cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the Use of Pressure-Loaded Blister Tests to Characterize the Strength and Durability of Proton Exchange Membranes

The use of pressurized blister specimens to characterize the biaxial strength and durability of proton exchange membranes (PEMs) is proposed, simulating the biaxial stress states that are induced within constrained membranes of operating PEM fuel cells. PEM fuel cell stacks consist of layered structures containing the catalyzed PEMs that are surrounded by gas diffusion media and clamped between bipolar plates. The surfaces of the bipolar plates are typically grooved with flow channels to facilitate distribution of the reactant gases and water by-product. The channels are often on the order of a few millimeters across, leaving the sandwiched layers tightly constrained by the remaining lands of the bipolar plates, preventing in-plane strains. The hydrophilic PEMs expand and contract significantly as the internal humidity, and to a lesser extent, temperature varies during fuel cell operation. These dimensional changes induce a significant biaxial stress state within the confined membranes that are believed to contribute to pinhole formation and membrane failure. Pressurized blister tests offer a number of advantages for evaluating the biaxial strength to bursting or to detectable leaking. Results are presented for samples of three commercial membranes that were tested at 80°C and subjected to a pressure that was ramped to burst. The bursting pressures exhibit significant time dependence that is consistent with failure of viscoelastic materials. Rupture stresses, estimated with the classic Hencky’s solution for pressurized membranes in conjunction with a quasielastic estimation, are shown to be quite consistent for a range of blister diameters tested. The technique shows considerable promise not only for measuring biaxial burst strength but also for measuring constitutive properties, creep to rupture, and cyclic fatigue damage. Because the tests are easily amenable to leak detection, pressurized blister tests offer the potential for characterizing localized damage events that would not be detectable in more commonly used uniaxial strength tests. As such, this specimen configuration is expected to become a useful tool in characterizing mechanical integrity of proton exchange membranes.
Bayes empirical Bayes estimation of a poisson mean

Abstract In the empirical Bayes (EB) decision problem consisting of squared error estimation of a Poisson mean, a prior distribution λ is placed on the gamma family of prior distributions to produce Bayes EB estimators which are admissible. A subclass of such estimators is shown to be asymptotically optimal (a.o.). The results of a Monte Carlo study are presented to demonstrate the favorable a.o. property of the Bayes EB estimators in comparison with other competitors.
Changes in concentration of free amino acids and amides induced in tobacco plants by potato virus X and potato virus Y

Abstract Tobacco plants grown under controlled conditions were inoculated with potato virus X (PVX), potato virus Y (PVY), or a combination of the two (PVX & PVY) and analyzed for free amino acids, amides, and PVX titer. Inoculated leaves were analyzed 1 week after inoculation, and secondarily invaded leaves 1 and 2 weeks after inoculation. In inoculated leaves, infection with PVX resulted in a slight increase in the concentration of serine. Infection with PVY and with PVX & PVY caused increases in the concentrations of glutamic acid, glutamine, serine, asparagine, γ-aminobutyric acid, and proline as compared with healthy controls. Infection with PVY did not stimulate PVX synthesis. In secondarily invaded leaves, infection with PVX resulted in decreased concentrations of alanine, glutamine, and proline 1 week after inoculation, whereas 2 weeks after inoculation only an accumulation of asparagine could be found. Infection with PVY led to an accumulation of asparagine and proline 1 week after inoculation and of asparagine and glutamine 2 weeks after inoculation. Deficiencies in the concentrations of alanine, serine, and glutamine and an increased concentration of asparagine were found in secondarily invaded leaves of doubly infected plants 1 week after inoculation when symptom expression was most severe and the PVX concentration was 5 times that in leaves infected with PVX alone. Proline accumulated in leaves infected with PVY, but not in doubly infected leaves. Two weeks after inoculation, increased concentrations of γ-aminobutyric acid and of asparagine were detected in doubly infected leaves. Pipecolic acid was sometimes found in leaves from doubly infected plants, but not in leaves from either healthy or singly infected plants. Derangements in the concentrations of the free amino acids and amides were not correlated with symptom production.
Assessment of HIV Risk

Summary Based on the review of existing instruments and analysis of problems encounted in clinical and research practice with one of the most commonly used assessment instruments, the RAB, this paper proposes a number of solutions aimed at improving validity, and efficiency of assessment of HIV risk in drug abusing populations. Briefly, five domains of assessment are discussed: intravenous drug use, high-risk sexual behaviors, knowledge of HIV transmission and methods of prevention, psychological aspects of behavioral change, and epidemiolog-ical factors of HIV transmission. The paper discusses also changes in format, scope, and context, as well as scoring procedures that may improve discriminability and sensitivity to detect change of a comprehensive HIV risk assessment instrument. Finally, a process of developing an HIV risk assessment instrument, the ARI-I, which is based on the proposed recommendations and which incorporates methodological improvements discussed in the paper is briefly described.
MLN4924, an NAE inhibitor, suppresses AKT and mTOR signaling via upregulation of REDD1 in human myeloma cells

The function and survival of normal and malignant plasma cells depends on the elaborately regulated ubiquitin proteasome system. Proteasome inhibitors such as bortezomib have proved to be highly effective in the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM), and their effects are related to normal protein homeostasis which is critical for plasma cell survival. Many ubiquitin ligases are regulated by conjugation with NEDD8. Therefore, neddylation may also impact survival and proliferation of malignant plasma cells. Here, we show that MLN4924, a potent NEDD8 activating enzyme (NAE) inhibitor, induced cytotoxicity in MM cell lines, and its antitumor effect is associated with suppression of the AKT and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathways through increased expression of REDD1. Combining MLN4924 with the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib induces synergistic apoptosis in MM cell lines which can overcome the prosurvival effects of growth factors such as interleukin-6 and insulin-like growth factor-1. Altogether, our findings demonstrate an important function for REDD1 in MLN4924-induced cytotoxicity in MM and also provide a promising therapeutic combination strategy for myeloma.
Effect of the protein kinase inhibitors, staurosporine and K-252a, on PGI2 production by rat liver cells (the C-9 cell line)

Abstract Staurosporine and K-252a, known inhibitors of several protein kinases, stimulated PGI 2 production (measured as 6-keto-PGF 1α in rat liver cells (the C-9 cell line). Preincubation of the rat liver cells with staurosporine or K-252a enhanced the PGI 2 production stimulated by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), platelet activating factor (PAF) and the Ca 2+ -ionophore a-23187, but not the PGI 2 synthesis stimulated by exogeneous arachidonic acid. These results suggest that phosphorylation of some proteins or certain amino acids on a protein can regulate arachidonic acid metabolism probably in the pathway leading to deesterification of phospholipids.
An instrumented chisel for the study of soil-tillage dynamics

Abstract An instrumented soil chisel for the study of the dynamic relationship between a tillage tool and the soil was developed. Field experiments were conducted at 2 forward speed and 2 operating depths in 2 soil conditions in a Yolo loam soil. A theoretical model which utilized a penality function technique was developed to analyze the experimental data. The results indicate that the device can be successfully used to predict the soil cutting-force distributMoreover, it was found that the force distribution over the tillage depth w Moreover, it was found that the force distribution over the tillage depth was linear at the shallow depth in both tilled and untilled soils. However, the force distribution was nonlinear at the higher depth of operation in the untilled soil. In addition, the device was also used in the study of soil-fracture mechanics. It was found that the soil fracture was a very complex process consisting of 2 or 3 dominant soil-fracture frequencies. The fracture frequencies depend on soil condition along with operating speed and depth.
Inhibitory effect of ritanserin on the 5-hydroxytryptophan-mediated cortisol, ACTH and prolactin secretion in humans.

Oral administration of the serotonin (5-HT) precursorl-5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), 200 mg, significantly increased plasma cortisol levels in man.l-5-HTP had no significant effect on the plasma prolactin levels. A borderline effect of 5-HTP on plasma ACTH levels was found. Pretreatment with the 5-HT2/5-HT1C antagonist ritanserin (5 mg, PO, b.i.d. for 2 days) significantly inhibited 5-HTP-induced cortisol secretion. Ritanserin had no effect on the basal plasma cortisol or prolactin levels. These data are suggestive that 5-HTP stimulates cortisol secretion in man via 5-HT2/5-HT1C receptor mechanisms.
Linear free-energy relationship analysis of the fate of chlorinated 1- and 2-carbon compounds by redox-manipulated smectite clay minerals

This paper expands on earlier work on the effect of molecular structure on the fate of a series of chlorinated 1- and 2-carbon compounds (RCl), including carbon tetrachloride, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, pentachloroethane, hexachloroethane, trichloroethene, tetrachloroethene, trichloronitromethane, and trichloroacetonitrile, in the presence of unaltered (SWa-U) and reduced (SWa-R) ferruginous smectite. A linear free-energy relationships (LFERs) analysis was conducted to explain kinetic data for RCl adsorption and dechlorination. Correlation analyses based on RCl hydration energies, hydrolysis rate constants, or bond dissociation energies were significant (r2 > 0.87) for RCl adsorption by SWa-R but not so for RCl adsorption by SWa-U (r2 < 0.5). The most statistically significant relationships describing RCl kinetic data were achieved using multivariable regression analysis including RCl hydration energies (or hydrolysis rate constant) and bond dissociation energies for RCl heterolysis. The outcome of this study indicates that the oxidation state of structural Fe in the clay strongly influences RCl hydration. A mechanism consistent with the present LFERs analysis corresponds to RCl hydration as the limiting step for adsorption and dechlorination by redox-manipulated smectites.
Profound hypotension due to slow atrioventricular nodal pathway conduction during atrial tachycardia

Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) may have a variety of hemodynamic effects depending on rate, patient volume status, and presence of structural heart disease or left bundle branch block. We report a case of a patient with atrial tachycardia and dual atrioventricular (AV) nodal physiology who developed profound hypotension during transition from fast to slow AV nodal pathway conduction, despite similar tachycardia cycle length. This case illustrates the potential importance of AV timing in determining the hemodynamic effect of SVT.
Monte Carlo Simulations of the Extinction Rate of Densely Packed Spheres with Clustered and Nonclustered Geometries

Scattering and absorption coefficients are presented from Monte Carlo simulations of electromagnetic wave propagation in a volume of densely packed, random dielectric, absorptive spheres. The particles are modeled both with and without a surface adhesion that causes them to form clustered groups. Results for scatterer densities greater than a few percent by volume differ significantly from those obtained under the independent-scattering assumption. The extinction rates agree well with analytic dense-medium theory. Results also show that, on account of local fields experienced by the particles, the system absorption is different from that predicted with an assumption of independent absorption. Scattering is increased when the spheres are deposited with surface adhesion that causes them to cluster and to form larger particles.
Immersive spatial sound for mobile multimedia

While mobile technology precludes large electronic displays for visual immersion, sound heard over headphones - a widely accepted technology - is ideally suited for mobile applications. In this paper, we report on a newly developed immersive headphone-based approach that opens new opportunities for mobile multimedia. This new motion-tracked binaural sound technology (abbreviated as MTB) provides and exploits the strong perceptual cues that are created by the voluntary motions of the listener's head. A head-tracker is used to modify dynamically the sound heard by the listener, recreating the natural experience. After presenting an overview of the key concepts and of the challenges of the implementation of MTB, we describe examples of MTB spatial sound applications. Finally, we outline new mobile multimedia applications that would combine immersive spatial sound, head-tracking, and small visual displays.
Expression and sequence analysis of a Treponema pallidum gene, tpn38(b), encoding an exported protein with homology to T. pallidum and Borrelia burgdorferi proteins

An Escherichia coli clone containing recombinant plasmid C19 was identified from a Treponema pallidum genomic DNA library by in situ immunoassay. E. coli maxicells containing pC19 synthesized a treponemal protein doublet of 39.2 and 38.2 kDa, designated TpN38(b). Pulse-chase and protein processing studies showed that TpN38(b) is synthesized with a cleavable amino-terminal signal peptide. A 2.0-kb fragment of pC19 containing the tpn38(b) gene was subcloned and sequenced. The tpn38(b) gene is 1029 nucleotides long and encodes a protein of 343 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 37.9 kDa. The deduced amino acid sequence of TpN38(b) has homology with the T. pallidum TpN35 lipoprotein and the Borrelia burgdorferi BmpA, BmpB, BmpC, and BmpD proteins.
Glory in backscattering: Mie and model predictions for bubbles and conditions on refractive index in drops

Mie calculations illustrate the dependences of scattered intensity on polarization, angle, and size for bubbles with radii ≃0.3 mm in a siloxane liquid. Computations give evidence of the axial focusing observed in recent experiments and predicted by a model. Conditions for glory rays in drops and bubbles are derived, and errors in the literature are noted.
Maintenance of the CD40-related immunodeficient response in hyper-IgM B cells immortalized with a LMP1-regulated mini-EBV

Our previous investigation of a patient (pt1) with non-X-linked hyper-immunoglobulin M syndrome revealed a CD40-mediated defect in B cell activation that resulted in low CD23 expres- sion and absence of germ-line transcription and class-switch recombination. These deficiencies were complemented in vitro by a high threshold of sustained signaling through CD40. To further an- alyze the signaling defect in pt1 B cells, two types of Epstein-Barr virus lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) were generated that constitutively ex- pressed the viral transforming protein latent mem- brane protein-1 (LMP1; pt1-LCL) or expressed it under the control of a tet-inducible promoter (pt1- LCL tet ). As LMP1 signals through the CD40 path- way, the pt1-LCL and pt1-LCL tet lines allow com- parison of downstream functions in response to constitutive LMP1 signals or regulated LMP1 and CD40 signals. Immortalized pt1-LCLs were ini- tially CD23 lo /CD38 hi and reverted to a CD23 hi / CD38 lo phenotype upon extended growth in cul- ture, suggesting that the CD40 defect was reversed by selection and/or constitutive expression of LMP1. In contrast, pt1-LCL tet cells retained the CD23 lo /CD38 hi phenotype after extended periods of culture and failed to up-regulate CD23 in re- sponse to CD40 signals. Analysis of pt1-LCL tet cells in response to the CD40 ligand in the presence or absence of LMP1-mediated signals revealed that mitogenic activation resulted only from LMP1 and not CD40 signaling, indicating a difference in the response of pt1 B cells to these two distinct signals. Together, these data demonstrate that the pt1- LCL tet cells maintain the CD40-related defect and provide a unique approach to study the indepen- dent effects of LMP1- and CD40-directed signals. J. Leukoc. Biol. 78: 000-000; 2005.
Cost/variance optimization for human exposure assessment studies

The National Human Exposure Assessment Survey (NHEXAS) field study in EPA Region V (one of three NHEXAS field studies) provides extensive exposure data on a representative sample of 249 residents of the Great Lakes states. Concentration data were obtained for both metals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from multiple environmental media and from human biomarkers. A variance model for the logarithms of concentration measurements is used to define intraclass correlations between observations within primary sampling units (PSUs) (nominally counties) and within secondary sampling units (SSUs) (nominally Census blocks). A model for the total cost of the study is developed in terms of fixed costs and variable costs per PSU, SSU, and participant. Intraclass correlations are estimated for media and analytes with sufficient sample sizes. We demonstrate how the intraclass correlations and variable cost components can be used to determine the sample allocation that minimizes cost while achieving pre-specified precision constraints for future studies that monitor environmental concentrations and human exposures for metals and VOCs.
Vital imaging: Two photons are better than one

The recently developed technique of two-photon fluorescence microscopy causes much less photodamage than conventional confocal microscopy, expanding the possibilities for imaging living specimens.
Urban Imaginaries: Locating the Modern City – Edited by Alev Çinar and Thomas Bender

The article presents a review of the book "Urban Imaginaries: Locating the Modern City," edited by Alev Cinar and Thomas Bender.
Recent pulsed EPR studies of the photosystem II oxygen-evolving complex: implications as to water oxidation mechanisms.

The pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) methods of electron spin echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) and electron spin echo-electron nuclear double resonance (ESE-ENDOR) are used to investigate the structure of the Photosystem II oxygen-evolving complex (OEC), including the paramagnetic manganese cluster and its immediate surroundings. Recent unpublished results from the pulsed EPR laboratory at UC-Davis are discussed, along with aspects of recent publications, with a focus on substrate and cofactor interactions. New data on the proximity of exchangeable deuterons around the Mn cluster poised in the S0-state are presented and interpreted. These pulsed EPR results are used in an evaluation of several recently proposed mechanisms for PSII water oxidation. We strongly favor mechanistic models where the substrate waters bind within the OEC early in the S-state cycle. Models in which the OO bond is formed by a nucleophilic attack by a Ca2+-bound water on a strong S4-state electrophile provide a good match to the pulsed EPR data.
A dynamic stiffness and damping model for rail car center plate polymer liners

The center plate interface is made up of the body plate attached to the car body bolster, the polymer liner, and the bolster bowl, which is a part of the truck bolster. Roll motion of the rail car leads to the car body bolster rolling over the polymer liner on the truck bolster, which may result in partial loss of contact of the body plate with the polymer liner. This nonlinear phenomenon has a deleterious impact on the rail car dynamics. A technique for creating a center plate dynamic model accounting for the polymer liner and the loss of contact condition is presented here. Material tests were performed to model the stress-relaxation of the liner. A stiffness/damping model of the center plate accounting for the nonlinear effects of the lift-off was developed based on a nonlinear Winkler foundation model and was tested for a one-degree-of-freedom dynamic model. This continuous model was adapted into a 16 stiffness-damping element model to enable its usage in a NUCARS/spl trade/rail-car dynamic model.
Randomized accuracy-aware program transformations for efficient approximate computations

Despite the fact that approximate computations have come to dominate many areas of computer science, the field of program transformations has focused almost exclusively on traditional semantics-preserving transformations that do not attempt to exploit the opportunity, available in many computations, to acceptably trade off accuracy for benefits such as increased performance and reduced resource consumption.We present a model of computation for approximate computations and an algorithm for optimizing these computations. The algorithm works with two classes of transformations: substitution transformations (which select one of a number of available implementations for a given function, with each implementation offering a different combination of accuracy and resource consumption) and sampling transformations (which randomly discard some of the inputs to a given reduction). The algorithm produces a (1+e) randomized approximation to the optimal randomized computation (which minimizes resource consumption subject to a probabilistic accuracy specification in the form of a maximum expected error or maximum error variance).
In situ measurements of stress evolution in silicon thin films during electrochemical lithiation and delithiation

We report in situ measurements of stress evolution in a silicon thin-film electrode during electrochemical lithiation and delithiation by using the multi-beam optical sensor (MOS) technique. Upon lithiation, due to substrate constraint, the silicon electrode initially undergoes elastic deformation, resulting in rapid rise of compressive stress. The electrode begins to deform plastically at a compressive stress of ca. −1.75 GPa; subsequent lithiation results in continued plastic strain, dissipating mechanical energy. Upon delithiation, the electrode first undergoes elastic straining in the opposite direction, leading to a tensile stress of ca. 1 GPa; subsequently, it deforms plastically during the rest of delithiation. The plastic flow stress evolves continuously with lithium concentration. Thus, mechanical energy is dissipated in plastic deformation during both lithiation and delithiation, and it can be calculated from the stress measurements; we show that it is comparable to the polarization loss. Upon current interruption, both the film stress and the electrode potential relax with similar time constants, suggesting that stress contributes significantly to the chemical potential of lithiated silicon.
Molecular targets in metastasis: lessons from genomic approaches

Microarray studies have yielded valuable information that can be used to determine a cancer patient's prognosis and allow for optimum treatment choices. Tumor profiling has also changed our perception of metastatic propensity. Genomic analyses clearly showed that a metastasis signature is encoded within the genome so that when a cancer develops, the likelihood of metastasis is high, whereas other cancers which do not have this genotype metastasize as a result of random mutations. It is certain however, that cells other than tumor cells contribute to the development of metastasis through their production of various pro-metastatic proteins. Here, we review the published metastasis profiling studies and the role of the host in metastasis. Collagen type I, CXCR4, CSF-1, OPN and RhoC are metastasis-associated genes for which evidence exists for a causal contribution to elements of the metastatic process. These genes are discussed in detail and represent excellent drug targets for anti-metastasis therapies.
TGD4 involved in endoplasmic reticulum‐to‐chloroplast lipid trafficking is a phosphatidic acid binding protein

The synthesis of galactoglycerolipids, which are prevalent in photosynthetic membranes, involves enzymes at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the chloroplast envelope membranes. Genetic analysis of trigalactosyldiacylglycerol (TGD) proteins in Arabidopsis has demonstrated their role in polar lipid transfer from the ER to the chloroplast. The TGD1, 2, and 3 proteins resemble components of a bacterial-type ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter, with TGD1 representing the permease, TGD2 the substrate binding protein, and TGD3 the ATPase. However, the function of the TGD4 protein in this process is less clear and its location in plant cells remains to be firmly determined. The predicted C-terminal β-barrel structure of TGD4 is weakly similar to proteins of the outer cell membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. Here, we show that, like TGD2, the TGD4 protein when fused to DsRED specifically binds phosphatidic acid (PtdOH). As previously shown for tgd1 mutants, tgd4 mutants have elevated PtdOH content, probably in extraplastidic membranes. Using highly purified and specific antibodies to probe different cell fractions, we demonstrated that the TGD4 protein was present in the outer envelope membrane of chloroplasts, where it appeared to be deeply buried within the membrane except for the N-terminus, which was found to be exposed to the cytosol. It is proposed that TGD4 is either directly involved in the transfer of polar lipids, possibly PtdOH, from the ER to the outer chloroplast envelope membrane or in the transfer of PtdOH through the outer envelope membrane.
The discovery of the unexpected

The history of sociolinguistic research leads us to expect certain patterns of variation by social class, age and gender, but as the field expands to new societies with different social structures we often encounter unexpected results. Such findings can have great value in leading to higher level generalizations. Cases are cited of unexpected gender variation in studies of rural communities in Spain, Egypt, central India and south China where ethnographic observation leads to a better understanding of what seemed at first to be anomalous results.
Eyelid and Periocular Skin Tumors

Malignant skin neoplasias commonly affect the eyelids and periocular region, particularly in high UV exposure zones. Secondary orbital invasion is a serious and potentially fatal complication of cutaneous tumors. The most frequent skin tumors resulting in orbital invasion are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, sebaceous gland carcinoma, and malignant melanomas. Orbital invasion from eyelid tumors usually results from a delayed presentation/diagnosis, incomplete treatment with subsequent recurrences, and highly aggressive invasive tumors.
The Taxation And Regulation Of Smoking: Principle Vs. Expediency

The application of welfare economics to public policy issues is reminiscent of philosophical discussion, in that public policy questions are approached and presumed to be settled in a disinterested manner through discussion. But with large contemporary governments the stakes in the resolution of policy questions are often exceedingly high, and such disinterestedness may face tough competition from a variety of interest group pressures in the presence of such stakes. Indeed, the contemporary scholarship on public choice processes suggests that public policy outcomes are largely driven by efforts to advance economic interests, and that disinterestedness is largely confined to cases where the stakes are small and no one much cares about the outcomes. Economic policy is accordingly seen as resulting from the interplay of political realists and not from the disinterested discussions of welfare philosophers. This chapter elaborates this distinction, giving particular reference to questions of tobacco taxation and regulation.
Simulation of granular compacts in two dimensions

Simulations of granular packings in 2-D by throwing disks in a rectangular die are performed. Different size distributions as bimodal, uniform and gaussian are used. Once the array of particles is done, a relaxation process is carried on using a large-amplitude, low-frequency vertical shaking. This relaxation is performed a number N of times. Then, we measure the density of the package, contact distribution, coordination number distribution, entropy and also the disks size distribution vs. height. The dependence of all these magnitudes on the number N of “shakings” used to relax the packing and on the size distribution parameters are explored and discussed.
Analysis of failure of microsurgical anastomosis after midsegment, non-coagulation tubal ligation

Improved prognosis of tubal anastomosis after midsegment tubal ligation is an important goal. A review of the causes of failure in 124 patients operated on from 1974 through 1978 is presented. All patients were ovulatory and had normal results in postcoital tests and semen analyses. All tubal ligations had been non-coagulation. The overall pregnancy rate was 74.2%. The follow-up period was 18 months to 5 years. Of the 32 failures, 6 had bilaterally occluded tubes, 3 had severe ovulatory dysfunction, in 12 the husbands had not previously fathered a child, and 11 were unexplained. In 20.7% of successes and in 37.5% of failures the husband had not previously fathered a child. This significant difference suggests an undefined male factor.
Religiosity among U.S Chinese Older Adults in Greater Chicago Area-Findings from the PINE Study.

Background: Religiosity influences health and well-being. We assessed religiosity among U.S. Chinese older adults. Methods: Data were drawn from the PINE study based on 3,159 community-dwelling U.S. Chinese older adults aged 60+ in the greater Chicago area. Two items retrieved from Duke University Religion Index (DUREL) were used to assess the frequency of participating in religious activities, and a separate item was used to assess the importance of religion. Results: Overall, 35.4% of participants perceived religion to be important. This study correlated the higher frequency of participation in religious observances with older age groups of the sample, being female, having a higher income, being unmarried, longer duration of residency in the United States, and not having been born in Mainland China. Higher frequency of participating in organized religious services was correlated with better quality of life. Conclusions: Religion is important among U.S Chinese older adults. Future longitudinal research i...
Supramolecular assembly promotes the electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide by Re(I) bipyridine catalysts at a lower overpotential.

The addition of methyl acetamidomethyl groups at the 4,4′-positions of a 2,2′-bipyridyl ligand is found to enhance the rate of a bimolecular reduction mechanism of CO2 by ReI fac-tricarbonyl chloride complexes. Electrochemical studies, spectroelectrochemical measurements, and molecular dynamics simulations indicate that these methyl acetamidomethyl groups promote the formation of a hydrogen-bonded dimer. This supramolecular complex catalyzes the reductive disproportionation of CO2 to CO and CO32– at a lower overpotential (ca. 250 mV) than the corresponding single-site 2 e– reduction of CO2 to CO and H2O catalyzed by the corresponding model complex with a 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridyl ligand. These findings demonstrate that noncovalent self-assembly can modulate the catalytic properties of metal complexes by favoring alternate catalytic pathways.
Development of Persister-FACSeq: a method to massively parallelize quantification of persister physiology and its heterogeneity

Bacterial persisters are thought to underlie the relapse of chronic infections. Knowledge of persister physiology would illuminate avenues for therapeutic intervention; however, such knowledge has remained elusive because persisters have yet to be segregated from other cell types to sufficient purity. This technical hurdle has stymied progress toward understanding persistence. Here we developed Persister-FACSeq, which is a method that uses fluorescence-activated cell sorting, antibiotic tolerance assays, and next generation sequencing to interrogate persister physiology and its heterogeneity. As a proof-of-concept, we used Persister-FACSeq on a library of reporters to study gene expression distributions in non-growing Escherichia coli, and found that persistence to ofloxacin is inversely correlated with the capacity of non-growing cells to synthesize protein. Since Persister-FACSeq can be applied to study persistence to any antibiotic in any environment for any bacteria that can harbor a fluorescent reporter, we anticipate that it will yield unprecedented knowledge of this detrimental phenotype.
Relations Between Rapid Development of Power Grids in China and Power Generation by Renewable Energy Resources

The coping strategies for power grid to absorb lots of small capacity and uncertain-output power sources restricted by natural conditions are researched.The strategies are as following: in view of the uncertainty of output,the daily load forecasting mode in which the weather factors are taken into account should be adopted to forecast the output of these small capacity power sources;because the biogas are widely applied in rural areas of China and the technologies of applying biogas in internal combustion engine,combustion gas turbine and boiler are mature and transmitting biogas by pipeline can save the energy consumption during the transportation,thus as for the rural distributed power generation in China it is suggested that in rural areas,pasturelands and forest regions the development of biogas power generation should be in the main position,the wind power generation and the solar thermal power generation are in the auxiliary position.Besides,the present technical situation and development trend of power generation by various renewable energy resources are expounded.In order to develop and spread power generation by renewable energy resources gradually,it is recommended that the manpower and material resources should be concentrated for the development and innovation,and the pilot demonstrations should be combined with.
Polymorphonuclear leukocyte motility in vitro. VI. Effect of purine and pyrimidine analogues: Possible role of cyclic AMP

Abstract The effect of several purine and pyrimidine analogues (5 × 10 −4 M) on random PMN (polymorphonuclear leukocyte) motility in vitro was studied, using a modification of the Boyden Chamber technique. The purines, xanthine, hypoxanthine, adenine, and guanine stimulated random PMN motility to about the same extent as uric acid, whereas the dimethyl xanthines, theobromine, and theophylline, were much less effective and the trimethyl xanthine, caffeine, actually inhibited motility. The pyrimidines, uracil and 1, 3-dimethyl uracil, had no effect on PMN motility but 5-methyl uracil (thymine) was found to be as potent as uric acid in stimulating motility suggesting that a substituent at position-5 of the pyrimidine nucleus is probably essential for this latter function. Exposure of leukocytes to cyclic 3′,5′ AMP (adenosine monophosphate) (cAMP) resulted in a dose-related inhibition of both random and directed PMN motility. Various substances known to alter intracellular cAMP levels were found to affect PMN motility. Those agents reported by others to increase intracellular cAMP in other tissues, particularly in platelets, retarded motility whereas those reported to decrease intracellular cAMP levels augmented PMN motility in the present studies.
Plasma derived von Willebrand factor preparations: collagen binding and ristocetin cofactor activities.

Five plasma preparations (11 lots) used in the treatment of von Willebrand's disease (vWD) were evaluated. The collagen binding function of von Willebrand factor (vWF) containing preparations was compared with the ristocetin cofactor activity and the vWF antigen. Some preparations have higher ratio of functional activity (ristocetin cofactor and collagen binding) relative to the antigen than is found in normal plasma. The ristocetin cofactor activity and the collagen binding activity are tightly correlated (r = .95). Ultracentrifugal (UCF) analysis was used to compare the size distribution of vWf antigen, ristocetin cofactor and collagen binding activity. The sedimentation of all of the vWF parameters in the plasma products was slower than in plasma. In plasma products the ristocetin cofactor activity sediments the most rapidly, the collagen binding activity is slower and the antigen the slowest. The collagen/antigen ratio decreases with decreasing vWF size. Assignment of potency to vWF containing preparations utilizing the collagen binding activity may be more precise and as accurate as with the traditional ristocetin cofactor assay.
Role reversal: Liquid “Cheerios” on a solid sense each other

The Cheerios effect (1) refers to the common observation that floating objects (say, little toruses of Cheerios cereal floating on water or milk) tend to agglomerate either with each other or to the wall that contains the liquid. Floating objects distort the liquid–vapor interface due to a combination of wetting and gravity forces. The interfacial deflection due to one particle serves as a gravitational potential energy landscape for others, setting up interesting and sometimes counterintuitive long-range attraction that is potentially useful to direct interfacial self-assembly (2). In PNAS, Karpitschka et al. (3) report interesting experiments and theory in which the roles of the liquid and solid are reversed; that is, they show that liquid drops on a compliant solid surface experience attractive or repulsive interactions, a “reverse Cheerios effect.” The Cheerios effect is an example from a class of phenomena driven by liquid–vapor surface tension interacting with solid objects. [The very fact of liquid surface tension has fascinated researchers over a long period (4, 5).] Generally, liquid contacting a solid object can wet it completely, not at all, or partially, in the last case forming an equilibrium contact angle that is governed by the surface energies of the liquid–vapor interface and the two solid–fluid interfaces. Usually, the solid in question is sufficiently stiff that its deformation plays a negligible role. On the other hand, when liquids interact with compliant structures (6), the deformability of the latter can result in large deformations of slender objects: capillary origami (7). When the solid is deformable, its own surface stress can play an important and sometimes dominant role in many types … [↵][1]1Email: anj6{at}lehigh.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
A Common State in Israel–Palestine: Historical Origins and Lingering Challenges

AbstractThis papers investigates Palestinian and Zionist understanding of a common state in Palestine by examining two central historical texts that promoted a one state solution in Palestine. It explores the ways in which Palestinian and Zionist nationalisms tried to address the relationship between the state and the nation as well as offered ways to protect collective and individual rights in a single polity. It also examines how each side viewed the identity and needs of the other party, in order to understand how each party thought it (im)possible to accommodate them into a single polity. The paper shows that the Palestinians, while trying to come to terms with the Jewish presence in Palestine after 1970, have often failed to appreciate the complexity of Jewish national identity in a single polity. They accepted the two states solution as an attempt to reconcile with Jewish Nationalism only to find that their political rights were further eroded. The Zionists, on the other hand, has often justified th...
Translating Information Literacy: Online Library Support for ESL Students

ABSTRACTThis article describes information literacy struggles of ESL college students within the context of four information literacy components: Identify, Locate, Evaluate, Use. Experiences from an online freshman composition course are used to illustrate these struggles, along with techniques academic librarians use to help ESL students from a distance.
Mitochondrial Membrane Protein–Associated Neurodegeneration Mimicking Juvenile Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Abstract Background Mitochondrial membrane protein associated neurodegeneration (MPAN) is the third most common subtype of neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation (NBIA) and caused by mutations of the orphan gene C19ORF12 encoding a transmembrane mitochondrial protein. Like other NBIA disorders, the hallmark of neuropathology is iron deposition in the basal ganglia, but the clinical presentation is highly variable. Methods We present the relevant clinical history, neurological examination, electrophysiological and neuroimaging tests of a currently ten-year-old girl. The genetic analysis was carried out by exome sequencing focused on known NBIA and juvenile amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) genes. Results The patient presented at four years of age with progressive lower extremity weakness and generalized hypotonia. She was initially diagnosed with juvenile ALS based on clinical signs, negative brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and electromyography findings. As the disease progressed, a repeat brain MRI showed iron deposition in the basal ganglia at nine years of age. Exome sequencing of genes known to be associated with NBIA revealed a compound heterozygous mutation of C19ORF12 gene. Conclusions A C19orf12 gene mutation should be considered in young children with clinical signs of progressive upper and lower motor neuron disease. Finding iron accumulation in the basal ganglia helps to focus the genetic testing, but it may not be apparent for several years.
The Visible and Near-Infrared Absorption Spectra of Some Trivalent Actinide and Lanthanide Elements in DClO4 and in Molten Nitrate Salts

Molten salts constitute an important class of solvents for the study of the chemistry of the actinide and lanthanide elements, particularly the intensely radioactive transuranium elements where the stability of certain of these systems to radiation decomposition is important. One tool useful in this type of study is the observation of absorption spectra. In the present investigation we report observations of absorption spectra of trivalent actinide and lanthanide ions in LiNO3-KNO3 eutectic at 150°C in the region between 0.36 and 2.5 μ. Transitions to low-lying excited states have been observed in crystals of both actinide and lanthanide elements in the near-infrared region (1.3–2.5μ) and thus would be predicted to be observable in solution. However, the existence of intense solvent absorption bands in aqueous solution above 1.3 μ constitutes a severe limitation on the use of that medium. In the nitrate eutectic there are essentially no interfering solvent absorption bands between 1.3 and 2.5 μ. It is also possible to observe portions of this region in deuterated solvents, and thus we are able to compare over an extended range the effects of different ligand fields on 4f and 5f electrons. The bands observed in the near-infrared region should prove to be of analytical importance since the extinction coefficients appear to be comparable to many of the more intense bands in the visible region.
Big Data's New Discrimination Threats: Amending the Americans with Disabilities Act to Cover Discrimination Based on Data-Driven Predictions of Future Disease

While big data holds great promise to improve the human condition, it also creates new and previously unimaginable opportunities for discrimination. Employers, financial institutions, marketers, educational institutions, and others can now easily obtain a wealth of big data about individuals’ health status and use it to make adverse decisions relating to data subjects.The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal law that prohibits employers and other public and private entities from discriminating against individuals because of their disabilities. This chapter argues that in the era of big data, the ADA does not go far enough. While the ADA protects individuals who have existing disabilities, records of past disabilities, or are regarded as having mental or physical impairments, it does not reach people who are currently healthy but are perceived as being at high risk of becoming sick in the future. This is a gap that should not be ignored at a time when decision-makers have many newly-available data tools that enable them to make predictions about medical problems that individuals will face in later years.The chapter recommends that the ADA be amended to expand its anti-discrimination mandate. Specifically, the statute should 1) prohibit discrimination based on predictions of future physical or mental impairments and 2) require covered entities to disclose in writing their use of big data or other non-traditional means to obtain health-related information.
Accupuncture-like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation therapy success using a commercially available unit 8 years post-radiation for xerostomia: a case report.

Background Accupuncture-like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (ALTENS) therapy has been shown in prospective studies to be effective in the treatment of radiation-induced xerostomia. Those studies treated patients within 27 months from end of radiation with ALTENS delivered in the clinic using a Codetron unit. However, that unit is no longer produced and there is limited data on success of ALTENS when delivered at home. Methods A 50-year old man with xerostomia, 8 years post-radiation for T4N1 squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsillar fossa, was given ALTENS with a currently commercially available unit from Girish Surgical. He used the unit at home, 20 minutes daily for 8 weeks. Results After 8 weeks of ALTENS therapy the patient saw a reduction in the Self-Reported University of Michigan Xerostomia-Related Quality of Life Scale from 20 to 1. Conclusion This case report demonstrates (1) the Girish Surgical unit is effective, (2) self-administration of ALTENS in patients who cannot come to clinic regularly may be practical and (3) ALTENS can still offer durable benefit to patients even 8 years after chemoradiation therapy.