cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CAPACITY BUILDING IN PUBLIC MANAGEMENT IN THE TIMES OF ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY AND SOCIAL STRESS

The roles and functions of the state in contemporary societies, cultures and economies have expanded to respond to numerous present-day challenges including that of coping with fiscal stress, economic recession and instability. These challenges have accelerated the need for development of more effective, and in some cases less costly, state and public institutional management capacity to recognize, plan, decide and implement workable and politically feasible solutions. Capacity building and development of core public management systems is needed to strengthen the ability of the state to generate methodologies, strategies, and actions to assist public and private sector organizations, communities and individuals in improving performance in the design and delivery of a wide variety of assistance programs and services. This has required and will require in the future enhanced leadership on the part of public officials, increased accountability of public managers and management systems and greater focus on the integrity of governance, economic and social institutions. Recent events clearly demonstrate that development of public management system capacity must be based on a clearer awareness of the growing complexity of global economies and the need for carefully coordinated strategies and innovative approaches to cope with the challenges at hand.
Some communication complexity issues in asynchronous algorithms

Summary form only given. The author has studied an asynchronous version of the Bellman-Ford algorithm for computing the shortest distances from all nodes in a network to a fixed destination. It is known that this algorithm has (in the worst case) exponential (in the size of the underlying graph) communication complexity. The author has obtained results indicating that its expected (in a probabilistic sense) communication complexity is actually polynomial, under some reasonable probabilistic assumptions. He has shown that a recently introduced method for asynchronous simulation with rollback contains the Bellman-Ford algorithm as a special case, and he has deduced that the rollback method also has exponential communication complexity. The author has also investigated whether (under certain probabilistic assumptions and/or modifications of the simulation algorithm) the communication complexity becomes polynomial. >
Opportunistic scheduling policies for wireless systems with short term fairness constraints

We consider a scheduling problem for packet based wireless systems with time-varying channel conditions. Designing scheduling mechanisms that take advantage of time-varying channel conditions, which are different for different users, is necessary to improve the wireless system performance. Such scheduling mechanisms are called opportunistic. In this paper we formulate an opportunistic scheduling problem with short term processor sharing fairness constraints as an optimization problem where short term refers to the time window on which the fairness is guaranteed. In its most general form, this problem cannot be solved analytically. We first solve the above optimization problem for three special cases. We consider the scheduling problem with long term fairness constraints; then we consider the scheduling problem for the shortest possible window under two sets of assumptions namely, one in which users have identically distributed channel conditions and another in which users have independent channel conditions. Observing the form of the corresponding optimal policies, we define a heuristic policy for our original opportunistic scheduling problem with short term fairness constraints. We show via simulation that our heuristic policy attains a good trade-off by guaranteeing short term fairness while achieving high average system throughput. We also illustrate that the optimal opportunistic scheduling policy with long term fairness constraint is in fact unfair in practical scenarios.
Psychometric testing of the reduced Laffrey Health Conception Scale.

Abstract Purpose. Laffrey's Health Conception Scale (LHCS), an instrument designed to measure personal definitions of health, was reduced with the intent of creating a useful yet less cumbersome version of the LHCS. Design. The original form of the LHCS was tested in a preliminary study, and results were used as a basis for the reduction of the instrument. The original clinical and new overall wellness subscales were subsequently tested with a larger population of manufacturing plant workers. Setting. One chemical plant and three Midwestern manufacturing plants. Subjects. The sample for the preliminary study comprised 94 chemical plant workers. For the larger study, the sample comprised 892 subjects; because this instrument was part of a larger questionnaire to identify predictors of workers' use of hearing protection, only those workers who spent some part of their work time in areas of the plant which required hearing protection use were eligible to participate. Measures. The original LHCS was used in t...
A manufacturer's role in reducing the dose of cone beam computed tomography examinations: effect of beam filtration

Objectives: The dosimetry of the Kodak 9500 cone beam CT (CBCT) unit (Carestream Health, Rochester, NY) was measured before and after installation of copper filtration. Methods: Dosimetry of a pre-production Kodak 9500 CBCT unit was compared with a current production unit with 0.4 mm of added filtration and increased kVp. Thermoluminescent dosimeter 100 chips were placed at 24 locations in a RANDO (radiation analogue dosimetry) head phantom (Nuclear Associates, Hicksville, NY). Small, medium and large adult default exposure settings were used in separate dosimeter runs for large and medium field of view (FOV) examinations with both units. Equivalent dose and effective dose were calculated using International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) 1990 and 2007 tissue weights. Results: Estimations of risk using 2007 ICRP calculations increased by an average of 77% for large FOV scans and 125% for the medium FOV scans in comparison with 1990 calculations. With added filtration, effective dose for medi...
miRNA regulation of Sdf1 chemokine signaling provides genetic robustness to germ cell migration

Antonio Giraldez and colleagues report that miRNA-mediated regulation of the sdf1 chemokine signaling pathway in zebrafish provides genetic robustness to germ cell migration.
Transforming real linear prediction coefficients to line spectral representations with a real FFT

This paper describes a novel algorithm for transforming linear prediction coefficients (LPCs) to line spectral frequencies (LSFs) and line spectral pairs (LSPs) used by most of the speech processing applications. The symmetric and antisymmetric polynomials (SAPS) for LSP/LSFs, corresponding to the LPC polynomial, are first multiplexed into a single real sequence. The required samples of SAPS correspond to the DFT of the obtained real sequence. The proposed algorithm is referred as PMLS as it is based on the Plus Minus (PM) algorithm an FFT which efficiently computes the DFT of a real sequence for the positive frequency interval only. The samples of the SAPS are efficiently utilized for the computation of a single parameter which is used for computation of LSF and LSP independently with some interpolation principles. This interpolation exploits the available samples of SAPS and does not require their samples at finer resolution. The efficiency of the PMLS is illustrated with the help of some examples. Some guidelines for an optimal implementation of PMLS on fixed point digital signal processors (DSPs) are also presented.
Power and power plants

Electric power is extremely important for the welfare of modern societies because it allows us to use a wide range of appliances that need it to operate. In fact we rely on electricity to cover our needs in an increasing manner that concerns all sectors of the economy. In the household sector, for example, electricity is dominant with applications on lighting, convenience, and cooking equipment, and often heating. In the industrial sector, pneumatic and thermal devices have been displaced by electricity-driven machinery. Finally, the transport sector sees an increased use of electric private vehicles and other electric means of public transportation such as trains and buses, mostly due to reasons related to urban environmental quality. Power is generated at power plants, then transmitted via high-voltage power lines to the areas where it will be distributed to consumers (industrial, municipal, residential, etc.).
An evaluation of plasma triglyceride formation as a factor in the development of the ethanol-induced fatty liver.

Abstract The development of an acute fatty liver in rats following the admistration of ethanol was associated with a normal intravascular removal rate of albumin-bound palmitic acid-l-C 14 . When compared to isocaloric glucose-treated control rats, the ethanol group manifested a normal rate of incorporation of palmitate-l-C 14 into hepatic triglycerides prior to, and during, the development of a fatty liver. The release of triglyceride from liver, as determined by plasma triglyceride radioactivity following palmitate-l-C 14 , was also unaltered. The hypertriglyceredemic response to Triton was also normal in acute ethanol-treated rats. Significant depression of hepatic triglyceride metabolism was observed in the ethanol group and is considered to be a contributing factor to the development of the acute ethanol-induced fatty liver.
Segmentation and classification of cervix lesions by pattern and texture analysis

This work aims at automated segmentation of major lesions observed in early stages of uterine cervical cancer. Automated segmentation reduces subjective variability and cost in current manual evaluation methods used to determine the biopsy locations for diagnosis. Two different methods, a non-convex optimisation approach and mathematical morphological approach, are used to segment the aceto-white region. Within this region other abnormalities, such as mosaic patterns, are classified by fuzzy c-means using a textural feature obtained from skeletonised vascular structures. These vascular structures are extracted by a series of morphological operations. Minimisation of uncertainties for degraded images is also discussed.
Dose Response Analysis of GnRH Stimulation of hCG Release from Human Term Placenta

The release of immunoreactive alpha and beta human chorionic gonadotropin (ahCG and j3hCG) from placental explants in vitro war stimulated by GnRH in a dose-response fashion, but human chorionic somatomammotropin was not affected. The stimulation of cshCG by GnRH (1,2, or 5 Mg/mI) occurred on Days 1-3 of culture, but this increase was dose-related only on Days 2 and 3. A dose-related stimulation of the PhCG release by GnRH was also observed on Days 1, 2, 3, 7, and 8. In addition, increased release of 13hCGwas effectedon Day 4, using the highest dose of GnRH studied (5 ug/ml). The cumulative release of ahCG during the 8 days of culture was not stimulated in a doseresponse fashion by GnRH, while the increased cumulative release of j3hCG was dose-related.
Throughput-delay analysis of frequency hopped NPCSMA in indoors Rician fading cellular channels

The probability of packet retransmission is evaluated for SFH-NCFSK in indoor Rice fading channels for microcell structure at 800/900 MHz. The channel throughput-delay analysis for NPCSMA is evaluated and simulated for indoor Rician fading channels. The channel throughput-delay characteristics are degraded due to fading and shadowing. A new random multiple access protocol, which combines the advantages of frequency hopping spread spectrum (FH-SS) and carrier sense multiple access (CSMA), is introduced. The system throughput-delay characteristics are analytically derived in noiseless channels and in cellular channels. Monte Carlo simulation is used to verify the analytical results.
Chronotropic biosensing via stem-cell derived myocyte aggregates

Biosensors play a critical role in the chronotropic regulation of rate-adaptive electronic pacemakers. However, typical pacemaker biosensors only approximate physiological function via the measurement of surrogate signals such as ventilation, and therefore can be poorly correlated with chronotropic requirements. Alternatively, the electropotential input-output relationship of cardiac myocytes could be exploited for long-term, reversible quantification of chronotropic demand by monitoring the inherent rate effects of blood-borne catecholamines. Previously, we demonstrated the utility of this approach using murine whole-heart pinnal allograft transplants. Here, we advance this technique by utilizing pluripotent embryonic stem cell-derived cardiac myocyte aggregates implanted in the pinnae of syngeneic murine hosts. After one week, in all of the aggregates that showed sustained electropotential activity, there was /spl ges/70% concordance between the myocyte-aggregate rate and endogenous heart rate over the course of the trial, thereby demonstrating the ability of the cell-based biosensors to sense humoral signals and track endogenous chronotropic dynamics. Improvements in myocyte-aggregate electropotential competency, along with further advancements such as catheter-based myocyte-aggregate systems, may facilitate the incorporation of such long-term, reversible biosensors into cardiac pacemakers or other devices that require humoral substance sensing.
Analysis of a mutant strain of human fibroblasts with a defect in the internalization of receptor-bound low density lipoprotein.

A new type of mutation that affects a discrete step in the process of adsorptive endocytosis has been identified in one of 22 strains of fibroblasts derived from subjects with the clinical phenotype of homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). In this unique mutant strain (derived from subject J.D.), the cell surface receptor for plasma low density lipoprotein (LDL) was able to bind 125I-labeled LDL normally, but internalization of the receptor-bound lipoprotein failed to occur. Thus the defect in this strain differed from the defects found in the fibroblasts from the other 21 FH homozygote strains in which the binding of 125I-LDL to the receptor was either absent (receptor-negative) or markedly reduced (receptor-defective). The LDL receptor in the J.D. cells exhibited first, normal kinetics of high affinity binding at 4 degrees C and 37 degrees C; second, normal specificity (affinity for LDL more than 200 fold greater than for HDL); third, normal susceptibility to feed-back suppression by 25-hydroxycholesterol plus cholesterol; and fourth, a normal rate of turnover when the cells were treated with cycloheximide. Despite its normal ability to bind 125I-LDL, the LDL receptor in the J.D. cells failed to transport its LDL into the cell, and degradation of the lipoprotein in cellular lysosomes therefore did not occur. As a result, the lipoprotein did not suppress 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase activity; nor did it activate cholesteryl ester formation. A phenocopy of the internalization defect in the J.D. cells could be created by incubation of normal fibroblasts with N-ethyl maleimide, an agent that did not affect 125I-LDL binding to the receptor but blocked its subsequent internalization by the cell. The current data indicate that at least two gene products are necessary for the adsorptive endocytosis of LDL: one that is required for the binding of the lipoprotein, and one that promotes the internalization of the receptor-bound ligand.
Operant Conditioning of Serially Ordered Verbal Responses

Abstract : This study investigated the possibility that the existence of serially-ordered word associations is a variable underlying the formation of a word class; that is, words which are related in a serial order should be strengthened in a situation if the individual responses making up the chain are reinforced. The effect of reinforcement for emitting serially-ordered responses was studied under four treatment conditions, a serial, an alternating, a random, and a control (nonchained) order of presentation. Results indicated that the conditioning was greatest for the serial order of presentation, and declined in a significantly linear fashion as the order of presentation moved systematically from a serial to a random order. No effect was obtained where Ss had not learned the nonsense words as serially-related responses. The number of individual Ss who exceeded chance results, and the percentage of aware Ss within each group, also decreased as the conditions became more unlike the serial order of presentation. Thus word responses that are serially-associated would be expected to operantly condition as a response class. (Author)
Promoting Positive Ethics: An Interview with Mitchell M. Handelsman:

Tara L. Kuther is an associate professor of psychology at Western Connecticut State University, where she teaches courses in child, adolescent, and adult development. She is chair of the Society for the Teaching of Psychology's Instructional Resource Awards Task Force and the author of The Psychology Major's Handbook (2003) and Careers in Psychology: Opportunities in a Changing World (2004; coauthored by Robert D. Morgan of Texas Tech University), both published by Wadsworth/Thomson Learning. Mitchell M. Handelsman is a professor of psychology and a Colorado University President's Teaching Scholar at the University of Colorado at Denver, where he has taught courses in introductory and clinical psychology as well as ethics, psychotherapy, interviewing, and family therapy. A clinical psychologist by training, Mitch earned his PhD from the University of Kansas in 1981 and is licensed in the state of Colorado. He served as chair of the Ethics and Professional Review Committee of Colorado Psychological Associa...
Catastrophe and Contention in Rural China: THE ONSET OF COLLECTIVIZATION AND POPULAR DISSATISFACTION WITH MAO'S “YELLOW BOMB” ROAD

In the year following the Communist Party victory of October 1, 1949, most of Da Fo's farmers settled into small-scale, family-based tilling routines, and they began to supplement family income through increased market participation. In this so-called honeymoon period, roughly late 1950 to early 1955, free trade in periodic markets, agricultural fairs, temple festivals, and martial arts contests made a comeback, and villagers focused on finding marriage partners, reuniting separated families, making babies, and reasserting the symbolic rituals associated with patrilineal descent and extended kinship. Lunar New Year banquets and Qingming festivals, in which people swept ancestral grave sites and burned incense and paper money to honor ancestors, became the order of the day. During this period, Da Fo's fiercely independent smallholders equated the success of the recent Communist-led revolution with the freedom to farm their own fields. They were well positioned to plow the profits from renewed salt production back into agriculture, and they used their market proceeds to buy farm implements, plow animals, carts, and seeds. The plans of Mao and other national Communist Party leaders threatened this hard-won agricultural independence and market-based prosperity, however. In the view of Mao and the Central Committee he directed, the new PRC faced an agricultural dilemma that posed a difficult policy choice in the early 1950s. Despite a series of bumper harvests, China was plagued by food shortages. The country's population had increased. Though harvests had improved, rural people were celebrating by consuming more food grain.
Imaging of Acute Ischemic Stroke: Stroke CT Angiography (CTA)

Death or incapacitating disability can be prevented or diminished in some patients who present within 6 h of embolic stroke onset by thrombolytic therapy [1–16]. Conventional, noncontrast head CT (NCCT) scanning is performed on all patients prior to treatment in order to exclude hemorrhage or a large (greater than one-third middle cerebral artery [MCA] territory) infarction, both of which are contraindications to treatment [13, 15, 16]. The role of NCCT in the evaluation of acute stroke is fully discussed in the previous chapter. Although NCCT has some value in predicting patients most likely to be harmed by thrombolysis, it is of little value in predicting the patients most likely to benefit from thrombolysis–those with major artery occlusions.
Engaging Power, Emotion, and Context in Couple Therapy: Lessons Learned

Engaging with the confluence of power, emotion, and societal context in couple therapy is inevitably personal as well as professional. As editors of this volume, we have been touched by the clarity and persistence demanded of therapists doing the work described in each chapter. Here, we share our experiences as female therapists confronting patriarchal power. Drawing on personal examples from our own practice, we dialogue about three guiding strategies, the three I’s, that help us maintain focus when confronting societal-based power processes: Identify, Interrupt, and Invite. We conclude with the three C’s that enable us to enter into the active process of undoing gender inequality: Compassion, Curiosity, and Courage—as we resonate with our clients to provide a safe space for them to identify and practice new relational approaches in their couple relationships.
An Approach to Endovascular Ventricular Pacing in a Patient with Ebstein Anomaly and a Mechanical Tricuspid Valve

In the presence of a mechanical tricuspid valve, endocardial right ventricular pacing is contraindicated, and permanent pacing is usually achieved via a surgically implanted epicardial lead. In a patient with Ebstein anomaly, a mechanical tricuspid valve, and complete heart block, transvenous pacing was achieved by implantation of a pace-sense lead in a coronary sinus ventricular branch. Noninvasive cardiac imaging can provide information regarding anatomic variation in patients with congenital heart disease or when there are challenges to lead placement. With careful planning and execution, endovascular pacing in patients with a mechanical tricuspid valve is feasible and can safely be performed.
Quantile Regression in the Secondary Analysis of Case–Control Data

Case–control design is widely used in epidemiology and other fields to identify factors associated with a disease. Data collected from existing case–control studies can also provide a cost-effective way to investigate the association of risk factors with secondary outcomes. When the secondary outcome is a continuous random variable, most of the existing methods focus on the statistical inference on the mean of the secondary outcome. In this article, we propose a quantile-based approach to facilitating a comprehensive investigation of covariates’ effects on multiple quantiles of the secondary outcome. We construct a new family of estimating equations combining observed and pseudo outcomes, which lead to consistent estimation of conditional quantiles using case–control data. Simulations are conducted to evaluate the performance of our proposed approach, and a case–control study on genetic association with asthma is used to demonstrate the method. Supplementary materials for this article are available online.
Predictors of depressive symptoms at hospital discharge in patients with major depressive disorder

AbstractObjective. Often patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) leave the hospital with continued significant symptomatology. This study sought to evaluate demographic, clinical, and psychosocial predictors of the presence of clinically significant depressive symptoms, defined as a Modified Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression score of ≥ 14, immediately following hospitalization for MDD. Methods. The study enrolled 135 patients with MDD as part of a larger clinical trial investigating the efficacy of post-hospitalization pharmacologic and psychosocial treatments for depressed inpatients. Structured clinical interview and self-report data were available from 126 patients at hospital admission and discharge. Results. Despite the significant decreases in depressive symptoms over the course of hospitalization, 91 (72%) displayed clinically significant depressive symptoms at discharge. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that female sex, earlier age of onset, and poorer social adjustment ...
Field performance of gas-engine driven heat pumps in a commercial building

Abstract The aim of this study is to evaluate the field performance of gas engine driven heat pumps (GEHP) used in a commercial building. Four, 8 TR (cooling capacity) GEHP units were employed to provide air-conditioning to seven thermal zones in a commercial building. The performance of these GEHPs was assessed over a period of 10 months and compared with prior results reported in the literature. Additionally, this study provides a comparative economic analysis of GEHPs and conventional electrical heat pumps. During normal operation, the cooling capacity ranged between 12.3 kW and 19.3 kW. The average COPunit of these systems varied from 0.15 to 0.85 during field operation. The gas engines were found to operate at significantly lower loads than their design capacity, and therefore, produced overall lower efficiencies. Oversized GEHP systems were deployed to meet the low cooling/heating demands attributed to the lower overall field performance. This study demonstrates the importance of sizing the GEHP/HVAC system similar to the load in buildings.
Violent conjunctures in democratic India; Elite parties, poor voters: how social services win votes in India

The decisive victory of the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) in India's 2014 national elections has once again brought the question of the political strength of the Hindu nationalist movement to center...
93 DOES INCREASED BONE TURNOVER EXPLAIN HIGH BLOOD LEAD LEVELS IN END-STAGE RENAL DISEASE PATIENTS?

Higher blood lead levels, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, have been reported among patients with end-stage renal disease. We sought to determine whether higher lead levels in end-stage renal disease patients are due to lead being released from the skeleton. Fifty-one African American patients with end-stage renal disease were recruited from three Tulane University-affiliated dialysis clinics between January and July 2005. An interviewer-administered questionnaire, blood specimen collection, and 109Cd x-ray fluorescence measurement of tibia lead occurred during a single study visit. In addition, levels of serum parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcium, phosphorus, and albumin were abstracted from patients9 charts. The distributions of tibia and blood lead were similar across levels of serum PTH. Specifically, the median tibia lead was 21 μg/g and 17 μg/g for participants with PTH levels .40). The high blood lead levels observed among end-stage renal disease patients do not appear to be the result of increased bone turnover. The causes of higher blood lead levels for these patients need to be identified and attenuated.
Research on Improving Abrasion-resistance Capability of Grinding Roller by NiCr-Cr_3C_2-Ti-C Compound Welding Surface

To improve the capability of abrasion-resistance of the grinding roller,the NiCr-Cr3C2-Ti-C compound welding surface is prepared and taken NiCr foil,Cr3C2 powder Ti powder and C powder as raw materials based on TIG method.The phase structure,microscopic organization,component distribution and the hardness are studied by SEM,EDS and XRD.It is shown that the welding tissue is composed by Ni-based sosolid,TiC and Cr23C6 etc,and its highest hardness is between 1800 and 2000 HV.By wearing test,the abrasion of NiCr-Cr3C2-Ti-C compound welding surface and the other materials are compared.It is shown that the NiCr-Cr3C2-Ti-C compound welding surface has better abrasion-resistance than the other materials,and can be used to improve the capability of abrasion-resistance of the grinding roller.
Path integral Monte Carlo on a lattice. II. Bound states

The equilibrium properties of a single quantum particle (qp) interacting with a classical gas for a wide range of temperatures that explore the system's behavior in the classical as well as in the quantum regime is investigated. Both the qp and the atoms are restricted to sites on a one-dimensional lattice. A path integral formalism developed within the context of the canonical ensemble is utilized, where the qp is represented by a closed, variable-step random walk on the lattice. Monte Carlo methods are employed to determine the system's properties. To test the usefulness of the path integral formalism, the Metropolis algorithm is employed to determine the equilibrium properties of the qp in the context of a square well potential, forcing the qp to occupy bound states. We consider a one-dimensional square well potential where all atoms on the lattice are occupied with one atom with an on-site potential except for a contiguous set of sites of various lengths centered at the middle of the lattice. Comparison of the potential energy, the energy fluctuations, and the correlation function are made between the results of the Monte Carlo simulations and the numerical calculations.
Effect of AlN buffer layers on the structural and optoelectronic properties of InN/AlN/Sapphire heterostructures grown by MEPA-MOCVD

This contribution presents results on the structural and optoelectronic properties of InN layers grown on AlN/sapphire (0001) templates by Migration-Enhanced Plasma Assisted Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MEPAMOCVD). The AlN nucleation layer (NL) was varied to assess the physical properties of the InN layers. For ex-situ analysis of the deposited structures, Raman spectroscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) reflectance spectroscopy have been utilized. The structural and optoelectronic properties are assessed by Raman-E2 high FWHM values, surface roughness, free carrier concentrations, mobility of the free carriers, and high frequency dielectric function. This study focus on optimizing the AlN nucleation layer (e.g. temporal precursor exposure, nitrogen plasma exposure, plasma power and AlN buffer growth temperature) and its effect on the InN layer properties.
A >200 meV Uphill Thermodynamic Landscape for Radical Transport in Escherichia coli Ribonucleotide Reductase Determined Using Fluorotyrosine-Substituted Enzymes.

Escherichia coli class Ia ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) converts ribonucleotides to deoxynucleotides. A diferric-tyrosyl radical (Y122•) in one subunit (β2) generates a transient thiyl radical in another subunit (α2) via long-range radical transport (RT) through aromatic amino acid residues (Y122 ⇆ [W48] ⇆ Y356 in β2 to Y731 ⇆ Y730 ⇆ C439 in α2). Equilibration of Y356•, Y731•, and Y730• was recently observed using site specifically incorporated unnatural tyrosine analogs; however, equilibration between Y122• and Y356• has not been detected. Our recent report of Y356• formation in a kinetically and chemically competent fashion in the reaction of β2 containing 2,3,5-trifluorotyrosine at Y122 (F3Y122•-β2) with α2, CDP (substrate), and ATP (effector) has now afforded the opportunity to investigate equilibration of F3Y122• and Y356•. Incubation of F3Y122•-β2, Y731F-α2 (or Y730F-α2), CDP, and ATP at different temperatures (2–37 °C) provides ΔE°′(F3Y122•–Y356•) of 20 ± 10 mV at 25 °C. The pH dependence of the F...
Ein Jahr Erfahrung mit der Qualitätssicherung der Kataraktoperation (EUREQUO) an einem öffentlichen Spital

Einleitung Qualitatssicherung stellt einen wichtigen Aspekt des arztlichen Handelns dar. Die Kataraktoperation als der haufigste und erfolgreichste Eingriff uberhaupt ist fur eine solche Kontrolle pradestiniert. Patienten und Methode Retrospektive Analyse aller innerhalb eines Jahres (01. 07. 2014 bis 30. 6. 2015) durchgefuhrten Kataraktoperationen anhand der anonymisierten internetbasierten Datenbank EUREQUO. Diese Analyse erlaubt einen Vergleich der eigenen Daten mit denen aller Teilnehmer aus der Schweiz und Europa. Ergebnisse Am KSW wurden in diesem Zeitraum 904 Operationen durchgefuhrt, von denen 892 mit 2918 in der Schweiz und 274 644 in Europa verglichen werden. Es wurden hier mehr Patienten mit schlechtem ( Schlussfolgerungen Die Qualitatskontrolle zeigt, dass am offentlichen Spital ein komplexeres Krankengut mit einer geringen Zahl von Komplikationen und gutem Ergebnis kataraktoperiert wird. Trotzdem die Qualitatskontrolle schnell und einfach ist, hat sie sich leider in der Schweiz noch nicht genugend etabliert.
Imperative role of pulses in Indian Food and Nutritional Security-Analysis of Current Reasons of Crisis and THEIR Solution

Pulses are not only a major source of proteins for humans but are environment-friendly also. Every class of Indian society invariably includes pulses in their daily diet. Hence, it is natural for India to be the largest producer of pulses in the world. The demand of pulses is increasing fast due to insufficient global supply. Despite being the largest producer, India is adversely affected due to the deficiency in global pulses supply. To feed the large Indian population, we import a huge quantum of pulses (approximately 3-4 million tonnes annually). Productivity of pulses in India is lower than the global average which has led to demand-supply imbalance in the country. This productivity gap, if not tackled aptly and timely, may also serve as a source of inevitable Pulses-Crisis in India in coming years. Insufficient productivity of pulses in India (dependency on monsoon and cultivation of pulses on marginal/ degraded lands)along with other factors such as wide gap in price received by the producer and paid by the consumer, inefficient procurement system for pulses resulting in inadequate net returns from pulses,are causing disinterest among farmers' for pulse cultivation. After having understood gravity of the situation Indian Government has target to tackle domestic supply bottlenecks of pulses through launching pulses productionprogrammes viz.,AcceleratedPulses Production Program (A3P); Integrated Scheme of Oilseeds, Pulses and Maize (ISOPAM) and the National Food Security Mission (NFSM).Efforts of the government in this direction, have started producing favourable results in the recent years, however, we still need to do a lot in this direction.
Controlling n-Type Doping in MoO3

We study the electronic properties of native defects and intentional dopant impurities in MoO3, a widely used transparent conductor. Using first-principles hybrid functional calculations, we show that electron polarons can be self-trapped, but they can also bind to defects; thus, they play an important role in understanding the properties of doped MoO3. Our calculations show that oxygen vacancies can cause unintentional n-type doping in MoO3. Mo vacancies are unlikely to form. Tc and Re impurities on the Mo site and halogens (F, Cl, and Br) on the O site all act as shallow donors but trap electron polarons. Fe, Ru, and Os impurities are amphoteric and will compensate n-type MoO3. Mn dopants are also amphoteric, and they show interesting magnetic properties. These results support the design of doping approaches that optimally exploit functionality.
Clay, Water, and Salt: Controls on the Permeability of Fine-Grained Sedimentary Rocks

ConspectusThe ability to predict the permeability of fine-grained soils, sediments, and sedimentary rocks is a fundamental challenge in the geosciences with potentially transformative implications in subsurface hydrology. In particular, fine-grained sedimentary rocks (shale, mudstone) constitute about two-thirds of the sedimentary rock mass and play important roles in three energy technologies: petroleum geology, geologic carbon sequestration, and radioactive waste management. The problem is a challenging one that requires understanding the properties of complex natural porous media on several length scales.One inherent length scale, referred to hereafter as the mesoscale, is associated with the assemblages of large grains of quartz, feldspar, and carbonates over distances of tens of micrometers. Its importance is highlighted by the existence of a threshold in the core scale mechanical properties and regional scale energy uses of shale formations at a clay content Xclay ≈ 1/3, as predicted by an ideal pac...
Carbide Catalysts: Laser Pyrolysis Synthesis and Catalytic Activity

Abstract Ultrafine particle iron catalysts, having particle diameters in the range of 5–20 nm, have been synthesized in carbide and metallic forms by CO2 laser pyrolysis of iron pentacarbonyl and ethylene gaseous mixtures. Characterization by bulk and surface spectroscopies has shown that, depending upon the conditions of synthesis, Fe7C3, Fe3C or alpha-Fe can be prepared. Sulfiding with dimethyldisulfide converts the UFP's to pyrrhotite having a Fe/S ratio of approximately 0.85. The hydroliquefaction activity of these catalysts is presented and discussed relative to other types of dispersed catalysts.
2D full-wave simulation of waves in space and tokamak plasmas

Simulation results using a 2D full-wave code (FW2D) for space and NSTX fusion plasmas are presented. The FW2D code solves the cold plasma wave equations using the finite element method. The wave code has been successfully applied to describe low frequency waves in planetary magnetospheres (i.e., dipole geometry) and the results include generation and propagation of externally driven ultra-low frequency waves via mode conversion at Mercury and mode coupling, refraction and reflection of internally driven field-aligned propagating left-handed electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves at Earth. In this paper, global structure of linearly polarized EMIC waves is examined and the result shows such resonant wave modes can be localized near the equatorial plane. We also adopt the FW2D code to tokamak geometry and examine radio frequency (RF) waves in the scape-off layer (SOL) of tokamaks. By adopting the rectangular and limiter boundary, we compare the results with existing AORSA simulations. The FW2D code results for the high harmonic fast wave heating case on NSTX with a rectangular vessel boundary shows excellent agreement with the AORSA code.
Revascularization of Immature Necrotic Teeth

The objective of this review is to provide an overview of the past and present advancements in regenerative endodontics. Available literature clearly demonstrates high-clinical success of regenerative endodontic procedures (REP). Several recommendations made by the American Association of Endodontists (AAE) with regard to REP protocols are based on recent work demonstrating these as stem cell-based therapies. This review summarizes the role of stem cells and therefore the rationale for the currently recommended guidelines. Clinical success of REP lies between 80 and 100% with root development observed in a significant number of treated cases. These procedures provide a unique advantage of continued root growth despite premature pulp necrosis in immature teeth. Research in the field of stem cell biology has greatly increased our understanding of tissue engineering in endodontics. Overall, REPs appear to be a viable treatment option for immature teeth with pulp necrosis.
Cerebral Palsy Model of Uterine Ischemia in Pregnant Rabbits

Rabbits, like humans, are perinatal brain developers. The model of uterine ischemia mimics acute placental insufficiency states in humans such as placental abruption. A detailed description of the fetal model is presented. Following fetal hypoxia-ischemia, movement disorders are observed in postnatal rabbit kits akin to those observed in cerebral palsy in humans.
Neuropsychological Assessment of Children in Studies of Developmental Neurotoxicity

Abstract Neuropsychological functioning has frequently been found to be the most sensitive endpoint in studies of the developmental neurotoxicity of chemicals, such as lead and methylmercury. This chapter discusses considerations in incorporating neuropsychological assessments into such studies. These include factors that bear on the decision about the age(s) at which children should be assessed and the tests to include in the assessment battery. In general, these decisions depend on the primary purpose in conducting the study, the state of knowledge about the neurotoxicity of the chemical of interest, the training of the neuropsychological assessors, the cultural setting, and the time available for assessment. It is critical that the quality control information for the neuropsychological assessments be utilized in a study as detailed as that presented for the analytical measurements of relevant biomarkers. As no neuropsychological test assesses the integrity of a single brain region, caution is warranted in drawing inferences about the underlying brain–behavior relationships.
Computing With Spreadsheets In Different Base Systems

This classroom note shows how one can use a spreadsheet in developing conceptual understanding of the decimal system of arithmetic through exploring representations of integers in non-decimal base systems. In programming a spreadsheet to execute even simple operations (usually taken for granted) such as the generation of counting numbers or finding the sum of two numbers when the base number is smaller than 10, the need for conceptualization of those operations becomes obvious. In particular, a ready-made spreadsheet provides an effective medium for prospective elementary teachers who, by experiencing and overcoming difficulties in doing a non-traditional arithmetic, become better prepared to teach the conventional place value system to young children. Likewise, prospective high school teachers can experience the use of mathematical concepts, like the logarithmic function, as tools in computing applications when developing such a spreadsheet.
On-the-Fly Fluorescence Lifetime Detection in Capillary Electrophoresis for DNA Analysis

The studies described in this chapter illustrate potential applications of on-the-fly fluorescence lifetime detection in CE for DNA analysis. The combined advantages of speed, high resolution, and small sample volume provided by CE and the accuracy and signal resolution provided by fluorescence lifetime in no more time than is needed for fluorescence intensity detection alone make frequency-domain lifetime detection a promising approach to problems in DNA analysis. Development of more dyes that offer a wider range of lifetimes and reduction in background contributions to the fluorescence signal will help to fully realize the potential of this approach.
Carrying Capacity, Concept of

Carrying capacity is the maximum number, density, or biomass of a population that a specific area can support. This likely varies over time and depends on environmental factors, resources, and the presence of predators, disease agents, and competitors over time. The concept of carrying capacity has been explicitly recognized for approximately 150 years, and its use has waxed and waned during this time. Currently, the use of carrying capacity to describe any particular population requires caution, although the concept remains intuitive and invokes questions that challenge our fundamental understanding of what factors regulated populations over time and space.
Characterization of Blistering and Delamination in Depleted Uranium Hohlraums

AbstractBlistering and delamination are the primary failure mechanisms during the processing of depleted uranium (DU) hohlraums. These hohlraums consist of a sputter-deposited DU layer sandwiched between two sputter-deposited layers of gold; a final thick gold layer is electrodeposited on the exterior. The hohlraum is deposited on a copper-coated aluminum mandrel; the Al and Cu are removed with chemical etching after the gold and DU layers are deposited. After the mandrel is removed, blistering and delamination are observed on the interiors of some hohlraums, particularly at the radius region. It is hypothesized that blisters are caused by pinholes in the copper and gold layers; etchant leaking through these holes reaches the DU layer and causes it to oxidize, resulting in a blister. Depending on the residual stress in the deposited layers, blistering can initiate larger-scale delamination at layer interfaces. Scanning electron microscopy indicates that inhomogeneities in the machined aluminum mandrel are...
MitoNEET in Perivascular Adipose Tissue Prevents Arterial Stiffness in Aging Mice

Arterial stiffness is an inevitable consequence of the aging process and is considered an early stage in the development of cardiovascular diseases. The perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) is a distinct functional integral layer of the vasculature actively involved in blood pressure regulation and atherosclerosis development via PVAT-derived paracrine/autocrine factors. However, there is little knowledge regarding the relationship between PVAT and arterial stiffness. Using unique mice lacking PVAT, high-fat diet-induced obesity, and in mice overexpressing brown adipocyte selective mitoNEET, we investigated the relationship between PVAT and arterial stiffness in mice. We found that lack of PVAT enhanced arterial stiffness in aging mice. High-fat diet feeding of aging C57BL/6J wild-type mice significantly induced hypertrophic PVAT and enhanced arterial stiffness. Furthermore, the expression of mitoNEET, a mitochondrial membrane protein related to energy expenditure, was significantly increased by pioglitazone treatment, while reduced in the hypertrophic PVAT induced by high-fat diet. Overexpression of mitoNEET in PVAT reduced the expression of inflammatory genes and was associated with lower pulse wave velocity in aging mice. These data indicate that local PVAT homeostasis especially inflammation in PVAT is associated with arterial stiffness development. Pioglitazone-induced mitoNEET in PVAT prevents PVAT inflammation and is negatively associated with arterial stiffness. These findings provide new experimental insight into the roles of pioglitazone on PVAT in arterial stiffness and indicate that PVAT might be a target to treat or prevent cardiovascular disease.
Performance of conformable, dry EEG sensors

We have recently developed a conformable solid state material solution (carbon nanofiber filled polydimethylsilisoxane, CNF-PDMS) for electroencephalography (EEG) electrodes. In this study, we tested the efficacy of electrodes molded from this material to record well studied neural phenomena using a battery of standard laboratory tasks. Event related potential (ERP) and eyes open/closed results show performance matching that of commercially available metal-pin based dry EEG electrode, while summary statistics (correlation and RMSE) show matched and even improved ability to track local and global fluctuations in EEG. We present baseline data that demonstrates CNFPDMS is a viable solution for conformable, safe, dry EEG electrodes.
Update on hypoparathyroidism.

Purpose of reviewHypoparathyroidism is a rare endocrine disorder characterized by low or insufficient parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentrations leading to hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, and markedly reduced bone turnover. Despite being a rare disease, hypoparathyroidism has a profound impact on aff
Topological properties of active orders for matroid bases

Las Vergnas introduced several lattice structures on the bases of an ordered matroid M by using their external and internal activities. He also noted that when computing the Moebius function of these lattices, it was often zero, although he had no explanation for that fact. The purpose of this paper is to provide a topological reason for this phenomenon. In particular, we show that the order complex of the external lattice L of M is homotopic to the independence complex of the restriction M^*|T where M^* is the dual of M and T is the top element of L. We then compute some examples showing that this latter complex is often contractible which forces all its homology groups, and thus its Moebius function, to vanish. A theorem of Bj\"orner also helps us to calculate the homology of the matroid complex.