cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nerve Monitoring and Stimulation During Endoscopic Neck Surgery in the Pig

Objectives: To determine the feasibility of recurrent laryngeal nerve monitoring and stimulation during endoscopic neck surgery in an animal model. Study Design: Prospective, nonrandomized experimental investigation in a porcine model. Methods: Bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve monitoring and stimulation was accomplished during endoscopic neck surgery in five domestic pigs. Each pig was intubated with an electromyography endotracheal tube. Recurrent laryngeal nerve function was monitored throughout the endoscopic neck surgery with a nerve integrity monitor system. An endoscopic surgical pocket was created in the neck using blunt dissection followed by low-pressure carbon dioxide insufflation. Under direct endoscopic visualization, the trachea, thyroid gland, and associated vasculature were identified. The recurrent laryngeal nerve was identified on each side of the animal and was successfully stimulated with a monopolar stimulator probe. Results: Ten of ten recurrent laryngeal nerves were successfully monitored and stimulated. No significant complications were encountered during the procedures. Conclusions: Recurrent laryngeal nerve monitoring and stimulation may be successfully accomplished during endoscopic neck surgery.
Field Testing the Hypothesis of Darcian Flow Through a Carbonate Aquifer

The acceptability of the hypothesis of Darcian flow through a semiconfined carbonate aquifer was tested prior to running a multiple-day aquifer test in Pinellas County, Florida. The approach used to test the hypothesis was to run a number of hour-long aquifer tests at different discharges with drawdown measured at the same time during each test in two observation wells, one at 35 feet and the other at 733 feet from the pumped well. If the hypothesis were acceptable, a plot of drawdown versus discharge should describe a straight line. A linear relation was described in 15-minute and 1-hour data plots of drawdown versus discharge for both observation wells. Thus, the hypothesis of Darcian flow through the semiconfined carbonate aquifer was deemed acceptable. Drawdown data from the distant observation well collected during the following multiple-day aquifer test were then analyzed for aquifer-property values of transmissivity, storage coefficient, and leakance coefficient using standard methods. Discharge for the multiple-day test was within the discharge range of the hour-long tests.
Mining frequent patterns with the pattern tree

Mining frequent patterns with a frequent pattern tree (FP-tree in short) avoids costly candidate generation and repeatedly occurrence frequency checking against the support threshold. It therefore achieves much better performance and efficiency than Apriori-like algorithms. However, the database still needs to be scanned twice to get the FP-tree. This can be very time-consuming when new data is added to an existing database because two scans may be needed for not only the new data but also the existing data. In this research we propose a new data structure, the pattern tree (P-tree in short), and a new technique, which can get the P-tree through only one scan of the database and can obtain the corresponding FP-tree with a specified support threshold. Updating a P-tree with new data needs one scan of the new data only, and the existing data does not need to be re-scanned. Our experiments show that the P-tree method outperforms the FP-tree method by a factor up to an order of magnitude in large datasets.
A quadratic lower bound for Topswops

A quadratic lower bound for the topswops function is exhibited. This provides a non-trivial lower bound for a problem posed by J.H. Conway, D.E. Knuth, M. Gardner and others. We describe an infinite family of permutations, each taking a linear number of steps for the topswops process to terminate, and a chaining process that creates from them an infinite family of permutations taking a quadratic number of steps to reach a fixed point with the identity permutation.
Pretransplant six-minute walk test predicts peri- and post-operative outcomes after pediatric lung transplantation

UNLABELLED The purpose of the pretransplant assessment in lung transplantation is to determine a patient's need for transplant as well as their potential survival post-procedure. In 2005, the UNOS introduced the LAS, a calculation based on multiple physiologic measures to determine need and likelihood for survival. Measures include NYHA class and the 6-MWT. Some adult studies indicate a positive correlation with 6-MWT and waiting list survival. In pediatric/adolescent patients, there are minimal data regarding the predictive value of physiologic markers in either wait list survival or post-transplant outcome. A retrospective cohort study of 60 consecutive lung transplantations from 1990 to 2008 was performed at a pediatric tertiary care facility. Functional pretransplant assessments were abstracted from the medical record and compared with outcomes after transplantation. RESULTS a 6-MWT of >1000 ft (305 m) prior to transplantation correlated with a shorter ICU stay (7 vs. 11 days, p = 0.046) and fewer days of mechanical ventilation (2 vs. 4, p = 0.04). A pretransplant 6-MWT greater than 750 ft (229 m) correlated with shorter overall hospitalization (37 vs. 20 days, p = 0.03). Measuring pretransplant 6-MWT tests for pediatric patients is valuable in predicting peri-operative outcomes after lung transplantation.
The design and implementation of cross-sector collaborations: Propositions from the literature

People who want to tackle tough social problems and achieve beneficial community outcomes are beginning to understand that multiple sectors of a democratic society—business, nonprofits and philanthropies, the media, the community, and government—must collaborate to deal effectively and humanely with the challenges. This article focuses on cross-sector collaboration that is required to remedy complex public problems. Based on an extensive review of the literature on collaboration, the article presents a propositional inventory organized around the initial conditions affecting collaboration formation, process, structural and governance components, constraints and contingencies, outcomes, and accountability issues.
The method of fundamental solutions for non-linear thermal explosions

A numerical method based on the method of fundamental solutions, thin plate spine interpolation and monotone iteration is devised to find the minimal solution of the steady-state blow-up problem. The method of fundamental solutions requires neither domain nor boundary discretization and results in high accuracy and efficiency. For illustration, critical values of the Frank-Kamenetskii parameter are given for different geometrical boundaries in the two-dimensional case.
Viridin analogs derived from steroidal building blocks

Naturally occurring furanosteroids such as viridin and wortmannin have long been known as potent inhibitors of the lipid kinase PI-3K. We have been interested in directly accessing analogs of these complex natural products from abundant steroid feedstock materials. In this communication, we describe the synthesis of viridin/wortmannin hybrid molecules from readily available building blocks that function as PI-3K inhibitors and maintain their electrophilic properties. The compounds also show anti-proliferative effects against a breast cancer line.
SU-E-T-369: Experience of Using 6D Robotic Couch Top in the Treatment of Intracranial Tumors Utilizing Frameless Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) Technique

Purpose: To investigate the extent and necessity of 6 DOF corrections for intracranial frameless Stereotactic Radiosurgery Methods: Civco Protura 6D robotic couch top was fitted to the Novalis TX in 2012. The couch enables ± 3 ° rotations in pitch, roll and yaw, ±50 mm in lateral and longitudinal shifts and ±25 mm in vertical shifts. Patient sets up using the room laser; then two orthogonal kV images are taken for confirmation. A CBCT is acquired and registered to the planning CT using two independent systems. The calculated rotational and translational shifts are applied. A second CBCT is acquired to assess the residual translational and rotational errors. The treatment will be carried out if residual rotational shifts are ≤ 0.3 degrees. We treated 113 patients utilizing 6D couch to align a total of 160 targets. Some of the targets were fractionated, with total alignments of 252. Geometrical analysis is performed to assess the system's accuracy and extent of shifts. Results: After the planar kV images alignment, a CBCT was acquired and registered to the planning CT, the average required rotational shifts were (yaw=1.03 °± 0.8, roll=1.16°± 0.9 and Pitch= 0.9°± 0.7). A second CBCT was taken to verify the match and the previous shifts, the residual rotational errors on average were 0.37°± 0.6, 0.27°± 0.28 and 0.24°± 0.29 in the yaw, roll, and pitch directions, respectively. The translational residual shifts (mm) were 0.68 ± 0.57, 0.68 ± 0.57, 0.68 ± 0.57 in lateral, vertical, and longitudinal directions, respectively. Conclusion: The 6D couch is capable of aligning targets with an accuracy of ≤ 0.4 ° in any rotational direction and ≤ 0.7 mm in any translational directions, and not applying the rotational corrections could lead to compromised target dose coverage and may lead to excessive dose to OARs.
Dynamics of posture in 3- and 5-year-old children as a function of task constraints

Abstract The postural dynamics of 3- and 5-year-old children were examined under task constraints of one- and two-leg stance with and without vision. Force platform measures showed that motion of the center of pressure increased as the task constraints changed from bipedal to one-legged stance and vision available to no vision, and that this performance decrement was enhanced in the 3-year-old age group. Videotape analysis of the movement of the torso and limbs during the postural task showed that the children attempted to accommodate the decreased stability of the more difficult task conditions by introducing the control of more biomechanical degrees of freedom into the postural action, but systematic compensatory movement pattern strategies were only evident in the older 5-year-old group. These findings are consistent with the notion that compensatory movement strategies for the recovery of postural stability under more difficult task constraints are reflections of experience in exploiting the dynamics of the perceptual-motor workspace.
Effect of dentures and astringents on palatal mucosa.

Abstract Continued covering of the surface of the palate results in a progressive regression of the palatal glands. Astringents initiate activity of the glands. Frequent removal of any restoration and rinsing will keep the mucous membrane in a better physiologic state. Rinsing the mouth with an astringent reflexly stimulates palatal glandular activity. This activity and dilation of the ducts cause turgidity within the adjacent tissues. This intrinsic pressure induces a smooth surface of the mucous membrane for the making of an impression.
Autoionization rates and energy levels of triplet nf, v=1 Rydberg states of H2.

We have measured the linewidths of 35 different triplet Rydberg states of the ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ molecule with quantum numbers n=10\char21{}22, L=3, v=1, and R=0\char21{}4. An 18-eV electron beam excites a collimated ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ beam to the metastable c(2p${)}^{3}$${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Pi}}}_{\mathit{u}}$ state. Stepwise excitation using two counterpropagating cw single-mode dye laser beams excites the metastable molecule first to an intermediate state [(3d${)}^{3}$\ensuremath{\Sigma} or (3d${)}^{3}$\ensuremath{\Pi}] and then to a triplet nf Rydberg state. The linewidths for the nf Rydberg states give the autoionization rates, which agree satisfactorily with the polarizability\char21{}quadrupole-moment long-range interaction model. We also have measured the transition frequencies between these states to an accuracy of 0.002 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$. We use these measurements to derive the ionization potential of the metastable triplet state to an accuracy of 0.020 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ and the energy difference between the metastable and ground states of ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ to an accuracy of 0.025 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$.
Electroweak Fermion Number Violation and the Production of Stable Particles in the Early Universe

The effect of electroweak fermion number violation in the early universe is to distribute a fermion number excess over all the electroweak doublets. If baryogenesis is due to physics above the weak scale, this can result in the production of heavy stable particles in numbers comparable to the number of baryons. In particular, there may be enough stable technibaryons present today to account for the missing mass of the universe.
Membrane Protein Twists and Turns

The more than 300 unique structures of membrane proteins solved to date ( 1 ) provide atomic-level insights into how membrane proteins can facilitate the highly specific and rapid passage of various molecules across the membrane. Only the most jaded scientist could fail to marvel at the molecular elevator that delivers aspartate across the membrane ( 2 ) or the protein finger that kicks maltose out of its binding pocket during transport ( 3 ). The structural bonanza has also provided important insights into the feats of molecular gymnastics that allow correct folding of the polypeptide in the membrane. Yet the structural complexity of membrane proteins raises many thorny folding questions that need to be answered.
Yohimbine Increases Cerebrospinal Fluid and Plasma Norepinephrine but Not Arginine Vasopressin in Humans

Previous studies have demonstrated α2-inhibitory regulation of central nervous system (CNS) noradrenergic and arginine vasopressinergic systems. We tested the hypothesis that α2-
Terminal transferase levels in chronic myelogenous leukemia in blast crisis and in remission

Abstract Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) has been cited as a possible biological marker for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and the blast phase of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). In the present study high levels of TdT, comparable to levels present in normal thymus, were observed in circulating leukocytes of a CML patient in blast crisis. Sequential studies revealed disappearance of TdT from circulating leukocytes after remission was induced with vincristine and prednisone therapy. Blood TdT returned to moderately elevated levels in the absence of detectable circulating blasts, 5 months before the reappearance of blast crisis. During blast crisis the malignant cells were devoid of myeloid features on light and electron microscopy and were peroxidase negative and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) positive. These studies demonstrate that elevated TdT levels may occur with or without detectable morphologic evidence of circulating blast cells. The presence of complement receptors on agranular blasts during the blast phase of chronic myeloid leukemia is a new finding.
The formaldehyde-sensitivity of acid phosphatases involved in osteogenesis and odontogenesis in the rat.

Abstract The activity of acid phosphatases in odontoblasts, secretory ameloblasts and osteoblasts is selectively inhibited by pretreating 10 μm freeze-dried whole-body sections of 10-day-old rats with formaldehyde. The acid phosphatase activity of relatively large trigeminal ganglion cells is also formalin-sensitive. The localization of formalin-sensitive acid phosphatases in cells of the above types which have relatively high RNA content and a paucity of lysosomes, is supportive of an extra-lysosomal localization previously suggested for these enzymes.
Family Decision Making in Foregoing Life-Extending Treatments:

Families generally serve as surrogate decision makers for hospitalized dying patients who are unable to express their own decisions regarding life-prolonging treatments. The authors interviewed family members whose relatives died in the hospital following the withdrawal of aggressive medical treatments. Interviews were at two time periods: at 1 and 6 months post-patient death. Study data indicated a core set of phases which family members experienced in the process of arriving at the decision to withdraw treatment: recognition of futility, coming to terms, shouldering the surrogate role, and facing the question. At 6 months post decision, families reflected on the need for corroborating evidence that they had made the right decision, which the authors term seeking a triangulation of certainty. Advance directives and forthright communication from clinicians were two factors that most helped family members feel more positive about events.
Independent and cooperative antiviral actions of beta interferon and gamma interferon against herpes simplex virus replication in primary human fibroblasts.

Type I and type II interferons (IFNs) act in synergy to inhibit the replication of a variety of viruses, including herpes simplex virus (HSV). To understand the mechanism of this effect, we have analyzed the transcriptional profiles of primary human fibroblast cells that were first treated with IFN-β1, IFN-γ, or a combination of both and then subsequently infected with HSV-1. We have identified two types of synergistic activities in the gene expression patterns induced by IFN-β1 and IFN-γ that may contribute to inhibition of HSV-1 replication. The first is defined as “synergy by independent action,” in which IFN-β1 and IFN-γ induce distinct gene categories. The second, “synergy by cooperative action,” is a term that describes the positive interaction between IFN-β1 and IFN-γ as defined by a two-way analysis of variance. This form of synergy leads to a much higher level of expression for a subset of genes than is seen with either interferon alone. The cooperatively induced genes by IFN-β1 and IFN-γ include those involved in apoptosis, RNA degradation, and the inflammatory response. Furthermore, the combination of IFN-β1 and IFN-γ induces significantly more apoptosis and inhibits HSV-1 gene expression and DNA replication significantly more than treatment with either interferon alone. Taken together, these data suggest that IFN-β1 and IFN-γ work both independently and cooperatively to create an antiviral state that synergistically inhibits HSV-1 replication in primary human fibroblasts and that cooperatively induced apoptosis may play a role in the synergistic effect on viral replication.
Development, characterization, and theoretical evaluation of electroactive polymer-based micropump diaphragm

Abstract A micropump diaphragm, based on the high energy electron irradiated poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE)), an electroactive polymer (EAP), has been developed for air dynamic flow control. Its displacement stroke, profiles, and volume stroke rate (the volume change rate) have been characterized as a function of the electric field and the driving frequency. The displacement at the center of the diaphragm can reach 21 μm at 106 V/μm with the driving frequency of 10 Hz. The dispersion of the displacement is less than 30% for more than four frequency decades (0.1–1000 Hz). The characteristics of the electroactive polymer micropump diaphragm (EAPMPD) have also been theoretically evaluated. The volume rate of the EAPMPD can be 550 μL/min at 80 V/μm with the frequency of 1000 Hz. This study demonstrates that the volume rate of the diaphragm is high, and either the amplitude or the frequency of the applied electric field can tune it. In addition, when the performance of the diaphragm is modeled, the agreement between the theoretical results and the experimental data validates that the modeling provides an effective tool to guide EAPMPD design for an optimized performance. The results demonstrate that the diaphragm can be a candidate for aerospace applications to replace the traditional complex mechanical systems, increase the control capability, and reduce the weight for future air dynamic control systems.
A modular simulation package for fed-batch fermentation: penicillin production

Simulation software based on a detailed unstructured model for penicillin production in a fed-batch fermentor has been developed. The model extends the mechanistic model of Bajpai and Reuss by adding input variables such as pH, temperature, aeration rate, agitation power, and feed flow rate of substrate and introducing the CO2 evolution term. The simulation package was then used for monitoring and fault diagnosis of a typical penicillin fermentation process. The simulator developed may be used for both research and educational purposes and is available at the web site: http://www.chee.iit.edu/ � /control/software.html. # 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Vβ6+ and Vβ4+ T Cells Exert Cooperative Activity in Clearance of Secondary Infection with Histoplasma capsulatum

We previously studied the lung Vβ TCR repertoire of C57BL/6 mice during primary infection with the pathogen Histoplasma capsulatum. We observed a consistent oligoclonal expansion of Vβ4 + T cells during the peak of infection and early stages of resolution. The Vβ4 + family played a role in protective immunity against the fungus. Depletion of this subpopulation of T cells hindered optimal clearance of infection from tissues. In this report we analyze the flux of the Vβ TCR repertoire in the lungs of C57BL/6 mice with reinfection histoplasmosis. We observed a significant increase in Vβ6 + T cells on days 7, 10, and 14, the peak and early resolution phases of infection. This skewing was preceded by an increased number of memory T cells within Vβ6 + cells. The VDJ sequences of Vβ6 chains were oligoclonal during the early stages of the infection, suggesting that the expansion was driven by a small number of Ags. More than 96% of the expanded Vβ6 + cells were CD4 + . Depletion of Vβ6 + T cells but not Vβ4 + T cells induced a modest but significant delay in fungal clearance. Simultaneous depletion of Vβ4 + and Vβ6 + T cells induced a more pronounced impairment of host resistance. These studies illustrate the dynamic interactions between Vβ families in the response to microbial challenge.
Regular dissections of an infinite strip

Abstract In the early 1970s, Bro. U. Alfred Brousseau asked for the number of regions formed in an infinite strip by the mn segments that join m equally spaced points on one edge to n equally spaced points on the other. Using projective duality, we express the number of points, segments, and regions formed by Brousseau's configuration in terms of the numbers L k ( m , n ) of lines that meet an m × n lattice array in exactly k points.
Array processing for target DOA, localization, and classification based on AML and SVM algorithms in sensor networks

We propose to use the Approximate Maximum-Likelihood (AML) method to estimate the direction-of-arrival (DOA) of multiple targets from various spatially distributed sub-arrays, with each subarray having multiple acoustical/seismic sensors. Localization of the targets can with possibly some ambiguity be obtained from the cross bearings of the sub-arrays. Spectra from the AML-DOA estimation of the target can be used for classification as well as possibly to resolve the ambiguity in the localization process. We use the Support Vector Machine (SVM) supervised learning method to perform the target classification based on the estimated target spectra. The SVM method extends in a robust manner to the nonseparable data case. In the learning phase, classifier hyperplanes are generated off-line via a primal-dual interior point method using the training data of each target spectra obtained from a single acoustical/seismic sensor. In the application phase, the classification process can be performed in real-time involving only a simple inner product of the classifier hyperplane with the AML-DOA estimated target spectra vector. Analysis based on Cramer-Rao bound (CRB) and simulated and measured data is used to illustrate the effectiveness of AML and SVM algorithms for wideband acoustical/seismic target DOA, localization, and classification.
Cactus Alkaloids XVI: Isolation and Identification of Alkaloids in Coryphantha ramillosa

The cactus genus Coryphantha has been reported to contain certain β-phenethylamine alkaloids. In this investigation, a Texas species, C. ramillosa Cutak, yielded five alkaloids which were isolated chromatographically and crystallized as their hydro-chloride salts. The isolated compounds were identified as N-methyl-4-methoxy-β-phenethylamine hydrochloride, hordenine hydrochloride, N-methyltyramine hydrochloride, synephrine hydrochloride, and β-O-methylsynephrine hydrochloride, all of which have been previously identified in other Coryphantha species.
CASI: preventing indirect conflicts through a live visualization

Software development is a collaborative activity that may lead to conflicts when changes are performed in parallel by several developers. Direct conflicts arise when multiple developers make changes in the same source code entity, and indirect conflicts are produced when multiple developers make changes to source code entities that depend on each other. Previous approaches of code analysis either cannot predict all kinds of indirect conflicts, since they can be caused by syntactic or semantic changes, or they produce so much information as to make them virtually useless. Workspace awareness techniques have been proposed to enhance software configuration management systems by providing developers with information about the activity that is being performed by other developers. Most workspace awareness tools detect direct conflicts while only some of them warn about potential indirect conflicts. We propose a new approach to the problem of indirect conflicts. Our tool CASI informs developers of the changes that are taking place in a software project and the source code entities influenced by them. We visualize this influence together with directionality and severity information to help developers decide whether a concrete situation represents an indirect conflict. We introduce our approach, explain its implementation, discuss its behavior on an example, and lay out several steps that we will be taking to improve it in the future.
Portable builds of HPC applications on diverse target platforms

High-end machines at modern HPC centers are constantly undergoing hardware and system software upgrades - necessitating frequent rebuilds of application codes. The number of possible combinations of compilers, libraries, application build configurations, differing hardware architectures, etc, makes the process of building applications very onerous, requiring expert build knowledge from different domains. Our ongoing Harness Workbench Toolkit (HWT) project aims to foster and streamline the entire build process on heterogeneous computational platforms. This paper focuses on a key research issue of the HWT that regards facilitating and enhancement portability of build systems across multifarious machines, with particular respect to scientific software commonly used in the HPC community. The article presents a novel HWT approach based on the concept of generic build systems and profiles which encapsulate build knowledge provided independently by relevant experts. The paper describes profiles, the logistics of storing and retrieving build information, and interfacing to user-guided builds. We also report on experiences with applying the HWT approach to two scientific production codes (CPMD, GAMESS) on Cray XT4.
Cathepsin B inactivation attenuates hepatocyte apoptosis and liver damage in steatotic livers after cold ischemia-warm reperfusion injury

Hepatic steatosis predisposes the liver to cold ischemia-warm reperfusion (CI/WR) injury by unclear mechanisms. Because hepatic steatosis has recently been associated with a lysosomal pathway of apoptosis, our aim was to determine whether this cell-death pathway contributes to CI/WR injury of steatotic livers. Wild-type and cathepsin B-knockout (Ctsb(-/-)) mice were fed the methionine/choline-deficient (MCD) diet for 2 wk to induce hepatic steatosis. Mouse livers were stored in the University of Wisconsin solution for 24 h at 4 degrees C and reperfused for 1 h at 37 degrees C in vitro. Immunofluorescence analysis of the lysosomal enzymes cathepsin B and D showed a punctated intracellular pattern consistent with lysosomal localization in wild-type mice fed a standard diet after CI/WR injury. In contrast, cathepsin B and D fluorescence became diffuse in livers from wild-type mice fed MCD diet after CI/WR, indicating that lysosomal permeabilization had occurred. Hepatocyte apoptosis was rare in both normal and steatotic livers in the absence of CI/WR injury but increased in wild-type mice fed an MCD diet and subjected to CI/WR injury. In contrast, hepatocyte apoptosis and liver damage were reduced in Ctsb(-/-) and cathepsin B inhibitor-treated mice fed the MCD diet following CI/WR injury. In conclusion, these findings support a prominent role for the lysosomal pathway of apoptosis in steatotic livers following CI/WR injury.
Morphological and thermal characterization of native starches from Andean crops

We have characterized and compared the morphological and thermal properties exhibited by starches from different Andean crops. Starches were extracted from tubers, root, fruits, and other starch containing parts of different plants. Morphological characterization was carried out by means of light optical microscopy. Thermal analysis was performed by DSC. The morphological properties of starch granules as well as the gelatinization parameters vary considerably among plants sources. Feret’s diameter of granule starches is related to the part of the plant from which starch is obtained corresponding the largest starch granules (� 42.5 mm) to tuber sources, whereas, smallest granules to root sources (� 8.9 mm). The specific enthalpies of gelatinization were in the range 9–18.7 J/g. An inverse correlation between specific enthalpies and specific surface area (SSA) for starch with water content of 75% indicates that starches with higher SSAs need less energy to complete the gelatinization process than those with lower SSAs. The results show that starches from Andean crops could be used as raw material for the production of new starch-based thermoplastics.
Numerical simulations of ice droplet trajectories and collection efficiency on aero - engine rotating machinery

This paper presents a methodology for three dimensional numerical simulations of super cooled water droplet trajectories through aeroengine rotating mac hinery. Both flow and droplets’ governing equations are formulated and solved in the reference frame of rotating blades. A Eulerian -Lagrangian approach is used for the continuous and discrete phases with one -way interaction model to simulate the aerodynami c effects on the three -dimensional particle trajectories. A flux -based collection efficiency model is proposed for internal flows to enable the calculation of the amount of water that impinges the rotating and stationary blade surfaces. The methodology is applied to a transonic fan rotor and the computational results for the 3D flow field is compared with available experimental data. The computed droplet trajectories, rotor blade impingement locations, and the corresponding water collection efficiency are p resented and compared for different droplet sizes.
Pre-Emergence Feeding in Bark Beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae)

Dissection of digestive tracts showed that five bark beetle species, Ips paraconfusus Lanier, Dendroctonus jeffreyi Hopkins, Tomicus piniperda (L.), Scolytus multistriatus (Marsham), and Phloeosinus sequoiae Hopkins, feed beneath the bark as callow adults before emergence from their brood trees. T. piniperda, S. multistriatus, and P. sequoiae also feed in host shoots before colonizing trees in which reproduction occurs. Callow I. paraconfusus and D. jeffreyi were found to ingest food material once the cuticle became yellow, whereas callow T. piniperda and S. multistriatus did not feed until their cuticles were light brown and black, respectively. Feeding behavior differed between the sexes only in D. jeffreyi, in which yellow males contained less food material than yellow females. Yellow I. paraconfusus removed from beneath the bark of Monterey pine, Pinus radiata D. Don, did not blacken without additional feeding, and some starved, brown adults became black. Callow adults that were allowed to feed survived longer and became darker-colored individuals more frequently than starved beetles. The potential benefits of pre-emergence feeding are discussed.
Osteopontin is required for unloading-induced osteoclast recruitment and modulation of RANKL expression during tooth drift-associated bone remodeling, but not for super-eruption

Unloading of teeth results in extensive alveolar bone remodeling, causing teeth to move in both vertical (“super-eruption”) and horizontal direction (“drift”). In order to decipher the molecular mechanisms of unloading-induced bone remodeling during tooth movement, we focused on the role of osteopontin (OPN) in the un-opposed molar model, comparing wild-type (WT) and OPN-null mice. Our data indicated that OPN was not required for the continuous eruption of un-opposed teeth while OPN was necessary for the drift of teeth. OPN expression and osteoclast counts were greatly increased on alveolar bone surfaces facing the direction of the drift in WT mice, while osteoclast counts were diminished in OPN−/− mice. RANKL expression in the distal periodontal ligament of WT molars increased significantly by day 6 following unloading, while overall levels of RANKL expression were decreased in both WT and OPN-null mice. In vitro treatment of MC3T3 cells, WT BMCs and OPN−/− BMCs with recombinant OPN resulted in significantly increased RANKL expression in all three cell types. The PI3K and MEK/ERK pathway inhibitors Ly294002 and U0126 reduced RANKL expression levels in vitro. Treatment of BMCs and MC3T3 with OPN also resulted in increased ERK phosphorylation and reduced OPG levels. Together, our studies suggest that increased OPN expression during unloading-induced drifting of teeth enhances localized RANKL expression and osteoclast activity on drift-direction alveolar bone surfaces via extracellular matrix signaling pathways.
Radiography of Orthopedic Trauma and Fracture Repair

Radiographic interpretation of orthopedic trauma and healing should include only those findings that can be validated by radiography. The radiographic report should be structured and provide a clear verbal image of the fracture. Objective radiographic evaluation made at stages of bone healing and signs of nonunion can be interpreted. Malunion and delayed union are subjective determinations that require additional clinical observation. Osteomyelitis is recognized by complex and dichotomous radiographic findings. New, sophisticated imaging modalities are evolving that will give more objectivity to evaluating the skeleton in health and disease.
Agmatine Enhances the NADPH Oxidase Activity of Neuronal NO Synthase and Leads to Oxidative Inactivation of the Enzyme

It is established that agmatine, an endogenously formed decarboxylated arginine, is a weak competitive inhibitor of neuronal nitric-oxide synthase (nNOS) with an apparent Ki value of 660 μM [Biochem J316:247–249, 1996]. Although agmatine is known to bind to α-adrenergic and imidazoline receptors, it has been suggested that some of the pharmacological actions of agmatine, such as the prevention of morphine tolerance, may be due to the inhibition of nNOS. In the current study, we have discovered that agmatine, at concentrations much lower than the reported Ki value, leads to a time-, concentration-, NADPH-, and calmodulin-dependent irreversible inactivation of nNOS. The kinetics of inactivation could be described by an apparent dissociation constant for the initial reversible complex (Ki) and a pseudo first-order inactivation constant (kinact) of 29 μM and 0.01 min−1, respectively. As determined by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis, the mechanism of inactivation involves alteration of the prosthetic heme moiety of nNOS, in part to protein-bound products. Moreover, we discovered that agmatine causes a 3-fold increase in the NADPH oxidase activity of nNOS leading to the production of H2O2 and is a likely cause for the inactivation of the enzyme. Both the inactivation of nNOS and the oxidative stress produced should now be considered in the pharmacological actions of agmatine as well as provide insight into the potential biological effects of endogenously formed agmatine.
Site and seed source influence jack pine yields in the Lake States

Total aboveground biomass (TAB) at age 30 years was estimated for six seed sources of jack pine (Pinusbanksiana Lamb.) at eight sites in the Lake States. Initial tree spacing was 1.5 × 1.5 m. Mean TAB ranged from 70 to 122 Mg/ha among seed sources and from 56 to 130 Mg/ha among sites. A significant interaction was found between seed source and site. Environmental characteristics of each site were related to TAB. For four seed sources, TAB was positively related to total available soil water summed to 2 m. The TABs of the two better-producing seed sources were not as strongly related to available water, suggesting more efficient water use by these sources. Total aboveground biomass was negatively related to drought and evapotranspiration. Foliar micronutrient and macronutrient concentrations differed among sites and macronutrient concentrations differed among seed sources. No strong relations were found between foliar nutrient concentrations and TAB, indicating that nutrients are less limiting than water t...
Ectomycorrhizal, vesicular-arbuscular and dark septate fungal colonization of bishop pine (Pinus muricata) seedlings in the first 5 months of growth after wildfire

We followed the colonization frequency of ectomycorrhizal (EM), vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhi- zal (VAM), and dark septate (DS) fungi in 1- to 5- month-old bishop pine seedlings reestablishing after a wildfire. Seedlings were collected on a monthly basis at either a VAM-dominated chaparral scrub site or an EM-dominated forest site, both of which were burned. In both vegetation types, fully developed EM were ob- served from the third month after germination. EM fungi observed on the seedlings from the scrub site were limited to Rhizopogon subcaerulescens, R. ochra- ceorubens and Suillus pungens. Seedlings from the for- est were colonized by a greater variety of EM fungi in- cluding Amanita spp., Russula brevipes and a member of the Cantharellaceae. VAM structures (vesicles, ar- buscules or hyphal coils) were observed in the seedling root systems beginning 1 month after germination at the scrub site and 3 months after germination at the forest site. Seedlings from the scrub site consistently had more frequent VAM fungal colonization than those from the forest site through the fifth month after germination. DS fungi were observed in most seedlings from both the scrub and forest sites beginning in the first month post-germination. We propose that these fungi survived as a resident inoculum in the soils and did not disperse into the sites after the fire.
Justice Ginsburg's Obergefell v. Hodges

This Essay reconsiders the Court’s opinion in Obergefell v. Hodges with Justice Ginsburg as its author. As Justice Ginsburg has intimated, her opinion would have been more focused on the Equal Protection Clause rather than the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. But this Essay suggests that it is not only the Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment that would be distinct. Justice Ginsburg’s opinion would have been different in three essential ways from the one by Justice Kennedy for the Court: it would have been more doctrinally rigorous; it would have been less sentimental; and it would have jurisprudential integrity.
Influences of prior wildfires on vegetation response to subsequent fire in a reburned Southwestern landscape

Large and severe wildfires have raised concerns about the future of forested landscapes in the southwestern United States, especially under repeated burning. In 2011, under extreme weather and drought conditions, the Las Conchas fire burned over several previous burns as well as forests not recently exposed to fire. Our purpose was to examine the influences of prior wildfires on plant community composition and structure, subsequent burn severity, and vegetation response. To assess these relationships, we used satellite-derived measures of burn severity and a nonmetric multidimensional scaling of pre- and post- Las Conchas field samples. Earlier burns were associated with shifts from forested sites to open savannas and meadows, oak scrub, and ruderal communities. These non-forested vegetation types exhibited both resistance to subsequent fire, measured by reduced burn severity, and resilience to reburning, measured by vegetation recovery relative to forests not exposed to recent prior fire. Previous shifts toward non-forested states were strongly reinforced by reburning. Ongoing losses of forests and their ecological values confirm the need for restoration interventions. However, given future wildfire and climate projections, there may also be opportunities presented by transformations toward fire-resistant and resilient vegetation types within portions of the landscape.
What Determined Banks Specie Reserve: New Evidences from Illinois Free Banks

This paper empirically examines the historical allegation of fraudulent behavior of bank management by scrutinizing the balance sheet of individual bank and finds none of the Illinois free banks was without specie reserve. Applying econometric tools to balance sheet items, this paper identifies that deposit liabilities and banknotes in circulation were significant determinants of specie reserves for antebellum banks. Specie reserve was positively related to deposit liabilities and negatively related to banknotes in circulation. The elasticity of specie demand for deposits and banknotes was 22 and 51 percent respectively. Other liabilities like banks equity capital and notes of other banks insignificant.
Workable Solutions to the Challenges of Patenting an Innovative Prcoess

Over the past fifteen years, business method patents have been a focal point of judicial opinions, law reviews, and legislative reform, culminating in the Supreme Court's decision in Bilski v. Kappos and the passage of the 2011 America Invents Act. The so-called "rise" or "proliferation" of business method batents was kick-started in 1998 by State Street Bank & Trust Co. v. Signature Financial Group, Inc., which set forth "the useful, concrete, and tangible results" test for determining the patentability of a business method. However, the courts have continued to rework the tests for determining the patentability of business methods and the focus of patentability has shifted away from the United States Patent Act's language toward the judicially created machine or transformation (MOT) test. The applicability of these judicially created tests have been played out through a variety of high-profile lawsuits, such as Netflix v. Blockbuster, and patent filings from large financial and technology institutions such as J.P. Morgan, Lincoln Financial, and VISA. Additionally, the Bilski v. Kappos decision created significant confusion as to how the United States Trademark and Patent Office and courts should review the patentability of a business method patent. This article explores the history of the Patent Act, examining what role, if any, the judicially created MOT test should play concerning the patentability of business methods. Additionally, it delves into the current landscape of high profile companies seeking business method patents and what benefit these business method patents may provide. Ultimately, two workable solutions to the current problems facing business method patentability after Bilski v. Kappos are presented in an effort to reinforce the natural language of the Patent Act, ensure the patentability of legal business method patents, and safeguard company directives to invest in new and innovative business methods.
An Introduction to Dirty Forecasting

This article introduces the use of dirty forecasting to public finance. Focus is on definition dirty forecasting and discussing how dirty measures can be determined in government.
Comparative Risk of Hospitalized Infection Associated With Biologic Agents in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Enrolled in Medicare

Objective The risks of hospitalized infection associated with biologic agents used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are unclear. The aim of this study was to determine whether the associated risk of hospitalized infections differed between specific biologic agents used to treat RA. Methods In a retrospective cohort study using Medicare data from 2006–2011 for all enrolled patients with RA, new episodes of treatment with etanercept, adalimumab, certolizumab, golimumab, infliximab, abatacept, rituximab, and tocilizumab were identified. Patients were required to have received another biologic agent previously and to have been continuously enrolled in Medicare medical and pharmacy plans during the baseline period and throughout followup. Followup started on the date of initiation of treatment with the new biologic agent (after previous treatment with a different biologic agent) and ended on the date of the earliest hospitalized infection, at 12 months, after an exposure gap of >30 days, or at the time of death or loss of Medicare coverage. Cox regression analysis was used to calculate the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for hospitalized infection, adjusting for an infection risk score and other confounders. Results Of 31,801 new biologic treatment episodes in patients who had previously received another biologic agent, 12.0% were with etanercept, 15.2% with adalimumab, 5.9% with certolizumab, 4.4% with golimumab, 12.4% with infliximab, 28.9% with abatacept, 14.8% with rituximab, and 6.3% with tocilizumab. During followup, we identified 2,530 hospitalized infections; incidence rates ranged from 13.1 per 100 person-years (abatacept) to 18.7 per 100 person-years (rituximab). After adjustment, etanercept (HR 1.24, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.07–1.45), infliximab (HR 1.39, 95% CI 1.21–1.60), and rituximab (HR 1.36, 95% CI 1.21–1.53) had significantly higher HRs for hospitalized infection compared with abatacept. Conclusion In RA patients with prior exposure to a biologic agent, exposure to etanercept, infliximab, or rituximab was associated with a greater 1-year risk of hospitalized infection compared with the risk associated with exposure to abatacept.
Lactation nutrition and postpartum amenorrhea in lowland Papua New Guinea.

Prolonged on-demand breast feeding is known to delay the resumption of postpartum ovarian cyclicity. At present however little is known about the factors that influence the effectiveness of breast feeding as a natural contraceptive. Here the author examines the effects of maternal nutritional status on the duration of postpartum amenorrhea in two socioeconomic groups of Au forager-horticulturalists of lowland Papua New Guinea. Although women in both groups continue to breast feed their offspring for approximately 3.5 years well-nourished wage-earning Au women experience their first postpartum menses just over 1 year earlier (median = 12.5 months) than their more poorly nourished traditional counterparts (median = 26.6 months). Probit analyses are used to demonstrate that even after controlling for time since delivery maternal age parity and supplementation of infants diets the duration of postpartum amenorrhea is significantly (p < 0.05) negatively associated with indexes of maternal fat mass. No association between indexes of maternal lean body mass and the duration of postpartum amenorrhea were found. The results of this study suggest that components of maternal nutritional status in particular adiposity play an important role in influencing fecundity in human populations. (authors)
The Interaction of CF3CH2OH and (CF3CF2)2O with Amorphous Carbon Films

Fluorinated alcohols and fluorinated ethers adsorbed on carbon films have been studied in order to model the surface chemistry of Fomblin Zdol lubricants on the carbon-coated surfaces of magnetic d...