cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Theory of the lattice Boltzmann equation: symmetry properties of discrete velocity sets.

In the lattice Boltzmann equation, continuous particle velocity space is replaced by a finite dimensional discrete set. The number of linearly independent velocity moments in a lattice Boltzmann model cannot exceed the number of discrete velocities. Thus, finite dimensionality introduces linear dependencies among the moments that do not exist in the exact continuous theory. Given a discrete velocity set, it is important to know to exactly what order moments are free of these dependencies. Elementary group theory is applied to the solution of this problem. It is found that by decomposing the velocity set into subsets that transform among themselves under an appropriate symmetry group, it becomes relatively straightforward to assess the behavior of moments in the theory. The construction of some standard two- and three-dimensional models is reviewed from this viewpoint, and procedures for constructing some new higher dimensional models are suggested.
Right ventricular dysfunction in liver failure: a hemodynamic study

Data investigating the clinical importance of right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) in liver disease are sparse. The use of a modified pulmonary artery catheter with a fast-response thermistor to assess the right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) and right ventricular end-diastolic-volume index (RVEDVI) can aid in the diagnosis of and guide appropriate therapy for RVD in critically ill patients. In a previous study, RVD was defined as RVEF 92 ml/m2 [1]. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of RVD in a heterogeneous group of patients with multiorgan failure and liver disease admitted to a specialist liver ICU. In addition, differences in right ventricular function were compared in patients in acute liver failure (ALF) and with acutely decompensated chronic liver disease.
Examining the Neighborhood Context of the Violent Offending-Victimization Relationship: A Prospective Investigation

The persistent link between offending and victimization is one of the most robust empirical findings in criminological research. Despite important efforts to isolate the sources of this phenomenon, it is not fully understood. Much attention has been paid to the role of individual-level factors; however, few studies have systematically integrated neighborhood conditions. Using prospective data from the Pittsburgh Youth Study the current research examines a set of hypotheses regarding the interplay of neighborhood structural conditions and the victim-offender overlap. A multilevel analytical technique is applied to the data which purges time-varying covariates of all time-stable unobserved heterogeneity. Results indicate that the relationship between offending and victimization is pronounced in disadvantaged neighborhoods, while offending is not significantly related to victimization risk in contexts marked by lower levels of disadvantage. The implications of the results for theory are discussed, along with recommendations for future research.
Zinc Ligands in the Metal Hyperaccumulator Thlaspi caerulescens As Determined Using X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy

Using the noninvasive technique of X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), we have been able to determine the ligand environment of Zn in different tissues of the Zn-hyperaccumulator Thlaspi caerulescens (J. & C. Presl.). The majority of intracellular Zn in roots of T. caerulescens was found to be coordinated with histidine. In the xylem sap. Zn was found to be transported mainly as the free hydrated Zn2+ cation with a smaller proportion coordinated with organic acids. In the shoots, Zn coordination occurred mainly via organic acids, with a smaller proportion present as the hydrated cation and coordinated with histidine and the cell wall. Our data suggest that histidine plays an important role in Zn homeostasis in the roots, whereas organic acids are involved in xylem transport and Zn storage in shoots.
Recognition failure of recallable famous names in a hybrid semantic-episodic memory task

Subjects studied a list of lowercase cue and uppercase target pairs containing famous names (e.g., betsy ROSS) and nonfamous names (e.g., edwin CONWAY). Following recognition tests in which surnames were tested in the absence of their cues, cued recall tests for the surnames were given. In semantic recognitio n and recall tests, the response to a surname was to be made solely on the basis of its fame, whether or not it had appeared in the study list. In episodic memory tests, the response to a surname was to be made solely on the basis of whether or not it had appeared in the study list, regardless of its fame. For individual subjects, the type (i.e., episodic vs. semantic) of recognition test and cued recall test was always different. The observed recognition failure rate for the studied famous names tested in the semantic recognition and episodic cued recall condition was significantly lower than that predicted by the Tulving-Wiseman (1975) function, whereas the recognition failure rate for the episodic recognition and semantic cued recall condition was significantly higher than predicted. The data are interpreted as providing some support for the distinction between episodic and semantic memory.
The electronic structure and properties of titanium disulfide

Abstract Detailed ab initio KKR energy band calculations on the layered dichalcogenide TiS 2 show it to be a semiconductor, in agreement with the traditional view of Wilson and Yoffe and optical experiments and in disagreement with recent X-ray and transport observations.
The dissolution kinetics of Fe 3 C in ferrite — A theory of interface migration

The dissolution of Fe3C in ferrite has been shown to be controlled by a slow first order interfacial reaction. The rate constant,K, is Arrhenius in behavior and involves two activation enthalpies; one applies to a jump process with a short relaxation time, another to a long relaxation time process which is tentatively identified as a change in kink density on ledges in the interface. The heat of solution of Fe3C in ferrite also appears in the exponential. A single process, activated jump theory is not adequate to explain the behavior ofK with temperature; a dissolution model based on a ledge-double kink mechanism appears to be in agreement with experiment. These features point to significant differences between the mechanism of interphase boundary migration and grain boundary migration. In addition, the Fe3C-ferrite interface is felt to be at equilibrium with respect to carbon but not iron, leading to small departures from stoichiometry in the Fe3C at the interface.
Investigation of material effects on near-field wireless power transfer

We derive an analytic power transfer efficiency bound for wireless power transfer in the radiating near-field region when a transmitting antenna is surrounded by a finite thickness material shell and a receiving antenna is outside the shell. The derived formulas for both TM and TE mode radiators show good agreement with full-wave simulation. Using the derived theory, lossy dielectric material effects on wireless power transfer are studied for both TM and TE mode radiators. Power transfer measurement through an exterior concrete wall is also reported and compared with the theory.
Light-scattering investigation of the niobate species present in strongly basic solution

Abstract Light-scattering investigations of K8Nb6O19 · 4H2O in strongly alkaline solution containing added supporting electrolyte indicate an optically anisotropic species with a weight-average degree of polymerization of about 6. Considerable binding of gegenions by the polymeric species is evident. On the basis of the results of this and previous investigations, a structure is proposed.
Growth and optical characterization of spin-coated As2S3 multilayer thin films

Abstract Multilayer thin films of As 2 S 3 were obtained by spin-coating a solution of an amine salt in amide on suitable glass substrates. The resulting multilayers were baked and annealed for different periods of time at temperatures ranging from room temperature to 190°C. After thermal processing the samples were characterized using optical techniques and a suitable regression model was used to elucidate the effect of number of layers and irradiation on the material's optical parameters. Films with up to four layers and 2.4 μm in thickness were studied. The surface roughness obtained from transmittance measurements was compared with that obtained by a stylus technique and the results correlate well.
A DIFFUSION METHOD FOR THE ESTIMATION OF FORMALDEHYDOGENIC STEROID

ONE method for the estimation of cortical hormone in urine is the determination of the formaldehyde produced by the oxidation of the ketol side chain with periodic acid (Lowenstein, Corcoran and Page, 1946). In order to minimize the contribution of non-specific organic material, Daughaday, Jaffee and Williams (1948) developed a method in which the formaldehyde is distilled before it is estimated by means of the color reaction with chromotropic acid. Corcoran and Page (1948) have developed similar procedures. It occurred to us that isothermal distillation of the formaldehyde by means of Conway cells (Conway, 1947) would be useful in this determination. One such method has been reported by Bassil and Hain (1950) but is inconvenient since it requires three to four days to reach equilibrium and does not permit quantitative recovery. The solution of this problem is to allow the distillation to occur directly into the chromotropic acid reagent, which is dissolved in 15 M
Two-Electrode Electrochemical Impedance Sensor: Part 1—Response to Coating Degradation on Conductive Substrates

Abstract Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is widely used for understanding and quantifying the corrosion protective quality of coatings. However, the traditional single-cell EIS (SCEIS) configuration has largely been limited to laboratory testing on small panels partly due to the requirement of an electrical connection to the substrate, which implies damage to the protective coating. We have studied a two-cell EIS (TCEIS) configuration that increases the flexibility of EIS, enabling its use in the field testing of coatings without the need to damage the coating to achieve an electrical connection to the substrate. Comparison measurements between the SCEIS and the TCEIS were carried out with coated panels under three different accelerated weathering protocols (ultraviolet [UV], salt spray, and alternating UV/salt spray). Measurements from the TCEIS and the SCEIS showed similar impedance spectral changes with exposure time under the first two exposure protocols but had significant measurement de...
On the Way to the Best Strategy in Literacy Education: A Journey of Philosophical Investigations

The search for the best strategy in literacy education is a lingering phenomenon. From time to time one strategy is claimed to work best, only to be critically challenged and replaced by another. There is always debate about what the best strategy is. The belief that there is supposed to be only one best strategy is not consistent with the fact that there are diverse views on what it should be. This paper argues that the search for the best strategy is not looking for the best among various practices. Instead, it calls for a critical examination of our underlying philosophical beliefs about it. Hence, the discussion of the best strategy is divided into three philosophical phases: objectivist, deconstructivist, and praxis. The search is argued to be taking a journey of philosophical investigations rather than finding a certain practice superior to all others.
Synthesis and Thermomechanical Behavior of (Qua)ternary Thiol-ene(/acrylate) Copolymers.

Abstract The objective of this work is to characterize and understand the structure-to-thermomechanical property relationship in thiol-ene and thiol-ene/acrylate copolymers in order to complement the existing studies on the kinetics of this polymerization reaction. Forty-one distinct three- and four-part mixtures were created with systematically varied functionality, chemical structure, type and concentration of crosslinker. The resulting polymers were subjected to dynamic mechanical analysis and tensile testing at their respective glass transition temperature, Tg, to quantify and understand their thermomechanical properties. The copolymer systems exhibited a broad range of Tg, rubbery modulus – Er and failure strain. The addition of a difunctional high-Tg acrylate to several three-part systems increased the resultant Tg and Er. Higher crosslink densities generally resulted in higher stress and lower strain at failure. The tunability of the thermomechanical properties of these copolymer systems is discussed in terms of inherent advantages and limitations in light of pure acrylate systems.
100% spin accumulation in non-half-metallic ferromagnet–semiconductor junctions

We show that the spin polarization of electron density in non-magnetic degenerate semiconductors can achieve 100%. The effect of 100% spin accumulation does not require a half-metallic ferromagnetic contact and can be realized in ferromagnet–semiconductor FM–n+–n junctions even at moderate spin selectivity of the FM–n+ contact when the electrons with spin 'up' are extracted from n semiconductor through the heavily doped n+ layer into the ferromagnet and the electrons with spin 'down' are accumulated near the n+–n interface. We derived a general equation relating spin polarization of the current to that of the electron density in non-magnetic semiconductors. We found that the effect of complete spin polarization is achieved near the n+–n interface when the concentration of the spin 'up' electrons tends to zero in this region while the diffusion current of these electrons remains finite.
New Thrusts in Ground Watera

Four principal trends in ground water are apparent: (1) Increasing use of ground water for domestic supplies. Geohydrologists must learn to quantitatively evaluate the supply under conditions of maximum development, not merely determine the availability of a supply that does not strain the aquifer. (2) Aquifers will be looked to increasingly as possible storage media for surplus flood water, in place of dams and reservoirs. The key here is economics – optimum utilization of resources. The job of the geohydrologist is to do enough research and experimentation to determine when, where, and how ground-water reservoirs can be recharged artificially at a reasonable cost. (3) Saline aquifers will be looked at as sources of water supply. The cost curves of developing new supplies of fresh water are ascending while the cost curves for desalinization are declining, and inevitably they will cross in one area after another. There is a paucity of information on saline ground-water aquifers; hence, the utmost skill must be used in evaluating the resource. (4) With efforts to prevent stream pollution, aquifers will be looked to increasingly as possible storage media for industrial and domestic waste effluents. Control is urgently needed so the effects of waste injection can be predicted, the technology for confining those effects as intended can be developed, and a basis can be provided for a rational decision as to whether waste injection or an alternative use of the chosen aquifer is best for the economy in the long run. However, there is little legal basis for control, and the cost of such control may make the practice unfeasible in many situations. A systems-analysis approach is needed to develop a working model of a given hydrologie and socio-economic problem from which quantitative answers can be given to water planners.
Mechanisms of heart failure in obesity

Heart failure is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality and its prevalence continues to rise. Because obesity has been linked with heart failure, the increasing prevalence of obesity may presage further rise in heart failure in the future. Obesity-related factors are estimated to cause 11% of heart failure cases in men and 14% in women. Obesity may result in heart failure by inducing haemodynamic and myocardial changes that lead to cardiac dysfunction, or due to an increased predisposition to other heart failure risk factors. Direct cardiac lipotoxicity has been described where lipid accumulation in the heart results in cardiac dysfunction inexplicable of other heart failure risk factors. In this overview, we discussed various pathophysiological mechanisms that could lead to heart failure in obesity, including the molecular mechanisms underlying cardiac lipotoxicity. We defined the obesity paradox and enumerated various premises for the paradoxical associations observed in the relationship between obesity and heart failure.
Transient motion of an elastic half-space due to a moving surface line load

The central problem of this paper concerns the surface motion of an elastic half-space acted upon by a moving line load. The load, which has components in the horizontal and vertical directions, is suddenly excited at t=0 and thereafter moves with a constant speed c. The load speed is free to lie anywhere in the range 0≤c≤∞. Detailed results are presented for the horizontal (vertical) component of surface displacement due to a moving normal (tangential) line load. It is shown that this displacement becomes unbounded at the location of the moving load x=ct provided c=cr, the Rayleigh wave speed, or c lies in the range c2 <c <c 1. In the latter case, the singularity is removable if c22/c2=12.
Epitaxial Growth of Dilute Magnetic Semiconductors: GaMnN and GaMnP

Abstract : Epitaxial growth of the dilute magnetic semiconductors GaMnP and GaMnN has been investigated by Gas Source Molecular Beam Epitaxy (GSMBE). GaMnP films grown with < 4.5% Mn show the preferential formation of the second phases MnP and Mn(5.64)P3, resulting in only a slight deviation from purely diamagnetic behavior. GaMnN films grown on both Al2O3 and Metal-Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD) derived GaN surfaces show strong ferromagnetism when grown with either C codoping or at elevated temperatures to raise the concentration of n-type carriers. Comparable GaMnN films grown under conditions which produce highly resistive material show only paramagnetism, indicating the importance of carrier concentration on the resulting magnetic behavior. The formation of second phases was not observed in the GaMnN material for Mn concentrations less than 9%.
Analysis of vibration spectrum of a Timoshenko beam with boundary damping by the wave method

Abstract The Timoshenko beam is a model of a thick beam and is important in structural engineering. Recently, there has been considerable interest in the analysis and control of the vibration of the Timoshenko beam. The understanding of the spectrum of vibration is fundamental in order to accomplish such research. The classical separation of variables approach leads to complicated transcendental equations which are difficult to analyze. In this paper, we develop the wave propagation method to tackle this problem. Asymptotic estimates for the eigenfrequencies are obtained for a Timoshenko beam with dissipative conditions. Such estimates show that the Timoshenko beam has two branches in its spectrum corresponding to the propagation of waves with two velocities for the displacement and angular rotation variables. The numerical computations using a high accuracy Legendre-tau spectral method.
Enhanced pairing in the checkerboard Hubbard ladder

We study signatures of superconductivity in a two-leg ``checkerboard'' Hubbard ladder model, defined as a one-dimensional (period 2) array of square plaquettes with an intraplaquette hopping $t$ and interplaquette hopping ${t}^{\ensuremath{'}}$, using the density-matrix renormalization-group method. The highest pairing scale (characterized by the spin gap or the pair binding energy, extrapolated to the thermodynamic limit) is found for doping levels close to half-filling, $U\ensuremath{\approx}6t$ and ${t}^{\ensuremath{'}}/t\ensuremath{\approx}0.6$. Other forms of modulated hopping parameters, with periods of either one or three lattice constants, are also found to enhance pairing relative to the uniform two-leg ladder, although to a lesser degree. A calculation of the phase stiffness of the ladder reveals that in the regime with the strongest pairing, the energy scale associated with phase ordering is comparable to the pairing scale.
Development of new bound abrasive polishers for final finishing of optical glasses

Because there are no practical commercially available bound abrasive polishing media, we are developing a bound abrasive polisher for deterministic finishing of optical glasses. Several in- house formulated polishing pellets, molded laps, and ring tools have been studied. Two experimental test beds were employed. The first involved the polishing of flat optical glass parts on single pellet and molded pellet laps. The tests were conducted on a single spindle machine. The performance of in-house manufactured laps was compared to experimental and commercial formulations obtained from industry. Compositions which polished the glass below 20 angstrom rms surface roughness were selected for additional testing. The second test bed for these formulations was the Opticam SM. Materials were molded into a ring tool geometry. Although the tools polished effectively, more work is required to control surface figure during final finishing.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Identification of key residues determining isomerohydrolase activity of human RPE65.

RPE65 is the retinoid isomerohydrolase that converts all-trans-retinyl ester to 11-cis-retinol, a key reaction in the retinoid visual cycle. We have previously reported that cone-dominant chicken RPE65 (cRPE65) shares 90% sequence identity with human RPE65 (hRPE65) but exhibits substantially higher isomerohydrolase activity than that of bovine RPE65 or hRPE65. In this study, we sought to identify key residues responsible for the higher enzymatic activity of cRPE65. Based on the amino acid sequence comparison of mammalian and other lower vertebrates' RPE65, including cone-dominant chicken, 8 residues of hRPE65 were separately replaced by their counterparts of cRPE65 using site-directed mutagenesis. The enzymatic activities of cRPE65, hRPE65, and its mutants were measured by in vitro isomerohydrolase activity assay, and the retinoid products were analyzed by HPLC. Among the mutants analyzed, two single point mutants, N170K and K297G, and a double mutant, N170K/K297G, of hRPE65 exhibited significantly higher catalytic activity than WT hRPE65. Further, when an amino-terminal fragment (Met1–Arg33) of the N170K/K297G double mutant of hRPE65 was replaced with the corresponding cRPE65 fragment, the isomerohydrolase activity was further increased to a level similar to that of cRPE65. This finding contributes to the understanding of the structural basis for isomerohydrolase activity. This highly efficient human isomerohydrolase mutant can be used to improve the efficacy of RPE65 gene therapy for retinal degeneration caused by RPE65 mutations.
Waiting for feedback helps if you want to know the answer: the role of curiosity in the delay-of-feedback benefit

When participants answer a test question and then receive feedback of the correct answer, studies have shown that the feedback is more effective when it is delayed by several seconds rather than provided immediately (e.g., Brackbill & Kappy, Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 55, 14–18, 1962; Schroth, Contemporary Educational Psychology, 17, 78–82, 1992). Despite several demonstrations of this delay-of-feedback benefit, a theoretical explanation for this finding has not yet been developed. The present study tested the hypothesis that brief delays of feedback are beneficial because they encourage anticipation of the upcoming feedback. In Experiment 1, participants answered obscure trivia questions, and before receiving the answer, they rated their curiosity to know the answer. The answer was then provided either immediately or after a 4-s delay. A later final test over the same questions revealed a significant delay-of-feedback benefit, but only for items that had been rated high in curiosity. Experiment 2 replicated this same effect and showed that the delay-of-feedback benefit only occurs when feedback is provided after a variable, unpredictable time duration (either 2, 4, or 8 s) rather than after a constant duration (always 4 s). These findings demonstrate that the delay-of-feedback effect appears to be greatest under conditions in which participants are curious to know the answer and when the answer is provided after an unpredictable time interval.
Application Behavior Mapping across Heterogeneous Hardware Platforms

Predicting the application behavior such as its resource utilization in a new hardware machine is becoming an urgent issue as the increasing number of servers with various configurations show up in data centers and clouds. Current two categories of approaches, the test bed evaluation based and the software simulation based methods, both have certain shortcomings. While the test bed evaluation based approaches suffer from the lack of measurement data to build the prediction model, the simulation based methods intrinsically introduce uncertainties and errors in the data. In order to overcome those issues, this paper proposes a new solution that combines the current two separate processes. We develop a generalized regression model with L1 penalty to predict the application behavior from software simulation. Meanwhile we also use evaluations on real hardware instances to improve the model obtained from simulation. Our model improvement is grounded on the Bayesian learning theory, which elegantly embeds outcomes from both simulation and real evaluation stages into the final prediction. Experimental results show the higher prediction accuracy of our method compared with current techniques.
Chairside Fabricated Fiber-reinforced Fixed Partial Denture.

In this issue of the Journal, the case report by Garoushi et al illustrates an exciting technique for fixed tooth replacement that can be done chairside using a new class of dental material, fiber-reinforced composite. This approach provides the patient with a cost effective treatment alternative that a clinician can choose to augment the traditional fixed prosthodontic approaches of porcelain fused to metal or all ceramic fixed partial dentures. The technique utilizes skills and materials most clinicians are familiar with – resin composite restorative materials and acid etch techniques. The beauty of this approach is the minimal to no abutment tooth loss in the placement of the bridge. This also allows the patient to consider other treatment options in the future -such as an implant. The success of this approach relies on the ability of the clinician to properly construct the framework for the bridge using strips of fiber-reinforced composite. The manipulation of the FRC material and the framework design are variables that must be correctly done to provide the basis for a successful chairside bridge. These skills need to be mastered by the clinician and once these skills are mastered, this approach has the potential to provide the patient with long term results. Our FRC research group at the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine has been placing chairside FRC bridges for about nine years with great success. We have developed a technique that uses a pre-fabricated FRC framework that eliminates the need for the clinician to piece together a framework before developing the pontic tooth [1–8]. We have applied this approach for all areas of the mouth, incisor, canine, premolar and molar. The problems we have seen with this technique usually revolve around the particulate resin composite used for fabricating the pontic shape. These are primarily are in the area of cohesive bulk fracture of part of the pontic or lust of luster and high gloss of the surface. The strength of the FRC attachment to the abutment teeth and the framework itself is rarely where these bridges develop problems. As improvements in particulate resin composite technology develop, this technique has the potential for even more impressive results. Clinicians should consider this as one of their treatment alternatives when considering fixed tooth replacement.
Single crystal structure determination of double layered strontium iridium oxide [Sr3Ir2O7]

Single crystals of Sr3Ir2O7 were grown for the first time from a SrCl2 flux using SrO2 and IrO2 in a sealed Pt tube under ambient pressure. The compound crystallizes in a tetragonal unit cell [a = 3.896 (1) and c = 20.879 (3) A] with space group I4/mmm (No. 139) and Z = 2. The crystal structure was solved by means of single crystal X-ray diffraction and refined to R = 0.014. The structural refinement showed that the IrO6 octahedra are rotated about the c-axis by about 12 degrees, similar to the rotational distortion recently found in Sr2IrO4. However, unlike in Sr2IrO4, the IrO6 rotations in Sr3Ir2O7 are not correlated, hence no superlattice reflections appear.
The Role of Psychosocial and Financial Factors in Medication Noncompliance in Epilepsy

Noncompliance in the taking of medication for a chronic disorder was related to emotional adjustment, psychosocial adjustment, ability to assume responsibility in life generally, and financial factors. Of 282 adults with epilepsy, eighty were identified by physicians' ratings as definitely compliant and forty-two as noncompliant. Results showed: 1) there were no differences between compliers and noncompliers in emotional adjustment; 2) noncompliance is not related to the cost of medications or to whether or not they are free; 3) noncompliance is more likely when patients report general financial distress, regardless of actual financial status; 4) persons with regular responsibilities in life also tend to take their medication regularly; and, 5) when reported financial distress and ability to assume responsibilities are considered simultaneously, the likelihood of noncompliance is four times as great in some patient groups as in others.
The Measure of DAMPs and a role for S100A8 in recruiting suppressor cells in breast cancer lung metastasis.

To determine whether there was a relationship between damage associated molecular pattern molecule (DAMP) expression and recruitment of suppressor cells to sites of metastasis we measured relative expression of DAMPs, regulatory T cells (Tregs), and myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC) in mice at various stages of breast cancer progression using the 4T1 model. Although S100A8 was expressed at relatively low levels in the tumor cells, expression was 100-fold higher in the lung and liver which are common sites of metastasis for this tumor. Despite the relatively high level of S100A8 expression in the lungs of naive mice, the level of expression increased further and was significantly elevated after only 7 days of tumor growth. The same pattern was observed for MDSC, and both S100A8 and MDSC expression peaked in the lungs of mice following 21 days of tumor growth. Characterization of MDSC from the lungs revealed expression of RAGE, and the cells were capable of migrating in a dose-dependent manner toward S100A8. In addition, the MDSC expressed low levels of MHC Class I, MHC Class II, CD80, and secreted TGF-β. Taken together, these data suggest that expression of S100A8 in the lungs may facilitate recruitment of MDSC, which may in turn aid in establishing a metastatic niche capable of suppressing a localized immune response.
Versatile fluorescent probes for actin filaments based on the actin-binding domain of utrophin.

Actin filaments (F-actin) are protein polymers that undergo rapid assembly and disassembly and control an enormous variety of cellular processes ranging from force production to regulation of signal transduction. Consequently, imaging of Factin has become an increasingly important goal for biologists seeking to understand how cells and tissues function. However, most of the available means for imaging F-actin in living cells suffer from one or more biological or experimental shortcomings. Here we describe fluorescent F-actin probes based on the calponin homology domain of utrophin (Utr-CH), which binds F-actin without stabilizing it in vitro. We show that these probes faithfully report the distribution of F-actin in living and fixed cells, distinguish between stable and dynamic F-actin, and have no obvious effects on processes that depend critically on the balance of actin assembly and disassembly. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 64: 822–832, 2007. ' 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Myocardial strain imaging with tagged MRI

A 4-D B-spline model has been created to accurately capture the dynamic motion of the heart from tagged magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) enabling displacement field reconstruction of myocardial deformation. The 4-D model is allowed to deform based on the location of the tag lines for all frames within the constraints of the model's spatio-temporal internal energy. From a displacement field, the corresponding long and short axis Lagrangian strain maps are produced. Motion fields from simulated data produced by a cardiac motion simulator are used to create corresponding strain images. In addition, strain images produced from porcine data with posterolateral myocardial infarction are illustrated.
Counseling the Uncoupling Male

Over a million men are involved each year in the agony and turmoil of the uncoupling process. This article discusses counseling techniques that aid in counseling males leaving the marriage relationship.
Affinity binding of the cartilage proteoglycan protein-keratan sulfate core to immobilized hyaluronic acid.

The protein-keratan sulfate core of bovine nasal cartilage proteoglycan was purified by affinity chromatography on a column of immobilized hyaluronic acid. The hyaluronic acid was immobilized by reaction with a hydrazido-alkyl derivative of Sepharose in the presence of borohydride. Proteoglycan was digested with chondroitinase ABC and the entire mixture was passed over a column of the Sepharose-hyaluronic acid maintained at 4°C. After the digested chondroitin sulfate chains were washed from the column, the bound protein-keratan sulfate core was eluted with 4 M guanidinium chloride. The protein-keratan sulfate core interacts with the affinity matrix through its hyaluronic acid binding site as shown by the inhibition of binding by free hyaluronic acid and hyaluronic acid decasaccharide.
Trading sex: Voluntary or coerced? The experiences of homeless youth

This study examined the circumstances surrounding a homeless youth's “decision “ to trade sex for food, money, shelter, or drugs. Forty homeless youth in 4 Midwestern states participated in individual, in‐depth qualitative interviews. Interviewers recruited youth through both service agencies and street outreach. The findings revealed that approximately one third of the sample had some experience with trading sex, whether it was in the form of having traded sex, having been propositioned to trade sex but having refused, or having friends or acquaintances that had traded sex. Young people's reports indicated that they had traded sex for things they deemed necessary in order to survive (i.e., food, shelter, money, or drugs) and that they did not want to trade sex, but did so because they were desperate and lacked alternatives. Additionally, others were coerced, manipulated, or forced to do so, indicating that the decision to trade sex is not always voluntary. We discuss the implications of these findings in...
Biochemical characteristics, metabolism, and antitumor activity of several acetylated hexosamines

We have synthesized several potential inhibitors and/or modifiers of the carbohydrate portion of plasma membrane glycoconjugates. These include fluorinated and actylated analogs of D-glucosamine, D-galactosamine, and D-mannosamine. These compounds have been tested to determine their effects on both[14C] glucosamine and [3H] leucine incorporation into glycoconjugate and on cell growth and viability using P-288 murine lymphoma cells maintained in tissue culture. The most cytotoxic agent tested was 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-1,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranose or simply beta-pentaacetylglucosamine which prevented cell growth at 10(-4)-10(-3) M. beta-Pentaacetylglucosamine cytotoxicity was correlated with its high lipid solubility, having an octanol/water partition coefficient of 0.424 as compared with 0.278 for the alpha-anomer and 0.017 for N-acetylglucosamine. In vitro metabolism studies with [4C]- and/or [3H]-labeled pentaacetylglucosamine have indicated intracellular de-O-acetylation leading to the biosynthesis of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine, followed by the incorporation of this sugar into cellular glycoprotein. Concomitant with the formation of increased amounts of this nucleotide sugar, intracellular UTP and CTP pools fell to one third normal within 3 h after the administration of 1 mM pentaacetylglucosamine. At present it is unclear whether the cytotoxicity of beta-pentaacetylglucosamine or other similar agents is due to alterations in nucleotide and nucleotide-sugar pools causing a decrease in energy charge and polynucleotide biosynthesis or is due to a direct effect on membrane glycoconjugate biosynthesis.
Law, property, and psychiatry.

Psychiatric interventions in the administration of civil law regulating the individual's right to manage his person and property serve two often contradictory aims: to protect the ward and maximize his material benefits, as defined by individuals other than the ward himself, and to protect the potential ward's civil rights and to minimize abridgments of his freedom and powers to make independent decisions as defined by himself. It is the view of the authors that the potential ward's freedom and right to self-determination should be recognized as more important values than the protection, even against his will, of his person and property.
The iPad and Mobile Technology Revolution: Benefits and Challenges for Individuals who require Augmentative and Alternative Communication

The iPad and other mobile technologies provide powerful new tools to potentially enhance communication for individuals with developmental disabilities, acquired neurogenic disorders, and degenerative neurological conditions. These mobile technologies offer a number of potential benefi ts, including: (a) increased awareness and social acceptance of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), (b) greater consumer empowerment in accessing AAC solutions, (c) increased adoption of AAC technologies, (d) greater functionality and interconnectivity, and (e) greater diffusion of AAC research and development. However, there remain a number of signifi cant challenges that must be addressed if these benefi ts are to be fully realized: (a) to ensure the focus is on communication, not just technology, (b) to develop innovative models of AAC service delivery to ensure successful outcomes, (c) to ensure ease of access for all individuals who require AAC, and, (d) to maximize AAC solutions to support a wide variety of communication functions. There is an urgent need for effective collaboration among key stakeholders to support research and development activities, and to ensure the successful implementation of mobile technologies to enhance communication outcomes for individuals who require AAC and their families.
Coherency for interconnected power systems

A model of disturbances affecting power systems is proposed and linearized models of the pre- and post-disturbance dynamics are derived. These are used to study coherency and near coherency of a group of generators under multiple disturbances. The techniques used are based on the geometric theory of linear systems.
Using a quality model framework to strengthen the requirements bridge

This experience report chronicles the development and use of a Requirements Quality Model (RQM), an evaluation tool that can be used to generate process improvements and an organizational rating against ten categories of requirements development and management activities. The tool was developed considering experience gained from successes from the Cellular Switching Product's software quality program and employing key quality factors from software industry standards such as the SEI Capability Maturity Model and IEEE Standard 830. The RQM enables an evaluation of the four key dimensions of successful requirements engineering practice: people, process, software roofs, and the product. The experiences reported and lessons learned will help others who may wish to develop a similar software quality evaluation tool.
Design Framework for Self-Stabilizing Real-Time Systems Based on Real-Time Objects and Prototype Implementation with Analysis

The paper proposes an object-oriented design framework to implement self-stabilizing real-time systems and describes an implementation and analysis of a prototype of such a system. The paper also includes a brief study of application of the object-oriented paradigms such as reflection and inheritance based on the design framework. The analysis includes a determination of overhead and a feasibility study of the prototype. The framework is three-tiered in which the basic or the first-tier components are the self-stabilizing components of the distributed real-time systems that recover themselves in case of transient faults. The second-tier components of the design framework consist of the RobustRTOs and the MetaObjects. The third-tier components are the Guards of the subsystems.
Rethinking the prevalence of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in patients with asthma.

Exercise induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) is reported in up to 90 percent of patients with asthma1–3. However, the body of literature leading to these estimates is confounded by varying diagnostic methodologies, employing different measures and modes of challenges, and relative lack of population-based studies. Athlete4 and military5 cohorts dominate the epidemiologic data.
Laparoscopic total and partial nephrectomy

Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy has established its role as a standard of care for the management of renal neoplasms. Long term follow-up has demonstrated laparoscopic radical nephrectomy has shorter patient hospitalization and effective cancer control, with no significant difference in survival compared with open radical nephrectomy. For renal masses less than 4cm, partial nephrectomy is indicated for patients with a solitary kidney or who demonstrate impairment of contralateral renal function. The major technical issue for success of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy is bleeding control and several techniques have been developed to achieve better hemostatic control. Development of new laparoscopic techniques for partial nephrectomy can be divided into 2 categories: hilar control and warm ischemia vs. no hilar control. Development of a laparoscopic Satinsky clamp has achieved en bloc control of the renal hilum in order to allow cold knife excision of the mass, with laparoscopic repair of the collecting system, if needed. Combination of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy with ablative techniques has achieved successful excision of renal masses with adequate hemostasis without hilar clamping. Other techniques without hilar control have been investigated and included the use of a microwave tissue coagulator. In conclusion, laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma has clearly demonstrated low morbidity and equivalent cancer control. The rates for local recurrences and metastatic spread are low and actuarial survival high. Furthermore, laparoscopic partial nephrectomy has demonstrated to be technically feasible, with low morbidity. With short term outcomes demonstrating laparoscopic partial nephrectomy as an efficacious procedure, the role of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy should continue to increase.
The “Battle” of Managing Language Barriers in Health Care

Providing safe and high-quality health care for children whose parents have limited English proficiency (LEP) remains challenging. Reports of parent perspectives on navigating language discordance in health care are limited. We analyzed portions of 48 interviews focused on language barriers from 2 qualitative interview studies of the pediatric health care experiences of LEP Latina mothers in 2 urban US cities. We found mothers experienced frustration with health care and reported suboptimal accommodation for language barriers. Six themes emerged relevant to health care across settings: the "battle" of managing language barriers, preference for bilingual providers, negative bias toward interpreted encounters, "getting by" with limited language skills, fear of being a burden, and stigma and discrimination experienced by LEP families. Parents' insights highlight reasons why effective language accommodation in health care remains challenging. Partnering with families to address the management of language barriers is needed to improve health care quality and safety for LEP patients and families.
Hypertransaminasemia in Newly Diagnosed Pediatric Patients With Celiac Disease.

OBJECTIVES The aim of the present study was to determine the proportion of pediatric patients with celiac disease (CD) who had transaminases obtained at diagnosis and to determine the proportion with hypertransaminasemia. METHODS Data from newly diagnosed patients with CD at Nationwide Children's Hospital from February 2007 to March 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) values at diagnosis and after initiation of a gluten-free diet (GFD) were assessed. RESULTS Of 388 patients (mean age 10.1 ± 4.4 years, 235 girls), 185 (47.7%) had transaminases obtained at the time of diagnosis. Twenty-eight of one hundred eighty-five (15.1%) had an elevated ALT and/or AST level with an average ALT 2.52 × upper limit of normal (ULN) and AST 1.87 × ULN. Those with hypertransaminasemia were younger than those with normal levels (6.31 ± 4.75 vs 11.00 ± 4.28 years, P < 0.0001). Sex, symptoms at diagnosis, and weight, height, and body mass index z scores were not predictive of elevated transaminases. Of the 21 patients with hypertransaminasemia at diagnosis who had repeat laboratory test results after starting the GFD, 15 (71.4%) normalized whereas 6 (28.6%) remained elevated. CONCLUSIONS There is variation in practice among pediatric gastroenterologists in the assessment of transaminases in children with CD. Hypertransaminasemia is present at diagnosis in a significant proportion of children with CD although at a lower frequency than previously reported. Younger patients are more likely to have an elevation in transaminases. Abnormal transaminases normalize in the majority of patients within 1 year after initiation of a GFD.
Therapy for Alzheimer's disease. Symptomatic or neuroprotective?

Therapeutic strategies aimed to treat Alzheimer's disease (AD) may either produce an attenuation of symptoms or slowdown deterioration by attenuating progression of the disease. Presently, cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEI) have shown the most promising therapeutic effects. The best documented clinical efficacy of ChEI are studies of THA (tacrine, tetrahydroaminoacridine). The results of five recent studies in a total of 1,242 patients are discussed. Based on differences from placebo in scoring, a gain of 2–12 (MMSE) or 5–6 (ADAS) in deterioration can be seen for a THA treatment of 2–3 mo duration. This suggests that if treatment with THA will be extended to a longer period, the drug effect may not be only a symptomatic improvement but also a slowdown of disease course. A similarity of THA's effect in AD withl-deprenyl effects in Parkinson's is suggested.