cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hypoxic arousal responses in normal infants.

Failure to arouse in response to hypoxia has been described in infants at increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and has been suggested as a possible mechanism for SIDS. However, most SIDS victims are not in a high-risk group before death. Thus, if a hypoxic arousal disorder is an important contributor to SIDS, normal infants might fail to arouse from sleep in response to hypoxia. To test this hypothesis, the authors studied hypoxic arousal responses in 18 healthy term infants younger than 7 months of age (age 12.1 +/- 1.7 [SEM] weeks; 56% girls). Hypoxic arousal challenges were performed during quiet sleep by rapidly decreasing inspired oxygen tension (PIO2) to 80 mm Hg for 3 minutes or until arousal (eye opening, agitation, and crying) occurred. Tests were performed in duplicate when possible. Only 8 infants (44%) aroused in response to one or more hypoxic challenges; arousal occurred during 8 (32%) of 25 trials. There were no significant differences in lowest PIO2 or arterial oxygen saturation during hypoxia between those infants who aroused and those who failed to arouse. All 18 infants had a fall in their end-tidal carbon dioxide tension during hypoxia, suggesting that each had a hypoxic ventilatory response despite failure to arouse in the majority. Periodic breathing occurred following hypoxia in only 1 (13%) of the 8 trials that resulted in arousal, compared with 16 (94%) of 17 trials without arousal (P less than .005).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Review article: explaining risks of inflammatory bowel disease therapy to patients

Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2011; 33: 23–32 Summary Background Medical treatment for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has advanced significantly over the past decade, but it is important to communicate effectively the balance of benefits and risks of therapy to patients to facilitate informed medical decisions. Aim To review the available data describing the risk of side effects of IBD medications and to describe effective methods for communicating risk. Methods To identify relevant articles for this review, a PubMed search was conducted using relevant key words and phrases. In addition, reference lists from identified manuscripts were searched and recent abstracts from National meetings were reviewed. Results The steroid-sparing medications used for the treatment of IBD all carry risks of both common and rare adverse events. Trade-offs need to be made between the risks of these medications vs. the risks of poorly treated disease and corticosteroids. There has been significant research on how best to present risk data to patients, which is summarized in this review. Conclusions To ensure that our patients understand their choices and feel comfortable with their treatment, we need to communicate risk data to patients clearly. Patients comprehend absolute numbers better than relative risk, and when available, pictorial representations of data are preferred over solely presenting numerical outcomes.
High-throughput genotyping of advanced congenic lines by High Resolution Melting Analysis for identification of Bbaa2, a QTL controlling Lyme arthritis

Congenic mapping is a powerful strategy to identify genomic loci regulating quantitative traits. Generating congenic lines is an iterative process of refinement that is both time and resource inten...
Airborne Stability of Simian Virus 40

The influence of relative humidity on the airborne survival of simian virus 40 (SV40) was studied by allowing virus aerosols to age in rotating drums at 21 or 32 C and at a relative humidity (RH) value ranging from 22 to 88%. Airborne SV40 virus was stable at every RH tested at 21 C, but aerosols maintained at 32 C were inactivated within 60 min at mid-range RH values. The unusual stability at 21 C over a broad RH range indicates that potentially biohazardous situations may occur under laboratory conditions if this virus becomes accidentally airborne.
Nature's Beauty and Haeckel's Talents

Proteus . A Nineteenth Century Vision. By David Lebrun . First Run/Icarus Films, New York, 2004. 61 minutes. www.frif.com/new2004/pro.html Centered around Ernst Haeckel, this film touches on life in the deep seas, 19th-century oceanography, and a series of dualities: science and art, materialism and religion, rationality and mysticism, and the outer world and the inner psyche.
Henna: A Potential Cause of Oxidative Hemolysis and Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia

Objective . To evaluate the in vitro oxidative potential of lawsone (2-hydroxy-1,4 naphthoquinone). Lawsone is a chemical present in henna, the crushed leaves of which are used worldwide as a cosmetic agent to stain the hair, skin, and nails. Methodology . Venous blood from glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)-normal and G6PD A - subjects were incubated with various amounts of lawsone for 2 hours at 37°C. Reduced glutathione and methemoglobin (MHb) levels were measured before and after incubation. Results . Final molar concentrations of lawsone in normal blood of 1.4, 2.8, 5.7, and 8.6 x 10 -3 mol/L increased MHb percentages from 0.5% to 2.2%, 8.3%, 9.5%, and 12.5%, respectively. In a G6PD A - blood, MHb percentages were 19.8%, 32.2%, 44.9%, and 53.9%. At a lawsone concentration of 2.8 x 10 -3 mol/L, blood from 15 healthy adults formed MHb percentages of 7.4% ± 3.3% (±1 SD); in blood from 4 G6PD A - adults, percentages were 44.5%, 40.6%, 41.3%, and 42.8%. Simultaneous measurements of reduced glutathione revealed preincubation values of greater than 40 mg/100 mL of red cells in blood of healthy and G6PD A - subjects. Postincubation values were greater than 40 in blood of healthy subjects and less than 40 in blood of G6PD A - subjects. Conclusions . These in vitro observations indicate that lawsone is an agent capable of causing oxidative hemolysis. In regions of the world where there is a high incidence of G6PD deficiency and unexplained hyperbilirubinemia, oxidative hemolysis secondary to the cutaneous application of henna could be the initiating event.
Validation Of An Optical Fiber Based Smart Textile: A Clinical Tool For Predicting Diabetic Foot Ulceration

Background: Undetected repeated foot loading and temperature changes during walking in diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy significantly increases risk of foot ulceration. Early detection of inflammation due to foot temperature and pressure changes from walking has shown to be a potentially effective strategy in prevention of foot ulcers. Therefore, a clinically feasible assessment of these changes is vital to measure pre-ulcerative inflammation and predict DFUs. The current study is aimed to validate effectiveness of an innovative fiber optics embedded smart textile for simultaneous measurement of plantar pressure and temperature. Methods: The study recruited 21 diabetic patients (Age: 57.8±7.9 years, BMI: 31.6±8.0 kg/m2, VPT: 26.8±15 volt, 68% diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy) at high risk for foot ulcers from Wound and Diabetic Foot Center at Hamad Medical Co. Doha. A series of sensors were juxtaposed on the length of an optical fiber integrated in a comfortable sock (Novinoor LLC, IL) for measuring temperature and pressure changes under anatomical regions of the heel, midfoot, 1st and 5th metatarsal heads, and big toe based on changes in wavelength of light. A thermal image was acquired after five-minute temperature acclimation before walking for validating temperature changes. Participants walked 200 steps to induce thermal stress and follow up thermal image was acquired. Participants also wore F-scan insoles (TekScan®Inc) during walk for pressure validation. Results: All the recruited patients perceived the device as comfortable. A significant correlation was observed between both pressure (r=0.67, p<0.05) and temperature (r=0.55, p<0.05) measurements between the sock and the reference systems under different anatomical regions of interest. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the proof of concept for an innovative smart textile in simultaneous assessment of the key parameters associated with risk of foot ulcer in patients with diabetes. Given the correlation values, additional studies will larger sample size is required to further validate and address whether the technology can predict and better manage diabetic foot ulcers. Funding source: NPRP 4-1026-3-277
Health-related Quality of Life in Children With Prune-belly Syndrome and Their Caregivers

Objective To compare health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children with prune-belly syndrome (PBS) and their caregivers to healthy controls, as children and adolescents with PBS face numerous potential physical and psychosocial challenges. Materials and Methods Study participants completed the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Generic Core Scales (PedsQL) 4.0 generic core scales (children) or Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire Short Form (Q-LES-Q-SF) (caregivers) in an online, anonymous format. The PedsQL 4.0 is a 23-item, age-adjusted, validated questionnaire that assesses physical, emotional, social, and school functioning in pediatric patients. The Q-LES-Q-SF is a validated, self-report measure that assesses various areas of daily functioning in adults. Results PedsQL 4.0 was completed by 32 children with PBS. Individual physical (66.3 ± 20 vs 84.4 ± 17.3; P P P P P = .02) than the comparative healthy adult cohort (59.8 ± 11.3). Conclusion PBS profoundly impacts HRQoL in children, negatively affecting physical, emotional, social, and school functioning. Caregivers of PBS patients also report an overall lower quality of life, highlighting the challenges that families with chronically ill children often face.
Interventions for perinatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

Perinatal cerebral hypoxia–ischemia remains a frequent cause of the chronic handicapping conditions of cerebral palsy, mental retardation, learning disability, and epilepsy.1Estimates suggest that between 2 and 4/1000 full-term newborn infants suffer asphyxia at or shortly before birth. Approximately 15% to 20% of such asphyxiated infants who exhibit hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy actually die during the newborn period, and of the survivors, 25% will exhibit permanent neuropsychologic deficits. Given these incidence figures, physicians have searched for strategies to prevent or minimize the long-term consequences of perinatal cerebral hypoxia–ischemia. In the past, therapeutic interventions for hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy in full-term newborn infants consisted of those drugs that reduced the severity of cerebral edema arising from hypoxia–ischemia.2 Such agents included osmotic diuretics (mannitol, furosemide), glucocorticosteroids, and barbiturates. One by one, these drugs and other manipulations to treat brain swelling have been discarded, such that presently no agent has been proven useful to ameliorate perinatal hypoxic–ischemic brain damage in the clinical setting (but see below). Accordingly, there is no uniform standard of care in the brain-oriented therapy of full-term newborn infants sustaining cerebral hypoxia–ischemia, and it remains for future research to uncover new and effective strategies for the neurologically compromised infant. Hypoxic–ischemic brain damage is an evolving process, which begins during the insult and extends into the recovery period after resuscitation (reperfusion interval).3Tissue injury takes the form of either selective neuronal necrosis or infarction, the latter with destruction of all cellular elements including neurons, glia, and blood vessels. When infarction occurs, the immediate area surrounding the infarct (penumbra) consists of neurons undergoing either necrosis or apoptosis (programmed cell death).4-7 It is the penumbral area that appears most amenable to reversal of cellular injury through therapeutic intervention. At the cellular level, cerebral hypoxia–ischemia sets in motion a cascade of biochemical events commencing …
Fuzzy set identification of bone marrow cells

Using rubricytes and lymphocytes as examples, this paper presents a fuzzy set theory and method to identify human bone marrow hematopoiesis system cells (BMCs). On the basis of the Cauchy’s distribution function, this paper sets up a series of membership function formulae of the BMC feature fuzzy subsets, general identification formulae of fuzzy sets for the BMCs, as well as identification formulae of fuzzy sets for rubricytes and lymphocytes. These formulae will assist with the quantitation of unknown cells compared to standard cells.
Bird repellents: development of avian-specific tear gases for resolution of human–wildlife conflicts

Abstract The use of bird repellents may be required when human activities place birds in danger, e.g., hazardous waste sites, or when birds cause damage to crops, architectural structures, or are a source of zoonotic disease. Typical protective measures to keep birds away from areas include exclusion by use of netting, hazing (i.e., scaring tactics) and chemical repellents. Birds can rapidly habituate to visual and auditory hazing if the use of these tactics falls into a predictable pattern, or if the sign stimuli are not coupled with a salient aversive reinforcing stimulus. Chemical repellents are typically used to render a resource unpalatable and, as a consequence, create a disincentive for a bird to visit a particular area. Methyl anthranilate (MA) is a potent avian chemosensory irritant. In this paper, we explore the possibility of employing MA aerosols as a bird deterrent strategy. We determine the behavioral response of starlings ( Sturnus vulgaris ) to each of three aerosols: water or yucca extract (controls) and ReJeX-iT TP-40 TM (a 40% MA solution), and found that starlings were irritated by exposure to the MA aerosol. Moreover, starlings did not habituate to repeated exposure to MA aerosols. We determined in the laboratory that the starlings threshold for irritation to a formulated aerosol was 8% MA.
HgCdTe negative luminescence devices for cold shielding and other applications

Negative luminescence (NL) refers to the suppression of infrared blackbody emission, and hence an apparent temperature reduction, due to free carrier extraction from a reverse-biased p-n junction. A number of applications are envisioned for NL devices, including cold shielding of background-limited uncooled and cryogenic focal-plane arrays, dynamic nonuniformity correction for ir imaging, and ir scene simulation. High-performance NL devices have recently been demonstrated. For example, a HgCdTe/CdZnTe photodiode with 4.8-µm cutoff wavelength achieved an internal NL efficiency of 95% at room temperature. This means that the blackbody emission was suppressed by a factor of 20 and that the apparent temperature of the device surface decreased by 60 K. The corresponding reverse-bias saturation current density was 0.11 A/cm2. Even HgCdTe devices (λco=5.3 µm) grown on large-area silicon substrates with substantial lattice mismatch displayed 88% internal NL efficiency and saturation current densities no larger than 1.3 A/cm2. These results indicate a clear path toward a negative-luminescence device technology that is efficient, operates at low power, and is inexpensive.
Hyperspectral anomaly detection based on variable dimension for clutter subspace

Anomaly detectors based on subspace models have the dimension of the clutter subspace as the parameter with a large range of values. An anomaly detector that has a different parameter with fewer values is proposed. The known pixel from a hyperspectral image is predicted with a linear transformation of the unknown variables from the clutter subspace and the coefficients of the linear transformation are unknown. The dimension of the clutter subspace can vary from one spectral component of the pixel to another. The anomaly detector is the Mahalanobis distance of the error. The experimental results show that the parameter in the anomaly detector has a significantly reduced number of possible values in comparison with the conventional anomaly detectors.
Growth and nutrient composition of Ca2+ use efficient and Ca2+ use inefficient genotypes of tomato

Abstract The response of two tomato lines ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. Ca 2+ use efficient line 113 and Ca 2+ use inefficient line 67) to a range of constant low Ca 2+ concentrations was investigated in a sand culture system. Four Ca 2+ concentrations were established and maintained throughout the experiment: 0.038, 0.75, 1.51 and 3.75 mM CaCl 2 on a constant background of 1.1 mM NaCl. Response to Ca 2+ was determined by analysis of growth parameters and of shoot Ca 2+ , Na + , K + and Cl − concentrations. Differences in Ca 2+ and K + use efficiencies were expressed as the calcium utilization efficiency ratio, or CaER, and potassium utilization efficiency ratio, or KER, (mg of dry weight produced·mg −1 of Ca 2+ or K + in plant). Dry weight production of line 113 was significantly higher than line 67, and was associated with a higher CaER and KER. The Ca 2+ treatments differentially affected shoot Ca 2+ , Na + , Cl − and K + concentrations. As expected, shoot Ca 2+ and Cl − concentrations increased whereas Na + concentration decreased with Ca 2+ treatments. Line 113 had more than twice the amount of Na + in shoot tissue than line 67. The K + to Na + ratio was twice as high in line 67 than in line 113. No evidence for higher soluble Ca 2+ contributing to higher Ca 2+ utilization was observed. The relationship between Ca 2+ use efficiency and growth was not correlated with higher percentages of soluble Ca 2+ in leaf tissue or with differences in root morphology. Differences in Ca 2+ use efficiency alone could not explain the higher growth rate in line 113. This study demonstrated that the physiological factors involved in the genetic control of Ca 2+ use efficiency should be assessed under a range of constant low Ca 2+ concentrations in order to observe the physiological changes taking place. Thus, the use of Ca 2+ deficient conditions are to be avoided as it may interfere with the expression of the physiological factors involved in Ca 2+ use efficiency.
Simple methods for the detection of tropinesterase activity in rabbits.

In experiments in which rabbits are to be given atropine or certain atropine-like agents, it is important to select animals whose plasma is deficient in the enzyme tropinesterase (atropinesterase). Three simple procedures for assessing the presence of this enzyme in rabbits in vivo have been examined. It is concluded that a different procedure is needed for albino rabbits than for animals with dark irides. In this way, 95–98% correct assessments of the presence or absence of tropinesterase have been made by simple procedures within 1 hr. Fully reliable assessments could only be made by in vitro methods, two of which (one quantitative and the other qualitative) are described. The latter enabled a reliable all-or-none assessment of tropinesterase activity to be made with only 0·'02 ml of plasma within 1–2 hr.
Spatial distribution of guanaco mating sites in southern Chile: conservation implications

We investigated the distribution, habitat characteristics and conservation value of mating areas in a wild population of guanacos in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile. Copulating guanacos were observed directly during December–January 1994–1995, 1995–1996 and 1997–1998. The timing of the breeding season was homogeneous across years. Copulation sites occurred in vega (ephemeral wetland) habitats (48.6%) greater than expected based on their relative availability (12.6%). A multivariate habitat analysis revealed that habitat composition of breeding habitats differed significantly from non-breeding areas (P < 0.001). Availability of trees and shrubs (breeding=5.5%; non-breeding=35.6%; P < 0.001) and grassland (breeding=34.6%; non-breeding =9.5%; P < 0.001) contributed most to the variation in habitat types among areas. Relative occurrence of pumas was significantly lower in breeding areas (P=0.04). The spatial arrangement of mating sites was similar among years suggesting that adult female and male guanacos exhibited site fidelity to breeding sites. Since vegas were important habitats for mating it is critical that natural resource managers consider the importance of these ephemeral wetland resources to ensure for proper reproduction and viability of local guanaco populations. # 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Hungry for success – future directions in gastrobotics research

The paper discusses the new emerging technology of “gastrobotics”, or food‐powered mobile robots. The concept of self‐sufficiency is examined, and it is postulated that robots with stomachs offer the promise of sustained autonomous operation in an unstructured outdoor environment, which is not possible with existing alternative methods. Data is presented that compares the energy density of various foods, with that of common chemical batteries and gasoline. The various food groups are discussed as regards their suitability as fuel for gastrobots, and a variety of potential applications are presented. The basic operation of a microbial fuel cell is described in its role as an artificial stomach, thereby demonstrating how this biotechnology can efficiently convert food into electricity.
Hot curved space and the jeans mass

Abstract We construct the effective Lagrangian for a noninteracting scalar field at nonzero temperature in curved spacetime. Metric fluctuations are evaluated, resulting in an energy momentum tensor which has the form expected for an imperfect fluid. Such fluctuations are found to be unstable (for most values of the cosmological constant) with an exponential growth characterized by a Jeans mass squared which is twice the classical value.
Mass tensor molecular dynamics

If one replaces the ordinary kinetic energy function for a classical system of point masses ((12 Σi=1N miqi2) by a more general quadratic form (12 Σij=1N qiMijqj), where Mij is an arbitrary positive-definite symmetric “mass tensor,” one obtains a system having different dynamics but the same equilibrium properties as the original system. By appropriate choice of Mij, high frequency motions can be slowed down and low frequency ones speeded up, thereby increasing the efficiency with which configuration space can be explored in a given amont of computer time. Tests of the method on a short Lennard-Jones polymer chain indicate that a five- to tenfold saving of computer time is possible for such systems.
FASTEST PATHS IN TIME-DEPENDENT NETWORKS FOR INTELLIGENT VEHICLE-HIGHWAY SYSTEMS APPLICATION∗

We consider the problem of individual route guidance in an Intelligent Vehicle-Highway Systems (IVHS ) environment, based on time-dependent forecasts of link travel time. We propose a consistency condition which deterministic forecasts should be constrained to satisfy, and show that under consistency, the time-dependent fastest path can be calculated with exactly the same computational complexity as for static fastest paths, regardless of the time index set. In particular, consistency reduces computational complexity by O(T) in a T-period discrete time problem. We also comment on the stochastic fastest path problem, suggesting modifications to a general-case algorithm from the literature.
Environmental fate of mercury discharged into the upper Wisconsin River

We studied the distribution of Hg in sediments, fish, and crayfish in a 60 km reach of the Upper Wisconsin River that formerly received Hg in discharges from pulp and paper mills. The most heavily contaminated strata of sediments were deposited during the 1950s and early 1960s and buried under subsequent deposits; however, surficial sediments remained substantially enriched at certain sites in 1981. Median concentrations of Hg in surficial sediments, adjusted for grain size, were at least 10-fold greater at the main study area than at an upstream reference site. Total concentrations exceeded 1.0 μg g−1 wet weight in axial muscle tissue in only 2 of 173 fish analyzed from the study area; however, historical comparisons revealed that Hg contamination of fish (common carp Cyprinus carpio and walleye Stizostedion vitreum vitreum) and crayfish (Orconectes) in the river had not decreased since the early 1970s. The availability of Hg to biota in this system may be enhanced by rapid methylation of the metal in surficial sediments, despite burial of the most heavily contaminated sediments. Management practices for this river should be designed to prevent conditions favoring mobilization and methylation of Hg in sediments.
Efficient algorithm for estimating the correlation dimension from a set of discrete points

We present an algorithm which computes the standard Grassberger-Procaccia correlation dimension of a strange attractor from a finite sample of N points on the attractor. The usual algorithm involves measuring the distances between all pairs of points on the attractor, but then discarding those distances greater than some cutoff ${r}_{0}$. Our idea is to avoid computing those larger distances altogether. This is done with a spatial grid of boxes (each of size ${r}_{0}$) into which the points are organized. By computing distances between pairs of points only if those points are in the same or in adjacent boxes, we get all the distances less than ${r}_{0}$ and avoid computing many of the larger distances. The execution time for the algorithm depends on the choice of ${r}_{0}$, the smaller ${r}_{0}$, the fewer distances to calculate, and in general the shorter the run time. The minimum time scales as O(NlogN); this compares with the O(${N}^{2}$) time that is usually required. Using this algorithm, we have obtained speedup factors of up to a thousand over the usual method.
X-linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein Functions as a Cofactor in Transforming Growth Factor-β Signaling

Abstract X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) is a potent suppressor of apoptotic cell death, which functions by directly inhibiting caspases, the principal effectors of apoptosis. Here we report that XIAP can also function as a cofactor in the regulation of gene expression by transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). XIAP, but not the related proteins c-IAP1 or c-IAP2, associated with several members of the type I class of the TGF-β receptor superfamily and potentiated TGF-β-induced signaling. Although XIAP-mediated activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase and nuclear factor κB was found to require the TGF-β signaling intermediate Smad4, the ability of XIAP to suppress apoptosis was found to be Smad4-independent. These data implicate a role for XIAP in TGF-β-mediated signaling that is distinct from its anti-apoptotic functions.
DISCRIMINATION OF FISH AND SEAFOOD QUALITY BY CONSUMER POPULATIONS

The quality of selected commercial fish and seafood products was first characterized with an experienced descriptive sensory analysis panel, and then the samples were evaluated by consumer preference panels. Consumer panelists readily discriminated and preferred fillet, portion and pattie fish products without distinct off-flavors over those exhibiting marked off-flavors, particularly oxidized flavors. Although flavor characteristics were major determinants of preference when distinctively oxidized flavors were present, texture was an extremely influential determinant of preference when samples exhibited moderate to low intensities of fishy and/or oxidized flavors.
Challenges to Engaging Medical Students in a Flipped Classroom Model

The flipped classroom educational model proposes that students will achieve higher order and deeper levels of learning if they work collaboratively during class to apply what they know. However, medical students decline to participate in flipped classroom activities if they perceive that studying alone will be equally efficient in terms of learning. Unfortunately, institutional policies and practices can challenge the ability of medical educators to hold students accountable for attending and engaging in class. As a result, flipped classroom activities must be designed with care, and both the classroom activities and subsequent assessments must challenge students’ higher-order thinking skills.
Study of the Relationship Between Plasma Volume and Transcapillary Protein Exchange Using I131-Labeled Albumin and I125-Labeled Globulin

A mean transcapillary exchange rate for albumin and gamma globulin has been obtained from plasma disappearance curves of I131-labeled albumin and I125-labeled gamma globulin. A much closer correlation exists between transcapillary exchange rate for albumin and the plasma volume than between the rate and serum albumin concentrations. Also, for albumin this rate varies with plasma volume and circulating protein in such a manner as to suggest that the capillary permeability changes with changing plasma volume. The relation between vascular and extravascular albumin is consistent with this interpretation, the extravascular mass of albumin appearing to approach zero as vascular albumin approaches the vicinity of 0.35 Gm/Kg. In experiments in which I131-labeled albumin and I125-labeled globulin were employed to obtain simultaneous data on albumin and gamma globulin, a good correlation has been obtained between the simultaneously measured albumin and globulin transcapillary exchange rates. The ratio of the fract...
The Anecdotal: Truth in Detail

Different historical dictionaries note that the term “anecdote” was established in literature during the 7 th century by the Byzantine writer Procopius of Caesarea, but did not gain full acceptance as a term and as a genre until the 17 th century. The word literally designates what is new: a fact or detail that was unknown to the public and had not been disclosed by official history (this was the meaning given by the Dictionnaire de l’Academie Francaise in its 1762 version). The term anecdote soon became synonymous with little story. Hence the question: is there a place for small stories within the larger and more noble or tragic narrative of history itself, which is presumed to be full of meaning? But doesn’t history not only as social reality—actual becoming— but also as discipline necessarily imply the great narrative as a form? We will have to consider this question. It has been said that great narratives belong to an outdated form of representation. 1 Why? To be able to answer this question will also amount to being able to consider the question of the anecdote from an entirely different perspective. But before coming to these crucial questions, we must reconsider the question of the narrative genres involved. Great narratives may belong to different types, for instance the epic, novel, or historical narrative. From this perspective the anecdote belongs among the very short narrative genres, which include little stories, fabliaux, riddles, and jokes, even though it cannot be identified with any of these. They are even shorter than tales or short stories. In fact, the anecdote seems to belong to a truly minor genre. It involves what is circumstantial, trivial, unimportant, and even—if one can say so—what is left to the scrapheap of history. However, the anecdote is set apart by a remarkable feature: the short narrative of which it is composed has to do with real-world events. This is what takes it out of the realm of fiction (unlike the fable or parable) into that of history. It therefore belongs to the category of what is verifiable. An anecdote is always given as reporting something that actually happened. Therefore, while it does not have the solemn status of history,
Semi-automatic stencil creation through error minimization

Creating physical stencils from 3D meshes is a unique rendering challenge that has not been previously addressed. The task is a problem of two competing goals: forming a single, well-connected and stable stencil sheet, while simultaneously limiting the error introduced by pieces of bridging material. Under these conflicting goals, it can often be difficult to create visually pleasing stencils from complicated imagery by hand. Even for well-behaved images, expressive stencils can be time-consuming to craft manually.We present a method for generating expressive stencils from polygonal meshes or images. In our system, users provide input geometry and can adjust desired view, lighting conditions, line thickness, and bridge preferences to achieve their final desired stencil. The stencil creation algorithm makes use of multiple metrics to measure the appropriateness of connections between unstable stencil regions. These metrics describe local features to help minimize the distortion of the abstracted image caused by stabilizing bridges. The algorithm also uses local statistics to choose a best fit connection that maintains both structural integrity and local shape information. We demonstrate our algorithm on physical media including construction paper and sheet metal.
Effect of Magnesium Ion on Glycogen Fraction Synthesis in Rat Tissues.

SummaryMagnesium sulfate injected LP. into rats promotes synthesis of both TCA soluble and TCA insoluble glycogen fractions in the liver after one hour. Heart and skeletal muscle show a significant rise in TCA insoluble glycogen fraction after 4 hours. Skeletal muscle also shows a significant rise in total glycogen after 4 hours. Magnesium appears to be one of the few substances which promote synthesis of the TCA insoluble glycogen fraction.
Holographic Methods For Particle Size And Velocity Measurement - Recent Advances

Holography, and particulary in-line far-field holography, has proven to be a valuable technique in particle size and velocity measurement. As significant refinements of the technique are discovered new applications are developed. Recent advances in the field are reviewed and a selected bibliography to papers since 1979 is provided
Relationship between dietary antioxidants and childhood asthma: more epidemiological studies are needed

Approximately 15 million Americans including over 5 million children suffer from asthma, the most common chronic disease in childhood. The prevalence of pediatric asthma has risen sharply over the past four decades, with the sharpest increases occurring in children younger than 6 years and in urban, predominantly minority, populations. The reasons for this dramatic increase are not yet clear. Recent epidemiological studies indicate a higher prevalence of dietary antioxidant deficiency among asthmatics patients. However, the results of these studies are inconsistent or even contradictory. Epidemiological studies with robust design and use of novel epidemiological tools are urgently needed to examine the impact of dietary antioxidants on the incidence of asthma in preschool children. An incidence density case-control study which includes non-atopic controls, who are matched for age, gender, race, study center and sampling time to each asthmatic case will offer a robust study design. A validated food frequency questionnaire and an asthma and atopy severity score can be used to interview the parents of the recruited children. Risk set sampling may enable us to explore possible associations between the type and quantity of dietary antioxidants and the development and severity of asthma in such an epidemiological study.
Engineering of AlGaN-Delta-GaN quantum wells gain media for mid- and deep-ultraviolet lasers

The gain characteristics of AlGaN-delta-GaN QWs active region with varying delta-GaN positions and AlGaN compositions are analyzed. From our finding, the use of AlGaN-delta-GaN QW resulted in ~ 7-times increase in material gain, in comparison to that of conventional AlGaN QW, for gain media emitting at 240 nm. By employing asymmetric QW design, with optimized GaN delta layer position and asymmetric AlGaN composition layers, the optimized optical gain can be achievable for AlGaN-delta-GaN QW structure with realistic design applicable for deep and mid UV lasers.
Disability history: why we need another "other".

[Abstract unavailable] Language: en Cited in: Burnham JC (2009). Accident Prone: A history of technology, psychology, and misfits of the machine age. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. ISBN-13: 978-0-226-08117-5. The book was favorably reviewed by David Hemenway in Injury Prevention (2011), doi: 10.1136/ip.2011.031658. Special Thanks to Dr. Burnham for providing an electronic copy of the bibliographic notes that accompany each chapter. This greatly facilitated adding previously unidentified records to the SafetyLit database. SafetyLit users may obtain a listing of the book's references by searching using the following Textword(s) Exact query: "Burnham-Accident-Prone".
Upper Ocean Response to a Hurricane

Abstract The upper ocean response to a moving hurricane is studied using historical air-sea data and a three-dimensional numerical ocean model. Sea surface temperature (SST) response is emphasized. The model has a surface mixed-layer (ML) that entrains according to a velocity dependent parameterization, and two lower layers that simulate the response in the thermocline. The passage of Hurricane Eloise (1975) over buoy EB-10 is simulated in detail. SST decreased 2°C as Eloise passed directly over EB-10 at 8.5 m s−1. Model results indicate that entrainment caused 85% of the irreversible heat flux into the ML; air-sea heat exchange accounted for the remainder. The maximum SST response was predicted to be −3°C and to occur 60 km to the right of the hurricane track. This is consistent with the well-documented rightward bias in the SST response to rapidly moving hurricanes. The rightward bias occurs in the model solution because the hurricane wind-stress vector turns clockwise with time on the right side of the...
Dislocation substructure in NiAl single crystals cyclically deformed at ambient temperature

Abstract Dislocation structures have been characterised in cyclically deformed NiAl single crystals tested at room temperature. The primary slip system {110} was found to be in operation for the ‘soft’ orientation. The dislocation structure was found to have a high density of dipoles and point defect clusters. Dislocation cross grids that accommodate the misfit between PSBs (persistent slip bands) and the matrix were observed. Possible cyclic hardening mechanisms at room temperature are discussed. The density of the dipoles was not uniform and was found to be modulated on the slip plane, unlike Ni 3 Al which shows a homogeneous distribution. Computer simulation of the microstructure has been carried out, based on the mechanism of dipole diffusion in a stress gradient.
Equilibrium binding studies of the interaction between anthralin and bovine serum albumin

Abstract The binding of the antipsoriatic drug, anthralin, to calf thymus deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was examined using fluorescence spectroscopy. Results indicated that anthralin did not bind to DNA but did bind to BSA at physiological pH. Job's method of continuous variation indicated that anthralin formed a 1:1 complex with BSA. The investigation employing BSA was conducted at 4 different temperatures, 8.0, 15.4, 25.0 and 34.7°C. Langmuir's one-site model was directly fitted to the data with an iterative non-linear regression program. The thermodynamic parameters derived from the van't Hoff plot were as follows: ΔG = −8.19 kcal/mol, ΔH = −7.85 kcal/mol, and ΔS = +1.12 e.u. On the basis of experimental evidence it is pr that anthralin binds to a tryptophan residue on BSA by a hydrogen bonding mechanism.
Comment on ‘IV estimation of panels with factor residuals’ by D. Robertson and V. Sarafidis

Abstract This comment discusses two issues related to the paper by Robertson and Sarafidis (2014, hereafter RS). The first issue is the potential incidental parameters problem that may arise when data are cross-sectionally heteroskedastic. The second issue is an identification problem in the estimation of panel models with weakly exogenous instrumental variables.
Synoptic water clarity assessment in the Florida Keys using diffuse attenuation coefficient estimated from Landsat imagery

The diffuse attenuation coefficient, K (m− 1), is a measure of the effective attenuation of light in the water column. It characterizes water clarity and is used as a proxy for water quality. Mapping of shallow water benthic habitats using optical means, including daytime visible satellite imagery, requires knowledge of K to correct for water column effects such as light absorption and scattering. Traditionally, K is derived from imagery using a priori knowledge of bottom types at different depths and specific locations, and assuming that light attenuates exponentially with depth. This technique is applied to three Landsat 7 satellite images (February, May, and July 2000) from the Florida Keys Reef Tract between Key Largo and Key West. Interpolated depth data, initially from NOAA vector chart data, with uncertainties of ±0.5 m, were draped over 30 m spatial resolution Landsat satellite imagery. K was derived for 27 sites where bright sand could be observed at depths between 3 and 20 m. The blue and green bands (Landsat bands 1 and 2 at 450–520 nm and 520–600 nm, respectively) provided K values consistent with time and location. Average K values for bands 1 and 2, respectively, were 0.029 and 0.043 m− 1 (Lower Keys), 0.050 and 0.072 m− 1 (Middle Keys), and 0.063 and 0.082 m− 1 (Upper Keys). The red band (band 3, 630–690 nm) provided more ambiguous and erroneous results with several negative K values, attributed primarily to three factors use of a simple atmospheric correction, the high absorption and rapid attenuation of red light in water, and low radiometric sensitivity of the Landsat ETM + sensor. Despite the fact that these observations were a snapshot in time, trends were observed for the Upper, Middle, and Lower Keys, possibly due to the influence of more turbid Florida Bay waters.
1,3,5-Trichloro-2,4,6-tripyrrol-1-ylbenzene

The title compound, C18H12Cl3N3, has two mol­ecules in the asymmetric unit, related by an approximate inversion center. C—Cl distances are in the range 1.718 (2)–1.7234 (19) A, C(phen­yl)—N distances are in the range 1.412 (2)–1.419 (2) A and C(pyrrole)—N distances are in the range 1.366 (3)–1.387 (2) A.
PHYTOCHEMICAL AND GC-MS STUDIES ON STYLOSANTHES FRUTICOSA LINN

Medicinal plants, herbs, spices and herbal remedies are integral components of alternative system of medicine since times immemorial. Stylosanthesfruticosa. is a potential folklore medicinal plant (Fabacea) used for Aurveda and Siddha systems of medicine. In this study Alkaloid, Carbohydrate and Glycoside, Saponin, Protein & Amino acid, Phenolic compounds & Flavonoids and Phytosterols were identified as the major phytochemical constituents in the ethanol fractions of Stylosanthes fruticosa leafextract. Their structures were elucidated, on the basis of GC-MS data . (2R,3R)-4-methyl-2,3-epoxypentan-1-ol(9.26%),1-Cyclohexyl-2,2-difluoro-4-(1,3-dioxolan-2-yl)-4-iodobutanone(9.26%),9-(Tetrahydropyran-2''-yl)-6-[2'-phenyl-',4',5',6''-tetrapropylphenyl]-9H-purine(9.26%) these different active phytochemicals have been found to possess a wide range of activities. In conclusion Stylosanthes fruticosa contains biologically active compounds that may serve as candidate for the discovery of new drugs in the treatment of antimicrobial activities.
Design for Independence Housing for the Severely Disabled

This article reports on a postoccupancy evaluation of Creative Living, Inc., in Columbus, Ohio, which at the time of this study was the only HUD-sponsored apartments for quadriplegics (those paraly...
On the Analysis of PLC Programs: Software Quality and Code Dynamics

As a result of sudden failure in the Programmable Logic Control (PLC) controlled process, the need of diagnosis arises. Diagnosis problem plays an important role to monitor failures in PLC, used to control the whole process. Nowadays and due to the lack of the needed tools availability to perform this action automatically, it is accomplished manually. Usually, the time consuming method is used by back-tracking the failure on an actuator due to the corresponding sensors. This paper analyzes the software quality metrics and their application on the PLC programs. Aiming to implement metrics that gives predictive information about diagnosability of an Instruction List (IL) PLC programs, this could minimize the needed effort to check the program in case of mistakes. Furthermore, to get a better prediction about diagnosability, new metrics are introduced which are able to give more information about the semantics of a program. But they are not yet fully developed and have to be analyzed.
Loading of the human 9-1-1 checkpoint complex onto DNA by the checkpoint clamp loader hRad17-replication factor C complex in vitro

The human DNA damage sensors, Rad17-replication factor C (Rad17-RFC) and the Rad9-Rad1-Hus1 (9-1-1) checkpoint complex, are thought to be involved in the early steps of the DNA damage checkpoint response. Rad17-RFC and the 9-1-1 complex have been shown to be structurally similar to the replication factors, RFC clamp loader and proliferating cell nuclear antigen polymerase clamp, respectively. Here, we demonstrate functional similarities between the replication and checkpoint clamp loader/DNA clamp pairs. When all eight subunits of the two checkpoint complexes are coexpressed in insect cells, a stable Rad17-RFC/9-1-1 checkpoint supercomplex forms in vivo and is readily purified. The two individually purified checkpoint complexes also form a supercomplex in vitro, which depends on ATP and is mediated by interactions between Rad17 and Rad9. Rad17-RFC binds to nicked circular, gapped, and primed DNA and recruits the 9-1-1 complex in an ATP-dependent manner. Electron microscopic analyses of the reaction products indicate that the 9-1-1 ring is clamped around the DNA.
An alternative formulation of the geometric stiffness matrix for plate elements

Abstract A simplified formulation of the geometric stiffness matrix for plate elements is presented. In this formulation the transverse displacement is defined along the element boundary but not for the element interior as with the usual formulation. As such the formulation is particularly suitable for use with hybrid stress or discrete Kirchhoff methods which are also based on boundary approximation of the transverse displacement. The simplicity, computational economy and accuracy obtained with the formulation compare favorably with the usual order formulation.
An assessment of the erosion resistance of iron-aluminide cermets at room and elevated temperatures

Abstract The resistance of FeAl–40 volume percent (v/o)TiB 2 , FeAl–80v/oTiC and FeAl–80v/oWC cermets to solid particle erosion was evaluated at 25, 180, 500 and 700 °C and compared to the erosion behavior of WC–6 weight percent (w/o)Co (Co–90v/oWC) cemented carbides at the same temperatures. The relative ranking of the FeAl-cermets to erosion was from the most erosion resistant: FeAl–WC>FeAl–TiB 2 >FeAl–TiC to the least erosion resistant. Erosion resistance was related to both cermet microstructure and material removal mechanisms. Even though the WC–Co contained a higher volume fraction of the hard phase, the erosion rates of the FeAl-cermets were roughly of the same magnitude to those of the WC–Co, particularly at the highest test temperature. The erosion rates of the FeAl-cermets were constant (FeAl–TiB 2 ) or decreased (FeAl–WC, FeAl–TiC) with increasing test temperature; whereas, the erosion rates of the WC–Co increased with increasing test temperature. This behavior was related to the oxidation resistance Co binder as the test temperature was increased. Subsequent impact by the erodent particles easily removed the oxidized material, leading to an increase of about 300% in erosion rate of WC–Co at 700 °C compared to room temperature. The FeAl binder in the FeAl-cermets did not oxidize nearly as much at the elevated temperatures, hence, the erosion rates of these cermets stayed constant or decreased. The results of this study indicate, that once the microstructure (e.g. volume fraction, particle size, particle size distribution, etc., of the hard phase) of the FeAl-cermets is optimized for erosion resistance these materials might make promising candidates for elevated temperature application where erosion is an operative wear mechanisms.
Signature of Noise Mechanisms in the Linewidth of Self-Sustained Optomechanical Oscillations

We study the linewidth-noise relation in a self-sustained radiation-pressure-driven optomechanical oscillator. The experimental outcomes demonstrate that at room temperature Brownian noise is the dominant noise mechanism in this oscillator.