cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Elevated serum neurotensin and CRH levels in children with autistic spectrum disorders and tail-chasing Bull Terriers with a phenotype similar to autism.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by defects in communication and social interactions, as well as stereotypic behaviors. Symptoms typically worsen with anxiety and stress. ASD occur in early childhood, often present with regression and have a prevalence of 1 out of 68 children. The lack of distinct pathogenesis or any objective biomarkers or reliable animal models hampers our understanding and treatment of ASD. Neurotensin (NT) and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) are secreted under stress in various tissues, and have proinflammatory actions. We had previously shown that NT augments the ability of CRH to increase mast cell (MC)-dependent skin vascular permeability in rodents. CRH also induced NT receptor gene and protein expression in MCs, which have been implicated in ASD. Here we report that serum of ASD children (4–10 years old) has significantly higher NT and CRH levels as compared with normotypic controls. Moreover, there is a statistically significant correlation between the number of children with gastrointestinal symptoms and high serum NT levels. In Bull Terriers that exhibit a behavioral phenotype similar to the clinical presentation of ASD, NT and CRH levels are also significantly elevated, as compared with unaffected dogs of the same breed. Further investigation of serum NT and CRH, as well as characterization of this putative canine breed could provide useful insights into the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of ASD.
Thermodynamics of polyisobutylene solutions. II. Vapor pressures and polymer order

Abstract The Maron theory of nonelectrolyte solutions has been used to examine the vapor pressure behavior of solutions of polyisobutylene in benzene and in cyclohexane between 25 and 65°C and in n-pentane between 25 and 55°C. The results show that the theory can predict the vapor pressures of these solutions over the full concentration range, provided the polymers involved are amorphous. When the polymers are not completely amorphous, then discrepancies between theory and experiment are observed at high solution concentrations which are due to persistence of polymer order in the highly concentrated solutions. A method is described by means of which these discrepancies can be used to obtain on an absolute basis both the degree of polymer order in solution and in the original polymer samples used.
Thermal Stress Reduction and Optimization for Orthotropic Composite Boards

Composite printed electronic boards are susceptible of structural failure or irreversible damage under thermally raised stresses. A thermal/structural finite element model is integrated in this study to enable the predictions of the temperature and stress distribution of vertically clamped parallel circuit boards that include series of symmetrically mounted heated electronic modules (chips). The board is modeled as a thin plate containing four heated flush rectangular areas that represent the electronic modules. The finite element model should be to able to accept the convection heat transfer on the board surface, heat generation in the modules, and directional conduction inside the board. A detailed 3-D CFD model is incorporated to predict the conjugate heat transfer coefficients that strongly affect the temperature distribution in the board and modules. Structural analyses are performed by a FE model that uses the heat transfer coefficients mentioned above, and structural elements capable of handling orthotropic material properties. The stress fields are obtained and compared for the models possessing different fiber orientations and fiber volume fractions. Appreciable differences in stress and thermal gradient fields were observed. The values of fiber volume fraction and fiber orientation at which to conduct analyses was guided by experimental design (DOE) ideas leading to a metamodel of the stress intensity and temperature gradient in the board which was used to represent the complied results of this study.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Removal of DNA from RNA by chromatography on acetylated N-[N'-(m-dihydroxylborylphenyl)succinamyl]aminoethyl cellulose.

Abstract RNA synthesized in vitro can be separated from contaminating DNA by chromatography on acetylated N-[N′-(m -dihydroxyborylphenyl)succinamyl]aminoethyl cellulose. The recovery of RNA is greater than 95%, and essentially all the DNA is removed. This procedure is extremely useful in studies in which DNA contamination of RNA interferes with subsequent analysis.
Monopole charge quantization or why electromagnetism is a U(1)-gauge theory

Abstract We obtain Dirac’s classic monopole charge quantization from the point of view of geometric quantization and demonstrate how this leads to the conclusion that the electromagnetic field is a U(1)-gauge field.
High-resolution ultrasonic imaging of the posterior segment ☆

Abstract Purpose Conventional ophthalmic ultrasonography is performed using 10-megahertz (MHz) transducers. Our aim was to explore the use of higher frequency ultrasound to provide improved resolution of the posterior pole. Design Prospective case series. Participants One normal subject and 5 subjects with pathologies affecting the posterior coats, including nevii, small melanomas, and macular hole. Methods We modeled the frequency-dependent attenuation of ultrasound across the eye to develop an understanding of the range of frequencies that might be practically applied for imaging of the posterior pole. We compared images of the posterior coats made at 10, 15, and 20 MHz, and 20-MHz ultrasound images of pathologies with 10-MHz ultrasound and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Main outcome measures Ability to resolve normal and pathologic structures affecting posterior coats of the eye. Results Modeling showed that frequencies of 20 to 25 MHz might be used for posterior pole imaging. Twenty-megahertz images allowed differentiation of the retina, choroid, and sclera. In addition, at 20 MHz the retina showed banding patterns suggesting an internal structure comparable in many respects to that seen in OCT and histology. Images of ocular pathology provided much improved detail relative to 10-MHz images and deeper penetration than OCT. Conclusions Twenty-megahertz ultrasound can be practically employed for imaging of the posterior pole of the eye, providing a 2-fold improvement in resolution relative to conventional 10-MHz instruments. Although not providing the resolution of OCT, ultrasound can be used in the presence of optical opacities and allows evaluation of deeper tissue structures.
Inhibition of ovulation by progestin analogs (agonists vs antagonists): Preliminary evidence for different sites and mechanisms of actions

Continuous administration of the antiprogesterone RU486 inhibits ovulation in women and in monkeys; in this regard RU486 may act as a progestin agonist rather than as an antagonist. We compared the site(s) and mechanism(s) of RU486-induced ovulation inhibition with those of levonorgestrel (LNG). Six regularly menstruating cynomolgus monkeys each received placebo, RU486 (1 mg/kg/d) or LNG (2 g/kg/d) i.m. between days (cd) 2-22 of three separate menstrual cycles. Serum levels of estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4), androstenedione, LH and FSH were analyzed by RIAs in daily blood samples. Basal and GnRH-stimulated (1 and 50 g of GnRH i.v. 2 h apart) secretion of LH and FSH was assessed using serial blood samples collected for 12 h on cd 10. Mean cycle length was prolonged by RU486 and LNG treatments from 32 d to 70 d and 52 d, respectively (p < 0.02). Ovulation was inhibited in five of the six primates during RU486, and in all six during LNG treatment. During RU486 treatment, serum E2 levels were similar to those of the control cycle; despite peaks of E2 secretion, no LH peaks were seen. In contrast, E2 concentrations were profoundly suppressed during LNG treatment (p < 0.005). The reduction in serum E2 was accompanied by lower levels of androstenedione, and suppressed ratio of E2/androstenedione (p < 0.02) suggesting both reduced synthesis and aromatization of androgen precursors during administration of LNG. Consequently, LNG treatment was associated with higher levels of serum FSH and LH (p < 0.001; 1-way ANOVA). Similarly, as during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, the amplitude of basal LH-pulses was increased during LNG treatment (p < 0.05), whereas RU486 treatment did not affect basal LH secretion. The GnRH-stimulated release of LH was similar during the placebo, RU486 and LNG cycles; enhanced release of FSH was seen during administration of LNG. Thus, in the present model system, RU486 seems to inhibit ovulation mainly at the level of hypothalamus, possibly by interfering with the steroidal positive feedback signals from the ovary. However, LNG inhibits ovulation differently, most likely via direct progesterone-like effects on folliculogenesis and the hypothalamus. The pituitary does not appear to be the major site of action(s) of RU486 or LNG. Thus, the differential mechanisms of ovulation inhibition by RU486 and LNG seem to result from lesser intraovarian impact of RU486 as well as dissimilar influences on tonic gonadotropin secretory levels. We conclude that when inhibiting ovulation, RU486 does not act as a progestin agonist, but rather, functions through a hypothalamic mechanism(s), which might be unique to RU486 as a progesterone antagonist.
A Modeling Study of the Episodic Cross-Frontal Water Transport over the Inner Shelf of the South Atlantic Bight

Abstract Physical processes that control the episodic cross-frontal transport over the inner shelf of the South Atlantic Bight were examined using a 3D primitive turbulent closure equation model. The model results showed that significant cross-frontal water exchange occurred under upwelling-favorable wind conditions through the detachment of isolated low-salinity lenses at the outer edge of the front. The formation of isolated lenses was a 3D feature associated with complex nonlinear processes. It depended on 1) the amount of multiple river discharges, 2) direction and magnitude of the wind, and 3) tidal mixing. As the total amount of river discharges increased, stronger winds were required to form the isolated lenses. When the river discharges were larger, tidal mixing tended to delay the occurrence of isolated lenses through 1) increasing the cross-shelf gradients of density and surface elevation and thus enhancing the along-shelf current and reducing the along-shelf variation of salinity, and 2) streng...
Freehand iMRI-guided large-gauge core needle biopsy: A new minimally invasive technique for diagnosis of enhancing breast lesions

The lack of reliable methods for minimally invasive biopsy of suspicious enhancing breast lesions has hindered the utilization of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the detection and diagnosis of breast cancer. In this study, a freehand method was developed for large-gauge core needle biopsy (LCNB) guided by intraprocedural MRI (iMRI). Twenty-seven lesions in nineteen patients were biopsied using iMRI-guided LCNB without significant complications. Diagnostic tissue was obtained in all cases. Nineteen of the 27 lesions were subsequently surgically excised. Histopathologic analysis confirmed that iMRI-guided LCNB correctly distinguished benign lesions from malignancy in 18 of the 19 lesions. The histology revealed by core biopsy was partially discrepant with surgical biopsy in 2 of the other 19 lesions. Freehand iMRI-guided LCNB of enhancing breast lesions is promising. Larger studies are needed to determine the smallest lesion that can be sampled reliably and to precisely measure the accuracy of iMRI-guided LCNB as a minimally invasive tool to diagnose suspicious lesions found by breast MRI. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2001;13:896–902. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Religious Exemptions for Immunization and Risk of Pertussis in New York State, 2000–2011

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to describe rates of religious vaccination exemptions over time and the association with pertussis in New York State (NYS). METHODS: Religious vaccination exemptions reported via school surveys of the NYS Department of Health from 2000 through 2011 were reviewed by county, and the changes were assessed against incidence rates of pertussis among children reported to the NYS Department of Health Communicable Disease Electronic Surveillance System. RESULTS: The overall annual state mean prevalence (± SD) of religious exemptions for ≥1 vaccines in 2000–2011 was 0.4% ± 0.08% and increased significantly from 0.23% in 2000 to 0.45% in 2011 ( P = .001). The prevalence of religious exemptions varied greatly among counties and increased by >100% in 34 counties during the study period. Counties with mean exemption prevalence rates of ≥1% reported a higher incidence of pertussis, 33 per 100 000 than counties with lower exemption rates, 20 per 100 000, P P = .008). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of religious exemptions varies among NYS counties and increased during the past decade. Counties with higher exemption rates had higher rates of reported pertussis among exempted and vaccinated children when compared with the low-exemption counties. More studies are needed to characterize differences in the process of obtaining exemptions among NYS schools, and education is needed regarding the risks to the community of individuals opting out from recommended vaccinations.
Teaching resources. Regulation of GABA receptor activity by neurosteroids and phosphorylation

These two animations show two models for how neurosteroids regulate the flow of chloride ions (Cl(-)) through ionotropic gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors. In the first model, binding of the neurosteroid allows a protein kinase C (PKC) phosphorylation site to become accessible. Phosphorylation of the channel increases flux through the channel. In the second model, phosphorylation by PKC allows the neurosteroid to bind and increase flux through the channel. The animations have two parts: (i) a diagrammatic representation of the sequence of events at the channel in the membrane and (ii) a representative current trace of data obtained using electrophysiological techniques. These animations would be useful in teaching how allosteric modulators (neurosteroids) and covalent modulators (kinases) can work together as regulators of protein activity.
Generation of low-valent tantalum species by reversible C–H activation in a cyclometallated tantalum hydride complex

The cyclometallated tantalum(V) hydride complex {ArNC(Me)CHC(Me)N[2-(CHMeCH2)-6-iPr-C6H3]}Ta(NtBu)H (2) was prepared from hydrogenolysis of (BDI)TaNtBuMe2 (BDI = N,N′-diaryl-β-diketiminate, aryl = 2,6-iPr2-C6H3). Based on mechanistic studies, formation of 2 likely proceeds through a dihydride intermediate generated from successive σ-bond metathesis steps. Compound 2 was found to undergo reductive elimination under certain conditions to form trivalent tantalum species. Coordination of DMAP to 2, followed by gentle heating under H2, gives (MAD)Ta(NtBu)(NAr)(DMAP), which is produced through reductive C–N bond cleavage of the BDI ligand in a Ta(III) intermediate. Ta(III) dicarbonyl derivatives have been accessed by either introducing CO atmosphere to the DMAP adduct of 2 at room temperature, or by directly adding CO to 2 at low temperature.
Quickest Detection in Multiple On–Off Processes

We consider the quickest detection of idle periods in multiple ON-OFF processes. At each time, only one process can be observed, and the observations are random realizations drawn from two different distributions depending on the current state (ON or OFF) of the chosen process. The objective is to catch an idle period in any of the ON-OFF processes as quickly as possible subject to a reliability constraint. We show that this problem presents a fresh twist to the classic problem of quickest change detection that considers only one stochastic process. A Bayesian formulation of the problem is developed for both infinite and finite number of processes based on the theory of partially observable Markov decision process (POMDP). While a general POMDP is PSPACE-hard, we show that the optimal decision rule has a simple threshold structure for the infinite case. For the finite case, basic properties of the optimal decision rule are established, and a low-complexity threshold policy is proposed which converges to the optimal decision rule for the infinite case as the number of processes increases. This problem finds applications in spectrum sensing in cognitive radio networks where a secondary user searches for idle channels in the spectrum.
Brief paper: Pseudospectral methods for solving infinite-horizon optimal control problems

An important aspect of numerically approximating the solution of an infinite-horizon optimal control problem is the manner in which the horizon is treated. Generally, an infinite-horizon optimal control problem is approximated with a finite-horizon problem. In such cases, regardless of the finite duration of the approximation, the final time lies an infinite duration from the actual horizon at t=+~. In this paper we describe two new direct pseudospectral methods using Legendre-Gauss (LG) and Legendre-Gauss-Radau (LGR) collocation for solving infinite-horizon optimal control problems numerically. A smooth, strictly monotonic transformation is used to map the infinite time domain t@?[0,~) onto a half-open interval @t@?[-1,1). The resulting problem on the finite interval is transcribed to a nonlinear programming problem using collocation. The proposed methods yield approximations to the state and the costate on the entire horizon, including approximations at t=+~. These pseudospectral methods can be written equivalently in either a differential or an implicit integral form. In numerical experiments, the discrete solution exhibits exponential convergence as a function of the number of collocation points. It is shown that the map @f:[-1,+1)->[0,+~) can be tuned to improve the quality of the discrete approximation.
A descriptive study of workers' compensation claims in Washington State orchards

Background Previous studies have reported high rates of occupational injury and illness among workers in the tree fruit industry. However, many common and preventable risk factors and conditions in orchards have not been investigated. Aims To identify and rank risk conditions leading to workers' compensation claims among orchard workers with respect to frequency, severity and cost. Methods State Fund workers' compensation claims between 1996 and 2001 for orchard workers in the main tree fruit growing region of Washington were reviewed and categorized according to cause of injury. Descriptive analyses were performed to characterize claims by cause of injury. Results Of the 13 068 claims in the dataset, 4020 (31%) were determined to be ladder-related injuries. Ladder-related claims accounted for nearly half (48%) of all 'compensable' claims (e.g. claims involving time loss, disability or 'loss of earning power' in addition to medical expenses). Claims related to ladders were not only the most frequent but also the most expensive collectively in terms of medical aid, time loss and other costs. On a per-claim basis, ladder-related injuries were among the most severe and costly reported injuries. Other common causes of injury among claims were branches and vegetation, structure and material and ground-related injuries. Conclusions There is a strong and compelling need to develop interventions to reduce the number of ladder-related injuries in orchards. Language: en
Targeted near-IR hybrid magnetic nanoparticles for in vivo cancer therapy and imaging.

Abstract We report the use of immuno-targeted gold–iron oxide hybrid nanoparticles for laser-assisted therapy and for MRI-based imaging as demonstrated in xenograft colorectal cancer tumor model. Immuno-targeted gold–iron oxide nanoparticles selectively accumulate in SW1222 xenograft tumors as compared to the accumulation in non-antigen-expressing tumor xenografts. Effective photothermal treatment using near-IR laser irradiation (808nm, 5W cm −2 ) application is shown where >65% of the antigen-expressing tumor cells presented corrupt extracellular matrix and cytoplasmic acidophilia suggesting effectiveness of nanoparticle-assisted thermal therapy. Cell killing was confirmed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) histological staining where scar-like structure containing collagen bundles was observed in the treatment group. Further, systemically injected HNPs were shown to be effective T 2 magnetic resonance (MR) imaging contrast agents, localized and detected at the antigen-expressing xenograft tumors. These findings suggest that the new class of bio-conjugated HNPs exhibits great potential for dual-therapy and diagnostics (theranostics) applications. From the Clinical Editor This team reports the successful use of immuno-targeted gold-iron oxide hybrid nanoparticles for both laser-assisted therapy and MRI-based imaging in a xenograft colorectal cancer tumor model, demonstrating strong potentials for dual applications in cancer diagnosis and therapy.
Side of onset in Parkinson's disease and alterations in religiosity: Novel behavioral phenotypes

Behavioral neurologists have long been interested in changes in religiosity following circumscribed brain lesions. Ad- vances in neuroimaging and cognitive experimental techniques have been added to these classical lesion-correlationa l approaches in attempt to understand changes in religiosity due to brain damage. In this paper we assess processing dynamics of religious cognition in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). We adm inistered a four-condition story-based priming procedure, and then covertly probed for changes in religious belief. Story-bas ed priming emphasized mortality salience, religious ritual, and beauty in nature (Aesthetic). In neurologically intact controls, religious belief-scores significantly increased followin g the Aesthetic prime condition. When comparing effects of right (RO) versus left onset (LO) in PD patients, a double-dissociation in rel igious belief-scores emerged based on prime condition. RO patients exhibited a significant increase in belief following the Ae sthetic prime condition and LO patients significantly increased bel ief in the religious ritual prime condition. Results covari ed with executive function measures. This suggests lateral cerebral specialization for ritual-based (left frontal) versus a esthetic-based (right frontal) religious cognition. Patient-centered in dividualized treatment plans should take religiosity into consideration as a complex disease-associated phenomenon connected to other clinical variables and health outcomes.
Winter browse selection by white-tailed deer and implications for bottomland forest restoration in the Upper Mississippi River Valley, USA.

ABSTRACT: White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) forage selectively, modifying upland forest species composition and in some cases shifting ecosystems to alternative stable states. Few studies, however, have investigated plant selection by deer in bottomland forests. Herbaceous invasive species are common in wetlands and their expansion could be promoted if deer avoid them and preferentially feed on native woody species. We surveyed plant species composition and winter deer browsing in 14 floodplain forest restoration sites along the Upper Mississippi River and tributaries. Tree seedling density declined rapidly with increasing cover of invasive Phalaris arundinacea, averaging less than 1 per m2 in all sites in which the grass was present. Deer browsed ∼46% of available tree seedling stems (branches) at mainland restorations, compared to ∼3% at island sites. Across all tree species, the number of browsed stems increased linearly with the number available and responded unimodally to tree height. Maximu...
Sequence Alignment Based Analysis of Player Behavior in Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs)

This study proposes a sequence alignment-based behavior analysis framework (SABAF) developed for predicting inactive game players that either leave the game permanently or stop playing the game for a long period of time. Sequence similarity scores and derived statistics form profile databases of inactive players and active players from the past. SABAF uses global and local sequence alignment algorithms and a unique scoring scheme to measure similarity between activity sequences. SABAF is tested on the game player activity data of Ever Quest II, a popular massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed by Sony Online Entertainment. SABAF consists of the following key components: 1) sequence alignment-based player profile databases, 2) feature selection schemes and prediction model building, and 3) decision support model for determining inactive players.
Conundrum of IP6

Here are comments on the recent paper on the determination of inositol hexaphosphate (IP6) in human plasma and on its efficacy.
Using practical ergonomic evaluations in the restaurant industry to enhance safety and comfort: a case study

Restaurant employees must deal with loud noise, busy environments, difficult customers, heavy, awkward, sharp, and hot objects, repetitive motions, and stress on various joints, all of which can lead to fatigue, sudden accidents, and long- term musculoskeletal injury. The goal of this case study was to assess the risk of injuries and accidents from conducting vari- ous tasks in the restaurant, specifically carrying/lifting, table management, and polishing silverware. The nine participants were servers at a local country club restaurant. Physical workload was measured by a scale of physical exertion. Cognitive workload was assessed, as well as cumulative trauma disorder risk. Overall results show that there is sufficient risk in some of the tasks to warrant concern. Specific results are discussed, as well as recommendations for improved safety.
Cortical transformation of spatial processing for solving the cocktail party problem: a computational model(1,2,3).

![Figure][1] In multisource, “cocktail party” sound environments, human and animal auditory systems can use spatial cues to effectively separate and follow one source of sound over competing sources. While mechanisms to extract spatial cues such as interaural time differences (ITDs) are well understood in precortical areas, how such information is reused and transformed in higher cortical regions to represent segregated sound sources is not clear. We present a computational model describing a hypothesized neural network that spans spatial cue detection areas and the cortex. This network is based on recent physiological findings that cortical neurons selectively encode target stimuli in the presence of competing maskers based on source locations ([Maddox et al., 2012][2]). We demonstrate that key features of cortical responses can be generated by the model network, which exploits spatial interactions between inputs via lateral inhibition, enabling the spatial separation of target and interfering sources while allowing monitoring of a broader acoustic space when there is no competition. We present the model network along with testable experimental paradigms as a starting point for understanding the transformation and organization of spatial information from midbrain to cortex. This network is then extended to suggest engineering solutions that may be useful for hearing-assistive devices in solving the cocktail party problem. [1]: pending:yes [2]: #ref-21
The C. elegans ephrin EFN-4 functions non-cell autonomously with heparan sulfate proteoglycans to promote axon outgrowth and branching

The Eph receptors and their cognate ephrin ligands play key roles in many aspects of nervous system development. These interactions typically occur within an individual tissue type, serving either to guide axons to their terminal targets or to define boundaries between the rhombomeres of the hindbrain. We have identified a novel role for the Caenorhabditis elegans ephrin EFN-4 in promoting primary neurite outgrowth in AIY interneurons and D-class motor neurons. Rescue experiments reveal that EFN-4 functions non-cell autonomously in the epidermis to promote primary neurite outgrowth. We also find that EFN-4 plays a role in promoting ectopic axon branching in a C. elegans model of X-linked Kallmann syndrome. In this context, EFN-4 functions non-cell autonomously in the body wall muscle, and in parallel with HS biosynthesis genes and HSPG core proteins, which function cell autonomously in the AIY neurons. This is the first report of an epidermal ephrin providing a developmental cue to the nervous system.
Dynamic Failure of Aluminum Alloy 2219-T8 Under High Strain Rate

The suitability of aluminum alloys in a vast majority of engineering applications forms the basis for the need to understand the mechanisms responsible for their deformation and failure under various loading conditions. The material investigated in this study is AA 2219-T8 aluminum alloy. Supplied by the NASA Research Center, with high strength to weight ratio and corrosive resistance. Containing a unique mixture of aluminum, copper, and other trace elements, this alloy has potential applications in multiple fields including aerospace, defense, and commercial industries. In this paper, the dynamic high strain rate impact deformation of the AA2219-T8 aluminum alloy was performed using the split Hopkinson pressure bars. The evolution of localized strain in the aluminum samples during the deformation process obtained using high speed digital cameras is reported. Microstructural analysis of deformed aluminum samples was also performed using optical microscopes in order to determine the influence of impact strain rate on localized strain along narrow adiabatic shear bands in the AA2219-T8 aluminum alloys. Results obtained indicate that peak flow stress in the deformed aluminum sample depends on the strain rate at which the deformation test was performed. The non-uniformity of the strain obtained using the digital image correlation as deformation time progresses shows two distinct areas of non-uniform strains that may be indicating potential sites for the formation of adiabatic shear bands in the tested samples.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Optimal Management for Parking-Lot Electric Vehicle Charging by Two-Stage Approximate Dynamic Programming

This paper targets the day-time charging scenario for plug-in electric vehicles at parking-lots near commercial places, where most vehicles have extended parking time. Compared with night-time charge scenarios for residential buildings, commercial building parking-lot charging during day-time feature significant stochastic vehicle arrival and departure, as well as highly dynamic electricity price. A two-stage approximate dynamic programming framework is proposed to determine the optimal charging strategy, utilizing the predicted short-term future information and long-term estimation from historical data. All the vehicles are desired to be charged to full prior to the departure time specified under constrained total charging capacity. The uncharged amount is subject to a significant penalty cost. Simulation scenarios are created by modeling the vehicle arrival behavior as Poisson process, including arrival time, departure time, and arrival state of charge. The simulation results show that the proposed method can significantly decrease the energy cost.
Immunogenicity and safety of inactivated and live attenuated hepatitis A vaccines in Chinese young adults

Objective To compare the immunogenicity and safety of inactivated and live attenuated hepatitis A vaccines in Chinese young adults.Methods Healthy undergraduate students aged 16 to 25 years with anti-HAV negative were randomly divided into three groups.Group A and B were administrated with one-dose inactivated and live attenuated hepatitis A vaccines,respectively;Group C was immunized with two doses of inactivated vaccine at months 0 and 6.Blood samples were collected at months 1,1.5(from group A and B) or 7(from group C),and 12(from all groups) to detect the levels of anti-HAV.Vaccine safety was observed during the first 30 minutes at the injection-site and systemic side-effects were recorded for three consecutive days after vaccination.Results The anti-HAV seroconversion rates in groups A,B and C were 88.4%,82.0% and 100.0%,respectively;and GMC were 154.20 IU/L(95%CI:109.44-217.27 IU/L),89.99 IU/L(95%CI:59.60-135.89 IU/L) and 1 637.88 IU/L(95%CI:1 326.42-2 022.47 IU/L),respectively.Both inactivated and live attenuated vaccines at different regimens were well tolerated in young adults.The total incidence of adverse reactions was 2.9%.All side effects were mild and there were no significant differences among these three groups.Conclusions Both inactivated and live attenuated hepatitis A vaccines are highly immunogenic with safety profiles in young adults in China.
Toxicity of Melamine and Its Health Hazards

Melamine is a kind of the chemical raw materials,it is white crystal without special taste,and it has been prohibited to use as the food additive. In 2007,pet food contaminated by melamine caused many cases of poisoning death in dog and cats in USA. Also thousands of infants suffered from urinary calculus in China because of infant milk powder contaminated by melamine,which was one of the serious public health events. The acute toxicity of melamine is very low,but the chronic toxicity test of animals long-term exposure to melamine shows that it can cause urinary calculus and kidney injury,and may produce the bladder neoplasms and ureteral neoplasms.
Periurethral Polytetrafluoroethylene Injections in Incontinent Female Subjects with Neurogenic Bladder Disease

Urinary incontinence in female subjects with bladder instability secondary to neurogenic bladder disease is difficult to manage. Many times pharmacologic manipulation and the standard anti-incontinence surgical procedures are unsuccessful. We have found that the urethral occlusive technique using polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon) paste is highly effective in maintaining continence. We describe 6 patients who achieved complete urinary control and empty the bladder with the use of intermittent catheterization. All of the patients are extremely satisfied with the end results of urinary continence and have accepted self-catheterization well.
The Effect of Pelvic Radiation Therapy on Serum Levels of Prostate Specific Antigen

AbstractTo determine the effect of prostatic irradiation on the production of prostate specific antigen (PSA), serum PSA levels were measured in 36 men who received pelvic irradiation (45 to 65Gy.) for nonprostatic malignancies, and compared with those of a control group of 79 men of comparable age without prostate cancer or prior pelvic irradiation identified from the records of the Massachusetts General Hospital internal physicians. The median PSA level was lower in the irradiated group than in the control group (0.65 versus 1.1ng./ml.). Of the irradiated patients 47% had undetectable PSA levels versus 20% of the controls (p = 0.004, Fisher’s exact test).A group of 27 prostate cancer patients who received up to 68Gy. 8 to 16 years (median 10 years) previously and who remained clinically disease-free were also studied. The median PSA level was less than 0.5ng./ml. The proportion of patients with undetectable PSA levels was significantly higher than that of the controls (p <0.001) but it was not significa...
Metabolic and Contractile Effects of Anoxia on the Rabbit Urinary Bladder

The in vitro metabolic and contractile effects of anoxia and glucose deprivation on the rabbit urinary bladder were studied. The exposure of isolated strips of rabbit urinary bladder to a glucose deficient medium equilibrated with nitrogen rather than with oxygen resulted in 1) a rapid decrease in baseline tension, 2) a progressive decrease in the intracellular concentration of adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) and progressive increases in the concentrations of adenosine 5'-monophosphate and adenosine 5'-diphosphate, 3) a rapid decrease in the ability of bethanechol to stimulate contractility, and 4) the inability of bethanechol to maintain a sustained increase in contractile force. Recovery from a 60-minute exposure of bladder strips to anoxia was characterized by a rapid recovery of the ability of the bladder to respond to bethanechol (50 per cent recovery occurring within 15 minutes) and a slightly slower recovery of the intracellular ATP level. Both the contractile response to bethanechol and the intracellular concentration of ATP returned to control levels within 60 minutes after the termination of anoxia.
A VLSI partition algorithm

A VLSI sorter of sizeO(n) can sortn elements in linear time when the input and output time are taken into account. If the input contains more thann elements, some prepocessing has to be performed. A VLSI partition algorithm that provides a solution to this problem is presented. The algorithm partitions the input data into two smaller parts as the quicksort algorithm does. That is, the elements of the first part will be smaller than the elements of the second part. The partition is repeated until the parts are small enough to fit in the sorter. It is shown that the average number of times each element must go through the partitioner isO(logk) for a data file of sizekn wheren is the size of the sorter. In the worst case where the partitioner fails to divide the input evenly, the elements must goO(k) times through the partitioner like in the quicksort algorithm. The partitioner can also be used, with simple modifications, as a sorter, a stack, a queue, or as a priority queue. Other advantages of the VLSI algorithm are also discussed.
Changes in Verbal Fluency in Parkinson's Disease

Background The test for semantic verbal fluency is quick and easy to administer. Decreases in semantic verbal fluency would suggest executive dysfunction among individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods The National Parkinson Foundation's Outcomes Project is a multicenter study that seeks to determine best practices in PD management. We analyzed data from the baseline and two annual follow-up visits to determine the annual rate of verbal fluency change and determinants of that change. Linear mixed modeling was used to assess relationships between verbal fluency, clinical characteristics, quality of life, and caregiver burden. Results There were 1,322 participants with an average age of 67.3 years, of whom 37% were women. Mean baseline verbal fluency scores at baseline were 18.81 (standard deviation = 6.25). Verbal fluency scores did not change among patients who were at our cohort's average age and average PD duration (8.4 years) and who had no other associated conditions (beta = -0.02; P = 0.80). Verbal fluency, however, did decrease for individuals with PD duration greater than the average (beta = -0.25; P = 0.03), age greater than the average (beta = -0.022; P =3 (beta = -0.31; P = 0.04), and in those with cardiovascular disease (beta = -0.32; P = 0.01) or psychiatric symptomatology (beta = -0.34; P = 0.01). Individuals with higher verbal fluency scores had better quality of life (P < 0.01) and decreased caregiver burden (P < 0.01). Conclusions Clinicians should monitor verbal fluency scores to evaluate cognitive decline among individuals with PD. Modifiable risk factors for verbal fluency changes include psychiatric symptomatology and cardiovascular disease. Clinicians may use verbal fluency testing to identify individuals at risk for decreased quality of life and increased caregiver burden, allowing for focused interventions.
School Referral of Children with Serious Emotional Disturbance to Systems of Care: Six-Month Clinical and Educational Outcomes

Effectively coordinating school and community services has remained an elusive goal for children’s mental health service providers. Researchers speculate that when community and school-based providers collaborate, supports for youth with serious emotional and behavioral disorders improve. An understudied corresponding hypothesis is that such improvement will be associated with successful school outcomes. Aims of this study included: (1) investigating outcomes of students referred by their schools to systems of care; (2) examining socio-demographic correlates of outcomes; and (3) comparing youth referred by schools to youth referred by mental health agencies. Using data from an ongoing examination of more than 170 federally-funded system of care communities, findings suggest that students referred to systems of care by schools improved on internalizing and externalizing symptoms, absence rates, and rates of school failure. Youth referred from schools also had significantly greater improvement in absence rates than those referred by mental health agencies. These findings suggest the importance of considering referral source in understanding treatment outcomes. In particular, results indicate that school staff might play an especially important role in referral to community systems of care, as their involvement in referral might facilitate improved school functioning outcomes.
Jahn-Teller Effects in Transition Metal Oxides

With the use of pulsed neutron diffraction and the pair density function analysis in (A1−xA′x)n+1BnO3n+1 (with A = La, Nd, and Pr, A′ = Ba, Ca, and Sr, B = Co, Mn, and W, and n = 2 and ∞), the response of the lattice was measured across phase boundaries. These examples provide an opportunity for exploring static as well as dynamic type of distortions. In the CMR manganese compounds, the existence of Jahn-Teller type distortions is compatible with the particular metallic state present in these compounds. On the other hand in the cobaltates, the complex spin activations stimulate dynamical JT effects generating a glassy structure with properties that are distinctly different from those of the manganites. And finally, in the tungstates, pseudo-Jahn-Teller effects give rise to a unique local atomic structure concomitant with an order-disorder transition. These studies illustrate how significantly the local structure can deviate from the average crystallographic structure and this can critically determine the properties of the solid.
Preheating after multifield inflation with nonminimal couplings, III: Dynamical spacetime results

This paper concludes our semianalytic study of preheating in inflationary models comprised of multiple scalar fields coupled nonminimally to gravity. Using the covariant framework of paper I in this series, we extend the rigid-spacetime results of paper II by considering both the expansion of the Universe during preheating, as well as the effect of the coupled metric perturbations on particle production. The adiabatic and isocurvature perturbations are governed by different effective masses that scale differently with the nonminimal couplings and evolve differently in time. The effective mass for the adiabatic modes is dominated by contributions from the coupled metric perturbations immediately after inflation. The metric perturbations contribute an oscillating tachyonic term that enhances an early period of significant particle production for the adiabatic modes, which ceases on a time scale governed by the nonminimal couplings ${\ensuremath{\xi}}_{I}$. The effective mass of the isocurvature perturbations, on the other hand, is dominated by contributions from the fields' potential and from the curvature of the field-space manifold (in the Einstein frame), the balance between which shifts on a time scale governed by ${\ensuremath{\xi}}_{I}$. As in papers I and II, we identify distinct behavior depending on whether the nonminimal couplings are small [${\ensuremath{\xi}}_{I}\ensuremath{\lesssim}\mathcal{O}(1)$], intermediate [${\ensuremath{\xi}}_{I}\ensuremath{\sim}\mathcal{O}(1\ensuremath{-}10)$], or large (${\ensuremath{\xi}}_{I}\ensuremath{\ge}100$).
Hydrothermal Quartz from McCurtain County, Oklahoma

The barite rose, the State Rock, from Cleveland County (London 2008), and hourglass gypsum, the State Crystal, from the Salt Plains Wildlife Refuge, Alfalfa County (Rohn 2007), are so abundant and ...
Is fundoplication required after the Foker procedure for long gap esophageal atresia

Abstract Background Fundoplication has been performed almost universally in children treated with the Foker procedure (FP) for long gap esophageal atresia (LGEA). We report our experience with pharmacological management and endoscopic surveillance rather than early routine fundoplication in infants treated with the FP. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed of all children treated with the Foker procedure at our institution. Results Nine children have undergone the FP since 2007. Median time between FP and definitive anastomoses was 22 days. All nine children kept their native esophagus. There were three minor anastomotic leaks, all treated nonoperatively. All children required dilatation of anastomotic strictures (range 2–15). All have been treated with proton pump inhibitors. Three children had eosinophilic esophagitis and one had Barrett's esophagus. Only two children in this series have undergone fundoplication, which was performed for symptomatic and persistent erosive esophagitis. Conclusion The question of early versus delayed fundoplication in LGEA patients managed with the FP remains unanswered. Our series demonstrates that it is possible to achieve good long-term outcomes when the operation is reserved for children with gastroesophageal reflux disease resistant to maximal medical therapy. Level of evidence IV.
Nucleotide Selectivity in Abiotic RNA Polymerization Reactions

In order to establish an RNA world on early Earth, the nucleotides must form polymers through chemical rather than biochemical reactions. The polymerization products must be long enough to perform catalytic functions, including self-replication, and to preserve genetic information. These functions depend not only on the length of the polymers, but also on their sequences. To date, studies of abiotic RNA polymerization generally have focused on routes to polymerization of a single nucleotide and lengths of the homopolymer products. Less work has been done the selectivity of the reaction toward incorporation of some nucleotides over others in nucleotide mixtures. Such information is an essential step toward understanding the chemical evolution of RNA. To address this question, in the present work RNA polymerization reactions were performed in the presence of montmorillonite clay catalyst. The nucleotides included the monophosphates of adenosine, cytosine, guanosine, uridine and inosine. Experiments included reactions of mixtures of an imidazole-activated nucleotide (ImpX) with one or more unactivated nucleotides (XMP), of two or more ImpX, and of XMP that were activated in situ in the polymerization reaction itself. The reaction products were analyzed using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) to identify the lengths and nucleotide compositions of the polymerization products. The results show that the extent of polymerization, the degree of heteropolymerization vs. homopolymerization, and the composition of the polymeric products all vary among the different nucleotides and depend upon which nucleotides and how many different nucleotides are present in the mixture.
Memoirs: On the Ciliary Mechanisms and Interrelationships of Lamellibranchs: Part IV: Cuticular Fusion, with special reference to the Fourth Aperture in certain Lamellibranchs

A form of fusion involving only the cuticle has been found in certain Lamellibranchs between the outer demibranchs and the mantle or the visceral mass; between the two inner demibranchs; and, in forms possessing a fourth aperture, between the mantle lobes in the mid-ventral line between this and the pedal aperture. The histological structure of the junction is described, and is especially considered in relation to the condition of the fourth aperture in the Solenidae.