cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Serial quantitative EEG among elderly subjects with delirium

Serial quantitative electroencephalographic (QEEG) studies were performed in 33 elderly delirious, demented, and control subjects to determine which QEEG variables were associated with changes in clinical state as measured by the Folstein Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE). Conventional EEGs and brain maps were independently rated by two electroencephalographers without knowledge of clinical diagnoses. Correlational analyses were performed using these ratings, along with numerical data from QEEG. In the delirium group (n = 15), changes in scores for the relative power map and changes in relative power in the alpha band had significant associations with changes in MMSE. In the dementia group (n = 10), changes in score for absolute power maps and changes in absolute power in the delta band had significant associations with changes in MMSE. In the control group, changes in MMSE over time were negligible. These findings have potential clinical utility in diagnosing delirium, and in providing a quantitative measure of its severity, which can be used serially.
Momentum dependence, Boltzmann-Uehling-Uhlenbeck calculations, and transverse momenta.

Drawing upon the experience of a previous calculation, we show that it is possible to make simple qualitative estimates of the transverse momenta generated in a Boltzmann-Uehling-Uhlenbeck calculation where the mean field is obtained from a Gogny force and a Skyrme force.
Possible origins of high-T(c) superconductivity

A mechanism to explain high-T{sub c} superconductivity, based on the double-well motion of the oxygen ions in such systems, is extended to predict T values of for (La, Ba){sub 2}CuO{sub 4} and Ba{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7}. This gives lower bounds on T{sub c} of 53K for the former and 44K for the latter. Since the second number, in particular, could be markedly enhanced by full allowance for the large amplitudes of the oxygen motions, it is argued that large T{sub c} values have a purely vibronic origin.
Determining simple sulfhydryl compounds (low molecular weight) and their contents in biological samples by using 2,2′-dithiobis-(5-nitropyridine)

Abstract DTNP—2,2′-dithiobis-(5-nitropyridine)—was found to be useful for spectrophotometric determination of simple (low MW) -SH compounds and their contents in biological samples. Unlike 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB), DTNP can develop color with -SH compounds at the acidic or alkaline pH medium (pH 5.5–8.9). The developed color is stable and, therefore, suitable for analysis. DTNP was found to be more sensitive than DTNB (a widely used color reagent) for spectrophotometric determination of -SH compounds. A linear response, conforming to Beer's law, of absorbance readings to concentrations was observed for all the simple -SH compounds tested in the study. On a molar basis, once those -SH compounds reacted with DTNP, they gave essentially identical responses (within experimental errors). A high correlation was demonstrated between the spectrophotometric and amperometric methods for determining simple -SH contents in biological samples.
INDIRECT VISUALIZATION OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS PROTEIN A

Specific but nonimmunologic reaction between staphylococcal protein A and the Fc portion of gamma globulin provided the basis for ultrastructural studies to determine the localization of protein A, using intact staphylococci and labeled myeloma gamma G-globulin. Protein A appeared to be part of the outermost layer of the staphylococcal cell wall. Strains with protein A demonstrated a coating of myeloma globulin over the entire bacterial surface. There was no coating of strains without protein A. Identification of protein A on the surface of the staphylococcal cell wall provides evidence that this may be the first material in contact with host environment. It probably accounts for apparent cross-reactions of staphylococci with antibodies to many antigens. More importantly, even in the nonimmune host protein A immunoglobulin reactivity may initiate complement activation and inflammatory reactions including chemotaxis and pus formation.
A variable-capacitance vibration-to-electric energy harvester

Past research on vibration energy harvesting has focused primarily on the use of magnets or piezoelectric materials as the basis of energy transduction, with few experimental studies implementing variable-capacitance-based scavenging. In contrast, this paper presents the design and demonstration of a variable-capacitance vibration energy harvester that combines an asynchronous diode-based charge pump with an inductive energy flyback circuit to deliver 1.8 /spl mu/W to a resistive load. A cantilever beam variable capacitor with a 650-pF dc capacitance and a 348-pF zero-to-peak ac capacitance, formed by a 43.56cm/sup 2/ spring steel top plate attached to an aluminum base, drives the charge pump at its out-of-plane resonant frequency of 1.56 kHz. The entire harvester requires only one gated MOSFET for energy flyback control, greatly simplifying the clocking scheme and avoiding synchronization issues. Furthermore, the system exhibits a startup voltage requirement below 89 mV, indicating that it can potentially be turned on using just a piezoelectric film.
System-on-Package (SOP) architectures for compact and low cost RF front-end modules

This paper presents the development of advanced System-on-Package (SOP) architectures for compact and low cost wireless RF wireless systems. We present the design of compact stacked patch antennas using SHS structures for LMDS and Vband applications. Multi-layer organic packaging development for SOP is reported. An Intelligent Network Communicator (INC) RF block is presented as example of the high performances of multi-layer organic package. A novel ultra-compact 3D integration technology for SOP-based solutions is proposed and utilized for the implementation of a Ku band VCO module. In addition, the fabrication of very high Qfactor inductors in Liquid Crystal Polymer multi-layer substrate demonstrate superior performances compared to any other multilayer organic packages.
Behavioral Analysis of Signals that Guide Learned Changes in the Amplitude and Dynamics of the Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex

We characterized the dependence of motor learning in the monkey vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) on the duration, frequency, and relative timing of the visual and vestibular stimuli used to induce learning. The amplitude of the VOR was decreased or increased through training with paired head and visual stimulus motion in the same or opposite directions, respectively. For training stimuli that consisted of simultaneous pulses of head and target velocity 80-1000 msec in duration, brief stimuli caused small changes in the amplitude of the VOR, whereas long stimuli caused larger changes in amplitude as well as changes in the dynamics of the reflex. When the relative timing of the visual and vestibular stimuli was varied, brief image motion paired with the beginning of a longer vestibular stimulus caused changes in the amplitude of the reflex alone, but the same image motion paired with a later time in the vestibular stimulus caused changes in the dynamics as well as the amplitude of the VOR. For training stimuli that consisted of sinusoidal head and visual stimulus motion, low-frequency training stimuli induced frequency-selective changes in the VOR, as reported previously, whereas high-frequency training stimuli induced changes in the amplitude of the VOR that were more similar across test frequency. The results suggest that there are at least two distinguishable components of motor learning in the VOR. One component is induced by short-duration or high-frequency stimuli and involves changes in only the amplitude of the reflex. A second component is induced by long-duration or low-frequency stimuli and involves changes in the amplitude and dynamics of the VOR.
Housing Bubbles: A Survey

The past 25 years have represented two periods of extreme movements in U.S. and global house prices that appear to be much larger than can be easily explained by changes in fundamentals. These episodes spurred research on housing bubbles that focused attention on the role of outsized expectations in excessive house price appreciation. By contrast, some economists pointed to alternative explanations for excess volatility, including liquidity constraints, lending cycles, search externalities, and zoning delays. Empirical work supports the role of these factors in explaining at least some of the cyclical variation of house prices and inventories of homes for sale. Existing research does not yet provide a crisp definition of a housing bubble nor does it allow researchers to predict where or when bubbles can occur.
Redefining Neighborhoods Using Common Destinations: Social Characteristics of Activity Spaces and Home Census Tracts Compared

Research on neighborhood effects has focused largely on residential neighborhoods, but people are exposed to many other places in the course of their daily lives-at school, at work, when shopping, and so on. Thus, studies of residential neighborhoods consider only a subset of the social-spatial environment affecting individuals. In this article, we examine the characteristics of adults' "activity spaces"-spaces defined by locations that individuals visit regularly-in Los Angeles County, California. Using geographic information system (GIS) methods, we define activity spaces in two ways and estimate their socioeconomic characteristics. Our research has two goals. First, we determine whether residential neighborhoods represent the social conditions to which adults are exposed in the course of their regular activities. Second, we evaluate whether particular groups are exposed to a broader or narrower range of social contexts in the course of their daily activities. We find that activity spaces are substantially more heterogeneous in terms of key social characteristics, compared to residential neighborhoods. However, the characteristics of both home neighborhoods and activity spaces are closely associated with individual characteristics. Our results suggest that most people experience substantial segregation across the range of spaces in their daily lives, not just at home.
Delayed versus immediate bedside inoculation of culture media for diagnosis of vaginal trichomonosis

A comparison of delayed versus immediate inoculation of culture medium for the diagnosis of trichomonosis was conducted. The sensitivities of the two methods were 100 and 97.4%, respectively. Delayed inoculation of culture medium for women without evidence of trichomonosis on direct microscopic examination is a valid diagnostic procedure.
Field representation in cylindrical co-ordinates

Formulas are presented which give the electrostatic field in a half-space when the radial field is prescribed on the plane z = 0 to be zero for r > 1 and given for r < 1. This corresponds to a prescribed field in a circular aperture in a metal plate, and is applied to the case of the fringe field of a flanged cylindrical tube.
Ideas versus rival human capital: Industry evidence on growth models

Abstract Using 1959–1991 growth rates for 449 4-digit US manufacturing industries, I test `idea' and `rival human capital' models of endogenous growth. I find the following: First, TFP growth is faster in industries that are more intensive in capital and intermediate goods and less intensive in labor, favoring idea models over rival human capital models. Second, industries with rapidly declining prices for their capital and intermediate goods exhibit above-average TFP growth, which one would expect if improvements in variety and quality are only partially measured by output deflators: understated price declines upstream translate into higher measured TFP growth downstream.
Dark matter halo response to the disc growth

We consider the sensitivity of the circular-orbit adiabatic contraction approximation to the baryon condensation rate and the orbital structure of dark matter halos in theCDM paradigm. Using one-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations including the dark matter halo mass accretion history and gas cooling, we demonstrate that the adia- batic approximation is approximately valid even though halos and disks may assemble simultaneously. We further demonstrate the validity of the simple approximation for �CDM halos with isotropic velocity distributions using three-dimensional N-body sim- ulations. This result is easily understood: an isotropic velocity distribution in a cuspy halo requires more circular orbits than radial orbits. Conversely, the approximation is poor in the extreme case of a radial orbit halo. It overestimates the response a core dark matter halo, where radial orbit fraction is larger. Because no astronomically relevant models are dominated by low-angular momentum orbits in the vicinity of the disk and the growth time scale is never shorter than a dynamical time, we conclude that the adiabatic contraction approximation is useful in modeling the response of dark matter halos to the growth of a disk.
Optimal warping prediction for video coding

Warping, also known as control grid interpolation, estimates intensities in the present frame through an interpolation of motion vectors-typically with bilinear interpolation. This paper presents a method for computing optimal interpolation parameters for warping prediction. Conventional bilinear warping, while mostly effective, has been known to exhibit unreliable performance in certain situations. Since both block-matching (BMA) and bilinear warping are candidate solutions for optimal warping, the performance of optimal warping is lower bounded by both bilinear warping and BMA, therefore vastly reducing the inconsistency problem. Furthermore, this optimality criterion is applicable to any category of motion vector, including that of block-matching. Thus we are able to demonstrate the optimal usage, under linear operations in the motion domain, of BMA motion vectors.
Optimal efficiency of a solar pond and a rankine cycle system

The optimal efficiency of a solar pond — Rankine cycle system is found analytically. The optimum for the general case, and the optimum for a pond of fixed depth are determined. Results for three ponds are compared.
A simple algorithm for time scale separation

Gerschgorin's circle theorem is used to develop a simple algorithm for identifying time scales in linear systems. The similarity transformation of matrices is then used to partition the system matrix A, with each diagonal block of A corresponding to a different time scale. Sufficient conditions under which this technique is applicable are given. The tractability of this algorithm in comparison to those found in the literature is discussed. The proposed algorithm is particularly useful for reducing the computational cost involved in decoupling a given system into its fast and slow subsystems. Two numerical examples are given to illustrate the use of the method. It is apparent from these examples that this algorithm is simple, computationally cheap, and reliable. However, it may require preliminary transformations of the A matrix to ensure that Gerschgorin's circle theorem can be used. >
Anti-CD11d monoclonal antibody treatment for rat spinal cord compression injury

This study was initiated due to an NIH "Facilities of Research-Spinal Cord Injury" contract to support independent replication of published studies. Transient blockage of the CD11d/CD18 integrin has been reported to reduce secondary neuronal damage as well as to improve functional recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats. The purpose of this study was to determine whether treatment with an anti-CD11d monoclonal antibody (mAb) would improve motor performance, reduce pain and histopathological damage in animals following clip-compression injury as reported. Adult male Wistar rats (250g) were anesthetized with isoflurane, and the T12 spinal cord exposed by T10 and T11 dorsal laminectomies followed by a 60s period of clip compression utilizing a 35g clip. Control animals received an isotype-matched irrelevant antibody (1B7) while the treated group received the anti-CD11d mAb (217L; 1.0mg/kg) systemically. Open-field locomotion and sensory function were assessed and animals were perfusion-fixed at twelve weeks after injury for quantitative histopathological analysis. As compared to 1B7, 217L treated animals showed an overall non-significant trend to better motor recovery. All animals showed chronic mechanical allodynia and anti-CD11d mAb treatment did not significantly prevent its development. Histopathological analysis demonstrated severe injury to gray and white matter after compression with a non-significant trend in anti-CD11d protection compared to control animals for preserved myelin. Although positive effects with the anti-CD11d mAb treatment have been reported after compressive SCI, it is suggested that this potential treatment requires further investigation before clinical trials in spinal cord injured patients are implemented.
Sample boundary effect in nanoindentation of nano and microscale surface structures

Nanoindentation is a widely used technique to characterize mechanical properties of materials in small volumes. When the sample size is comparable to the indent size, the indentation-induced plastic zone can be affected by the sample boundary which may cause inaccurate interpretation of the mechanical properties. In this study, the sample boundary effect is investigated by performing experiments and atomistic simulations of nanoindentation into nano- and micro-scale Au pillars and bulk Au (0 0 1) surfaces. In experiments, a more compliant deformation is observed in pillar indentations compared to bulk Au. The elastic modulus decreases with increasing indent size over sample size ratio. Atomistic simulations are performed to gain insights on the mechanisms of pillar deformation and pillar boundary effect. The reduced modulus has a similar trend of decrease with increasing indent size over sample size ratio. Significantly different dislocation activities and dislocation interactions with the pillar boundary contribute to the lower value of the reduced modulus in the pillar indentation. The presence of the free surface would allow the dislocations to annihilate, causing a higher plastic recovery during the pillar unloading process.
Combining two VUV lasers with the time-sliced velocity mapped ion imaging method for studying the photodissociation of small molecules

We report on an experimental method for the study of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) and vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photodissociation dynamics of small molecules using time-sliced velocity-mapped ion imaging (TSVMI) detection. The four-wave resonant sum and difference-frequency mixing (FWRSDFM) method is used to provide a relatively intense high repetition rate light source in this region. These two methods are used to study the photodissociation of N 2 , NO, and CO 2 in the energy ranges of 13.0-13.7 and 9.6-10.3 eV. The results indicate that this is a viable method for the study of these molecules in this wavelength region.
Veterinary social work: Practice within veterinary settings

ABSTRACTVeterinary social work (VSW) is the provision of services at the intersection of veterinary medicine and social work practice. Based on scholarly literature and practice experience, four competency areas are identified for social workers attending to the human side of the human-animal bond: grief at the loss of an animal companion, compassion fatigue in the animal services fields, the connection between animal and human violence, and animal-assisted interventions. This review explores how the four competency areas of VSW have evolved, to what extent these services are being provided, and in what realms these services exist.
Financial Strain and Mental Health Among Older Adults During the Great Recession

Objectives The economic recession has garnered the interest of many scholars, with much attention being drawn to how the recession has affected labor force participation, household wealth, and even retirement decisions. Certainly, the Great Recession has influenced the financial well-being of older adults, but has it had discernible effects on mental health? Method This study draws on 5,366 respondents from the Health and Retirement Study (2006-2010) to examine objective and subjective measures of financial well-being in the period surrounding the Great Recession. Guided by cumulative inequality theory, this research investigates whether the economic downturn contributed to worsening anxiety and depressive symptoms over a 4-year period. Results Results from linear fixed effects models reveal that decreases in objective financial resources were associated with increased financial strain during the Great Recession. Unlike the objective indicators, however, financial strain was a strong and robust predictor of worsening mental health between 2006 and 2010. Discussion Building on prior research, this study elucidates the factors that shape financial strain and provides evidence that the Great Recession not only affected the financial well-being of older adults but also had adverse effects on mental health.
Content domain expertise in the learning community

As knowledge-centered educational learning environments become increasingly popular among proponents of sustained educational inquiry and reform [Collins, Greeno, & Resnick, 1994; CTGV, 1992; Magnusson & Palincsar, 1995; Scardamalia & Bereiter, 1994; Schauble, Glaser, Duschl, Schulze, & John, 1995], issues of the existing content domain knowledge of the classroom teacher arise. What depth can the average teacher be expected to have in any one specific domain when their training has been specifically aimed at making the teacher a generalist in a number of academic areas? Recently, a McDonnell Foundation implementation project entitled Schools For Thought [Lamon, Secules, Petrosino, Hackett, Bransford, and Goldman; in press] has been developed which incorporates a number of content domain experts in the field of science, literature, and mathematics to actively participate as a resource for both classroom teachers and students as curriculum and classroom activities are developed and utilized. As this bridge is forged between experts in the field (content experts) and experts in the classroom (teachers), the "real world" is being brought into traditional educational settings with exciting results. This paper will focus on the roles that have evolved concerning content experts in classrooms dedicated to a "learning community" model either in person (assisting teachers at weekly meetings, helping with assessment, presenting "benchmark" lessons in class) or on-line electronically (corresponding with the classroom community via electronic mail or "seeding" questions on local area networks).
Molecular Characterization of the Cercosporin Biosynthetic Pathway in the Fungal Plant Pathogen Cercospora nicotianae

Perylenequinones are a class of photoactivated polyketide mycotoxins produced by fungal plant pathogens that notably produce reactive oxygen species with visible light. The best-studied perylenequinone is cercosporin—a product of the Cercospora species. While the cercosporin biosynthetic gene cluster has been described in the tobacco pathogen Cercospora nicotianae, little is known of the metabolite’s biosynthesis. Furthermore, in vitro investigations of the polyketide synthase central to cercosporin biosynthesis identified the naphthopyrone nor-toralactone as its direct product—an observation in conflict with published biosynthetic proposals. Here, we present an alternative biosynthetic pathway to cercosporin based on metabolites characterized from a series of biosynthetic gene knockouts. We show that nor-toralactone is the key polyketide intermediate and the substrate for the unusual didomain protein CTB3. We demonstrate the unique oxidative cleavage activity of the CTB3 monooxygenase domain in vitro. Th...
Effect of DCA and Post DCA Hypertension Upon the Course of Pregnancy in the Rat.

SummaryThe influence of pregnancy on arterial pressure, proteinuria, weight, and fetal and neonatal morbidity was studied in 2 groups of animals. Group I, 20 uninephrectomized rats, received DOCA and sodium chloride throughout the entire study. Group II, 10 uninephrectomized rats, was bred after withdrawal of the DOCA sodium chloride regimen. There were marked fluctuations in weight of these animals during the time that they received the DOCA and sodium chloride. Pregnancy did not alter the course of hypertension in either group, but both groups showed increased proteinuria during pregnancy. Only 66% of the offspring of Group I was born alive and only 75% of the offspring of Group II were born alive. During the third week of pregnancy, 6 of the animals in the hypertensive groups experienced more than a 10% increase in weight during a 24-hour period and 3 of them convulsed. These data suggest that the fluid balance is affected when pregnancy is superimposed on this type of experimental hypertension.
Defining the Challenges Operators Face when Controlling Multiple Unmanned Vehicles

To achieve effective human-robot interaction (HRI) it is important to determine what types of supervisory control interfaces lead to optimal human-robot teaming. Research in HRI has demonstrated that operators controlling fewer robots against opponents of equal strength face greater challenges when control is restricted to only automation. Using human-in-the-loop evaluations of delegation-type interfaces, the present study examined the challenges and outcomes of a single operator supervising (1) more or less robots than a simulated adversary, with either a (2) flexible or restricted control interface. Testing was conducted with 12 paid participants using the RoboFlag simulation environment. Results from this experiment support past findings of execution timing deficiencies related to automation brittleness, and present new findings that indicate that successful teaming between a single human operator and a robotic team is affected by the number of robots and the type of interface.
A Wavelet Transform Module for a Speech Recognition Virtual Machine (Abstract Only)

This work explores the trade-offs between time and frequency information during the feature extraction process of an automatic speech recognition system using wavelet transform features instead of Mel-frequency cepstral coefficients. The Speech Recognition Virtual Kitchen toolkit (www.speechkitchen.org) is used as the framework for implementing wavelet modules in a virtual machine loaded with the Kaldi recognition system. The SRVK toolkit is a computing resource that provides virtual machines for a variety of research and education purposes. Results comparing different wavelets and feature extraction approaches will be presented. The resulting virtual machine, which allows straightforward comparisons of signal processing approaches, is freely available for research and educational use.
Newsteadia trisegmentalis (Homoptera: Coccoidea: Ortheziidae): a New Species of Scale Insect from Georgia

Newsteadia trisegmentalis, a new species of ensign scale from Fargo, Ga., is described and illustrated. A revised key is provided to distinguish it from closely related species.
Quantitative Estimation of Barbiturates in Blood by Ultra-Violet Spectrophotometry: II. Experimental and Clinical Results

The literature contains several reports of experimental studies relating concentrations of barbiturate in blood and tissue to the dosages administered. There are, however, little data available with regard to concentrations obtained after clinical use of these drugs. Also, clinical studies of the relation of blood concentration of a barbiturate to the resulting degree of central nervous system depression are not available. Such information is needed both to control clinical administration of the drugs and to evaluate prognosis in cases of barbiturate overdosage. The need has been especially emphasized by the advent of a relatively simple method of determining blood concentrations of barbiturates. This paper contains the results of experimental and clinical studies on barbiturates using the analytical technic for the determination developed in these laboratories.
Severe Combined Immunodeficiency as Diseases of Defective Cytokine Signaling

Abstract Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) represents a syndrome encompassing a spectrum of diseases characterized by profoundly defective immune function. SCID was recognized in the 1950s and 1960s as a clinical syndrome with characteristic findings and to be either of autosomal recessive or X-linked inheritance. Over the next 60 years, clinical and molecular studies of this fatal disease emphasized the central role that adaptive immunity plays in humans, and have led to novel diagnostic and treatment strategies. There are multiple causes of SCID, but at least three forms of molecularly defined SCID are diseases of defective signaling by hormones of the immune system known as cytokines. These types of SCID include the most common form, X-linked (X)SCID, as well as JAK3-deficient SCID and IL-7Rα-deficient SCID. XSCID results from mutations in the common cytokine receptor γ chain, γc, which is a critical component of the receptors for interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, IL-15 and IL-21; JAK3-deficient SCID results from mutations in JAK3, a cytoplasmic protein that physically associates with γc and is critical for the actions of all six γc-dependent cytokines. IL-7Rα-deficiency causes a somewhat less severe immunodeficiency in terms of cellular defects, as is discussed in detail herein, but still results in SCID. The knowledge of the causes of these diseases has elucidated basic mechanisms of human immunology which, in turn, have provided insight into the molecular basis of these complex diseases. Moreover, identification of the genetic causes has improved prenatal and postnatal diagnosis and provided the possibility of gene therapy.
Inference of rock pressure-production properties from gas-oil production logs

Abstract Conventional interpretation of production logs (PL) numerically accounts for fluid productivity (or injectivity) of reservoir rocks by constructing simplified reservoir flow models. They describe the contribution of various fluid-producing rock formations into borehole fluid flow without quantitatively estimating formation dynamic properties. This paper interfaces borehole and formation fluid flow models to link formation petrophysical properties to borehole production logs. A new interpretation method is subsequently developed to diagnose and quantify formation near-borehole permeability and gas saturation from gas-oil production measurements acquired in deviated boreholes. The specific application considered in this study invokes a new coupled flow algorithm to simulate pressure-production behavior of individual rock formations in multilayer reservoirs with/without cross-flow. Simulation of borehole fluid flow is performed by solving separate mass and momentum conservation equations specified for each fluid phase. Drag and buoyant forces are assumed as primary sources for interfacial momentum transfer. Based on a flow-regime map introduced by Hasan and Kabir (1988), we dynamically modify interfacial drag terms to account for fluid-phase slip velocity. Under the assumption of local thermodynamic equilibrium, an equation-of-state (EOS) compositional model is invoked to simulate borehole fluid-phase interfacial mass transfer. Coupling separate borehole and formation fluid flow models is carried out by introducing appropriate source terms into fluid-phase mass conservation equations. Subsequently, a nonlinear inversion-based algorithm estimates near-borehole permeability and gas saturation by minimizing quadratic differences between measurements of borehole fluid velocity, holdup, and pressure, and their corresponding numerical simulations. In a synthetic multilayer reservoir model with a gas cap, PL interpretation recommends a critical bottom-hole pressure to prevent high gas production because of (i) downward advancement of the gas displacement front, and (ii) released gas from oil solution. The estimation error is less than 20% for near-borehole gas saturation, and less than 25% for near-borehole permeability. However, the reliability of estimations is adversely influenced by conditions of immovable gas saturation in rock formations. Additionally, we examine a field example consisting of a gas-oil sand-shale laminated system where PL interpretation is carried out to quantitatively the investigate inflow performance relationship of individual flowing units. The interpretation method integrates well-log-derived and PL-derived permeabilities to quantify the depth distributions of near-borehole skin factor and gas saturation. The estimated near-borehole reservoir model subsequently quantifies more than 60% reduction of unwanted gas production caused by a gas shut-off remedial operation.
Monthly Extreme Temperature Trends in CMIP5 Hindcast/Prediction Simulations, 1981–2010 and 2006–35

AbstractA simple index of extreme surface (2 m) monthly temperature was analyzed over the conterminous United States for 13 models from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 5 (CMIP5) hindcast (1981–2010) and prediction (2006–35) datasets as well as the U.S. climate division dataset, version 2 (nClimDiv), as observations for 1981–2010. Results are analyzed for regions defined in the recent Third U.S. National Climate Assessment. There is good agreement between models and observations for all regions for the annual warm and cold indices except for the warm index in the Northwest. For seasonal values of the temperature index, model simulations generally agree with the sign of the observed seasonal trends in all regions except for the Northwest and a few seasons in the “warming hole” areas of the central and southeastern United States. Most individual ensemble member simulations agree with the sign of the observed trend. However, in all regions and seasons, some simulations, in the range of 10%–40%...
Which bowel preparation should be used for colonoscopy in patients who have had bariatric surgery

The authors routinely use low-volume (2-L) polyethylene glycol preparations in split-dose regimens.
Nutrient limitation status of Arctic lakes affects the responses of Cyclotella sensu lato diatom species to light: implications for distribution patterns

Changing environmental conditions in the Arctic have caused widespread but disparate changes in the relative abundances of diatoms in the Cyclotella sensu lato group since 1850 across Arctic lakes. To better understand the mechanisms behind these species changes, we investigated how the nutrient limitation status of a lake alters the responses of three common Cyclotella sensu lato taxa to light. To assess this, we collected source water with the natural phytoplankton assemblages from lakes in southwest Greenland with different nutrient limitation status (phosphorus (P)-limited or nitrogen & phosphorus (N&P) co-limited). The responses of Lindavia bodanica, Lindavia radiosa, and Discostella stelligera to light levels (low, moderate, or high) and nutrients (limited or replete) were tested using a factorial design. The vertical distributions of these taxa across 20 lakes of varying nutrient limitation status and water transparency were also assessed. We found that light affected Cyclotella growth rates, cell densities, and distribution patterns differently depending on lake nutrient limitation status. L. bodanica fared best at low light under P-limitation, and at high light under N&P co-limitation, while the pattern was generally opposite for D. stelligera. For L. radiosa, regardless of nutrient limitation status, moderate-to-high light was important, with this species absent from lakes with lower light conditions. This study reveals that environmental change affects these species via complex interactions between nutrient and light availability, and helps to clarify some of the complex distribution patterns of planktonic diatom taxa found in lakes of many areas around the Arctic as well as at lower latitudes.
Myc cooperates with β-catenin to drive gene expression in nephron progenitor cells

For organs to achieve their proper size, the processes of stem cell renewal and differentiation must be tightly regulated. We previously showed that in the developing kidney, Wnt9b regulates distinct β-catenin-dependent transcriptional programs in the renewing and differentiating populations of the nephron progenitor cells. How β-catenin stimulated these two distinct programs was unclear. Here, we show that β-catenin cooperates with the transcription factor Myc to activate the progenitor renewal program. Although in multiple contexts Myc is a target of β-catenin, our characterization of a cell type-specific enhancer for the Wnt9b/β-catenin target gene Fam19a5 shows that Myc and β-catenin cooperate to activate gene expression controlled by this element. This appears to be a more general phenomenon as we find that Myc is required for the expression of every Wnt9b/β-catenin progenitor renewal target assessed as well as for proper nephron endowment in vivo. This study suggests that, within the developing kidney, tissue-specific β-catenin activity is regulated by cooperation with cell type-specific transcription factors. This finding not only provides insight into the regulation of β-catenin target genes in the developing kidney, but will also advance our understanding of progenitor cell renewal in other cell types/organ systems in which Myc and β-catenin are co-expressed.
Structural and spectroscopic characterization of irreversible phase changes in rapidly heated precursors of europium-doped titania nanoparticles

Abstract We observe temperature-dependent phase changes in a precursor of europium-doped titania (p-Eu:TiO2) that is prepared via precipitation and is laser-heated to temperatures between 473 K and 1246 K within sub-second heating durations. The phase changes are characterized using X-ray diffraction and site-selective photoluminescence spectroscopy. We find that upon heating, the initially amorphous p-Eu:TiO2 first transforms into the anatase phase and then into a mixed anatase/rutile phase. These phase transformations change the local environment of the dopant Eu3+ ions resulting in modifications to the Eu3+ ions spectroscopic properties, with the modifications occurring for calcination temperatures above approximately 573 K following sub-second durations. These results demonstrate the temperature sensing ability of p-Eu:TiO2 nanoparticles for use in sub-second heating events. Moreover, at 573 K this temperature is lower than other host materials that we have evaluated (i.e., La2O3, ZrO2 and Y2O3).
3D Printed Passive Compliant and Articulating Prosthetic Ankle Foot

The human ankle is crucial to mobility as it counteracts the forces and moments created during walking. Around 85% of the 1.7 million people in the United States living with limb loss are transtibial (below knee) and transfemoral (above knee) amputees who are missing their ankle and require a prosthetic. This paper presents the Compliant and Articulating Prosthetic Ankle (CAPA) foot, a solution that uses torsional springs to store and release energy at three different locations on the mechanism, assisting in forward motion. The CAPA foot utilizes 3D printing and allows for the full ankle range of motion in the sagittal plane. Testing was performed with the CAPA foot on the Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment on an able-bodied person wearing a prosthetic simulator. Compared to the conventional non-articulating Solid Ankle Cushioned Heel foot, the CAPA foot is shown to better mimic the ground reaction forces and ankle angles of a healthy gait.Copyright © 2017 by ASME
Open Conformation of the Escherichia coli Periplasmic Murein Tripeptide Binding Protein, MppA, at High Resolution

Periplasmic ligand-binding proteins (PBPs) bind ligands with a high affinity and specificity. They undergo a large conformational change upon ligand binding, and they have a robust protein fold. These physical features have made them ideal candidates for use in protein engineering projects to develop novel biosensors and signaling molecules. The Escherichia coli MppA (murein peptide permease A) PBP binds the murein tripeptide, l-alanyl-γ-d-glutamyl-meso-diaminopimelate, (l-Ala-γ-d-Glu-meso-Dap), which contains both a D-amino acid and a gamma linkage between two of the amino acids. We have solved a high-resolution X-ray crystal structure of E. coli MppA at 1.5 A resolution in the unliganded, open conformation. Now, structures are available for this member of the PBP protein family in both the liganded/closed form and the unliganded/open form.
Polycyanovinyl Transition Metal Derivatives

An important principle in cyanocarbon chemistry1 is the analogy between the oxygen atom and the dicyanomethylene moiety in many compounds.2,3 On the basis of this analogy polycyanovinyl halides (I) correspond to acyl halides and thus should be reactive towards nucleophiles in contrast to ordinary vinyl halides, which are relatively unreactive towards nucleophiles. Such considerations suggested reactions of polycyanovinyl halides with metal carbonyl anions4 as a method for the preparation of novel polycyanovinyl transition metal derivatives.
Extensive pulmonary laceration caused by blunt trauma.

During the past five years, 210 patients were treated for lung injury resulting from blunt trauma. Thirteen failed to respond to traditional conservative measures and underwent emergency thoracotomy. In each, an extensive pulmonary laceration was found. The indications for thoracotomy were massive hemothorax in 10 patients, profuse air leak not responding to chest tube suction in two patients, and severe intratracheal bleeding in one patient. Rib fractures were present in every patient, but in only 10 patients was the pulmonary laceration directly produced by the sharp end of a fractured rib. In three the laceration was far removed from the rib fractures and evidently was caused by a shearing force. The lacerations were treated by pulmonary resection in eight patients and by suture repair in four. One patient died during thoracotomy but prior to definitive repair. Four patients survived, two of whom had undergone lobectomy and two, suture repair. Death was caused primarily by extra-thoracic injuries in six of the nine who died. Extensive pulmonary laceration is a significant cause of morbidity and death among patients with blunt chest injury. The initial clinical and roentgenographic findings are similar to those found in the larger group of patients with lesser injury. However, continued and uncontrollable hemorrhage and massive air leakage characterized this entity. Awareness of the condition, a high degree of suspicion in patients who do not respond to conservative measures, and prompt thoracotomy may be life-saving.
Changes on the range: Exploring climate change with range managers

In the southwestern United States, climate variability strongly influences range conditions and thus is an important factor in range managers' land management decisions. Access to cutting-edge climate and range science information is vital for managers to make better short and long-term decisions. To engage land management practitioners and scientists in communicating about climate change and range science concepts, an experiential learning exercise was implemented at a recent meeting of land managers and scientists. Within a state and transition model framework, participants explored potential trajectories for rangeland management units under a changing climate. Small groups collectively managed a 400-hectare (1000-acre) parcel of land given financial constraints and environmental disturbances determined by chance for six decision periods, representing 60 years. In each round, groups discussed potential changes to and transitions of their parcel based on the interaction between initial state, disturbances, and the decade-by-decade climate time series data provided. The groups enacted management strategies based on trying to keep the parcel in the current state or trying to move the parcel to a more favored state. Evaluation results indicate that the exercise was useful in facilitating small group discussions between scientists and managers on the complex interactions between short-term climate variability, longer-term changes, and management decisions at all time-scales. Additionally, participants' knowledge and comfort levels with state and transition models significantly increased following the exercise. With minor adaptations, the exercise could be implemented in any part of the country and for use by college courses studying land management issues.
Advances in Decision Analysis: Practical Value Models

ABSTRACT . Many complex decision problems require value judgments, and it is often useful to build formal models of these value judgments. Several models and assessment procedures exist for this task ranging from simple rating and weighting techniques to sophisticated multiattribute utility models that incorporate tradeoffs and risk attitudes. In this chapter, we argue that the choice of a value model and assessment procedure depends on the decision context, the purpose of the model, the quality of available value judgments, time, and other factors. We propose the notion of a practical value model that is useful for a given decision context and purpose, using simplifications and approximations, when appropriate. We then discuss practical considerations when choosing a value model, for example, when deciding whether a value model is additive over attributes or not. We also consider practical issues when choosing an assessment procedure, for example, when selecting equivalent-cost procedures versus rating and weighting procedures. We discuss several topics related to interacting with decision makers when constructing value models, and we conclude with the description of two generic practical value models that we have found useful in many past applications. Two types of models are commonly used in decision analysis: consequence models incorporate the facts, judgments, and uncertainties inherent in decision problems to describe or predict possible consequences of alternatives and value models incorporate the values or value tradeoffs and risk tolerances to evaluate consequences. This chapter addresses the value modeling aspect of decision analysis.
Economic Valuation of External Costs of Fuel Cycles. Testing the Benefit Transfer Approach

Rational use of energy demands that the market prices incorporate the full marginal social costs of the investment in and utilisation of energy. The EC/U.S. study “External costs of fuel cycles”, has developed the impact-pathway damage function approach for monetary valuation of the environmental and health damages of fuel cycles. This paper examines the validity of transfers of monetary estimates from existing studies to value site-specific environmental effects of new fuel cycle investments. Results from a recent Contingent Valuation study of hydro power development in Norway show that transfer of recreation value estimates underestimate the damages to recreation activities. Since there are no protocols for how benefit transfers should be performed, it is recommended that benefit transfers are accompanied by sensitivity analysis in future fuel cycle analyses.