cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Active Foot Pressure Control for Diabetic Neuropathy During Walking

Diabetic Mellitus is a disease caused either due to insufficient insulin produced by the pancreas or the body cells are unable to use the existing insulin. One of the main complications associated with diabetics is neuropathy, which is caused due to complete or partial loss of sensation in the feet and legs that lead to problems like inadequate delivery of nutrients and oxygen to the foot, which will cause healing impairment. In diabetic neuropathic subject, the hardness of foot sole soft tissue gives rise to plantar ulcer development. In this work, a biomechanical model is used to study the plantar distribution of forces in the foot. The dynamic foot pressure distribution during walking is used to carry out a stress analysis. This includes the motion of heel strike, mid-stance, and push off section of the feet during walking. A control strategy is proposed to mitigate the high stress concentration occurring during the walking phase. The control strategy includes a synergy of an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference controller and for comparison an optimal controller. The actuation is simulated through an external shoe insert. The three-dimensional multi-segment biomechanical model is used in conjunction with experimental data gathered from various literatures for simulation purposes of the proposed control strategy. The proposed intelligent controller focuses on stresses generated by the foot pressure distribution during walking and compares these with stress levels of healthy subjects. The insert changes its shape accordingly to redistribute the pressure levels at various regions so to achieve a pressure distribution equivalent to a healthy subject. It is assumed that the insert can actuate and measure the pressure distribution simultaneously. This could be achieved using smart materials for the shoe insert. The simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms and approach.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Upending the Social Ecological Model to Guide Health Promotion Efforts Toward Policy and Environmental Change

Efforts to change policies and the environments in which people live, work, and play have gained increasing attention over the past several decades. Yet health promotion frameworks that illustrate the complex processes that produce health-enhancing structural changes are limited. Building on the experiences of health educators, community activists, and community-based researchers described in this supplement and elsewhere, as well as several political, social, and behavioral science theories, we propose a new framework to organize our thinking about producing policy, environmental, and other structural changes. We build on the social ecological model, a framework widely employed in public health research and practice, by turning it inside out, placing health-related and other social policies and environments at the center, and conceptualizing the ways in which individuals, their social networks, and organized groups produce a community context that fosters healthy policy and environmental development. We conclude by describing how health promotion practitioners and researchers can foster structural change by (1) conveying the health and social relevance of policy and environmental change initiatives, (2) building partnerships to support them, and (3) promoting more equitable distributions of the resources necessary for people to meet their daily needs, control their lives, and freely participate in the public sphere.
Design Considerations for Refrigeration Cycles

Abstract The Carnot COP, which assumes a thermodynamically ideal cycle in which no irreversibilities exist, is often considered to be a design goal for actual cycles. However, the Carnot COP does not consider heat transfer mechanisms. Heat transfer at a finite rate is necessarily an irreversible process and unavoidable in a refrigeration cycle. The lack of consideration of rate processes reduces the usefulness of the Carnot COP as a realistic design goal. In this paper, the limitations of both thermodynamics and heat transfer are considered to identify a more realistic design goal for the COP of refrigeration cycles. The consideration of heat transfer limitations leads to a design rule for the optimum distribution of heat exchange area between the low- and high-temperature heat exchangers.
Investigation of deformations of Gaussian beams by a diffraction grating

An investigation is made into the effects of beam spreading on the action of a diffraction grating on a Gaussian beam. This characterization is important for devices which rely on grating coupling.
The Makeover: Reality Television and Reflexive Audiences

The concept of reflexivity is perhaps as old as broadcast television itself. As Christine Becker has observed, 1950s variety show host Jack Benny openly mocked the necessity of placating sponsors:T...
Developing detector siting rules from computational experiments in spaces with complex geometries

Abstract The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is conducting a 4-year research project wherein a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) computer code is utilized to map temperature, flow velocities, and particle densities in spaces with complex ceiling geometries. Through parametric variation of independent variables for the fire and the space, the number and location of smoke or thermal sensors required to assure response prior to a critical fire size is determined. The first year addressed horizontal ceilings with open beams or joists, and the second year adds sloped ceilings. In addition to the geometric studies, several special studies have been conducted. These include detection of low energy fires (as low as 100 W), stratification of fire gases in spaces with a vertical thermocline which exceeds the plume temperature, and obstructions which do not come, completely to the ceiling. A unique method of relating the response of detectors to the predicted conditions has been developed which can be utilized with any CFD model or with experimental data. The data analysis is being used to produce siting rules for inclusion directly into existing codes. The paper will review the results of the first 2 years of the project and present some thoughts on the potential for these techniques to greatly improve the technical basis for the utilization of fire sensors in complex installations.
Measuring the costs of improving the quality of the environment in the United States

The analysis in this paper is directed at comparing the relative effectiveness of meeting the objectives outlined in the recently passed Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 through taxation and through regulation. The analytical vehicle used in the analysis consists of a computable general equilibrium model composed of 12 producing sectors, 13 consuming sectors, 6 household categories classified by income, a foreign sector and a government. We find first that, irrespective of what type of strategy is followed, both output and consumption decline. Hence, there is an identifiable and quantifiable tradeoff between economic activity (economic growth) and the quality of the environment. Beyond this, the aggregate loss in production and economic welfare (measured by consumption expenditures and utility) is less under a policy which stresses reliance on alternative fuels than through one that requires the installation of pollution abatement devices.
Morphological/Chemical Imaging of Demineralized Dentin Layer in Its Natural, Wet State

Abstract Objective Measuring the structure, composition or suitability for bonding of the acid-etched dentin substrate, especially in its hydrated state, has been a formidable problem. The purpose of this study was to determine the morphological and structural profiles of the dentin demineralized layer measured in its natural wet state using environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) and micro-Raman imaging. Materials and methods The occlusal 1/3 of the crown was removed from nine extracted, unerupted human third molars. Dentin surfaces were abraded with 600-grit SiC sandpaper under water to create smear layers. The prepared dentin surfaces were randomly selected for treatment with the self-etching agent (Adper™ Prompt L-Pop) or the total-etching agent 35% H 3 PO 4 gel (with/without agitation). Micro-Raman spectra and imaging were acquired at 1–1.5 μm spatial resolution at positions perpendicular to the treated surfaces; since this technique is non-destructive, the same specimens were also imaged with ESEM. Specimens were kept wet throughout spectral acquisition and ESEM observations. Results ESEM could be used to reveal demineralized layers in acid-etched dentin, but the resolution was low and no collagen fibrils were disclosed. The detailed chemical maps/profiles of demineralized dentin layers under wet conditions could be obtained using Raman imaging. It was shown that the mineral existed in the superficial layer of all etched dentin covered with smear layers. The mineral was much easier to be removed underneath the superficial layer. The depth, degree, and profile of dentin demineralization were dependent on the types of acids (self-etching vs. total etching) and application procedures (with vs. without agitation). Significance Most current adhesives are applied using wet bonding techniques in which the dentin is kept fully hydrated throughout the bonding. Our ability to fully characterize the hydrated, etched dentin substrates is very important for understanding bonding under in vivo conditions.
Non-degenerate pump-probe spectroscopy of single GaN nanowires

Spatially-resolved ultrafast transient absorption measurements on a single GaN nanowire give insight into carrier relaxation dynamics as a function of the probe polarization and position on the nanowire on a femtosecond timescale.
Post-CMOS electrode formation and isolation for on-chip temperature-controlled electrochemical sensors

A low-cost post-CMOS fabrication process enabling the formation of thermally controlled and isolated microelectrode array sites suitable for biomimetic and bioelectronic protein attachment on existing CMOS circuitry has been developed and implemented in the fabrication of an electrochemical array system for biosensing applications.
Column chromatographic separation of gallium, indium and thallium

Distribution ratios are given for the extraction of gallium-(III), indium(III) and thallium(III) from aqueous solutions of hydrobromic acid into di-isopropy ether and isobutyl methyl ketone. Based on the results obtained, a scheme is presented for the quantitative separation of these elements from each other by liquid-liquid partition chromatography. The effect of a number of other metal ions upon the separation is also studied. The separation method has been applied to the analysis of a series of lead-indium alloys.
Aspergillus Infections in Cancer Patients: Association With Fireproofing Materials in a New Hospital

INFECTION is the major cause of mortality in patients with acute leukemia and lymphoma. 1-3 Among infections in patients with altered host defenses, an increasing incidence of such fungal complications is well established. 4-6 Fungal infections caused by Aspergillus spp are second in frequency only to candidiasis in these patient populations. 3-5,7 When present, Aspergillus infections are the major contributory factor to their demise, 6,8 and are of serious consequence in patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy for other circumstances, such as collagen vascular diseases, 9 renal transplants, 10 and cardiac transplants. 11 The Baltimore Cancer Research Center admits for intensive therapy patients with acute and chronic leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, brain tumors, metastatic sarcomas, and metastatic carcinomas. In the past six years there has been essentially no change in either the basic patient population or in treatment philosophy. The necropsy rate has remained consistently high. Shortly after relocation of the Center to
Dynamic typing for distributed programming in polymorphic languages

While static typing is widely accepted as being necessary for secure program execution, dynamic typing is also viewed as being essential in some applications, particularly for distributed programming environments. Dynamics have been proposed as a language construct for dynamic typing, based on experience with languages such as CLU, Cedar/Mesa, and Modula-3. However proposals for incorporating dynamic typing into languages with parametric polymorphism have serious shortcomings. A new approach is presented to extending polymorphic lnanguages with dynamic typing. At the heart of the approach is the use of dynamic type dispatch, where polymorphic functions may analyze the structure of their type arguments. This approach solves several open problems with the traditional approach to adding dynamic typing to polymorphic languages. An explicity typed language XMLdyn is presented; this language uses refinement kinds to ensure that dynamic type dispatch does not fail at run-time. Safe dynamics are a new form of dynamics that use refinement kinds to statically check the use of run-time dynamic typing. Run-time errors are isolated to a separate construct for performing run-time type checks
Measure elasticity and viscosity using the out-of-plane shear wave

Tissue elasticity μ1 and viscosity μ2 can be estimated by evaluating dispersion of shear wave propagation velocity over a range of frequencies. Alternatively, μ1 and μ2 can be calculated from shear wave attenuation αs and velocity cs at a single frequency. For shear waves generated by a focused ultrasound beam, attenuation due to geometric spreading makes it difficult to estimate as correctly. In this study, we use a wide unfocused beam to generate quasi-planar radiation force (minimal diffraction) and monitor the out-of-plane (elevation direction) shear wave propagation using another transducer. Frequency dependent cs and αs values are calculated from the 2D Fourier transform (k-space) of the spatiotemporal shear wave data, using peak extraction and a full-width-of-half-maximum (FWHM) method. Simulation and experiment studies show good agreement between the results using the proposed method and the theoretical or independent measurement results. With the two probes placed on one side of the target or integrated into a 2D array probe, the proposed method could be applied to study in vivo tissue viscoelastic properties.
Fertility in the male gorilla (Gorilla gorilla): Relationship to semen parameters and serum hormones.

Circulating levels of steroid and protein hormones were measured in 17 adult male lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla). The population included both fertile and infertile males as identified by previous siring of offspring and presence or absence of spermatozoa in the ejaculate obtained by rectal probe electrostimulation. Correlations were sought between levels of testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, androstenedione, estrone, estradiol, progesterone, 170H-progesterone, dihydroepiandrosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and potential fertility status. The results identify normal circulating levels of these hormones, and indicate that aspermatogenesis and infertility are not necessarily associated with any alteration in levels of gonadal steroids. There is an association of aspermatogenesis with elevation of FSH. Levels of adrenal androgens are more similar to other non-human primates than to the human, which is of interest because in other aspects of reproductive physiology so far investigated the gorilla has proved to resemble the human more closely than it does the other nonhuman primates.
Conceptual Change Instruction: A Method For Facilitating Consciousness In Problem Solving Activities

Abstract Problem solving is one of the most difficult higher level cognitive abilities to teach students how to improve on. The ability to detect and respond correctly to the relevant and salient items within a problem space requires students to pay close attention to what is important and unimportant in a given scenario. Often this process requires students to engage in a conceptual change in order to successfully complete a presented problem. This is due to the fact that students have difficulty in adapting to a new approach to a problem once it has been proven to not answer it successfully. Typically, individuals perseverate an incorrect approach many times prior to generating a novel solution methodology. It is presented here that conceptual change instruction is an effective means of improving level of consciousness, which in turn, improves problem solving ability.
Architecture for distributed design and fabrication

We describe a flexible, distributed system architecture capable of supporting collaborative design and fabrication of semi-conductor devices and integrated circuits. Such capabilities are of particular importance in the development of new technologies, where both equipment and expertise are limited. Distributed fabrication enables direct, remote, physical experimentation in the development of leading edge technology, where the necessary manufacturing resources are new, expensive, and scarce. Computational resources, software, processing equipment, and people may all be widely distributed; their effective integration is essential in order to achieve the realization of new technologies for specific product requirements. Our architecture leverages is essential in order to achieve the realization of new technologies for specific product requirements. Our architecture leverages current vendor and consortia developments to define software interfaces and infrastructure based on existing and merging networking, CIM, and CAD standards. Process engineers and product designers access processing and simulation results through a common interface and collaborate across the distributed manufacturing environment.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The broad homeostatic role of natriuretic peptides

A brief non-inclusive review on natriuretic peptides (NP), their receptors, and their main functional properties is presented. The three main NP, atrial (ANP), brain (BNP) and C-type (CNP) are considered. Guanylyl cyclase receptors modulate all the known systemic effects of NP. Clearance receptors determine the metabolic disposal of NP and in this manner regulate their plasma levels and/or local tissue concentrations. Structure-function properties, and homeostatic properties of NP receptors are presented. ANP, which plays a major role in pressure-volume homeostasis, is discussed in relationship to its effects on renal hemodynamic and excretory functions, inhibition of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, vasorelaxant, and third-spacing action. For BNP special attention is directed to its role as a negative modulator of ventricular remodeling, in view of its anti-hypertrophic, anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory effects in the heart. The major effect of CNP in promoting vertebral and longitudinal bone growth is briefly addressed. Finally, emphasis is placed on the recent discovery that ANP affects fat metabolism in humans due to its powerful lipolytic action.
Selective Activation of Effector Pathways by Brain-specific G Protein β5

Abstract While multiple G protein β and γ subunit isoforms have been identified, the implications of this potential diversity of βγ heterodimers for signaling through βγ-regulated effector pathways remains unclear. Furthermore the molecular mechanism(s) by which the βγ complex modulates diverse mammalian effector molecules is unknown. Effector signaling by the structurally distinct brain-specific β5 subunit was assessed by transient cotransfection with γ2 in COS cells and compared with β1. Transfection of either β1 or β5 with γ2 stimulated the activity of cotransfected phospholipase C-β2 (PLC-β2), as previously reported. In contrast, cotransfection of β1 but not β5 with γ2 stimulated the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathways even though the expression of β5 in COS cells was evident by immunoblotting. The G protein β5 expressed in transfected COS cells was properly folded as its pattern of stable C-terminal proteolytic fragments was identical to that of native brain β5. The inability of β5 to activate the MAPK and JNK pathways was not overcome by cotransfection with three additional Gγ isoforms. These results suggest it is the Gβ subunit which determines the pattern of downstream signaling by the βγ complex and imply that the structural features of the βγ complex mediating effector regulation may differ among effectors.
Molecular Imaging: The Vision and Opportunity for Radiology in the Future

Molecular imaging is being hailed as the next great advance for imaging. This introductory article in the molecular imaging series to be published over the next several months in Radiology sets the stage for the subsequent set of articles by providing relevant definitions and background information and traces the evolution of molecular imaging to its current state of research and clinical practice. It discusses in detail the evolution of molecular imaging and the role that the National Cancer Institute and the National Institutes of Health have had in the funding and development of many of the important molecular imaging research programs that are in existence today. The article also provides basic information about the complex biology of the cell and details of the pathogenesis of cancer and how molecular imaging will be critical for earlier detection and management of cancer in the future. The article lays the foundation for the subsequent articles in the series and describes how and why molecular imagi...
Cogeneration System Performance Modeling

A bioDiesel fueled engine generator with heat recov ery from the exhaust as steam and from the coolant as h ot water has been installed in the Intelligent Workplace, the IW, of Carnegie Mellon’s School of Architecture. The steam and hot water are to be used for cooling, heating, and ventilation ai r dehumidification in the IW. This cogeneration equi pment is a primary component of an energy supply system that will halve the consumption of primary energy required to opera te the IW. This component was installed in September 2007, and commissioning is now underway. In parallel, a syst ems performance model of the engine generator, its heat recovery exchangers, a steam driven absorption chiller, a ve ntilation unit, fan coil cooling/heating units has been programmed making use of TRNSYS transient simulation software. This model has now been used to estimate the energy recoverable by the system operating in the IW for different characteristic pe riods, throughout a typical year in Pittsburgh, PA. In the initial stages of this modeling, the engine parameters have been set at its design load, 27 kW, delivering up to 17 kW of steam and 22 kW of hot water according to calcul ation. The steam is used in the absorption chiller during the summer and in hot water production during the winter. Hot water is used in desiccant regeneration for air dehumidification dur ing the summer, in IW heating during the winter, and in domestic hot water product year around. Systems controls in the TRNSYS simulation direct the steam and hot water produced in the operation of the engine generator system to meet th e IW’s hourly loads throughout seasons.
Social skills performance assessment among older patients with schizophrenia.

Abstract Objective : Social functioning is an important outcome dimension in schizophrenia. Measures of social skills frequently rely on self-report, and most measures which directly assess social functioning are time consuming. Here we describe a brief performance-based measure, the Social Skills Performance Assessment (SSPA), modified from an instrument published by Bellack et al. (Bellack, A., Morrison, R., Wixted, J., Mueser, K., 1990. An analysis of social competence in schizophrenia. Br. J. Psychiatry 156, 809–818). Method : 83 middle-aged and elderly patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, and 52 normal comparison subjects (NCs) were rated on two standardized role plays, one requiring introduction to a stranger and another requiring assertive behavior with their landlord. Ratings in eight areas ranging from ‘social appropriateness’ to ‘grooming’ were made. Results : SSPA required about 12 min to complete both role play and ratings, and had excellent interrater reliability, and good test–retest reliability. Patients demonstrated significantly greater disability in all areas of social functioning compared with NCs. Social performance was related to severity of negative symptoms and cognitive deficits, but not that of positive or depressive symptoms. SSPA scores were significantly correlated with health-related quality of well-being and observed performance on activities of daily living, but not to a self-reported measure of social functioning. Conclusion : The SSPA is a reliable and useful instrument. Direct assessment of social skills may provide a more accurate picture of functioning than self-report measures among patients who frequently lack insight into their own behavior.
An overview of model reduction methods and a new result

Model reduction methods can be classified in two broad categories, namely, SVD- (Singular Value Decomposition) based methods and Krylov-based or moment matching methods. As each one of these categories has advantages and disadvantages, a third category named SVD-Krylov aims to combine their best attributes. Balanced truncation (BT) falls into the first category of reduction methods. In this note after a brief overview of model reduction methods, we will establish a link between BT and Krylov projection methods by explicitly deriving Krylov projectors which achieve balanced truncation. In other words we will show that BT can be achieved by rational interpolation at appropriately determined points of the complex plane.
IP address assignment in a mobile ad hoc network

A mobile ad hoc network (MANET) consists of a set of identical mobile nodes communicating with each other via wireless links. The network's topology may change rapidly and unpredictably. Such networks may operate in a stand-alone fashion, or may be connected to the larger Internet. In traditional networks, hosts rely on centralized servers like DHCP for configuration, but this cannot be extended to MANETs because of their distributed and dynamic nature. Many schemes have been proposed to solve this problem. Some of these approaches try to extend the IPv6 stateless autoconfiguration mechanism to MANETs, some use flooding the entire network to come up with a unique IP address, and others distribute IP addresses among nodes (using binary split) so that each node can independently configure new nodes. None of these existing solutions consider network partitioning and merging. In this paper, we propose a proactive scheme for dynamic allocation of IP addresses in MANETs. Our solution also uses the concept of binary split and takes into consideration the previously unsolved issues like partitioning and merging and abrupt departure of nodes from the system. We show that our solution is scalable and does not have the limitations of earlier approaches.
Basic Principles of Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery

Ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery combines the precision of ophthalmic microsurgery with plastic and reconstructive surgical principles, allowing for subspecialized care of the eyelid, orbital, and lacrimal system. A foundation in ophthalmology allows the oculoplastic surgeon the knowledge and skills to safely and successfully protect the globe while achieving functional and aesthetic results. Certain basic ophthalmic and plastic surgical considerations form the necessary framework for the successful practice of oculoplastic surgery.
The Serenata in Early 18th––Century Rome: Sight, Sound, Ritual, and the Signification of Meaning

ABSTRACT By the turn of the 18th century serenatas performed in Rome9s urban squares as political or dynastic propaganda were a well-established ritual. In this public forum the effect of sound produced by large instrumental forces was a central feature, yet the serenata was a complex performance in which music was but one element in a series of other displays. Though undoubtedly an important part of the serenata, music9s role in this multifaceted performance and its effect on audiences remain unclear. Part of that ambiguity stems from the serenata9s ability to service both public and private consumption. Patrons exploited this dual nature, using the more spectacular elements of the serenata to influence the public at large, while also relying on other elements (primarily word and sound) to sway elite audiences. In the context of Rome and its dynastic politics, Giacomo Buonaccorsi9s and Pietro Paolo Bencini9s serenata Le gare festive in applauso alla Real Casa di Francia (1704) demonstrates how the serenata9s dichotomous structures and multiplicity of meaning were deeply linked to larger cultural frameworks and social tensions——in this case, brewing over the War of Spanish Succession. The serenata was both a musical work and a performed event effectively shaped by the genre9s ritual practice and by history and politics in late 17th- and early 18th-century Rome. The logic of the serenata9s ritual practice shows significant correspondences to the genre9s narrative strategies. Within the serenata, allegory served as the catalyst to express layers of meaning to diverse audiences. But more than that, allegory provided the means by which music was contained and its delivery marked. For public audiences, sound was as much visual as it was aural, an immediate and palpable special effect. For privileged listeners, music required reflection as to how spectacular effects acquired deeper meaning when anchored in the significance of the poetic text. Thus music in the serenata was not merely an element in a multifaceted performance but was multidimensional in itself, uniquely straddling both sides of the public/private divide.
Stone Age Survivals in the Myth of the Calydonian Boar

Le mythe du sanglier Calydonien revele la fusion entre les cultes agraires et de chasse et les elements classiques du mythe concernant la production agricole et ses difficultes. Tous les themes sont presents: manque de produits, necessite de tuer, culpabilite du meurtre, besoin d'expiation. Ces elements prennent la forme narrative d'un dieu en colere, punissant et restaurant la prosperite. Ces elements trouvent leur origine dans le culte de la chasse assume par une societe agraire et incorpore a sa religion
Mechanisms of biomaterial-induced superoxide release by neutrophils

Biomaterial-centered infection is an important cause of the failure of prosthetic implants and organs. Because neutrophils mediate host defense against infection, the effect of biomaterials on neutrophil superoxide release and the mechanism of that effect were investigated using three materials commonly employed in surgical practice. The graft materials were expanded polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE), polyurethane and woven dacron. Polystyrene, a commonly used laboratory support vessel, was also studied. Both polystyrene and polyurethane were activating, but serum inhibitable, whereas PTFE was nonactivating, and woven dacron was not activating unless serum was present. The signaling mechanisms used by these materials demonstrated time and material dependency. Pertussis toxin inhibition of G protein-dependent activation had little or no effect on biomaterial induced activation, whereas FMLP-induced activation of the same biomaterial-associated cells was inhibited. Protein kinase C inhibition with staurosporine greatly inhibited polystyrene-induced activation, but had only a partial effect with polyurethane and even less effect with the activation associated with serum-treated woven dacron. These studies demonstrated that biomaterial contact-induced neutrophil activation differed from that described for cells in suspension, and showed that activation mechanisms on one material cannot be extrapolated to mechanisms on other materials.
Characterization of Wolbachia infections and interspecific crosses of Aedes (Stegomyia) polynesiensis and Ae. (Stegomyia) riversi (Diptera: Culicidae)

Prior studies have identified a complicated pattern of interspecific hybridization between members of the Aedes (Stegomyia) scutellaris (Walker) mosquito group, which includes medically important vectors of bancroftian filariasis and dengue. Here, we report that two members of the group, Aedes polynesiensis Marks and Aedes riversi Bohart & Ingram, are both infected with intracellular Wolbachia bacteria. Sequencing of the Wolbachia wsp gene demonstrates that the infections differ from each other and from Wolbachia infections previously reported in mosquitoes. Aedes polynesiensis is the first mosquito identified with a wMel Wolbachia type. Intraspecific crosses of infected and aposymbiotic lines generated via antibiotic treatment show that the Wolbachia infections in both species cause high levels of cytoplasmic incompatibility. Interspecific crosses show that the two species are reproductively isolated. However, repeating the interspecific crosses with aposymbiotic mosquito strains demonstrates that the Wolbachia infections play a role in preventing hybrid offspring. We discuss Wolbachia infections in relation to better defining the evolutionary relationships and causes of speciation within the group, understanding the basis for the observed east-to-west gradient in filarial refractoriness, and developing novel genetic control measures.
Asking “What Else?” to identify unintended negative consequences

Abstract With the advent of big data, the Internet of Things, cognitive computing, and social media, it is becoming more difficult to argue that one could not have known or at least have considered more alternatives, particularly negative unintended consequences that happen in addition to the intended positive ones. Organizations too often make a decision that will produce a positive consequence and then focus on how to implement it, rarely stepping back to ask “ What else could happen?” Any decision changes the system in which it exists. The longer the time required to implement a decision, the more systemic changes can alter the effects of the decision on the system. Decisions to implement Corporate Social Responsibility and sustainability initiatives usually involve many different stakeholders and may involve systems in which organizations have little expertise or experience. A major negative unintended consequence, even for a CSR initiative, can damage the stakeholders’ trust in the organization. This article proposes a 5-step process to answer the question “ What else could happen?” in order to identify possible unintended negative consequences, thereby helping organizations support their commitment to people, planet, and profit.
Vibration-Rotation Bands of N 2 O†*

The spectrum of nitrous oxide has been measured with a high-resolution grating spectrometer in the region from 2395 to 3510 cm−1. Long absorbing paths were used in a heated cell, so that it was possible to observe many of the weaker bands, including those with lower vibrational levels ν2, 2ν20, 2ν22, and ν1. Accurate values of the rotational constants have been obtained, including the l-type doubling and variations with v and l of the centrifugal stretching constant. These have been correlated with other data to obtain improved values of the molecular constants, with particular attention to the Fermi interaction. Other weak interactions are observed and discussed.
The Development of a Duck Roll

Abstract Fresh-frozen deboned duck meat and skin were analyzed for their chemical composition for subsequent formulations into a duck roll product. Various levels of skin and fat as well as other flavor ingredients such as concentrated orange juice were incorporated into the rolls to determine their effect on product quality. Objective and subjective measurements were used to evaluate the treatments. As the amount of added skin-fat increased, the quality of the duck rolls decreased. Ten percent added skin-fat (8.84% fat on analysis) yielded the most acceptable duck roll. Twenty percent added skin, however, resulted in decreasing the quality of the rolls. A level of 2.5% concentrated orange juice in the formulation imparted a very delicate orange flavor to the duck rolls.
Three Representative Case Studies of the South Plains Nocturnal Low-Level Jet

The presence of nocturnal low-level jet streams across the Great Plains of the United States has been well documented over the last fifty years. These features are the main source of moisture transport across this region of the country. The evolution of these features has become a significant area of interest as more structures come in contact with the layer occupied by the low-level jet. The development of wind turbines that extend up to heights near two hundred meters has resulted in these structures coming into contact with the layer just beneath the jet maximum. The turbine itself is now subjected to potentially damaging turbulence. The goal of this work is to present three low-level jet cases, utilizing data from Texas Tech University’s 200-meter instrumented tower and radar wind profiler. This paper examines the turbulent structure of the three low-level jet features in order to gain an understanding of the motions in the layer occupied by wind energy systems.
Anti-influenza virus agents and drug resistance

Resistance and cross-resistance of influenza A virus to M2 inhibitors adamantane and rimantadine can emerge ra-pidly during treatment in vitro and in vivo.A single point mutation in the codons for amino acids at positions 26,27,30,31,or 34 of the M2 protein can confer the resistance and cross-resistance to both amantadine and rimantadine.Drug resistance emergency in use of neuraminidase(NA) inhibitors,oseltamivir,zanamivir and paramivir is caused by the change of the NA at residues 119,274,292(type A) and 152(type B).So far no any influenza virus strain has been found to be resistant to all chemotherapeutic drugs.The studies on new NA inhibitors and drugs directed to other targets are now in trial period.
The effects of the ADA on group practice.

In this article, James Frierson, J.D., outlines the requirements for group practices under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Rules concerning required changes take effect in January of 1993 (and sooner for some groups), making it imperative that group practices be aware of the new law.
Testicular Abscess: Diagnosis by Ultrasonography

AbstractWe reviewed 8 cases of surgically proved testicular abscess with emphasis upon the ultrasonographic findings. The images were correlated with testicular anatomy and the pathological findings of abscess formation. In 3 of 8 patients undergoing serial high resolution ultrasound examinations a consistent pattern of testicular abscess was present 1 to 7 weeks preoperatively. In the remaining 5 patients preoperative ultrasound documented the presence of abscess. Recognition of the ultrasonographic appearance of testicular abscess should permit expedient surgical intervention.
Intrabiliary Hepatic Metastasis of Colorectal Carcinoma Mimicking Primary Cholangiocarcinoma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Intrabiliary metastasis from colorectal carcinoma (CRC) growing within or invading bile ducts is not a very common pattern. However, accurate diagnosis of metastatic lesions is very important for selection of adjuvant therapy and prognosis. We report a case of 71-year-old male who developed painless jaundice due to hepatobiliary obstruction. MRI demonstrated 1.4 cm intraductal mass at hepatic hilum with severe intrahepatic ductal dilation, consistent with cholangiocarcinoma. ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) showed intraductal segmental biliary stricture. Biopsy from the lesion showed adenocarcinoma favoring primary cholangiocarcinoma due to the papillary morphology and location of the mass. His past history was significant for rectosigmoid carcinoma (pT1N0) ten years ago and liver resection for metastatic CRC four years ago. He subsequently underwent central hepatectomy with resection of common bile duct. Grossly, there was a 1.2 cm intraductal mass at the bifurcation of bile ducts with multiple nodules in liver parenchyma. Microscopic examination revealed intraductal carcinoma with papillary architecture colonizing bile duct epithelium with resultant dilation and tortuosity. Occasional liver parenchymal nodules show classical metastatic pattern resembling CRC. Because of two distinct morphologic patterns and patient’s past history, immunostains were performed. CK7 stained uninvolved bile duct epithelium with no staining in intrabiliary metastatic growth. CK20 and CDX2 were positive, thus confirming intrabiliary growth as metastatic growth from CRC. In summary, findings from our case indicate that intrabiliary growth of metastatic CRC can easily be overlooked with major duct involvement. Pathologic evaluation with use of immunohistochemical stains is very important to achieve correct diagnosis.
Outsourcing English: Liberty, Linguistic Lust, and Loathing in Aravind Adiga’s The White Tiger

One of the most unique features of The White Tiger is its self-reflexivity, its ability to seemingly self-photograph, and instantaneously render a selfie of a dystopic India devoid of any air-brushing—with no Photoshop enhancements. The result: a crispness of vision delivered through the clearest of lenses to reflect a national landscape likely to “induce a form of social vertigo” (Subrahmanyam 2008: 42) in most Indians. Via one of literature’s unforgettable “endless talkers” (Mukherjee 2009: 287), constituted in the form of an unlikely protagonist, Balram Halwai, Booker winner Aravind Adiga creates a “mobility narrative” (Ibid.: 281), of a “half-baked” Indian (283). The White Tiger is ultimately poised to expose the underbelly of “two Indias”—indeed a “Manichean duality of rich/master/powerful and poor/servant/oppressed” (Schotland 2011: 1).
New Players, New Game, New Rules (1991–1997)

Before the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991–1992, the Caspian Sea was nobody’s business except that of Iran and the U.S.S.R., the only two countries that abutted it. Today, in addition to Iran and the Russian vestige of the Soviet Union, the Caspian is abutted by three new countries: Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan. Not before long, the Caspian was to become everyone’s business. The United States and China would develop a strategic interest in the region. The international oil companies would soon embark on a fierce competition to develop and export the regions’ oil and gas resources.
Unraveling alteration histories in serpentinites and associated ultramafic rocks with magnetite (U-Th)/He geochronology

Serpentinization is a widespread process that affects large-scale geodynamic processes along plate boundaries, including continental breakup, seafloor spreading, and subduction. Documenting the timing of serpentinization is critical for our understanding of these processes, but direct dating of serpentinites has been challenging or impossible. We present the first application of magnetite (U-Th)/He chronometry to date stages of alteration and cooling in ultramafic rocks. In order to demonstrate the viability of magnetite He dating in these lithologies, magnetite ages were obtained from two ultramafic lithologies of the Kampos melange belt, a high-pressure–low-temperature subduction complex on the island of Syros, Greece. Magnetite (U-Th)/He measurements of internal fragments from large grains within a chlorite schist and a serpentinite record Miocene exhumation-related cooling ages, whereas smaller grains from the serpentinite record mineral growth associated with hydrothermal fluid flow along Pliocene normal faults. These age results with magnetite trace element geochemistry reveal evidence for multiple episodes of fluid-rock alteration, which has implications for the cooling history and local geochemical exchanges of this high-pressure–low-temperature terrane. This method provides a new tool that may be expanded to investigate the processes and time scales of serpentinization from a variety of tectonic settings.
The Responder’s Empathetic Healer

This chapter discusses the role of the emergency services leader as being an empathetic healer to the community of respondents. The empathetic healer is one who willingly binds the wounds of his or her followers. The leader’s empathy allows them to see their people as people, to not miss the human. The empathetic healer humbly approaches followers, he or she is keenly aware of their needs, desires to know their pain, and sees their role as one that brings the guardians back to the fight. Empathy is a leader’s humility; it’s their ability to set aside rank and position in moments when it’s more important to stand beside one’s followers, not above.
Interpolative pulse-shape filtering for a GSM/Bluetooth transmitter

We present an interpolative GFSK/GMSK pulse-shape filtering for wireless RF transmitters. The filter is software controlled to work in a multi-standard radio with an arbitrary reference frequency. The key benefit of this method is no requirement to generate a low-jitter baseband symbol clock, which is especially advantageous when the available reference frequency is not an integer multiple of the symbol rate. Instead, a high-jitter clock obtained by simple fractional-N digital division of the reference frequency is successfully used. The presented transmitter is realized without any analog filtering and is part of a single-chip fully-compliant GSM radio fabricated in a digital 90 nm CMOS process.
The Studies in Various Murine Strains with Defects in Activation of Complement Cascade (CC) Reveal Both Pivotal and Pleiotropic Role of CC in Mobilization of Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cells.

We reported that complement cascade (CC) becomes activated in bone marrow (BM) during mobilization of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPC) by i) immunoglobulin (Ig)-dependent pathway and/or by ii) alternative Ig-independent pathway and, as result of this, iii) several potent bioactive CC anaphylatoxins (C3a, desArg C3a, C5a and desArg C5a) are released (Blood2003;101,3784; Blood2004;103,2071; Blood2005;105,40). To learn more on the role of CC and innate immunity in this process, we compared mobilization in mice that possess defects in CC activation by i) classical pathway (C1q −/− , Ig-deficient), ii) both classical and alternative pathway (C2fB −/− ) and in animals iii) that do not generate CC-derived anaphylatoxins (C3 −/− , C5 −/− ). For mobilization, we employed G-CSF and zymosan that activate classical and alternative pathways of CC, respectively. First, we found by ELISA that CC activation in fact correlates with the level of HSPC mobilization. Next, studies in mice deficient in CC activation revealed that CC plays both pivotal and pleiotropic roles in this process. Accordingly, while C1q −/− and C3 −/− mice turned out to be easy mobilizers, mobilization was very poor in Ig-deficient, C2fB −/− and C5 −/− mice that demonstrate that C3 and C5 cleavage fragments differently control the mobilization of HSPC. To explain this at molecular level, we found that C3 cleavage fragments (C3a, desArg C3a) directly interact with HSPC and increase their responsiveness to SDF-1 gradient and thus prevent uncontrolled egress of HSPC from BM. It explains why C1q −/− and C3 −/− mice that do not generate C3 cleavage fragments in BM release easily HSPC into circulation. In contrast, C5 cleavage fragments (C5a, desArg C5a) increase permeability of BM-endothelium and thus are crucial for the egress of HSPC from BM to occur. This explains why mice that do not activate efficient CC such as Ig-deficient, C2fB −/− and C5 −/− animals are poor mobilizers. We conclude that the mobilization of HSPC is i) dependent on C activation by the classical or alternative pathway and balanced differently by C3 and C5 cleavage fragments that enhance retention or promote egress of HSPC respectively. Thus, modulation of C activation in BM may help to develop new more efficient strategies for both HSPC mobilization and their homing/engraftment.