cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Insulin regulation of glucose metabolism in HT29 colonic adenocarcinoma cells: activation of glycolysis without augmentation of glucose transport.

The effects of insulin on glucose transport and metabolism were examined in cultured HT29 human colonic adenocarcinoma cells. The presence of glucose transporters was verified by d -glucose displaceable [3H]cytochalasin B binding. The Kd and Bmax values from cytochalasin B binding studies were 190 ± 30nM and 8.4 ± 1.4pmol/mg protein, respectively. Glucose transport determined with 3-O-methylglucose showed saturable kinetics with a Km of 5.8 ± 0.4mM and a Vmax of 0.047 ± 0.003μmol/mg protein per min at 25°C. Moreover, in HT29 cells, two classes of insulin binding sites were detected in radioligand binding experiments. Although insulin failed to stimulate glucose transport, it was found to activate glycolysis in HT29 cells. Glucose consumption increased from 0.33 ± 0.03μmol/mg protein per h to 0.49 ± 0.05μmol/mg protein per h and lactate production was augmented from 0.67 ± 0.04μmol/mg protein per h to 0.87 ± 0.06μmol/mg protein per h in response to 10−7 to 10−5 M insulin. Insulin also enhanced mannose metabolism. Apart from these two hexoses, HT29 cells exhibited a surprisingly narrow substrate specificity. With the possible exception of glyceraldehyde, little lactate was produced from alternative substrates, including adenosine, inosine, ribose, deoxyribose, dihyroxyacetone, galactose and fructose either with or without insulin. Despite its limited utilization by the glycolytic pathway, adenosine was readily salvaged for de novo synthesis of adenine nucleotides. These findings suggest that insulin directly influences substrate utilization through the glycolytic pathway in HT29 cells without activating the glucose transport pathway.
Partially supervised fuzzy c-means algorithm for segmentation of MR images

Partial supervision is introduced to the unsupervised fuzzy c-means algorithm (FCM). The resulting algorithm is called semi-supervised fuzzy c-means (SFCM). Labeled data are used as training information to improve FCM's performance. Training data are represented as training columns in SFCM's membership matrix (U), and are allowed to affect the cluster center computations. The degree of supervision is monitored by choosing the number of copies of the training set to be used in SFCM. Preliminary results of SFCM (applied to MRI segmentation) suggest that FCM finds the clusters of most interest to the user very accurately when training data is used to guide it.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The limiting oxygen concentration and flammability limits of gases and gas mixtures

Abstract This paper presents data on the limiting (minimum) oxygen concentration (LOC), in the presence of added N2, of methane (CH4), propane (C3H8), ethylene (C2H4), carbon monoxide (CO), and hydrogen (H2), and some of their binary mixtures. It also addresses the issue of the flammable concentration (flammability) limits of these pure gases in air. The study is based on spark ignited explosions in large, spherical laboratory vessels (120-L and 20-L) using a 7% pressure-rise criterion for explosion propagation. The results of the study are compared with the older values which used long flammability tubes with a diameter ≥5 cm together with visual evidence of substantial upward propagation. They are also compared to results reported recently using a 12-L spherical flask with a visual flame propagation criterion. Finally, they are compared to results reported in Europe using more modest flammability criteria and smaller chambers. The findings reported here show excellent agreement between the 120-L and 12-L results, good agreement with the 20-L results, and reasonable agreement with the earlier flammability tube values for the lower flammability limits. They disagree, however, with the more conservative European values. These results and those from the 12-L experiments also feature lower LOCs than are given by traditional flammability tubes. A model for the LOCs of such fuel mixtures based on the Le Chatelier mixture rule for lower flammable limits is seen to reasonably fit the observed results on binary mixtures and can accommodate more complex mixtures as well. One such set of ternary mixtures containing CH4 and 1:1 CO:H2 is well fitted by the model.
Review of the Aged Respiratory System

Reviewing changes within aged human systems involves the controversy of pathological versus physiological alteration. Regardless of cause, changes do occur. A succinct investigation of the changing systems with possible implications for exercise is advantageous to physical and occupational therapists. The following review offers such a synopsis on the aging respiratory system. Pulmonary structure and function are reviewed, followed by a consideration of the mechanism controversies. Finally, exercise implications are presented for the therapist to contemplate and utilize in clinical practice.
Isolated defects in the static limit

The authors collect together the known results for the effect of single defect into a single compact form that can be used in any lattice in the static limit. The result is used to calculate the effect of single defects (either bonds or sites) on the diffusion constant and conductivity of various lattices. It is shown that the result of Izyumov for the spin-wave stiffness can be simply generalised to any lattice.
Radioimmunoassay of gastrointestinal hormones.

Since 1968, radioimmunoassays have been developed for major gastrointestinal hormones (gastrin, cholecystokinin, secretin, and gastric inhibitory peptide) and for many substances in the gastrointestinal tract that await full hormonal status (vasoactive intestinal peptide, motilin, pancreatic polypeptide, enteroglucagon, serotonin, prostaglandins, inter alia). Although reports between laboratories on the circulating levels of gastrin and gastric inhibitory polypeptide are in relatively good agreement, wide discrepancies exist in reported values of secretin and cholecystokinin. Reports on qualitative responses of these hormones to various stimuli, however, appear to be consistent between laboratories. A review of some of the studies of radioimmunoassay techniques for gastrointestinal hormones permits analysis of some of the technical problems that can be encountered.
The SERS response of semiordered Ag nanorod arrays fabricated by template oblique angle deposition

Semiordered Ag nanorod arrays are fabricated by template oblique angle deposition (OAD) using regular Au nano-post arrays with different diameters as seed patterns. The Au nano-post arrays do not give an observable surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) activity under our detection configuration, whereas the patterned Ag nanorod arrays can produce a very strong SERS signal. These SERS intensities increase monotonically with the decrease in the diameter and separation of the Ag nanorods, which demonstrates that one can improve the SERS detection by tuning the diameter and separation of the Ag nanorods, and the template OAD method can help produce more uniform, reproducible, and sensitive Ag nanorod SERS substrates. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
In vitro susceptibilities of Haemophilus influenzae isolates from a Veterans Administration Medical Center.

One hundred and one consecutively occurring clinical isolates ofH. influenzae, from adult male patients, were tested for quantitative antimicrobial susceptibility (by broth microdilution) and classification properties. Almost all were susceptible to a variety of antimicrobials, except erythromycin and ampicillin; 14% were ampicillin resistant. Beta-lactamase was produced by all the ampicillin-resistant strains. Most isolates were biotype II (68%) or III (24%). Only 6% were serotype b, while 94% were from the lower respiratory tract. When isolates were grouped according to biotype, serotype, B-lactamase production and site of isolation, there were some significant differences in susceptibilities among the groups.
Absence of current-density-wave excitonic states

Abstract It is shown that certain conditions on the anomalous quasiaverages of electron-hole pairing are satisfied by all eigenstates of the hamiltonian. These conditions are imposed on approximate states with electron-hole pairing such as those in the Hartree-Fock theory of Halperin and Rice. In Hartree-Fock theory at least, no current-density-wave excitonic states exist.
Theory of wakefields in a dielectric-lined waveguide

Excitation of wakefields from a short charge bunch moving parallel to the axis of a dielectric-lined cylindrical waveguide is analyzed. This situation amounts to generation of Cerenkov radiation in a transversely bounded system. Wakefields are expanded into an orthonormal set of hybrid electric-magnetic eigenfunctions for this waveguide geometry. The orthonormalization relations for this system are obtained, evidently for the first time, both for a stationary source and for a localized moving source such as a charge bunch; it is shown that these orthonormalization relations differ. Forces arising from wakefields are found, valid within and behind a distributed bunch. Deviation of bunch distribution from axisymmetry leads to generation of dipole modes of significant amplitude that may lead to instability. Poynting's theorem is examined for this system, and it is shown that convected Coulomb field energy must be subtracted from the Poynting flux to obtain the radiation power. This power, which balances drag on the bunch as calculated directly from the fields, is shown to flow in a direction opposite to that of the charge bunch. The results are easily generalized to bunches of arbitrary length and charge distribution, and to a train of such bunches. Numerical examples are presented for monopole, dipole, and quadrupole wakefield forces, and sample electric field patterns are shown to assist in understanding the unusual nature of this type of Cerenkov radiation. For a 2-nC rectangular drive bunch of length 0.20 mm, moving along the axis of an alumina-lined waveguide $(\ensuremath{\varepsilon}=9.50)$ with inner and outer radii of 0.50 and 5.0 mm, a peak accelerating gradient behind the bunch of 155 MeV/m is predicted. This relatively high magnitude of accelerating gradient suggests that a simple uniform dielectric pipe could be the basis for the structure of a future high-gradient electron/positron linear accelerator, once low-emittance, kiloampere, subpicosecond electron bunches are available in the laboratory.
Knowledge Management for Services Transitions

In this paper, service transition stands for the process of taking over responsibility for management and enhancement of a client's IT applications. While more and more clients see benefits in outsourcing their IT applications, the competition between providers of application management services grows fiercer. Here, an efficient transition process provides a substantial competitive advantage, and effective knowledge transfer and management are its crucial ingredients. We have identified two potential obstacles to effective knowledge transfer: (1) the client's application knowledge may not explicitly and transparently be available, and (2) the provider's knowledge management approach may be distributed and highly fluctuating teams may lack proper technology and discipline. In this paper, we present a method to harvest, share and grow application knowledge systematically; an architecture to store, link, and access knowledge efficiently; as well as a management model to reward generation and consumption of application knowledge.
Commentary: PPIs and risk of serious infection in decompensated cirrhosis – authors' reply

*Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Virginia Commonwealth University and McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Richmond, VA, USA. Department of Epidemiology and Community Health, Virginia Commonwealth University and McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Richmond, VA, USA. Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA. E-mail: jsbajaj@vcu.edu
One-dimensional model of the acid hydrolysis of cellulosic substrates in a solid-liquid cyclone reactor

The use of rotating flow in an annulus is investigated as a means of enhancing the yield of glucose and xylose in the acid hydrolysis of cellulosic slurries. A one-dimensional model of such a cyclone reactor is developed for flow cases, co-current and counter-current flow. For the case of 250°C, 1% w/w acid, the one-dimensional model indicates an increase in the maximum glucose yield from 48.1% in a plug flow reactor to 69.3% in a co-current cyclone reactor, and up to 81.0% in a countercurrent cyclone reactor. The corresponding xylose yields are 91.6% for co-current operation and 97.7% for countercurrent operation. In the co-current case the maximum glucose and xylose yields do not occur at the same location in the reactor; however, in the countercurrent case they do. Although product yields are dramatically improved over those obtained in a plug flow reactor, the product concentrations are lower than would typically be obtained in a plug flow reactor.
Comparison of Eddies off the North Brazilian and Somali Coasts

Abstract Repeated temperature sections using XBTs from ships of opportunity along the sea lane off the Brazilian coast indicate that a region of mesoscale occurs in which the eddies are particularly well developed in northern summer and fall. These are located between approximately 3°–10°N, are on the order of 200 to 400 km across, and may extend to 300 to 400 m in depth. Relatively fresh surface water, apparently from the region of the Amazon outflow, is often observed in the eddy region. Similar eddies both in size and latitude, are found off the Somali coast. These are associated with the turning offshore of all or part of the strong northward flowing Somali current. It is speculated that a somewhat similar circulation may also occur in northern summer in the Pacific Ocean.
Contrasting IT Capability and Organizational Types: Implications for Firm Performance

The Resource-Based View RBV has become one of the most popular ways to examine the impact of IT on firm performance. An increasing number of researchers are using the theoretical underpinning of the RBV to ground their research in investigating this relationship. This paper follows in this tradition by developing multidimensional measures for two dimensions of IT capability, inside-out IT capability and spanning IT capability. In this regard, the authors relate these dimensions to firm performance as profit ratios and cost ratios. Inside-out capability is the IT resources deployed from inside the firm in response to market requirements and opportunities. However, spanning IT capability involves both internal and external analysis and is needed to integrate the firm's inside-out and outside-in IT competences. This study also makes an exploratory comparative assessment of the relative impact of inside-out IT capability and spanning IT capability, while analyzing the differences on the impact of IT capability in diverse types of organizations. Finally, the authors give evidence that different dimensions of IT capability may have different effects on performance measures.
Introduction to fish imagery in art

Fish have been the subject of works of art for at least 14000 years and appeared in ‘primitive’ art from many cultures. In ancient civilizations of the West, fishes were a constant, if infrequent, motif. Fish designs in ancient Egypt were common and showed little change for 1500 years. Decorative fish designs of the Greeks and Romans (often with mythological significance) were adopted by early Christians as religious symbols. With the development of printing, the non-religious depiction of fish became more widespread and realistic paintings of fish, especially still lifes, appeared during the Renaissance. This still life tradition reached a peak in 17th century Netherlands. After 1750, fish images appeared in many different contexts. Realistic painters showed the agony of newly-caught fish, dramatic marine scenes with fish, and occasionally freshwater fishes in their habitats. In the twentieth century, fish were painted by many modern artists, including Matisse, Picasso, Klee, Masson, Beckman, Soutine, Magritte, and Thiebaud. Some of these artists' fish images are pleasing, others are violent or ambiguously symbolic. In contrast, contemporary nature artists tend to paint live fish in idealized settings, a style with roots in 17th century still lifes and oriental brush paintings. In Japan and China, fish have been an important theme in art and their use has been highly symbolic. A survey of fish images in art shows that artists, like scientists, create mainly in the context of historical precedents.
Early T-cell Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia/Lymphoma

Discrete diagnostic subtypes of T lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma, T-ALL) have historically not been widely recognized. Recently, a novel subset with distinctive immunophenotypic, molecular, and clinical features has been proposed. Termed early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ETP-ALL), these cases seem to correspond to a very early stage of T-cell development. ETP-ALL is associated with a poor prognosis using standard protocols, and patients with ETP-ALL may benefit from intensified, alternative, or targeted therapies. Recognizing ETP-ALL and distinguishing it from other forms of acute leukemia are important elements of an up-to-date diagnostic approach to precursor T-cell neoplasms.
Resource Efficient Architecture for Current Control Loop of Two PMSMs

This paper presents a novel closed current control loop of permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM). Conventional current control loops need two PI controllers per one PMSM. The paper provides a method for reduction of the resource consumption by using one PI controller for two PMSM. Combining with Black Box Blockset written by Verilog HDL based on Xilinx System Generator, one effective PI controller is designed instead of four PI controllers and simulated using Simulink. The utilization of FPGA resources is verified by Xilinx ISE 14.7 tool. The results show that the proposed method can reduce resource consumption and do not influence system performances observably.
Live Work Play: New Perspectives on the Downtown Rebound

Abstract Downtowns in the US have not traditionally been considered the appropriate place for residential use. This paper begins by highlighting previous rounds of downtown revitalization paid little attention to residential activity. The paper then discusses the reasons why this most recent round of downtown housing activity and policy that differ from previous attempts at encouraging downtown housing; success was partly due to historic preservation and a new appreciation for downtown living. The second section of the paper details some actual downtown housing building trends based on a survey of 20 selected US cities. The paper concludes with stressing the significance of including downtown housing policy as part of a larger economic development plan for older downtowns.
Fermion-Sector Frustrated SU(4) as a Preonic Precursor of the Standard Model

We give a model for composite quarks and leptons based on the semisimple gauge group SU(4), with the preons in the 10 representation; this choice of gauge gluon and preon multiplets is motivated by the possibility of embedding them in an N=6 supergravity multiplet, with the preons and antipreons both in the 20 of SU(6). Hypercolor singlets are forbidden in the fermionic sector of this theory; we propose that the SU(4) symmetry spontaneously breaks to SU(3)×U(1), with the binding of triality nonzero preons and gluons into composites, and with the formation of a color singlet condensate that breaks the initial Z12 vacuum symmetry to Z6. The spin ½ fermionic composites have the triality structure of a quark–lepton family, and the initial Z12 symmetry implies that there are six massless families, which mix to give three distinct families below the scale of the condensate. The spin 1 triality zero composites of the color triplet SU(4) gluons, when coupled to the condensate and with the color singlet representation of the 10 acting as a doorway state, lead to weak interactions of the fermionic composites through an SU(2) gauge algebra. The initial Z12 symmetry implies that this SU(2) gauge algebra structure is doubled, which in turn permits the corresponding independent gauge bosons to couple to chiral components of the composite fermions. Since the U(1) couples to the 10 representation as B-L, an effective SU(2)L×SU(2)R ×U(1)B-L electroweak theory arises at the condensate scale, with all composites having the correct electric charge structure. Assuming a mechanism for forming composite Higgs bosons, the Z12→ Z6 symmetry breaking chain implies that below the condensate scale there can be two sets of discrete chiral Z6 triplets of Higgs doublets, as required by a phenomenological model for the CKM matrix that we have analyzed in detail elsewhere. A renormalization group analysis of the SU(4) model shows that the conversion by binding of one 10 of SU(4) to 12 triplets of SU(3) can give a very large, calculable hierarchy ratio between the SU(4) and the hadronic mass scales.
A cyclopentadithiophene/thienopyrroledione-based donor-acceptor copolymer for organic solar cells

Abstract A new cyclopentadithiophene/thienopyrroledione-based donor–acceptor copolymer ( P1 ) was synthesized using a microwave-assisted Stille coupling procedure and was compared to a known benzodithiophene-based copolymer using the same thienopyrroledione acceptor monomer (PBDTTPD). Cyclopentadithiophene-based copolymers have been known to exhibit lower band gaps than their corresponding benzodithiophene-based counterparts. The polymer showed excellent solubility at room temperature in chlorinated solvents. The absorption onset for P1 is close to 740 nm as compared with ∼685 nm for PBDTTPD, corresponding to an optical band gap of 1.67 eV, which is 0.15 eV lower than PBDTTPD. The photovoltaic characteristics of the polymer were determined under AM1.5 illumination. The P1 :PCBM BHJ device showed a high V oc (0.92 V) and J sc (8.02 mA/cm 2 ) as well as a good PCE (2.43%), while the best device with 2% solvent additive gave a PCE of 3.47%.
The Water-Level Task: An Intriguing Puzzle

Loftus, G.R., & Bamber, D. (1990). Weak models, strong models, unidimensional models, and psychological time. Journal of Experimental Psy chology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 16, 916-926. Loftus, G.R., & Masson, M.E.J. (1994). Using confidence intervals in within-subjects de signs. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 1, 476 490. Lykken, D.T. (1968). Statistical significance in psychological research. Psychological Bulletin, 70, 151-159. Maltz, M.D. (1994). Deviating from the mean: The declining significance of significance. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 31, 434-463. Meehl, P.E. (1967). Theory testing in psychology and physics: A methodological paradox. Phi losophy of Science, 34, 103-115. Meehl, P.E. (1978). Theoretical risks and tabular asterisks: Sir Karl, Sir Ronald and the slow process of soft psychology. Journal of Consult ing and Clinical Psychology, 46, 806-834. Meehl, P.E. (1990). Why summaries of research on psychological theories are often uninter pretable. Psychological Reports, 66(Suppl. 1), 195-244.
Local Heat Transfer in Rotating Smooth and Ribbed Two-Pass Square Channels With Three Channel Orientations

This paper presents experimental heat transfer results in a two-pass square channel with smooth and ribbed surfaces. The ribs are placed in a staggered half-V fashion with the rotation orthogonal to the channel axis. The channel orientation varies with respect to the rotation plane. A change in the channel orientation about the rotating frame causes a change in the secondary flow structure and associated flow and turbulence distribution. Consequently, the heat transfer coefficient from the individual surfaces of the two-pass square channel changes. The effects of rotation number on local Nusselt number ratio distributions are presented. Heat transfer coefficients with ribbed surfaces show different characteristics in rotation number dependency from those with smooth surfaces. Results show that staggered half-V ribs mostly have higher heat transfer coefficients than those with 90 and 60 deg continuous ribs. 16 refs., 10 figs.
Ground state of two-dimensional quantum-dot helium in zero magnetic field: Perturbation, diagonalization, and variational theory

We study the ground-state properties of two-dimensional quantum-dot helium in zero external magnetic field (a system of two interacting electrons in a two-dimensional parabolic confinement potential) by using perturbation and variational theory. We introduce a family of ground-state trial wave functions with one, two, and three variational parameters. We compare the perturbation and variational energies with numerically exact diagonalization results and earlier unrestricted Hartree-Fock studies. We find that the three-parameter variational wave function is an excellent representation of the true ground state and argue on how to generalize such a wave function for larger quantum dots with arbitrary numbers of electrons.
Specifying and Designing Flexible Shaft Electrical Machines

Recent developments relating to the undestanding, analysis, and measurement of vibratory motiohs, forces, and instabilities of rotating systems and their bearing support structures are now becoming available to the designers of systems involving electrical machines and their component suppliers. The status of the more pertinent of these developments and their applicability to such systems is reviewed with special considerations to those involving flexible shaft machines.
Stress based yield/failure criteria for fiber composites

Abstract A macroscopic yield or failure criterion is derived for fiber composite materials. The derivation decomposes naturally into two modes of yield/failure, one being matrix dominated, the other being fiber dominated, thus there are two governing criteria. The resulting forms are quadratic in the components of the average stress tensor with two material parameters for each mode of yield/failure. The physical context of the formulation is that of aligned fiber systems with a polymeric matrix phase under high fiber concentration conditions.
Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope: Science highlights for the first 8 months

The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope was launched on June 11, 2008 and since August 2008 has successfully been conducting routine science observations of high energy phenomena in the gamma-ray sky. A number of exciting discoveries have been made during its first year of operation, including blazar flares, high-energy gamma-ray bursts, and numerous new,gamma-ray sources of different types, among them pulsars and Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN). fermi-LAT also performed accurate mea.<;urement of the diffuse gamma-radiation which clarifies the Ge V excess reported by EGRET almost 10 years ago, high precision measurement of the high energy electron spectrum, and other observations. An overview of the observatory status and recent results as of April 30, 2009, are presented. Key words: gamma-ray astronomy, cosmic rays, gamma-ray burst, pulsar, blazar. diffuse gamma-radiation
Interleukin-1-induced sleep and febrile responses differentially altered by a muramyl dipeptide derivative.

Abstract Muramyl dipeptide ( N- acetylmuramyl - L - alanyl - D - isoglutamine ; AcMur - L - Ala - D - iGln ; MDP ) is a somnogenic, pyrogenic, and immunoadjuvant component of bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan. It enhances the production of the cytokine interleukin 1 (IL-1) in vivo and in vitro; IL-1 itself is somnogenic and pyrogenic. The pyrogenic effects of IL-1 may be separated from its somnogenicity by the use of antipyretics. A methyl ester derivative of MDP (murametide; AcMur- L -Ala- D -Gln-α-methyl ester) blocks IL-1-induced fever, but induces IL-1 production/release. Therefore, the effects of murametide on IL-1-induced sleep and fever responses were determined. Rabbits were pretreated with intravenous injections of murametide 0,30 or 60 min before intravenous injection of a pyrogenic/somnogenic dose of recombinant IL-1β (rIL-1β). Murametide alone produced no effects on sleep or brain temperatures. Murametide given simultaneously with rIL-1β potentiated increases of brain temperature, whereas when there was a 60 min delay between the injection of murametide and rIL-1β, responses were similar to those induced by rIL-1β alone. Murametide given 30 min before rIL-1β, blocked the expected IL-1-induced fevers but not the rIL-1β-mediated increased of slow-wave sleep and decreases of rapid-eye-movement sleep. These results reinforce the conclusion that, in part, independent brain mechanisms are involved in the somnogenic and pyrogenic actions of IL-1.
Minimally invasive Ivor Lewis esophagectomy: description of a learning curve.

Background Minimally invasive Ivor Lewis esophagectomy (MIE) is gaining popularity for the treatment of esophageal cancer. However, as it is a technically demanding operation, a learning curve should be defined to guide training and allow implementation at institutions not currently using this technique. Study Design Our study included a retrospective series of the first 80 consecutive patients undergoing MIE by a single surgeon with advanced training in minimally invasive esophageal surgery in independent practice at a high-volume tertiary center. Patients were stratified into 2 groups of 40 patients, with chronological order defining early and late experiences. Primary end points included conversion to open procedure, surgical time, blood loss, chest drainage duration, time to oral intake, hospital stay, postoperative morbidity, and mortality. The cumulative sum methodology was used and analyzed by visually inspecting the plots. Results Conversion to open procedure occurred in 2 (5%) patients in the early group and none in the late group (p = 0.49). Comparing early vs late experience, mean surgical time was 364 vs 316 minutes (p Conclusions Improved operative and perioperative parameters for MIE were observed in the last 40 patients when compared with the first 40 patients. A reasonable learning curve for MIE would require the operation and perioperative care of 35 to 40 patients.
Dispersive behaviour of high order finite element schemes for the one-way wave equation

We study the ability of high order numerical methods to propagate discrete waves at the same speed as the physical waves in the case of the one-way wave equation. A detailed analysis of the finite element method is presented including an explicit form for the discrete dispersion relation and a complete characterisation of the numerical Bloch waves admitted by the scheme. A comparison is made with the spectral element method and the discontinuous Galerkin method with centred fluxes. It is shown that all schemes admit a spurious mode. The spectral element method is always inferior to the finite element and discontinuous Galerkin schemes; a somewhat surprising result in view of the fact that, in the case of the second order wave equation, the spectral element method propagates waves with an accuracy superior to that of the finite element scheme. The comparative behaviour of the finite element and discontinuous Galerkin scheme is also somewhat surprising: the accuracy of the finite element method is superior to that of the discontinuous Galerkin method in the case of elements of odd order by two orders of accuracy, but worse, again by two orders of accuracy, in the case of elements of even order.
Morphological Relationships Between Polyploid Hybrid Spined Loaches of the Genus Cobitis (Teleostei: Cobitidae) and their Parental Species

A special feature of spined loaches of the genus Cobitis in Central Europe is the frequent occurrence of diploid-polyploid complexes in which polyploid gynogenetic forms act as sperm parasites to the diploid form. This tight binding of the co-occurring forms results in a high level of phenotypic and ecological similarities. The present study searches for morphological differences between them applying the characters traditionally used in loach taxonomy (body proportions, fin formula, scale shape, lamina circularis, suborbital spine, coloration) in 662 specimens from the Baltic (14 populations) and North Sea (1 population) catchment areas. Ploidy level of each specimen was inferred from blood cell measurements. Discriminant function analysis for biometrical characters and description of qualitative features indicate the morphological distinctness of the two diploid species C. taenia and C. elongatoides. The polyploid unisexual biotypes are very similar to each other and to individuals of sympatric sexual species. The genome dosage effect could be observed in morphological characters, however, in some of them the polyploid biotypes display a mosaic mode of variability: they can be more similar to sympatric parents or to the absent species in the complex, transitional and of a wider variability range. In colouration pattern, the biotypes do not express the whole spectrum of the parental species variability. Meristic traits had no power to identify the different forms.
Instrumentation for simultaneous measurement of double-layer capacitance and solution resistance at a QCM electrode

Abstract Double-layer capacitance and solution resistance are two parameters that can be used to indicate dynamic changes occuring near the surface of an electrode. Here, we report the development of instrumentation that simultaneously monitors data from the quartz-crystal microbalance (QCM) sensor and the electrical double-layer without the use of a potentiostat. The development of this instrumentation is reported along with some preliminary data. Early indications are that the capacitance responds to structural changes in the electrical double-layer. Changes in resistance reflect changes in the solution anywhere between the two electrodes. The frequench shifts of the QCM originate in structural changes that occur not only in the electrical double-layer but also farther out into the solution.
Understanding chemical effects in low-load-limit extension of homogeneous charge compression ignition engines via recompression reaction

AbstractIn-cylinder pre-processing (or recompression reaction) of pilot-injected fuel during negative value overlap (NVO) has been investigated as a method to extend the low-load limit of residual-effected homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI). In an effort to elucidate the chemical and thermal effects involved, model calculations have been performed on the recompression reaction and ignition delay of the recompression products using a reduced n-heptane mechanism (160 reactions, 1424 reactions) and a zero-dimensional kinetics model. Parametric studies were performed to cover possible operating choices for HCCI and to understand their effects on the recompression reaction and mixture ignitability. From the study it is demonstrated that the extent of recompression reaction is limited by chemical kinetics, not thermodynamics, and that residual oxygen during NVO is a determining species for the extent and speciation of the recompression reaction. The recompression product mixture exhibits an overall ...
Fishing Quality in Two Urban Fishing Lakes, St. Louis, Missouri

Abstract In response to high transportation costs, anglers are utilizing aquatic resources in urban areas to a greater degree than in the past, rekindling interest by conservation agencies in urban fishing programs. The St. Louis fishing program has been in operation for 10 years. To determine the quality and effectiveness of the program, urban fishermen were interviewed for a 2-year period. Results from angler interviews provided management implications for future urban fishing programs. Fishing pressure on urban lakes was high, approaching 30,000 hours/hectare. Correspondingly, the harvest rate was also high. Urban fishermen have definite species preferences and place importance on catching preferred fish species. Fish size and number of fish caught are also important, while catch diversity is only moderately important. Catch-and-release fishing adds little to trip enjoyment, although it occurs frequently. Fishing quality is influenced primarily by frequency of fish stocking, species stocked, and specie...
Synergy of itraconazole with macrophages in killing Blastomyces dermatitidis.

We examined in vitro interaction between the azole antifungal agents itraconazole and ketoconazole and macrophages and their activities against Blastomyces dermatitidis. Fungistatic and fungicidal concentrations for B. dermatitidis in vitro were assessed in a microculture system in which fungistasis was measured as inhibition of multiplication and fungicidal activity was measured as reduction of inoculum CFU. Resident peritoneal murine macrophages, which surround but do not phagocytize the fungus, were not fungicidal for B. dermatitidis isolates but were fungistatic for some isolates studied. Synergy was demonstrated when fungistatic concentrations (e.g., 0.01 micrograms/ml) of itraconazole, which limited growth 55% compared with that of controls, were cocultured with macrophages; this resulted in fungicidal activity (85% killing) against B. dermatitidis (ATCC 26199) in 72-h assays. This synergy could occur even if itraconazole was added after the macrophages had surrounded the fungus. Ketoconazole at fungistatic concentrations did not act synergistically with macrophages to kill B. dermatitidis. Lymph node lymphocytes could not substitute for macrophages in synergy with itraconazole to kill B. dermatitidis. When B. dermatitidis was separated by a filter from macrophages in Transwell cultures, fungicidal synergy with itraconazole was less efficient. Pretreatment of B. dermatitidis with itraconazole for 24 h did not render the fungus susceptible to killing by macrophages in the absence of itraconazole, whereas pretreatment of nonfungistatic macrophages with itraconazole rendered them fungistatic in a dose-dependent manner. Three other isolates were killed by otherwise fungistatic concentrations of itraconazole when the isolates were cocultured with macrophages. These findings indicate that one basis for the efficacy of itraconazole versus ketoconazole in treating blastomycosis could be synergy of a fungistatic concentration of itraconazole with macrophages in killing of B. dermatitidis.
Synthesis and Reactivity of Organosamarium Diarylpnictide Complexes: Cleavage Reactions of Group 15 E-E and E-C Bonds by Samarium(II).

(C(5)Me(5))(2)Sm (2 equiv) reacts with Ph(2)EEPh(2) to give (C(5)Me(5))(2)SmEPh(2) (E: P, 1; As, 2), while (C(5)Me(5))(2)Sm(THF)(2) (2 equiv) reacts with Ph(2)EEPh(2) to give (C(5)Me(5))(2)Sm(EPh(2))(THF) (E: P, 3; As, 4). 3 and 4 are also available from the reactions of 1 and 2 with THF. 3 and 4 undergo further reaction to produce the THF ring-opened products (C(5)Me(5))(2)Sm[O(CH(2))(4)EPh(2)](THF) (E: P, 5; As, 6).(C(5)Me(5))(2)Sm (4 equiv) reacts with Ph(2)EEPh(2) to give the mixed-valent (C(5)Me(5))(2)Sm(m-EPh(2))Sm(C(5)Me(5))(2) (E: P, 7; As, 8). These compounds are also available from the reaction of 1 and 2 with (C(5)Me(5))(2)Sm. The X-ray crystal structure of 2, crystallized from hexanes (P2(1)/n; a = 26.188(24) A, b = 9.911(10) A, c = 23.280(23) A, beta = 97.150(12) degrees, V = 5995(2) A(3), D(calcd) = 1.488 Mg/m(3); Z = 8; T = 156 K), revealed, in addition to a conventional seven-coordinate bent metallocene geometry with 2.698 A Sm-C(C(5)Me(5)) and 2.970 A Sm-As average distances, two very different Sm-As-C(Ph) angles, 74.2 and 118.7 degrees. As a result, one phenyl group is closer to the metal (2.901 A minimum Sm-C distance). 4, crystallized from toluene (P2(1)/n; a = 10.713(9) A, b = 14.143(11) A, c = 21.620(16) A, beta = 101.08(6) degrees, V = 3215(4) A(3), D(calcd) = 1.492 Mg/m(3); Z = 4; T = 163 K), and 6, crystallized from hexanes (P2(1)/n; a = 9.3958(16) A, b = 22.245(3) A, c = 17.931(3) A, beta = 96.497(11) degrees, V = 3724(1) A(3), D(calcd) = 1.416 Mg/m(3); Z = 4; T = 163 K), have conventional eight-coordinate, bent metallocene structures.
The accuracy of trace-driven simulations of multiprocessors

In trace-driven simulation, traces generated for one set of system characteristics are used to simulate a system with different characteristics. However, the execution path of a multiprocessor workload may depend on the order of events occurring on different processing elements. The event order, in turn, depends on system charcteristics such as memory-system latencies and buffer-sizes. Trace-driven simulations of multiprocessor workloads are inaccurate unless the dependencies are eliminated from the traces.We have measured the effects of these inaccuracies by comparing trace-driven simulations to direct simulations of the same workloads. The simulators predicted identical performance only for workloads whose traces were timing-independent. Workloads that used first-come first-served scheduling and/or non-deterministic algorithms produced timing-dependent traces, and simulation of these traces produced inaccurate performance predictions. Two types of performance metrics were particularly affected: those related to synchronization latency and those derived from relatively small numbers of events. To accurately predict such performance metrics, timing-independent traces or direct simulation should be used.
Surface area-volume relationships for the mastoid air cell system and tympanum in adult humans: Implications for mastoid function.

Conclusions: The middle ear (ME) surface area/volume ratio (SA/V) is greater than that of the tympanum. The rate of ME pressure decrease is proportional to the ME SA/V. The mastoid air-cell system ...
A model of the oxygen-evolving center of photosystem II predicted by structural refinement based on EXAFS simulations.

A refined computational structural model of the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) of photosystem II (PSII) is introduced. The model shows that the cuboidal core Mn3CaO4 with a “dangler” Mn ligated to a corner µ4-oxide ion is maximally consistent with the positioning of the amino acids around the metal cluster as characterized by XRD models and high-resolution spectroscopic data, including polarized EXAFS of oriented single crystals and isotropic EXAFS. It is, therefore, natural to expect that the proposed structural model should be particularly useful to establish the structure of the OEC, consistently with high-resolution spectroscopic data, and for elucidating the mechanism of water-splitting in PSII as described by the intermediate oxidation states of the EC along the catalytic cycle.
An architecture supporting loose and close cooperation of distributed autonomous systems

There is a general trend in designing distributed control systems to give an increasing amount of autonomy to the individual nodes of such systems. Autonomous nodes interact only loosely. But also, close cooperation under hard real-time constraints is required in certain situations. This paper analyzes approaches for structuring distributed control systems and presents an architecture integrating object-oriented frameworks, publisher/subscriber communication, and hard- and soft-real-time communication. For supporting mobile robots. Wireless communication is considered in particular.
Intrabeam scattering and touscheck lifetime for the optical stochastic cooling experiment at the MIT-Bates South Hall ring

A proof-of-principle experiment of optical stochastic cooling (OSC) at the MIT-Bates South Hall electron storage ring (SHR) has been proposed. To produce convincing cooling results, the ring will be run near 300 MeV. Beam emittance growth caused by Intrabeam scattering (IBS) is a major concern for the design of experiment. Touschek scattering imposes a dominant limit on beam lifetime. Evaluation of these effects is part of the design optimization process. Simulation analyses of cooling for a viable OSC experiment are presented.
Through Wise Eyes: Thriving Elder Women's Perspectives on Thriving in Elder Adulthood

Prompted by increasing U.S. longevity and aging demographics, this phenomenological study explored what it is like for 13 women, 75–91, to thrive in elder adulthood. Through multiple interviews, projective inventories, and focus groups, 6 group patterns emerged: (a) vital involvement and service, (b) desire to learn, (c) appreciation of basic life components—family, friends, health, home, and financial security, (d) valuing honesty and responsibility, (e) positive attitude, and (f) reliance on faith. A theme of resiliency emerged from their life stories of overcoming untimely deaths of family members, World War II experiences, and serious health challenges. Aging well advice is offered.
Recurrent isolated ptosis in presumed ophthalmoplegic migraine of childhood.

Abstract Purpose To report a rare case of isolated, recurrent unilateral eyelid ptosis as the sole manifestation of ophthalmoplegic migraine in a healthy young girl. Design Single observational case report with review of the literature. Testing Serologic evaluation, electromyographic, nerve conduction and Tensilon testing, magnetic resonance and computerized tomographic imaging, and magnetic resonance angiography were performed. Main outcome measures Four-year descriptive history of recurrent eyelid ptosis. Results Between 1994 and 1998, seven discrete episodes of right upper eyelid ptosis without ophthalmoplegia or pupil abnormality occurred. On each occasion, spontaneous resolution occurred over a period of 6 to 10 weeks. Extensive clinical and laboratory evaluation, including testing for myasthenia gravis and magnetic resonance cerebral angiography, was unremarkable. Conclusions Recurrent isolated ptosis is a rare manifestation of presumed ophthalmoplegic migraine in childhood. As far as we are aware, this has not been previously reported.
Part-whole science

A scientific explanatory project, part-whole explanation, and a kind of science, part-whole science are premised on identifying, investigating, and using parts and wholes. In the biological sciences, mechanistic, structuralist, and historical explanations are part-whole explanations. Each expresses different norms, explananda, and aims. Each is associated with a distinct partitioning frame for abstracting kinds of parts. These three explanatory projects can be complemented in order to provide an integrative vision of the whole system, as is shown for a detailed case study: the tetrapod limb. My diagnosis of part-whole explanation in the biological sciences as well as in other domains exploring evolved, complex, and integrated systems (e.g., psychology and cognitive science) cross-cuts standard philosophical categories of explanation: causal explanation and explanation as unification. Part-whole explanation is itself one essential aspect of part-whole science.
Mechanisms of Full‐Term and Preterm Labor: Factors Influencing Uterine Activity

Objective: To review factors influencing uterine activity leading to delivery. Data Sources: A search was conducted on MEDLINE and CINAHL under the terms "preterm labor," "preterm delivery," and "physiology of labor and preterm labor." Study Selection: One-hundred fifty articles were reviewed, with selection based on physiologic concepts judged to be most relevant to nursing practice. Data Synthesis: In this review, factors initiating labor and preterm labor (PTL) are identified, along with areas for further research. Conclusions: Despite research on what initiates labor, it is unknown how the various mechanisms are integrated. Nurses are in a position to conduct research to help further the understanding of the labor and PTL processes. Nurses can use their assessment skills to help identify women at risk for PTL and delivery.