cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ionic liquids: A milestone on the pathway to greener recycling of cellulose from biomass

Abstract The capacity to consider more environmentally benign fiber processing schemes should consider ionic liquids (ILs) and their potential for biomass recapture. Ionic liquids are observed to have excellent properties for use as industrial solvents for biomass with cellulose solubilities ranging from 10–20 wt%, negligible vapor pressures, and melting points as low as −20 °C. Here we consider the thermophysical properties of ILs in the context of the extraction of cellulose from biomass and compost residues that contain impurities including sugars, inorganic residues, water, and lignin among other constituents. The rationale to consider biomass and compost for fibrous isolation is due to the potential for value added sourcing of raw materials from conventional waste streams, and the environmental benefit of reducing the volume of standing agriculture wastes. Recent endeavors have shown great promise in the direct spinning of biomass derived fibers and isolates from select IL mediums. This review includes details on IL structure and thermophysical properties, efforts to consider what is known about cellulose interaction and dissolution within ILs, details on the rheology of cellulose bearing ILs, and comments on potential gaps in knowledge worth pursuing to gauge the value proposition of extracting cellulose directly from compost. With so many different types of structures that can form ILs, further optimization is required to gauge the nexus of IL synthesis costs, IL solubility of cellulose both dry and wet, and the ability to easily perform these extractions and purifications robustly at the compost source.
Nanoparticle-Mediated TGF-β Release from Microribbon-Based Hydrogels Accelerates Stem Cell-Based Cartilage Formation In Vivo

Conventional nanoporous hydrogels often lead to slow cartilage deposition by MSCs in 3D due to physical constraints and requirement for degradation. Our group has recently reported macroporous gelatin microribbon (μRB) hydrogels, which substantially accelerate MSC-based cartilage formation in vitro compared to conventional gelatin hydrogels. To facilitate translating the use of μRB-based scaffolds for supporting stem cell-based cartilage regeneration in vivo, there remains a need to develop a customize-designed drug delivery system that can be incorporated into μRB-based scaffolds. Towards this goal, here we report polydopamine-coated mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) that can be stably incorporated within the macroporous μRB scaffolds, and allow tunable release of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β3. We hypothesize that increasing concentration of polydopamine coating on MSNs will slow down TGF- β3 release, and TGF-β3 release from polydopamine-coated MSNs can enhance MSC-based cartilage formation in vitro and in vivo. We demonstrate that TGF-β3 released from MSNs enhance MSC-based cartilage regeneration in vitro to levels comparable to freshly added TGF-β3 in the medium, as shown by biochemical assays, mechanical testing, and histology. Furthermore, when implanted in vivo in a mouse subcutaneous model, only the group containing MSN-mediated TGF-β3 release supported continuous cartilage formation, whereas control group without MSN showed loss of cartilage matrix and undesirable endochondral ossification. The modular design of MSN-mediated drug delivery can be customized for delivering multiple drugs with individually optimized release kinetics, and may be applicable to enhance regeneration of other tissue types.
Mutational Analysis of the Transforming Function of the EBV Encoded LMP-1

Epstein-Barr virus, a member of the herpesvirus group, infects B cells in vitro and in vivo. In vitro the virus infects small resting B cells and drives them to become immortalized, latently infected, proliferating B lymphoblasts. This process has been employed as a model system for studying the mechanisms of herpesvirus latency, B cell activation and oncogenic transformation. To date nine virus encoded proteins have been detected in latently infected B cells (reviewed in Kieff and Liebowitz 1989) consisting of six nuclear proteins (EBNA’s) and three membrane proteins (LMP-1, TP-1 and TP-2). Of these only LMP-1 has been demonstrated to have the function of a transforming oncogene in rodent fibroblasts such as Balb 3T3 (Baichwal and Sugden 1988) and Rat 1 cells (Wang et al 1985).
Pharmacologic Control of Blood Pressure in Infants and Children

Alterations in blood pressure are common during the perioperative period in infants and children. Perioperative hypertension may be the result of renal failure, volume overload, or activation of the sympathetic nervous system. Concerns regarding end-organ effects or postoperative bleeding may mandate regulation of blood pressure. During the perioperative period, various pharmacologic agents have been used for blood pressure control including sodium nitroprusside, nitroglycerin, β-adrenergic antagonists, fenoldopam, and calcium channel antagonists. The following manuscript outlines the commonly used pharmacologic agents for perioperative BP including dosing regimens and adverse effect profiles. Previously published clinical trials are discussed and efficacy in the perioperative period reviewed.
New onset diabetes predicts progression of low risk pancreatic mucinous cysts.

Abstract Background Patients with low-risk lesions require ongoing surveillance since the rate of progression to pancreatic cancer (PC), while small, is much greater than in the general population. Our objective was to study the relationship between new onset diabetes (NODM) and progression in patients with low risk mucinous cysts. Methods We evaluated a prospectively maintained cohort of 442 patients with a suspected mucinous cyst without worrisome features (WF) or high-risk stigmata (HRS). Multivariable Cox models were developed for progression to WF and HRS, with diabetes status formulated as both time independent and dependent covariates. The adjusted cumulative risk of progression was calculated using the corrected group prognosis method. Results The 5-year cumulative progression rates to WFs and HRS were 12.8 and 3.6%, respectively. After controlling for other risk factors, the development of NODM was strongly associated with progression to HRS (HR = 11.6; 95%CI, 3.5–57.7%), but not WF. Among patients with the smallest cysts ( Conclusion New onset diabetes may predict progression in patients with low risk mucinous cysts. Pending validation with large-scale studies, these findings support regular diabetes screening among patients surveilled for suspected IPMNs or MCNs.
Incorporating Surgical Ergonomics Education into Surgical Residency Curriculum.

Background Education on surgical ergonomics during residency training is lacking. This study aimed to determine the feasibility and impact of incorporating surgical ergonomics lectures into residency curriculum. Methods A survey was distributed to 42 residents with questions regarding demographics, surgical factors, prevalence of musculoskeletal (MSK) symptoms, and awareness of ergonomic recommendations. The residents then received 2 lectures on ergonomics in surgery. A follow up survey was distributed to evaluate the impact of the lectures. Results Twenty-two residents completed the presession survey. Ninety-one percent reported MSK symptoms attributed to their training. Seventeen residents completed the follow up survey. All reported increased awareness of their own habits while operating and improved understanding of methods to prevent and/or treat work-related injuries. All residents recommended incorporating the lectures as an adjunct to their regular curriculum. Conclusions The rates of MSK symptoms and/or injury are high among surgeon trainees. Residency is an opportune time to educate on principles of ergonomics and may prevent future injuries.
ARE THERE DIFFERENTIAL RETURNS TO SCHOOLING BY GENDER? THE CASE OF INDONESIAN LABOUR MARKETS†

Women are thought to be disadvantaged in developing countries. One of the major respects in which they are conjectured to be disadvantaged is that labor-market rewards to their schooling are less than those for males. This study investigates whether there are gender differentials in Indonesian wage and earnings relations. The results indicate that, although the returns to work experience are greater for males than for females, the marginal rates of return to schooling beyond the primary level are significantly greater for females. Copyright 1995 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Impact of intra-operative factors upon peri-operative outcomes in women undergoing hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for gynecologic cancer

Abstract Objectives To evaluate the incidence of intra-operative metabolic and electrolyte abnormalities and subsequent impact on peri-operative outcomes in women with gynecologic cancer undergoing cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS + HIPEC). Methods An IRB-approved single institution retrospective cohort study was performed in women with gynecologic cancer who underwent CRS + HIPEC. Patient demographics, intra-operative electrolyte and metabolic values and peri-operative outcomes were recorded. To assess the association of pH and lactate upon post-operative outcomes, patients were divided in four quartiles for both variables and univariate analysis was performed. Results 100 consecutive women who underwent CRS + HIPEC from 2017 to 2020 were identified. Intra-operative blood transfusion and pressor support were required in 40% and 86%, respectively. The rate of ICU admission was 17%. Longer operative time (7.0 vs. 5.3 h, p = 0.002), increased blood loss (400.0 vs. 200.0 mL, p = 0.02) and transfusion (70.6% vs. 34.1%, p = 0.005) were associated with ICU admission. Compared to patients in the highest quartile of pH, lower median pH, (7.211 vs. 7.349, p Conclusions Intra-operative acidosis is associated with higher incidence of ICU admission and peri-operative complications following CRS + HIPEC in women with gynecologic cancer. These data support the importance of adequate intra-operative resuscitation and timely correction of hemodynamic and metabolic abnormalities.
On using centrality to understand importance of entities in the Panama Papers

The Panama Papers comprise one of the most recent influential leaks containing detailed information on intermediary companies (such as law firms), offshore entities and company officers, and serve as a valuable source of insight into the operations of (approximately) 214,000 shell companies incorporated in tax havens around the globe over the past half century. Entities and relations in the papers can be used to construct a network that permits, in principle, a systematic and scientific study at scale using techniques developed in the computational social science and network science communities. In this paper, we propose such a study by attempting to quantify and profile the importance of entities. In particular, our research explores whether intermediaries are significantly more influential than offshore entities, and whether different centrality measures lead to varying, or even incompatible, conclusions. Some findings yield conclusions that resemble Simpson’s paradox. We also explore the role that jurisdictions play in determining entity importance.
Hormonal contraceptives alter amphetamine place preference and responsivity in the intact female rat.

Hormonal contraceptives (HCs) are commonly used among reproductive aged women and alter the physiological state of the user by interfering with endogenous hormone concentrations and their actions on the reproductive tract. As hormones such as estradiol and progesterone modulate the incidence of substance abuse disorders in women, it is important to consider the influence HCs have on the female brain and behavior. This experiment explores how female sex steroid hormonal states associated with the rat estrous cycle, and modulating those states with HCs, influences measures of drug preference and responsivity. First, rats underwent food-light Pavlovian conditioning to measure conditioned orienting, a known predictor of amphetamine (AMP) place preference. Then, rats were conditioned and tested for AMP place preference with either an HC-implant or during estrous cycle stages associated with different ovarian hormone levels (i.e., proestrus (P) or metestrus/diestrus (M/D)) while recording ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) as an index of hedonic responsivity. Because of dopamine9s (DA) role in modulation of AMP actions, DA cell activity and availability were examined using tyrosine hydroxylase and FOS immunohistochemistry after final AMP challenge. Conditioned orienting did not differ between cycling and HC-implanted. P rats emitted more USVs during conditioning, showed higher AMP place preference throughout testing, and had higher DA cell activity in the substantia nigra compared to M/D and HC-implanted rats. Sex steroid hormone serum concentration and uterine horn thickness predicted some but not all of these measures. This experiment suggests ovarian hormones affect drug preference and responsivity, while providing novel insight into how hormone-altering contraceptives may reduce these measures.
Special ICU Populations: Opioids in Neurocritical Care

Sedation and analgesia are used in the neurocritically ill patient to treat discomfort associated with routine ICU care and to minimize ICP elevations. Particularly important in this critically ill population is the use of short-acting agents to allow for frequent neurologic assessments. Pharmacologic coma is reserved for limited indications such as refractory intracranial hypertension and status epilepticus. The BPS and CPOT assessment scores have received limited validation in small studies, and are recommended for the assessment of pain in patients with neurologic injury who cannot self-report pain; the Nociception-Coma Scale-Revised may be useful in patients with prolonged comatose states. Opioids, including meperidine, have particular indications in the prevention and treatment of shivering in patients undergoing targeted temperature management (TTM). In patients undergoing TTM after cardiac arrest, impaired metabolism and clearance of medications – including fentanyl, morphine, and remifentanil – is proportional to the depth of hypothermia and may significantly increase serum drug levels. Accumulation of sedative doses received during TTM must be accounted for, and sufficient time allowed for awakening before accurate prognostication in patients who do not regain consciousness. Morphine and alternative opioids are also specifically indicated in the treatment of paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity to treat and reduce recurrence of storming episodes.
Convolution and Volterra Series Approach to Reduced-Order Modeling of Unsteady Aerodynamic Loads

A combined approach of linear convolution and higher-order Volterra series (VS) to reduced-order modeling of unsteady transonic aerodynamic loads is presented. Our framework offers a simple method ...
Increasing eye height makes slopes appear less steep.

Several studies have shown that slopes of hills are greatly overestimated. We have recently demonstrated that the overestimates increase logarithmically as the end point of the domain to be estimated increases - every doubling of the distance to the end point results in a constant increment in perceived slope. A theoretical analysis showed that a critical parameter is the angle v between the observer's line of sight and the slope of the hill, when the observer fixates the far point of the required domain. The theory predicts that increasing observers' eye height above the surface of the hill will reduce the slope overestimates by increasing this angle. Here we test that theory by having observers stand on a 37 cm high box to increase their eye height. Observers estimated an outdoor slope in front of them in degrees, at ranges from 2 to 16 m. Estimates for various ranges defined by traffic cones again followed a logarithmic function (r2 = 0.997), with lower estimates compared to other observers standing directly on the surface of the hill. Apparent slope increased more rapidly with distance than in a group standing on the hill's surface, however, so that at larger distances slope estimates with and without increased eye height converged. As the length of the domain to be judged increases, enhanced eye height has a smaller and smaller effect on the angle v between the line of regard and the hill's surface. A demand characteristic might induce observers to give different estimates for the four distances tested; an analysis of just the first estimate of each observer, however, showed that the distance vs apparent slope function remained logarithmic. We conclude that anticipated effort, perceived danger and other factors play only a minor role if any in slope estimates. Meeting abstract presented at VSS 2015. Language: en
A Review of “Who Owns America's Past? The Smithsonian and the Problem of History.” Robert C. Post.

Robert Post knows his subject. A 20-year (and then some) veteran of the Smithsonian Institution, Post spent 1973 to 1996 in a variety of positions that shaped many of the landmark exhibits and publ...
The effects of in-group bias and decision aids on auditors' evidence evaluation

This study examines the effect of in-group bias and decision aid use on auditor judgments, confidence, and decisions in an analytical procedures task. In-group bias, a product of Social Identity Theory, may impair auditor independence by influencing auditor judgments. Auditors rely on client representations to support their opinion of the financial statements; however, clients are sometimes former auditors of the external audit firm. This prior relationship could lead the auditor to exhibit unwarranted trust of client representations. In an online mixed design experiment using staff and senior auditors, I test whether auditor judgments, confidence in those judgments, and decisions to extend testing differ based on a client’s prior affiliation. I find that there is insufficient evidence of in-group bias in auditor judgments, confidence, or decisions. Lack of support could be due to the small sample size. In the same experiment, I give auditors access to a decision aid. Practice and prior literature suggest using decision aids should improve audit judgment. I find that a structured decision aid improves audit judgments and decisions for all auditors, and improves confidence for auditors who initially made good judgments. Audit managers can benefit from noting the usefulness of decision aids in improving judgment.
Datenbankzugriff in offenen Rechnernetzen

Nach einer Einfuhrung in zentrale und verteilte Datenbanksysteme und die Kommunikation in offenen Systemen wird die Einbettung eines Datenbank-FernzugrifTs in das ISO-Referenzmodell beschrieben. Ein solcher FernzugrifT ermoglicht die Kommunikation zwischen einem Anwendungsprogramm und einem entfernten Datenbanksystem in einem heterogenen Rechnernetz. Die aktuellen Normungsvorschlage der ECMA zu diesem Thema werden vorgestellt. Abschliesend wird uber einen Implementierungsansatz fur einen Prototyp berichtet.
The Monied Metropolis: New York City and the Consolidation of the American Bourgeoisie, 1850–1896

Introduction Part I. Manners, Fortunes, Politics: 1. Accumulating capital 2. Negotiating the New Metropolis 3. The politics of capital Part II. Reluctant Revolutionaries: 4. Bourgeois New Yorkers go to war 5. The spoils of victory 6. Reconstructing New York Part III: 7. Democracy in the Age of Capital 8. A Bourgeois world 9. The rights of labor, the rights of property 10. The power of capital and the crisis of legitimacy Epilogue.
Application of Artificial Neural Network as Digital Filter for Online Heat Flux Estimation

Online heat flux measurement can greatly enhance the controllability in several industrial processes. Using heat flux estimation techniques based on temperature measurements is the best approach in many cases. Estimating the unknown heat flux (boundary condition) at the surface when temperature measurements are available in the interior points of the medium is an inverse heat conduction problem (IHCP). Several IHCP solution methods need the whole time domain data for the analysis and cannot be applied for real-time applications. Digital filter representation is one of the methods which can be used for near real-time heat flux estimation by using available temperature measurements. The idea of the filter algorithm is that the solution for the heat flux at any time is only affected by the recent temperature history and a few future time steps. Artificial Neural Network (ANN) is utilized in this study as a digital filter, for near real-time heat flux estimation by using temperature measurements. The performance of the ANN is compared with the digital filter coefficient method. ANN consists of a set of interconnected neurons that can evaluate outputs from inputs by feeding information through the network and adjusting the weights. Considering temperatures as the inputs and heat flux as the output, the weights can be interpreted as the filter coefficients. In using ANN, calculation of sensitivity coefficients is not needed which can lead to less computational cost. It is showed that the ANN method can estimate the heat flux closer to real-time comparing with digital filter approach. The developed method is tested through several numerical test cases using exact solutions.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Semi-invariants of quivers and saturation for Littlewood-Richardson coefficients

Σ(Q,α) is defined in the space of all weights by one homogeneous linear equation and by a finite set of homogeneous linear inequalities. In particular the set Σ(Q,α) is saturated, i.e., if nσ ∈ Σ(Q,α), then also σ ∈ Σ(Q,α). These results, when applied to a special quiver Q = Tn,n,n and to a special dimension vector, show that the GLn-module Vλ appears in Vμ ⊗ Vν if and only if the partitions λ, μ and ν satisfy an explicit set of inequalities. This gives new proofs of the results of Klyachko ([7, 3]) and Knutson and Tao ([8]). The proof is based on another general result about semi-invariants of quivers (Theorem 1). In the paper [10], Schofield defined a semi-invariant cW for each indecomposable representation W of Q. We show that the semi-invariants of this type span each weight space in SI(Q,α). This seems to be a fundamental fact, connecting semi-invariants and modules in a direct way. Given this fact, the results on sets of weights follow at once from the results in another paper of Schofield [11].
Kinetics of oxidative ammonolysis of 4-bromo-o-xylene: IV. Mechanism of formation of the reaction products

Generalized kinetic data were used to analyze the mechanism of formation of the oxidative oxidative ammonolysis products 4-bromo-o-xylene and 4-bromo-o-tolunitrile.
Is a multiple self healthy or pathological

In a sample of 144 undergraduate students, scores on Sackeim and Gur's measure of self-deception were associated with neuroticism scores (r = .50) on the Big Five Inventory, while scores on Altrocchi's measure of having a plural self were associated with neuroticism and openness scores (rs = .35 and .18, respectively). A multiple self, therefore, appears to have positive and negative features.
Incorporating database security courseware into a database security class

Data security is a growing concern and it seems timely to develop and incorporate database security courses into programs of study in the computing disciplines. This paper describes a recently developed course in database security and introduces a set of animations that might be incorporated to bring about more effective instruction and enhance student learning. Currently animations are being developed for referential integrity, integrity matrices, row level security, SQL injections and inference problems. Animations related to encryption, multilevel security and database auditing procedures will be added in the future. The database security animations will be included as a module in an ongoing animated database courseware project designed to provide supplementary instructional materials for the teaching of database topics. Animations can be incorporated directly into classroom instruction or used independently by students to reinforce what they have learned or to deepen their understanding.
Rationalization of some genetic anticodonic assignments

The genetic code appears to be a logic matrix in which, generally speaking, there is a correlation between the hydrophobicities of amino acids and their anticodonic nucleotides. There are several exceptions to this generality, however, and using previous data on hydrophobicity and binding constants, coupled with new data on reaction rates, we rationalize several of the anticodonic assignments.
Stretch Mercerization of Cotton Fibers: Part II: Fabric Properties

Slack mercerization followed by gradual restretching to the ratio of 1.25 by a series of closely set rollers in Part I of this study was proven to be effective to stretch the individual fibers shru...
Synthesis of the fluorine-18 labeled inhalation anesthetics.

Abstract Fourteen compounds (fluoroalkanes and fluoroethers), including the two most utilized inhalation anesthetics Isoflurane (CF 3 CHClOCF 2 H) and Halothane (CF 3 CHBrCl), have been labeled with fluorine-18 via a facile 18 F-for- 19 F exchange reaction. The compounds include ten inhalation anesthetics which span a ten-fold range in potency and four structurally related non-anesthetics. All the compounds possess a trifluoromethyl group ( CF 3 ) adjoining a carbon atom with an acidic α-hydrogen and at least one halogen or a strong electron withdrawing group ( X ), { CF 3 CHXR }. We postulate the isotopic fluoride exchange reaction proceeds through a carbanion transition state resulting from α-proton transfer to base. The carbanion stability is attributed to the inductive effect of the CF 3 group and the electron withdrawing capability of X. Compounds labeled in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) at 125°C in 15 min include Isoflurane-CF 3 CHClOCF 2 H ( 1 ) (97% [ 18 F]fluorine incorporation, 99% radiochemical purity, respectively), Sevoflurane-CF 3 CHCF 3 OCFH 2 ( 2 ) [98%, 99%], CF 3 CHBrOCF 2 H ( 3 ) [85%, 80%], Desflurane-CF 3 CHFOCF 2 H ( 4 ) [50%, 99%], Fluroxene-CF 3 CH 2 OCHCH 2 ( 5 ) [25%, 99%], Fluothyl-CF 3 CH 2 OCH 2 CF 3 ( 6 ) [60%, 10% at a temperature of 175°C], Halothane-CF 3 CHBrCl ( 7 ) [98%, 95%], CF 3 CH 2 I ( 8 ) [99%, 98%], CF 3 CH 2 Br ( 9 ) [18%, 98%], CF 3 CH 2 Cl ( 10 ) [95%, 98%], CF 3 CHCl 2 ( 11 ) [90%, 20%], CF 3 CHClCF 3 ( 12 ) [95%, 99%], (CF 3 ) 3 CH ( 13 ) [99%, 99%] and HF-134a-CF 3 CFH 2 ( 14 ) (15%, 93% at a temperature of 175°C).
Sexual behavior research on a Cohort of gay men, 1984–1990: Can we predict how men will respond to interventions?

In 1984, over 1000 gay and bisexual men volunteered to participate in both the Chicago Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS) and a companion psychosocial study, the Coping and Change Study (CCS). Participants in the semiannual Chicago MACS/CCS evaluations comprise the largest cohort of high-risk men under continuous medical, behavioral, and psychosocial observation. Chicago MACS/CCS researchers prospectively chart the sexual behavior change patterns of the cohort and relate those behavioral changes to psychosocial correlates and actual HIV infection risk. This report summarizes the behavioral natural history of the Chicago MACS/CCS cohort from 1984 to 1990, focusing on receptive anal sex practices and use patterns for alcohol and the most frequently used recreational drugs. As these are prospective observational and not controlled intervention studies, psychosocial correlates of sexual behavior change by members of the cohort are suggestive of factors influencing behavior change rather than indicative of causal relationships. However, the voluntary availability to participants in the Chicago MACS/CCS of HIV-1 antibody test results beginning in late 1985 provided the opportunity to examine whether demographic, psychosocial, or behavioral factors were indicators of sexual behavior change following disclosure and counseling about HIV-1 serostatus. Recommendations for promotion and maintenance of safer sexual behavior for the long run, and limitations in the generalizability of these findings to the much more diverse populations of men who have sex with other men conclude this article.
Selective disassembly and simultaneous end-of-life decision making for multiple products

Environmental protection legislation, consumer interest in “green” products, a trend towards corporate responsibility and recognition of the potential profitability of salvaging operations have resulted in increased interest in product take-back. However, the cost-effectiveness of product take-back operations is hampered by many factors, including the high cost of disassembly and a widely varying feedstock of dissimilar products. Two types of decisions must be made; how to carry out the disassembly process in the most efficient manner to “mine” the value-added that is still embedded in the product, and then how to best utilize that value-added once it is recovered. This paper presents a method for making those decisions. The concept of a transition matrix is integrated with mixed integer linear programming to determine the extent to which products should be disassembled, and simultaneously determine the optimal end of life (EOL) strategy for each resultant component or subassembly. The main contribution of this paper is the simultaneous consideration of selective disassembly, multiple products, and the value added that remains in each component or subassembly. Shared disassembly operations and capacity limits are considered. An example using two cell phone products illustrates application of the model.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
A Comparison Study of State Estimators for Dynamics on the Sphere

The problem of state estimation for a spherical pendulum is studied by comparing the performance of a set-bounded estimation scheme designed for dynamics evolving on the sphere with that of an extended Kalman filter. The set-bounded estimator uses a global, coordinate-free description of the dynamics of a spherical pendulum, while the extended Kalman filter uses a local description of the motion using spherical coordinates. The dynamics model of the pendulum is assumed to be known; however, measurements of the pendulum state have unknown errors. The extended Kalman filter is known to be optimal for the case of zero-mean white Gaussian noise, while the set-bounded filter assumes that the measurement noise is bounded by known ellipsoidal set. Results are presented for numerical simulations in which the pendulum system has measurement errors with various statistical distributions, allowing for a direct comparison between the performances of the two state estimation strategies.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Introduction of new genetic material into pluripotent haematopoietic stem cells of the mouse

An infectious retrovirus vector has been used to transfer a bacterial gene encoding resistance to the neomycin analogue G418 into pluripotent haematopoietic stem cells present in explanted murine bone marrow tissue. Subsequent transplantation of the cells into lethally irradiated mice results in engraftment of the animals with donor haematopoietic tissue containing the bacterial gene. This approach affords an efficient and rapid means of re-introducing genetically modified tissue into intact organisms and provides a system whereby the expression and regulation of cloned genes can be followed within the context of a well characterized developmental programme.
Innate immune recognition of bacterial ligands by NAIPs determines inflammasome specificity

Inflammasomes are a family of cytosolic multiprotein complexes that initiate innate immune responses to pathogenic microbes by activating the caspase 1 protease. Although genetic data support a critical role for inflammasomes in immune defence and inflammatory diseases, the molecular basis by which individual inflammasomes respond to specific stimuli remains poorly understood. The inflammasome that contains the NLRC4 (NLR family, CARD domain containing 4) protein was previously shown to be activated in response to two distinct bacterial proteins, flagellin and PrgJ, a conserved component of pathogen-associated type III secretion systems. However, direct binding between NLRC4 and flagellin or PrgJ has never been demonstrated. A homologue of NLRC4, NAIP5 (NLR family, apoptosis inhibitory protein 5), has been implicated in activation of NLRC4 (refs 7-11), but is widely assumed to have only an auxiliary role, as NAIP5 is often dispensable for NLRC4 activation. However, Naip5 is a member of a small multigene family, raising the possibility of redundancy and functional specialization among Naip genes. Here we show in mice that different NAIP paralogues determine the specificity of the NLRC4 inflammasome for distinct bacterial ligands. In particular, we found that activation of endogenous NLRC4 by bacterial PrgJ requires NAIP2, a previously uncharacterized member of the NAIP gene family, whereas NAIP5 and NAIP6 activate NLRC4 specifically in response to bacterial flagellin. We dissected the biochemical mechanism underlying the requirement for NAIP proteins by use of a reconstituted NLRC4 inflammasome system. We found that NAIP proteins control ligand-dependent oligomerization of NLRC4 and that the NAIP2-NLRC4 complex physically associates with PrgJ but not flagellin, whereas NAIP5-NLRC4 associates with flagellin but not PrgJ. Our results identify NAIPs as immune sensor proteins and provide biochemical evidence for a simple receptor-ligand model for activation of the NAIP-NLRC4 inflammasomes.
On So-Called Air-Sac Infection

Abstract DURING the past 2 years much has been heard of a condition in chickens, primarily broilers, called “air-sac infection.” This was responsible for such heavy losses, especially in the Del-Mar-Va area, that in 1952 a conference of poultry pathologists was called in Washington, D. C. by the Bureau of Animal Industry, United States Department of Agriculture to try to ascertain the cause or causes of this condition and to formulate methods of control (Simms, 1952). Increased concern and publicity combined with limited knowledge has led to confusion with respect to this disease. Among commercial firms, pathologists and poultrymen, the term “air-sac infection” or “air-sac disease” has been used synonymously with chronic respiratory disease. At the Washington meeting, the committee on identification of the etiology of so-called “air-sac infection” in poultry recommended that procedures such as embryo inoculation and bacteriological studies be made in “air-sac” cases to arrive at definite diagnoses… .
Evidence of in situ estrogen synthesis in nitrosomethylurea-induced rat mammary tumors via the enzyme estrone sulfatase.

Abstract A variety of indirect evidence suggests that mammary tumors can synthesize free estrogens in situ via the sulfatase enzyme. The present study utilized an isotopic kinetic technique to provide direct confirmation of local tumor synthesis. Animals bearing nitrosomethylurea (NMU)-induced rat mammary tumors were infused with 14 C-estrone as well as 3 H-estrone sulfate and plasma:tissue gradients for each steroid measured. Liver, serving as a control tissue, uniformly synthesized free estrone from estrone sulfate with local synthesis in this organ providing an average of 78 ± 1.0% of the estrone in this tissue. In rat mammary tumors, five out of seven synthesized estrone locally with individual values ranging from 19 to 50% synthesized in tissue. These data indicate that liver uniformly converts estrone sulfate to free estrone, whereas the majority, but not all, breast tumors synthesize estrogen locally via this pathway.
Water Quality Studies of Sixteen Minnesota Rivers Tributary to Lake Superior

Abstract Water quality characteristics of 16 Minnesota rivers tributary to Lake Superior were studied during the period June, 1971 to June, 1972. Chemical, physical and biological measurements included eight major and 13 minor parameters, pH, conductivity, and coliform bacteria. The results of this one-year survey indicate which parameters exhibit seasonal differences, that there is an apparent cultural influence on some of the rivers studied and that heavy rainfalls of short duration cause immediate and pronounced water quality changes. The spring thaw was characterized by an initial increase in the concentrations of dissolved constituents in the rivers, followed by a substantial decrease as the melt runoff period progressed. Quantities of soluble chemical constitutents discharged to Lake Superior during the study period from all rivers sampled were calculated using published and computed annual discharge data. The total quantity of dissolved solids discharged to Lake Superior by the 16 rivers was found to be approximately 339,600 metric tons per year.
Rotating spin-1 bose clusters.

We propose a simple scheme for generating rotating atomic clusters in an optical lattice which produces states with quantum Hall and spin liquid properties. As the rotation frequencies increase, the ground state of a rotating cluster of spin-1 Bose atoms undergoes a sequence of (spin and orbit) transitions, which terminates at an angular momentum ${L}^{*}$ substantially lower than that of the boson Laughlin state. The spin-orbit correlations reflect ``fermionization'' of bosons facilitated by their spin degrees of freedom. We also show that the density of an expanding group of clusters has a scaling form which reveals the quantum Hall and spin structure of a single cluster.
SU-FF-J-47: A Feasibility Study Using a CCD-Based EPID for Digital Tomosynthesis

Purpose: To investigate the feasibility of using digital tomosynthesis to extract volume data from images produced by a CCD‐based electronic portal imaging device(EPID).Method and Materials: A simple phantom geometry was created by placing several contrasting material amongst layers of 1cm thick bolus. Nine images of the phantom were acquired using the CCD‐based EPID mounted on a Varian 2100 C/D linear accelerator.Images were taken from 340° to 20° in 5° steps using 1 MU per image. A more realistic case using a humanoid phantom and implantable tumor makers was investigated. The acquired data was post‐processed using a shift‐and‐add algorithm implemented in an in‐house developed software. The processing of the images allows the reconstruction of coronal slices at various depths in the phantom for positional verification. Results: The results from the reconstructed digital tomosynthesisimages in the bolus phantom demonstrate that the objects at the plane of the tomosynthesis are in focus while other structures that were out of plane were blurred. Reconstructed images using implantable tumor markers in an anthropomorphic phantom were comparable to the ones reconstructed by a treatment planning system from megavoltage CT data. Conclusion: While structures not on the reconstructed plane are not completely taken out of the image, they are blurred enough that it is obvious whether they are on the reconstructed level or not. The results obtained from this experiment confirm the viability of using this low‐dose technique to obtain CT‐quality planar images that can be used for patient positioning and daily target localization.
An operations concept for the Space Station based Astrometric Telescope Facility

The Astrometric Telescope Facility (AFT) will be an orbiting observatory which has been proposed to be attached to the NASA Space Station. The primary scientific objectives of the ATF will be to search for extrasolar planetary systems and to study their characteristics. In addition, the ATF will be able to perform other general astrometric observations of stars within the Milky Way Galaxy. Astrometric Telescope Facility operations from the Space Station will be simple and straightforward compared to other orbiting free-flying telescopes. The astrometric approach to planetary detection, which uses repeated measurements of the same set of target stars over many years, is compatible with simple, repetitive operations of the facility. The support provided by the Space Station and anomaly tolerance features of the ATF design also contribute to the simplicity of the operations concept.
Olanzapine and progesterone have dose-dependent and additive effects to enhance lordosis and progestin concentrations of rats

Abstract There is evidence that actions of both progesterone (P) and its metabolite, 5α-pregnane-3α-ol-20-one (3α,5α-THP), are important for sexual behavior of estradiol (E2)-primed rodents. Olanzapine, an atypical antipsychotic, dose-dependently increases 3α,5α-THP in the cortex of male rats. These experiments investigated the effects of olanzapine administration on female sexual behavior and progestin concentrations. In Experiment 1, ovariectomized (ovx) rats (N=128) were primed with estradiol benzoate (EB) at Hour 0 and were administered P (0, 50, 100, or 200 μg sc) at Hour 44 and olanzapine (0.0, 2.5, 5.0, or 10.0 mg/kg ip) at Hour 47. At Hour 48, rats were tested for sexual receptivity with a stimulus male. Administration of 10.0 mg/kg of olanzapine, irrespective of P, significantly increased the occurrence (lordosis quotients, LQs) and the intensity (lordosis ratings, LRs) of lordosis compared to all other dosages. Administration of 2.5 or 5.0 mg/kg of olanzapine, irrespective of P, increased LQs and LRs compared to vehicle administration. Olanzapine without P dose-dependently increased LQs and LRs. As expected, administration of P without olanzapine also dose-dependently increased LQs and LRs. In Experiment 2, ovx rats (N=44, n=4 per group) received EB (0 or 10 μg sc), P (0 or 200 μg sc), and/or olanzapine (0.0, 2.5, 5.0, or 10.0 mg/kg ip). The same pattern of effects seen for lordosis was observed on progestin concentrations. Whole brain and plasma P and 3α,5α-THP concentrations were increased with olanzapine or P dosing and were greatest with coadministration. Together, these data demonstrate that olanzapine and P have independent effects to increase lordosis, P, and 3α,5α-THP concentrations of adult rats and additive effects in combination, suggesting complimentary mechanisms of action.
Combination of polarized TIRF and ATR spectroscopies for determination of the second and fourth order parameters of molecular orientation in thin films and construction of an orientation distribution based on the maximum entropy method.

This article describes two mathematical formalisms for the determination of the second and fourth order parameters of molecular films using optical spectroscopy. Method A uses polarized total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) to calculate the second and fourth order parameters, 〈P2(cos θ)〉 and 〈P4(cos θ)〉, using an independently determined value for the angle between the absorption and emission dipoles, γ. Method B uses 〈P2(cos θ)〉 obtained from attenuated total reflectance (ATR) data, along with polarized TIRF measurements to calculate 〈P4(cos θ)〉 and 〈cos2 γ〉. The choice of a specific method should rely on experimental considerations. We also present a method to separate the contributions of substrate surface roughness and dipole orientation with respect to the molecular axis from the spectroscopically determined second and fourth order parameters. Finally, a maximum entropy approach for construction of an orientation distribution from order parameters is compared with the commonly used delta and ...
Neutral Cu4N12 and Ag4N12 metallacycles with a para-cyclophane framework assembled from copper(I) and silver(I) pyrazolates and pyridazine

Trinuclear copper(I) and silver(I) pyrazolates {[3,5-(CF3)2Pz]M}3 (M = Cu and Ag) react with pyridazine to give neutral, tetranuclear metallacycles with a para-cyclophane core whereas benzo[c]cinnoline fails to break the cyclic pyrazolate trimers under similar conditions, and affords a metalla-propellane featuring both two- and three-coordinate metal sites.
A Study of Area and Personal Airborne Asbestos Samples during Abatement in a Crawl Space

Air sample data were collected during asbestos abatement of two buildings using area and personal sampling methods. Abatement involved removal of pipe insulation from crawl spaces. The two sampling me
Myosin isozymes in avian skeletal muscles. I. Sequential expression of myosin isozymes in developing chicken pectoralis muscles

Myosin has been purified from chicken pectoralis muscle at various stages of development, from 10 days' incubation to approximately 10 months after hatching. Embryonic myosin from the earliest stage showed a high level of ATPase activity, similar to that obtained for adult pectoralis myosin. Two-dimensional peptide mapping of partial chymotryptic digests showed, however, that its heavy chain is quite different from that of adult fast myosin. The immunological crossreactivity observed between embryonic myosin and adult fast (pectoralis) myosin is therefore due to shared antigenic determinants rather than the presence of any adult isoforms. In an accompanying paper we will show that embryonic myosin at 10 days' incubation is not a single species, but consists of at least two heavy chain isozymes. The minor fraction binds slow light chains preferentially, and appears to be largely responsible for the observed crossreactivity with slow (ALD) myosin. None of the embryonic myosins is equivalent to the adult forms. Prior to hatching, LC3f is present only in very small amounts (<5%), and the adult light chain pattern, containing LC1f and LC3f in equimolar amounts, is not generated until after one week post-hatching. At about that time a new heavy chain population is detected, different from either the embryonic heavy chain or the adult heavy chain. The adult heavy chain peptide pattern appears from about three weeks' post-hatching, but a map indistinguishable from that of adult myosin is not observed until about 26 weeks. None of the observed differences in peptide maps can be related to different strains of chicken; pectoralis myosin from adult White Rock gave an identical map to that from White Leghorn. Unexpectedly, posterior latissimus dorsi (PLD) myosin from White Leghorn appears to be different from pectoralis myosin from the same strain, despite the histochemical and immunocytochemical similarity of the two muscles. We conclude that myosin polymorphism is widespread in muscle tissue, and that the expression of myosin isozymes and their subunits is under developmental regulation.
Vectorized data acquisition and fast triple-correlation integrals for Fluorescence Triple Correlation Spectroscopy

Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS) is widely used to quantitate reaction rates and concentrations of molecules in vitro and in vivo. We recently reported Fluorescence Triple Correlation Spectroscopy (F3CS), which correlates three signals together instead of two. F3CS can analyze the stoichiometries of complex mixtures and detect irreversible processes by identifying time-reversal asymmetries. Here we report the computational developments that were required for the realization of F3CS and present the results as the Triple Correlation Toolbox suite of programs. Triple Correlation Toolbox is a complete data analysis pipeline capable of acquiring, correlating and fitting large data sets. Each segment of the pipeline handles error estimates for accurate error-weighted global fitting. Data acquisition was accelerated with a combination of off-the-shelf counter-timer chips and vectorized operations on 128-bit registers. This allows desktop computers with inexpensive data acquisition cards to acquire hours of multiple-channel data with sub-microsecond time resolution. Off-line correlation integrals were implemented as a two delay time multiple-tau scheme that scales efficiently with multiple processors and provides an unprecedented view of linked dynamics. Global fitting routines are provided to fit FCS and F3CS data to models containing up to ten species. Triple Correlation Toolbox is a complete package that enables F3CS to be performed on existing microscopes.