cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Oxidative stress increases pulmonary vascular permeability in diabetic rats through activation of transient receptor potential melastatin 2 channels.

Objective In vitro superoxide activates pulmonary endothelial TRPM2 channels and increases Kf. We hypothesized that pulmonary capillary Kf is increased in a model of type I diabetes due to elevated vascular superoxide and resultant TRPM2 channel activation. Methods Type I diabetes was induced in Zucker rats using STZ. Half of the STZ animals were treated with apocynin, a NOX inhibitor. After four weeks, lung Kf was measured in the isolated lung in the presence or absence of TRPM2 inhibitors (2-APB and FA). In an additional set of experiments, Kf was measured in nondiabetic Zucker rats after applying the superoxide donor (PMS). Results As compared to control rats, hyperglycemic rats exhibited increased vascular superoxide and Kf, along with decreased lung vascular TRPM2-L expression. Apocynin treatment reduced superoxide and Kf in hyperglycemic rats with no effect in control rats. TRPM2 channel inhibition decreased Kf in hyperglycemic rats with no effect in control rats. PMS increased the lung Kf in control rats, with TRPM2 inhibition attenuating this response. Conclusion Diabetic rats exhibit a TRPM2-mediated increase in lung Kf, which is associated with increased TRPM2 activation and increased vascular superoxide levels.
Streptomycin dosage in the treatment of tuberculosis.

Streptomycin need not be administered in large amounts, four to eight daily doses, totalling 1 to 3 grams a day for three to six months, to elicit a favorable response in the treatment of tuberculosis. Such a frequent, heavy and prolonged regimen is likely to injure the patient and leads to the emergence of resistant organisms which render further use of this agent futile. The minimal effective dose is about 0.2 grams a day, or 4 milligrams per Kg., and double this amount offers an adequate factor of safety. Two grams of streptomycin given only once a week or 1 gram twice a week, is not only less toxic, but is less rapidly followed by the development of resistant bacilli. Combinations of streptomycin with collapse therapy and with para-aminosalicylic acid, or other chemotherapeutic agents, still further conserve its efficacy and extend the indications for its use.
D-Xylose hydrogen breath tests compared to absorption kinetics in human patients with and without malabsorption

Thed-xylose breath H2 test may be useful in characterizing intestinal absorptive function. Our aim was to determine whether breath H2 followingd-xylose administration reflects the extent to which thed-xylose is absorbed by comparing it to a kinetic model ofd-xylose absorption. Twenty-five subjects were studied. They ingested 15 gd-xylose on the first day and 25 gd-xylose on the third day. On the second day they received 10 g intravenousd-xylose along with 15 g oral lactulose. Multiple serum and urine samples were obtained ford-xylose content to calculate its rate constants and extent of absorption by multicompartmental analysis. Breath H2 determinations were obtained every 15 min for 3 hr following the 15 gd-xylose and lactulose ingestion. Peak breath H2 concentration correlated with extent of absorption (r=−0.787,P<0.001),K 0, the rate constant for nonabsorptive loss (r=0.744,P<0.001), and 5-hr urine content (r=−0.705,P<0.001). Area under the breath H2 curve also correlated with these parameters: extent of absorption (r=−0.770,P<0.001),K 0 (r=0.662,P<0.001), 5-hr urine content (r=−0.629,P<0.012). Peakd-xylose breath H2 to peak lactulose breath H2 showed no correlation with extent of absorption. The extent of absorption was higher with the 15-g dose than the 25-g dose in all patients tested (P<0.01). This was the result of decreased nonabsorptive loss (lowerK 0), as the rate constant for absorption,K a , was not statistically different (P>0.05). Peakd-xylose breath H2 can be used as an inverse estimate ofd-xylose absorption. Lactulose breath H2 cannot be used as a standard for comparison ford-xylose. The three compartment kinetic model ford-xylose absorption with passive absorption of this carbohydrate is supported by similar rate constants for absorption for the twod-xylose doses used.d-xylose at 15 g may be a more appropriate dose than 25 g for H2 breath testing as it does not lead to increased nonabsorptive losses.
Human-computer interaction: A preliminary social psychological analysis

Considering an interactive computer as a social stimulus suggests that contemporary social psychological theories can contribute to the prediction of user attitude and performance. In order to assist in the systematic exploration of this possibility, we developed DIALOGUE, an on-line system to investigate the effects of varying the computer’s responses to the user. This system involves a presentation program that displays the computer’s responses, performs the pacing of video information, and collects a variety of measurements, including the user’s response time and the number of correct/incorrect user responses. DIALOGUE also includes a data manager that allows the experimenter to examine or modify the information collected by the presentation program. Utilizing DIALOGUE, we conducted a preliminary investigation of one aspect of human-computer interaction, the effects of varying the degree of human-like responses exhibited by the computer. Results suggest that (1) there are underlying dimensions of judgment involving perception of interactive computers, (2) a manipulation of human-like computer responses is reflected primarily in certain of these dimensions, and (3) such a manipulation influences user performance and feelings of responsibility. Factors related to the implementation of DIALOGUE are considered, and its potential for investigations of a variety of human-computer interactions is discussed.
Position Estimation Of Optical Point Targets Using Staring Detector Arrays

The problem of estimating the position of an optical point target by using a staring detector array is analyzed. Based on assumptions that the target's point-spread-function (PSF) is Gaussian, the detector response is uniform over the detector surface, and the signal and noise at the output of each detector are both Poisson-distributed, the Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRB) on the precision of intensity/position estimation is obtained. Using the CRB as a performance indicator, the following factors which influence the estimation performance of an isolated target are examined: target's intra-pixel position, signal-to-noise ratio, size of the detector relative to the PSF, size of the detector array, and dead space of the array. The CRB analysis is then extended to address the CSO (closely spaced objects) resolution issue. The degradation of the estimation performance due to the CSO interference is determined as a function of the separation and the separation orientation.
Wavelength Passed by Hg 198 Zeeman-Split Absorption Filter

We have measured the vacuum wavelength of the 2537-A line of Hg198 as passed by a Zeeman-split absorption filter. The 6057-A line of Kr86 was used as a standard. An evacuated Fabry–Perot interferometer was employed with spacers of 218-, 110-, and 21-mm length. The linewidth obtained by using the Zeeman filter is estimated to be about 5 mK. The measured wavelength 2537.26874±0.00003 A is in excellent agreement with the value obtained by Barger and Kessler for the wavelength emitted by an atomic beam of Hg198.
Centroid-moment tensor solutions for July–September, 1990

Centroid-moment tensor solutions are presented for 216 earthquakes that occurred during the third quarter of 1990. The solutions are obtained using corrections for aspherical Earth structure.
The role of risk management and governance in determining audit demand

Abstract: Most prior research into audit fees has been based on a theoretical model which treats audit fees as the by-product of a production function ignoring potential demand forces that may drive the level of the audit fee. Inspired by prior ‘anomalous’ results, we take a different perspective by focusing on demand factors that may affect the level of the audit fee. Using data collected from a sample of listed companies in Belgium, we consider both disclosures about risk and risk management and actual decisions about corporate governance to examine whether audit fees are higher when these demand forces exist. In general, we expect that external auditing will increase in situations where there are multiple stakeholders with individual risk profiles who can shift some of the cost of monitoring to other stakeholders. Consistent with our theory and expectations, our results indicate that audit fees are higher when a company has an audit committee, discloses a relatively high level of financial risk management, and has a larger proportion of independent Board Members. Audit fees are lower when a company discloses a relatively high level of compliance risk management. The latter result indicates that controls are only complementary as long as they are voluntary, as mandated controls act as substitutes for non-mandated controls.
Simulation of oscillometric waveforms

Oscillometry is the most widely used method to determine blood pressure due to its simplicity. The method requires an inflatable cuff and a pressure sensor. The cuff is generally placed around an arm so that it occludes the brachial artery. The pressure sensor measures the pressure inside the cuff during an inflation or deflation. The goal of oscillometry is to observe the oscillations during the cuff inflation or deflation. The oscillations occur at every heart beat or physical movement of the patient. The oscillations measured in this way are used in algorithms to compute the blood pressure. The paper focuses on the visualization and simulation of these oscillometric waveforms obtained by different cuff deflations.
Headache in Autoimmune Diseases

Autoimmune diseases are a group of heterogeneous inflammatory disorders characterized by systemic or localized inflammation, leading to ischemia and tissue destruction. These include disorders like systemic lupus erythematosus and related diseases, systemic vasculitides, and central nervous system (CNS) vasculitis (primary or secondary). Headache is a very common manifestation of CNS involvement of these diseases. Although headache characteristics can be unspecific and often non-diagnostic, it is important to recognize because headache can be the first manifestation of CNS involvement. Prompt recognition and treatment is necessary not only to treat the headache, but also to help prevent serious neurological sequelae that frequently accompany autoimmune diseases. In this review, we discuss headache associated with autoimmune diseases along with important mimics.
High-pressure freezing of isolated gastric glands provides new insight into the fine structure and subcellular localization of H+/K+-ATPase in gastric parietal cells.

SUMMARY High-pressure freezing (HPF) is currently the most reliable method to obtain an adequately frozen sample for high-resolution morphological evaluation. Here we applied the HPF technique to isolated rabbit gastric glands to reveal structural evidence that may be correlated with functional activity of gastric parietal cells. This approach provided well-preserved fine structure and excellent antigenicity of several parietal cell proteins. Microtubules were abundant in the cytoplasm and frequently appeared to be associating with tubulovesicles. Interestingly, many electron-dense coated vesicles were apparent around the intracellular canaliculi (IC) of resting parietal cells, consistent with active membrane retrieval from the apical membranes. Immunolabeling of H � /K � -ATPase was evident on the endocytic components (e.g., multivesicular bodies) and tubulovesicles. After histamine stimulation, the parietal cells characteristically showed expanded IC membranes with varied features of their apical microvilli. The labeling density of H � /K � -ATPase was fourfold higher on the IC membrane of stimulated parietal cells than on that of resting parietal cells. Immunolabeling of ezrin was clearly identified on the IC and basolateral membranes of parietal cells, corresponding to their F-actin-rich sites. The present findings provide a new insight into the correlation of cell structure and function in gastric parietal cells.
Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome Among Hispanics/Latinos of Diverse Background: The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos

OBJECTIVE Approximately one-third of the adult U.S. population has the metabolic syndrome. Its prevalence is the highest among Hispanic adults, but variation by Hispanic/Latino background is unknown. Our objective was to quantify the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome among men and women 18–74 years of age of diverse Hispanic/Latino background. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Two-stage area probability sample of households in four U.S. locales, yielding 16,319 adults (52% women) who self-identified as Cuban, Dominican, Mexican, Puerto Rican, Central American, or South American. The metabolic syndrome was defined according to the American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute 2009 Joint Scientific Statement. The main outcome measures were age-standardized prevalence of the metabolic syndrome per the harmonized American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute definition and its component abnormalities. RESULTS The metabolic syndrome was present in 36% of women and 34% of men. Differences in the age-standardized prevalence were seen by age, sex, and Hispanic/Latino background. The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome among those 18–44, 45–64, and 65–74 years of age was 23%, 50%, and 62%, respectively, among women; and 25%, 43%, and 55%, respectively, among men. Among women, the metabolic syndrome prevalence ranged from 27% in South Americans to 41% in Puerto Ricans. Among men, prevalences ranged from 27% in South Americans to 35% in Cubans. In those with the metabolic syndrome, abdominal obesity was present in 96% of the women compared with 73% of the men; more men (73%) than women (62%) had hyperglycemia. CONCLUSIONS The burden of cardiometabolic abnormalities is high in Hispanic/Latinos but varies by age, sex, and Hispanic/Latino background. Hispanics/Latinos are thus at increased, but modifiable, predicted lifetime risk of diabetes and its cardiovascular sequelae.
A Parametric Analysis of an Off-Axis Coaxial Bunched Electron Beam Space-Charge Limit

Recently, a nontrivial space-charge limit for off-axis bunched electron beams in a coaxial conducting structure was derived theoretically. The space-charge limit describes the minimum strength of an external uniform magnetic focusing field which is needed to stabilize the beam's center-of-mass motion in the presence of induced surface charges on the coaxial structure. In this paper, we perform a parametric study of the space-charge limit to numerically determine its dependence on the conducting structure geometry, i.e., the ratio of the inner and outer conductor radii, as well as its dependence on the transverse and longitudinal bunch distributions.
How to Find the Best Evidence

The Internet has made finding evidence for clinical practice fairly easy. Many different types of databases that can be searched for relevant key terms are available for free or for subscription. Bibliographic or library databases contain books, book chapters, reports, citations, abstracts, and either the full text of the articles indexed or links to the full text. Citation databases are specially designed so that you can track the progress of an idea or research topic by searching the published works that cite a particular author or article. Synthesized databases are pre-filtered records for particular topics. They are usually subscription-based, with relatively large fees (but you can get free access in libraries). This type of database may provide the "best" evidence without extensive searches of standard bibliographic databases. Portals are Web pages that act as a starting point for using the Web or Web-based services and links to books, journals, patient-education resources, and images. Many medical journals, including Respiratory Care, are now available online. Finally, even generalized search engines such as Google, Yahoo, Ask, and Dogpile can provide a wealth of information on medical topics.
Polyhedral cone invariance applied to rendezvous of multiple agents

In this paper, we pose the N-scalar agent rendezvous as a polyhedral cone invariance problem in the N dimensional phase space. The underlying dynamics of the agents are assumed to be linear. We derive a condition for positive invariance for polyhedral cones. Based on this condition, we demonstrate that the problem of determining a certificate for rendezvous can be stated as a convex feasibility problem. Under certain rendezvous requirements, we show that there are no robust closed-loop linear solutions that satisfy the invariance conditions. We show that the treatment of the rendezvous problem on the phase plane can be extended to the case where agent dynamics are non-scalar.
Rotation Requirements for Moment Redistribution in Steel Bridge I-Girders

One of the key assumptions in inelastic design is that members have adequate ductility to allow moments to redistribute. However, while AASHTO specifications contain moment redistribution provisions for steel I-girders, the amount of ductility that is adequate for this specific design situation has not been studied in detail. As a result, the scope of these specifications is limited to beam types known to have significant ductility, which restricts the use of these procedures and causes negative economic consequences. The goal of this work is to determine ductility requirements specifically applicable to AASHTO moment redistribution procedures that are valid for all I-girders. This is accomplished through an analytical procedure, detailed herein. The results of this work are empirical equations predicting the amount of rotation required as a function of the intended level of moment redistribution as well as the material properties and span configuration of the girder. With these requirements known, there is a basis for reducing the overly conservative nature of the existing AASHTO moment redistribution specifications.
Myogenic potential of muscle side and main population cells after intravenous injection into sub-lethally irradiated mdx mice.

SUMMARY Muscle side population (SP) cells have demonstrated hematopoietic and myogenic activities in vivo upon intravenous (IV) injection into lethally irradiated mdx mice. In contrast, muscle main population (MP) cells were unable to rescue the bone marrow of lethally irradiated mice and, consequently, their in vivo myogenic potential could not be assessed using this method. In the current study, muscle SP or MP cells derived from syngeneic wild-type male mice were delivered to sub-lethally irradiated mdx female mice by single or serial IV injections. Recipient mice were euthanized 12 weeks after transplantation at which time the quadriceps and diaphragm muscles were analyzed for the presence of donor-derived cells. Mice injected with 10 4 muscle SP cells or with 10 6 MP cells appeared to have similar numbers of dystrophin-positive myofibers containing fused donor nuclei. Analysis of the remaining tissue via real-time quantitative PCR indicated that mice injected with muscle SP cells had a higher percentage of donor-derived Y-DNA in the quadriceps than mice injected with MP cells, suggesting that muscle SP cells may be enriched for progenitors able to engraft dystrophic skeletal muscles from the circulation. Although the overall engraftment did not reach therapeutically significant levels, these results indicate that further optimization of cell delivery techniques may lead to improved efficacy of cellmediated therapy using muscle SP cells. (J Histochem Cytochem 53:861–873, 2005)
DELAMINATION BUCKLING ; EXPERIMENT AND ANALYSIS

Abstract Delamination buckling and growth are failure scenarios that lessen the structural integrity of laminated composite structural members. In the present work a combined experimental and analytical investigation of this failure mechanism in a strictly two-dimensional setting is carried out. When a delamination of an arbitrary planform is present in a structure, the buckling mode of the delamination may involve regions or points of contact with the undelaminated portion of the laminate beneath it. The effect of this physical constraint is investigated by compressing model specimens that contain delaminations of rectangular planform with varying aspect ratio. The shadow Moire method is used to capture the buckled mode shapes while the results from an approximate analytical model developed elsewhere are used to corroborate the experimental results.
Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) Television Camera For NASA's Galileo Mission To Jupiter

The CCD detector under construction for use in the slow-scan television camera for the NASA Galileo Jupiter orbiter to be launched in 1985 is presented. The science objectives and the design constraints imposed by the earth telemetry link, platform residual motion, and the Jovian radiation environment are discussed. Camera optics are inherited from Voyager; filter wavelengths are chosen to enable discrimination of Galilean-satellite surface chemical composition. The CCO design, an 800 by 800-element 'virtual-phase' solid-state silicon image-sensor array with supporting electronics, is described with detailed discussion of the thermally generated dark current, quantum efficiency, signal-to-noise ratio, and resolution. Tests of the effect of ionizing radiation were performed and are analyzed statistically. An imaging mode using a 2-1/3-sec frame time and on-chip summation of the signal in 2 x 2 blocks of adjacent pixels is designed to limit the effects of the most extreme Jovian radiation. Smearing due to spacecraft/target relative velocity and platform instability will be corrected for via an algorithm maximizing spacial resolution at a given signal-to-noise level. The camera is expected to produce 40,000 images of Jupiter and its satellites during the 20-month mission.
Non-Trigger Anesthesia Management in a Patient With Leigh's Syndrome Presenting for Dental Rehabilitation

Introduction:: Usually presenting in infancy, Leigh’s syndrome is an inherited condition often manifesting with seizures, ataxia, developmental delay, and dysarthria. The disorder is rare, appearing in approximately 1 in 40,000 live births. Consequently, providing these patients with a suitable plan by which to administer anesthetics remains problematic. Case Presentation:: We report a male patient with Leigh’s syndrome and a family history suggestive of unknown hypotonia and malignant hyperthermia presenting for dental rehabilitation. Conclusions:: Dexmedetomidine with remifentanil can be used with no complication in this senerio.
Cardiac Cell Lines: Electrophysiological Properties and Implications in Cardiac Disease

Permanent cell lines with or without inducible differentiation have been a valuable asset in the study of skeletal and smooth muscle physiology, biochemistry, and myogenesis (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12). Immortalized cell lines from dysgenic mouse skeletal muscle (13) may become excellent transient systems for expression of skeletal muscle calcium channels (14). Cardiac cell lines have been more difficult to obtain and to date only a small number has been thoroughly characterized (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23).
Thermodynamic Analysis of Non-Stoichiometric Perovskites as a Heat Transfer Fluid for Thermochemical Energy Storage in Concentrated Solar Power

The implementation of efficient and cost effective thermal energy storage in concentrated solar power (CSP) applications is crucial to the wide spread adoption of the technology. The current push to high-temperature receivers enabling the use of advanced power cycles has identified solid particle receivers as a desired technology. A potential way of increasing the specific energy storage of solid particles while simultaneously reducing plant component size is to implement thermochemical energy storage (TCES) through the use of non-stoichiometric perovskite oxides. Materials such as strontium-doped lanthanum cobalt ferrites (LSCF) have been shown to have significant reducibility when cycling temperature and oxygen partial pressure of the environment [1]. The combined reducibility and heat of the oxidation and reduction reactions with the sensible change in temperature of the material leads to specific energy storage values approaching 700 kJ kg−1. A potential thermochemical energy storage system configuration and modeling strategy is reported on, leading to a parametric study of critical operating parameters on the TCES subsystem performance. For the LSCF material operating between 500 and 900°C with oxygen partial pressure swings from ambient to 0.0001 bar, system efficiencies of 68.6% based on the net thermal energy delivered to the power cycle relative to the incident solar flux on the receiver and auxiliary power requirements, with specific energy storage of 686 kJ kg−1 are predicted. Alternatively, only cycling the temperature between 500 and 900°C without oxygen partial pressure swings results in TCES subsystem efficiencies up to 76.3% with specific energy storage of 533 kJ kg−1.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
An Aesthetic Theory of the Firm

All the firm’s a stage. On this institutional stage, many plays are performed simultaneously. The common theme of the plays is human desire: the desire for personal material gain, the desire to bond socially and to achieve status, the desire to do good, the desire to create and experience beauty, etc. When correctly designed, firms are institutional stages that facilitate human flourishing. This correct design has three dimensions: the stage must nurture—and treat as equally valuable—plays in the dimensions of the economic, the moral, and the aesthetic. These dimensions are ontologically fluid and interlaced in the sense that each inevitably rests on the others for ultimate vindication and justification. So, on the institutional stage that is the firm, the play of material gain is only fully justified—in the sense of fostering human flourishing—if its performance is also morally good and aesthetically beautiful. The morality play is only fully justified if it is economically sound and aesthetically beautiful. The challenge humans face in designing firms, therefore, is to design a three dimensional stage that is balanced when viewed from all three dimensions. Sculpturally, the firm should be a perfect sphere: three dimensions of infinite symmetry.
Calving Date versus Calving Interval as a Reproductive Measure in Beef Cattle

Calving date and calving interval records obtained from the Beef Cattle Division of Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Des Moines, Iowa, were studied to determine the reproductive measure of choice when a fixed breeding season is employed. Fixed model, least-squares procedures were used to analyze 2,411 records collected on purebred Red Angus, Angus and Hereford cows during the years 1969 through 1976. Calving interval decreased .86 d and calving date was delayed .11 d for each 1-d delay in previous calving date. A 1-d increase in gestation length was associated with a 1.17-d delay in calving date and 1.17-d increase in calving interval. The bias caused by the use of a fixed breeding season was determined to be much greater for calving interval than for calving date, as evidenced by the strong dependence of calving interval on previous calving date. Because calving date is likely to be more heritable and has clear economic significance, and because selection for earlier calving date should not lead to adverse response in other reproductive traits, calving date was preferred over calving interval as a reproductive measure.
Intracellular Calcium and the Regulation of Neuronal Membrane Permeability

Intracellular calcium ions (Ca2+) are known to be important in several functions of excitable cells: for example, Ca2+ plays an essential role in muscle concentration, neurotransmitter release, and excitation-secretion coupling. The physiological function of intracellular Ca2+ in nerve cells, however, is less well understood. We have investigated the possible release of intracellular Ca2+ and its role in the regulation of membrane permeability in a vertebrate neuron.
Neuron-Binding Human Monoclonal Antibodies Support Central Nervous System Neurite Extension

Two human IgMs (sHIgM12 and sHIgM42) were identified that supported in vitro central nervous system (CNS) neurite extension equal to the potent neurite stimulatory molecule laminin. Both IgMs bound to multiple cell types in unfixed CNS tissue and to the surface of neurons in culture. Both monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) overrode the inhibitory effect of CNS mouse myelin on granule cell neurite extension. Neither mAb bound to the surface of mature oligodendrocytes or strictly colocalized with myelin proteins. Sialidase treatment eliminated the neuronal surface binding of both mAbs, whereas blocking sphingolipid synthesis with Fumonisin B1 or removing GPI-linked proteins with PIPLC did not. When used as substrates for mixed neuron/glia aggregates, sHIgM12 and sHIgM42 supported robust neurite extension while astrocytes remained in the aggregates. In contrast, laminin supported astrocyte migration and spreading. Human mAbs that support neurite extension are novel factors that may be of use in encouraging axon repair following injury while minimizing glial cell infiltration. Both human mAbs were isolated from individuals with monoclonal gammopathy. Each individual has carried high mAb titers in circulation for years without detriment. sHIgM12 and sHIgM42 are therefore unlikely to be systemically pathogenic.
A Resource Allocation Method for Achieving Optimal Reliability in a Lunar Architecture

In January 2005, President Bush announced the Vision for Space Exploration. This vision involved a progressive expansion of human capabilities beyond Low Earth Orbit beginning with a return to the moon starting no later than 2020. Current design processes utilized to meet this vision employ performance based trade studies to determine the lowest cost, highest reliability solution. In these design processes, designers trade independent performance variables and then calculate the design discriminators, reliability and costs, of the different architectures. The methodology implemented in this paper focuses on a concurrent evaluation of the performance, cost, and reliabilities of lunar architectures. This process directly addresses the top level requirements early in the design process and allows the decision maker to evaluate the highest reliability, lowest cost lunar architectures without being distracted by the performance details of the architecture. To achieve this methodology of bringing optimal cost and reliability solutions to the decision maker, parametric performance, cost, and reliability models are created to model each vehicle element. These models were combined using multidisciplinary optimization techniques and response surface equations to create parametric vehicle models which quickly evaluate the performance, reliability, and cost of the vehicles. These parametric models, known as ROSETTA models, combined with a life cycle cost calculator provide the tools necessary to create a lunar architecture simulation. The integration of the tools into an integrated framework that can quickly and accurately evaluate the lunar architectures is presented. This lunar architecture selection tool is verified and validated against the Apollo lunar architectures. The results of this lunar architecture selection tool are then combined into a Pareto frontier to guide the decision maker to producing the highest reliability architecture for a given life cycle cost. The advantages of this method over traditional design processes are numerous. With this presented methodology, the decision maker can transparently choose a lunar architecture solution based upon the high level design discriminators. This method can achieve significant reductions in life cycle costs keeping the same architecture reliability as a traditional design process point solution. This methodology also allows the decision maker to choose a solution which achieves a significant reduction in failure rate while maintaining the same life cycle costs as the point solution of a traditional design process.
Calculations of the free energy of dislocation defects in lamellae forming diblock copolymers using thermodynamic integration

State-of-the-art directed self-assembly (DSA) of block copolymer (BCP) methods still yield defect densities orders of magnitude higher than is necessary in semiconductor fabrication. The defect free energy of a dislocation pair or jog defect, one of the most common defects found in BCP-DSA, is calculated via thermodynamic integration using a coarse-grained molecular dynamics model as a function of χ and the degree of polymerization (N). It is found that χN is not the best predictor of defect free energy and that a single χN value can yield vastly different free energies when χ and N are different. Defect free energy was highly dependent on defect location relative to the underlayer, and free energy differences ∼100 kT were found among the three possible defect locations on a 1:3 guiding pattern. It was found that increasing molar mass dispersity (Ð) significantly reduced defect free energy. Extrapolating from Ð up to 1.5 suggests that the defect will occur in equal proportions to the defect free state at a Ð of around 1.6 for this system. It was found that long chains tended to concentrate near the defect and stabilize the defect.
Other Sudden Mass Casualty Incidents

This chapter focuses on planning and response for other types of sudden mass casualty incidents (SMCIs).
Application of the MRFIT smoking cessation program to a healthy, mixed-sex sample.

Abstract The Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial (MRFIT) included a smoking cessation program that was highly successful (40.3% abstinence prevalence rate at 48-month follow-up) when used with other interventions for a male, middle-aged population at high risk for coronary heart disease (CHD). Our study employed the MRFIT cessation program alone with a mixed-sex, mixed-age, healthy population. We wished to determine its effectiveness when applied in a manner similar to other smoking cessation programs. Fifty-six subjects participated in a 10-week intervention followed by maintenance or extended intervention programs. The 52% abstinence prevalence rate at the end of the 10-week intervention dropped to 32% after four months, 25% at eight months, 25% at 12 months, and 27% at 16 months. The higher cessation rates of the original MRFIT study may be related to motivation and other characteristics of the high-risk population and to the combination of the smoking component with other interventions for CHD, rather than to the characteristics of the smoking intervention itself. Although the MRFIT program is comprehensive and includes vigorous maintenance activities, it is also expensive and may not be cost-effective or as desirable as programs with slightly lower cessation rates.
Isograft Bladder Mucosal Transplantation for Hypospadias Repair in Identical Twins

AbstractUrethral reconstruction with a bladder mucosal free graft offers several advantages for patients with complex hypospadias. We report a case in which identical twins circumcised at birth presented with mid-shaft hypospadias and chordee. A bladder mucosa graft was harvested from 1 twin, divided and used to form 2 neourethras. The donor twin underwent hypospadias repair, followed immediately by repair in the second twin with the isograft neourethra. To our knowledge this is the first reported case of bladder mucosal transplantation for hypospadias repair.
Total Life is What We Want

Ishmael Reed arises as a central figure in the new black aesthetic movement because of an unlikely coming together of opposed philosophical and artistic personalities; white critics, black critics, and black author converge on the same artistic/philosophical/ideological issues, but bring with them entirely different notions of the ways in which these issues should be handled. The term black aesthetic is one which needs a new and detailed definition to delineate its stages, shapers, adherents, and adversaries, and to show Reed’s place within and external to its boundaries. He receives negative criticism from both predominantly white academia and the vanguard of the new black aesthetic critics; his works are not great sellers, yet he is quoted and pointed to as an example of excellent, inventive writing by white academics, black academics, and students and writers of contemporary interests. Thomas Pynchon and Tom Robbins especially cite Reed as an exemplary writer. And at the centre of this mass of conflicting data, one finds Reed, perfectly content to make the small amount of money he makes as a literary artist each year, and perfectly content to upset the status quo with words which lacerate. But, surprisingly, Reed will be the first to argue adamantly that he writes in ‘a true Afro-American tradition, a true Afro-American aesthetic’ (Martin 180).
Dynamically provisioning distributed systems to meet target levels of performance, availability, and data quality

Increasingly, critical compute services are being delivered across wide-area networks. Today, a primary challenge to computer systems is building highly reliable services. However, the same decentralized nature that contributed to its sustained, exponential growth makes it difficult to deliver highly reliable services over the Internet. Failures and performance fluctuations in the middle of the network mean that no centralized service can continuously deliver high levels of performance and availability to all of its clients. Further, highly bursty and unpredictable access patterns force developers to overprovision their services for some expected worst case. Of course, it is only economically feasible to over-provision by some maximum amount.
Electrophoretic analysis of proteins from Phycomyces mutants with abnormal tropisms.

Certain phototropism mutants ofPhycomyces blakesleeanus show defective bending responses (tropisms) to stimuli besides light, such as gravity, wind, and barriers. These so-called “stiff” mutants are affected in four genes (madD tomadG). Using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, we have analyzed polypeptides from microsomal and soluble fractions obtained from the wild type, four single mutants, and six double mutants affected in all pairwise combinations of the four genes. Consistent differences in spot patterns formadE andmadF mutants were found in microsomal fractions but not in soluble fractions. InmadE mutants, two spots designated E1 (52 kDa,pI 6.65) and E2 (50 kDa,pI 6.65) were altered. E1 appeared denser in the wild type than in themadE mutants, while the reverse was true for E2. The spots E1 and E2 are probably under regulatory control bymadE, perhaps involving posttranslational modification. A protein spot, F1 (53 kDa,pI 6.1), was present on the wild-type gels but absent from all gels formadF mutants. The F1 polypeptide probably represents themadF gene product.
Class, Culture and Empire: Making Social History

In early 1968, about the time of the Tet Offensive, a leading member of the fraternity of South Asian historians wrote a 30-page prospectus for other members of his coterie outlining what American scholars needed to do to open the door to the subcontinent and to establish their own school of South Asian history.2 The Cambridge School in England was apparently too obsessed with theories of Nationalist conspiracy to be left unchallenged, while the failings of the historians from the subcontinent lay in their obsession with the work of great men, resulting from a conception ‘of their own recent history, which tends to be seen in terms of “giants,”’ and insufficient attention to social historical concerns.
Systems biology of macrophages.

Cells and tissues function in context. Under a given growth or survival medium they perform tasks, replicate and die. Given a stimulus they respond by invoking myriad biomolecular networks that result in a specified cellular outcome. At any given instant it can be argued that the cell is in a “state” defined by its components – their concentrations and locations, the interactions between components – that are modulated in space and time, and the complex circuitry – that involves a large number of interacting networks and a snapshot of the dynamical processes – such as gene expression, cell cycle, transport of components, etc. At present, we can measure, using high and low throughput methods, several cellular components in a context-dependent manner and obtain a partial picture of cellular networks and dynamical processes. Are these measurements sufficient to answer important biological questions and help reconstruct a systems-level understanding of a mammalian cell? This chapter will address systems biology strategies developed to address this question and demonstrate the power of integration of diverse cellular data for answering interesting biological questions in macrophages. We will use this systems biology approach to address the following questions: (1) How good are macrophage cell lines in addressing phenotypic biology of primary macrophages? (2) How do signals associated with inflammatory molecules regulate gene transcription in macrophages? (3) How can we combine proteomic and other cellular measurements to characterize the repertoire of upstream signaling networks invoked by macrophages? (4) How do designed knockdowns of proteins influence cellular phenotypes?
Light Snow Precipitation and Effects on Weather and Climate

Abstract The objective of this work is to better understand light snow (LSN) precipitation measurements (precipitation rate (PR)
The influence of personal protection equipment, occupant body size, and restraint system on the frontal impact responses of Hybrid III ATDs in tactical vehicles

ABSTRACTObjective: Although advanced restraint systems, such as seat belt pretensioners and load limiters, can provide improved occupant protection in crashes, such technologies are currently not utilized in military vehicles. The design and use of military vehicles presents unique challenges to occupant safety—including differences in compartment geometry and occupant clothing and gear—that make direct application of optimal civilian restraint systems to military vehicles inappropriate. For military vehicle environments, finite element (FE) modeling can be used to assess various configurations of restraint systems and determine the optimal configuration that minimizes injury risk to the occupant. The models must, however, be validated against physical tests before implementation. The objective of this study was therefore to provide the data necessary for FE model validation by conducting sled tests using anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs). A secondary objective of this test series was to examine the inf...
Balancing the utility and legality of implementing portable mass spectrometers coupled with ambient ionization in routine law enforcement activities

Ambient sampling, portable MS systems have the potential to allow field processing of forensic evidence, as well as serve as a flexible investigative tool during routine law enforcement activities. However, the underlying legal implications of evidentiary data require the discretion of practitioners to ensure both lawful and ethical usage. Herein, practical and theoretical usage scenarios in traffic control stops are investigated using paper spray ionization-mass spectrometry (PSI-MS) on a portable, ruggedized instrument to demonstrate the field utility for law enforcement personnel, particularly in prompting “probable cause” searching of vehicles. Specific applications include the detection and identification of trace level contraband found as surface residues on automotive surfaces, in the presence of latent fingerprints, and in conjunction with emerging evidence types like adulterated beverages and electronic cigarette liquids. In addition, the current state of U.S. search and seizure law is examined in an effort to discern the presumed legal usage modes from the full analytical potential of the technique. These studies, in turn, can assist in predetermining the investigatory and legal impacts of field deployment of similar instrumentation in policing activities.
Sodium Fluorescein Facilitates Guided Sampling of Diagnostic Tumor Tissue in Nonenhancing Gliomas.

BACKGROUND Accurate tissue sampling in nonenhancing (NE) gliomas is a unique surgical challenge due to their intratumoral histological heterogeneity and absence of contrast enhancement as a guide for intraoperative stereotactic guidance. Instead, T2/fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery (FLAIR) hyperintensity on MRI is commonly used as an imaging surrogate for pathological tissue, but sampling from this region can yield nondiagnostic or underdiagnostic brain tissue. Sodium fluorescein is an intraoperative fluorescent dye that has a high predictive value for tumor identification in areas of contrast enhancement and NE in glioblastomas. However, the underlying histopathological alterations in fluorescent regions of NE gliomas remain undefined. OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether fluorescein can identify diagnostic tissue and differentiate regions with higher malignant potential during surgery for NE gliomas, thus improving sampling accuracy. METHODS Thirteen patients who presented with NE, T2/FLAIR hyperintense lesions suspicious for glioma received fluorescein (10%, 3 mg/kg intravenously) during surgical resection. RESULTS Patchy fluorescence was identified within the T2/FLAIR hyperintense area in 10 of 13 (77%) patients. Samples taken from fluorescent regions were more likely to demonstrate diagnostic glioma tissue and cytologic atypia (P < .05). Fluorescein demonstrated a 95% positive predictive value for the presence of diagnostic tissue. Samples from areas of fluorescence also demonstrated greater total cell density and higher Ki-67 labeling than nonfluorescent biopsies (P < .05). CONCLUSION Fluorescence in NE gliomas is highly predictive of diagnostic tumor tissue and regions of higher cell density and proliferative activity.
Starvation Effects on Larval Development of Beet Armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Sporadic starvation of herbivorous insect pests, such as the beet armyworm Spodoptera exigua (Hubner), often occurs due to host plant scarcity and dislodgement from host plants resulting from incle...