cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The use of transition-state theory to extrapolate rate coefficients for reactions of H atoms with alkanes

Conventional transition-state theory is used for extrapolating rate coefficients for reactions of O atoms with alkanes to temperatures above the range of experimental data. Expressions are developed for estimating structural properties of the activated complex necessary for calculating enthalpies and entropies of activation. Particular attention is given to the problem of the effect of the O atom adduct on the internal rotations in the activated complex. Differences between primary, secondary, and tertiary attack are discussed, and the validity of representing the activated complexes of all O + alkane reactions by a fixed set of vibrational frequencies and other internal modes is evaluated. Experimental data for reactions of O atoms with 15 different alkanes (CH4, C2H6, C3H8, C4H10, C5H12, C6H14, C7H16, C8H18, i–C4H10, (CH3)4C, (CH3)2CHCH(CH3)2, (CH3)3CC(CH3)3, c–C5H10, c–C6H12, c–C7H14) are reviewed. The following approximate expressions for ΔS‡(298) and E(298), the entropy and energy of activation, respectively, are consistent with the experimental data and with the calculations: where nC = number of carbon atoms in the alkane and nH = the number of “equivalent” H atoms. Using the conventional transition state theory expression, k(298) = 1015.06 exp(ΔS‡/R) exp(–E(298)/298R) L mol−1s−1, one then obtains: These expressions agree with experimental values within a factor approximately 2 for alkanes larger than C3H8.
Enfermedad cardiovascular en el anciano

The aging of the population worldwide will result in increasing numbers of elderly patients, among whom heart disease is the leading cause of death. Changes in cardiovascular physiology with normal aging and prevalent comorbidities result in differences in the effects of common cardiac problems as well as the response to their treatments. Patient-centered goals of care such as maintenance of independence and reduction of symptoms may be preferred over increased longevity. New less-invasive treatments are likely to improve outcomes in elderly patients who previously have been considered at prohibitive risk for traditional procedures. Clinical trials enrolling elderly patients are limited and recommendations for management from younger patients frequently lack evidence-based support in patients aged >75 years.
Modeling diffractive optical elements for optical data storage applications

A combination of ray-tracing and diffraction theory is used to model the diffractive optical elements used in optical data storage systems. Details of the theoretical model and some numerical simulation results are presented.
A Forward Phenotypically Driven Unbiased Genetic Analysis of Host Genes That Moderate Herpes Simplex Virus Virulence and Stromal Keratitis in Mice

Both viral and host genetics affect the outcome of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection in humans and experimental models. Little is known about specific host gene variants and molecular networks that influence herpetic disease progression, severity, and episodic reactivation. To identify such host gene variants we have initiated a forward genetic analysis using the expanded family of BXD strains, all derived from crosses between C57BL/6J and DBA/2J strains of mice. One parent is highly resistant and one highly susceptible to HSV-1. Both strains have also been fully sequenced, greatly facilitating the search for genetic modifiers that contribute to differences in HSV-1 infection. We monitored diverse disease phenotypes following infection with HSV-1 strain 17syn+ including percent mortality (herpes simplex encephalitis, HSE), body weight loss, severity of herpetic stromal keratitis (HSK), spleen weight, serum neutralizing antibody titers, and viral titers in tear films in BXD strains. A significant quantitative trait locus (QTL) on chromosome (Chr) 16 was found to associate with both percent mortality and HSK severity. Importantly, this QTL maps close to a human QTL and the gene proposed to be associated with the frequency of recurrent herpetic labialis (cold sores). This suggests that a single host locus may influence these seemingly diverse HSV-1 pathogenic phenotypes by as yet unknown mechanisms. Additional suggestive QTLs for percent mortality were identified--one on Chr X that is epistatically associated with that on Chr 16. As would be anticipated the Chr 16 QTL also modulated weight loss, reaching significance in females. A second significant QTL for maximum weight loss in male and female mice was mapped to Chr 12. To our knowledge this is the first report of a host genetic locus that modulates the severity of both herpetic disease in the nervous system and herpetic stromal keratitis.
Hypothalamo‐septal enkephalinergic fibers terminate on AMPA receptor‐containing neurons in the rat lateral septal area

A large number of septal neurons express alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazoleproprionate (AMPA)-type excitatory glutamate receptors. It has been demonstrated that in the mediolateral part of the rat lateral septum, calbindin-containing neurons are heavily innervated by hypothalamic, enkephalinergic fibers forming exclusively asymmetric synaptic contacts. This connection was suggested to be excitatory. In order to further elucidate this hypothesis, the aim of the present study was to determine whether these enkephalinoceptive neurons express GluR1 and GluR2/3 AMPA receptor subunits. Correlated light and electron microscopic analysis, using single immunostaining for GluR1 and GluR2/3, and double immunostaining for Leu-enkephalin and GluR1 or GluR2/3, was performed on vibratome sections of the rat lateral septal area. The studies revealed that while GluR1 is mainly associated with dendritic and somatic spines, GluR2/3 is mostly present in the perisomatic area. Leu-enkephalin boutons establish asymmetric synaptic contacts at the level of the soma and initial dendrites of both of these cells. A semiquantitative analysis showed that these enkephalin-targeted cells represent 50% of the total number of both GluR1 and GluR2/3-containing lateral septal neurons. These results suggest that: (1) AMPA receptor-expressing neurons appear to be the exclusive recipient of hypothalamic Leu-enkephalin boutons; (2) these enkephalinoceptive neurons contain both GluR1 and GluR2/3 AMPA receptor subunits; however, (3) only the GluR2/3 subtype, located in the perisomatic area, may be associated with Leu-enkephalin-containing inputs.
Transit fees for ocean straits and their impact on global economic welfare

Abstract Under the terms of the draft treaty under consideration at the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea it is generally taken for granted that the use of ocean straits for shipping will remain free for all users. Yet the very same draft treaty can also be used to legitimize fees because in purely economic terms ocean straits possess the attributes of natural resources to a substantial degree. As such, a charge for their use is allowable under the draft treaty. The possible imposition and magnitude of such fees depends upon the costs of managing the straits, the degree of congestion, the willingness of the controlling states to extract maximum revenues and their ability to impose their will. The draft treaty seems to be inconsistent because what it allows for resources in general, it seems to preclude for straits in particular.
Static Charge Induced Damage during Lightly Doped Drain (LDD) by Single Wafer Cleaning Process

The present work reports some approaches to reduce the static charge defects induced during single wafer cleaning process. Increase conductivity of DIW with CO2, adding backside rinse and IPA drying sequence optimization were evidenced to be effective by surface potential difference with Quantox tool. TEM and EELS were also used for analysis of volcano-like discharge defects.
T Cell Receptor–MHC Interactions up Close

X-ray crystal structures of αβTCRs bound to MHCI and MHCII molecules with bound antigenic peptides reveals the atomic contacts upon which MHC restricted T cell recognition is based. Very different signals can result from very similar structures and identical signals can result from different structures (Figure 2CFigure 2C and Figure 2DFigure 2D). An important caveat is that the CD3 and zeta chains of the TCRs and all of the transmembrane anchors and cytoplasmic segments were absent from all of the crystal studied to date. The possibility, for example, that the cell surface TCR contains two αβTCR units (Fernandez-Miguel et al. 1999xFernandez-Miguel, G, Alarcon, B, Iglesias, A, Bluethmann, H, Alvarez-Mon, M, Sanz, E, and de la Hera, A. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 1999; 96: 1547–1552Crossref | Scopus (103)See all ReferencesFernandez-Miguel et al. 1999) suggests that until the full TCR with CD3 and zeta chains is assembled and crystallized, choosing among signal initiation mechanisms involving oligomerization or allosteric switches will be difficult.*E-mail: hennecke@crystal.harvard.edu (J. H.), dcwadmin@crystal.harvard.edu (D. C. W.)
A Case Study of Wave Current Bathymetry Interactions at the Columbia River Entrance

Abstract A unique set of field observations has documented intense wave–current–bathymetry interactions in a tidal inlet, providing a severe test of existing wave theory. Hourly wave spectral estimates were acquired over ten complete tidal cycles at locations offshore of, and on, the Columbia River Bar. This site has long been recognized as an extreme hazard to navigation due to the interaction of incident waves with a strong tidal jet typified by ebb currents in excess of 2 m s−1. During the five-day observational period, offshore significant wave height ranged from 1 to 5 m; in contrast, the Bar wave height oscillated at tidal periods, sometimes doubling during a single six-hour flood-to-ebb cycle. In one case, the Bar wave height was 7.0 m with an offshore wave height of 2.9 m. A one-dimensional model, based on linear wave action–density conservation and incorporating shoaling, refraction and radiation stress, fits the data remarkably well; 85% of the observed variance in Bar swell height and 57% of th...
Hierarchichal tracking for the real world

This report describes several information processing configurations for hierarchical tracking, their performances and discusses the selection of one of them.
Communication on the paper ‘‘A reference-dependent regret model for deterministic tradeoff studies’’

This communication focuses on a fundamental problem related to the recently introduced Reference-Dependent Regret Model (RDRM) [E. Kujawski, Syst Eng 8(2) (2005), 119– 137] for deterministic multi-criteria decision-making. Kujawski asserted that the RDRM model satisfies three properties. The first of these properties, referred to as the ‘‘independence of dominated alternatives,’’ seems to be an intuitive one. According to this property, the RDRM model preserves the ranking of two alternatives Ai and Aj with ranking Ai>Aj when a new alternative dominated by Ai is introduced or an old alternative dominated by Aj is dropped. In this communication it is demonstrated algebraically and also by means of a numerical example that the RDRM model may fail to satisfy this property. The implication is that when the concepts of regret and-or rejoicing are considered and defined in terms of all the available alternatives in accordance with the RDRM, adding or dropping a dominated alternative can change the ranking of the alternatives and violate the independence of dominated alternatives property. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Eng.
Inspiratory pressure threshold training in a case of congenital bilateral abductor vocal fold paralysis

We present a non-surgical treatment option to decrease symptoms of dyspnea in a 6 year-old child with congenital bilateral abductor vocal fold paralysis. A respiratory muscle strength-training program was used to strengthen her inspiratory muscles for 8 months, 3 to 5 days per week. Inspiratory muscle strength increased over the course of training, resulting in reported decreases in dyspnea by both the child and parents during speech and exercise.
Evidence for basaltic Sr in midocean ridge-flank hydrothermal systems and implications for the global oceanic Sr isotope balance

Abstract Previous models and calculations of the global mass balance of Sr in the oceans have shown that the input of unradiogenic basaltic Sr from on-axis midocean ridge hydrothermal systems is much less than needed to balance the input of radiogenic Sr delivered to the oceans by rivers. The implication is that either the oceans are far from steady state with respect to Sr isotope balance (and that the 87Sr/86Sr ratio of seawater is increasing at unprecedented rates) or that there is a significant missing source of basaltic Sr. It has long been recognized that off-axis hydrothermal fluxes might significantly affect the mass and isotopic balance of Sr and other elements in the oceans, but nearly all previous work has concluded that the 87Sr/86Sr ratio of pore fluids in ridge-flank hydrothermal areas is virtually indistinguishable from the seawater ratio or is dominated by authigenic carbonates. In contrast, we report here the 87Sr/86Sr ratios of warm springs, sediment pore fluids, and basement reservoir fluid with a clear basaltic signature from the eastern flank of the Juan de Fuca ridge (JFR). Fluids venting from Ocean Drilling Program Hole 1026B on the Juan de Fuca east flank have relatively stable Sr isotope and major element composition for the 3 yr following drilling. These results and similar results recently reported by Elderfield et al. (1999) indicate that low-temperature ridge-flank hydrothermal circulation has an important effect on the Sr isotope balance in the oceans. If published values for the other major sources of Sr input to the oceans (rivers and axial hydrothermal flux) are accurate, then the rate of increase of the 87Sr/86Sr ratio in seawater (∼0.000054 per million years) can be accommodated if ridge flanks on a global scale deliver fluids to the ocean with Δ (87Sr/86Sr)/heat ratios one third to one half of the ratio found in warm JFR basement fluids. Based on published Sr and O isotope signatures of calcite veins in the uppermost basaltic ocean crust, the average Δ (87Sr/86Sr)/heat ratio of low-temperature fluids is in the range required to balance the oceanic Sr isotope budget. Although the 87Sr/86Sr ratios of the JFR flank fluids in this study overlap with fluid properties inferred from some calcite veins in the upper oceanic crust, the magnitudes of the Δ (87Sr/86Sr)/heat ratios of nearly all of the JFR flank fluids are too large to be representative of the average global flank fluid flux; the same has been argued on the basis of the extremely high implied Mg flux.
Parallel 3D Mortar Element Method for Adaptive Nonconforming Meshes

We present a new two-step "intermediate mortar" approach that efficiently extends the Mortar Element Method (MEM) to 3D meshes with nonconforming discretizations. The technique utilizes projection matrices derived in 2D, thereby avoiding the need to explicitly form large matrices for the 3D cases. The method also allows more flexibility for both h- and p-type adaptation. Parallel implementations with OpenMP and multithreading compiler directives are used to solve a moving heat source problem on SGI Origin and Cray MTA machines. Numerical results demonstrate the advantages of adaptive nonconforming meshes with MEM over uniformly fine meshes.
Pearls and pitfalls in the emergency department evaluation of abdominal pain

Abdominal pain is a common complaint in the emergency department (ED), comprising approximately 5% of total visits. Although not typically serious, abdominal pain often presents many difficult situations for the clinician. Women of reproductive age and elderly individuals represent some of the most challenging patients to evaluate. Although there are general diagnostic and clinical principles that apply to the evaluation of all patients, these two groups deserve extra attention because of the broad differential diagnosis and potential for serious complications. This article outlines the epidemiology of abdominal pain in patients who present to the ED, and provides guidelines pertinent to the evaluation of all patients. In addition, the article discusses the approach to abdominal pain of pelvic origin in women of reproductive age and abdominal pain in elderly individuals.
Effect of the Structure Design on the Performance of a Passive Vapor-Feed DMFC Fed With Concentrated Methanol

A passive vapor-feed direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC), which has a membrane vaporizer and a hydrophobic vapor transport layer (VTL), was investigated experimentally to improve its performance when fed with highly concentrated or neat methanol. DMFCs with different structure parameters, such as the VTL thickness, open area ratio of the vaporizer, and thickness of the water management layer, were tested using different methanol concentrations varying from 6 M to neat methanol. The results showed that the performance of the passive vapor-feed DMFC mainly depended on the trade-off between the methanol vapor supply to the anode and methanol crossover through the membrane. Thickening the VTL, or decreasing the open area ratio of the vaporizer, were found to effectively decrease the transport rate of methanol vapor to the anode, leading to an increase in the concentration of the optimum methanol feeding. The hydrophobic water management layer in the cathode was also found to be useful to lower the methanol crossover.© 2010 ASME
Combination of X-ray transmission and eddy-current testing for the closed-loop recycling of aluminum alloys

In general, aluminum alloys at industrial end-of-life are considerably recycled into aluminum alloys, but they are mostly recycled as alloys for casting because their acceptable concentration limits are not strictly designated and not comparable with those of wrought alloys. This means that recycling from end-of-life wrought alloys to cast alloys has been practiced instead of closed-loop recycling from end-of-life wrought alloys to wrought alloys. The energy required for producing aluminum from recycled aluminum is only 5 % of the energy required for producing aluminum from bauxite. In addition, refining material into wrought aluminum alloys requires many primary aluminum ingots. In terms of saving energy and resources, it would be better if we could conduct closed-loop recycling from end-of-life wrought alloys to wrought alloys. In this study, a combination of X-ray transmission and eddy-current testing is examined with the aim of sorting wrought aluminum alloys. The seven types of wrought aluminum alloys were only sorted into three groups by using X-ray transmission testing and eddy-current testing, while they were sorted into six groups by using a combination of X-ray transmission and eddy-current testing.
Model dependence of the properties of S 11 baryon resonances

The properties of baryon resonances are extracted from a complicated process of fitting sophisticated, empirical models to data. The reliability of this process comes from the quality of data and the robustness of the models employed. With the large amount of data coming from recent experiments, this is an excellent time for a study of the model dependence of this extraction process. A test case is chosen where many theoretical details of the model are required, the ${S}_{11}$ partial wave. The properties of the two lowest ${N}^{*}$ resonances in this partial wave are determined using various models of the resonant and nonresonant amplitudes.
17O MAS NMR Investigation of the Structure of Calcium Silicate Hydrate Gel

This paper presents the results of a systematic investigation of the structure of hydrothermally synthesized calcium silicate hydrate gel using 17O MAS NMR at 11.7 T and MAS frequencies up to 12 kHz. The results support the previously proposed defect-tobermorite structural model for C-S-H. At least six O-sites have been identified, two NBO, BO, Ca-OH, Si-OH, and H2O. The compositional variation of the relative intensities of the signal for different sites measured by 17O NMR is consistent with that calculated from 29Si NMR results for the same samples. The chemical shifts of the NBO and BO sites become more deshielded (more positive) with increasing C/S ratio.
Development of a Segmented Model for a Continuous Electrophoretic Moving Bed Enantiomer Separation

With the recent demonstration of a continuous electrophoretic "moving bed" enantiomer separation at mg/h throughputs, interest has now turned to scaling up the process for use as a benchtop pharmaceutical production tool. To scale the method, a steady-state mathematical model was developed that predicts the process response to changes in input feed rate and counterflow or "moving bed" velocities. The vortex-stabilized apparatus used for the separation was modeled using four regions based on the different hydrodynamic flows in each section. Concentration profiles were then derived on the basis of the properties of the Piperoxan-sulfated beta-cyclodextrin system being studied. The effects of different regional flow rates on the concentration profiles were evaluated and used to predict the maximum processing rate and the hydrodynamic profiles required for a separation. Although the model was able to qualitatively predict the shapes of the concentration profiles and show where the theoretical limits of operation existed, it was not able to quantitatively match the data from actual enantiomer separations to better than 50% accuracy. This is believed to be due to the simplifying assumptions involved, namely, the neglect of electric field variations and the lack of a competitive binding isotherm in the analysis. Although the model cannot accurately predict concentrations from a separation, it provides a good theoretical framework for analyzing how the process responds to changes in counterflow rate, feed rate, and the properties of the molecules being separated.
Reversed structures and bounce structures: are they recognizable? Are they real?

Abstract This note poses two related questions about structural evolution in rocks. How easy is it to recognize structural features that have reversed their sense of development over time? Are there circumstances in rock deformation where early intensification of structure sows the seeds for a later, more or less inevitable, diminution of intensity? It is suggested, as a partial answer to the first question, that there is an irreversibility principle inherent to most structural development, such that even if bulk strain is reversed, the structural changes that accompanied `forward' structural development will not be completely reversed when the strain is reversed. Where this principle applies, it should always be possible to recognize structural reversals, by sufficiently close observation of the final state. It is suggested, as a partial answer to the second question, that where energy is stored by forward structural changes, this energy can often be expected to drive further structural changes, and these further changes may sometimes cause the original structure to `bounce' back to a less intense state. These questions may have some bearing on developing a firmer basis for kinematic analysis, and for understanding overprinting structures in orogens.
Core 1 Glycans on α-Dystroglycan Mediate Laminin-induced Acetylcholine Receptor Clustering but Not Laminin Binding

Although unique O-linked oligosaccharides on α-dystroglycan are important for binding to a variety of extracellular ligands, the function(s) of more generic carbohydrate structures on α-dystroglycan remain unclear. Recent studies suggest a role for glycoconjugates bearing the core 1 disaccharide Galβ(1–3)GalNAc in acetylcholine receptor (AChR) clustering on the surface of muscle cells. Here, we report experiments demonstrating that the core 1-specific lectin jacalin almost completely abrogated laminin-induced AChR clustering in C2C12 myotubes and that α-dystroglycan was the predominant jacalin-binding protein detected in C2C12 myotube lysates. Although jacalin likely inhibited laminin-induced AChR clustering by directly binding to α-dystroglycan, jacalin had no effect on laminin binding to the myotube surface or to α-dystroglycan. Like jacalin, peanut agglutinin lectin also binds the core 1 disaccharide but not when it is terminally sialylated as expressed on α-dystroglycan. We show that C2C12 α-dystroglycan bound to peanut agglutinin only after digestion with neuraminidase. Simultaneous treatment of myotubes with neuraminidase and endo-O-glycosidase diminished α-dystroglycan binding to peanut agglutinin and inhibited neuraminidase-induced AChR clustering. We conclude that sialylated core 1 oligosaccharides of α-dystroglycan are important for laminin-induced AChR clustering and that their function in this process is distinct from the established role of α-dystroglycan oligosaccharides in laminin binding.
Computing invariant measures of piecewise convex transformations

LetS:[0, 1]→[0,1] be a piecewise convex transformation satisfying some conditions which guarantee the existence of an absolutely continuous invariant probability measure. We prove the convergence of a class of Markov finite approximations for computing the invariant measure, using a compactness argument forL1-spaces.
Microfabrication-based modulation of embryonic stem cell differentiation

Embryonic stem (ES) cells form spontaneous aggregates during differentiation, and cell–cell communication in the aggregates plays an important role in differentiation. The development of a controlled differentiation scheme for ES cells has been hindered by the lack of a reliable method to produce uniform aggregate sizes. Conventional techniques, such as hanging drop and suspension cultures, do not allow precise control over size of ES cell aggregates. To surmount this problem, we microfabricated adhesive stencils to make mouse ES (mES) cell aggregates of specific sizes ranging from 100 µm to 500 µm in diameter. With this technique, we studied the effect of the initial aggregate size on ES cell differentiation. After 20 days of induction of differentiation, we analyzed the stem cell populations using gene and protein expression assays as well as biochemical functions. Notably, we found that germ layer differentiation depends on the initial size of the ES cell aggregate. Among the ES cell aggregate sizes tested, the aggregates with 300 µm diameter showed similar differentiation profiles of three germ layers as embryoid bodies made using the “hanging drop” technique. The smaller (100 µm) aggregates showed the increased expression of ectodermal markers compared to the larger (500 µm) aggregates, while the 500 µm aggregates showed the increased expression of mesodermal and endodermal markers compared to the 100 µm aggregates. These results indicate that the initial size of the aggregate is an important factor for ES cell differentiation, and can affect germ layer selection as well as the extent of differentiation.
Transfection of the type I TGF-β receptor restores TGF-β responsiveness in pancreatic cancer

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling is initiated following heterodimerization of the type II TGF-β receptor (TβRII) with the type I TGF-β receptor (TβRI). Both receptors are required for TGF-β responsiveness. In the present study, we characterized the actions of TGF-β1 in T3M4 human pancreatic cancer cells, which express low levels of TβRI and high levels of TβRII. Cells were transiently transfected with p3TP-Lux, a TGF-β-responsive luciferase reporter gene construct. TGF-β1 was without effect in parental T3M4 cells, but caused a time- and dose-dependent increase in luciferase activity in T3M4 cells co-transfected with a TβRI cDNA expression vector. Co-transfection of TβRI with a truncated Smad4 cDNA that is known to block TGF-β-dependent signaling, abrogated the TβRI-induced increase in luciferase activity. Sequencing of the TβRI and the Smad4 genes in T3M4 cells did not reveal any mutations. These findings indicate that one mechanism for TGF-β resistance in pancreatic cancer is due to a quantitative decrease in TβRI expression. Int. J. Cancer 78:255–260, 1998.© 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Toward Petascale Simulation of Cellular Microphysiology

MCell is a Monte Carlo simulator of cell microphysiology, and the scalable variant can be used to study challenging problems of interest to the biological community. MCell can currently model a single synapse out of thousands on a single cell. Petascale technology will enable significant advances in the ability to treat larger structures involving many synapses, with correspondingly more complex behavior. However, there are significant challenges to scaling MCell across two orders of magnitude in performance: increased communication delays and uneven workload concentrations. We discuss software solutions currently under investigation that will accompany us on the path to petascale cell microphysiology.
Incidence of corneal abrasions during pelvic reconstructive surgery

Abstract Objectives To compare the incidence of corneal abrasions after robotic/laparoscopic sacral colpopexies versus vaginal apical suspensions, and to determine risk factors associated with the development of corneal abrasions. Study design This retrospective cohort study included all women undergoing robotic/laparoscopic sacral colpopexy or vaginal apical suspensions over a 5-year period. The incidence of corneal abrasions was compared between groups and statistical analysis was performed. Results 5/216 (2.3%) patients developed corneal abrasions in the sacral colpopexy group compared to 1/332 (0.3%) in the vaginal group ( p =0.04). Eye protection was more frequently documented in the sacral colpopexy group compared to the vaginal group (98.6% vs. 83.4%, p Conclusion More corneal abrasions occurred with laparoscopic and robotic sacral colpopexy compared to vaginal apical suspension procedures. Risk factors could not be identified in this study.
Eddy-Mean Flow interactions in the Along-Stream Development of a Western Boundary Current Jet: An Idealized Model Study

A theoretical study on the role of eddy-mean flow interactions in the time-mean dynamics of a zonally evolving, unstable, strongly inertial jet in a configuration and parameter regime that is relevant to oceanic western boundary current (WBC) jets is described. Progress is made by diagnosing the eddy effect on the time-mean circulation, examining the mechanism that permits the eddies to drive the time-mean recirculation gyres, and exploring the dependence of the eddy effect on system parameters. It is found that the nature of the eddy-mean flow interactions in this idealized configuration is critically dependent on along-stream position, in particular relative to the along-stream evolving stability properties of the time-mean jet. Just after separation from the western boundary, eddies act to stabilize the jet through downgradient fluxes of potential vorticity (PV). Downstream of where the time-mean jet has (through the effect of the eddies) been stabilized, eddies act to drive the time-mean recirculations through the mechanism of an upgradient PV flux. This upgradient flux is permitted by an eddy enstrophy convergence downstream of jet stabilization, which results from the generation of eddies in the upstream region where the jet is unstable, the advection of that eddy activity along stream by the jet, and the dissipation of the eddies in the region downstream of jet stabilization. It is in this region of eddy decay that eddies drive the time-mean recirculations through the mechanism of nonlinear eddy rectification, resulting from the radiation of waves from a localized region. It is found that similar mechanisms operate in both barotropic and baroclinic configurations, although differences in the background PV gradient on which the eddies act implies that the recirculation-driving mechanism is more effective in the baroclinic case. This study highlights the important roles that eddies play in the idealized WBC jet dynamics considered here of stabilizing the jet and driving the flanking recirculations. In the absence of eddy terms, the magnitude of the upper-ocean jet transport would be significantly less and the abyssal ocean recirculations (and their significant enhancement to the jet transport) would be missing altogether.
A new breakaway mailbox designed using nonlinear finite element analysis

Historically, most of the research conducted on the development of safer, breakaway mailbox supports has been for rural mailbox installations. Consequently, only one full-scale crash test was performed on an urban, neighborhood mailbox installation and was met with unsatisfactory safety performance results. In response to the potential threat to motor vehicle and occupant safety, the Midwest Roadside Safety Facility, in cooperation with the Unites States Postal Service, researched and developed a new breakaway concept for centralized-delivery equipment, such as the Neighborhood Delivery and Collection Box Unit (NDCBU). The new breakaway concept consisted of modifying the existing anchor bolt configuration to include bolts fabricated from a material of higher strength, a lower percent elongation, and a smaller diameter and with a special two-step washer to retrofit existing mailboxes. Nonlinear finite element analysis (FEA) with LS-DYNA was also used to predict the potential for the new breakaway mount and attached mailbox to meet the crash test requirements of NCHRP Report No. 350, Recommended Procedures for the Safety Performance Evaluation of Highway Features. Concept evaluation and refinement was made with the use of several static pull tests, dynamic bogie tests, and severe corrosion tests. Results from the FEA and laboratory testing showed that the new breakaway base should significantly improve the safety performance of the NDCBU.
MacAndrew Scale and sociodemographic correlates of adolescent alcohol and drug use.

Abstract To assess the utility of the MacAndrew Scale (MAC) of the MMPI as a screening device for problem drinking and drug use with adolescents, 403 ninth- through twelfth-graders were administered the MAC, a sociodemographic questionnaire, an alcohol/drug frequency questionnaire, the Adolescent Alcohol Involvement Scale, and the Adolescent Drug Involvement Scale. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed the MAC to be the best single predictor (compared to sociodemographic variables) of alcohol/drug use for both males and females. MAC cutoff scores for differentiation between alcohol/drug abusers and nonabusers were obtained that were more efficient than base rate prediction. The results are discussed as supportive of the MAC's concurrent validity and of Jessor and Jessor's “problem behavior theory.” Finally, implications for practice (e.g., early intervention and prevention) and future research are considered.
Synergistic Up-Regulation of CXCL10 by Virus and IFN γ in Human Airway Epithelial Cells

Airway epithelial cells are the first line of defense against viral infections and are instrumental in coordinating the inflammatory response. In this study, we demonstrate the synergistic stimulation of CXCL10 mRNA and protein, a key chemokine responsible for the early immune response to viral infection, following treatment of airway epithelial cells with IFN γ and influenza virus. The synergism also occurred when the cells were treated with IFN γ and a viral replication mimicker (dsRNA) both in vitro and in vivo. Despite the requirement of type I interferon (IFNAR) signaling in dsRNA-induced CXCL10, the synergism was independent of the IFNAR pathway since it wasn't affected by the addition of a neutralizing IFNAR antibody or the complete lack of IFNAR expression. Furthermore, the same synergistic effect was also observed when a CXCL10 promoter reporter was examined. Although the responsive promoter region contains both ISRE and NFκB sites, western blot analysis indicated that the combined treatment of IFN γ and dsRNA significantly augmented NFκB but not STAT1 activation as compared to the single treatment. Therefore, we conclude that IFN γ and dsRNA act in concert to potentiate CXCL10 expression in airway epithelial cells via an NFκB-dependent but IFNAR-STAT independent pathway and it is at least partly regulated at the transcriptional level.
Solid-State NMR Investigation of the Depth of Insertion of Protegrin-1 in Lipid Bilayers Using Paramagnetic Mn2+

The depth of insertion of an antimicrobial peptide, protegrin-1 (PG-1), in lipid bilayers is investigated using solid-state NMR. Paramagnetic Mn2+ ions bind to the surface of lipid bilayers and induce distance-dependent dipolar relaxation of nuclear spins. By comparing the signal dephasing of the peptide with that of the lipids, whose segmental depths of insertion are known, we determined the depths of several residues of PG-1 in 1,2 dilauryl-sn-glycero-3-phosphotidylcholine (DLPC) bilayers. We found that residues G2 at the N-terminus and F12 at the β-turn of the peptide reside near the membrane surface, whereas L5 and V16 are embedded in the acyl chain region. The depths increase in the order of G2 < F12 < L5 < V16. These intensity-dephasing results are confirmed by direct measurement of the paramagnetically enhanced 13C transverse relaxation rates. The relative depths indicate that PG-1 is tilted from the bilayer normal, which is consistent with independent solid-state NMR measurements of PG-1 orientation in the same lipids (Yamaguchi et al., 2001). They also indicate that PG-1 is fully immersed in the lipid bilayer. However, a quantitative mismatch between the bilayer thickness and PG-1 length suggests a local thinning of the DLPC bilayer by 8–10 A. The depth sensitivity of this Mn2+ dephasing technique is tunable with the Mn2+ concentration to focus on different regions of the lipid bilayer.
Docosahexaenoic acid confers neuroprotection in a rat model of perinatal hypoxia-ischemia potentiated by Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide-induced systemic inflammation

Objective Lipopolysaccharide pretreatment potentiates hypoxic ischemic injury. We hypothesized that docosahexaenoic acid pretreatment would improve function and reduce brain volume loss in this rat model of perinatal brain injury and inflammation. Study Design Seven-day-old rats were divided into 3 groups: intraperitoneal docosahexaenoic acid 1 mg/kg and lipopolysaccharide 0.1 mg/kg, 25% albumin and lipopolysaccharide, and normal saline. Injections were given 2.5 hours before carotid ligation, followed by 90 minutes 8% O 2 . Rats underwent sensorimotor function testing and brain volume loss assessment on postnatal day 14. Results Docosahexaenoic acid pretreatment improved vibrissae forepaw placing scores compared with albumin/lipopolysaccharide (mean ± standard deviation weighted score/20: 17.72 ± 0.92 docosahexaenoic acid/lipopolysaccharide vs 13.83 ± 0.82 albumin/lipopolysaccharide; P P = .076). No significant differences in brain volume loss were observed among groups. Conclusion Lipopolysaccharide inflammatory stimulation in conjunction with hypoxic ischemic resulted in poorer function than hypoxic ischemic alone. Docosahexaenoic acid pretreatment had significantly improved function in neonatal rats exposed to lipopolysaccharide and hypoxic ischemic.
Corporate governance: The battle over corporate governance – how companies are responding to the new Combined Code

The Combined Code enshrines the principles of corporate governance for UK companies. It has been very influential but many companies also question its value. The authors, with the help of survey results from Deloitte, assess the change which is being brought about.
Estimation of protein aggregation propensity with a melting point apparatus.

A method for studying protein aggregation with an automated melting point apparatus is described. The method employs thermal ramping and can generate a series of protein aggregation curves. The midpoint aggregation curve-associated temperature (Ta) is used to evaluate the difference between the curves where the lower Ta value corresponds to a higher aggregation propensity. The applicability of the method was demonstrated with human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) as a protein aggregation model. The method could be employed for rapid evaluation of various factors such as mutations, buffers, and excipients influencing protein aggregation propensity under the thermal stress.
Compressed magnetic resonance imaging based on wavelet sparsity and nonlocal total variation

This paper introduces an efficient algorithm for the compressed MR image reconstruction problem, which is formulated as the minimization of a linear combination of three terms corresponding to a least square data fitting, nonlocal total variation (NLTV) and wavelet sparsity regularization. In our method, the original minimization problem is decomposed into wavelet sparsity and NLTV norm regularization subproblems respectively. Then, these two subproblems are efficiently solved by existing techniques. Finally, the reconstructed image is obtained from the weighted average of solutions from two subproblems in an iterative framework. Experiments with improved performance over previous methods demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed algorithm for compressed MR image reconstruction.
Racial Disparities in Hospital Length of Stay for Asthma: Implications for Economic Policies

Asthma is one of the most common health burdens on American families. An understanding of how the costs of asthma are distributed across communities is essential to realizing cost savings from preventative care. We model the household’s utilization of hospital services using Grossman’s health production framework. We then test for differences in asthma-related hospitalizations by race using inpatient records from the Massachusetts Division of Health Care Finance. On average black and nonwhite-Hispanic patients stayed between one-third and one-fourth of a day less than similar white patients which translates into a difference in expenditures of $8 million over 1994–2002. The difference in expenditures raises questions for market-based methodologies to value health and for policies directed at reducing inequalities in health outcomes.
Current-induced transverse spin-wave instability in thin ferromagnets: Beyond linear stability analysis

A sufficiently large unpolarized current can cause a spin-wave instability in thin nanomagnets with asymmetric contacts. The dynamics beyond the instability is understood in the perturbative regime of small spin-wave amplitudes, as well as by numerically solving a discretized model. In the absence of an applied magnetic field, our numerical simulations reveal a hierarchy of instabilities, leading to chaotic magnetization dynamics for the largest current densities we consider.
Analysis of compound heterozygous CYP2C19 genotypes to determine cis and trans configurations

Background: Through allele specific PCR we studied 220 CYP2C19 compound heterozygous samples, of unknown ethnicity, to determine the haplotype for each of the variations within a sample. Materials & methods: The genotypes assessed were: 180 *2 and *17 samples (100% in trans); 20 *2 and *11 samples (100% in cis); ten *4 and *17 samples (50% of the samples were *1/*4B and 50% *4A/*17); six *2, *11 and *17 samples (100% showed *2 and *11 in cis, and *17 in trans); two *2, *4 and *17 samples (100% *4B with *2 in trans); one sample with *17 and *34 (these were in trans); and one sample that contained *2, *17, c.463G>T (p.E155X; *17 and c.463G>T were in cis, with *2 in trans). Results & conclusion: In our study, we observed a different frequency for the *4B allele (when a sample contains both *4 and *17); and identified *17 occuring in cis with a novel nonsense allele. Accurately assessing a patient's genotype, including assignment of a haplotype, can be important when making a phenotype prediction. Original su...
Designing for Recovery: New Challenges for Large-Scale Complex IT Systems

Summary form only given. Since the 1980s, the object of design for dependability has been to avoid, detect or tolerate system faults so that these do not result in failures that are detectable outside the system. Whilst this is potentially achievable in medium size systems that are controlled by a single organisations, it is now practically impossible to achieve in large-scale systems of systems where different parts of the system are owned and controlled by different organisations. Therefore, we must accept the inevitability of failure and re-orient our system design strategies to recover from those failures at minimal cost and as quickly as possible. This talk will discuss why such recovery strategies cannot be purely technical but must be socio-technical in nature and argue that design for recovery will require a better understanding of how people recover from failure and the information they need during that recovery process. I will argue that supporting recovery should be a fundamental design objective of systems and explore what this means for current approaches to large-scale systems design.
Immunosuppression, sialic acid, and sialyltransferase of neonatal and maternal bovine serum.

Abstract Serum samples of 7 cows from −10 to +10 days following parturition and of 7 calves from 0 to 20 days following birth were tested for the ability to i
Continuous Pyrolytic Graphite Composite Filaments

Advances in aeronautics and astronautics have created a need for new and improved structural and thermally protective materials, which are stable or capable of accommodating ultra high temperatures, mechanically erosive forces, and chemically corrosive environments. New physical forms of materials are thus being developed at an urgent pace, and of these, filamentary reinforced composites are among the most promising. For thermally protective use, carbon and graphite fiber reinforced composites have considerable merit, but current forms of the materials have some deficiencies. Through in-house research by the Air Force Materials Laboratory, continuous pyrolytic graphite filaments have now been synthesized in diameters from 25 to 125 /z and individual lengths up to 2600 ft. They are composed of an inner core of tungsten carbide with an overcoating of a pyrolytic refractory-like highly "turbostatic" carbon. To obtain these filamentous materials, a novel and versatile laboratory apparatus was designed, built, and successfully operated. The newly developed filamentous materials have potential uses in many future Air Force applications, like ablative and reinforced plastic structures, filament-wound composites, thermal insulation inflatable re-entry structures, thermally protective fabrics, and possibly other important uses. I. Introduction E NVIRONMENTS of very high temperature, high shear force and chemical reactivity have been generated by modern rocketry. Ablative and structural composite materials containing fibrous reinforcements have shown great potential for withstanding such environments. However, currently available fibers may not be entirely adequate for future uses because of the ever increasing material property requirements (thermal stability, strength, capability, etc.), and the associated effects of hyperenvironmental constituents on material performance. Highly refractory materials in bulk form have been made available which meet some of the anticipated future needs. Refractory fiber reinforced composites are preferred to bulk materials, however, because of their inherent versatility and the ability to tailor properties to the specific application requirements. Fibrous refractories for these composites are not presently available in proper compositions, physical structure, or amounts, and thus considerable interest exists in preparing such materials. The objective of this report concerns the preparation of pyrolytic graphite in continuous filament form. The research program designed to fulfill the objective was detailed into the following phases: 1) develop a laboratory apparatus for obtaining continuous pyrolytic graphite filaments; 2) examine the utility of existing chemical vapor-plating processes and improve them in applicable areas; 3) investigate the suitability of various hydrocarbon compounds as the graphite precursor material; and 4) produce continuous lengths of pyrolytic graphite filaments using a tungsten wire substrate.