cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of Electrical Stimulation and Postmortem Boning Time on Sensory and Cookery Properties of Ground Beef

Ground beef was prepared from electrically stimulated and nonstimulated sides of 24 U.S. Utility grade carcasses that were boned 1, 3 or 24 hr postmortem. Postmortem electrical stimulation had no negative effects or, the physical, sensory or cooking properties of ground beef patties. Time of boning had significant effects on percent height change during cooking, total cooking loss, tenderness, and juiciness. As cooning time increased, the effects on the traits were negative.
Is nuclear power more competitive producing electricity or hydrogen

Steam methane reforming is the world's dominant hydrogen production technology, using natural gas as both feedstock and fuel, but producing more than 9 kg of CO2 for each kilogram of H2. Natural gas prices between $6 and $8/GJ yield an average hydrogen production cost between $12 and $15/GJ, excluding the cost of CO2. High-temperature gas reactors, e.g. the modular helium reactor, can be configured to produce hydrogen using thermochemical processes with a projected average cost of $15/GJ. Also, spent fuel from modular helium reactors is well suited for very long-term repository storage. However, natural gas prices of $8/GJ make electricity generation from modular helium reactors extremely competitive with respect to combined-cycle gas turbines. Therefore, the modular helium reactor is likely to be more profitable in electricity markets than in hydrogen markets under carbon restriction regimes.
Spectroscopic characterization of passivated titanium in a physiologic solution

Titanium (Ti) has been used for many biomedical applications. Surface characteristics of titanium devices are critical to their success. In this study, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to analyse Ti surfaces prior to immersion in alpha-modification of Eagle's medium (α-MEM). The ionic constituents deposited onto Ti surfaces after in vitro exposure to α-MEM were investigated using XPS and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Surface studies revealed an amorphous oxide layer on the Ti surface, with a chemistry similar to TiO2. However, after exposure to the physiologic solution for 12 days, dynamic changes in surface chemistry were observed. Ions such as phosphorus (P) and calcium (Ca) were increasingly deposited as amorphous fine crystalline calcium-phosphate (Ca−P) compounds, having a Ca/P ratio of 1.2 and a chemistry similar to brushite.
Pressure support ventilation attenuates the cardiopulmonary response to an acute increase in oxygen demand

Critically ill patients undergo interventions, such as chest physical therapy, that acutely increase metabolic rate. Previous observations revealed that chest physical therapy is accompanied by increases of 40 to 50% in oxygen consumption (Vo2) and 40% in minute ventilation contributes to the rise in Vo2 and its associated hemodynamic responses. This was done by increasing mandatory ventilatory support during the chest physical therapy session: In phase 1 the mandatory ventilation rate was increased by 35% and in phase 2 pressure support ventilation 15 cm h2O was added. In phase 1 (n = 12), the increase in mandatory rate did not attenuate the chest physical therapy induced rises in heart rate, arterial blood pressure and Vo2. The increase in minute ventilation when the mandatory rate was increased prevented a rise in PaCO2. In phase 2 (n = 15), no change in the increase in Vo2 with chest physical therapy was observed with the addition of pressure support. Yet the rises in heart rate and systemic and pulmonary artery pressures were attenuated, as was the increase in PaCO2. Respiratory rate did not increase as much with pressure support. There appears to be a role for pressure support ventilation in attenuating the pulmonary and hemodynamic responses to interventions that increase oxygen demand.
Age-associated Iron Accumulation in Bone: Implications for Postmenopausal Osteoporosis and a New Target for Prevention and Treatment by Chelation

Iron accumulation in tissues is believed to be a characteristic of aged humans and a risk factor for some chronic diseases. However, it is not known whether age-associated iron accumulation is part of the pathogenesis of postmenopausal osteoporosis that affects approximately one out three women worldwide. Here, we confirmed that this accumulation of iron was associated with osteopenia in ovariectomized (OVX) rats (a model of peri- and postmenopausal osteoporosis due to estrogen deficiency). To further investigate whether the increased iron level plays a causal role in the onset of bone loss, we treated OVX rats with an orally active and bone targeted chelator that prevented iron accumulation in their skeletal tissues. The results showed that this treatment mitigated the loss of bone mass and the deterioration of bone micro-architecture. We also found that one possible mechanism of the protective action of iron chelation was to significantly reduce bone resorption. Thus, these findings provide a novel target and a potentially useful therapeutic strategy for the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis and perhaps other age-related diseases.
Filtrations in semisimple rings

In this paper, we describe the maximal bounded 2-filtrations of Artinian semisimple rings. These turn out. to be the filtrations associated to finite Z-gradings. We a.lso consider simple Artinian rings with involution, in characteristic ¬= 2, and we determine those bounded Z-filtrations that are maximal subject to being stable under the action of the involution. Finally, we briefly discuss the analogous questions for filtrations with respect. to other Archimedean ordered groups.
HINDUTVA: THE SHAPING OF A NEW “HINDU” IDENTITY

This paper examines the Hindu-Muslim conflict in India within the context of nationalist party politics in the sub-continent. This paper analyzes the environment within which the Hindu nationalist message was and is currently being formulated; the organizational structure of the movement; and the symbols and strategies that have helped to popularize the message on Hindutva in recent years. The paper concludes with an analysis of the popular response to Hindutva and the problems facing the BJP and Us parent organizations in carrying out the program toward a revolutionized Hindu rashtra. The aim is to provide an understanding of the historical and political forces at work in the recent anti-Muslim violence in India.
EXPERIMENTAL CONTAGIOUS ECTHYMA IN MULE DEER, WHITE-TAILED DEER, PRONGHORN AND WAPITI1

Hand-reared mule deer fawns (Odocoileus hemionus), white-tailed deer fawns (Odocoileus virginianus), pronghorn fawns (Antilocapra americana) and wapiti calves (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) were exposed to contagious ecthyma lesion material obtained from Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis canadensis) to determine the susceptibility and pathogenesis in these species. All four species developed mucocutaneous proliferative lesions of the oral cavity, grossly and histologically compatible with contagious ecthyma. The limited clinical responses to the virus indicated that contagious ecthyma would not seriously impact free-ranging individuals.
E-Beam Direct-Write Lithography/Nanoimprint Lithography and Aviation

This PDF file contains the editorial “E-Beam Direct-Write Lithography/Nanoimprint Lithography and Aviation” for JM3 Vol. 6 Issue 01
Efficacy, Trust, and Political Behavior An Attempt to Resolve a Lingering Conceptual Dilemma

Political efficacy and political trust are concepts which have become central to the study of political behavior, yet different studies continue to conceptualize and operationalize these variables in different ways. This study builds upon previous research in an attempt to clarify our understanding of the dimensions of political efficacy and their relationship to political trust. Evidence from three independent samples suggests that "input efficacy" and "output efficacy" are distinct attitudinal dimensions, that each is related in different ways to political trust, and that each may help us to better understand the psychological bases of political action.
Vibrational excitation of NO scattered from Cu(110)

The vibrational excitation of nitric oxide (NO) has been observed in molecular beam scattering from Cu(110). The degree of vibrational excitation increases exponentially with increasing surface temperature and depends linearly on the incident translational energy. The scattered rotational state distribution in both NO(v = 0) and NO(v = 1) depends strongly on the incident translational energy and weakly on the surface temperature which is indicative of direct inelastic scattering. If only mechanical forms of energy transfer between the molecule and the surface are considered, vibrational excitation of the molecules is unlikely. The exponential surface temperature dependence observed could be an indication of electronically mediated energy transfer.
Search for short-lived isomer of 204Tl

Abstract After 9.4 y observation, the best half-life for 204 Tl is 3.825±0.003 y. No evidence of a short-lived (about 2.5 y) isomer of 204 Tl has been found.
A markov-renewal-modulated tes model for jpeg-like compressed "star wars" video

The Bulk Of Previous Work In Video Source Modeling Has Been Confined To Short Se Quences Of Empirical Records, Which Attempt To Capture The Autocorrelations Of Empirical Bit Rate Records. This Talk Presents A Novel Approach To Video Modeling With Two Main Contributions. First, It Presents A Model Of A Full-length Movie (a Jpeg-like Version Of "star-wars"); And Second, It Captures Both The Distribution And Autocorrelation Functions Of The Empirical Record. The Modeling Methodology Developed Consists Of Several Stages. The Video Se Quence Is First Segmented Into Scenes. Individual Scenes Are Then Classified (by Mean Bit Rate) Into Classes, Each Of Which Is Assumed To Consist Of Sample Realizations From The Same Probability Law - In This Case A Tes (transform-expand-sample) Process. The Classification Is Accomplished Via An Iterative Heuristic Procedure For Partitional Clustering Of The Set Of Scenes, Having Identified A Suitable Set Of Partitioning Criteria And Parameters. Next, A Tes Model Is Derived For Each Class; Each Tes Model Simultaneously Captures The Empirical Marginal Distribution (histogram) And Autocorrelation Function Of The Corresponding Scene Class. Scene Transitions In The Movie Are Modeled As A Sim Ple Markov Chain Whose State Space Consists Of Just Four States (scene Classes). Scene Durations Are Modeled As Class-dependont Renewal Processes, One For Each Class. Thus, The Entire Movie Is Modeled As A Markov-renewal-modulated Tes (mrmt) Process With Class-dependent Holding Times, Generalizing The Well-known Markov-modulated Poisson Process (mmpp). Having Generated A "synthetic" Monte Carlo Simulation Of The Bit Rate Process Of "star Wars", The Simulation Statistics Were Compared To Their Empirical Counterparts And Were Found To Be In General Good Agreement. The Results Support The Efficacy Of The Modeling Methodology And Suggest That A Benchmark Of Realistic And Compact Source Models Of Full-motion Video, Suitable For Driving Realistic Monte Carlo Simulations Of Broadband Telecommunications Networks, Can Be Developed By This Methodology For Other Types Of Movies Under A Variety Of Coding Schemes.
Sharp local embedding inequalities

In this paper we establish local versions of the Onofri and sharp Sobolev inequalities. Such local inequalities enable us to give a more direct and simpler proof of the Onofri inequality on 2, as well as an alternative proof of sharp Sobolev inequalities on n (for n ≥ 3). © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Serum gonadotropins in rats fed a low-valine diet.

Female rats fed a low-valine diet from the time of weaning have been shown to have delayed puberty compared to growth-matched controls. To explore the mechanism of this delay, serum LH and FSH were measured in rats fed the lowvaline diet and in growth-matched control rats at several ages prior to puberty. Hormonal determinations at each time point were made both in the basal state and after LHRH administration or castration. After age 27 days, the mean basal serum FSH was lower in the low-valine group than in the control group. The mean serum levels of LH and FSH after oophorectomy were significantly lower in the low-valine group than in the control group, although the mean serum levels of LH and FSH after LHRH administration to intact animals were similar in both groups. The combination of impaired response to castration with unimpaired pituitary response to LHRH suggests that the lowvaline group had a hypothalamic defect which accounts for their delayed sexual maturation when compared to growth-matched ...
General considerations and interrelationships between ma and ar models, time series in m dimensions, the arma model

The paper describes a general linear stochastic model which supposes a time series to be generated by a linear aggregation of random shocks at various temporal and spatial locations. It is a combination of autoregressive and moving average models (ARMA). The autocorrelation functions and power spectra are determined,
A single dose of a neuron-binding human monoclonal antibody improves brainstem NAA concentrations, a biomarker for density of spinal cord axons, in a model of progressive multiple sclerosis

Intracerebral infection of susceptible mouse strains with Theiler’s murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) results in chronic demyelinating disease with progressive axonal loss and neurologic dysfunction similar to progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). We previously showed that as the disease progresses, a marked decrease in brainstem N-acetyl aspartate (NAA; metabolite associated with neuronal integrity) concentrations, reflecting axon health, is measured. We also demonstrated stimulation of neurite outgrowth by a neuron-binding natural human antibody, IgM12. Treatment with either the serum-derived or recombinant human immunoglobulin M 12 (HIgM12) preserved functional motor activity in the TMEV model. In this study, we examined IgM-mediated changes in brainstem NAA concentrations and central nervous system (CNS) pathology. 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) showed that treatment with HIgM12 significantly increased brainstem NAA concentrations compared to controls in TMEV-infected mice. Pathologic analysis demonstrated a significant preservation of axons in the spinal cord of animals treated with HIgM12. This study links drug efficacy of slowing deficits with axon preservation and NAA concentrations in the brainstem in a model of progressive MS. HIgM12-mediated changes of NAA concentrations in the brainstem are a surrogate marker of axon injury/preservation throughout the spinal cord. This study provides proof-of-concept that a neuron-reactive human IgM can be therapeutic and provides a biomarker for clinical trials.
The implementation of SCATT

A brief description of the current field of Science and Technology Information Transfer clearly indicates that it suffers from a number of problems which cannot be solved unless a whole-system perspective is adopted. A planning methodology is needed which would allow us to organize a cooperative effort of different stakeholders to design an image of the desired system. Idealized planning is such a methodology. It was applied in a large participative planning effort aimed at an idealized design of a Scientific Communication and Technology Transfer System. This design is briefly described. Various alternative strategies for implementing change in the field of science and technology information transfer are reviewed. Difficulties arising from incrementalist and rational-comprehensive approaches are contrasted. The role of a planner in implementing change is also discussed. Finally, the experience generated with the idealized planning approach is used in order to build a typology of stakeholders in the field. They are categorized by personal traits and by institutional characteristics.
Modeling the time-course of Alzheimer dementia.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) progresses from a preclinical period, through a middle phase of cognitive deterioration, to a late, profound state. The temporal progression of disability can be modeled with a horologic (time-based) function using “time-index” (TI) intervals (day-or yearunits) to quantify an individual’s disability across multiple cognitive and functional domains relative to a reference AD population. Clinicians and researchers can use TI quantification to assess dementia severity and initial therapy benefits. Rate of progression and confidence intervals require at least two successive measurements. Rate of progression measures can be used to support diagnosis and to investigate disease-course-modifying therapies.
Digital villiage: digital politics 2000

JO H N U EL A N D In my column four years ago (“Digital Village,” Oct. 1996, p. 19), I tried to objectively critique the political uses of cyberspace at that time. My guiding theme remains as timely and appropriate today as then: is there any reason to believe the Internet and cyberspace are having a significant positive effect on the political activities of modern democracies? Democracies, or at least “Western democracies,” are at the same time the most robust and fragile of governments. Their robustness derives from their theoretically broad-based social foundation: all responsible citizens are allowed to participate equally in the political processes of government, via fair and free elections. The electorate becomes enlightened via such freedoms as speech, press, assembly, and the like, and casts its will by majority rule. This power of the majority, constrained by the commonly agreed-upon, persistent “law of the land” of constitutional democracies, is a formidable barrier to both the abuse of power and the tyranny of self-serving minorities—whether political, religious, or ethnic. Government is thus regulated by formal consensus rather than serendipity, tradition, or divine inspiration. Or, at least that’s how it’s supposed to work. The fragility of democracies derives from the practical difficulties of keeping the electorate, the Constitution, and the enlightened public
Seasonal Movements and Environmental Triggers to Fall Migration of Sage Sparrows

Abstract Post-breeding ecology of shrubland passerines prior to onset of migration is unknown relative to dynamics of breeding areas. We radiomarked and monitored 38 Sage Sparrows (Amphispiza belli ssp. nevadensis) at one site in Oregon and two in Nevada from September to mid-November 2007 to track local movements, estimate seasonal range sizes, and characterize weather patterns triggering onset of migration. Median area used by Sage Sparrows monitored between 3 and 18 days during or prior to migration was 14 ha; maximum daily movement was 15 km. Radio-marked Sage Sparrows at each location departed individually, rather than en masse, corresponding with passage of cold front weather systems. Conventional telemetry techniques limited our ability to monitor Sage Sparrows beyond pre-migratory periods and precluded detecting and tracking actual movements during migration.
Bootstrap procedures for time series analysis of BOD data

Abstract Recently, Hannan studied the resolution of closely adjacent spectral lines. In the paper, he discusses the problem of determining the parameters of a trigonometric polynomial when it is observed with stationary noise. He also obtains the asymptotic properties of the estimates of these parameters. The purpose of this paper is to fit a trigonometric polynomial to a Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) data set and to examine the sampling properties of the estimates of the parameters of the model by using the empirical bootstrap procedure. In particular, 95% bootstrap confidence intervals of the estimates are obtained. We also employ the Bayesian bootstrap technique to obtain the interval estimates of the parameters. The problem of prediction using the empirical and Bayesian bootstrap procedures is also studied. This model, when compared with time series models of the form ARIMA ( p , d , q ), gives better fit in terms of a lower mean squared error ( MSE ).
Quantitative study of the effect of lidocaine on the threshold for ventricular fibrillation in the dog.

Abstract The effects of lidocaine upon the current required to induce ventricular fibrillation was assessed during normal supraventricular rhythm and after premature ventricular beats. Ventricular fibrillation thresholds were determined by passing a train of 10 to 15 constant current pulses, each 4 msec in duration, at 10 msec intervals through ventricular epicardial electrodes during the vulnerable period. The intensity of the current pulses was varied, and the ventricular fibrillation threshold was defined as the current in milliamperes which caused ventricular fibrillation. Our data show that during administration of lidocaine the ventricular fibrillation threshold after both normal and premature beats increased; that is, fibrillation was more difficult to evoke in the presence of lidocaine. Over a range of 0 to 6¦μ¦g/ml the ventricular fibrillation threshold increased in direct proportion to the increase in blood level of lidocaine. The time courses describing the change in ventricular fibrillation threshold and the blood levels of lidocaine correlated directly with each other. The half-life for the disappearance of lidocaine from the blood was 32 minutes. These studies describe the metabolism of lidocaine in the anesthetized dog and quantify the ability of lidocaine to reduce the vulnerability of the heart to fibrillation.
Fluorophore(s) Appended Fullerene Dyads and Triads for Probing Photoinduced Energy Transfer: Syntheses, Electronic Structure, and Fluorescence Studies

Fullerene, C60 was functionalized to possess one or two fluorophore entities. The fluorophore–fullerene dyads thus synthesized contain either a naphthalene, pyrene, or fluorene entity while the triads contain either a pyrene or fluorene entity in addition to a naphthalene entity. The redox behavior of these dyads and triads were probed by cyclic voltammetric technique, while the geometry and electronic structures were deduced from ab initio B3LYP/3-21G(*) method. Steady-state emission studies revealed the occurrence of energy transfer from the singlet excited fluorophore to the fullerene entity in the case of the dyads while the occurrence of step-by-step sequential energy transfer is envisioned in the case of the triads. A better ‘antenna-effect’ owing to the extended range of excitation wavelength to induce energy transfer to the appended fullerene has been achieved in the case of the triads.
Simulating Magnetic Susceptibility Profiles in Loess as an Aid in Quantifying Rates of Dust Deposition and Pedogenic Development

Magnetic susceptibility profiles χ(z) in loess sequences reflect a combination of two climatically modulated processes: dust deposition and pedogenic development. Prominent soils with high χ values, for example, likely reflect periods of slow dust deposition, and warm wet conditions favorable for rapid chemical weathering. To refine our understanding of the climate records contained in loess, we develop a numerical model as a tool for exploring quantitatively the integrated record of the temporal variation in rates of loess aggradation and soil development contained in χ profiles. In our model, the aggrading loess is pedogenically altered in a reactive zone near the ground surface. The strength of the χ signal is dictated by both the depth-dependent intensity of pedogenic processes and the rate of dust accumulation, which dictates the total time a loess parcel spends in the near-surface reactive zone. The model can accommodate both pedogenic production of magnetically susceptible minerals and arrival of magnetically susceptible grains as eolian dust. To explore the model performance and develop a sense of time and length scales implicit in χ profiles, we first examine simple synthetic cases with idealized steady and cyclic climatic forcing. Reported χ profiles in three Chinese loess sequences at varying distances from the western China dust source are then modeled in two illustrative ways: (i) by imposing a specific dust deposition rate history that is proportional to the dust accumulation rate history reported from western Pacific deep-sea cores, allowing the time variation of pedogenic rates to be calculated directly from χ profiles; and (ii) by imposing both dust accumulation and pedogenic rate histories that are independently scaled by the deep-sea δ18O history, which reflects global climate cycles to which regional climate forcing is linked. We find that the zone of pedogenic activity is roughly 0.5–1.0 m thick, both deposition rate and pedogenic intensity have varied dramatically over the last 140,000 yr, the age structure of the Luochuan loess sequence is best fit by driving the model with the δ18O record, and environmental conditions must have been anomalously favorable for pedogenesis during isotope stage 3 at all three sites. Finally, we advocate the assembly of a variety of data types at a suite of sites within any loess field that taken together will better constrain the temporal and spatial patterns of climatically modulated deposition and pedogenic processes.
Development and validation of a hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method for the quantification of lipid-related extracellular metabolites in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A highly sensitive hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HILIC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the quantification of glycerophosphoinositol (GroPIns), glycerophosphocholine (GroPCho), glycerol 3-phosphate (GroP), inositol, and choline in the extracellular medium of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The media samples were pretreated with a single two-phase liquid extraction. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a Waters Xbridge HILIC (150 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) column under isocratic conditions using a mobile phase composed of acetonitrile/water, 70:30 (v/v) with 10mM ammonium acetate (pH adjusted to 4.5) at a flow-rate of 0.5 mL/min. Using a triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer, samples were detected in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode via an electrospray ionization (ESI) source. The calibration curves were linear (r² ≥ 0.995) over the range of 0.5-150 nM, with the lower limit of quantitation validated at 0.5 nM for all analytes. The intra- and inter-day precision (calculated by coefficient of variation, CV%) ranged from 1.24 to 5.88% and 2.46 to 9.77%, respectively, and intra- and inter-day accuracy (calculated by relative error, RE%) was between -8.42 to 8.22% and -9.35 to 6.62%, respectively, at all quality control levels. The extracellular metabolites were stable throughout various storage stability studies. The fully validated method was successfully applied to determine the extracellular levels of phospholipid-related metabolites in S. cerevisiae.
Experimental study of a new corona-based unipolar aerosol charger

Abstract A corona-based unipolar aerosol charger has been constructed, and its performance has been systematically evaluated. The prototype consists of completely separated corona ionization and charging chambers. With this configuration the electrostatic loss of charged particles is eliminated, and particle loss by diffusion and the space charge effect is minimized by the angular injection of the ionizer flow and the rapid exit of charged particles. The charger performance was optimized by varying different operational parameters, i.e., total and ionizer flowrates, and ion concentration. It was found that operation with one corona ionizer gave higher extrinsic charging efficiency than operation with two ionizers. The corona-discharge current has negligible effect on the charging performance. Operating the charger at a total flowrate of 5 lpm, with 1.0 lpm flow in each of the two ionizers, gave the highest extrinsic charging efficiency. Further, the performance of prototype charger was not compromised even at a total flowrate of 10 lpm. The charger provides higher extrinsic charging efficiency than other corona-based unipolar chargers. Extrinsic charge distributions for particles of different sizes were at last measured by the tandem-DMA technique.
Relative importance of coherent structures vs background turbulence in the propagation of a premixed flame

Abstract For premixed flames in the “flamelet” regime, where turbulence length scales are significantly greater than the flame thickness, it has been asserted that the principal contribution to flame surface area is generated by vortical structures present in the reacting gas mixture. Several direct numerical simulation (DNS) studies of premixed combustion implicitly follow this assumption by only considering a flame interacting with a single, well-defined vortical structure; however, the important issue of whether the majority of flame surface area is actually caused by vortical structures, as opposed to the featureless background turbulence has not been satisfactorily addressed. We consider this question using direct numerical simulations (DNS). As shown by She, Jackson and Orszag ( Nature 344:226, 1990), scrambling the phase of the velocity field in Fourier space (or wave number space) eliminates coherent structures from the turbulent field. Consequently, DNS provides an opportunity to evaluate the importance of coherent structures by comparing flames propagating through Navier-Stokes turbulence with those passing through phase-scrambled (coherent-structure-free) turbulence. The idea of scrambling the phasing of the velocity components is extremely attractive since the scrambled velocity field is free of any coherent vortical structures yet is nearly identical to the Navier-Stokes velocity in all other respects. The results show that the turbulent burning velocity is predominantly influenced by the featureless background turbulence over the range of parameters considered, although there is approximately a 4–7% increase in the flame speed that results from the presence of structures. The topologies of the flame surfaces from the scrambled and unscrambled turbulence are also very similar.
A fuzzy simulation–optimization approach for optimal estimation of groundwater availability under decision maker uncertainty

As groundwater is a slowly replenishing resource that can be depleted relatively easily, there is a growing interest in actively managing aquifer resources. Participatory, multi-stakeholder driven approaches are increasingly being adopted to plan groundwater use such that the resource is available for present as well as future needs. The state of Texas requires neighboring GCDs (local regulatory bodies) within a groundwater management area (GMA) to engage in joint planning activities and define desired future conditions (DFCs) for the aquifers they regulate. The DFCs are then used to estimate modeled available groundwater which defines how much water is available within an aquifer in a given region. The groundwater joint planning process was modeled using a combined simulation–optimization modeling scheme in this study. The response surface methodology was used to establish regional-scale aquifer stress-response relationships. In addition to average county-wide drawdown, other aquifer responses including stream-aquifer exchanges, coastal-aquifer exchanges and GMA-wide drawdown were considered to define the DFCs. A constrained linear regression was used in conjunction with a regional groundwater flow model to obtain the necessary response functions which formed the basis for a crisp optimization model whose objective was maximizing groundwater production while ensuring that the prescribed DFCs are not violated (constraints). This model was transformed into a fuzzy linear programming model to account for the fact that groundwater planners find it difficult to specify DFCs with a high degree of precision. Using linear membership functions, the decision makers’ preferences were captured using two values––a minimum preferred cut-off and the maximum allowable value for the metric. For estimating groundwater availability, the fuzzy optimization model reconciles production and maximizes the goal and the constraints representing the DFCs. The developed framework was illustrated by applying it to joint planning in Groundwater Management Area 15 in South Texas. The optimization models were highly sensitive to acceptable average drawdowns, while the coastal-aquifer interactions had secondary impacts. The fuzzy optimization model yielded lower estimates of groundwater availability in comparison to the crisp optimization scheme. The fuzzy optimization model is therefore consistent with the precautionary principle and recommended for use in the early stages of groundwater planning where incomplete understanding of the aquifer dynamics precludes specification of precise limits for the DFCs.
MR angiography in pediatric neurological disorders

MR angiography using 3D and 2D time-of-flight techniques were used to evaluate pediatric neurological disorders. MRA (arteriography) and MRV (venography) were abnormal in 63 and 45 cases, respectively. Conventional cerebral angiography was performed in 30 cases. These techniques were compared with MRI and conventional angiography. In addition, the value of MR angiography for surgical planning was subjectively evaluated. Our results showed that intracranial vessels were invariably better showed on MR angiography than on MRI. MRA and MRV were most useful in evaluating vascular distortions related to congenital brain malformations and intracranial tumors. MRA was valuable in detecting arterial narrowing but overestimated the degree of stenosis compared with conventional angiography. MRV was the technique of choice for evaluation of dural sinus and cerebral venous thrombosis and compression. MRA played little to no role in preoperative planning of vascular malformations and aneurysms. It did not appear to be accurate in assessing tumor vascularity or lesions in small arteries and arteritis.
TrkB kinase is required for recovery, but not loss, of cortical responses following monocular deprivation

Changes in visual cortical responses that are induced by monocular visual deprivation are a widely studied example of competitive, experience-dependent neural plasticity. It has been thought that the deprived-eye pathway will fail to compete against the open-eye pathway for limited amounts of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which acts on TrkB and is needed to sustain effective synaptic connections. We tested this model by using a chemical-genetic approach in mice to inhibit TrkB kinase activity rapidly and specifically during the induction of cortical plasticity in vivo. Contrary to the model, TrkB kinase activity was not required for any of the effects of monocular deprivation. When the deprived eye was re-opened during the critical period, cortical responses to it recovered. This recovery was blocked by TrkB inhibition. These findings suggest a more conventional trophic role for TrkB signaling in the enhancement of responses or growth of new connections, rather than a role in competition.
How to Pass Information and Deliver Energy to a Network of Implantable Devices within the Human Body

It has been envisioned that a body network can be built to collect data from, and transport information to, implanted miniature devices at multiple sites within the human body. Currently, two problems of utmost importance remain unsolved: 1) how to link information between a pair of implants at a distance? and 2) how to provide electric power to these implants allowing them to function and communicate? In this paper, we present new solutions to these problems by minimizing the intra-body communication distances. We show that, based on a study of human anatomy, the maximum distance from the body surface to the deepest point inside the body is approximately 15 cm. This finding provides an upper bound for the lengths of communication pathways required to reach the body's interior. We also show that these pathways do not have to cross any joins within the body. In order to implement the envisioned body network, we present the design of a new device, called an energy pad. This small-size, lightweight device can easily interface with the skin to perform data communication with, and supply power to, miniature implants.
A Factor Analysis of Advertising Practitioners' Perceptions of Advertising Ethics:

This research investigated the perceptions of advertising ethics among 460 members of the American Advertising Federation. A principal components factor analysis of members' perceptions, measured by 17 statements, produced four factors of “agencies' standards,” “active public responsibility,” “advertising claims,” and “agencies' social responsibility.” These factors, then used as composite independent variables in a forward stepwise multiple-regression analysis, showed that Factor 3 (“advertising claims”) was the best predictor of the application of deontological (or nonconsequential) ethics to ethically troublesome situations in advertising. Implications of these results for advertising ethics are outlined and suggestions for further research are offered.
Guided and defect modes in periodic dielectric waveguides

The nature of guided modes and defect modes in periodic dielectric waveguides is investigated computationally for model systems in two dimensions. It is shown that defect states that exist within the band gap of guided modes can be excited to form tightly localized high-Q resonances.
Evaluation and Management of Acute Vascular Trauma

With the technical advances and the increasing availability of sophisticated imaging equipment, techniques, and protocols, and with continually evolving transcatheter endovascular therapies, minimally invasive imaging and treatment options are being routinely used for the clinical management of trauma patients. Thus, the primary treatment algorithm for managing acute vascular trauma now increasingly involves the interventional radiologist or other endovascular specialist. Endovascular techniques represent an attractive option for both stabilizing and definitively treating patients who have sustained significant trauma, with resultant vascular injury. Endovascular treatment frequently offers the benefit of a focused definitive therapy, even in the presence of massive hemorrhage that allows for preservation of major vessels or injured solid organs and serves as an alternative to an open surgical intervention. This article presents an overview of various endovascular techniques that can be used for trauma patients presenting with vascular injuries.
Improving science achievement at high-poverty urban middle schools†‡

A large percentage of U.S. students attending high-poverty urban middle schools achieve low levels of science proficiency, posing significant challenges to their success in high school science and to national and local efforts to reform science education. Through its work in Philadelphia schools, the Center for Social Organization of Schools at Johns Hopkins University developed a teacher-support model to address variation in science curricula, lack of materials, and underprepared teachers that combined with initial low levels of proficiency block improvements in science achievement. The model includes a common science curriculum based on NSF-supported materials commercially available, ongoing teacher professional development built around day-to-day lessons, and regular in-class support of teachers by expert peer coaches. One cohort of students at three Philadelphia middle schools using the model was followed from the end of fourth grade through seventh grade. Their gains in science achievement and achievement levels were substantially greater than students at 3 matched control schools and the 23 district middle schools serving a similar student population. Under school-by-school comparisons, these results held for the two schools with adequate implementation. Using widely available materials and techniques, the model can be adopted and modified by school partners and districts. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Sci Ed90:1005–1027, 2006
Antigen-induced changes in lymphoid cell histones. IV. Changes in solubility of isolated chromatin.

In this study we have examined the solubility of deoxyribonucleoprotein (DNP) isolated from control and antigen-affected thymocytes. 2-M sodium chloride extracts containing the DNP of rat thymus glands were serially diluted. A comparison was made of the effect of dilution on fiber formation in the control and test series. Fiber formation is usually complete for the control material at a salt concentration between 0.63 and 0.57 M. The test material shows some fiber formation within this range. However, a significant portion of the DNP is precipitated at dilutions of 0.54–0.48 M. Ammoniacal silver (A-S) stains the control fibers a characteristic yellowish color. With the test material, those fibers formed within the control range tended to be stained yellowish brown by A-S, whereas those formed only after greater dilution stained blackish. These data, coupled with our previous observations on altered A-S staining, clearly demonstrate an antigen-induced physical and/or chemical alteration of the histone or histone-DNA complex of lymphoid cell chromatin.
ALD of Scandium Oxide from Scandium Tris(N , N ′ -diisopropylacetamidinate) and Water

Sc 2 O 3 films were deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD) from a new precursor scandium tris(N,N'-diisopropylacetamidinate) and water. The precursor is thermally stable (>350°C), volatile, with good reactivity to HF-last silicon. A growth rate of 0.3 A/cycle was obtained at 290°C. The films were pure (C,N < 0.5 atom %) and had a refractive index of 1.8. Reactive ion etching tests on ALD scandia showed an etch rate 18 times slower than ALD hafnia. Electrical measurements showed a high permittivity of ∼17, and a leakage current density of <3 × 10 -3 A/cm 2 for an equivalent oxide thickness of 1.8 nm at 1.0 V.
Iron acquisition in plague: modular logic in enzymatic biogenesis of yersiniabactin by Yersinia pestis

Abstract Background: Virulence in the pathogenic bacterium Yersinia pestis , causative agent of bubonic plague, has been correlated with the biosynthesis and transport of an iron-chelating siderophore, yersiniabactin, which is induced under iron-starvation conditions. Initial DNA sequencing suggested that this system is highly conserved among the pathogenic Yersinia . Yersiniabactin contains a phenolic group and three five-membered thiazole heterocycles that serve as iron ligands. Results: The entire Y. pestis yersiniabactin region has been sequenced. Sequence analysis of yersiniabactin biosynthetic regions ( irp2-ybtE and ybtS ) reveals a strategy for siderophore production using a mixed polyketide synthase/nonribosomal peptide synthetase complex formed between HMWP1 and HMWP2 (encoded by irp1 and irp2 ). The complex contains 16 domains, five of them variants of phosphopantetheine-modified peptidyl carrier protein or acyl carrier protein domains. HMWP1 and HMWP2 also contain methyltransferase and heterocyclization domains. Mutating ybtS revealed that this gene encodes a protein essential for yersiniabactin synthesis. Conclusions: The HMWP1 and HMWP2 domain organization suggests that the yersiniabactin siderophore is assembled in a modular fashion, in which a series of covalent intermediates are passed from the amino terminus of HMWP2 to the carboxyl terminus of HMWP1. Biosynthetic labeling studies indicate that the three yersiniabactin methyl moieties are donated by S -adenosylmethionine and that the linker between the thiazoline and thiazolidine rings is derived from malonyl-CoA. The salicylate moiety is probably synthesized using the aromatic amino-acid biosynthetic pathway, the final step of which converts chorismate to salicylate. YbtS might be necessary for converting chorismate to salicylate.
Integrating Perl, Tcl and C++ into simulation-based ASIC verification environments

As ASIC designs become more complex, it follows that the complexity of the verification environments for such designs increases dramatically as well. However, while System-on-Chip methodologies and thought processes have been strongly accepted and utilized for the HDL design, there has not been a concurrent type of strong process taking place for verification environments. That is, the HDL of an ASIC design can be divided, even sub-divided, into understandable but reasonably sized components whose behavior can be comprehended in a reasonable amount of time However, any verification environment that is created or generated for these design sub-blocks remains highly complex, whether written in HDL or any of the various verification or scripting languages now available. This paper will address issues faced and lessons learned by an ASIC design team whose product is a highly complex SOC-based design. The team's desire was to integrate C++, Tcl and Perl together in a coherent, highly intelligent and usable verification environment for the ASIC. This effort was highly successful (although there have been some less encouraging moments along the way) and the resulting simulation environment is being used now with acceptable results.
Therapy development for neuromuscular diseases: translating hope into promise.

The Second Muscular Dystrophy Association Scientific Meeting was held on 21–24 April 2013 in Washington (DC, USA). The meeting provided an opportunity for research scientists, clinicians, government agencies and industry experts to highlight and discuss different aspects of therapy development for neuromuscular diseases, including novel targets, biomarkers, therapeutic approaches, animal models and clinical trials. With 500 participants, 66 presentations and 200 abstracts, the 3-day conference has become a central focus for scientists interested in translational research and moving potential therapies forward from the bench to the bedside. Key issues covered by the meeting included the need to identify new drugs to treat patients with neuromuscular diseases and the importance of establishing collaborations between government, academic and industry sectors toward an efficient and rigorous translational path for neuromuscular diseases.
Coupling on-line and off-line profile information to improve program performance

In this paper we describe a novel execution environment for Java programs that substantially improves execution performance by incorporating both on-line and off-line profile information to guide dynamic optimization. By using both types of profile collection techniques, we are able to exploit the strengths of each constituent approach: profile accuracy and low overhead. Such coupling also reduces the negative impact of these approaches when each is used in isolation. On-line profiling introduces overhead for dynamic instrumentation, measurement, and decision making. Off-line profile information can be inaccurate when program inputs for execution and optimization differ from those used for profiling. To combat these drawbacks and to achieve the benefits from both online and off-line profiling, we developed a dynamic compilation system (based on JikesRVM) that makes use of both. As a result, we are able improve Java program performance by 9% on average, for the programs studied.