cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A novel radioprotective function for the mitochondrial tumor suppressor protein Fus1.

FUS1/TUSC2 is a mitochondrial tumor suppressor with activity to regulate cellular oxidative stress by maintaining balanced ROS production and mitochondrial homeostasis. Fus1 expression is inhibited by ROS, suggesting that individuals with a high level of ROS may have lower Fus1 in normal tissues and, thus, may be more prone to oxidative stress-induced side effects of cancer treatment, including radiotherapy. As the role of Fus1 in the modulation of cellular radiosensitivity is unknown, we set out to determine molecular mechanisms of Fus1 involvement in the IR response in normal tissues. Mouse whole-body irradiation methodology was employed to determine the role for Fus1 in the radiation response and explore underlying molecular mechanisms. Fus1−/− mice were more susceptible to radiation compared with Fus1+/+ mice, exhibiting increased mortality and accelerated apoptosis of the GI crypt epithelial cells. Following untimely reentrance into the cell cycle, the Fus1−/− GI crypt cells died at accelerated rate via mitotic catastrophe that resulted in diminished and/or delayed crypt regeneration after irradiation. At the molecular level, dysregulated dynamics of activation of main IR response proteins (p53, NFκB, and GSK-3β), as well as key signaling pathways involved in oxidative stress response (SOD2, PRDX1, and cytochrome c), apoptosis (BAX and PARP1), cell cycle (Cyclins B1 and D1), and DNA repair (γH2AX) were found in Fus1−/− cells after irradiation. Increased radiosensitivity of other tissues, such as immune cells and hair follicles was also detected in Fus1−/− mice. Our findings demonstrate a previously unknown radioprotective function of the mitochondrial tumor suppressor Fus1 in normal tissues and suggest new individualized therapeutic approaches based on Fus1 expression.
Focus Issue: Signals to Neurodegeneration

Neurodegenerative diseases exact a tremendous toll on afflicted individuals and their families. Understanding the underlying signaling cascades that are perturbed by or contribute to neurodegeneration may identify new therapeutic targets or improve current therapies. The pieces in this Focus Issue of Science Signaling discuss molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways implicated in the pathologies of Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and Huntington's diseases.
Electronic structure of HgBa2CuO4

Abstract Local density approximation calculations of the electronic structure of HgBa 2 CuO 4 are reported along with a number of properties identifiable from it. For the stoichiometric material, the only band crossing the Fermi energy is the Cu-O derived antibonding state characteristic of high- T c cuprates; this band is half-filled. Thus, the stoichiometric material is expected to be a Mott insulator, as are the other undoped cuprates, and the excess oxygen reported in the as-synthesized material is no doubt essential for its superconductivity. Electric field gradients are calculated and compared with those in other cuprates. The position wave-function has maximum weight in the rather large holes in the Hg layer. However, unlike the majority of high- T c materials, there is substantial weight throughout the unit cell, including the Cu-O layer region.
Membrane modifications in erythrocytes parasitized by Plasmodium falciparum

Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites invade human red blood cells and immediately begin making significant alterations to the structure of the erythrocyte. These alterations facilitate the movement of nutrients into, and waste products and parasite-derived proteins out of the cell to meet the needs of the growing parasite. A tubovesicular membrane network extending from the parasite vacuole membrane probably has a central role in the transport processes. The parasite also modifies the erythrocyte membrane itself in a way that not only changes its permeablilty but also places parasite-derived proteins in knob-like protrusions at the cell surface. These proteins enable the parasite to adhere to endothelial cells and thereby avoid clearance from the blood stream by the spleen. Antigenic variation of these proteins allows parasitized erythrocytes to vary their phenotype and produce a sustained and chronic malaria infection. Study of the molecular processes that underlie these parasite-induced modifications of the host red blood cell will lead to improved understanding of malaria pathogenesis and, perhaps, suggest new approaches against the disease.
Measurement of Adhesion of Endodontic Sealers to Dentin

The bond strength of root canal sealers to dentin seems to be an important property for maintaining the integrity of the seal of root-canal fillings. In the few studies published, various assessment methods were used so quantitative comparison is not possible. The purpose of this study was to develop an effective and easily reproducible model and to test it with nine contemporary, commercially available endodontic sealers. After slicing off the coronal 2 mm of extracted third molars, the exposed dentin served as test surfaces. The teeth were fixed with plaster in 1-inch phenolic rings. Five-mm long sections of polyethylene tubing, filled with freshly mixed sealer, were placed on the dentin and tested for shearing bond strength after setting. A custom-made holder allowed the rings to be attached to an Instron machine, activated at a cross-arm speed of 0.5 mm/min. The mean bond strength, ranged from 0 to 4.9 MPa. The sealers were ranked and those that did not differ statistically in their bond strength were grouped together. This model provides a simple and reproducible means for measuring the in vitro bond strength of endodontic sealers.
Vote-seeking incentives and investment environments: The need for credit claiming and the provision of protectionism

Incentives to cultivate a personal reputation encourage legislators to generate policy outcomes for which they can claim credit. We show that these incentives make themselves felt in international agreements – a domain that might typically be considered within the purview of the executive branch. Through a cross-national analysis and brief case studies, we show that countries with electoral systems that encourage personal vote seeking are more likely to negotiate exceptions to treaties meant to liberalize their investment environments. Legislators benefit by being able to claim credit for having protected their constituents from the competition an unrestricted agreement would entail.
Thematic review series: Systems Biology Approaches to Metabolic and Cardiovascular Disorders Network perspectives of cardiovascular metabolism

In this review, we examine cardiovascular metabolism from three different, but highly complementary, perspectives. First, from the abstract perspective of a metabolite network, composed of nodes and links. We present fundamental concepts in network theory, including emergence, to illustrate how nature has designed metabolism with a hierarchal modular scale-free topology to provide a robust system of energy delivery. Second, from the physical perspective of a modular spatially compartmentalized network. We review evidence that cardiovascular metabolism is functionally compartmentalized, such that oxidative phosphorylation, glycolysis, and glycogenolysis preferentially channel ATP to ATPases in different cellular compartments, using creatine kinase and adenylate kinase to maximize efficient energy delivery. Third, from the dynamics perspective, as a network of dynamically interactive metabolic modules capable of self-oscillation. Whereas normally, cardiac metabolism exists in a regime in which excitation-metabolism coupling closely matches energy supply and demand, we describe how under stressful conditions, the network can be pushed into a qualitatively new dynamic regime, manifested as cell-wide oscillations in ATP levels, in which the coordination between energy supply and demand is lost. We speculate how this state of "metabolic fibrillation" leads to cell death if not corrected and discuss the implications for cardioprotection.
Statistical Properties of Model-Based Signal Extraction Diagnostic Tests

A model-based diagnostic test for signal extraction was first described in Maravall (2003), and this basic idea was modified and studied in Findley et al. (2004). This paper improves on the latter work in two ways: central limit theorems for the diagnostics are developed, and two hypothesis-testing paradigms for practical use are explicitly described. A further modified diagnostic provides an interpretation of one-sided rejection of the null hypothesis, yielding general notions of “over-modeling” and “under-modeling.” The new diagnostics are demonstrated on two U.S. Census Bureau time series exhibiting seasonality.
Optimum Design of a Position Detection System with a Sinusoidal Perturbation Signal

In a paper by McVey and Chen [1] the effect of the amplitude of a sinusoidal perturbtion signal on the accuracy of a position detection system was presented. However, the amplitudes considered were chosen arbitrarily, and no optimum value was specified. This paper presents a method for determining an optimum amplitude for a sinusoidal or, for that matter, any other perturbation signal. In addition, the method may be used to eliminate certain functional forms of a perturbation signal from consideration for a given receptor geometry.
Brain Metastasis and Response to Ado-Trastuzumab Emtansine: A Case Report and Literature Review

Despite promising preclinical studies that demonstrated the ability of lapatinib to cross the bloodebrain barrier (BBB), single-agent lapatinib only has modest central nervous system (CNS) activity. However, higher response rates were observed with the combination of lapatinib and capecitabine. Despite the relatively large molecular size of trastuzumab, results of some studies suggest that trastuzumab can cross the disrupted BBB, especially in patients with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis. Furthermore, radiation can further facilitate permeation of the BBB. The combination of trastuzumab and capecitabine providesbetter systemiccontrol comparedwith lapatiniband capecitabine, especially in trastuzumab-naive patients. The incidence of CNS progression as the first site of relapse is low in trastuzumab and lapatinib combinations. Ado-trastuzumab emtansine might also cross the BBB, but its true level of activity in the CNS is inadequately defined.
A Newton–Cotes quadrature approach for solving the aerosol coagulation equation

Abstract This paper presents a direct approach to solving the aerosol coagulation equation. Newton–Cotes formulas are used to discretize the integral terms, and the semi-discrete system is built using collocation. A semi-implicit Gauss–Seidel time integration method is employed. The approach generalizes the semi-implicit method of Jacobson and is more accurate.
Impact of Weaning Weight and Early Postweaning Growth of Pigs to Late Finishing Growth When Fed Either Corn- and Soybean Meal-Based Diets or Low Nutrient Excretion Nutrient-Dense Diets

ABSTRACT The BW growth of 1,385 barrows and gilts was evaluated from d-21 weaning to 130 kg BW. The pigs were assigned to a 2×2 factorial arrangement of treatments. The pigs were fed a series of either standard corn- and soybean meal-based control diets or low nutrient excretion nutrient-dense (LNE-ND) diets from 1 wk postweaning to 130 kg BW and assigned to rooms with either deep pit or pull plug-recharge manure storage treatments. The pigs were weighed at weaning, at 7 and 14 d postweaning, and at approximately 2-wk intervals from 28 d postweaning to a mean BW of 130 kg. Mixed model nonlinear equations including pig-specific random effects were evaluated for the generalized Michaelis-Menten function. The serial postweaning BW data were fitted to a mixed model generalized Michaelis-Menten equation. Relationships of weaning BW to late finishing BW and days to 125 kg BW were different for each dietary treatment. Late finishing BW and days to 125 kg BW had nonlinear relationships with weaning BW for pigs fed the LNE-ND diets and had linear relationships for pigs fed the control diets. The predicted changes in subsequent BW of the LNE-ND diets per kilogram of change in weaning BW were greater for pigs with the lightest weaning BW than for pigs with average to above-average weaning BW. Across both dietary treatments, pigs with greater weaning BW and greater early postweaning ADG required fewer days to achieve target market BW.
Immunoreactive somatostatin in rat hypophyseal portal blood: effects of anesthetics.

Immunoreactive somatostatin (IRS) was measured in whole hypophyseal portal blood of rats anesthetized with urethane, pentobarbital, or Althesin. The portal blood was collected directly into chilled 2 N acetic acid from the pituitary stalk stump after hypophysectomy. The acid-blood mixture was then extracted with acetone and washed with organic solvent. The mean (±SE) concentration and secretion rate of IRS in portal blood under urethane were 502.5 ± 52.9 pg/ml and 3.05 ± 0.42 pg/min, respectively, which were significantly higher than those under pentobarbital (113.1 ± 18.1 pg/ml and 1.09 ± 0.13 pg/min, respectively) or Althesin (155.4 ± 28.4 pg/ml and 1.43 ± 0.24 pg/min, respectively). The mean (±SE) IRS level in the jugular blood was 19.1 ± 4.7, 18.1 ± 6.7, and 15.5 ± 2.1 pg/ml under urethane, pentobarbital, and Althesin, respectively. Plasma GH levels were significantly lower in urethane and higher in pentobarbital- or Althesin-anesthetized rats than in decapitated rats. Somatostatin immunoreactivity of...
Covariant background field calculation of ultraviolet counterterms for the nonlinear sigma model in three dimensions

Based on the covariant background field method, we calculate the ultraviolet counterterms up to two-loop order and discuss the renormalizability of the three-dimensional non-linear sigma models with arbitrary Riemannian manifolds as target spaces. We investigate the bosonic model and its supersymmetric extension. We show that at the one-loop level these models are renormalizable and even finite when the manifolds are Ricci-flat. However, at the two-loop order, we find non-renormalizable counterterms in all cases considered, so the renormalizability and finiteness of such models are completely lost in this order.
Characteristics of seat belt users and non-users in a state with a mandatory belt use law

The present study uses statewide seat belt observation data coupled with mail survey and driver history data from 4505 licensed North Carolina drivers to address whether non-users of seat belts are overrepresented in crashes and violations, and whether these crashes differ from the crashes of belt users. It also reports on a more in-depth telephone survey of 204 drivers to learn about reasons for seat belt use and non-use and to identify programs that might bring about a change in behavior. Results show that non-users have 35% more accidents and 69% more violations than users. Drivers most likely to increase their belt wearing as a result of a law include females, non-whites, and those with fewer prior traffic violations. Further characteristics of seat belt users and non-users are examined and the findings used to identify approaches to increase seat belt use including appropriate target populations, public information and education needs, mechanisms for delivering messages, enforcement needs, etc.(A)
A "Safe approach" tracking controller for short headway AGT operation

This paper presents a vehicle following control strategy for short headway AGT systems; it is also applicable to longer headway AGT systems. The strategy handles the vehicle overtake situation with the same basic controller as is used in steady-state string operations. A tight control loop is tied around each vehicle in the string. This control loop is isolated from large transients, such as occur during overtake situations, by constraining the vehicle to follow a well-behaved target trajectory which closes on the vehicle immediately ahead in accordance with a "safe approach" operating policy. By this means, the controller operates on small signals at all times. The safe approach target trajectory is determined by the states of the leading and trailing vehicles, the states of a vehicle which may become a new lead vehicle during merges, and the jerk, acceleration, and velocity constraints of the AGT system. The paper is organized into five sections. Section II presents a proposed "safe approach" operating policy which specifies velocity/spacing relationships for dynamic string operation. This policy is compared with steady-state policies such as constant time headway, constant separation and constant K-factor. It is shown that only the "safe approach" operating policy is consistent with collisionless service maneuvers. Section III then describes how such a safe approach policy can be used to implement vehicle longitudinal control systems. An example control system is discussed which uses a basic velocity control loop for all overtaking and headway control operations. Simulation results are included to demonstrate the performance of this design. Section IV discusses ways in which the same safe approach policy may be further extended to handle emergencies and merge/diverge operations. Finally, Section V presents concluding comments.
Exploring the Pedagogical Meaning and Implications of the 4Cs “Super Skills” for the 21 st Century through Bruner’s 5E Lenses of Knowledge Construction to Improve Pedagogies of the New Learning Paradigm

As economies increasingly globalize and digital technologies assume ubiquitous presence and functional utility in peoples’ lives outside educational contexts, there is an increasing realization among pedagogues that education designed to equip graduates of the Digital Economy requires the teaching of new skills rather than the traditional core subjects. This realization has led to the emergence of what is called the New Learning Paradigm which postulates that students now need to be taught the skills most in demand in the 21st century. Those skills are epitomized in what The Partnership for 21st Century Skills calls the Framework for 21st Century Skills. Keys among those skills are what The Partnership characterizes as the 4Cs super skills.. What are those skills? Why are they essential for successful learning, teaching, assessment, working and living in today’s Digital Economy? How do they align with the full set of 21st century skills? What are the pedagogical implications of these 4Cs super skills? This paper answers these questions in four steps. Firstly, it articulates the 4Cs super skills. Secondly, it explains the “Rainbow” framework of the full set of essential 21st century skills as conceptualized by The Partnership for 21st Century Skills. Thirdly, it outlines Bruner’s 5E Instructional Model and explains how it provides an excellent lens through which to approach learning, teaching, assessment and curriculum development for the 4Cs super skills in Kivunja’s New Learning Paradigm.
Maxillofacial Reconstruction with Nasolabial and Facial Artery Musculomucosal Flaps

The nasolabial and facial artery musculomucosal (FAMM) flaps are predictable methods to reconstruct perioral and intraoral defects with vascularized tissue. The nasolabial flap can be harvested as an axial or random patterned flap, whereas the FAMM flap is truly an axial patterned flap, with either a superior or an inferior base. Both flaps have been widely used to provide predictable results, with low morbidity. Future studies are needed to further prove their use in compromised patients, including patients with a history of head and neck radiation and neck dissections.
Diversity in the Ivory White Tower A Longitudinal Look at Faculty Race/Ethnicity in Counseling Psychology Academic Training Programs

Scholars have highlighted the importance of recruitment, retention, and promotion of racial-ethnic minority faculty for the field of counseling psychology. This study examines the specialty’s progress by chronicling the racial-ethnic composition of faculty in counseling psychology programs across time. The findings summarized begin to reveal the level of progress made toward increasing faculty racial-ethnic diversity within the field. Data generally support the collective success of counseling psychology programs in increasing racial-ethnic diversity of faculty but also highlight some of the challenges that remain to be addressed. Several possible interpretations, implications, and limitations of these findings are discussed in relation to counseling psychology’s continuing support of multiculturalism as a distinctive feature of its identity and its objectives as a specialty.
Measures of transgender behavior.

Using factor analysis, we sought to identify the components of transgenderism. Subjects were 455 transvestites and 61 male-to-female transsexuals, all biological males. A 70-item questionnaire was used, along with other structured questions concerning preferred and usual sex partners. Five factors were identified and interpreted: Transgender Identity, Role, Sexual Arousal, Androallure, and Pleasure. These factors represent the most salient dimensions of transgenderism. All five-factor Means for transvestites and transsexuals differ. An examination of overlap of group distributions for each factor showed such overlap to range from only 6% for Identity to 46% for both Androallure and Pleasure. Factor intercorrelations for the obliquely rotated factors ranged from -.37 to .27. While transvestites and transsexuals have different lifestyles, their transgender cognition and behavior seem constructed upon different combinations of the same variables. A second-order analysis of these five factors yielded two factors: Sexual Arousal loaded highest on the first factor (.91), and for the second the highest loading variable was Androallure (.57). Each of these highlights the primary importance of sexual arousal in transgender cognition and behavior. Studying possible age effects, we found that the younger versus older transvestite groups had significantly different scale Means for Androallure and Pleasure; there were no age differences between older and younger transsexuals on any of the five scales. Six percent of transvestites reported a male as their usual sex partner; 25% of the transsexuals reported a female as their usual sex partner. For each group, one-third indicated their usual sex practice was without any partner, while only 5% said they preferred this practice. We propose that the five variables identified offer a comprehensive approach to the description of individual differences in transgender experience and expression.
Clustering of search results using temporal attributes

Clustering of search results is an important feature in many of today's information retrieval applications. The notion of hit list clustering appears in Web search engines and enterprise search engines as a mechanism that allows users to further explore the coverage of a query. However, there has been little work on exposing temporal attributes for constructing and presentation of clusters. These attributes appear in documents as part of the textual content, e.g., as a date and time token or as a temporal reference in a sentence. In this paper, we outline a model and describe a prototype that shows the main ideas.
The poultry scientist: Past, present, and future

This paper is adapted from the World's Poultry Science Association Lecture presented July 22, 2008, at the Poultry Science Association meeting. It contains the author's views of the past, present, and future roles of poultry scientists.
Stimulating One’s Own Creativity

The motivation for creativity can be simply the intriguing pleasure of seeing one’s own ideas materialize into something worthwhile. We can easily imagine the many such pleasures experienced by Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo, Hertz, and similarly by Bardeen and Shockley with their beautiful semiconductor theory, by Brattain with his clever idea of the two-point-contact transistor, and by Gabor through his simple idea of recording the holographic interference pattern rather than the photographic light pattern. None of these innovators concerned himself with how his ideas might affect the world. They all generated ideas and would still have been very happy if the only result had been a successful experiment.
Analytical Predictions and Experimental Measurements of Hydrogen Permeability in a Microcrack Damaged Composite

Future launch vehicles will require significant reductions in empty weight to reduce the cost of space access. Cryogenic fuel tanks typically constitute a large fraction of a launch vehicle’s empty weight. Polymer matrix composite materials have high strength and low density, which makes them attractive candidates for use as cryo-tank materials. Under the conditions prevalent inside the fuel tank, these composites develop micro cracks that become leak paths for cryogen. In this study, experiments were conducted to estimate the leak rate of gaseous hydrogen through a micro crack-damaged graphite-epoxy composite specimen. The variation of hydrogen leak rates with applied mechanical load was recorded at 23oC and at – 190oC. Analytical predictions of hydrogen leak rate were performed, using a simple model, which was based on the effective conductance of idealized crack junctions. Crack density and crack opening values obtained through X-rays and edge optical inspection techniques respectively were utilized in the model predictions. Experimental measurements and analytical predictions of hydrogen leak rate were eventually compared.
Effect of Subgrid Heterogeneity on Scaling Geochemical and Biogeochemical Reactions: A Case of U(VI) Desorption

The effect of subgrid heterogeneity in sediment properties on the rate of uranyl[U(VI)] desorption was investigated using a sediment collected from the U.S. Department of Energy Hanford site. The sediment was sieved into 7 grain size fractions that each exhibited different U(VI) desorption properties. Six columns were assembled using the sediment with its grain size fractions arranged in different spatial configurations to mimic subgrid heterogeneity in reactive transport properties. The apparent rate of U(VI) desorption varied significantly in the columns. Those columns with sediment structures leading to preferential transport had much lower rates of U(VI) desorption than those with relatively homogeneous transport. Modeling analysis indicated that the U(VI) desorption model and parameters characterized from well-mixed reactors significantly overpredicted the measured U(VI) desorption in the columns with preferential transport. A dual domain model, which operationally separates reactive transport proper...
Leptin concentrations are associated with higher proinsulin and insulin concentrations but a lower proinsulin/insulin ratio in non-diabetic subjects

INTRODUCTION: Leptin (the product of the human OB gene) is increased in obese individuals, suggesting resistance to its effect. However, there is considerable variability in leptin levels at each level of body mass index (BMI), suggesting that genetic and environmental factors may regulate leptin concentrations. Previous data have suggested that leptin levels are associated with insulin resistance and in a few reports with impaired insulin secretion. We examined whether non-diabetic subjects, with elevated specific insulin and proinsulin levels, had increased leptin levels. METHODS: We used a radioimmunoassay (RIA) to measure serum leptin levels in 197 non-diabetic Mexican Americans and non-Hispanic whites from the San Antonio Heart Study. We also evaluated whether leptin levels were associated with impaired insulin secretion or increased beta cell stress, as evaluated by the fasting proinsulin/insulin ratio. (Higher fasting proinsulin/insulin ratios are thought to reflect impaired insulin secretion.) RESULTS: Leptin levels were significantly correlated with fasting specific insulin (r=0.55, P<0.001) and proinsulin (r=0.57, P<0.001) and inversely with the proinsulin/insulin ratio (r=−0.154, P=0.035) after adjustment for age, gender, ethnicity and 2 h glucose. These associations were similar in men and women and in Mexican Americans and in non-Hispanic whites. After further adjustment for BMI and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), leptin levels remained significantly correlated with specific insulin (r=0.31, P<0.001) and proinsulin (r=0.24, P<0.001) although the magnitude of the associations were considerably attenuated. CONCLUSION: We conclude that specific insulin and proinsulin are positively related to leptin levels and that these associations are to some degree independent of obesity and body fat distribution. Thus, subjects with increased insulin levels may be relatively resistant to the effects of leptin. However, leptin levels are associated with a decrease in the fasting proinsulin/insulin ratio suggesting that leptin levels are not associated with an impairment in insulin secretion.
TIME TO DISCOVERY OF LEFT VENTRICULAR THROMBUS AFTER ANTERIOR WALL ST ELEVATION MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION WITH REDUCED EJECTION FRACTION TREATED WITH PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY INTERVENTION AND DUAL ANTIPLATELET THERAPY

Previous studies have reported on the incidence of left ventricular thrombus (LVT) in patients with STEMI however there has been no analysis of the incidence and time to discovery in patients after an anterior wall ST elevation myocardial infarction (awSTEMI) complicated with reduced ejection
Fast production systems for arbitrary architectures using LR parsing

W e present a method for automatically generating efficient production system interpreters for use on arbitrary architectures. Because of their need for speed and compactness, m a n y aeronautics and aerospace applications are restricted t o particular hardware and software environments (eg, embedded systems and AdaTM ). These applications cannot afford the symbolic processors and development environments usually necessary to execute large production systems efficiently. W e present an algorithm for translating any production system into an augmented context-free grammar. The concept of element classes is presented t o facilitate translation. A n existing program, the parser generator, creates parse tables which represent the original production system. These tables can then be used as data by a program that functions as a production system interpreter. This interpreter is at least as fast as that of other production system implementations (e.g., OPS5), while i ts storage requirements are much smaller. W e extend the notion of backward cha in ing . Those production systems t o which backward chaining is applicable notice a significant speed increase.
Experimental study of transverse jet mapping using PLIF

Planar Laser Induced Fluorescence (PLIF) with acetone seeding is applied to measure the scalar fields of an axisymmetric freejet and an inclined jet-in-crossflow as applicable to film cooling. From the scalar fields, jet-mixing and trajectory characteristics are obtained. In order to validate the technique, the canonical example of a nonreacting freejet of Reynolds Numbers 900-9000 is investigated. After validating the technique with the axisymmetric jet, the jet-in-crossflow was tested with various velocity ratios and jet injection angles. Results indicate the degree of wall separation for different injection angles and demonstrate both the time-averaged trajectories as well as near-wall concentration results for varying jet momentum fluxes. Consistent with literature findings, the orthogonal jet trajectory for varying blowing ratios collapses when scaled by the jet-to-freestream velocity ratio and hole diameter, r_d. Similar collapsing is demonstrated in the case of a nonorthogonal jet. Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) simualtions using the OpenFOAM software is used to compare predictions with a select experimental case, and yields reasonable agreement.
Technoeconomic analysis of fermentative-catalytic biorefineries: model improvement and rules of thumb

xi CHAPTER 1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION 1 Thesis organization 1 Literature review 4 Factors favoring bio-based chemicals 4 Scaling up and government support 6 Technoeconomic analysis at CBiRC 7 ESTEA vs SuperPro 13 Strengths and weaknesses of BioPET 16 Rules of thumb on Scaling and Progressing 16 Overall goals of this work 17 References 18 CHAPTER 2. DEVELOPING AND VALIDATING AN ESRLY-STAGECOST ANALYSIS AND LIFECYCLE GREENHOUSE-GAS EMISSION ESTIMATION TOOL FOR BIORENEWABLE PROCESSING 2
Syntheses of syndiotactic-Polystyrene-graft-poly(methyl methacrylate), syndiotactic-Polystyrene-graft-poly(methyl acrylate), and syndiotactic-Polystyrene-graft-atactic-polystyrene with Defined Structures by Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization

Syndiotactic polystyrene graft copolymers, syndiotactic-polystyrene-graft-poly(methyl methacrylate), syndiotactic-polystyrene-graft-poly(methyl acrylate), and syndiotactic-polystyrene-graft-polysty...
Neural basis of eye gaze processing deficits in autism

Impairments in using eye gaze to establish joint attention and to comprehend the mental states and intentions of other people are striking features of autism. Here, using event-related functional MRI (fMRI), we show that in autism, brain regions involved in gaze processing, i ncluding the superior temporal sulcus (STS) region, are not sensitive to intenti ons conveyed by observed gaze shifts. On congruent trials, subjects watched as a virtual actor looked towards a checkerboard that appeared in her visual field, confirming the subject's expectation regarding what the actor ‘ought to do’in this context. On incongruent trials, she looked towards empty space, violating the subject's expectation. Consistent with a prior report from our laboratory t hat used this task in neurologically normal subjects, ‘errors’(incongruent tri als) evoked more activity in the STS and other brain regions linked to social co gnition, indicating a strong effect of intention in typically developing subject s (n=9). The same brain regions were activated during observation of gaze shifts in subjects with autism (n=10), but did not differentiate congruent and incongr uent trials, indicating that activity in these regions was not modulated by the context of the perceived gaze shift. These results demonstrate a difference in t he response of brain regions underlying eye gaze processing in autism. We conclu de that lack of modulation of the STS region by gaze shifts that convey differen t intentions contributes to the eye gaze processing deficits associated with aut ism.
Association between Dental Fluorosis and Mental Health of Middle School Students in an Endemic Area of Coal Burning Induced Fluorosis

[Objective] To analyze the association between dental fluorosis and mental health of middle school students in an endemic area of coal burning induced fluorosis, and to provide reference for making strategies for mental counseling. [Methods] A total of 2 385 junior and senior high school students in Gulin County were chosen by stratified cluster random sampling method to receive clinical diagnosis(dental fluorosis, normal, and suspect) and self-evaluation(dental fluorosis, normal, and unknown). The students also completed a questionnaire using Mental Health Inventory of Middle-School Students(MMHI-60). [Results] The positive rate of dental fluorosis in the selected middle school students was 59.8% according to clinical diagnosis and 11.9% according to self-evaluation, indicating a low consistency(Kappa=0.141, P 0.001). Based on the clinical diagnosis results, the differences in the total score and each dimension's score of mental health were not significant among the three groups(P 0.05). Based on self-evaluation results, the differences in the total score and each dimension's score, except for academic pressure, were significant among the three groups(P 0.05). [Conclusion] Self-evaluation on dental fluorosis among middle school students reveals an association with mental health(except for academic pressure). The local government should include early health education programs of fluorosis into agenda and pay attention to possible mental effects in education programs on dental fluorosis.
The Wayward Path Toward Convergence in European Immigration Policy

This chapter surveys the progression of immigration policies in Europe, arguing that recent global economic developments have accelerated convergence. After a discussion of pre-World War II immigration that illustrates substantial differences in national policies, the chapter demonstrates how the postwar period has witnessed greater economic convergence between European countries, which has led to an increasing conjunction of immigration strategies among countries. While Western Europe’s common peace and economic prosperity have proven attractive for migrants from less developed and stable countries, a series of institutions have also been instrumental in generating parallel policies. The UN Convention on Refugees mandates common standards that have provided opportunities for asylum seekers across Europe, while the European Union itself has produced common legislation in areas such as family reunion, high-skilled migration, asylum standards, and irregular migration. While national governments ultimately retain control over the migration of non-EU nationals, global economic trends, personified by such institutions as the EU or WTO, have ushered steadily increasing convergence over the last 30 years.
OBJECTIVE PRE-OPERATIVE RISK STRATIFICATION

Thromboembolic (TE) events and related wound issues are the most common post-operative complications related to lower extremity total joint arthroplasty. They represent not only significant morbidity but also serious economic consequences. Evolution has selected for thrombus formation as a protection against exsanguination. Trauma is by definition a thrombogenic event. As surgery is an elective trauma, it is understandable that an individual undergoing a surgical procedure will be at increased risk to develop a TE event. However, to treat all patients with an identical prophylaxis denies the reality that the population is not homogeneous. Rather it is a normal distribution with wide variability from hemophyllic to thrombophyllic. As a consequence some patients may be over treated with resultant wound complications, i.e. hematomas, drainage, delaying discharge or worse requiring re-admisssion, re-operation or worst of all a secondary infection of the implanted device. For this reason we proposed an inexpensive pre-operative screening protocol to more objectively identify an individual9s levelof thrombophyllia. Although not exhaustive, it identifies those patients at ends of the curve with either an increased risk of clot or bleeding. It includes: Factor VIII, Factor V (Leyden), Factor C (APCR), Fibrinogen, D-dimer, Prothrombin Gene Mutation, ESR and CRP. This protocol costs less than $200/patient and was found to be 100% predictive of patient risk. Since instituting this protocol we have eliminated re-admission for complications related to overly aggressive TE prophylaxis. It has become an invaluable and intergral part of our pre-, intra- and post-operative protocol for multimodal TE prophylaxis.
Near-field Enhancement and Optimal Performance in Metamaterial Terahertz Modulators Based on 2D-materials

In this work we analyze metamaterial terahertz modulators consisting of 2D-material/metal hybrid-structures. Influence of the near-field enhancement in the modulator performance is discussed. Devices are fabricated and tested using graphene and MoS2 as active materials.
pH Dependence of Liquid–Liquid Phase Separation in Organic Aerosol

Atmospheric aerosol particles influence climate through their direct and indirect effects. These impacts depend in part on the morphology of the particles, which is determined by their composition. The effect of pH on morphology was investigated using particles composed of 3-methylglutaric acid and ammonium sulfate by manipulating the starting pH of the bulk solution through the addition of aqueous sodium hydroxide. Efflorescence, deliquescence, phase separation, and mixing transitions were observed with optical microscopy. Due to changes in its protonation states, the solubility of the organic component increases with increasing pH, which shifts the location of the separation relative humidity (SRH) from 78.7% for the fully protonated acid to 63.9% for the fully deprotonated acid. Surprisingly, this shift in the SRH leads to hysteresis between the SRH and the mixing relative humidity (MRH). Particle pH has the greatest effect on phase transitions that require nucleus formation, that is, efflorescence and...
Electrodynamics of non- and slow moving layered media with boundary condition of full current continuity

The consistent physical and mathematical model of propagation of an electromagnetic wave in a heterogeneous medium is constructed using the generalized wave equation and the Dirichlet theorem. Twelve conditions at the interfaces of adjacent media are obtained and justified without using a surface charge and surface current in explicit form. The conditions are fulfilled automatically in each section of calculation schemes. A consistent physical and mathematical model of interaction of nonstationary electric and thermal fields in a layered medium with allowance or mass transfer is constructed. The model is based on the methods of thermodynamics and on the equations of an electromagnetic field and is formulated without explicit separation of the charge carriers and the charge of an electric double layer. The influence of a slowly moving medium on the electromagnetic wave propagation is considered. The calculation results show the absence of the influence of the medium’s motion on the phase shift of waves, which is consistent with experimental data.
Is dosage important? Examining Head Start preschoolers’ language and literacy learning after one versus two years of ExCELL

ABSTRACTThe current study examined whether Head Start children who experienced a high-quality preschool intervention, Exceptional Coaching for Early Language and Literacy (ExCELL), as three-year-olds began the subsequent pre-kindergarten (or four-year-old) year with stronger language and literacy skills than same-age peers who entered ExCELL in pre-kindergarten, as well as whether any differences remained at the end of the pre-kindergarten year. A total of 159 Head Start preschoolers participated, including 88 four-year-olds who had 1 year of ExCELL and 71 four-year-olds who had participated in ExCELL for 2 years. All children were assessed on language and literacy measures assessing vocabulary, alphabet knowledge, and phonemic awareness. Results showed that children who experienced ExCELL at age 3 had stronger vocabulary, sound awareness, and alphabet skills at the start of the pre-kindergarten year than peers who were new to the programme. However, there were few differences between these groups in thei...
Characterization of Gut Microbiome Dynamics in Developing Pekin Ducks and Impact of Management System

Little to no research has been conducted on the gut microbiome of the Pekin duck, yet over 24.5 million ducks are raised for human consumption each year in the United States alone. Knowledge of the microbiome could lead to an understanding of the effects of growing conditions such as the use of prebiotics, probiotics, and enzymes in feeding practices, the use of antibiotics, and the sources of pathogenic bacteria in diseased ducks. In order to characterize changes in the caecal microbiome that occur as ducks develop through a typical industry grow-out period, a 16S rRNA community analysis of caecal contents collected over a six-week period was conducted using a next generation sequencing approach. Transitions in the composition of the caecal microbiome occurred throughout the lifespan, with a large shift during days 4 through 10 posthatch. Two major phyla of bacteria were found to be present within the caeca of aviary raised ducks, with the relative abundance of each phylum varying by age of the duck. Proteobacteria is dominant for the first three days of age, and Firmicutes increases and dominates beginning at day 4. Barn raised ducks contained a significant population of Bacteroidetes in addition to Proteobacteria and Firmicutes at later developmental time points, though this phylum was absent in aviary raised ducks. Genera containing pathogens of anseriformes most often found in industry settings were either absent or found as normal parts of the caecal microbial populations. The high level differences in phylum abundance highlight the importance of well-designed sampling strategies for microbiome based studies. Results showed clear distinctions between Pekin Duck caecal contents and those of Broiler Chickens and Turkey in a qualitative comparison. These data provide a reference point for studies of the Pekin Duck through industry grow-out ages, provide a foundation for understanding the types of bacteria that promote health, and may lead to improved methods to increase yields and decrease instances of disease in agricultural production processes.
Self-Awareness, Inhibition, and Self-Management

This chapter presents step-by-step lessons that can help practitioners, educators, and parents teach the executive function skills of self-awareness, inhibition, and self-management. The Self-Awareness lesson teaches learners to notice their strengths and weaknesses and to set goals for behaviors that can be improved upon. The Self-Management lesson teaches learners to decrease undesired behaviors (inhibition) and increase desired behaviors. Worksheets and graphs are provided for tracking progress.
Effects of rootstock and training system on fruit quality and peel nutrient content in 'd'Anjou' pears. I. Post-storage fruit quality.

In a 3-year trial involving 28 ‘Bosc’ rootstock-training systems combinations, rootstock-training system induced differences were found in only three of the post-storage problem areas (decay, scab, and limb rub) studied for ‘Bosc’ pears. Significant differences occurred among years; however, no one year was considered “good” or “bad” for post-storage problems. Yearly patterns in post-storage problems varied with the problem. The significant differences that occurred between rootstock-training system combinations may have resulted from root-stock or training system combination effects on vigor or modification of the fruit nutrient content which was then related to the post-storage problem area. Significant combination X year interactions occurred for external cork spot and flesh browning. No one rootstock-training system combination had the greatest or least amount of any of the storage problems.
Toughness and spanning trees in $K_4$-minor-free graphs

For an integer $k$, a $k$-tree is a tree with maximum degree at most $k$. More generally, if $f$ is an integer-valued function on vertices, an $f$-tree is a tree in which each vertex $v$ has degree at most $f(v)$. Let $c(G)$ denote the number of components of a graph $G$. We show that if $G$ is a connected $K_4$-minor-free graph and $$ c(G-S) \;\le\; \sum_{v \in S} (f(v)-1) \quad\hbox{for all $S \subseteq V(G)$ with $S \ne \emptyset$} $$ then $G$ has a spanning $f$-tree. Consequently, if $G$ is a $\frac{1}{k-1}$-tough $K_4$-minor-free graph, then $G$ has a spanning $k$-tree. These results are stronger than results for general graphs due to Win (for $k$-trees) and Ellingham, Nam and Voss (for $f$-trees). The $K_4$-minor-free graphs form a subclass of planar graphs, and are identical to graphs of treewidth at most $2$, and also to graphs whose blocks are series-parallel. We provide examples to show that the inequality above cannot be relaxed by adding $1$ to the right-hand side, and also to show that our result does not hold for general planar graphs. Our proof uses a technique where we incorporate toughness-related information into weights associated with vertices and cutsets.