cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Generic unfolding of the thermoelastic contact instability

The classic model of a one-dimensional thermoelastic rod suspended between a hot and cold wall is revisited. In this model, the rod is held in place at the cold end, while at the hot end it is allowed to separate from or make contact with the wall. When the model includes the contact and gap dependent thermal boundary condition known as the Barber condition it serves to illustrate the well-known thermoelastic contact instability. All previous studies of this instability have focused upon the symmetric case where, as a control parameter is varied, the system undergoes a pitchfork bifurcation. That is, a new pair of linearly stable steady-state solutions bifurcate symmetrically from a previously unique solution which has changed from stable to unstable. Here, it is shown that this behavior is not generic. Rather, for typical contact resistance functions, a fold bifurcation is encountered. This represents a generic unfolding of the classic pitchfork bifurcation and contains the pitchfork as a special case.
Optimized purification for density matrix calculation

Abstract We present an optimized linear-scaling purification method for calculation of the density matrix. Traditional purification polynomials, including those proposed by McWeeny and Holas, are monotonic and have stable fixed points at 0 and 1. We relax these conditions and develop optimized purification polynomials which achieve maximum reduction in the LUMO eigenvalue and maximum increase in the HOMO eigenvalue, while heading towards idempotency. We demonstrate that optimized purification achieves appreciable speedup over traditional purification, which increases with decreasing band-gap. We also show improvement over non-monotonic purification proposed by Rubensson, while having identical performance for polynomials of degree 3.
Evaluation of the pressure field on a rigid body entering a quiescent fluid through particle image velocimetry

The objective of this work is to verify the accuracy of indirect pressure measurement from particle image velocimetry in water entry problems. The pressure is evaluated by solving the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations, whose kinematic components are estimated from particle image velocimetry. We focus on the water entry of a rigid wedge, for which we explore variations of the entry velocity. Experimental results are verified through comparison with well-established analytical formulations based on potential flow theory. Our findings demonstrate the feasibility of accurately reconstructing the hydrodynamic pressure field over the entire duration of the impact. Along with a thorough experimental validation of the method, we also offer insight into experimentally relevant factors, such as the maximum resolved fluid velocity and the required spatial integration area.
Family Resource Scale-Revised: Psychometrics and Validation of a Measure of Family Resources in a Sample of Low-Income Families

In studying child and family outcomes it is often critical to assess families' general availability of resources. Traditionally, many researchers have used income and SES to assess family resources. This study examined an alternative measure in a national sample of low-income families. Hypothesizing that Dunst and Leet's (1987) Family Resource Scale (FRS) assesses specific aspects of perceived family resources, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted. Analyses supported a four-factor structure: Basic Needs, Money, Time for Self, and Time for Family. External validity was assessed by examining the relationship of subscale scores to other measures of family resources. Predictive validity was examined by evaluating the relationship with child cognitive and social outcomes. Subscales were found to fit the data consistently, to be moderately related to other measures of family resources, and to predict a meaningful amount of variance in child outcomes above and beyond family income, parent ...
CPCQ-an alternative to DQDB

The authors present a new protocol, referred to as CPCQ (counteracting priority coupled queue). It may be viewed as a simpler alternative to DQDB (distributed queue dual bus). It can operate quite effectively in the high-speed fiber-optic environment. In addition, it is analytically more tractable and can be enhanced to allow for assignable privileges. CPCQ is simpler to implement because the protocol requires only limited sensing. Nodes need not constantly monitor the channel to track the number of outstanding requests for downstream nodes. >
F-actin stabilization increases tension cost during contraction of permeabilized airway smooth muscle in dogs

1Dynamic actin reorganization involving actin polymerization and depolymerization may play an important functional role in smooth muscle. 2This study tested the hypothesis that F-actin stabilization by phalloidin increases tension cost (i.e. ATP hydrolysis rate per unit of isometric force) during Ca2+-induced activation of Triton X-100-permeabilized canine tracheal smooth muscle. 3Adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) hydrolysis rate was quantified using an enzyme-coupled NADH fluorometric technique, regulatory myosin light chain (rMLC) phosphorylation was measured by Western blot analysis, and maximum unloaded shortening velocity (Vmax) was estimated by interpolation of the force-velocity relationship to zero load during isotonic loading. 4Maximal activation with 10 μm free Ca2+ induced sustained increases in isometric force, stiffness, and rMLC phosphorylation. However, the increase in ATP hydrolysis rate initially reached peak values, but then declined to steady-state levels above that of the unstimulated muscle. Thus, tension cost decreased throughout steady-state isometric force. 5Following incubation of permeabilized strips with 50 μm phalloidin for 1 h, the increases in isometric force and stiffness were not sustained despite a sustained increase in rMLC phosphorylation. Also, after an initial decline, tension cost increased throughout activation. Phalloidin had no effect on Vmax during steady-state isometric force or on rMLC phosphorylation. 6These findings suggest that dynamic reorganization of actin is necessary for optimal energy utilization during contraction of permeabilized airway smooth muscle.
Transmission Shifts Underlie Variability in Population Responses to Yersinia pestis Infection

Host populations for the plague bacterium, Yersinia pestis, are highly variable in their response to plague ranging from near deterministic extinction (i.e., epizootic dynamics) to a low probability of extinction despite persistent infection (i.e., enzootic dynamics). Much of the work to understand this variability has focused on specific host characteristics, such as population size and resistance, and their role in determining plague dynamics. Here, however, we advance the idea that the relative importance of alternative transmission routes may vary causing shifts from epizootic to enzootic dynamics. We present a model that incorporates host and flea ecology with multiple transmission hypotheses to study how transmission shifts determine population responses to plague. Our results suggest enzootic persistence relies on infection of an off-host flea reservoir and epizootics rely on transiently maintained flea infection loads through repeated infectious feeds by fleas. In either case, early-phase transmission by fleas (i.e., transmission immediately following an infected blood meal) has been observed in laboratory studies, and we show that it is capable of driving plague dynamics at the population level. Sensitivity analysis of model parameters revealed that host characteristics (e.g., population size and resistance) vary in importance depending on transmission dynamics, suggesting that host ecology may scale differently through different transmission routes enabling prediction of population responses in a more robust way than using either host characteristics or transmission shifts alone.
Ca2+/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase II Phosphorylation Regulates the Cardiac Ryanodine Receptor

The cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2)/calcium release channel on the sarcoplasmic reticulum is required for muscle excitation-contraction coupling. Using site-directed mutagenesis, we identified th...
Lactate and the mechanism of hypoglycemia-associated autonomic failure in diabetes.

Iatrogenic hypoglycemia is a problem for many people with diabetes (1). It causes recurrent morbidity in most people with type 1 diabetes and many with advanced type 2 diabetes and is sometimes fatal. It generally precludes maintenance of euglycemia over a lifetime of diabetes and therefore full realization of the benefits of glycemic control. It impairs defenses against subsequent falling plasma glucose concentrations and causes a vicious cycle of recurrent hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia in diabetes is typically the result of the interplay of therapeutic insulin excess—caused by treatment with insulin, a sulfonylurea, or a glinide—and compromised physiological and behavioral defenses against falling plasma glucose concentrations (1,2). Compromised physiological defenses include loss of the normal decrease in β-cell insulin secretion and increase in α-cell glucagon secretion and attenuation of the normal increase in adrenomedullary epinephrine secretion during hypoglycemia. The compromised behavioral defense is failure to ingest carbohydrates because of loss of symptoms due to attenuation of the normal increase in sympathoadrenal, largely sympathetic neural, activity. The concept of hypoglycemia-associated autonomic failure (HAAF) in diabetes posits that recent antecedent hypoglycemia (or sleep or prior exercise) causes both defective glucose counterregulation (by attenuating the epinephrine response in the setting of absent insulin and glucagon responses) and impaired awareness of hypoglycemia (by attenuating sympathoadrenal and the resulting symptomatic responses) and thus a vicious cycle of recurrent hypoglycemia. Although additional intraislet mechanisms may be involved, it is reasonable to attribute both loss of the insulin and of the glucagon responses to hypoglycemia, the prerequisites to HAAF, to β-cell failure. Insulin normally restrains glucagon secretion and a decrease in insulin normally stimulates glucagon secretion during hypoglycemia. In the setting of absolute endogenous insulin deficiency—β-cell failure—there is …
Conclusive Evidence of Replication of a Plant Virus in Honeybees Is Lacking

The recent article by Li et al. (1) lacks adequate evidence to support the authors’ assertion that a plant virus propagates or replicates in honeybees. Instead, it is possible that tobacco ringspot virus (TRSV) virions associate with the honeybee and parasitic Varroa mites in the absence of TRSV replication. First, the presence of plant viral sequences in an organism does not imply replication. For example, plant viruses have been reported to abound in the human large intestine (2, 3). The genome sequences and the reverse …
On the challenges in experimental characterization of flow separation over airfoils at low Reynolds number

Measurements and computations of the separation and reattachment locations are reported for the steady flow over a SD7003 airfoil at different angles of attack and chord Reynolds number in the range 2 × 104–4 × 104. The experiments are based on multi-line molecular tagging velocimetry, and the computations employ an implicit large eddy simulation approach. Comparisons of experimental results with current computations and previous experiments point to challenges involved in the experimental determination of the separation bubble characteristics. The results also underline the importance of the facility-dependent freestream turbulence level on the experimental data. The collective effect of experimental uncertainty and facility-dependent issues, examined systematically herein, appear to clarify the discrepancy among the various experimental and computational results. The findings also suggest that accurate characterization of the separation bubble over airfoils at low Reynolds number is more difficult than generally recognized and presents a challenge in comparing results between different experiments, and between experiments and computations. Moreover, this complicates the validation of computational data against experiments within this flow regime.
A particle method and adaptive treecode for vortex sheet motion in three-dimensional flow

Abstract A particle method is presented for computing vortex sheet motion in three-dimensional flow. The particles representing the sheet are advected by a regularized Biot–Savart integral in which the exact singular kernel is replaced by the Rosenhead–Moore kernel. New particles are inserted to maintain resolution as the sheet rolls up. The particle velocities are evaluated by an adaptive treecode algorithm based on Taylor approximation in Cartesian coordinates, and the necessary Taylor coefficients are computed by a recurrence relation. The adaptive features include a divide-and-conquer evaluation strategy, nonuniform rectangular clusters, variable-order approximation, and a run-time choice between Taylor approximation and direct summation. Tests are performed to document the treecode's accuracy and efficiency. The method is applied to simulate the roll-up of a circular-disk vortex sheet into a vortex ring. Two examples are presented, azimuthal waves on a vortex ring and the merger of two vortex rings.
Influence of transformation heat treatment on microstructure and defects in RHQT-processed Nb/sub 3/Al

Nb-Al jelly-roll composite wires of stoichiometric composition (25 at% Al) have been processed by Rapid Heating-Quenching (RHQ) to temperatures just above the bcc formation reaction. Transformation heat treatments going to 800/spl deg/C and 1000/spl deg/C with various initial heating ramp-up times (from 30 sec to 30 min) and followed by 800/spl deg/C/10 hrs were applied to samples so obtained. The microstructure and planar defect distribution were investigated by transmission electron microscopy; the concentration of planar defects was found to decrease as the initial heating rate is increased. In situ high temperature X-ray diffraction studies were used to investigate the transformation heat treatment. It is proven that less ordering of the bcc solid solution prior to conversion to A15 occurs at high heating rates.
Dynamic PET/CT with 11C-Acetate in Prostate Cancer

TO THE EDITOR: In the April 2012 issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine , Mena et al. ([1][1]) reported on PET/CT studies using 11C-acetate in localized prostate cancer. This was an interesting article, in which our work from 2008 ([2][2]) was quoted several times. The prostate acetate uptake
The Magnetoelastic Ion: Friend and Foe to Microwaves

From the earliest years of ferrite development, spin-lattice interactions from select transition-metal (3dn) and rare-earth (4fn) ions have influenced key parameters of microwave device performance. Hysteresis loop squareness and coercivity, and magnetic loss that is related to the ferrimagnetic resonance linewidth will continue to depend on cautious inclusion of ions of the 3dn and 4fn series. As the promise of films and layers for planar devices are made more realizable by rapidly advancing deposition technologies, new challenges appear from the presence of stress imparted by mismatches at film/substrate interfaces. To offset unwanted effects of bias strains, increased use of magnetoelastic ions will become necessary. An additional feature made possible by deposition processing at temperatures lower than those of bulk ceramic sintering or melt-grown single crystals is the stabilization of cation valence states that do not normally occur in the thermodynamic equilibrium of conventional bulk ceramic processing. In the future that will undoubtedly involve structures of steadily decreasing dimensions, ferrite applications will have to account for surface compositional variations and interface stress effects. To this end, this article examines the physics that underlies the possible advantages and potential hazards to microwave technologies of the future, where magnetoelastic 3dn ions Mn3+, Fe4+, Fe2+, Co4+, Co2+, and Cu2+, as well as other ions such as Ho3+ or Dy3+ of the 4fn shell can influence the microwave performance.
In Paraguay, both IUDs and contraceptive pills come with "strings attached"

Segun informes anecdoticos, la provision de servicios de planificacion familiar y salud reproductiva en America Latina se ve gravemente obstaculizada por el hecho de que los proveedores de dichos servicios hacen caso omiso de las pautas establecidas para los servicios de planificacion familiar. En este estudio, que se llevo a cabo en Paraguay entre 1998 y 2000, se evaluo en que medida los proveedores de servicios observaban las pautas revisadas y posteriormente publicadas y diseminadas. Los investigadores encontraron indicios de que las nuevas pautas no se observaban en el contexto de la atencion continuada de mujeres que usaban dispositivos intrauterinos (DIU) o anticonceptivos orales. Contrario a lo que dichas pautas recomiendan, los proveedores de servicios imponian condiciones, haciendo, por ejemplo, que las usuarias de DIU regresaran a la clinica hasta cinco veces durante el primer ano despues de la colocacion del dispositivo. Las usuarias de anticonceptivos orales tambien enfrentaron obstaculos, entre ellos el de verse limitadas a no mas de dos ciclos de pastillas cada vez, aunque las usaran con regularidad. Segun estos resultados, las exigencias que rodean a la provision y al seguimiento no fomentan, sino que desalientan el uso continuado de DIU y de anticonceptivos orales y podrian llevar a la suspension de estos metodos por temor a que el DIU no sea seguro y estable o por la incomodidad de tener que volver a la clinica varias veces a recoger las pastillas. Los ministerios de salud en America Latina deben redoblar sus esfuerzos por educar a los proveedores de servicios de planificacion familiar en cuanto al contenido y la razon fundamental de las recomendaciones vinculadas con las pautas nacionales. Asimismo, siempre que se disponga de los resultados de investigaciones, estos se deben presentar a los proveedores de servicios para reforzar ante ellos la credibilidad de las recomendaciones y demostrarles que las practicas recomendadas han sido puestas a prueba y que su inocuidad esta demostrada.
Non-Conserved Residues in Clostridium acetobutylicum tRNAAla Contribute to tRNA Tuning for Efficient Antitermination of the alaS T Box Riboswitch

The T box riboswitch regulates expression of amino acid-related genes in Gram-positive bacteria by monitoring the aminoacylation status of a specific tRNA, the binding of which affects the folding of the riboswitch into mutually exclusive terminator or antiterminator structures. Two main pairing interactions between the tRNA and the leader RNA have been demonstrated to be necessary, but not sufficient, for efficient antitermination. In this study, we used the Clostridium acetobutylicum alaS gene, which encodes alanyl-tRNA synthetase, to investigate the specificity of the tRNA response. We show that the homologous C. acetobutylicum tRNAAla directs antitermination of the C. acetobutylicum alaS gene in vitro, but the heterologous Bacillus subtilis tRNAAla (with the same anticodon and acceptor end) does not. Base substitutions at positions that vary between these two tRNAs revealed synergistic and antagonistic effects. Variation occurs primarily at positions that are not conserved in tRNAAla species, which indicates that these non-conserved residues contribute to optimal antitermination of the homologous alaS gene. This study suggests that elements in tRNAAla may have coevolved with the homologous alaS T box leader RNA for efficient antitermination.
Ozone, NO 2 and aerosol retrieval from SAGE III limb scatter measurements

The ability of SAGE III to retrieve ozone, NO2 and aerosol vertical distribution within Earth atmosphere from limb scatter measurements is being investigated. The sunlight scattered by atmospheric gases and particulates (aerosol, clouds) and the Earth's surface is measured and spectrally dispersed by SAGE III spectrometer. Ozone density vertical profiles are retrieved from 10 km (or cloud top) to 50 km at a resolution of about 1 km and a precision of less than 10 % using Chappuis and Huggins ozone absorption bands. NO2 vertical density profiles are retrieved from 15 to 40 km at a resolution of about 2 km and a precision of 20% using the NO2 absorption features in the 430-450 nm spectral range. Aerosol extinction vertical profiles (from 15 to 30 km) are retrieved using a series of non absorbing channels. Retrieved products are compared with available correlative data (ozone sondes, SAGE III in occultation, OSIRIS).
A note on the sum rule for the parameters in Migdal's theory of nuclei

Abstract The Pauli principle sum rule is violated if the interaction of quasiparticles in Landau's theory of normal Fermi liquids is calculated by functional differentiation of the binding energy obtained by Brueckner's method. The reason is the unsymmetrical treatment of particles and holes in Brueckner's theory. The fact that the phenomenologically determined values of Migdal's parameters also violate the sum rule is discussed.
Do Atheism and Feminism Go Hand-in-Hand?: A Qualitative Investigation of Atheist Men's Perspectives about Gender Equality

Drawing upon semi-structured interviews with 10 self-identified atheist men in the American Midwest, this qualitative study explored their perspectives regarding atheism, gender, and feminism. The data was analyzed using consensual qualitative research methodology (Hill, Thompson, & Williams, 1997). Results indicated these men had a proclivity for freethought—a commitment to questioning things and prioritizing reason over all else. They believed gender differences were primarily due to cultural and social influence in society. Gender inequality was highlighted as a problem within the U.S. and throughout the world, however this belief did not necessarily lead to being feminist-identified. There appeared to be a pathway linking their intellectual orientation, atheism, and belief in gender equality.
Attractiveness of Michigan Native Plants to Arthropod Natural Enemies and Herbivores

The use of plants to provide nectar and pollen resources to natural enemies through habitat management is a growing focus of conservation biological control. Current guidelines frequently recommend use of annual plants exotic to the management area, but native perennial plants are likely to provide similar resources and may have several advantages over exotics. We compared a set of 43 native Michigan perennial plants and 5 frequently recommended exotic annual plants for their attractiveness to natural enemies and herbivores for 2 yr. Plant species differed significantly in their attractiveness to natural enemies. In year 1, the exotic annual plants outperformed many of the newly established native perennial plants. In year 2, however, many native perennial plants attracted higher numbers of natural enemies than exotic plants. In year 2, we compared each flowering plant against the background vegetation (grass) for their attractiveness to natural enemies and herbivores. Screening individual plant species allowed rapid assessment of attractiveness to natural enemies. We identified 24 native perennial plants that attracted high numbers of natural enemies with promise for habitat management. Among the most attractive are Eupatorium perfoliatum L., Monarda punctata L., Silphium perfoliatum L., Potentilla fruticosa auct. non L., Coreopsis lanceolata L., Spiraea alba Duroi, Agastache nepetoides (L.) Kuntze, Anemone canadensis L., and Angelica atropurpurea L. Subsets of these plants can now be tested to develop a community of native plant species that attracts diverse natural enemy taxa and provides nectar and pollen throughout the growing season.
Concerted Oxygen-17/Phosphorus-31 Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy: A Novel Approach for In Vivo Correlation of Oxygen Consumption and Phosphate Metabolism

After discoveries that initiated the understanding of the structural and functional organization of the cell (A. Claude, C. de Duve and G. Palade, Nobel Prize 1974) and the definitive description of the fine structure of mitochondria (Palade et al., 1948–1952), in vitro studies of oxidative phosphorylation (Lehninger et al., 1950; B. Chance et al., 1955, 1985;) yielded valuable information concerning the effects of inhibitors and uncoupling agents (Pietrobon et al., 1987). Recently, a discussion of a paradigm for aging and degenerative diseases (D.C. Wallace, 1992) emphasized the possible relation of mitochondrial DNA mutations with defects in oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). In order to obtain reliable correlations between oxygen consumption and ATP formation it is necessary to avoid, on one side, the uncertainties due to in vitro measurements and, on the other, the variations in metabolism due to other factors than mutants or uncoupling agents. We report here preliminary results of the first attempt to make virtually simultaneous in vivo 17O and 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) measurements.
High-rotational symmetry lattices fabricated by moiré nanolithography.

This paper describes a new nanofabrication method, moire nanolithography, that can fabricate subwavelength lattices with high-rotational symmetries. By exposing elastomeric photomasks sequentially at multiple offset angles, we created arrays with rotational symmetries as high as 36-fold, which is three times higher than quasiperiodic lattices (≤12-fold) and six times higher than two-dimensional periodic lattices (≤6-fold). Because these moire nanopatterns can be generated over wafer-scale areas, they are promising for a range of photonic applications, especially those that require broadband, omnidirectional absorption of visible light.
High order software - A methodology for defining software

Higher order software (HOS) is a formal methodology for reliable systems specification and development. HOS is concerned only with computable functions and their relationships for any given system. Questions of methodology are considered, taking into account aspects of formulation meta-language principles, and HOS analyzers. Details of system design are discussed, giving attention to aspects of immediate self-control and indirect self-control. A description is given of the approaches used for software management.
Using Outcomes to Improve Quality of Research and Quality of Care

Your clinic has decided to undertake a quality-improvement initiative for patients with low back pain. A steering committee has recommended implementing a set of evidence-based guidelines developed through the sponsorship of the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research. Strategies are now in place to modify your guidelines and your colleagues9 prescribing practices with regard to bed rest, use of imaging studies, and days off from work. Always the skeptic, you ask your medical director, “How will we know if following these guidelines has done any good?”
Multiscale Optical Imaging for Detection of Oral Cancer

Confocal microscopy provides high resolution optical sectioning of epithelial tissue, but with limited field of view. Fluorescence lifetime imaging is employed for macroscopic guidance with biochemical contrast to complement the microscopic morphologic imaging of reflectance confocal microscopy.
Investigation of Ultra-Low Temperature for Fungal Cultures. I. An Evaluation of Liquid-Nitrogen Storage for Preservation of Selected Fungal Cultures

Mycelial culture-plugs of fungi, strains of Basidiomycetes predominating (74 of 104 strains studied), were successfully frozen with 10% (v/v) glycerol as suspending medium by a controlled slow free...
Influence of Scalp Acupuncture on Serum levels of Interleukin-6,Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha in Children with Cerebral Palsy

Objective To explore the influence of scalp acupuncture on interleukin-6(IL-6),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) of children with cerebral palsy(CP).Methods One hundred and sixty patients with CP were chosen who were randomly divided into 2 groups.Scalp acupuncture group (n=80 ) with head acupoints through thorn treatment:Baihui through Taichong; medicine treatment group (n=80) were applicated with static point nutrition nerve drug therapy;50 healthy children who were examined in out-patient department at the same time were selected as healthy control group.IL-6 and TNF-α were determined using radioimmunoassay method of detection.Gesell development schedules were performed for the treatment of children with CP before and after the energy region (social area,adaptive area,language area,motion area) to the level of development of the dynamic assessment.Results The overall efficacy of scalp acupuncture group after treatment showed 48 cases were very effective,30 cases were effective,and 2 cases invalid,the total efficiency was 97.5%.Medicine treatment group showed 25 cases were very effective,32 cases were effective and 23 cases invalid,the total efficiency was 71.25%.There was a significant difference of the total efficiency between the 2 groups (Z=-7.276 P0.05).The DQ in the scalp acupuncture group after treatment was (68.04±15.54)score,and the medicine treatment group was ( 57.94±12.84)score,and the difference of the 2 groups was remarkedly significant (P0.01). The IL-6 in the scalp acupuncture group after treatment was (91.26±32.19) ng/L,and in the medicine treatment group was (130.53±31.24) ng/L,and the difference of the 2 groups was remarkedly significant (P0.01). The TNF-α in scalp acupuncture group after treatment was ( 0.93±0.33) ng/L,in the medicine treatment group was (1.20±0.40) ng/L,the difference of the 2 groups was significant (P0.01).Conclusions Scalp acupuncture is an effective treatment to rehabilitate children with CP,and can adjust the neural immune function of children with CP.
Metabolic compartmentation of lactate in the glucose-perfused rat heart

Several studies using exogenous pyruvate as substrate have suggested that there are separate intracellular pyruvate pools in cardiac cells. Such heterogeneity in intracellular pyruvate has important implications for our understanding of both oxidative and nonoxidative glucose metabolism. Because pyruvate is not a major substrate for the heart in vivo, we wished to determine if there was pyruvate compartmentation with glucose as substrate. Hearts were isolated from male Sprague-Dawley rats and retrogradely perfused (Langendorff) with a modified Krebs-Henseleit buffer containing [1-13C[glucose for 5-115 min. At the end of each experiment, hearts were freeze-clamped and extracted for determination of the fractional enrichment of alanine, lactate, and acetyl CoA using 1H- and 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The fractional enrichment of alanine at the C-3 position was significantly higher than that for lactate at 55 min [43.6 +/- 2.8 vs. 27.2 +/- 4.6% (SD), n = 5, P < 0.003]. The differences in steady-state enrichment between lactate and alanine were not due to differences in the rate of labeling of these metabolites. The mean steady-state lactate enrichment was higher in the perfusate samples compared with the tissue samples from the same experiments (46.6 +/- 2.2 vs. 30.5 +/- 2.5%, n = 3, P < 0.005). Because fractional enrichment of alanine, acetyl CoA, and perfusate lactate are similar, we suggest that there is a separate nonexchanging pool of lactate rather than cytosolic compartmentation of pyruvate that has been previously proposed.
Efficacy of intravenous administration of atrial natriuretic peptide after cardiac surgery in neonates and infants

Intravenous infusion of alpha-human atrial natriuretic polypeptide (hANP) and furosemide was performed in 12 patients (4: TGA, 3: univentricular heart, 3: HLHS, 2: VSD) after cardiopulmonary bypass. Their mean age at the operation was 68 days (6 patients in neonate), the mean body weight was 3.3 kg. All patients were treated with nitroglycerin in dose of 2 micrograms/kg/min and chlorpromazine in dose of 2.8 micrograms/kg/min and catecholamine in mean dose of 6.5 micrograms/kg/min. The criteria of indication for hANP was poor effect of furosemide alone. The hANP was given for 6-144 hours in dose of 0.1-0.2 microgram/kg/min. With the hANP and furosemide infusion, urine volume increased from 85.0 +/- 14.2 ml/kg/day to 107.9 +/- 25.3 ml/kg/day (p < 0.05), whereas the systemic arterial pressure, the central venous pressure and the renal function were unchanged. We conclude that the combination of the hANP and the furosemide is very effective in neonates and infants.
Credit assignment method for learning effective stochastic policies in uncertain domains

In this paper, we introduce First Visit Profit-Sharing (FVPS) as a credit assignment procedure, an important issue in classifier systems and reinforcement learning frameworks. FVPS reinforces effective rules to make an agent acquire stochastic policies that cause it to behave very robustly within uncertain domains, without pre-defined knowledge or subgoals. We use an internal episodic memory, not only to identify perceptual aliasing states but also to discard looping behavior and to acquire effective stochastic policies to escape perceptual deceptive states. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our method in some typical classes of Partially Observable Markov Decision Processes, comparing with Sarsa(λ) using a replacing eligibility trace. We claim that this approach results in an effective stochastic or deterministic policy which is appropriate for the environment.
Heritage transformation and the sociocultural impact of tourism in Umm Qais

ABSTRACTUsing the heritage site of Umm Qais as a case study, this article argues that tourism could radically shape or reshape the intangible and tangible heritage of the hosts’ communities at tourism destinations. Findings reveal that local culture and tangible heritage of Umm Qais were not resilient enough to absorb the changes brought about by tourism development. Although tourism transformed the residents of Umm Qais from agriculturalists to urbanites, and led to significant changes in traditions and the responsibilities of each individual within the society, there was no impact concerning the moral values such as increase of alcoholism, illicit drug use, and prostitution. Results also indicate that residents’ attitudes, whether negative or positive, are basically homogeneous about tourists, heritage, and tourism and its sociocultural impacts.
Understanding Awareness Information.

People have a large amount of information that they wish to maintain awareness of, but yet forget to check or are too busy to check it on a regular basis. Examples of this information include weather forecasts, stock quotes, traffic reports, and financial accounts. This information can be quite important, but monitoring it is not properly supported by existing tools which focus only on the user’s primary tasks. This research investigates the intricacies of awareness information, develops systems to aid users in monitoring it, and proposes principles for future systems.
Managing conflict in engineering organizations

We can all agree that conflict in engineering organizations is a reality. We can also agree that managing conflict can be a challenge. Every aspect of an engineering organization from low level task accomplishment or project management to upper level planning and establishment of organizational goals and objectives involves some degree of conflict. Conflict must be managed both locally and globally to assure the success of any engineering organization in its target industry. How an engineering organization manages conflict can directly impact its success or failure. Some conflict is considered productive and desired. Acceptable conflict can assure an organization continues to grow and remain competitive. Managing conflict in an organization benefits management, staff, and customers. We can not ignore conflict. It is reality. ldquoIgnoring the conflict or believing it will go away over time does nothing more than to allow issues to remain unresolved and emotions to escalate.rdquo It must be managed or conflict can adversely impact any organization. There are simple ways of managing conflict in an engineering organization. It takes time and commitment to make managing conflict successful and beneficial.
Demonstration of a Passive Wireless Radiation Detector Using Fully-Depleted Silicon-on-Insulator Variable Capacitors

Passive wireless sensing of Co-60 gamma radiation using fully-depleted silicon-on-insulator (FDSOI) variable capacitors is demonstrated. A linear relationship between resonant frequency and radiation dose is observed for water-equivalent doses up to 100 Gy, with a frequency change per unit dose of −2.02 kHz/Gy. These results show FDSOI technology has the potential to realize ultra-small passive wireless radiation dosimeters with high sensitivity for a wide range of medical and security applications.
Charged and Neutral-Current Interference: The Next Hurdle for Weinberg-Salam

I discuss the interference between charged and neutral currents in \({v_e} - e\,and\,{\bar v_e} - e\) scattering as a further test of the Weinberg-Salam model. For sin2θGW ≃ 1/4, the model predicts destructive interference, but present data does not establish either that the interference is destructive, or that it is even present in the first place. With this in mind, I construct a model with two neutral bosons which reproduces recent fits to the lepton-quark data, but predicts constructive interference in \({v_e} - e\,and\,{\bar v_e} - e\) scattering. This model has observable consequences in e+e− → μ+μ−, in particular that the for- ward-backward asymmetry must be several times larger than the Weinberg-Salam prediction if μ-e universality holds. Problems of constructing a gauge theory are briefly discussed.
SACREDNESS OF LIFE AND HUMAN DIGNITY IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION: NIGERIAN EXPERIENCE

The World was faced with holocaust, after the end of the World War 11, committed by Adolf Hitler of Germany, which was the systematic attempt of the German authorities to kill every Jew no matter where they were found and to destroy them as a group. The murder was about 6 million Jews, that were killed. This prompted the World through the United Nations to act and to make genocide an international crime and to bring the perpetrators to justice. The United Nations General Assembly in Paris on 10 th December, 1948, evolved a milestone document in the history of human rights as resolution 217A as a common standard of achievement for all nations. It is set out as Fundamental Human Rights to be universally protected. It is named UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS [1] to be observed by all nations of the world and especially all member nations. The Convention on Prevention and Punishment of the Crime on Genocide was approved and signed into law by the International Criminal Court ( ICC) in 1948. The Convention and ICC statute defined genocide as a crime with intention to destroy, in whole or in part, ‘national’, ‘ethnical’, racial, or religious group as such. It is essential, that man is not compelled to have rebellion as last resort against tyranny and oppression that all human rights should be protected by the Rule of Law , without which, genocide, oppression, racism, tribalism, sexism, slavery and all kinds of barbaric activities such as rape, torture, terrorism, homosexuality and lesbianism would solidify in the society. Genocide is one of the worst moral crimes that any authority, guerilla group or a terrorist organization etc. can commit against her people or her citizens. In the topic, we shall discuss the Fundamental Human Rights as enshrined by the United Nations General Assembly in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The neglect of this by various nations of the world has resulted in catastrophic disasters, inhumanity of man towards another, deaths, hunger and starvations, genocides, tyranny and oppressions, etc. This work looked into such episodes, the defaults, and repercussions, solutions were proffered for the prevention of future occurrences. Nigeria as a member of United Nations passed 1979 Constitution, as amended, containing Fundamental Human Rights at chapter IV Sections 33 - 43 thereto, with provisions to save guard human life and dignity and equally passed African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights of October 21,1981 and known as ‘ African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement Act, 2004). This Charter is at par and consistent with similar Charters which are, in existence in Europe and America. Anyone seeking to enforce Fundamental Rights provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, also, may rely on the provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Right. All these provisions and Laws were geared towards preservation of life, dignity of human life and sacredness of life. [1] Http://www.un.org/en/index.html of 28/10/2016.
Hypercalcemia in B-Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Report of a Case and Review of the Literature.

A 53 year old man with Rai stage IV CLL was being treated with R-HyperCVAD when he presented between cycles with fatigue, lethargy and pancytopenia. Clinical examination revealed diffuse adenopathy and splenomegaly. Serum calcium was 13.6 mg/dl, phosphorus level was 2.7 mg/dl, and alkaline phosphatase was 54 U/L. PTH was 4 Units/L (10–65), PTHrP A review of reported patients with CLL and hypercalcemia in the literature was performed from 1980 onwards using MEDLINE and PubMed; only those cases in which clinical aspects, biochemistry, PTH levels, imaging studies and concurrent pathology (if obtained) were documented, are summarized in this analysis (n=13). Rai stage: I n=1, II n=4, III n=3, IV n=5. Immunoreactive PTH levels were low or normal in 100% of patients. In 5 cases in which it was measured, 1–25 (OH) Vitamin D levels were not elevated. PTHrP was normal in 2 cases and elevated in 1. In nine patients, multiple lytic bone lesions were present on skeletal radiology. Two patients had osteopenia without lytic lesions. Two had no lytic lesions. Six of ten patients had evidence of transfomation on lymph node and/or bone marrow biopsy performed at the time of evaluation for hypercalcemia. Prognosis was poor (range 0.5–12 months) with only one patient surviving post allo-transplant. In conclusion, hypercalcemia in CLL is rare. Osteolytic lesions are present in the majority of cases. PTH levels are low, and thus this hormone is not mediating the hypercalcemia. The evidence is also against a role of elevated Vitamin D. Histological transformation is seen in half of the cases. Survival is poor after diagnosis of hypercalcemia. The mechanisms(s) of the osteolysis and hypercalcemia remain to be defined.
Commutants of separately radial Toeplitz operators in several variables

If φ is a bounded separately radial function on the unit ball, the Toeplitz operator Tφ is diagonalizable with respect to the standard orthogonal basis of monomials on the Bergman space. Given such a φ, we characterize bounded functions ψ for which Tψ commutes with Tφ. Several examples are given to illustrate our results.
Young children consider individual authority and collective agreement when deciding who can change rules.

Abstract Young children demonstrate awareness of normativity in various domains of social learning. It is unclear, however, whether children recognize that rules can be changed in certain contexts and by certain people or groups. Across three studies, we provided empirical evidence that children consider individual authority and collective agreement when reasoning about who can change rules. In Study 1, children aged 4–7 years watched videos of children playing simply sorting and stacking games in groups or alone. Across conditions, the group game was initiated (a) by one child, (b) by collaborative agreement, or (c) by an adult authority figure. In the group games with a rule initiated by one child, children attributed ability to change rules only to that individual and not his or her friends, and they mentioned ownership and authority in their explanations. When the rule was initiated collaboratively, older children said that no individual could change the rule, whereas younger children said that either individual could do so. When an adult initiated the rule, children stated that only the adult could change it. In contrast, children always endorsed a child’s decision to change his or her own solitary rule and never endorsed any child’s ability to change moral and conventional rules in daily life. Age differences corresponded to beliefs about friendship and agreement in peer play (Study 2) and disappeared when the decision process behind and normative force of collaboratively initiated rules were clarified (Study 3). These results show important connections between normativity and considerations of authority and collaboration during early childhood.
Quando o antígeno específico da próstata nos leva ao Balint: um relato de caso

The benefit of prostate cancer screening in reducing mortality remains controversial. The risk of excessive medical, diagnostic and therapeutic intervention is significant, reason why ethical principles of quaternary prevention should not be overlooked. A shared-decision should be in order. But for this to happen, good communication/doctor-patient relationship is critical. The case described here under addresses these and other issues, questioning the non-usefulness of the screening. The case relates to a young man with metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma who, years before, presented already an increase of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) that was not valued. A difficult patient, whose diagnosis made it even harder to create an empathic relationship between doctor and patient. This situation was successfully overcome further to a participation of the family doctor in a Balint group.
Talk to me: Exploring user interactions with the Amazon Alexa:

Amazon Alexa is a voice-controlled application that is rapidly gaining popularity. We examined user interactions with this technology, and focused on the types of tasks requested of Alexa, the vari...
Reexamining the link between parental knowledge and delinquency: unpacking the influence of adolescents’ and their parents’ perceptions

ABSTRACTParents’ and their children’s perceptions of how much parents know about the child’s activities outside parental presence (parental knowledge) are important for understanding delinquency. Yet, conceptual and methodological deficiencies in prior research may limit this understanding. Reexamining how these perceptions affect delinquency, we find that contrary to conventional wisdom: (1) adolescent and parent perceptions of parental knowledge impact delinquency jointly rather than independently and (2) the protective effect of adolescent perceptions weakens as parent perceptions increase. Specifically, when parental perceptions are strongest, the delinquency inhibiting effect of adolescent perceptions is offset, which may result from stress of parents’ monitoring efforts.
Mechanical Properties of Titanium Alloys at Cryogenic Temperatures

Titanium and its alloys are of considerable interest for applications at cryogenic temperatures. This is evidenced by the large number of investigations on the low-temperature properties of titanium alloys. For example, the Cryogenic Materials Data Handbook [1] lists some forty papers and reports which contain cryogenic property data on titanium alloys. Additional sources of information on the mechanical properties of titanium alloys at cryogenic temperatures may be found in many other literature sources [2–23].
The Critical Theory of Society

How often do we stumble hesitantly and somewhat intuitively forward, only later to discover that the position we reached, however inexact or fuzzy it may be, stands fully within a tradition to which we had been oblivious? For me, this pattern seems normative. I had moved fully into developing both my critique of justice as equity and my critique of psychology’s ideals and its scientific paradigm without once citing as references the work and the writings of the Frankfurt school. Somewhat like Moliere’s character, who discovered the existence of prose only after he had long been speaking it, I discovered critical theory after I had already begun to use it. That discovery, however, gave focus and greater precision to my halting, though hopefully persuasive, earlier contributions.