cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Urinary Excretion of Epinephrine and Norepinephrine During Pregnancy

ABSTRACT Base line data on free urinary epinephrine and norepinephrine in 6 normal pregnant patients is presented. Significant data found was an increased urinary norepinephrine excretion the first 24 hr following delivery (D+1). This value was 3 times greater than antepartum or postpartum values. This increased NE excretion, which returns to normal during the second 24 hr postpartum, is a reflection of the stress of late labor and delivery process. Antepartum, postpartum and nonpregnant values were essentially the same for both epinephrine and norepinephrine.
Functional Testing for Industrial Control Systems

Functional testing is an essential part of the process of developing trust in safety-critical control systems. A typical life cycle for a control system begins with a functional specification, which defines the system functionality. An important step in the design-to-commissioning process is the on-line functional testing that typically precedes release for operation. The functional testing is usually the last step in verifying operation and validating the design of the control system with respect to the functional description. Functional testing can often be the last chance to catch costly mistakes that may result from a system performing in unexpected ways. Many aspects of functional testing need careful consideration, including identifying hazards that the system is to guard against, developing tests to validate the control system response to the potential hazards, and performing the functional tests. This paper includes several case studies that highlight incidents where the functional testing has caught flaws in the control system that could have lead to catastrophic failures. Additional case studies where functional tests were not completed and catastrophic failures did occur are discussed and the lack of functional testing in those cases is examined. A simple methodology for selecting control loops that may benefit from functional testing is presented and useful guidance documents are identified.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Should we use ambulatory blood pressure monitoring to guide therapy

Blood pressure (BP) measured exclusively in the office setting is no longer acceptable as a sole criterion for diagnosing and treating hypertension. Out-of-office measurements are needed. The limitations of office measurements are principally the result of the small number of readings and the white coat effect. Ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) is the gold standard for assessing an individual patient’s risk and hence the need for treatment. Patients who have a high nocturnal BP (nondippers) may be at high risk, and the dipping pattern may be normalized by drug treatment. In addition, it is important to assess that treatment is lowering BP for the full 24 hours (peak and trough effects). However, ABPM is not well suited to the repeated assessments that are needed for the evaluation of the response to treatment. For this, home monitoring is preferred and, by using morning and evening measurements, the effects of treatment on the trough and peak BP can be determined.
Intelligence as Developing Expertise

This essay describes how intelligence can be viewed as developing expertise. The general conception of intelligence as developing expertise is described. Then research examples are given that, in conjunction, seem odd under traditional interpretations of abilities but that make sense as a whole in the context of the developing-expertise model. It is concluded that this new model offers potential for better understanding intelligence-related phenomena.
Scrotal Cystic Lymphangioma: The Misdiagnosed Scrotal Mass

AbstractPurpose: We report 7 cases of scrotal cystic lymphangioma and review the literature on this unusual lesion, which is often misdiagnosed as other conditions and treated incorrectly.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 7 patients with scrotal cystic lymphangioma treated from 1984 to 1996 at 5 institutions.Results: Mean patient age at presentation was 3 years and painless scrotal swelling was the most common symptom. Physical examination demonstrated an unusual cystic scrotal mass with a normal testis and cord in most patients, and ultrasound in 4 showed a complex septated cystic mass. Preoperative misdiagnosis in all 7 patients included hernia, hydrocele, hematocele, varicocele and possible torsion. In 6 children the lesions were more extensive than expected with deep perineal and/or inguinal involvement, including 2 who also had pelvic and retroperitoneal extension. Incomplete excision led to recurrence in 4 patients.Conclusions: Scrotal cystic lymphangioma pres...
Evaluation of medical image compression by Gabor elementary functions

Compression methods based on Gabor functions are implemented for simulated nuclear medicine liver images with and without simulated lesions. The quality of the compression schemes are assessed objectively by comparing the original images to the compressed images through calculation of the Hotelling trace, an index shown to track with human observers for images from this modality.1 For compression based on thresholding the complex Gabor coefficients, better than 2: 1 compression is obtained without significant degradation in image quality.
The setting of vinyl polysiloxane and condensation silicone putties when mixed with gloved hands

The effect on setting of vinyl polysiloxane putties and condensation silicone putties when mixed while wearing latex and vinyl gloves was evaluated. In addition, the effect of washed latex gloves and the powder residue on the hands from the removed gloves was evaluated. The vinyl and latex gloves had no effect on any of the condensation silicone putties. The vinyl gloves had no effect on the vinyl polysiloxane putties; however, the latex gloves caused varying degrees of retardation, to complete inhibition of set in the vinyl polysiloxane putties under the various conditions studied. It was concluded that latex gloves should not be worn while dispensing, mixing, or handling vinyl polysiloxane putties. Vinyl gloves should be worn, either over the latex gloves or after removing the latex gloves to maintain asepsis.
Improved percutaneous insertion of long-term central venous catheters in children: the 'shrug' manoeuvre.

Background: Surgical central venous access in children usually requires open exposure of the internal jugular vein or one of its tributaries. The percutaneous route has the potential advantages of a reduced rate of wound infection, superior cosmesis and reduced operating time. We report our modifications to the percutaneous approach that facilitate the application of this technique to children over the age of 12 months. Methods: The dilator and peel-away sheath of the introducer set should be inserted into the subclavian vein under fluoroscopic control. Elevation of the ipsilateral shoulder assists passage of the peel-away sheath and subsequently the catheter from the subclavian vein into the superior vena cava. Results: This technique has been used successfully to establish surgical central venous access in the majority of children at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, over a 3-year period. Conclusions: With the modifications described this technique may be safely applied to the paediatric age group.
The influence of yttrium on oxide scale growth and adherence

Alloys and coatings for high-temperature service are designed to form selectively chromia scales, alumina scales, or, to a limited extent, silica scales upon exposure to the environment. For such oxide scales to be protective, they should be both slow growing and adherent. It turns out that the addition of yttrium to such alloys can often impart both characteristics to the oxide scale. However, the actual operating mechanisms continue to be a matter of controversy among researchers in the area of oxidation. In the present study, the growth and adherence of alumina and chromia scales on alloys containing yttrium, either as an oxide dispersion or as an intermetallic phase, have been investigated in conjunction with detailed oxide scale characterization using the techniques of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). The results of the study are used for critical assessment of the proposed mechanisms, especially the more recent ones, and to suggest some new mechanisms for adherence.
The Isolation and Characterization of Bacterial Strains (Tab32) that Restrict Bacteriophage T4 Gene 32 Mutants

Gene 32 of bacteriophage T4 codes for a single-stranded DNA binding protein. We have isolated mutants of Escherichia coli (called Tab32) that specifically restrict the growth of gene 32 missense mutants and allow normal growth of T4+. During infections of Tab32 with 32tsL171, large amounts of DNA are synthesized and late proteins are made, but very few progeny phage are produced. At least two bacterial mutations are necessary for the restrictive phenotype; these mutations have been mapped to about min 41 and min 64.
Induction of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase in human lymphocytes and pulmonary alveolar macrophages--a comparison.

Abstract Exposure of animals to cigarette smoke causes an increase in the levels of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) in various tissues. The innate capacity for enzyme induction is genetically determined but the extent of induction and AHH levels in various tissues may vary. AHH levels in human pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAMs) were determined and AHH inducibility of cultured lymphocytes from corresponding volunteers was determined. The inducibility by 3-methylcholanthrene of cultured lymphocytes was similar in both smokers and nonsmokers, ranging from 0.2 – 4.2 fold induction. AHH levels in nonsmoker PAMs was 0 – 0.020 units and in smokers was 0.032 – 0.253 units. The correlation of AHH activity in PAMs with lymphocyte inducibility was significant in both nonsmokers and smokers. The regression of AHH in PAMs as compared with AHH inducibility in lymphocytes was 8.5 fold higher in smokers than nonsmokers, reflecting the induction of AHH in PAMs by smoking.
Cell viability and noninvasive in vivo MRI tracking of 3D cell encapsulating self-assembled microcontainers

Several molecular therapies require the implantation of cells that secrete biotherapeutic molecules and imaging the location and microenvironment of the cellular implant to ascertain its function. We demonstrate noninvasive in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of self-assembled microcontainers that are capable of cell encapsulation. Negative contrast was obtained to discern the microcontainer with MRI; positive contrast was obtained in the complete absence of background signal. MRI on a clinical scanner highlights the translational nature of this research. The microcontainers were loaded with cells that were dispersed in an extracellular matrix, and implanted both subcutaneously and in human tumor xenografts in SCID mice. MRI was performed on the implants, and microcontainers retrieved postimplantation showed cell viability both within and proximal to the implant. The microcontainers are characterized by their small size, three dimensionality, controlled porosity, ease of parallel fabrication, chemical and mechanical stability, and noninvasive traceability in vivo.
Medroxyprogesterone acetate and the nuclear uptake of testosterone and its metabolites by brain, pituitary gland and genital tract in male cynomolgus monkeys

The synthetic progestin, medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), is used to treat male sex offenders, and it is also suppressed sexual activity in male monkeys. To examine the possibility that MPA may act as an anti-androgen in the primate brain, 4 intact male cynomolgus monkeys were given MPA (40 mg i.m.) once a week for 16 weeks, while 4 control males received i.m. injections of vehicle. All males were then castrated and 3 days later were given 3 mCi [3H]testosterone ([3H]T) i.v.; 1 h after injection males were killed, and radioactivity in nuclear pellets obtained from the hypothalamus (HYP), preoptic area (POA), amygdala (AMG), septum, pituitary gland and genital tract was analyzed by HPLC. Concentrations of [3H]T and [3H]dihydrotestosterone in nuclear pellets were 65–96% lower in MPA-treated males than in controls (P < 0.001) but the aromatized metabolite, [3H]estradiol, which was the major form of radioactivity present in nuclear pellets from HYP, POA and AMG, was unchanged. There were no differences in concentrations of [3H]T in supernatants from the tissues of MPA-treated and control males. Because the reduced nuclear uptake of androgen in brain occurred in males whose androgen-dependent behavior had been suppressed by MPA treatments, it is proposed that MPA may have anti-androgenic effects at the level of the cell nucleus in brain regions that control behavior.
Endocannabinoids Anandamide and 2-Arachidonoylglycerol Are Substrates for Human CYP2J2 Epoxygenase

The endocannabinoids, anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), are arachidonic acid (AA) derivatives that are known to regulate human cardiovascular functions. CYP2J2 is the primary cytochrome P450 in the human heart and is most well known for the metabolism of AA to the biologically active epoxyeicosatrienoic acids. In this study, we demonstrate that both 2-AG and AEA are substrates for metabolism by CYP2J2 epoxygenase in the model membrane bilayers of nanodiscs. Reactions of CYP2J2 with AEA formed four AEA-epoxyeicosatrienoic acids, whereas incubations with 2-AG yielded detectable levels of only two 2-AG epoxides. Notably, 2-AG was shown to undergo enzymatic oxidative cleavage to form AA through a NADPH-dependent reaction with CYP2J2 and cytochrome P450 reductase. The formation of the predominant AEA and 2-AG epoxides was confirmed using microsomes prepared from the left myocardium of porcine and bovine heart tissues. The nuances of the ligand-protein interactions were further characterized using spectral titrations, stopped-flow small-molecule ligand egress, and molecular modeling. The experimental and theoretical data were in agreement, which showed that substitution of the AA carboxylic acid with the 2-AG ester-glycerol changes the binding interaction of these lipids within the CYP2J2 active site, leading to different product distributions. In summary, we present data for the functional metabolomics of AEA and 2-AG by a membrane-bound cardiovascular epoxygenase.
Stem cells for liver repopulation.

Purpose of review The capacity of the liver to regenerate and maintain a constant size despite injury is unique. However, the exact mechanisms are not completely clear. Cell transplantation has been proposed as an alternative treatment of liver diseases. Recent progress has been reported on the generation of stem/progenitor cells that may differentiate towards the hepatic lineage. However, it is currently difficult to determine which of the stem/progenitor cell populations are the best for therapy of a given disease.
Integration of Canonical and Noncanonical Wnt Signaling Pathways Patterns the Neuroectoderm Along the Anterior–Posterior Axis of Sea Urchin Embryos

Patterning the neuroectoderm along the anterior-posterior (AP) axis is a critical event in the early development of deuterostome embryos. However, the mechanisms that regulate the specification and patterning of the neuroectoderm are incompletely understood. Remarkably, the anterior neuroectoderm (ANE) of the deuterostome sea urchin embryo expresses many of the same transcription factors and secreted modulators of Wnt signaling, as does the early vertebrate ANE (forebrain/eye field). Moreover, as is the case in vertebrate embryos, confining the ANE to the anterior end of the embryo requires a Wnt/β-catenin-dependent signaling mechanism. Here we use morpholino- or dominant negative-mediated interference to demonstrate that the early sea urchin embryo integrates information not only from Wnt/β-catenin but also from Wnt/Fzl5/8-JNK and Fzl1/2/7-PKC pathways to provide precise spatiotemporal control of neuroectoderm patterning along its AP axis. Together, through the Wnt1 and Wnt8 ligands, they orchestrate a progressive posterior-to-anterior wave of re-specification that restricts the initial, ubiquitous, maternally specified, ANE regulatory state to the most anterior blastomeres. There, the Wnt receptor antagonist, Dkk1, protects this state through a negative feedback mechanism. Because these different Wnt pathways converge on the same cell fate specification process, our data suggest they may function as integrated components of an interactive Wnt signaling network. Our findings provide strong support for the idea that the sea urchin ANE regulatory state and the mechanisms that position and define its borders represent an ancient regulatory patterning system that was present in the common echinoderm/vertebrate ancestor.
General concepts for measuring cumulative impacts on wetland ecosystems

Because environmental impacts accumulate over space and time, analysis is difficult, and we must incorporate the most recent scientifically defensible information and methods into the process. Methods designed to deal specifically with cumulative impacts include checklists of characteristics or processes, matrices of interactions (rated according to their level of importance) between disturbance activities and environmental conditions, nodal networks or pathways that depict probable effects of disturbances, and dynamic system models. These methods have been tested over the past decade and have proven generally successful. Landscape perspectives have emerged as especially helpful in analyzing cumulative effects, and have focused specific attention on questions of spatial and temporal scale, while leading to recognition of the complexity of ecosystem processes in general. An evaluation of several cases studies by the Commission on Life Sciences of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences emphasizes the importance of interactions and cumulative effects, but recognizes that current knowledge of the processes involved is insufficient to make specific recommendations for conceptual frameworks. The conceptual approach suggested by Preston and Bedford (1988) addresses many critical issues, such as the need to define dimensions of scale, and the importance of wetland size, shape, and location in the landscape. This approach and similar ones must be tested and evaluated so that a consensus may eventually emerge. A cumulative impact matrix is proposed that sets up additive, synergistic, and indirect categories, each capable of variation in space and time. Every interaction would be carefully examined to determine the likelihood of cumulative impact in any of the six categories. Because of its “magnifying glass” approach, such a matrix could be a very useful analytical tool, using existing methods to uncover all the information presently available about the behavior of the ecosystem of concern.
Serial positron emission tomography scans following radiation therapy of patients with head and neck cancer.

Background A single institution study was undertaken to evaluate the role of positron emission tomography (PET) scans with fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) prior to radiation and following radiation. Methods Forty-five patients with head and neck cancers were evaluated with FDG-PET scans as well as either CT or MRI prior to treatment with definitive radiation (RT). These same scans were obtained following completion of RT at 1 month (36 patients), 4 months (28 patients), 12 months (19 patients), and 24 months (15 patients). Standard uptake values (SUV) normalized for blood glucose and lean body mass were calculated on the initial and 1-month post-treatment PET scans. Results Fifteen patients are alive without evidence of disease at 24 to 52 months following RT. Initial SUVs were calculated on the primary tumor site and ranged from 2.5 to 28.5. These values did not have any correlation with local control when examined for the entire group, primary site, or T stage. One-month post-RT SUV ranged from 1.8 to 6.24. Of the 36 1-month post-RT PET scans, six were interpreted as positive for residual disease and were confirmed by biopsy. Four of the five scans, which were interpreted as equivocal, were positive on biopsy. Seven of the 25 scans, which were interpreted as negative for tumor, were positive on biopsy. Four-month scans were more accurate for disease with disease noted in 0 of 18 negative scans, 6 of 7 positive scans, and 2 of 3 equivocal scans. Conclusions PET is useful for initial imaging of head and neck cancers. SUV does not appear to be useful for predicting outcome following treatment with RT. One-month post-RT scans were inaccurate for predicting the presence of cancer. Four-month post-RT scans were a better predictor for the presence of cancer. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Head Neck 23: 942–946, 2001.
Inhibition of Cell Mediated Immune Responses by 8-Methoxypsoralen and Long-wave Ultraviolet Light: A Possible Explanation for the Clinical Effects of Photoactivated Psoralen

Human thymus-derived lymphocytes proliferate when cultured with lymphocytes or epidermal cells from unrelated individuals because such cells express HLA-D antigens, which are recognized as foreign by thymus-derived lymphocytes. The current study demonstrates that these responses are inhibited if either the stimulator cells or responder cells are pretreated with the combination of 8-methoxypsoralen and long-wave ultraviolet light. Additional studies revealed that photoactivated 8-methoxypsoralen has a lethal effect on lymphocytes and monocytes but not on the majority of epidermal cells. These observations suggest that the dramatic beneficial effect of PUVA on patients with psoriasis and other skin disorders may be due to a toxic effect on immunocompetent cells in the epidermis, which results in inhibition of cell mediated immune responses.
First results of nulling interferometry with the Multiple-Mirror Telescope

We have successfully used nulling interferometry at 10 μm wavelength to interferometrically suppress a star's radiation. This technique was first proposed by Bracewell 20 years ago to image extra-solar planets and is now the basis for proposed space-borne instruments to search for Earth-like extra-solar planets and their spectroscopic signatures of habitability and life. In our experiment, the beams from two 1.8 m telescopes of the Multiple Mirror Telescope were brought into registration at a semi-transparent beamsplitter, and the images made coincident on an infrared array detector capable of taking rapid short exposure images. The atmospheric fluctuations caused the phase difference between the beams to fluctuate, changing the total flux of the star seen in the image plane. When the atmosphere caused the wavefronts to be exactly out of phase the entire stellar Airy pattern disappeared. For the unresolved star α Tauri the cancellation was such that a companion only 0.2 arcsec from the star and 25 times fainter would appear equal in intensity to the nulled star. The residual flux was spread into a wide halo suggesting the cause of this flux was imperfect cancellation of the aberrated wavefronts. To increase the precision of nulling beyond this first step several sources of error need to be addressed. We discuss the control of errors due to amplitude, polarization, chromatic differences, stellar leak, and sampling time. Improvements such as active phase tracking, adaptive optics, and cooled optics will increase the achievable gain of nulling interferometry and allow it to be used on fainter objects.
Enhanced O2 electrocatalysis by a highly conjugated cobalt(II) porphyrin

Abstract Cobalt(II) tetraphenyltetranaphthoporphyrin, with extended conjugation at the pyrrole units, has been synthesized and its spectroscopic and electrocatalytic behavior toward the reduction of oxygen has been investigated. The new complex shows a red shift for the Soret band of 75 nm compared to its cobalt(II) tetraphenylporphyrin analog. In addition, the new complex shows enhanced electrocatalytic ability for the reduction of oxygen in acidic media converting over 50% of the oxygen directly to water, a four electron process at relatively high potentials.
PCM techniques in acoustic data buoy design

The design features of a free-floating data buoy for underwater acoustic measurements are described including a PCM RF telemetry link, one bit synchronization insertion techniques, and extensive use of MOS integrated circuits.
Home Sweet Home: Skin Stem Cell Niches

The epidermis and its appendages, such as the hair follicle (HF), continually regenerate throughout postnatal mammalian life due to the activity of resident epithelial stem cells (SCs). The follicular SC niche, or the bulge, is composed of a heterogeneous population of self-renewing multipotent cells. Multiple intrinsic molecular mechanisms promote the transition of follicular SCs from quiescence to activation. In addition, numerous extrinsic cell types influence the activity and characteristics of bulge cells. Ultimately, the balance between these intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms influences the function of bulge cells during homeostasis and tissue regeneration and likely contributes to skin tumorigenesis. Here, we review both the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that contribute to the skin SC niche.
Persistent diarrhea due to sucrase-isomaltase deficiency in a postoperative child with Hirschsprung's disease.

Abstract Sucrase-isomaltase deficiency was diagnosed as the cause of chronic watery diarrhea and incontinence in a 6-yr-old Eskimo boy with Hirschprung's disease who 5 yr previously had a Duhamel-Grob procedure. Diagnosis was established by flat sucrose-tolerance test and the development of gastrointestinal symptoms during the test. It was confirmed by disaccharidase determinations in small intestinal biopsies. Low-sucrose diet reversed the symptoms within 24 hr.
Activity modulates neuronal proliferation in the developing olfactory epithelium.

Abstract The present experiment demonstrates that environmental stimulation can activate neurogenesis within olfactory mucosae exhibiting depressed proliferation. Rats underwent naris occlusion on P1 with plugs that were removed 20 days later. Normal respiration induced a sharp increase in proliferating neuronal precursors within 24–48 h, and epithelial depth was restored within 5 days.
Infinite family of approximations of the Digamma function

The aim of this work is to find ''good'' approximations to the Digamma function @J. We construct an infinite family of ''basic'' functions {I"a,[email protected]?[0,1]} covering the Digamma function. These functions are shown to approximate @J locally and asymptotically, and it is shown that for any [email protected]?R^+, there exists an a such that @J(x)=I"a(x). Local and global bounding error functions are found and, as a consequence, new inequalities for the Digamma function are introduced. The approximations are compared to another, well-known, approximation of the Digamma function and we show that an infinite number of members of the family are better.
NMR detection of adventitious xylose binding to the quorum-sensing protein SdiA of Escherichia coli

Abstract During the solution structure determination of the Escherichia coli quorum-sensing protein SdiA in the presence of N-octanoyl- l -homoserine lactone (HSL), NMR signals were detected in 13C-filter–13C-filter spectra for the bound HSL molecule. An additional set of coupled signals, independent of those of HSL, were also detected, indicating the presence of another unlabeled molecule, also bound to the labeled SdiA. Analysis of the NMR spectrum of this ligand and of the mass spectrum of the dissociated components indicates that the ligand is most likely xylose. Further analysis of xylose-bound SdiA defines a site close to the C terminus, remote from the HSL binding site. These observations provide an example of the sensitivity of high-resolution NMR experiments and their ability to detect, identify, and map the adventitious binding of a small organic molecule to a protein.
Echocardiographic versus cardiac catheterization diagnosis of infants with congenital heart disease requiring cardiac surgery

The success of noninvasive preoperative evaluation of infants with congenital heart disease using cardiac ultrasound depends not only on diagnostic accuracy, but also on risk of morbidity and mortality as compared with infants who undergo cardiac catheterization. Fifty-six infants (age 10 weeks or younger) with coarctation of the aorta (n = 16), coarctation with ventricular septal defect (n = 12), valvar aortic stenosis (n = 10) or total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (n = 18) were examined. Thirty-one underwent noninvasive preoperative assessment and 25 underwent evaluation including cardiac catheterization. Age, level and duration of support, pH, renal function, mortality, complications of cardiac catheterization and errors of diagnosis were compared. Significant differences between the 2 groups were more frequent preoperative use of prostaglandin E1 and shorter hospital stay in the noninvasively evaluated coarctation group. Of the infants with coarctation and ventricular septal defect, 1 who had cardiac catheterization required renal transplantation and 1 evaluated noninvasively required surgery at age 3 months for mitral stenosis not discovered on preoperative evaluation. One noninvasively evaluated infant with total anomalous pulmonary venous connection had a stenotic communication between the pulmonary venous confluence and the left atrium not detected by ultrasound. Surgery was successful in the latter 2 infants. Noninvasive preoperative diagnosis of some infants with congenital heart disease can be performed without increasing the risk of operative morbidity and mortality. Eliminating cardiac catheterization reduces hospital costs, decreases total numbers of catheterizations performed and influences the structure of training programs.
Geometric programming with signomials

The difference of twoposynomials (namely, polynomials with arbitrary real exponents, but positive coefficients and positive independent variables) is termed asignomial. Each signomial program (in which a signomial is to be either minimized or maximized subject to signomial constraints) is transformed into an equivalent posynomial program in which a posynomial is to be minimized subject only to inequality posynomial constraints. The resulting class of posynomial programs is substantially larger than the class of (prototype)geometric programs (namely, posynomial programs in which a posynomial is to be minimized subject only to upper-bound inequality posynomial constraints). However, much of the (prototype) geometric programming theory is generalized by studying theequilibrium solutions to thereversed geometric programs in this larger class. Actually, some of this theory is new even when specialized to the class of prototype geometric programs. On the other hand, all of it can indirectly, but easily, be applied to the much larger class of well-posedalgebraic programs (namely, programs involving real-valued functions that are generated solely by addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and the extraction of roots).
Atmospheric chemistry: No equatorial divide for a cleansing radical.

A constraint on the global distribution of the elusive hydroxyl radical takes us a step closer towards understanding the complex, interdependent factors that control the levels of this atmospheric cleanser. See Letter p.219 The hydroxyl radical is an important atmospheric oxidant, but our knowledge of its global distribution remains imprecise, with estimates for the ratio of Northern Hemisphere to Southern Hemisphere hydroxyl radical concentration varying from 0.85 to 1.4. These authors use a three-dimensional chemistry-transport model that has been well validated for interhemispheric transport using sulphur hexafluoride measurements, to obtain an interhemispheric hydroxyl radical ratio of 0.97±0.12. This information can help improve our understanding of the fate of atmospheric pollutants and greenhouse gases.
Extensive real/reactive power flow control for a single-stage grid-connected inverter integrating with micro storage

This paper presented a grid-connected inverter incorporating multiple technical concepts like “singlestage”, “multilevel” and “transformerless”, and thus attracting in cost and efficiency. Also energy storage (ES) was integrated to assist extensive power regulation. A complete control scheme was developed to achieve wide range real/reactive power management involving pure real power, pure reactive power and the adjustable mix of both. To solve the key issue of internal power coordination, a reactive power allocation (RPA) strategy was proposed to dispatch power flow under wide variations. Phasor analysis was introduced to clarify RPA principle. Voltage boost capability answering grid-side power demand was analyzed. Constraint condition fulfilling effective RPA was derived. Being crucial to a workable RPA, the selection of reactive power allocation coefficient (RPAC) was investigated under the widespread power operation region. Simulation results were presented to verify proposed technology. And a 3.5KW test bed is ongoing for experimental validation soon.
Changes in the Facility of Aqueous Outflow Induced by Lens Depression and Intraocular Pressure in Excised Human Eyes

The effects of intraocular pressure on aqueous outflow facility and mechanical tension on the iridocorneal angle were evaluated in 44 excised postmortem human eyes. Mechanical tension on the iridocorneal angle was induced by depression of the crystalline lens posteriorly in a quantitative manner to simulate the effect of cyclotonia on the facility of aqueout outflow. In eyes perfused at constant intraocular pressure but with stepwise increases in lens depression, the increase in facility of outflow produced by the increased tension on the iridocorneal angle was minimal at low levels of intraocular pressure (2.5 and 5 mm Hg) and greatest at higher levels of intraocular pressure (10 to 25 mm Hg). Conversely, in pairs of eyes perfused over a graded series of increasing intraocular pressure, and subjected to maximal lens depression, facility of outflow remained constant until intraocular pressure exceeded 20 mm Hg; in the fellow eyes, perfused without lens depression, facility of outflow diminished linearly with increasing intraocular pressure.
Designing a Simulation for Student Evaluation Using Scriven's Key Evaluation Checklist

Abstract Human patient simulation use has increased dramatically in nursing education over the past 10 years, with many benefits. One advantage is that it allows students to learn by practicing skills in a risk-free environment, with immediate faculty feedback. Another benefit is that it prepares and ensures the competence of student nurses, leading to improved patient safety outcomes. Student opinions gathered in a survey of nursing schools and simulator centers favored use of competency evaluation using simulation in at least some circumstances. As little research concerning use of simulation to evaluate student competency can be found, an established guide such as Scriven's Key Evaluation Checklist can provide a solid backbone for nursing faculty designing a simulation for student evaluation. This checklist contains 18 checkpoints that help the nurse educator to comprehensively plan, design, implement, and evaluate an evaluative simulation.
Taking into Account the Ion-Induced Dipole Interaction in the Nonbonded Model of Ions

Metal ions exist in almost half of the proteins in the protein databank, and they serve as structural, electron-transfer, and catalytic elements in the metabolic processes of organisms. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation is a powerful tool that provides information about biomolecular systems at the atomic level. Coupled with the growth in computing power, algorithms like the particle mesh Ewald (PME) method have become the accepted standard when dealing with long-range interactions in MD simulations. The nonbonded model of metal ions consists of an electrostatic plus 12–6 Lennard-Jones (LJ) potential and is used largely because of its speed relative to more accurate models. In previous work we found that ideal parameters do not exist that reproduce several experimental properties for M(II) ions simultaneously using the nonbonded model coupled with the PME method due to the underestimation of metal ion-ligand interactions. Via a consideration of the nature of the nonbonded model, we proposed that the obser...
In-line extraction employing functionalized magnetic particles for capillary and microchip electrophoresis

An approach to performing in-line extraction employing functionalized magnetic particles for CE and microchip electrophoresis is presented. Silica-coated iron oxide particles were synthesized and used as the solid support. The particles were functionalized with octadecylsilane and used as reverse-phase sorbents for in-line SPE followed by electrophoresis. Magnets were used to locally immobilize these sorbents inside the capillary or microchip. Extraction, elution, and detection of the analytes were performed sequentially without interruption or need for sample handling. Mixtures of hydrophobic analytes were successfully extracted from solution using the synthesized magnetic sorbents. CE was able to extract and separate mixture of parabens within 10 min. In-line extraction was also carried out on a disposable PMMA microfluidic device with LIF detection. Electrophoretic separation of fluorescent dyes, Rhodamine 110 and SulfoRhodamine B, was completed in under a minute. The results demonstrated the feasibility of performing the in-line extraction/separation technique in a microchip platform enabling rapid analysis, low sorbent consumption, and increased analyte recovery (relative to the capillary format).
Reflections on immigration to Europe in light of U.S. immigration history.

Trends in international migration in Europe and the United States are analyzed and compared with a focus on concern about the presence of migrants in the receiving country. Consideration is given to the acculturation of migrants in the United States including a historical outline of that process as it occurred during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Cultural pluralism and the newest wave of immigration are also described. Implications for European immigration are assessed. (ANNOTATION)
Origins of spin-orbit splitting in 15N.

The spin-orbit splitting of the ${\mathit{p}}_{1/2}$ and ${\mathit{p}}_{3/2}$ hole states in $^{15}\mathrm{N}$ is studied with realistic nuclear forces and the variational cluster Monte Carlo method. The results show that the two-nucleon L\ensuremath{\cdot}S forces give approximately half of the observed splitting, while the other half comes from pion exchange interactions between three or more nucleons. The observed splitting is fairly well reproduced by these calculations based on nonrelativistic nuclear many-body theory.
High pt gluon emission from collective string interactions in high energy heavy ion collisions

Abstract In this note I suggest a possible effect in case there would be color ordered strings in relativistic heavy ion interactions at RHIC energies. Soft interactions lead to bremsstrahlung due to color separation, at least in the FRITIOF model. Such radiation is, however, expected to be very soft due to the extension and consequent low energy density of the sources. There is a possibility when the density of collisions is very large that many strings may pool their common energy and emit radiation together. I try to evaluate the rates for such an effect, which may well be present if the strings behave like strongly interacting vortex lines in a color superconfucting vacuum.
Experimental Identification of Six-Degree-of-Freedom Coupled Dynamic Plant Models for Underwater Robot Vehicles

This paper addresses the modeling and experimental identification of six different six degree-of-freedom (6-DOF) coupled nonlinear second-order plant models. We report a comparative experimental evaluation of six different candidate plant models whose unknown plant parameters are estimated from data obtained in free-motion vehicle trials. The parameter estimation methodologies of ordinary least squares (OLS), total least squares (TLS), and underdetermined TLS were employed to identify experimentally the unknown plant model parameters. We evaluate the performance of each of the six different 6-DOF coupled nonlinear finite-dimensional plant models of an underwater vehicle estimated by OLS and the plant model identified by TLS by comparing the mean absolute error between the experimentally observed vehicle velocities and the velocities obtained by a numerical simulation of the identified plant models. We also report a cross validation which evaluates the performance of a plant model to accurately reproduce observed plant velocities for experimental trials differing from the trials from which the plant model parameters were estimated. We conclude that: 1) plant models identified by TLS generally perform better (i.e., more accurately reproduce observed experimental behavior) than models identified by OLS; and 2) plant models including fully parametrized coupled quadratic drag terms perform best overall in cross validation. This study has the following contributions: it is the first reported experimental 6-DOF fully coupled plant model identification and cross validation of a low-speed, fully actuated, and neutrally buoyant underwater vehicles; it is the first experimental 6-DOF plant model identification for this same class of underwater vehicles during free-flight experiments; and it is the first reported use of TLS to perform 6-DOF plant model identification of an underwater vehicle.
Pelvic endometriosis and its treatment

Abstract There are still many practitioners who have only a vague idea of the nature and significance of endometriosis, which is fairly common, especially in the form of pelvic endometriosis. In this condition aberrant endometrium is found in various locations within the pelvic cavity and especially in the ovaries. The theories concerning the origin of this ectopic uterine mucosa are discussed in the paper. The symptomatology and the findings on pelvic examination are often quite like those of chronic pelvic inflammatory disease and in the majority of cases the diagnosis is not made until the time of operation. In some, however, a strongly presumptive diagnosis can be made, as where the patient suffers with menstrual pain referred to the rectum, lower sacral or coccygeal region, or where one or more small nodules are palpable in the region of the uterosacral ligaments. All grades of the lesion are encountered, varying from very mild cases in which the endometriosis appears to be only of scientific interest rather than clinical importance, to those in which the aberrant endometrial growth is widespread and extensive, with perhaps bilateral endometrial cysts, numerous “implants” throughout the pelvis and perhaps extensive rectal infiltration, with even obstruction of the bowel as a possibility. The management of pelvic endometriosis must take cognizance of these variations and must be individualized on the basis not only of the extent of the lesion but also of such factors as the age of the patient and the importance of conserving the possibility of reproductiveness. In the majority of cases conservative operations are indicated, even though one can not be sure that further extension of the condition will not occur, with perhaps the necessity of secondary operation. Where the disease is very widespread and the patient approaching middle life, it is advisable that the operation include complete removal of ovarian tissue, as abolition of ovarian function is the only effective means of inhibiting further growth of the aberrant endometrium. As discussed in the paper, radiotherapy is only occasionally indicated in the treatment of pelvic endometriosis.
Water potentials of Salsola kali L. at differing levels of substrate water availability

Isolated embryos of Salsola kali L. (Russian thistle) were allowed to imbibe on filter paper in Peltier thermocouple psychrometer chambers with differing amounts of water available. Water potential determinations were made on the embryo-filter paper system periodically during the 24-h period of imbibition and early seedling growth. At the 24th h, complete extension of the embryonic axis occurred at an equilibrium water potential of -2 bars and an embryo water content of 114%, perceptible growth (uncoiling of the spiraled embryo) at -30 bars and 83%, and no growth or perceptible swelling at -54 bars and 56%. Hourly monitoring of the water potential of the plant-substrate system showed an initial rise toward a level that would be attained by the wetted filter paper alone and then a decline to lower water potential values at intermediate levels of water availability. This reversal is ascribed to the increasing effects of the osmotic and matric components of the total water potential of the plant tissue during imbibition and growth.
A numerical analysis of heat transfer and combustion in porous radiant burners

Abstract A numerical study of combustion and multimode heat transfer in porous radiant burners is performed. Burner characteristics such as flame speeds, radiant outputs and efficiencies are investigated using a one-dimensional conduction, convection, radiation, and premixed flame model. The porous medium is assumed to emit, absorb, and scatter radiant energy. Non-local thermal equilibrium between the solid and gas is accounted for by introducing separate energy equations for the gas and the solid phase. Combustion is described by a one-step global mechanism. The effect of the optical depth, scattering albedo, solid thermal conductivity, upstream environment reflectivity, and interphase heat transfer coupling on the burner performance are studied. It was revealed that for maximizing the radiant output the optical depth should be about ten and the flame should be stabilized near the center of theporous medium. Also, low solid thermal conductivity, low scattering albedo, and high inlet environment reflectivity produced a high radiant efficiency.
The role of cancer worry in cancer screening: A theoretical and empirical review of the literature

This paper reviews findings regarding the influence of cancer worry on cancer screening behaviors. The role of cancer worry in motivating cancer screening has been pursued for over 30 years. Recent concerns that high levels of cancer worry may impede the screening behavior of high-risk individuals have further prioritized this area of research. Despite heavy attention in the literature, there is currently no theoretical or empirical consensus concerning whether cancer worry motivates or inhibits cancer screening behaviors. We focus the review on four questions: (1) What is cancer worry? (2) To what extent are people worried about cancer? (3) What are the predominant theoretical approaches to understanding the role of cancer worry in cancer screening behaviors? (4) What is the empirical evidence for the role of cancer worry in cancer screening behaviors? We identify factors that have hampered theoretical and empirical advancement, including divergent definitions and measurement strategies for cancer worry, low to moderate levels of cancer worry even among those at high risk, and a reliance on cross-sectional research designs. The review clarifies the current state of this literature, and proposes future research strategies, including an expanded emphasis on cancer worry and cancer screening among men and diverse racial/ethnic groups.