cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A novel system for studying mechanical strain waveform-dependent responses in vascular smooth muscle cells

While many studies have examined the effects mechanical forces on vSMCs, there is a limited understanding of how the different arterial strain waveforms that occur in disease and different vascular beds alter vSMC mechanotransduction and phenotype. Here, we present a novel system for applying complex, time-varying strain waveforms to cultured cells and use this system to understand how these waveforms can alter vSMC phenotype and signaling. We have developed a highly adaptable cell culture system that allows the application of mechanical strain to cells in culture and can reproduce the complex dynamic mechanical environment experienced by arterial cells in the body. Using this system, we examined whether the type of applied strain waveform altered phenotypic modulation of vSMCs by mechanical forces. Cells exposed to the brachial waveform had increased phosphorylation of AKT, EGR-1, c-Fos expression and cytoskeletal remodeling in comparison to cells treated with the aortic waveform. In addition, vSMCs exposed to physiological waveforms had adopted a more differentiated phenotype in comparison to those treated with static or sinusoidal cyclic strain, with increased expression of vSMC markers desmin, calponin and SM-22 as well as increased expression of regulatory miRNAs including miR-143, -145 and -221. Taken together, our studies demonstrate the development of a novel system for applying complex, time-varying mechanical forces to cells in culture. In addition, we have shown that physiological strain waveforms have powerful effects on vSMC phenotype.
Remediable underlying factors associated with steroid dependency in Crohn's disease (CD)

Purpose: Although corticosteroids are highly effective in the treatment of CD intestinal inflammation, these medications are associated with frequent short and long term adverse reactions. CD pts with steroid dependency are considered to have refractory disease that is difficult to treat. In addition, steroid dependency is often used to define a subset of CD pts that is frequently targeted for clinical trials. We investigated steroid dependent CD pts refered to a tertiary center for underlying remediable factors.
Investigations on spermicidal activity in the sheep vagina.

Abstract This study was conducted to elucidate some of the effects of a synthetic progestagen and natural ovarian hormones on spermicidal activity in the sheep vagina. In the first experiment, parous ewes were treated for 17 days either intravaginally with medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP) or subcutaneously with progesterone. They were inseminated artificially either on the last day of progestagen treatment or during estrus after progestagen withdrawal. Their vulvovaginal junctions were ligated to prevent the loss of sperm cells by drainage to the exterior. Untreated control ewes were inseminated during either estrus or the luteal phase of the estrous cycle. The ewes were killed 22 hr. after insemination, their vaginas flushed, and intact sperm cells and tailless sperm heads counted. In the second and third experiments, some of the ewes were bilaterally ovariectomized and inseminated several weeks later. Other ewes were ovariectomized and given subcutaneous injections of estradiol, progesterone, or both hormones. In the first experiment, most sperm cells were recovered intact from estrous or luteal phase control ewes. The intravaginal administration of MAP increased both the breakage of sperm cells into heads and tails and the disappearance of sperm cells. The spermicidal effects of MAP were just as great in ewes inseminated on the last day of treatment. as in those inseminated during the ensuing estrus; these results indicated that the peak estrogen secretion that occurs near the beginning of estrus was not necessary for the intensification of spermicidal activity. In the second experiment, ovariectomized ewes were compared to estrous and luteal phase ewes in regard to vaginal spermicidal activity. Sperm breakage and disappearance occurred least in estrous ewes, to a somewhat greater degree in luteal phase ewes, and to the greatest extent in ovariectomized ewes. The results suggested that endogenous ovarian hormones, particularly those in estrous ewes, suppress spermicidal mechanisms in the vagina. In the third experiment, the administration of estradiol and progesterone to ovariectomized ewes prevented the increase in sperm cell disappearance. Neither hormone alone prevented the increase.
Dynamic Numerical Simulation of Lubricant Behavior at the Head Disk Interface

The lubricant contamination and migration on the flying head slider surface in hard disk drives are studied in this paper. The lubricant dynamics is modeled based on the continuum thin film lubrication theory with inter-molecular forces. We investigate the detailed lubricant behavior on a modern negative-pressure type flying slider. We find distinct lubricant migration speeds depending on the etch depth of the slider surface and the accumulation of lubricant at specific regions. We also find that lubricant behavior largely correlates with the magnitude and direction of the air bearing shear stress.
Rapid impedance measurement of tethered bilayer lipid membrane biosensors

Tethered bilayer lipid membranes (tBLM) offer a promising means to immobilize membrane proteins for sensor applications and study biological phenomena including membrane-nanoparticle interactions. tBLM biointerfaces are typically characterized using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in the 1mHz to 1Hz range due to interface parasitics. To enable rapid characterization of biointerfaces for high throughput applications, this paper introduces a method for high resolution EIS characterization of tBLMs at higher frequencies. The tBLM equivalent electrical model is analyzed, and the benefit of extracting the real portion of interface admittance is described. Mathematical analysis shows that the maximum frequency for measuring membrane resistance is a function of membrane characteristics and that small area membranes could enable measurement well into the kHz range, permitting observation of millisecond membrane protein activity in biosensor arrays.
Interpretation of apparent surface texture observed in the Mössbauer spectra of some57Co-doped ferromagnetic metals

Cobalt-57-doped Fe, Co, and Ni sheets were studied by Mossbauer spectroscopy. The spectra indicated that the preferred direction of the effective magnetic field in Fe and Ni was parallel to the surface. With Co only little preference was observed. The observations are quantitatively explained by assuming that the closure domains may only show parallel to the local easy direction of magnetization, but otherwise tend to be as perpendicular to the normal vector of the surface as possible.
The optical properties of onion dry skin and flesh at the wavelength 632.8 nm

Evaluating onions quality using optical techniques is challenging because the presence of outer dry skin and the layered structure of onion fleshy tissues. To better understand the light propagation in onions, the optical properties of dry skin and fleshy tissues from two cultivars were measured at 632.8 nm by using a single integrating sphere based system. Onion tissues were cut into 30 mm square pieces and sandwiched by Borofloat glass slides. The total diffuse reflectance, the total transmittance, and the collimated transmittance of the onion samples were measured by an integrating sphere system with a VIS-NIR spectrometer. The absorption coefficient (&#956;a), the reduced scattering coefficient (&#956;s'), and the anisotropy coefficient (g) of onion tissue samples were estimated using the inverse adding-doubling method based on the measured spectra. The light propagation in onion tissues were modeled based on the calculated optical parameters using Monte Carlo simulations. The results indicated that onion tissues are high albedo biological media. Onion dry skins have much higher absorption and reduced scattering coefficients than onion fleshy tissues. Comparisons between the two onion cultivars showed that the optical properties of onions could vary with cultivars. The results of this study can be used to develop appropriate optical approaches for the onion quality inspection.© (2012) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Two-stage correction of depressed glabella and nasal root scar contracture utilizing subcutaneous tissue advancement flaps and a layered soft tissue/procerus muscle transposition flap.

BACKGROUND. A postoperative nasal root and glabellar forehead deformity comprised both vertical and horizontal elements, with scar contracture and fixation across the left medial nose base, extending into the adjacent superior canthal region. METHODS. A two-stage reconstruction was performed, initially correcting the vertical centrally placed forehead depression by dual subcutaneous flaps advanced centrally and joined. The horizontal nasal root contracture was repaired at a second stage utilizing a procerus muscle transposition flap elevated on the ipsilateral deep contracture side, imbricated in serpentine fashion on itself and sutured into the depression over the scar base. RESULT. Significant improvement followed. CONCLUSION. The careful and precise placement of subcutaneous tissue and muscle can serve to assist in filling certain deep defects and in elevating scar lines.
Mechanical behavior and dilatation of particulate-filled thermosets in the rubbery state

The stress–strain–dilatational response of glass-bead-filled, amorphous, network polyurethanes was investigated above their glass transition temperature. The mechanical–dilatational behavior was studied as functions of filler content, particle size, crosslink density of the polymer, and the surface treatment of the filler. It was found that the stress–strain properties are strongly affected by separation of the filler from the matrix. Measurements of the vacuole formation and growth processes enabled modeling the stress–strain response as well as understanding the ultimate behavior of the composites. Also, it was found that the dilatational response of the composites can be shifted on a single curve given by the second integral of the Gaussian function.
Compatibility condition and existence results in discrete finite incompressible elasticity

Abstract A theory on the existence of solutions of the discretized equilibrium equations in incompressible finite elasticity is given. A compatibility condition between the space of displacements and the space of pressures is introduced and is studied in a particular case of finite element spaces, using Q 1 and Q 0 isoparametric elements. An original assembling of these elements is presented which leads to discrete spaces satisfying the compatibility condition.
An approach to correlate tandem mass spectral data of peptides with amino acid sequences in a protein database.

A method to correlate the uninterpreted tandem mass spectra of peptides produced under low energy (10–50 eV) collision conditions with amino acid sequences in the Genpept database has been developed. In this method the protein database is searched to identify linear amino acid sequences within a mass tolerance of ±1 u of the precursor ion molecular weight A cross-correlation function is then used to provide a measurement of similarity between the mass-to-charge ratios for the fragment ions predicted from amino acid sequences obtained from the database and the fragment ions observed in the tandem mass spectrum. In general, a difference greater than 0.1 between the normalized cross-correlation functions of the first- and second-ranked search results indicates a successful match between sequence and spectrum. Searches of species-specific protein databases with tandem mass spectra acquired from peptides obtained from the enzymatically digested total proteins of E. coli and S. cerevisiae cells allowed matching of the spectra to amino acid sequences within proteins of these organisms. The approach described in this manuscript provides a convenient method to interpret tandem mass spectra with known sequences in a protein database.
The partial purification of a Trichogramma pretiosum pupation factor from hemolymph of Manduca sexta

Abstract Factors responsible for pupation of Trichogramma pretiosum Riley reared in vitro were partially purified. The active material was extracted with 76% ethanol from Manduca sexta (L.) hemolymph. The water soluble active fraction was chromatographed first on a Sephadex G-10® column and then on a C 18 cartridge (reversed phase). After removing more than 99% of the original protein, 20% of the original pupation activity remained; this fraction, however, also contained about 20% of the original hemolymph carbohydrate. The pupation factor was further separated by DEAE-HPLC into two active carbohydrate containing fractions. HPLC of the active fraction from the C 18 cartridge on an amino column produced some separation of the original carbohydrate, but no pupation activity was found in single fractions after this separation. However, when certain fractions were re-combined, weak pupation activity was obtained. The results indicate that when T. pretiosum were fed nutritionally rich artificial diets, at least two and possibly several polar, low molecular weight chemicals in M. sexta hemolymph were also needed and were responsible for growth and development of the parasitoids to the pupal stage. This is the first report describing the partial purification of insect growth factors affecting the growth and development of parasitoids.
Data compression with finite windows

Several methods are presented for adaptive, invertible data compression in the style of Lempel's and Ziv's first textual substitution proposal. For the first two methods, the article describes modifications of McCreight's suffix tree data structure that support cyclic maintenance of a window on the most recent source characters. A percolating update is used to keep node positions within the window, and the updating process is shown to have constant amortized cost. Other methods explore the tradeoffs between compression time, expansion time, data structure size, and amount of compression achieved. The article includes a graph-theoretic analysis of the compression penalty incurred by our codeword selection policy in comparison with an optimal policy, and it includes empirical studies of the performance of various adaptive compressors from the literature.
Toward High Speed Modulation By Nematic Liquid Crystals

The generalized dual field effect on the response times of liquid crystals has been analyzed and demonstrated experimentally by using both static magnetic and pulsed optical fields. An improvement in decay time higher than one order of magnitude, depending on the field strength, can be achieved. At high fields, this relaxation time is inversely proportional to the external field intensity and is independent of the liquid crystal thickness. In addition, thermal modulation of liquid crystals was investigated. The response times of the opto-optical thermal modulation are found to be much faster than the corresponding electro-optic modulation of liquid crystals.
Determinants of renewal and adjustment of license fees of network prime time programs

This study explores the factors that determine the success of network prime time programs, and how the success or failure is reflected in the renewal of and change in license fees. The results of several regression models show that there are certain program characteristics that consistently determine the success of a program. In the case of new programs, the exogenous predictors were strong indicators of success, whereas for programs that survived for more than 1 year, the track record of success was the crucial factor.
A Statistical Survey of Italian Emigration

I. The General Movement. The official figures of 1869–75, 67.— Magnitude of the movement in 1876–1906 as reflected in the figures of the Bureau of Statistics, 69; doubts as to these figures, 73; they understate the truth, 77.—Unreliability of statistics for emigration into particular countries of Europe, 78.—II. The Overland Movement, 79.—Unreliability of the official classification into "permanent" and "temporary" emigration, 80; total permanent emigration by another method, 83; extent of temporary emigration into Europe, 84.—III. The Oversea Movement. Transatlantic emigration in American figures, 88.—These figures higher than those of the Italian Bureau of Statistics, 91.—Inference that they are also more reliable strengthened by examination of other figures, 92.—Magnitude of the return movement from America, 95; as affected by American economic conditions, 98; growth of the return movement, 99.— Recapitulation and conclusion, 101.
Behavioral and Cellular Level Changes in the Aging Somatosensory System

A study of the peripheral sensory system of young and aged Blk6 mice obtained from the National Institutes on Aging mouse colony is described. Behavioral assays showed male and female aged mice had decreased sensitivity to thermal stimuli. The receptor for the growth factor artemin (Artn), GFRalpha3, and the ion channel TRPV1, which is expressed by 95-99% of GFRalpha3-positive primary sensory neurons, was also decreased. Calcium imaging of isolated dorsal root ganglia neurons grown with nerve growth factor was used to test the in vitro effects of Artn on TRPV1 activation by capsaicin in young and old neurons. Artn potentiated initial TRPV1 responses to capsaicin in young and old neurons, but the percent of capsaicin responders following repeated exposure to capsaicin increased only in young neurons. The lack of change in aged neurons suggests that differences in TRPV1 responses occur with aging in the somatosensory system.
Genome Sequencing and Analysis of Yersina pestis KIM D27, an Avirulent Strain Exempt from Select Agent Regulation

Yersinia pestis is the causative agent of the plague. Y. pestis KIM 10+ strain was passaged and selected for loss of the 102 kb pgm locus, resulting in an attenuated strain, KIM D27. In this study, whole genome sequencing was performed on KIM D27 in order to identify any additional differences. Initial assemblies of 454 data were highly fragmented, and various bioinformatic tools detected between 15 and 465 SNPs and INDELs when comparing both strains, the vast majority associated with A or T homopolymer sequences. Consequently, Illumina sequencing was performed to improve the quality of the assembly. Hybrid sequence assemblies were performed and a total of 56 validated SNP/INDELs and 5 repeat differences were identified in the D27 strain relative to published KIM 10+ sequence. However, further analysis showed that 55 of these SNP/INDELs and 3 repeats were errors in the KIM 10+ reference sequence. We conclude that both 454 and Illumina sequencing were required to obtain the most accurate and rapid sequence results for Y. pestis KIMD27. SNP and INDELS calls were most accurate when both Newbler and CLC Genomics Workbench were employed. For purposes of obtaining high quality genome sequence differences between strains, any identified differences should be verified in both the new and reference genomes.
Enhancement of intestinal adaptation by hepatocyte growth factor

Abstract Background/Purpose: Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) was originally shown to enhance hepatocyte DNA synthesis. Recently, the expression of HGF and its receptor (c-met) were observed in the intestinal tract. In a previous study, we demonstrated that HGF can increase normal rat intestinal epithelial mass and function in vivo. This study was designed to determine if HGF, given either systemically or luminally, can enhance intestinal epithelial mass and function beyond the normal adaptive response after massive small bowel resection. Methods: Twenty young adult male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent an 80% small bowel resection. Seven days after resection, systemic infusion (via the jugular vein) or luminal perfusion (via the jejunum) were performed using subcutaneously placed osmotic minipumps. The rats were divided into four groups: group 1, systemic saline, (control, n=5); group 2, systemic HGF at 150 μg/kg/d (n = 5); group 3, luminal saline, (control, n=5); and group 4, luminal HGF at 75 μg/kg/d (n = 5). After a 14-day infusion, [C 14 ] galactose and [C 14 ] glycine absorption (μmol/cm 2 intestine), mucosal DNA content (μg/mg mucosa) and protein content (μg/mg mucosa) were measured in the remaining small intestine of each rat. Results: Systemic infusion of HGF increased galactose absorption 68% ( P P P P P P P P Conclusions: These data demonstrate for the first time that HGF can significantly enhance intestinal epithelial cell function and mucosal mass beyond the normal adaptive response. Luminal administration appeared to produce a greater response when compared with systemic administration but was significant only for galactose absorption ( P
Subcritical debonding of polymer/silica interfaces under monotonic and cyclic loading

Abstract The effects of interface chemistry and alternating mechanical loads on subcritical debonding of thin polymer layers from inorganic dielectrics are of significant interest for the integrity of devices used in a range of modern technologies. However, the mechanisms of subcritical debond growth at polymer interfaces, particularly under cyclic loads, are not well understood. Such subcritical debonding of a representative polymer dielectric (benzocyclobutene) to a silica-passivated silicon substrate was studied under cyclic and monotonic loading in moist environments. The effect of interface chemistry on subcritical debonding was evaluated using selected amino- and vinyl-functional silane adhesion promoters. Debond growth rates over the range of 10 −3 –10 −9 m/s were characterized under Mode I and mixed Mode I/Mode II loading. AFM and XPS results suggest that the failure mode of the BCB was cohesive in a region very close to the interface. Fatigue loading was found to significantly accelerate subcritical debond growth rates, producing fatigue striations with a striation height of ~1–2 nm and a spacing that was correlated with the debond growth rate. A model is presented for the mechanism of striation formation.
Expression of connexin-43 in human myometrium and leiomyoma.

Objectives: The expression of connexin-43 was examined in human leiomyomas and in autologous myometrium. Study Design: Indirect immunofluorescence was used to detect connexin-43 gap junctions in myometrial and leiomyoma tissues and in primary cultures. Immunoblot and Northern analyses were used to examine the levels of connexin-43 protein and cx43 messenger ribonucleic acid in primary cultures. Results: Connexin-43 gap junctions were detected in leiomyoma tissue from nonpregnant premenopausal women but not in autologous myometrial tissue. Connexin-43 gap junctions form spontaneously in primary cultures of myometrium and leiomyoma in the presence of 17β-estradiol. Fluorescent dye injection confirmed that the gap junctions were coupled in the primary cells. Connexin-43 protein and messenger ribonucleic acid levels generally were higher in leiomyoma cells compared with those of autologous myometrial cells. Steady-state levels of cx 43 messenger ribonucleic acid decreased with addition of medroxyprogesterone acetate to the cultures. Conclusions: Differences in the levels of cx 43 expression in leiomyoma and myometrial cells may reflect differences in responses to steroid hormones.
Construct Validity of the Personality Research Form: Further Evidence

The Personality Research Form (PRF) was administered to 118 ski instructors. Twelve of the 21 scales were significantly correlated with non-test variables, such as age, amount of education, number of years teaching experience, and teaching effectiveness. The relationships met a priori expectations, given theoretical and experiential knowledge of these variables and constructs. The data were cited as evidence contributing to the construct validity of the PRF.
Injection Molded Biocomposites from Soy Protein Based Bioplastic and Short Industrial Hemp Fiber

Biocomposites from soy based bioplastic and chopped industrial hemp fiber were fabricated using twin-screw extrusion and injection molding process. Soy based bioplastics were prepared through cooking with plasticizer and blending with biodegradable poly(ester amide). Mechanical, thermal properties and fracture surface morphology of the “green”/biocomposites were evaluated with universal testing system (UTS), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM). It was found that the tensile strength and modulus, flexural strength and modulus, impact strength and heat deflection temperature of industrial hemp fiber reinforced biocomposites significantly improved. The fracture surfaces showed no signs of matrix on the fiber surface suggesting poor interfacial adhesion.
Miscible binary blends containing the polyhydroxy ether of bisphenol‐a and various aliphatic polyesters

Blends of the polyhydroxy ether of bisphenol-A, Phenoxy, with the polyesters poly(1,4-butylene adipate), poly(ethylene adipate), poly(2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propylene succinate), poly(2,2-dimethyl-1, 3-propylene adipate), poly(1,4-cyclohexane-dimethanol succinate), and poly(ϵ-caprolactone), are found to exhibit the single, composition-dependent glass transition temperatures characteristic of miscible systems. Phenoxy blends containing poly(ethylene succinate), poly(hexamethylene succinate), or poly(pivaloactone) were found to be immiscible. Blend interaction parameters, obtained from analysis of the melting-point depressions observed for miscible blends containing crystallizable polyester components, are found to vary with polyester chemical structure so as to suggest an optimum density of ester groups in the polyester chain for achieving maximum interaction with Phenoxy. Too many or too few ester groups lead to immiscible polyester–Phenoxy blends.
Numerical Prediction of Convectively Driven Mesoscale Pressure Systems. Part II. Mesoscale Model

Abstract A 20-level, three-dimensional, primitive equation model with 20 km horizontal resolution is used to predict the development of convectively driven mesoscale pressure systems. Systems produced by the model have life histories and structural characteristics similar to observed convectively driven meso-systems. Cooling by (parameterized) convective-scale moist downdrafts is largely responsible for meso-high formation, while warming by compensating subsidence strongly correlates with mesocyclogenesis. An hypothesis for mesocyclogenesis associated with deep convective complexes is presented. The hypothesis recognizes that certain configurations of convective activity may produce focused areas of forced subsidence warming aloft. The warming in turn causes a thickness increase aloft which creates a hydrostatic circulation favorable for evacuating mass from the subsidence column. Consequently, pressure falls beneath the layer of high-level warming. Model results supporting this hypothesis are presented.
A pilot study on nicotine residues in houses of electronic cigarette users, tobacco smokers, and non-users of nicotine-containing products.

Abstract Background Nicotine deposited on the surfaces has been shown to react with airborne chemicals leading to formation of carcinogens and contributing to thirdhand exposure. While prior studies revealed nicotine residues in tobacco smokers' homes, none have examined the nicotine residue in electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) users' homes. Methods We measured nicotine on the surfaces in households of 8 e-cigarette users, 6 cigarette smokers, and 8 non-users of nicotine-containing products in Western New York, USA. Three surface wipe samples were taken from the floor, wall and window. Nicotine was extracted from the wipes and analyzed using gas chromatography. Results Half of the e-cigarette users' homes had detectable levels of nicotine on surfaces whereas nicotine was found in all of the tobacco cigarette smokers' homes. Trace amounts of nicotine were also detected in half of the homes of non-users of nicotine-containing products. Nicotine levels in e-cigarette users homes was significantly lower than that found in cigarette smokers homes (average concentration 7.7±17.2 vs. 1303±2676μg/m 2 ; p p >0.05). Conclusions Nicotine is a common contaminant found on indoor surfaces. Using e-cigarettes indoors leads to significantly less thirdhand exposure to nicotine compared to smoking tobacco cigarettes.
Gatekeeper Training in Campus Suicide Prevention.

This chapter reviews factors in effective gatekeeper training as part of a comprehensive suicide prevention program. A case example is provided to illustrate the application of these factors.
17β-hydroxywortmannin: A potent inhibitor of bone resorption and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase

Abstract Structure-function studies on the natural product wortmannin have identified a 17β-hydroxy derivative as a potent inhibitor of osteoclast function in both cell and animal models. Mechanistic studies indicate osteoclast differentiation is dramatically affected by this class of compounds. Interestingly, comparable potency trends for resorption and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase inhibition were also observed.
Reactions of diborane with ammonia and ammonia borane: catalytic effects for multiple pathways for hydrogen release.

High-level electronic structure calculations have been used to construct portions of the potential energy surfaces related to the reaction of diborane with ammonia and ammonia borane (B2H6 + NH3 and B2H6 + BH3NH3) to probe the molecular mechanism of H2 release. Geometries of stationary points were optimized at the MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ level. Total energies were computed at the coupled-cluster CCSD(T) theory level with the correlation-consistent basis sets. The results show a wide range of reaction pathways for H2 elimination. The initial interaction of B2H6 + NH3 leads to a weak preassociation complex, from which a B−H−B bridge bond is broken giving rise to a more stable H3BHBH2NH3 adduct. This intermediate, which is also formed from BH3NH3 + BH3, is connected with at least six transition states for H2 release with energies 18−93 kcal/mol above the separated reactants. The lowest-lying transition state is a six-member cycle, in which BH3 exerts a bifunctional catalytic effect accelerating H2 generation within ...
Transformation-Invariant Collaborative Sub-representation

In this paper, we present an efficient and robust image representation method that can handle misalignment, occlusion and big noises with lower computational cost. It is motivated by the sub-selection technique, which uses partial observations to efficiently approximate the original high dimensional problems. While it is very efficient, their method can not handle many real problems in practical applications, such as misalignment, occlusion and big noises. To this end, we propose a robust sub-representation method, which can effectively handle these problems with an efficient scheme. While its performance guarantee was theoretically proved, numerous experiments on practical applications have further demonstrated that the proposed method can lead to significant performance improvement in terms of speed and accuracy.
Relay-type feedback control systems with dead time and sampling

THIS investigation is a time domain study of relay-type feedback control systems with dead time and sampling. It introduces a new approach to the analysis and design of relay-type control systems employing sampling. Because of the sampler, clamper, and relay, the system is nonlinear, and discontinuous in time. Systems of this general nature have been analyzed in the past by Chow1 and Russell2 using the sinusoidal response method introduced by Goldfarb3 and Kochenburger.4
Surgical critical care and private practice surgeons: a different world out there!

Background Few graduating residents seek surgical critical care (SCC) fellowships; fewer than half of positions fill. We hypothesized substantial differences exist in practice patterns and attitudes between SCC surgeons in academic practice (ACs) and in private practice (PVTs). Study Design A survey instrument was sent to 1,544 board-certified SCC intensivists in North America. Results Of those invited, 489 responded (32% response rate). Respondents were mostly men (88%) and Caucasian (86%), with a mean age of 48 years; 60% were ACs, 28% were PVTs, and 12% reported "other;" 94% currently practiced SCC. PVTs (50%) were more likely than ACs (18%) to provide SCC for only their own patients, less likely (24% versus 74%) to function as an "ICU attending," and less likely to work with residents (36% versus 91%) and fellows (4% versus 60%; all p Conclusions Private practice surgical intensivists are more likely than academic intensivists to provide critical care for only their own patients and to use consultants to avoid conflicts.
Kt/V and nPNA in pediatric peritoneal dialysis: a clinical or a mathematical association?

The relationship between dialysis dose and nutrition is a field of particular interest in chronic pediatric dialysis (PD), and a positive correlation between ureaKt/V and nPNA has been published, suggesting a better nutritional status is associated with higher dialysis doses. However, this relationship has also been criticized as being the result of a mathematical coupling resulting from the same variables. The objective of the study was to establish the relationship between dialysis dose (Kt/V) and nutritional variables: daily protein intake (DPI), protein catabolic rate (PCR), protein equivalent of total nitrogen appearance (PNA) and nitrogen balance (NB) in dialyzed children. A cohort, prospective, observational study was carried out, for which 223 biochemical measurements were performed in 20 patients, ages 1 month to 14.3 years old (13 males), under PD for a 12-month period of follow-up. Monthly residual and total ureaKt/V, DPI, PCR, nPNA and NB were calculated, and the correlation between Kt/V and the nutritional parameters was evaluated. The Borah equation was used to calculate the nPNA. The data are reported as the mean plus or minus the standard error. All statistical comparisons were done with a paired t test, and two-way ANOVA for repeated measures was used to calculate correlations. A P <0.05 was considered significant. Mean total and residual Kt/V was 3.4±1.3 and 1.69±1.27, respectively; nPNA and PCR were 1.38±0.44 and 1.39±0.43 g/kg/day, daily protein intake (DPI) was 3.25±1.27 g/kg/day, and NB showed a value of 1.86±1.25 g/kg/day. A significant positive correlation was found between Kt/V and DPI, PCR, DPC and nPNA (all values P <0.0001), but no correlation was found between total and residual Kt/V vs. nitrogen balance ( P:ns). Total Kt/V showed a significant positive correlation with nPNA, but it did not show any correlation with nitrogen balance, suggesting that the relationship with nPNA is the result of a mathematical association calculated from the same variables.
Systems Characterization of Combustor Instabilities With Controls Design Emphasis

This effort performed test data analysis in order to characterize the general behavior of combustor instabilities with emphasis on controls design. The analysis is performed on data obtained from two configurations of a laboratory combustor rig and from a developmental aero-engine combustor. The study has characterized several dynamic behaviors associated with combustor instabilities. These are: frequency and phase randomness, amplitude modulations, net random phase walks, random noise, exponential growth and intra-harmonic couplings. Finally, the very cause of combustor instabilities was explored and it could be attributed to a more general source-load type impedance interaction that includes the thermo-acoustic coupling. Performing these characterizations on different combustors allows for more accurate identification of the cause of these phenomena and their effect on instability.
Regional blood flow and metabolism in ovine fetuses during severe cord occlusion

Abstract OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to compare the ovine fetal response to severe, damaging asphyxia resulting from umbilical cord occlusion with that seen in uterine artery occlusion. STUDY DESIGN: Six ovine fetuses were exposed to severe asphyxia produced by partial umbilical cord occlusion for 90 minutes. Fetal blood pressure and heart rate, blood gases, acid base status, electrocorticogram, and electromyogram were recorded. Regional blood flow (radioactive microspheres) measurements were performed at control and 30, 60, and 90 minutes of occlusion and 30 minutes after release. RESULTS: During the period of occlusion pH fell from 7.37 ± 0.01 (mean ± SEM) to 6.82 ± 0.03 at 90 minutes, base excess from 5 ± 1 to -22 ± 2 mEq · L −1 and oxygen content from 3.3 ± 0.4 mmol · L −1 to a nadir of 1.6 ± 0.4 mmol · L −1 ( p CONCLUSION: Umbilical cord occlusion produces similar levels of asphyxia and evidence of encephalopathy (seizures), compared with previous experiments with uterine artery occlusion. The fetal response with respect to blood flow redistribution and organ oxygen uptake, however, differs. These differences may signify that with uterine artery occlusion the brain may be more vulnerable, whereas with umbilical cord occlusion the heart may be at greater risk.
Chromium accumulation, translocation and chemical speciation in vegetable crops

Trivalent chromium (Cr3+) is essential for animal and human health, whereas hexavalent Cr (CrO42−) is a potent carcinogen and extremely toxic to animals and humans. Thus, the accumulated Cr in food plants may represent potential health hazards to animals and humans if the element is accumulated in the hexavalent form or in high concentrations. This study was conducted to determine the extent to which various vegetable crops absorb and accumulate Cr3+ and CrO42− into roots and shoots and to ascertain the different chemical forms of Cr in these tissues. Two greenhouse hydroponic experiments were performed using a recirculating-nutrient culture technique that allowed all plants to be equally supplied with Cr at all times. In the first experiment, 1 mg L−1 Cr was supplied to 11 vegetable plant species as Cr3+ or CrO42−, and the accumulation of Cr in roots and shoots was compared. The crops tested included cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata L.), cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis L.), celery (Apium graveolens L. var. dulce (Mill.) Pers.), chive (Allium schoenoprasum L.), collard (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala DC.), garden pea (Pisum sativum L.), kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala DC.), lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), onion (Allium cepa L.), spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.), and strawberry (Fragaria × ananassaDuch.). In the second experiment, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) analysis on Cr in plant tissues was performed in roots and shoots of various vegetable plants treated with CrO42− at either 2 mg Cr L−1 for 7 d or 10 mg Cr L−1 for 2, 4 or 7 d. The crops used in this experiment included beet (Beta vulgaris L. var. crassa (Alef.) J. Helm), broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. Italica Plenck), cantaloupe (Cucumis melo L. gp. Cantalupensis), cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), lettuce, radish (Raphanus sativus L.), spinach, tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersicum (L.) Karsten), and turnip (Brassica rapa L. var. rapifera Bailey). The XAS speciation analysis indicates that CrO42− is converted in the root to Cr3+ by all plants tested. Translocation of both Cr forms from roots to shoots was extremely limited and accumulation of Cr by roots was 100-fold higher than that by shoots, regardless of the Cr species supplied. Highest Cr concentrations were detected in members of the Brassicaceae family such as cauliflower, kale, and cabbage. Based on our observations and previous findings by other researchers, a hypothesis for the differential accumulation and identical translocation patterns of the two Cr ions is proposed.
Managing Inventory with the Prospect of Obsolescence

How should inventory management respond when there is a possibility of imminent obsolescence or, more generally, deteriorating demand? We use an inventory-control model to address this question. The model incorporates a Markovian submodel to describe the uncertain events leading to obsolescence. These events and their uncertainties come in a variety of patterns. We devote considerable attention to specifying the submodel, and we compare a few alternatives numerically. Also, we compare optimal policies to simpler alternatives, and we investigate the response of the model to parameter changes. Generally, we find that obsolescence does or should have a substantial impact in the way inventories are managed. The nature of these effects, moreover, is fairly intricate. It appears that obsolescence cannot be captured in a simpler model through parameter adjustments. These conclusions presume that we cannot dispose of excess stock, either directly or through price promotions; we show also that the disposal option can make the problems of obsolescence more manageable.
Nonlocal electron heat flow in high-Z laser-plasmas with radiation transport

The effects of radiation transport on nonlocal electron heat flow in high Z laser-produced plasmas is studied. Using a Fokker-Planck model for the electron heat flow, which is coupled to a radiation transport model, it is found that radiation transport strongly modifies electron heat transport at the critical surface and in the overdense regions for an aluminum plasma. It is concluded that, without radiation transport effects, the plasma temperature, as computed from Fokker-Planck models, is overestimated in the critical region and underestimated in the overdense region, for high-Z plasmas.
Learning science: A Deweyan perspective

L'article traite des theories de Dewey, dans le but de reexaminer et clarifier l'implication et le sens de certaines notions en relation directe avec l'enseignement des sciences. Ces considerations sont basees plus precisement sur l'oeuvre de Dewey intitulee L'art comme experience (1934), et analysent le concept d'experience et de construction de l'experience...
Determinants of Bone Mineral Density in Postmenopausal White Iowans

2(the bottom quartile of the BMD distribution in the population from which participants were recruited), and 68 women with values at or above 0.83 g/cm 2 (the top quartile of the BMD distribution in the same population) were included. Information about environmental, nutritional, medical, and life style modifiers of BMD was obtained by written questionnaire and telephone interview. To assess familial factors that might influence BMD, we obtained a detailed family history for each participant. In addition, we tested the hypothesis that allelic variation at the Vitamin D receptor (VDR), and the type I collagen gene (COL1A1 and COL1A2) loci influence BMD. Results. Weight, loss of height, age, and age at menopause were strong predictors of BMD in our population. After adjustment for these differences, we found no effect of genotype at the COL1 Al, COL1A2, and VDR loci on BMD. Conclusions. Bone mineral density is a complex trait that is influenced by several different modifiers; in the present study, weight was the best predictor of postmenopausal BMD. While several studies suggest that VDR genotype is an important determinant of BMD, we did not find this association in our population, nor did we identify an association between allelic variation at the type I collagen gene loci and BMD. Identification of genes that determine body mass index may provide additional insight into risk factors for low BMD, and osteoporotic fractures.
A Query Substitution-Search Result Refinement Approach for Long Query Web Searches

Long queries are widely used in current Web applications, such as literature searches, news searches, etc. However, since long queries are frequently expressed as natural language texts but not keywords, the current keywords-based search engines, like GOOGLE, perform worse with long queries than with short ones. This paper proposes a query substitution and search result refinement approach for long query Web searches. First, we retrieved several short queries related to a long query from the users’ query history. Then, we constructed the short query clusters and selected the most representative queries to substitute the original long query. However, since searching relevant short queries may ignore contexts and terms in the original long query and thus obtain diverse results and neighboring information, we compared the contexts from search results with the contexts from original long query and filtered non-relevant results. The experiments show that our approach achieves high precision for long query Web searches.
Graft copolymerization by pre‐irradiation technique

Trapped free radicals are formed when polyethylene is irradiated with cobalt-60 gamma rays in the absence of any reactive species---oxygen, monomer, etc. The net free radical population formed increases with increasing total dose, decreasing temperature of irradiation and increasing crystallinity of the polymer. Upon addition of a monomer to these vacuum-irradiated films, the monomer will graff copolymerize. Graff copolymers produced by this technique are the most homogeneous, compared to those formed using other radiation-induced techniques. If oxygen is present during the irradiation, many of the free radicals formed are consumed in reaction with the oxygen to produce peroxides, hydroperoxides, and other oxygen-containing groups. The ratio of trapped free radicals to those reacted with oxygen increases with increasing crystallinity of the polyethylene. When films irradiated in air are subsequently contacted with monomer, grafting occurs, even at room temperature, and increases in rate at higher temperatures. It is believed that the initiation of grafting in these films is accomplished by trapped radicals and peroxide decomposition. The graft copolymers formed by this technique are not as homogeneous as those formed in the vacuum irradiation technique, but are far more homogeneous than those formed in either of the simultaneous irradiation-grafting techniques. (auth)
Three techniques to laparoscopically improve restriction after failed gastric bypass: revision of failed LRYGB restriction.

Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass has grown to be the most commonly performed bariatric procedure in the United States. As more and more are performed, more patients with failed gastric bypass will come into bariatric centers searching for a method to improve their weight loss. Studies have shown that anywhere from 13% to 22% of gastric bypass patients experience failed weight loss [1–3]. Some of these patients complain of a complete loss of satiety and a return of their preoperative hunger. At that point, these patients can eat a significant amount of food during a meal. Their main goal is to feel the sense of restriction they had had after their original operation. Several different methods are available to revise procedures with these results, from open and laparoscopic techniques to even some endoscopic options. In the present report and Video, we focused on 3 different laparoscopic techniques to heighten the sensation of restriction for a gastric bypass patient with a dilated pouch and/or anastomosis.
School Board and Superintendent Relations Issues of Continuity, Conflict, and Community

Superintendents and school boards mustwork together to improve schools and student academic performance. In an attempt to improve often dismal school system performance, several states passed laws ...
Non-canonical alternatives: What a macrophage is 4

Macrophages play pleiotropic, niche-specific roles in all tissues and organs. As immune sentinels, tissue macrophages regulate immune activation and inflammation; in turn, their function is modulated by inflammatory mediators deriving from such activation. Recent papers have established unanticipated roles for interleukin 4 and the alternative activation of tissue macrophages in the organismal response to diverse environmental stressors.