cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Osmolyte processing in the gut and an important role of the rectum in the land slug, Ariolimax columbianus (pulmonata; arionidae)

Experiments were carried out to investigate the role of the gut in the osmotic balance of the land slug Ariolimax columbianus. Previous investigators have shown that absorption of nutrients, calcium, and some heavy metals occurs in the slug's digestive gland and intestine. The only function suggested for the rectum, beyond transfer of the fecal mass, has been its possible involvement in lipid absorption. We collected hemolymph and fluids contained in different regions of the gastrointestinal tract and compared these with respect to osmotic pressure as well as to concentrations of ions (sodium, potassium, calcium, and chloride), glucose, and amino acids. The osmotic pressure of rectal contents was found to average one-quarter the values of other fluids. In in vitro experiments sacs of intestine and rectum exposed to 1:4 mucosa:serosa osmotic gradients for 1 h showed transfer of fluid across the sac wall into the surrounding fluid. This transfer was significantly enhanced in the case of the rectum but not of the intestine, after dehydration or loss of hemolymph, and during immersion of the sacs in media containing the gastropod neurotransmitters FMRFamide, norepinephrine, and 5-hydroxytryptamine, as well as arginine vasotocin. The data indicate that the rectum of the slug serves as a small but ready source of water available for use under conditions of acute water deficiency.
The solution structure and conformational dynamics of tumor necrosis factor-α and a (Cys69 – Asp; Cys101 – Arg) analog as examined by IR spectroscopy and hydrogen exchange

An analog of human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) was created with Cys69 and Cys101 replaced with Asp and Arg respectively. We have undertaken a comparative study of the solution conformation and dynamics of the native and analog molecules using a combination of Fourier transform IR spectroscopy and hydrogen-deuterium (H-D) exchange kinetics. IR spectroscopic results indicate that the analog molecule adopts a gross structure similar to that of the native molecule but significant differences in the conformation of the beta-sheets are observed. Increased bandwidths observed for several of the amide I components also suggest a less rigid structure for the analog molecule. Further, by monitoring the frequency shifts of the individual amide I component bands as a function of hydrogen exchange, we have enhanced our ability to assign these components to individual protein secondary structures, particularly the high frequency beta-strand mode. Hydrogen exchange kinetic studies indicate that the Asp-Arg analog adopts a looser, more flexible solution structure relative to the natural sequence molecule.
Midpregnancy Elevation of Serum Androstenedione Levels in the C3H/HeN Mouse: Placental Origin*

The purpose of this study was to characterize the serum profile of androstenedione during pregnancy in the C3H/HeN mouse and to determine the site of its production. Serum androstenedione levels were characterized by a prominent midpregnancy elevation and were substantially higher than testosterone levels during pregnancy. The results of our studies support a placental site of production for androstenedione during midpregnancy: 1) uterine venous levels of androstenedione are higher than peripheral androstenedione levels at midpregnancy and during the second half of pregnancy, 2) developmental changes in the in vitro release of androstenedione by conceptuses coincide temporally with serum changes in androstenedione levels, 3) the day 10 placenta releases significantly more androstenedione in vitro than do other endocrine tissues from day 10 of pregnancy, and 4) serum androstenedione levels are maintained after bilateral ovariectomy on day 10 of pregnancy. (Endocrinology 113: 1408, 1983)
Simulation theory can provide practical solutions to complex industrial marketing problems

Abstract To maintain adequate levels of production and profit despite prevailing economic recession and inflation, many firms have explored various sectors of potential cost savings within the logistics framework. Models, algorithms, and mathematical-solution techniques have been devised and implemented for warehouse layout and/or location, inventory control, and other problem areas. For instance, for many distribution managers the acceptance of the public warehouse and the centralized distribution center as solutions to profit-squeeze problems has brought to the forefront the intricate problems and high costs associated with advanced shipment scheduling and delivery techniques.
Imatinib has limited therapeutic activity for hypereosinophilic syndrome patients with unknown or negative PDGFRα mutation status

Hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is characterized by sustained non-clonal blood and tissue eosinophilia, leading to end-organ damage. With a molecular/cytogenetic clonality marker, the disease is classified as chronic eosinophilic leukemia (CEL). Efficacy of imatinib mesylate is well established in CEL with FIP1L1-platelet-derived growth factor-alpha (PDGFRalpha) rearrangement. We treated with imatinib 18 HES patients (11 PDGFRalpha-negative and 7 PDGFRalpha-status unknown). One patient with unknown PDGFRalpha status achieved complete hematologic response, and two (one PDGFRalpha negative and one status unknown) achieved partial hematologic response. Our results confirm low response rate to imatinib in HES patients with unknown or negative PDGFRalpha status, and underscore the need for new therapeutic options for this disorder.
A Distonic Radical-Ion for Detection of Traces of Adventitious Molecular Oxygen (O2) in Collision Gases Used in Tandem Mass Spectrometers

We describe a diagnostic ion that enables rapid semiquantitative evaluation of the degree of oxygen contamination in the collision gases used in tandem mass spectrometers. Upon collision-induced dissociation (CID), the m/z 359 positive ion generated from the analgesic etoricoxib undergoes a facile loss of a methyl sulfone radical [•SO2(CH3); 79-Da] to produce a distonic radical cation of m/z 280. The product-ion spectrum of this m/z 280 ion, recorded under low-energy activation on tandem-in-space QqQ or QqTof mass spectrometers using nitrogen from a generator as the collision gas, or tandem-in-time ion-trap (LCQ, LTQ) mass spectrometers using purified helium as the buffer gas, showed two unexpected peaks at m/z 312 and 295. This enigmatic m/z 312 ion, which bears a mass-to-charge ratio higher than that of the precursor ion, represented an addition of molecular oxygen (O2) to the precursor ion. The exceptional affinity of the m/z 280 radical cation towards oxygen was deployed to develop a method to determine the oxygen content in collision gases.
Dying to Tell: Sexuality and Suicide in Imperial Japan

On February 17, 1935, the humor column of the Asahi Shinbun, a nationally distributed daily newspaper, was devoted to spoofing an attempted lesbian double suicide that had taken place about three weeks earlier. The “feminine” partner was Saijo Eriko, a 23-year-old “woman’s role-player” (musumeyaku) in a popular all-female revue, and the “masculine” partner, 27-year old Masuda Yasumare, an affluent and zealous fan of the actress (figure12.1).1 (Yasumare was a masculine name that she chose for herself; her parents had named her Fumiko.)
A Time-Harmonic Three-Dimensional Vector Boundary Element Model for Electromechanical Devices

In present practice, the most effective way to solve the large electromagnetic (EM) boundary value problems typical in electromechanical device analysis has been with the finite element method (FEM). The sparse, symmetric, and banded structure of FEM system matrices reduces the memory requirements and facilitates several fast and efficient solution algorithms. An alternative, boundary element methods (BEM), is more computationally intensive. Recently, however, fast and efficient solver codes have been developed for BEM solutions of EM scattering problems. These, if effectively implemented in electromechanical device models, can make BEM a more feasible alternative for this purpose than previously. To generate a deeper understanding of this alternative formulation in the context of electromechanics problems, a time-harmonic 3-D vector BEM model for electromechanical devices is presented that is formulated in terms of the field variables and is capable of modeling multiple separated homogeneous regions with or without eddy currents. Extensions to electric machine modeling are given, and the model is assessed using experimental data.
Maternal Stress in Nonverbal Learning Disorder: A Comparison With Reading Disorder

Maternal stress was assessed in mothers of children ages 8 to 11 years with learning disorders (LD). Age-, gender-, and IQ-matched children with reading disorders (RD; n = 31), children with nonverbal learning disorders (NVLD; n = 21), and typically developing control participants (n = 23) participated. Mothers of children with LD reported higher levels of stress, although the specific nature of the stress appeared to vary by disorder subtype: Mothers of children with RD reported higher levels of general distress, whereas mothers of children with NVLD reported higher levels of dysfunctional interactions with their child. The severity of the LD was strongly associated with maternal stress in the sample of children with NVLD but not in the sample of children with RD. In the sample of children with NVLD, the best predictors of maternal stress were 2 variables associated with the child: The lower the child's Performance IQ, the higher the level of maternal stress. Furthermore, the level of the child's internalizing symptoms was also a strong predictor of maternal stress in the sample of children with NVLD. In our sample of children with RD, the 3 best predictors were all variables associated with the mother, including her age, her level of reported psychiatric symptoms, and her overall level of social support.
Dispatcher-Directed Bystander Initiated Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation A Safe Step, but Only a First Step, in an Integrated Approach to Improving Sudden Cardiac Arrest Survival

Approximately 330 000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs) occur annually in the United States; in essence, there are nearly 1000 OHCA events each day.1 However, despite the presence of extensive emergency medical response systems (especially in heavily populated regions) and aggressive steps by both professional organizations and private industry to enhance public awareness of the magnitude of the problem and the need for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training,1,2 overall OHCA survival rates generally remain dismal and highly variable from location to location. On average, only ≈5% of OHCA victims leave the hospital.3–6 Article see p 91 Improving OHCA survival should be a healthcare priority, but effecting substantial improvement is complex. Experience suggests that altering current outcomes requires a well-organized, multifaceted treatment strategy. It is unlikely that introduction of any single intervention, no matter how novel, will do the trick. In fact, as the course of events that followed the introduction of portable automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) illustrates, excessive reliance on any single innovative technology might be detrimental. In that case, AED availability was initially accompanied by a seemingly paradoxical decline in resuscitation success.7 Only later did it become evident that failure to initiate basic CPR while waiting for an AED to arrive undermined patient viability. Thus, although early defibrillation is now advocated if available quickly after a witnessed OHCA event, in most cases, CPR should be initiated first to “prime” the pump with oxygenated blood and increase the chances for a successful defibrillation.1,2,7 That prompt initiation of CPR in OHCA victims has a positive impact on survival is well established. In one of the earliest reports to emphasize the value of early CPR, Cummins et al8 examined survival outcomes in 1297 OHCA events; 579 cases received bystander CPR, whereas CPR was delayed until paramedics arrived in …
Tunable 3-D MEMS components for reconfigurable RF front-ends

The implementation of a fully reconfigurable Cognitive Radio (CR) system relies heavily on the availability of high-quality reconfigurable RF components. This paper gives a review of the recent progress made in realizing high-performance tunable RF MEMS components for reconfigurable RF front-ends. The concept of the highly-tunable high-Q evanescent-mode tunable resonator is first discussed. Several practical considerations, such as power handling, noise and vibration perturbations are subsequently considered. These high performance tunable RF components are expected to make a significant impact on the development of reconfigurable RF systems.
Neighborhood Access to Transit by Race, Ethnicity, and Poverty in Portland, OR:

Scholarly discussions of accessibility and spatial mismatch largely ignore transit's role in linking vulnerable populations to opportunity. Yet as the nation's low–income population has become more...
Space and International Relations

Militarization of Space. By Paul Stares. (New York: Cornell University Press, 1985. Pp. 352. $29.95.) Space Weapons and International Security. Edited by Bhupendra Jasani. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1987. Pp. 366. $65.00.) The Space Station. By Hans Mark. (Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 1987. Pp. 288. $24.95.) Outerspace: New Challenges to Law and Policy. By J. E. Fawcett. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1984. Pp. 169. $34.00.)
Community genetics and genetic alliances: Eugenics, carrier testing and networks of risk

Community genetics and genetic alliances: Eugenics, carrier testing and networks of risk, by Aviad E. Raz, London, Routledge, 2010, 194 pp., £95.00 (hardback), ISBN 978-0-415-49618-6The Genetics an...
Preventing atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery: a new method using an old tool.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) after cardiac surgery remains a common problem, resulting in prolonged hospital stays and added morbidity for a substantial proportion of patients.1 Although traditional therapies with antiarrhythmic agents can suppress this common arrhythmia in nearly half of all cases, generally >1 in 10 of all cardiac surgery patients will have AF despite the best available therapies, and amiodarone, the most potent conventional agent, carries the risk of numerous toxicities.2 Article p 476 Recent studies have sought to address more directly the pathophysiology of AF in this setting, building on data that the arrhythmia may occur as a result of surgically induced inflammation.3 A randomized trial of atorvastatin versus placebo initiated 7 days before surgery demonstrated a 22% absolute risk reduction and an adjusted 61% reduction in the odds of developing AF.4 However, 35% of subjects in the treated arm still developed AF postoperatively. In addition, although this study provided an important proof of principle, it is unlikely that it will radically change clinical practice because most cardiac surgery patients will still undergo therapy with statins because of their coronary disease. In an attempt to test the antiinflammatory hypothesis even more directly, investigators in Finland performed a placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial of hydrocortisone in cardiac surgery patients and demonstrated a 46% reduction in the risk of AF.5 Once again, however, 30% of those in the treatment arm exhibited AF. Although no major complications were observed, trepidation regarding the administration …
Jejunal glucose absorption in selected high and low weight lines of domestic fowl.

Intestinal glucose uptake was measured in normal and dwarf chickens from lines selected fro high and low body weight. Jejunal tissue rings were excised from 9-week-old chicks and incubated in a medium containing .002 M glucose. Significantly more glucose (micromoles per gram dry tissue weight) was absorbed by tissues from the low weight line when compared to tissues from the high weight line. The dwarf gene, dw, had no effect on glucose Uptake.
Ramanujan–Slater type identities related to the moduli 18 and 24

We present several new families of Rogers-Ramanujan type identities related to the moduli 18 and 24. A few of the identities were found by either Ramanujan, Slater, or Dyson, but most are believed to be new. For one of these families, we discuss possible connections with Lie algebras. We also present two families of related false theta function identities.
Simulating lossless ladders with transconductance-C circuits

It is demonstrated in this brief that the two predominant methods for simulating an active LC ladder-operational simulation and element replacement-result in exactly the same active transconductance-capacitor filter circuit. Neither method, therefore, has any practical advantages or disadvantages over the other. Rather, a procedure can be selected purely for the designer's convenience.
Development of a Nonequilibrium Finite-Rate Ablation Model for Radiating Earth Reentry Flows

Thermal protection system design for atmospheric reentry vehicles remains a challenging and complex problem. Recent advances in computational modeling of air–carbon interactions consider competing finite-rate reactions on a limited number of available surface sites. One of the most advanced kinetic models is due to Zhluktov and Abe. However, the Zhluktov and Abe model only describes the oxidation and sublimation of carbon and has no nitridation mechanism. The following study develops several modifications to the Zhluktov and Abe air–carbon model that account for all three reaction mechanisms with the goal of improving cyanogen shock-layer radiation predictions to recent experimental results. First, the study examines two possible paths for carbon nitridation and then assesses the augmented surface reaction model in a representative blunt-body reentry flow. Second, a sensitivity analysis is performed to determine which surface reactions have the most impact on altering cyanogen radiance predictions. It was...
Development of antibodies to granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulationg factor (GM-CSF) after embolization of the hepatic artery with GM-CSF

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 46, 2005 5994 We have reported that infusion of the hepatic artery with yeast-derived recombinant human GM-CSF (rhGM-CSF, Leukine, Berlex Laboratories) mixed with ethiodized oil, followed by embolization with gelatin sponge particles (immunoembolization) is a feasible and effective treatment for patients with liver tumors (Proc of ASCO 21: 14a, 2002, and 22:723, 2003). In our phase I/II trial, patients with liver tumors were treated with immunoembolization at various dose levels of GM-CSF (25 mcg - 2,000 mcg) every 4 weeks until maximum clinical benefit. During our initial evaluation, it was found that serum levels of exogenous rhGM-CSF decreased after multiple immunoembolizations in several patients. Therefore, development of binding antibody as well as neutralizing antibody was investigated. A solid phase indirect ELISA was used to detect a binding antibody to rhGM-CSF (Leukine). A rabbit polyclonal anti-human GM-CSF antibody was used for the standardization of assay. The levels of serum antibody were expressed as U/ml, in which 1 U/ml of serum anti-human GM-CSF antibody was defined as the absorbance equivalent to 1 ng/ml of rabbit antibody to human GM-CSF. To detect neutralizing antibody, the TF-1 cell line, which proliferates in response to GM-CSF, was used. The presence of neutralizing antibody was defined as blockage of biological activity of E. Coli-derived rhGM-CSF (88/646, NCI) by 50%. Anti-GM-CSF binding antibody levels in pre-treatment sera were 8.3 +/− 7.1 U/ml and therefore an antibody titer greater than 29.6 U/ml (mean + 3SD) was defined as positive. In 33 patients who received immunoembolization, only one patient had a pre-existing anti-GM-CSF antibody (91.5 U/ml). In contrast, a binding antibody was detected in 5 of 30 and 13 of 26 patients after the first and the second immunoembolizations, respectively. Over all, 22 of 32 patients (68.8%) developed a binding antibody to yeast-derived rhGM-CSF (Leukine). Furthermore, 15 of 22 patients who developed a binding antibody subsequently developed a neutralizing antibody to GM-CSF. In patients with neutralizing antibody, some of the systemic effects of intrahepatic GM-CSF (leukocytosis and transient thrombocytopenia) seem to have diminished. None of these patients developed symptoms suggestive of pulmonary proteinosis. Repeated immunoembolization of the hepatic artery with rhGM-CSF could induce the development of binding and neutralizing antibodies to the cytokine. This may reduce the effectiveness of GM-CSF, but paradoxically, could facilitate a local inflammatory response in the liver tumors.
Open and Arthroscopic Surgical Treatment of Femoroacetabular Impingement.

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a common cause of hip pain, and when indicated, can be successfully managed through open surgery or hip arthroscopy. The goal of this review is to describe the different approaches to the surgical treatment of FAI. We present the indications, surgical technique, rehabilitation, and complications associated with (1) open hip dislocation, (2) reverse peri-acetabular osteotomy, (3) the direct anterior “mini-open” approach, and (4) arthroscopic surgery for femoroacetabular impingement.
Tonic glutamate-mediated control of rostral ventrolateral medulla and sympathetic vasomotor tone

Sympathoexcitatory neurons in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) play a key role in the tonic maintenance of resting arterial pressure. Removal of tonically active inhibitory inputs to the RVLM provided by the caudal ventrolateral medulla (CVLM) elicits a large increase in arterial pressure. The present study addresses the hypothesis that excitatory amino acids (EAA) provide the excitation of the RVLM responsible for the increase in arterial pressure that occurs after withdrawal of CVLM-mediated inhibition of the RVLM. In rats anesthetized with either alpha-chloralose or urethan, inhibition of the CVLM by local injection of muscimol markedly elevated arterial pressure. Subsequent injection of the EAA receptor antagonist kynurenic acid into the RVLM caused arterial pressure to fall to levels comparable to those that occur-with total autonomic blockade. In contrast, injection of kynurenic acid into the RVLM of control rats had little effect on arterial pressure. These results indicate that the large increase in arterial pressure produced by inhibition of the CVLM is mediated by EAA excitation of RVLM neurons. Furthermore, these data suggest that EAA play a prominent role in the tonic excitation of RVLM neurons, but, in intact rats, inhibition of EAA in the RVLM elicits no change in arterial pressure because of removal of inhibitory as well as excitatory drives of the RVLM.
Kinetic Aspects of Diesel Soot Coagulation

Recently we developed a simple physical model1 for the formation of the fundamental building blocks (spherules) which are the basis of particulate carbon agglomerates such as diesel soot (Fig. 1). This model explained the limited size range of the spherules over a wide range of formation conditions by invoking depletion of soot precursor species to limit growth and incorporating this mechanism into a homogeneous nucleation theory of particle formation. The model was able to explain the spherule size reasonably well. However, it did not include the effects of coagulation on the spherule size2, nor did it deal with kinetic aspects of diesel soot formation. In this communication we shall address both questions, assessing the influence of coalescent coagulation on spherule radius and constructing a semiquantitative view of the sequence of events for diesel soot formation. The framework around which we shall build our temporal model will be the well-developed theory of coagulation kinetics. We shall also briefly consider several explanations for the transition from coalescent to chain-forming coagulation3. A more extensive discussion will be submitted for publication elsewhere4.
Examining American and Chinese Internet Users' Contextual Privacy Preferences of Behavioral Advertising

Online Behavioral Advertising (OBA), which involves tracking people's online behaviors, raises serious privacy concerns. We present results from a scenario-based online survey study on American and Chinese Internet users' privacy preferences of OBA. Since privacy is context-dependent, we investigated the effects of country (US vs. China), activity (e.g., online shopping vs. online banking), and platform (desktop/laptop vs. mobile app) on people's willingness to share their information for OBA. We found that American respondents were significantly less willing to share their data and had more specific concerns than their Chinese counterparts. We situate these differences in the broader historical, legal, and social scenes of these countries. We also found that respondents' OBA preferences varied significantly across different online activities, suggesting the potential of context-aware privacy tools for OBA. However, we did not find a significant effect of platform on people's OBA preferences. Lastly, we discuss design implications for privacy tools.
NUMERICAL VALIDATION OF DIRECTIONAL WAVEMAKER THEORY WITH SIDEWALL REFLECTIONS

A directional wavemaker theory has been developed by Dalrymple to produce a desired oblique planar wave train at any cross-section in the basin. This theory, which uses the reflections from the sidewalls of the basin, can also account for slowly varying depths. This paper describes a numerical validation of this theory, for the constant depth situation, by a wave diffraction model that was recently verified through an extensive series of experimental investigations.
Great-Power Cooperation Under Conditions of Limited Reciprocity: From Empirical to Formal Analysis

Theorists of cooperation argue that reciprocity combined with cooperative initiatives can allow cooperation to emerge between self-interested actors caught in collective goods dilemmas and lacking binding authority. Cooperation among the world's great powers is a key testing ground for such theories. Using U.S.-Chinese relations as a focus, this article develops a formal, decision-theoretic, model of great-power relations. The model is based on the empirical evidence from the Three-Way Street study of the U.S.-Soviet-Chinese triangle during the Cold War. The empirical results are used to construct stylized conditions that restrict the model in ways corresponding to our best empirical knowledge of great-power relations. These restrictions allow the model to be simplified (becoming decision-theoretic rather than game-theoretic), without losing empirical realism. The restrictions also allow the model to be generalized in several ways; it allows for graduated play along a scale of cooperation-conflict and for limited (partial) reciprocity in response to movements along that scale. Payoffs are defined along a scale of severity (relative incentives to defect vs. cooperate) in games of Prisoner's Dilemma, Stag Hunt, Chicken, Deadlock, or Harmony. The model implies that limited reciprocity is surprisingly effective in creating the conditions for cooperation to emerge, under a range of payoff structures and realistic discounting of future outcomes.
Eating, Drinking, and Activity Patterns in Peromyscus maniculatus sonoriensis

Since desert areas are largely devoid of surface water, i.e., drinking water, deer mice living there must depend upon free water in succulent foods and water formed in the oxidation of these foods to provide the water required for their body functions (Bailey, 1923). When drinking water is available to mice in the laboratory, their diet may be composed of much drier foods, and under such conditions the mice must visit the water supply as well as the food source. The purpose of the present study was to determine if any definite eating, drinking and activity patterns exist for captive Peromyscus maniculatus sonoriensis , and if they exist, how they are changed under various conditions of water supply. Materials and methods .—Two special cages were constructed for the recording of drinking, feeding and general activity. Each cage consisted of a 12 × 8 × 6 inches general activity chamber with smaller nest, food, and water compartments attached to its side and ends respectively. Each compartment was hinged and so held by springs that the weight of a mouse present in the compartment would swing it down and complete an electrical contact in line with a signal magnet. Movement of signal magnet pointers, indicating presence of a mouse in the food, water or nest compartment, was continuously recorded on a Harvard long kymograph adjusted to give an 85 inch record in 23 hours. General activity was measured separately by suspending the entire cage from springs, and recording its movement, due to activity of the mouse, through a pulley system connected to a recording lever. Records were made for ten adult mice (4 females, 6 males) trapped in the Mojave Desert at Lovejoy Buttes, California. Prior to the making of the records, the mice were kept for eight weeks in individual stock …
Research and Implementation of a Distributed and Parallel Simulation System for Logging Curve Processing

In the paper, the research and development process of a distributed and parallel logging curve simulation system is introduced. This paper gives the analysis and design of the system in detail, expounds the data parallelism and man-machine interactions which are realized in distributed and parallel systems. The corresponding instances and implementation methods are shown.
Energy-balanced clustering routing protocol in wireless sensor networks with a mobile sink

An energy-balanced clustering routing protocol in wireless sensor networks with a mobile sink is proposed.The whole network is divided into some grids,which choose cluster heads using the cluster head evaluating model.After gathering and fusing the interesting event,cluster heads transmit to the mobile sink.When moving within a grid,the mobile sink only needs to transmit its location to the cluster head of this grid.When moving to a new grid,the mobile sink transmits its location to the cluster head of this grid firstly,and then transmits to other all cluster heads.This protocol can efficiently balance the whole network energy consumption and prolong to the network lifetime.
Moving mussels offshore? Perceptions of offshore aquaculture policy and expansion in New England

Abstract Efforts to expand marine aquaculture into offshore environments have increased in the United States, however many questions remain about whether offshore aquaculture is a feasible and appropriate activity. This paper explores these questions by investigating stakeholder perceptions of offshore mussel aquaculture in New England, USA. These views provide insight into the important challenges and opportunities facing expansion, and elucidate whether and how industry may develop and be incorporated into ocean planning and management. Results shows that regulatory and financial conditions are considered the primary challenges facing offshore expansion, whereas technical, environmental, and market conditions were generally deemed favorable or manageable. There is greater uncertainty about social and political conditions. While moving mussel aquaculture offshore lessens the conflicts associated with inshore activity, it also moves industry into new spaces with unfamiliar users. There are tensions inherent in addressing these challenges. Whereas broad regulatory change will encourage offshore development, targeted government involvement may be more productive in the near term. Similarly, while large seafood companies may appear viable candidates for offshore development, they are also limited by regulatory, social, and political resistance. Overall, an increased emphasis on government interventions at the local and regional scale are desirable for proponents of offshore expansion. The paper discusses the management implications of these findings, and suggests that a shift in focus toward targeted and non-regulatory government interventions; local, regional, and informal planning discussions; and community-based and cooperative mussel aquaculture initiatives may hold promise for responsible development in New England offshore waters and elsewhere.
Single kinesin molecules stressed with optical tweezers.

Using the optical tweezers to pull on microtubules, we have stretched and twisted single kinesin molecules adsorbed to glass surfaces. Preliminary measurements suggest that the mechanical system is very compliant, with an apparent stretch of 120 nm with < 2 pN of force. Although measurements of the series compliance of the bead-microtubule structure are still in progress, the kinesin attachment site does not slip with stretch. However, under torsional stress, kinesin appears to slip. With torques < 2 pN-microns approximately 1 Hz in 2 mM AMP-PNP, there is no apparent limit to the number of revolutions that the microtubule can rotate around the kinesin attachment site (n = 44). Preliminary data from other nucleotide conditions are similar. Although there are rare instances of torsional elasticity where the attachment site unwinds, the restoring forces are not constant with angular position, also indicating slippage. Mechanisms of mechanochemical transduction must account for linear force generation in the presence of angular "slippage."
Factors Related to Improved Quality of Life in Operative and Non-operative RCT Patients

Objectives: To examine factors that influence quality of life (QOL) outcomes for those with full thickness rotator cuff tears based on surgical versus non-surgical intervention.
Salmonella enteritidis Mycotic Aneurysm of Stented Saphenous Vein Graft to Coronary Artery

A 67-year-old man with a history of hypertension and coronary artery disease (requiring aortocoronary bypass 18 years ago and multiple percutaneous coronary interventions) presented to a referring hospital with chief symptoms of fever, chills, and diaphoresis after a recent gastrointestinal illness
Conceptual and visual representations of racial categories: Distinguishing subtypes from subgroups

Abstract While much of the person perception literature has focused solely on the representation of superordinate social categories (e.g., race and age), these superordinate social categories may be organized into smaller subcategories (i.e., subtypes and subgroups) that can be distinguished by their perceived typicality. Based on the logic that atypical subcategories represent subtypes and typical subcategories represent subgroups, we hypothesized that some subcategory labels would elicit greater perceived stereotypicality compared to others. In Experiment 1, participants listed stereotypic traits and rated the perceived typicality of subcategories of Black and White men. In Experiment 2 we used a reverse correlation image classification procedure to estimate participants' visual representations of the faces of Black and White superordinate category and subcategory members. Results indicated that representations of Black subgroups reflected traits and features more prototypical of Black men compared to representations of Black subtypes. Similarly, representations of White subgroups reflected traits and features more prototypical of White men compared to representations of White subtypes. The current experiments further clarify the nature of subcategory representations as subgroups and subtypes within the superordinate category. Implications for stereotype maintenance and change are considered.
FDA-approved immunosuppressants targeting staphylococcal superantigens: mechanisms and insights

Immunostimulating staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) and related superantigenic toxins cause diseases in human beings and laboratory animals by hyperactivating cells of the immune system. These protein toxins bind to the major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC II) molecules and specific Vβ regions of T-cell receptors (TCRs), resulting in the stimulation of both monocytes/macrophages and T lymphocytes. The bridging of TCR with MHC II molecules by superantigens triggers intracellular signaling cascades, resulting in excessive release of proinflammatory mediators and massive polyclonal T-cell proliferation. The early induction of tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin 1 (IL-1), interleukin 2 (IL-2), interferon gamma (IFNγ), and macrophage chemoattractant protein 1 promotes fever, inflammation, and multiple organ injury. The signal transduction pathways for staphylococcal superantigen-induced toxicity downstream from TCR/major histocompatibility complex (MHC) ligation and interaction of cell surface co-stimulatory molecules include the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades and cytokine receptor signaling, activating nuclear factor κB (NFκB) and the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/mammalian target of rapamycin pathways. Knowledge of host regulation within these activated pathways and molecules initiated by SEB and other superantigens enables the selection of US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs to interrupt and prevent superantigen-induced shock in animal models. This review focuses on the use of FDA-approved immunosuppressants in targeting the signaling pathways induced by staphylococcal superantigens.
Oxidative dehydrogenation of propane to propylene with carbon dioxide

Abstract Oxidative dehydrogenation of propane in the presence of carbon dioxide (ODPC) is a sustainable approach and an attractive catalytic route for propylene production with less environmental footprint than the conventional oxidative dehydrogenation path with oxygen. Researchers have considered CO2 as a mild oxidant that can overcome the problems of over-oxidation and low propylene selectivity, that are typically associated with the current synthesis routes. This article provides a critical review on the current mechanistic understanding of three different catalyst types used in the ODPC reaction based on experimental studies; (i) zeolites with different frameworks, (ii) porous materials-supported metal oxides, and (iii) transition metal oxides and other metal catalysts. A detailed review of the literature compares the framework, pore structure, nature of active sites, reducibility, and the role of promoters and supports for each type of catalytic materials in the absence and presence of CO2, and is followed by a thorough discussion on the promotional effects of CO2 as a soft oxidant on C H bond scission. Future directions with respect to materials design, synthesis and reaction conditions are also discussed.
Gut histology, immunology and the intestinal microbiota of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), fed process variants of soybean meal

Processed soybean meal ingredients have become an emerging plant-based protein used in aquafeed formulations and have been shown to influence gastrointestinal health and microbiota in cultured species. Two 60-day feeding trials with juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, Walbaum) were conducted to compare the effects of fishmeal (FMC), defatted soybean meal (SBM), bioprocessed soybean meal (BSBM) and commercial soy protein concentrate (CSPC) ingredients on intestinal histology, innate immunity and microbiota profiles. Results indicated no significant differences in intestinal immunoglobulin concentrations (p = .41) or gut leukocyte phagocytosis at day 15 samplings (p = .41). Intestinal lysozyme content was found to be highest at day 60 in the BSBM treatment group (p < .01). No significant differences across treatments were observed in histological profiles at day 0 (p = .75), day 15 (p = .08) and day 60 (p = .22). ANOSIM analysis for microbiota beta diversity showed differences among all treatment groups, with the exception of the high and low levels of BSBM (p = .40). There were also differences observed in the alpha diversity ratios, with significant differences in gut communities among dietary groups as demonstrated by Chao-1 (p < .01) and Shannon indices (p = .02). The incorporation of processed soy-based proteins alters the microbial community composition within the distal intestine, and modulates lysozyme concentrations within the distal intestinal tissues.
On time-optimal behavior scheduling of robotic swarms for achieving multiple goals

Robotic swarms are multi-robot systems whose global behaviors emerge from local interactions between individual robots. Each robot obeys a local control law that can be activated depending on an operator's choice of global swarm behavior. Real missions occur in uncontrolled environments with dynamically arising objectives and require combinations of behaviors. Given a library of swarm behaviors, a supervisory operator commanding the swarm must choose a sequence of behaviors to execute and their execution durations in order to accomplish a particular task during a mission composed of many tasks. In this paper, we address the following problem: given a library of swarm behaviors, the swarm initial state, the final goal and an unordered set of intermediate goals the operator wants to achieve, the objective is to identify a behavior schedule comprised of selected behaviors and associated time intervals of application of the behavior so that the total time to reach the final goal is minimized. Our contributions are as follows: (a) formalization of the problem of behavior scheduling to achieve multiple unordered goals with a robotic swarm, (b) an algorithm that produces a behavior schedule to achieve all intermediate goals and the final goal in minimum time such that the behavior durations are locally optimal and given which the goal sequence has bounded suboptimality and (c) application of this algorithm to configuration control of robot swarms.
Evaluating the impact of Pb volatilization during 40 Ar/ 39 Ar CO 2 laser fusion upon LA-ICP-MS measurement of Pb isotopic composition of detrital K-feldspar

Abstract The information provided by detrital studies can be greatly enhanced by coupling geochronology and isotopic measurements from the same grains. While accessory minerals like zircon and apatite have been widely exploited in this regard, modal phases have been under-utilized. The benefits of using K-feldspar in detrital studies are twofold: K-feldspar 40Ar/39Ar has shown promise as a detrital thermochronometer and incorporation of common Pb into K-feldspar allows its Pb isotope composition to be used as a provenance tool. In this paper, we quantitatively investigate the effects of laser fusion during 40Ar/39Ar analyses of K-feldspar upon subsequent LA-ICP-MS measurement of Pb isotopic ratios. The results reveal that significant Pb volatilization occurs during laser fusion of K-feldspar. While Pb isotopes do not appear to be significantly fractionated, counting statistics suffer as Pb concentrations are lowered. Conversely, neutron irradiation appears to have a small though inconsequential impact upon Pb isotopic measurement of K-feldspar. Consequently, K-feldspar can be analyzed for Pb isotopes prior to total fusion 40Ar/39Ar analysis. Despite this artifact, coupled 40Ar/39Ar and Pb isotopic measurements constitute a promising approach for provenance studies that seek to constrain the geochemical nature and thermal evolution of basement source regions.
Maximizing the Number of Threshold Logic Functions Using Resistive Memory

A new method to implement threshold logic functions using memristors is presented. This method benefits from the high range of memristor's resistivity, which is used to define different weight values, and reduces significantly the transistor count. When considering an upper bound on transistor count, the proposed approach implements many more functions as threshold logic gates when comparing to existing implementations. Experimental results in 45-nm technology show that the proposed memristive approach implements threshold logic gates with less area and power consumption.
In vitro exposure of ovine ova to (Brucella abortus ).

Abstract Fifty-three zona pellucida-intact ova were collected surgically from superovulated, Brucella -free mixed-breed ewes. Groups containing two to seven ova were incubated in medium containing Brucella abortus . All groups of ova were then washed 10 times, and ova and sequential washes were cultured for the isolation of B. abortus . Brucella were not found beyond the fifth wash for any group of ova, but were isolated from one of 12 groups of ova. Results indicate that mechanical washing in the absence of antibiotics is advantageous, but alone, is not totally reliable for removing B. abortus from exposed, zona pelucida-intact ovine ova.
High chemical affinity increases the robustness of biochemical oscillations

Biochemical oscillations are ubiquitous in nature and allow organisms to properly time their biological functions. In this paper, we consider minimal Markov state models of nonequilibrium biochemical networks that support oscillations. We obtain analytical expressions for the coherence and period of oscillations in these networks. These quantities are expected to depend on all details of the transition rates in the Markov state model. However, our analytical calculations reveal that driving the system out of equilibrium makes many of these details---specifically, the location and arrangement of the transition rates---irrelevant to the coherence and period of oscillations. This theoretical prediction is confirmed by excellent agreement with numerical results. As a consequence, the coherence and period of oscillations can be robustly maintained in the presence of fluctuations in the irrelevant variables. While recent work has established that increasing energy consumption improves the coherence of oscillations, our findings suggest that it plays the additional role of making the coherence and the average period of oscillations robust to fluctuations in rates that can result from the noisy environment of the cell.
How many Pythagorean triples are there

In this chapter we determine an asymptotic formula for the number of primitive right triangles with bounded hypotenuse.
Pancreatic cancer—A disease in need: Optimizing and integrating supportive care

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive malignancy that continues to be challenging to treat. PDAC has the lowest 5-year relative survival rate compared with all other solid tumor malignancies and is expected to become the second-leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States by 2030. Given the high mortality, there is an increasing role for concurrent anticancer and supportive care in the management of patients with PDAC with the aims of maximizing length of life, quality of life, and symptom control. Emerging trends in supportive care that can be integrated into the clinical management of patients with PDAC include standardized supportive care screening, early integration of supportive care into routine cancer care, early implementation of outpatient-based advance care planning, and utilization of electronic patient-reported outcomes for improved symptom management and quality of life. The most common symptoms experienced are nausea, constipation, weight loss, diarrhea, anorexia, and abdominal and back pain. This review article includes current supportive management strategies for these and others. Common disease-related complications include biliary and duodenal obstruction requiring endoscopic procedures and venous thromboembolic events. Patients with PDAC continue to have a poor prognosis. Systemic therapy options are able to palliate the high symptom burden but have a modest impact on overall survival. Early integration of supportive care can lead to improved outcomes.