathway degrades the extracellular but not the intracellular form of amyloid beta-protein precursor.

Abstract The presence of ubiquitin and ubiquitin conjugates has been detected in patients affected by neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer′s disease. We investigated the role of ubiquitin in the degradation of amyloid β-protein precursor (APP) and its participation in the process of amyloid β-protein formation. APP was tested as a substrate for degradation, using both the extracellular and the intracellular forms of APP770, APP751 and APP695. The intracellular APP forms did not show appreciable ubiquitin-mediated degradation. In contrast, the three extracellular forms of APP were degraded in vitro by this proteolytic pathway, with similar degradation rates. Our results suggest a potential regulatory role for the ubiquitin-dependent degradation mechanism in the in vivo APP metabolic pathway.
Enhancing ecosystem services with no-till

Ecosystem functions and services provided by soils depend on land use and management. The objective of this article is to review and synthesize relevant information on the impacts of no-till (NT) management of croplands on ecosystem functions and services. Sustainable management of soil through NT involves: (i) replacing what is removed, (ii) restoring what has been degraded, and (iii) minimizing on-site and off-site effects. Despite its merits, NT is adopted on merely ∼9% of the 1.5 billion ha of global arable land area. Soil's ecosystem services depend on the natural capital (soil organic matter and clay contents, soil depth and water retention capacity) and its management. Soil management in various agro-ecosystems to enhance food production has some trade-offs/disservices (i.e., decline in biodiversity, accelerated erosion and non-point source pollution), which must be minimized by further developing agricultural complexity to mimic natural ecosystems. However, adoption of NT accentuates many ecosystem services: carbon sequestration, biodiversity, elemental cycling, and resilience to natural and anthropogenic perturbations, all of which can affect food security. Links exist among diverse ecosystem services, such that managing one can adversely impact others. For example, increasing agronomic production can reduce biodiversity and deplete soil organic carbon (SOC), harvesting crop residues for cellulosic ethanol can reduce SOC, etc. Undervaluing ecosystem services can jeopardize finite soil resources and aggravate disservices. Adoption of recommended management practices can be promoted through payments for ecosystem services by a market-based approach so that risks of disservices and negative costs can be reduced either through direct economic incentives or as performance payments.
Anomalous attenuation in lithium tantalate

Abstract Longitudinal-wave attenuation measurements have been made in lithium tantalate single crystals grown from melts containing varying amounts of lithium and tantalum. These measurements covered a temperature range of 4–300,K and a frequency range of 1–10 GHz. A peak at about 30°K has been found in the temperature dependence of the attenuation. The shift of the position of this peak as the frequency is varied indicates that it is caused by an Arrhenius-type relaxation mechanism. Studies indicate that the height of the maximum is dependent on the Li/Ta ratio and independent of the amount of reduced tantalum or oxygen vacancies present in the sample.
The preparation of cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy specimens of Nb/Al multilayer thin films on sapphire substrates.

We have developed a technique for preparation of cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy samples of reacted and unreacted Nb/al multilayer thin films on sapphire substrates. The choice of substrate was found to be extremely important. Sapphire sputters more slowly than Nb and Nb-compounds and therefore makes it possible to obtain the electron transparent regions in the thin films rather than in the substrate. However, the brittle nature of the sapphire restricts the types of thinning techniques that can be used, requiring extensive ion thinning as a final stage.
Protection of Zirconium by Alumina- and Chromia-Forming Iron Alloys under High-Temperature Steam Exposure

Abstract The viability of advanced oxidation-resistant Fe-base alloys to protect zirconium from rapid oxidation in high-temperature steam environments has been examined. Specimens were produced such that outer layers of FeCrAl ferritic alloy and Type 310 austenitic stainless steel were incorporated on the surface of zirconium metal slugs. The specimens were exposed to high-temperature 0.34 MPa steam at 1200 and 1300 °C. The primary degradation mechanism for the protective layer was interdiffusion with the zirconium, as opposed to high-temperature oxidation in steam. The FeCrAl layer experienced less degradation and protected the zirconium at 1300 °C for 8 h. Constituents of the Fe-base alloys rapidly diffused into the zirconium and resulted in the formation of various intermetallic layers at the interface and precipitates inside the bulk zirconium. The nature of this interaction for FeCrAl and 310SS has been characterized by use of microscopic techniques as well as computational thermodynamics. Finally, a reactor physics discussion on the applicability of these protective layers in light-water-reactor nuclear fuel structures is offered.
Comparing Interest Group Scores across Time and Chambers: Adjusted ADA Scores for the U.S. Congress

Interest group ratings are widely used in studies of legislative behavior. Since the set of votes used is not constant over time and across chambers, the scales underlying the scores can shift and stretch. We introduce an econometric model that corrects the problem. Specifically, we derive an index, much like an inflation index for consumer prices, that allows one to make intertemporal and interchamber comparisons of interest group ratings. The adjusted scores for the ADA show a strong liberal trend in the average member of Congress during 1947–94, followed by a conservative reversal. A nonparametric test using ADA and ACU scores demonstrates the validity of adjusted scores and the invalidity of nominal scores for intertemporal and interchamber comparisons. Using two studies (Levitt 1996; Shipan and Lowry 1997) we illustrate that the choice of adjusted versus nominal scores may greatly affect substantive conclusions of researchers.
Fasting and feeding-associated changes in cyclo(His-Pro)-like immunoreactivity in the rat brain

Abstract Fasting elevates hypothalamic but not extrahypothalamic concentrations of cyclo (His-Pro), which return to normal after feeding. In contrast, neither hypothalamic nor extrahypothalamic concentrations of TRH are affected by fasting or feeding. These results, coupled to the anorectic properties of cyclo (His-Pro), suggest an appetite regulatory role of endogenous cyclo (His-Pro) in the rat.
Land Snails of the Madeira Islands

IN 1892 (Journal of Conchology, vol. vii. No. 1) the Rev. R. Boog Watson published a very interesting discussion of the Madeira snails, in which he raised many questions concerning their origin and history, which he did not attempt to answer. Today, we are still groping for light, but I believe we may reach a number of conclusions which are not likely to prove erroneous.
An Update and Reflections on Fear of and Discrimination Against Bisexuals, Homosexuals, and Individuals with AIDS

This study explored the relationship between biphobia, homophobia, AIDS phobia, an individual's sexual opinions and the orientation of an individual's past sexual behaviors and fantasies. Participants (N = 224) completed five self-report measures designed to specifically assess these psychological constructs. There were statistically significant correlations between the participants’ fear and discrimination of sexual minorities and individuals with AIDS. Additionally, the results suggest that more conservative views regarding sexuality are associated with higher levels of biphobia and homophobia. Finally, past sexual fantasies, which were more exclusively gay/lesbian in content, were associated with lower levels of erotophobia, biphobia and homophobia.
The future of bioregional planning in the Southern Appalachian Man and the Biosphere region

Abstract This paper assesses the current status and future prospects for bioregional planning in the Southern Appalachian Man and the Biosphere (SAMAB) region in the United States. The SAMAB region is one of the most biodiverse temperate regions in the world. The region's environment is threatened by development, air and water pollution, and invasive species. Numerous institutions in the region have some responsibility for protecting the region's environment, including the National Park Service, the US Forest Service, the US Environmental Protection Agency, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, several states, hundreds of municipalities, and numerous active non-profit organizations. Twenty-seven people associated with bioregional planning were interviewed to gauge their opinions on the state of bioregional planning in the SAMAB region. Overall, the respondents do not believe that the totality of all those efforts comprises bioregional planning because the efforts are limited in scale and scope and somewhat uncoordinated. With respect to the future of the region, the respondents found it difficult to imagine the state of the region 50 and especially 200 years into the future. Additionally, almost all of their definitions of bioregional planning included a spatial dimension but none included a time dimension. Thus, one of our conclusions is that the future of bioregional planning in the region will be hampered by difficulties people responsible for environmental protection have in dealing with ‘the future’. Much effort needs to be expended to inculcate people in the region with the desire to anticipate problems long before they occur. Reactive responses, which characterize the majority of current efforts, are likely to be ‘too little, too late’.
Performance characteristics of the venous clinical severity score.

Abstract Objective: To facilitate study of the natural history and management of venous disease, a 10-component venous clinical severity (VCS) score has been proposed as an objective measure of disease severity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of this instrument. Methods: VCS component scores (0 to 3) for pain, varicose veins, edema, pigmentation, inflammation, induration, stocking use, and ulcer size, duration, and number were measured in consecutive patients with chronic venous disease. Differences between observers (n = 3) and on serial evaluation by the same observer were determined. Results: One hundred twenty-eight limbs in 64 patients were evaluated. Mean VCS score increased from CEAP class 0 (1.7 ± 1.8) to class 6 (14.7 ± 3.0; R = .84; P
Adrenocorticotropin-Stimulated Secretion of Aldosterone and Cortisol, Computed from Plasma and Red Blood Cell Measurements

ABSTRACT The dynamic response of the adrenal cortex to ACTH infusion is analyzed by simulating the distribution, binding, and metabolism of cortisol and aldosterone in a multicompartmental model. The model includes the effects of temperature and cortisol concentration on aldosterone binding in plasma and the distribution between plasma and red blood cells, as verified by new observations. The secretion rates of cortisol and aldosterone were computed from serial measurements of plasma concentrations of endogenous steroids and infused tracers. The model was validated by observations after iv injection of a bolus of cortisol. Nineteen normal volunteers were studied on the fourth day on a diet containing 10 meq sodium. Endogenous ACTH was suppressed by dexamethasone, and α-1-24ACTH was infused at two different rates in various sequences over a 4-h period. During each hour of constant ACTH infusion, plasma cortisol continued to increase, while plasma aldosterone rose quickly, reaching a plateau within 20-30 mi...
Pathology of the dentate nucleus in progressive supranuclear palsy: a histological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study

Dentate nucleus pathology was studied histologically and immunohistochemically in four cases and ultrastructurally in three cases of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). In addition to neurofibrillary changes, there were ill-defined clumps of eosinophilic granular structures, named grumose degeneration (GD). GD was observed in three of the four cases; it was not seen in a case exhibiting severe Purkinje cell loss. In areas with prominent GD, neuronal loss was also marked and the remaining neurons were atrophic. GD, which was once believed to represent degenerated cell bodies of dentate neurons, could be histologically distinguished from perikarya of dentate neurons. Argentophilic rings and knobs were only a part of GD and the rest of GD was only faintly or not argentophilic. Immunostain for phosphorylated neurofilament proteins positively stained round structures of various sizes in GD, but a large part of GD did not react with the antibody. As described in other disorders, electron microscopy revealed that the GD consisted of clusters of numerous axon terminals and preterminal axons. Many appeared swollen to a varying extent and contained mitochondria, synaptic vesicles, neurofilaments, lamellar bodies, multivesicular structures, vacuoles or combinations of these organelles. A few were markedly swollen with accumulation of neurofilaments and other organelles, corresponding to the round structures which stained positively for phosphorylated neurofilament proteins. A considerable number of axon terminals with no apparent abnormal accumulations of organelles were found in areas of GD.
Time and spatial absorbance profiles within a graphite furnace atomizer

Abstract It is often assumed that the free atom distribution within an electrothermally heated graphite atomizer is uniformly distributed within the furnace volume. Time and spatial absorbance traces taken within the furnace show that this is not the case until a majority of the analyte has been released from the surface, i.e. after the absorbance peak. The distributions within a 3 mm diameter CRA-90 furnace show absorbances which decrease in going from the bottom, where the sample was initially deposited, to the top of the furnace. Distribution profiles for Ag, Cu, Fe, Cr, Ni, Zn and Pb are presented. The more volatile elements show non-uniformities which may be attributed to mass transport limiting processes. A model based on desorption kinetics is used to explain the extreme nonuniformity observed for the less volatile elements studied. This approach not only accounts for the spatial nonuniformity but also explains the variations in the general absorbance-time profiles noted previously by various researchers. The alteration of the graphite surface by matrix decomposition products is also discussed for Pb and Zn. Changes in peak shapes are accounted for by alterations in the desorption process.
What's southern about southern oratory?

The quest for characteristics distinguishing “southern oratory” from that of other regions is renewed in this article. Residence of the speaker, his motive, and the speech context are suggested as criteria for identifying “southern oratory.”
The redox properties and activation of the F420)-non-reactive hydrogenase of Methanobacterium formicicum

Abstract The F 420 -non-reactive hydrogenase of Methanobacterium formicicum (strain MF) is a dimeric protein of 70 kDa containing approx. 10 Fe, 8 S 2− , 1 Ni, 1 Zn and 2 Cu atoms/mol. The air-oxidized hydrogenase purified under aerobic conditions did not catalyze H 2 oxidation and catalyzed H 2 evolution with a lag phase. The activated enzyme, characterized by maximal H 2 oxidation activity and no lag phase in H 2 production, was only obtained by incubating the enzyme at a redox potential below −400 mV (pH 8) in the presence of an electron carrier (methyl or benzyl viologen). The activated enzyme was irreversibly inactivated at redox potentials of greater than −100 mV. Chelator studies suggested that the activation process involved the incorporation of metal ions. Air-oxidized hydrogenase (as isolated) exhibited three distinct EPR signals which were assigned to a [3Fe-4S] cluster ( g=2.01, E m 8 − 75 mV ). a Ni center ( g = 2.29, 2.23(2.22) and 2.01, E m 8 − 410 mV ), and ‘free’ Fe 3+ ( g = 4.30 ). The signals from the 3Fe- and Ni-centers were lost by reduction with H 2 and were replaced by a broad g = 1.94 signal indicative of reduced [4Fc-4S] clusters. Upon activation of teh enzyme, the g = 4.30 signal disappeared. None of the EPR signals observed in the oxidized enzyme reappeared upon controlled oxidation of the activated enzyme. Instead, an intense EPR signal centered at g =2.06 was observed ( E m 8 0 mV ) which was assigned to a Cu(II) center. These data suggest a possible role for copper in hydrogenase and that reductive activation involves (a) some 3Fe- to 4Fe-cluster conversion and (b) the irreversible reductive modification of a Ni-center.
A clicked bistable [2]rotaxane.

A universal diazide-terminated polyether, incorporating tetrathiafulvalene (TTF, green) and 1,5-dioxynaphthalene (DNP, red) units, was prepared and subsequently employed in the template-directed synthesis of a switchable donor/acceptor [2]rotaxane. The triazole rings (magenta), which are introduced into the rotaxane during requisite click reactions, do not present themselves as competing recognition sites for the tetracationic cyclophane (blue) as it is induced to switch between the TTF unit, when it becomes dicationic (green adorned with yellow extremities), and the DNP unit.
Metasignatures Identify Two Major Subtypes of Breast Cancer

Genome-wide expression data from tumors and cell lines in breast cancer, together with drug response of cell lines, open prospects for integrative analyses that can lead to better personalized therapy. Drug responses and expression data collected from cell lines and tumors were used to generate tripartite networks connecting clusters of patients to cell lines and cell lines to drugs, to connect drugs to patients. Various approaches were applied to connect cell lines to tumor clusters: a standard method that uses a biomarker gene set, and new methods that compute metasignatures for transcription factors and histone modifications given upregulated genes in cell lines or tumors. The results from the metasignature analysis identify two major clusters of patients: one enriched for active histone marks and one for repressive marks. The tumors enriched for activation marks are correlated with poor prognosis. Overall, the analyses suggest new patient clustering, discover dysregulated pathways, and recommend individualized use of drugs to treat subsets of patients.CPT: Pharmacometrics & Systems Pharmacology (2013) 2, e35; doi:10.1038/psp.2013.11; advance online publication 27 March 2013.
Racial Discrimination, Fear of Crime, and Variability in Blacks’ Preferences for Punitive and Preventative Anti-crime Policies

A growing body of research recognizes that people’s policy opinions are not simply positive or negative, but instead derive from a variety of positive and negative beliefs related to a political issue. This research expands this insight by explaining the variability in support for punitive anti-crime policies among black Americans. Data from a nationally representative survey of black Americans (n = 515) are used to show that a majority of blacks are conflicted between a strong desire to reduce crime and perceptions of widespread racial discrimination within the criminal justice system. Using a heteroskedastic item response theory model, I demonstrate that conflict between these beliefs results in far greater variability around their support for punitive, but not preventative policies. Both the conflict and variability of many black Americans’ preferences on punitive anti-crime policies complicates their ability to clearly voice their support for or opposition toward punitive policies and likely limits the ability of elected officials to represent members of this community.
Monolithically integrated array of GaAlAs electroabsorption modulators

The operation of an eight-element monolithic array of GaAlAs electroabsorption modulators has been demonstrated. The single-mode waveguide modulators are implemented in a reverse-biased p-pi-n heterojunction configuration, with center-to-center spacing of 9 microns between adjacent channels. This device may be useful for intensity modulation in high (spatial) resolution applications.
Stored-ion collisional relaxation to equilibrium.

The rate of energy transfer between the radial and axial degrees of freedom of protons with measured temperature and number stored in a radio-frequency quadrupole ion trap is quantified. The results are discussed in terms of the theory of charged-particle collisional relaxation to thermal equilibrium.
Some lipogenic, eukaryotic, picopleuston algae from the Caribbean region

A method was devised for isolating cultures of picopleuston algae (mostly 1–3 μm in diameter) from the sea surface. From 128 samples collected on various coasts in the Caribbean we isolated about 6...
Reducing Motor Vehicle Trauma Through Health Promotion Programming

Health Promotion approaches found effective in reducing morbidity and mortality from chronic diseases are being applied to reducing death and disability from motor vehicle trauma. The use of safety belts and child safety seats are of recognized benefit in reducing the public health problem associated with traffic crashes. Because traffic crashes are one of the leading causes of productive years of life lost and the leading cause of death among age groups 5-34, safety belt and child safety seat programs that use effective community health promotion strategies are needed. This article suggests programs and educational approaches in which safety belt and child restraint use are promoted as preventive health practices. Health educators are encouraged to view these protective behaviors as part of a healthy life-style and promote occupant protection as a life-style behavior.
Microstructural coarsening effects on redox instability and mechanical damage in solid oxide fuel cell anodes

In state-of-the-art high temperature solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), a porous composite of nickel and yttria stabilized zirconia (Ni/YSZ) is employed as the anode. The rapid oxidation of Ni into NiO is regarded as the main cause of the so-called reduction-oxidation (redox) instability in Ni/YSZ anodes, due to the presence of extensive bulk volume changes associated with this reaction. As a consequence, the development of internal stresses can lead to performance degradation and/or structural failure. In this study, we employ a recently developed continuum formalism to quantify the mechanical deformation behavior and evolution of internal stresses in Ni/YSZ porous anodes due to re-oxidation. In our approach, a local failure criterion is coupled to the continuum framework in order to account for the heterogeneous damage accumulation in the YSZ phase. The hallmark of our approach is the ability to track the spatial evolution of mechanical damage and capture the interaction of YSZ damaged regions with the local microstructure. Simulation results highlight the importance of the microstructure characterized by Ni to YSZ particle size ratio on the redox behavior and damage accumulation in as-synthesized SOFC anode systems. Moreover, a redox-strain-to-failure criterion is developed to quantify the degree by which coarsened anode microstructures become more susceptible to mechanical damage during re-oxidation.
Sensory Anatomy and Sensory Ecology of Vintana Sertichi (Mammalia, Gondwanatheria) from the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar

ABSTRACT—Living mammals are distinguished from other extant tetrapods by adaptations for improved senses of hearing, touch, and smell. These adaptations, and concomitant reductions in visual anatom...
Ranking paths in statistical energy analysis models with non-deterministic loss factors

Abstract Finding the contributions of transmission paths in statistical energy analysis (SEA) models has become an established valuable tool to detect and remedy vibro-acoustic problems. Paths are identified in SEA according to Craik׳s definition and recently, very efficient methods have been derived to rank them in the framework of graph theory. However, up to date classification schemes have only considered the mean values of loss factors for path comparison, their variance being ignored. This can result in significant errors in the final results. In this work it is proposed to address this problem by defining stochastic biparametric SEA graphs whose edges are assigned both, mean and variance values. Paths between subsystems are then compared according to a proposed cost function that accounts for the stochastic nature of loss factors. For an efficacious ranking of paths, the stochastic SEA graph is converted to an extended deterministic SEA graph where fast classification deterministic algorithms can be applied. The importance of nonneglecting the influence of the variance in path ranking is illustrated by means of some academic numerical examples.
Quality of life in paediatric lupus

Paediatric systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with significant morbidity and has biopsychosocialimplications resulting from the disease and its treatment. The aim of this study was to identify domains of quality of life (QOL) impacted by SLE in children. Children with SLE and their parents were asked a single open-ended question related to lupus. Themes derived from children’s responsesfocused primarily on coping and maintaining control of their life despite SLE. Themes from the parents’ responses were twofold: a) efforts to cope with their child having SLE; and b) appreciation/sadness in connection with their children’s coping process. Qualitative exploration of differentfacets of QOL in these children is critical for the understandingof specific factors that assist/ease the coping process and formulating interventions for improving children’s/family’s self-efficacy and disease management.
Limited effects of Muc1 deficiency on mouse adenovirus type 1 respiratory infection

Muc1 (MUC1 in humans) is a membrane-tethered mucin that exerts anti-inflammatory effects in the lung during bacterial infection. Muc1 and other mucins are also likely to form a protective barrier in the lung. We used mouse adenovirus type 1 (MAV-1, also known as MAdV-1) to determine the role of Muc1 in the pathogenesis of an adenovirus in its natural host. Following intranasal inoculation of wild type mice, we detected increased TNF-α, a cytokine linked to Muc1 production, but no consistent changes in the production of lung Muc1, Muc5ac or overall lung mucus production. Viral loads were modestly higher in the lungs of Muc1(-/-) mice compared to Muc1(+/+) mice at several early time points but decreased to similar levels by 14 days post infection in both groups. However, cellular inflammation and the expression of CXCL1, CCL5, and CCL2 did not significantly differ between Muc1(-/-) and Muc1(+/+) mice. Our data therefore suggest that Muc1 may contribute to a physical barrier that protects against MAV-1 respiratory infection. However, our data do not reveal an anti-inflammatory effect of Muc1 that contributes to MAV-1 pathogenesis.
Laboratory and clinical evaluation of a membrane oxygenator with secondary flows in the blood channels.

A microporous membrane oxygenator which has transverse furrows on the membrane surface has been used in 50 clinical cardiopulmonary bypass procedures for coronary revascularization. The transverse furrows on the membrane, together with intermittent rapid pulsatile reversal of the blood flow in the blood film, produce secondary flows in the film and increase exposure of desaturated blood to the membrane. Venous drainage flows into a plastic reservoir, from which it is pumped through the oxygenator and integral heat exchanger into the aorta of the patient. Perfusions were carried out with hemodilution and moderate hypothermia. The oxygenator was ventilated with oxygen. In experimental perfusions using calves, the oxygen transfer was as high as 371 ml/min. During the clinical perfusions, arterial oxygen saturation was always 98% or higher. The mean arterial carbon dioxide tension was 41 mm Hg at a mean O2 flow of 1.4 L/min. The mean arterial pH was 7.40. The oxygenator puiser which created the secondary flows in the blood film was operated at a rate of between 90 and 255 pulses per minute. Pressure drop across the oxygenator averaged 18 mm Hg. Oxygen tension in the arterial blood could be regulated with the pulser rate, greater pulser rates being associated with larger oxygen transfer. Carbon dioxide transfer was best regulated by changes in gas flow rate. The oxygenator functioned well and was safe and reliable during these 50 perfusions.
Transcriptional regulation of lymphocyte lineage commitment.

The development of T cells and B cells from pluripotent hematopoietic precursors occurs through a stepwise narrowing of developmental potential that ends in lineage commitment. During this process, lineage-specific genes are activated asynchronously, and lineage-inappropriate genes, although initially expressed, are asynchronously turned off. These complex gene expression events are the outcome of the changes in expression of multiple transcription factors with partially overlapping roles in early lymphocyte and myeloid cell development. Key transcription factors promoting B-cell development and candidates for this role in T-cell development are discussed in terms of their possible modes of action in fate determination. We discuss how a robust, stable, cell-type–specific gene expression pattern may be established in part by the interplay between endogenous transcription factors and signals transduced by cytokine receptors, and in part by the network of effects of particular transcription factors on each other.
The research on community consultation: an annotated bibliography.

Community consultation is a required element of research studies that use a waiver of or exception from informed consent. Its intent is to provide an additional patient safeguard in emergency research circumstances when prospective informed consent is not possible. Investigators have reported that community consultation may be the most difficult aspect in implementing research trials using a wavier of or exception from informed consent. This article presents a brief overview of the sparse literature available on the process of community consultation since the inception of the current emergency research regulations. To determine if the process is meeting its goals, more research will be required. ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2007; 14:346‐352 a 2007 by the Society for Academic Emergency
A method to monitor eye and head tracking movements in college baseball players.

Purpose. This study had two purposes. The first was to develop a method to measure horizontal gaze tracking errors (based on synchronized eye and head tracking recordings) as subjects viewed many pitched balls. The second was to assess horizontal eye, head, and gaze tracking strategies of a group of Division 1 college baseball players. Methods. Subjects viewed, but did not swing a bat at, tennis balls projected by a pneumatic pitching machine. Subjects were to call out numbers and the color of these numbers (black or red) on the balls. The trajectory of each pitch was very predictable. Eye and head movements were monitored with a video eye tracker and an inertial sensor, respectively, and these movements were synchronized with ball position using an analog recording device. Data were analyzed for 15 subjects. Results. Eye rotation, head rotation, gaze errors (GEs), and unsigned gaze errors (UGEs) were calculated at various elapsed times. On average, subjects tracked the pitched ball with the head throughout the pitch trajectory, while the eye was moved very little until late in the pitch trajectory. On average, gaze position matched the target position throughout the pitch trajectory. There was some variability in the mean amplitudes of head and eye movement between subjects. However, the eye and head were related by a common rule (partial rotational vestibulo-ocular reflex suppression) for all subjects. Although the mean amplitudes of the GE and UGE varied between subjects, these means were not consistent with anticipatory saccades for any subject. Conclusions. On average, Division 1 college players tracked the pitched ball primarily with the head and maintained gaze close to the ball throughout much of the pitch trajectory. There was variability between subjects regarding the head and eye movement amplitudes and GEs, but, overall, all subjects maintained gaze close to the ball throughout the pitch trajectory despite the fact that these individuals were not batting. (Optom Vis Sci 2014;91:200Y211)
Obtaining glenoid positioning data from scapular palpable points in vitro.

Both clinical and biomechanical problems affecting the shoulder joint suggest that investigators should study force transmission into and out from the scapula. To analyze force transmission between the humeral head and the glenoid, one must know the position of the glenoid. Studies have analyzed the position of the scapula from the positions of three palpable points, but the position of the glenoid relative to three palpable points has not been studied. Dry scapulae () were subjected to X-rays and a critical angle, (which relates the plane determined by the three palpable points on the scapula to a plane containing the glenoid center and the first two palpable points) was calculated. The mean value for was degrees. The obtained allows us to determine the position of the glenoid from three palpable points. This information could be used in calculation of forces across the shoulder joint, which in turn would allow optimizing the choice of strengthening exercises.
Studies of measuring Higgs self-coupling with $HH\rightarrow b\bar b \gamma\gamma$ at the future hadron colliders

We present a feasibility study of observing $HH\rightarrow b\bar b\gamma\gamma$ at the future hadron colliders with $\sqrt{s}=$14, 33, and 100 TeV. The measured cross section then can be used to constrain the Higgs self-coupling directly in the standard model. Any deviation could be a sign of new physics. The signal and background events are estimated using Delphes 3.0.10 fast Monte Carlo simulation based on the ATLAS detector capabilities. With 3 ab$^{-1}$ data, it would be possible to measure the Higgs self-coupling with a 50%, 20%, and 8% statistical accuracy by observing $HH\rightarrow b\bar b\gamma\gamma$ at $\sqrt{s}=$14, 33, and 100 TeV colliders, respectively.
Likelihood Ratio Tests for Monotone Functions

We study the problem of testing for equality at a fixed point in the setting of nonparametric estimation of a monotone function. The likelihood ratio test for this hypothesis is derived in the particular case of interval censoring (or current status data) and its limiting distribution is obtained. The limiting distribution is that of the integral of the difference of the squared slope processes corresponding to a canonical version of the problem involving Brownian motion + t 2 and greatest convex minorants thereof. Inversion of the family of tests yields pointwise confidence intervals for the unknown distribution function. We also study the behavior of the statistic under local and fixed alternatives. 1. Introduction. We shall consider likelihood ratio tests, and the corresponding confidence intervals, in a class of problems involving nonparametric estimation of a monotone function. The problem in each case involves testing the null hypothesis H 0 that the monotone function has a particular value at afixed point t 0 in the domain of the function. Of course with each testing problem there is a related problem of finding confidence intervals. Here are some examples of the problems we have in mind.
Adaptive Modeling Procedure Selection by Data Perturbation

Many procedures have been developed to deal with the high-dimensional problem that is emerging in various business and economics areas. To evaluate and compare these procedures, modeling uncertainty caused by model selection and parameter estimation has to be assessed and integrated into a modeling process. To do this, a data perturbation method estimates the modeling uncertainty inherited in a selection process by perturbing the data. Critical to data perturbation is the size of perturbation, as the perturbed data should resemble the original dataset. To account for the modeling uncertainty, we derive the optimal size of perturbation, which adapts to the data, the model space, and other relevant factors in the context of linear regression. On this basis, we develop an adaptive data-perturbation method that, unlike its nonadaptive counterpart, performs well in different situations. This leads to a data-adaptive model selection method. Both theoretical and numerical analysis suggest that the data-adaptive model selection method adapts to distinct situations in that it yields consistent model selection and optimal prediction, without knowing which situation exists a priori. The proposed method is applied to real data from the commodity market and outperforms its competitors in terms of price forecasting accuracy.
Teaching Advance Care Planning to Medical Students with a Computer-Based Decision Aid

Discussing end-of-life decisions with cancer patients is a crucial skill for physicians. This article reports findings from a pilot study evaluating the effectiveness of a computer-based decision aid for teaching medical students about advance care planning. Second-year medical students at a single medical school were randomized to use a standard advance directive or a computer-based decision aid to help patients with advance care planning. Students' knowledge, skills, and satisfaction were measured by self-report; their performance was rated by patients. 121/133 (91%) of students participated. The Decision-Aid Group (n = 60) outperformed the Standard Group (n = 61) in terms of students´ knowledge (p < 0.01), confidence in helping patients with advance care planning (p < 0.01), knowledge of what matters to patients (p = 0.05), and satisfaction with their learning experience (p < 0.01). Likewise, patients in the Decision Aid Group were more satisfied with the advance care planning method (p < 0.01) and with several aspects of student performance. Use of a computer-based decision aid may be an effective way to teach medical students how to discuss advance care planning with cancer patients.
Current Clamp and Modeling Studies of Low-Threshold Calcium Spikes in Cells of the Cat’s Lateral Geniculate Nucleus

Current clamp and modeling studies of low-threshold calcium spikes in cells of the cat’s lateral geniculate nucleus. All thalamic relay cells display a voltage-dependent low-threshold Ca2+ spike th...
Johann Christian Edelmann's Idea of Jesus

In this paper I will attempt to describe the Jesus-image of Johann Christian Edelmann (1698–1767), primarily as he drew it in his Abgenothigtes Jedoch Andern nicht wieder aufgenothigtes Glaubens-Bekentniss, published at Neuwied in 1746. This description should also help to show Edelmann's place in the history of eighteenth-century German writings on the life of Jesus, and to demonstrate how English Deistic and Spinozistic ideas on Jesus were received in Germany during this period.