cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Poly(vinyl alcohol) separators improve the coulombic efficiency of activated carbon cathodes in microbial fuel cells

Abstract High-performance microbial fuel cell (MFC) air cathodes were constructed using a combination of inexpensive materials for the oxygen reduction cathode catalyst and the electrode separator. A poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-based electrode separator enabled high coulombic efficiencies (CEs) in MFCs with activated carbon (AC) cathodes without significantly decreasing power output. MFCs with AC cathodes and PVA separators had CEs (43%–89%) about twice those of AC cathodes lacking a separator (17%–55%) or cathodes made with platinum supported on carbon catalyst (Pt/C) and carbon cloth (CE of 20%–50%). Similar maximum power densities were observed for AC-cathode MFCs with (840 ± 42 mW/m 2 ) or without (860 ± 10 mW/m 2 ) the PVA separator after 18 cycles (36 days). Compared to MFCs with Pt-based cathodes, the cost of the AC-based cathodes with PVA separators was substantially reduced. These results demonstrated that AC-based cathodes with PVA separators are an inexpensive alternative to expensive Pt-based cathodes for construction of larger-scale MFC reactors.
Damage evolution and constitutive behavior of advanced composites

Abstract The aim of this paper is to present a mechanics based theory that accounts for damage evolution in advanced composites. Single-ply behavior, under various loading conditions, is studied in detail herein. It is shown that the proposed theory can capture the essential deformational characteristics of single composite material plies, subjected to external load. Emphasis is placed on the properties of the theory and its capability to predict the observed behavior; further, the present approach is compared to classical analysis procedures. The paper extends previous work by the first author; it considers loading path effects, relation of damage growth to apparent Poisson ratio, strain based distinction between tension and compression, failure criteria under different loading conditions, and thermodynamic restrictions.
Efficacy of mycophenolate mofetil in moderate to severe ulcerative and Crohn's colitis—a pilot study

Efficacy of mycophenolate mofetil in moderate to severe ulcerative and Crohn's colitis—a pilot study
Studies in relation to endocrine exophthalmos: The biochemical composition of human retrobulbar connective tissue

As part of studies on the pathogenesis of exophthalmos of Graves' disease, the biochemical composition of human retrobulbar tissue was intestigated. The connective tissue was composed of 72.7% lipid, 23.8% water and 3.5% dried defatted tissue. Total tissue glycosaminoglycan (GAG) amounted to 0.18% of dried defatted tissue. Approximately 27% of the total hexosamine and 19% of the total tissue galactosamine were recovered in the GAG fraction. Cellulose microcolumn fractionation of GAG showed that the hyaluronic acid and dermatan sulfate were the two major GAG species.
Improved assay of the enzymes of glutathione synthesis: γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase and glutathione synthetase

Abstract New methods for the estimation of red cell γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase and glutathione synthetase have been developed. γ-32P ATP is allowed to equilibrate until the γ and β phosphate groups are equally labelled. The amount of 32Pj released in the presence of glutamic acid and cysteine, the substrates for GC-S or in the presence of γ-glutamylcysteine and glycine, the substrates of GSH-S, is measured. This is accomplished by extraction of the phosphomolybdate complex into isobutanol-benzene. The methods are linear with time and hemolysate concentration. Normal values are presented.
Elucidation of the roles of Re in steam reforming of glycerol over Pt–Re/C catalysts

Abstract In this paper, we report the fundamental surface properties of Pt/C and Pt–Re/C catalysts and their correlation with catalytic performance in steam reforming of glycerol. We found that the addition of Re increases the catalytic activity, H 2 /CO x ratio, and CO 2 selectivity. N 2 physisorption, CO chemisorption, and attenuated total reflectance infrared (ATR-IR), Raman, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) with in situ capabilities were employed to provide insight into the roles of Re. Using ATR-IR, we show that CO adsorption on reduced Pt–Re/C is stronger than on Pt/C. However, CO desorption from Pt–Re/C is much facilitated compared with that from Pt/C after steam pretreatment, which is more representative of the steam reforming conditions. In situ Raman and XAS studies suggest that oxidized rhenium species are formed in steam environments on the Pt–Re/C catalyst surface. The spillover of CO from neighboring Pt to such oxidized rhenium is likely the reason for the facile desorption of CO, which could further react to form CO 2 . Such facile CO desorption leads to enhanced glycerol steam reforming and water-gas shift activities over the Pt–Re/C catalyst.
Geometrical theory of triple junctions of CSL boundaries. Erratum

Owing to a typesetter's error, Fig. 2 of the paper by Gertsman [Acta Cryst. (2001), A57, 369–377] was published with incorrect labelling. The figure is reproduced here with correct labels. Also, the misorientation referred to by the author as Σ33b in the paper should be read as Σ33c. This is corrected in the revised Fig. 2 given here.
Osterix finds its master

A paper in this issue of EMBO reports by Tohmonda et al demonstrates that the IRE1–XBP1 branch of the unfolded protein response is activated during BMP2-induced osteoblast differentiation, and identifies the osteoblast-specific transcription factor Osterix as a direct target of XBP1.
Craniopharyngioma: surgical experience of 309 cases in China.

Abstract Objective The objective of the present study was to retrospectively review the surgical outcome of 309 craniopharyngioma cases treated by a single neurosurgeon in China. Patients and methods A total of 309 cases of craniopharyngioma that were treated surgically from January 1996 to May 2006. Among them, 162 (52.4%) patients were male and 147 (47.6%) were female. There were 259 (83.8%) patients older than 15 years (mean 35.8 years) and 50 (16.2%) younger than 15 years (mean 8.8 years). The tumor size varied in diameter from 2.0 cm to 9.0 cm (mean 34.5 mm). Pterional approach was performed in 211 (68.3%) cases, trans-laminal terminal approach through frontobasal interhemispheric fissure in 55 (17.8%) cases, subfrontal approach in 20 (6.5%) cases, and transcallosum approach into the anterior third ventricle in 11 (3.6%) cases. Results Total, subtotal, and partial removal of tumors were achieved in 276 (89.3%), 20 (6.5%), and 13 (4.2%) patients, respectively. The pituitary stalk was preserved in 186 (60.2%) cases, severed in 49 (15.9%) cases, and unidentified in 74 (23.9%) cases during surgery. There were 12 (3.9%) patients died within 1 month after surgery. A total of 204 (66%) patients were followed from 6 months to 8 years (mean 2.1 years). In the 167 patients with total tumor removal, 23 (13.7%) had tumor recurrence within an average of 1.8 years. While, in the 32 patients with subtotal or partial resection, 24 (75%) had recurrence within an average of 0.5 years. There were five deaths occurred during follow-up. Conclusion Pre-surgery neuroimaging evaluations have improved our knowledge of intricate anatomical relationship between craniopharyngioma and the structures of the hypothalamus, pituitary stalk, and optic apparatus, which make total tumor resection feasible with the preservation of these vital structures to ensure a lower recurrence rate with acceptable mortality. However, excessive long-term morbidity, mostly related to hypopituitarism, which leads to the poor quality of life for the craniopharyngioma patients, is still remained. Further effort should be invested to monitor and maintain the normal hormone levels, hence improve the quality of life for craniopharyngioma patients.
Nanoconjugation: a materials approach to enhance epidermal growth factor induced apoptosis

Apoptosis evasion is a hallmark of cancer that motivates the development of novel strategies for inducing cell death in a controlled fashion. The size-compatibility of nanoparticles (NPs) with cellular components provides new opportunities for regulating cellular processes, potentially including apoptosis. We investigated the impact of the covalent attachment of epidermal growth factor (EGF) to 40 nm diameter Au NPs on cellular apoptosis levels, quantified as caspase-3 activity, in two in vitro cancer cell lines: A431 and HeLa. Our studies show that nanoconjugation enhances EGF-induced apoptosis in EGF receptor (EGFR) overexpressing A431 and triggers a quantifiable increase in apoptosis in HeLa. The latter has physiological receptor expression levels and does not show apoptosis in response to free EGF. Endocytosis and trafficking are involved in key EGFR regulation processes, most prominently signal termination. Our experimental findings indicate that these processes can be manipulated through nanoconjugation to induce apoptosis.
Crack nucleation in magnesium oxide bi-crystals under compression

Abstract Magnesium oxide bi-crystals having a wide range of misorientation were tested under three point bending. The interaction of slip bands coming from the centre loading beam with the grain boundary were studied. When a single slip band impinged upon the boundary one of three things happened depending upon the misorientation. (I) Small misorientations (i.e. a simple tilt boundary). The shear stress concentration ahead of the pile-up nucleated dislocation loops and thereby slip bands in the adjacent grain. Cracks did not form. (II) Medium misorientations (i.e. a twist plus tilt boundary). The tensile stress concentration beneath an edge slip band nucleated a transgranular crack in the adjacent grain. Under compression, this cleavage crack decelerated and generated dislocation loops which developed slip bands in the adjacent grain. (III) Large misorientation (i.e. a large twist plus large tilt). The tensile stress concentration beneath an edge slip band nucleated an intergranular crack. In particular t...
Regulation of hepatocyte bile salt transporters by endotoxin and inflammatory cytokines in rodents

Abstract BACKGROUND & AIMS: Pathophysiological conditions such as sepsis and hepatitis are mediated by inflammatory cytokines and frequently are associated with cholestasis. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]) and cytokine administration on hepatocellular transporters involved in bile salt transport. METHODS: LPS and cytokines were administered to Sprague- Dawley rats or C57BL/6 mice, and the expression and function of hepatocyte transporters involved in bile salt secretion were examined. RESULTS: LPS caused gene expression of the hepatocyte basolateral sodium-dependent taurocholate cotransporter (Ntcp) to decrease by more than 90%. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) or interleukin (IL) 1beta also produced a time-dependent decrease in Ntcp messenger RNA levels, whereas IL-6 had no effect. LPS administration resulted in a concordant 90% reduction of basolateral protein expression of the hepatocyte sodium taurocholate cotransporter and markedly diminished sodium-dependent taurocholate uptake. Activity of the hepatocyte basolateral Na+,K+-adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) was also decreased by 50% in a posttranslational manner after endotoxin treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Endotoxin inhibits hepatocellular sodium-dependent bile salt uptake by decreasing both expression of Ntcp and activity of the Na+,K-ATPase. The effects on Ntcp are mediated via TNF-alpha and IL- 1beta. Alterations of these transporters may contribute to the cholestasis of sepsis and inflammation. (Gastroenterology 1996 Jul;111(1):193-8)
Disposition of methotrexate in Bracon hebetor (Hymenoptera: Braconidae).

Methotrexate (MTX) is a potent anti-vitellogenic agent in the parasitic wasp Bracon hebetor Say (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). The disposition of MTX has been examined in B. hebetor by tracing the movement of 3H-MTX. About 30% of an oral dose moved from the gut into the physiological interior of the insect. The amount of MTX in the gut rapidly decreased with a corresponding increase in the level of drug inside the body. A small amount of MTX may be accumulated in the ovaries. MTX is rapidly eliminated from the body in an exponential manner with a half-life of 10.6 h. These results confirm that MTX exerts its anti-vitellogenic effect at the time of treatment, in that when the maximum toxic effects are seen, there is little MTX left in the body.
EFFECT OF LOW BLOOD-ALCOHOL CONCENTRATIONS IN SIMULATED DAY AND NIGHT DRIVING.

A study was carried out to determine the influence of low concentrations of alcohol in the blood upon performance in a simulated driving task, under day and night driving conditions. Sixteen male S...
Cloning and characterization of βCAP73, a novel regulator of β-actin assembly

In non-muscle cells, the isoactins are differentially localized, with beta-actin specifically enriched at the cell cortex within motile structures, such as lamellae, while gamma-actin shows no specific localization. To understand the sorting and regulation of beta-actin within moving cells, we previously isolated betaCAP73, a novel beta-actin-specific binding protein (Cell Motil. Cytoskel. 35 (1996) 175). Here, we have cloned and characterized the 4718 nucleotide betaCAP73 cDNA from an endothelial cell library. betaCAP73 cDNA contains six predicted ankyrin-like repeats at the amino terminus and is partially homologous to three previously reported sequences of unknown function. Northern analysis reveals betaCAP73 expression in all tissues tested, with highest levels in skeletal muscle. Consistent with previously demonstrated interactions between native betaCAP73 and beta-actin filament barbed-ends, recombinant betaCAP73 inhibits pyrene-actin assembly in an isoactin-specific manner. Compared to stationary cells betaCAP73 mRNA is down regulated in crawling cells. Similarly, motility-defective cells have increased betaCAP73 protein. Overexpression of full-length betaCAP73 induces the formation of novel membrane protrusions that are enriched in betaCAP73, while overexpression of betaCAP73 domains alters cell morphology. Combined, these results indicate that betaCAP73 modulates isoactin dynamics to regulate the morphological alterations required for cell growth and motility.
Biofeedback training: offerings, plans, and some attitudes in graduate schools and internships

Graduate schools and APA-approved internships in North America were surveyed to determine the type and extent of biofeedback training, additional biofeedback training planned, requirements considered to be a minimum necessary before beginning clinical practice of biofeedback, when biofeedback is considered an appropriate application, and whether biofeedback is considered a “passing fad” in clinical practice. Questionnaires were returned by 56% of the graduate schools and 54% of the internships, and revealed training in 58% and 67% respectively. Training in biofeedback procedures appears to be growing, and most graduate schools and internships think that biofeedback is not a passing fad in clinical practice. Training emphases vary considerably across graduate schools and internships, with some schools and internships excluding theory and/or practice and/or research from their instruction. The results are discussed in relation to the question of determining which procedures to include in future instruction.
Should it Take an Act of Congress to Change an Asset's Depreciable Recovery Period?

As a result of enacting the Technical and Miscellaneous Revenue Act of 1988, Congress took control of establishing and changing asset depreciation periods from the Treasury Department. A detailed example of changing an asset's recovery period by the legislative process is presented, as well as a detailed example of resolving an asset class dispute by congressional action. The paper establishes that the current system for determining asset depreciation recovery periods and the current asset recovery periods now in use are dysfunctional. The authors argue that asset depreciation recovery periods should be determined based on a thoughtful and rational economic analysis (in accordance with the Tax Reform Act of 1986 Committee Reports), rather than be subject to the legislative process and become just another political issue subject to special interest lobbying efforts and the vagary of the revenue needs of government. The paper concludes with a recommendation to reassign the establishment and changes to asset...
Nanopatterning phospholipid bilayers

A nanolithography method for altering the composition of supported phospholipid bilayers has been developed. Although a number of lithography procedures for various chemical systems currently exist, these methods typically rely on covalent bonding to stabilize the resulting structure. The method described here is suitable for an entirely noncovalent system, where the pattern is maintained by specific hydrophobic and other noncovalent interactions. This lithography is achieved by the atomic force microscope, which is used to insert phospholipid molecules into a supported reconstituted high-density lipoprotein−phospholipid bilayer with 20 nm line widths. Lipid molecules are delivered to the supported bilayer through transient structural disruption, forcing the acceptance of new lipid monomers into the bilayer structure. Precoating the atomic force microscope tip with specific lipids is sufficient to deliver new lipid to the patterned areas. These results demonstrate a new method for controlling the structur...
Flow-through integrating cavity absorption meter: experimental results

We report experimental results from a flow-through integrating cavity absorption meter. The operating range of the device is from 0.004 m−1 to over 80 m−1 of absorption. Absorption coefficients have been measured with 8% or less change in the presence of over 200 m−1 of scattering in the medium. The instrument signal has been shown to be independent of flow rate up to 20 liters/min and thus independent of turbulence. This large operational range along with the ability to measure absorption independently of adverse scattering affects allows the instrument to be utilized in a wide range of environmental conditions.
The Observation of 3.3-mm Bursts and their Correlation with Soft X-Ray Bursts

Observations of 3.3-mm bursts show that in most cases these bursts have slower rise times and are longer lived than the impulsive centimeter bursts. There is a good temporal correlation between the 3.3-mm and soft X-ray bursts, indicating that these bursts have their origin in the same thermal source mechanism, although these emissions may not arise from the same electrons.
Breast Cancer Chemoprevention among High-risk Women and those with Ductal Carcinoma In Situ.

Chemoprevention with the anti-estrogens, tamoxifen, raloxifene, and aromatase inhibitors, reduce breast cancer incidence in high-risk women; however, uptake has been poor (<5%) in the prevention setting. We assessed use of anti-estrogens for breast cancer prevention, among high-risk women seen at an academic breast center, to observe how uptake rates compare in this setting. We collected data on demographics, breast cancer risk factors, and health behaviors via self-administered questionnaires and medical chart abstraction. Women eligible for chemoprevention with anti-estrogens had a 5-year predicted breast cancer risk according to the Gail model of ≥1.67%, history of lobular or ductal carcinoma in situ (LCIS/DCIS), and/or BRCA mutation. We dichotomized anti-estrogen use as ever or never. Predictors of use were evaluated using multivariable log-binomial regression. Of 412 high-risk women enrolled, 316 (77%) were eligible for chemoprevention. Among eligible women, 55% were non-Hispanic white, 29% Hispanic, 8% non-Hispanic black, and 7% Asian. Women were grouped based upon their highest category of breast cancer risk (in descending order): BRCA mutation carriers (3%), DCIS (40%), LCIS (22%), and 5-year Gail risk ≥1.67% (36%). Among those eligible for chemoprevention, 162 (51%) had ever initiated anti-estrogen therapy (71% tamoxifen, 23% raloxifene, 5% aromatase inhibitor). Anti-estrogen use was highest among women with DCIS (73%). In multivariable analysis, women with a 5-year Gail risk ≥1.67% had approximately a 20% lower likelihood of anti-estrogen use compared to women with DCIS (p = 0.01). In the primary prevention setting, excluding women diagnosed with DCIS, anti-estrogen use was 37%. Multivariable analysis showed differences in uptake by education and potentially by race/ethnicity. Among high-risk women seen at a breast center, anti-estrogen use for chemoprevention was relatively high as compared to the published literature. Clinicians can support high-risk women by effectively communicating breast cancer risk and enhancing knowledge about the risks and benefits of chemoprevention.
CPEB : a life in translation

Nearly two decades ago, Xenopus oocytes were found to contain mRNAs harboring a small sequence in their 3′ untranslated regions that control cytoplasmic polyadenylation and translational activation during development. This cytoplasmic polyadenylation element (CPE) is the binding platform for CPE-binding protein (CPEB), which promotes polyadenylation-induced translation. Since then, the biochemistry and biology of CPEB has grown rather substantially: mechanistically, CPEB nucleates a complex of factors that regulates poly(A) elongation through, of all things, a deadenylating enzyme; biologically, CPEB mediates many processes including germ-cell development, cell division and cellular senescence, and synaptic plasticity and learning and memory. These observations underscore the growing complexities of CPEB involvement in cell function.
Growth sensitivity to drought of co-occurring pinus spp. along an elevation gradient in Northern Mexico

ARSTRACT. Climate change is predicted to increase the frequency of severe drought, yet little information exists on the impacts of drought on dominant trees of Mexican pine forests, which are among the most biologically diverse forests in the world. We conducted the first comparison of growth sensitivity to drought of two co-occurring Pinus species in Mexico to understand whether growth of dominant pines of the Sierra Madre Occidental in northern Mexico is sensitive to drought and temperature variation and to understand how sensitivity differs between tree species and elevations. We sampled and analyzed tree-ring data across a 400-m elevation gradient for the years 1945–2004 for co-occurring Pinus engelmannii and Pinus lumholtzii at Basaseachi National Park, Chihuahua, Mexico. We hypothesized that growth sensitivity to drought would be highest at low elevations, annual basal area increment (BAI) would be lowest at low elevations, and winter precipitation would covary positively with BAI at all elevations....
Turning words into action on climate change

(A) Global average surface temperature; (B) global average sea level; (C) northern hemisphere snow cover. For (A) and (C) the left vertical axis depicts change from mean, while the right vertical a...
Expected Time for Obtaining Dependable Data in Real-Time Environment

In real-time environment, data usually has a lifespan associated with it. The semantics and the importance of the data depend on the time when data is utilized. Hence, the process of getting a consensus data from a group of replicated units must not take longer time than the lifespan of the data. However, in real environments, every unit, faulty or non-faulty, may encounter delays when processing and sending their data which inevitably increases the time of acquiring a consensus. The latency for obtaining a valid data hence depends not only on the time when individual voters make their votes, but also on the accuracy and credibility of the votes. Thus, a new metric, i.e. credibility function, need be taken into account in evaluating expected time and deciding replications. This paper presents analytical solutions for expected time under different voting schemes when dependable data can be obtained. We also show that if not all voters are truthful, adding more replications does not improve much on the time of obtaining valid results.
Equal allocation scheduling for data intensive applications

A new analytical model for equal allocation of divisible computation and communication load is developed. Equal allocation of load is attractive in multiple processor systems when real time information on processor and link capacity that is necessary for optimal scheduling is not available. The model includes a detailed accounting of solution reporting time. Equal allocation scheduling is compared with sequential scheduling and a new type of multi-installment scheduling. Aerospace applications include the processing of satellite imagery, radar, and sensor networks.
Subchondral cysts of the atlantoaxial joint: a risk factor for odontoid fractures in the elderly

Abstract Background context Scholars have postulated that cervical degeneration can predispose the upper cervical spine to injury after minor trauma. Subchondral cysts have previously been recognized as potentiators of fracture in the hip and knee but no cases of cervical degenerative cysts contributing to fracture have been reported. Purpose This report documents a case series in which patients sustained significant injury to the upper cervical spine in the setting of subchondral cervical cysts. Study design/setting Case series/academic level I trauma center. Methods Between 2004 and 2008, six patients (ages 73–91 years) with cervical pathology were admitted to the trauma service at our Level I trauma center. The most common mechanism of injury was a low velocity fall, which occurred in 5 out of 6 patients. All patients suffered an odontoid fracture. In all cases, there was radiographic evidence of cyst formation, and computed tomographic imaging demonstrated fracture communication with the subchondral cyst. Results Of the six cases, four were treated definitively with immobilization in a cervical orthosis and two required surgery. One patient was treated with an occipital-cervical fusion, whereas the other underwent Brooks wiring. All patients ultimately went on to heal their fractures. Conclusions Degenerative changes in the cervical spine have previously been recognized to potentiate injury. This report raises the question of whether degenerative processes at the C1–C2 articulation predispose elderly patients to injury at this level. The presence of cystic degeneration at the atlantoaxial joint should be recognized as a potential risk factor for cervical injury after relatively minor trauma.
Higher formant normalization results from auditory integration of F2 and F3.

Twoexperiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that higher formant normalization results from the auditory integration of F2 and F3 when they are within 3 Bark of each other. In the first experiment, Formants 3-5 were manipulated in both a "hid"-"head" continuum (in which F2 and F3 are within 3 Bark of each other) and a "hood"- "HUD" continuum (in which F2 and F3 are not within 3 Bark of each other). It was found that there was a shift in identification con­ sistent with the higher formant normalization effect only in the "hid"- "head" continuum. In the second experiment, F3 alone was manipulated in a "hood"-"HUD" continuum. The ampli­ tude of F3 in this continuum was increased (as compared with the F3 in the "hood"-"HUD" con­ tinuum used in Experiment 1) and a pretest indicated that the shift in F3 could be detected. As in the first experiment, there was no shift in identification associated with shifting F3 frequency in a back-vowel continuum. The results of these experiments are not consistent with an explana­ tion of higher formant normalization in which hearers adjust an internal vowel space in response to higher formant information; rather, the present findings indicate that higher formant nor­ malization results from auditory integration of F2 and F3. 174 Fujisaki and Kawashima (1968) investigated the role of higher formants in vowel perception and found that shifts in Formants 3-5 can produce boundary shifts in the identification of vowel continua. This effect was greatest in a [u]-[e] continuum and was not so large in a continuum from [0] to [a]. They also found that by using a non­ periodic noise source (with which the higher formants had greater amplitude), the effect of shifting the higher formants in the [o]-[a] continuum was increased. The largest shift of vowel-identification boundaries occurred when both higher formants and FO were manipulated. The shift in vowel identification that was found by Fujisaki and Kawashima (1968) is consistent with the hypothesis that hearers use the higher formants as an in­ dication of the length of a speaker's vocal tract and that hearers then (using this estimate of the speaker's vocal­ tract length) rescale an internal vowel space which is used in the perceptual identification of vowels.' However, not all researchers who have manipulated the higher formants have found the same effect. Slawson (1968), using a scaling method of testing for vowel­ perception change, found that variation in higher formants alone did not result in a shift of vowel perception. He con­ cluded that although higher formants correlate well with vocal-tract length, they are not used by hearers to adjust a perceptual vowel space. Karnickaya, Mushnikov, Slepo­ kurova, and Zhukov (1975) also failed to observe any ef­ fect of shifting F3 and F4 in either an [o]-[a] or an [e]-[a] continuum.
Liquid flow and gas phase mass transfer in wetted-wall towers

New data have been obtained on vaporization of water from rippling and nonrippling films in a countercurrent wetted-wall tower. Other similar data in the literature have been analyzed, and an effect of liquid Reynolds number on gas phase mass transfer has been shown to exist. Discrepancies in much of the literature data can be explained on this basis. The data on vaporization of water from rippling films have been correlated. The data on non-rippling films were correlated when the gas Reynolds number was calculated relative to the water surface.
Nonstationarity in the ‘resting brain's’ modular architecture

Task-free functional magnetic resonance imaging (TF-fMRI) has great potential for advancing the understanding and treatment of neurologic illness. However, as with all measures of neural activity, variability is a hallmark of intrinsic connectivity networks (ICNs) identified by TF-fMRI. This variability has hampered efforts to define a robust metric of connectivity suitable as a biomarker for neurologic illness. We hypothesized that some of this variability rather than representing noise in the measurement process, is related to a fundamental feature of connectivity within ICNs, which is their non-stationary nature. To test this hypothesis, we used a large (n=892) population-based sample of older subjects to construct a well characterized atlas of 68 functional regions, which were categorized based on independent component analysis network of origin, anatomical locations, and a functional meta-analysis. These regions were then used to construct dynamic graphical representations of brain connectivity within a sliding time window for each subject. This allowed us to demonstrate the non-stationary nature of the brain’s modular organization and assign each region to a ‘‘meta-modular’’ group. Using this grouping, we then compared dwell time in strong sub-network configurations of the default mode network (DMN) between 28 subjects with Alzheimer’s dementia and 56 cognitively normal elderly subjects matched 1:2 on age, gender, and education. We found that differences in connectivity we and others have previously observed in Alzheimer’s disease can be explained by differences in dwell time in DMN sub-network configurations, rather than steady state connectivity magnitude. DMN dwell time in specific modular configurations may also underlie the TF-fMRI findings that have been described in mild cognitive impairment and cognitively normal subjects who are at risk for Alzheimer’s dementia.
Fixed frequency resonant converter for high voltage high density applications

A series resonant power converter with nearly zero voltage switching (ZVS) and fixed frequency phase-shift control is described. The circuit's ability to utilize component parasitics is used in a high voltage high density DC-DC converter. The topology has dual slope output characteristics with current limiting property. A computer simulation and prototype measurements are presented. >
Concurrent inhibition of MYC and BCL2 is a potentially effective treatment strategy for double hit and triple hit B-cell lymphomas

Double hit lymphoma or triple hit lymphoma (DHL/THL) is a rare form of aggressive B-Cell Lymphoma. Overexpression of MYC, BCL2 or/and BCL6 due to genomic rearrangements are the key molecular features of DHL/THL. Patients with DHL/THL show very aggressive disease course and poor survival due to the lack of effective treatment modalities. Here, we established new THL cell model and assessed its in vitro growth characteristics along with the DHL cell line in response to potent MYC inhibitors, 10058-F4 and JQ-1, and a BCL2 inhibitor, ABT-199, with or without chemotherapeutic agent vincristine or doxorubicin. We found that 10058-F4, JQ-1 or ABT-199 exposure as a single agent inhibited the growth of DHL/THL cells in a dose-dependent manner. Combined exposure of 10058-F4 or JQ-1 and ABT-199 as well as vincristine or doxorubicin markedly suppressed the growth of DHL/THL cells compared with the single treatment. As assessed by multiple approaches, apoptosis induced by ABT-199, 10058-F4 or JQ-1 was underlying cause of the observed growth suppression. These findings suggest that co-inhibition of MYC and BCL2 signaling is a promising therapeutic strategy for patients with DHL/THL lymphomas.
Surgical Management of Gastroschisis

After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Explain the treatment options for gastroschisis and the basis on which treatment is chosen. 2. Describe the fluid needs of infants who have gastroschisis. 3. Explain methods of protecting the intestine and aiding in fluid and heat retention. 4. Delineate the causes of bowel ischemia at birth in newborns who have gastroschisis. 5. Outline the long-term outcome for infants who have gastroschisis. Babies who have gastroschisis typically are born at 34 to 38 weeks’ gestational age and undergo placement of a silo or primary abdominal closure within the first few hours after birth (Fig. 1). In general, affected infants do not have other life-threatening anomalies, and surgical management may be directed at repair of the intestinal herniation and abdominal wall defect. All affected infants have malrotation because the intestine failed to return to the abdominal cavity and become internally fixed. Approximately 10% have an intestinal atresia. Other anomalies are rare, in contrast to the infants who have omphalocele, in whom 50% have chromosomal with or without anatomic anomalies. Figure 1. Typical infant who has gastroschisis. Note that the defect is to the right of the umbilicus. The timing and method of delivery for infants who have gastroschisis remain somewhat controversial. One of the potential complications of the condition is the development of thickened bowel or a peel that makes safe primary closure difficult if not impossible (Fig. 2). An additional issue is shrinking of the fascial ring through which the bowel herniates during gestation, which can cause compression of the mesenteric vasculature, leading to bowel ischemia and potential loss of intestine. In rare instances, infants may be born with loss of a significant amount of intestine due to infarction from a closing fascial ring (Fig. 3). In an attempt to avoid such complications, some centers advocate serial …
Non-uniqueness of evapotranspiration due to spatial heterogeneity of plant species

Spatially averaged soil moisture dynamics are studied under seasonally fixed conditions. We consider rainfall as a marked Poisson process, uniformly covering a spatial domain consisting of multiple plant types. Each plant type is considered to have different characteristics in terms of evapotranspiration functions, root-zone depth and rainfall interception. Equations for the evolution of joint probability density functions for individual soil moistures associated with different plant types are developed, and the non-uniqueness of the spatially averaged evapotranspiration function as a function of the average soil moisture is demonstrated and quantified in an example.
Descriptive epidemiology of membranous and muscular ventricular septal defects in the Baltimore-Washington Infant Study

Although ventricular septal defect is the most common form of congenital heart disease, its epidemiology is not completely understood. The Baltimore-Washington Infant Study, a case-control study of congenital cardiovascular malformations, enrolled 4,390 case infants during the study period 1981–1989. Ventricular septal defect, the most common malformation, was present in 1,465 (33%) of affected infants. The purpose of this report was to describe the epidemiological characteristics of membranous and muscular ventricular septal defects, the most common types of ventricular septal defects. Membranous ventricular septal defects (n=895) and muscular ventricular septal defects (n=429) accounted for 90% of all ventricular defects. During the study, prevalence increased from 0.9 to 2.1 /1000 live births. Associated non-cardiac defects, such as chromosomal defects, genetic syndromes, and defects of other organs were more common among infants with ventricular septal defect than among control infants, and more common among infants with membranous ventricular defect (20.8%) than among those with muscular defects (7.5%). Infants with ventricular septal defects and non-cardiac defects had increased mortality in comparison to infants with isolated ventricular septal defects or controls. Epidemiological information derived from population-based studies provide valuable data for counseling families and may allow for examination of etiologic factors.
A Higher Order Collective Classifier for detecting and classifying network events

Labeled Data is scarce. Most statistical machine learning techniques rely on the availability of a large labeled corpus for building robust models for prediction and classification. In this paper we present a Higher Order Collective Classifier (HOCC) based on Higher Order Learning, a statistical machine learning technique that leverages latent information present in co-occurrences of items across records. These techniques violate the IID assumption that underlies most statistical machine learning techniques and have in prior work outperformed first order techniques in the presence of very limited data. We present results of applying HOCC to two different network data sets, first for detection and classification of anomalies in a Border Gateway Protocol dataset and second for building models of users from Network File System calls to perform masquerade detection. The precision of our system has been shown to be 30% better than the standard Naive Bayes technique for masquerade detection. These results indicate that HOCC can successfully model a variety of network events and can be applied to solve difficult problems in security using the general framework proposed.
Fluorometric assay of bethanidine in plasma.

Abstract A fluorometric method for determining bethanidine in blood plasma is described. The bethanidine is extracted into chloroform, a drug‐dye complex with eosin Y is formed, and the fluorescence is measured (excitation, 535 nm; fluorescence, 560 nm). The assay detects 0.02 μM bethanidine (4 ng/ml) in plasma. The relative fluorescence of several body constituents and antihypertensive drugs is negligible. The plasma levels of bethanidine in four hypertensive patients receiving this drug were measured.
The Clinical Presentation

Presenting case material to colleagues requires preparation, whether the presentation is to be made casually during bedside rounds or in the formal environment of a national meeting. It is rewarding when a presentation is well received, particularly because it may prove helpful to other clinicians, allied health professionals, and researchers. Regardless of the setting, the presenter’s goal is to share their knowledge based on observations they have made and lessons they have learned from the case or cases. The most time-consuming aspect of the patient-oriented presentation is collecting and organizing as much information as possible about the patients, their families, and others who were involved in the patients’ care. Once these tasks are complete, the presenter must summarize the information and place it within the context of treatment data and consensus approaches. Tailoring the talk to the audience is also of paramount importance. Different groups will invariably come from different disciplines, and the presentation will need to be tailored to accommodate each audience’s background, interests and goals.
The effect of coupled mass transport and internal reforming on modeling of solid oxide fuel cells part I: Channel-level model development and steady-state comparison

Abstract Dynamic modeling and analysis of solid oxide fuel cell systems can provide insight towards meeting transient response application requirements and enabling an expansion of the operating envelope of these high temperature systems. SOFC modeling for system studies are accomplished with channel-level interface charge transfer models, which implement dynamic conservation equations coupled with additional submodels to capture the porous media mass transport and electrochemistry of the cell. Many of these models may contain simplifications in order to decouple the mass transport, fuel reforming, and electrochemical processes enabling the use of a 1-D model. The reforming reactions distort concentration profiles of the species within the anode, where hydrogen concentration at the triple-phase boundary may be higher or lower than that of the channel altering the local Nernst potential and exchange current density. In part one of this paper series, the modeling equations for the 1-D and ’quasi’ 2-D models are presented, and verified against button cell electrochemical and channel-level reforming data. Steady-state channel-level modeling results indicate a ’quasi’ 2-D SOFC model predicts a more uniform temperature distribution where differences in the peak cell temperature and maximum temperature gradient are experienced. The differences are most prominent for counter-flow cell with high levels of internal reforming. The transient modeling comparison is discussed in part two of this paper series.
Low-Flow Forecasting on the Delaware River

A method is described for the design of reservoir releases to augment low flows of Delaware River, which was in the center of intensity of the 1961-1966 drought in the Northeastern United States. Index stream gages, weather forecasts, and anticipated hydroelectric plant operations are used to arrive at adequate reservoir release requirements. Low-flow augmentation to maintain certain basic rates of streamflow was provided for under the terms of a decree of the U. S. Supreme Court. A period of low flow on the Delaware River is expected every year.
Suburbanization, the Spread of Suburban Culture: A Residential Mobility Approach to the Post-WW II Suburban Types in American Metropolis

Traditional accounts often have underestimated complexities involved in suburbanization process by assuming direct, linear causality to explain the suburban patterns of metropolitan development. Yet, an explicit explanation that encompasses the complexities of the multitude of flux of causal relationships and feedbacks and incorporates demographic and morphological variations of contemporary suburban types is still not available. In this paper, I apply a complexity approach to provide an inclusive justification for suburbanization that fits more flexible into most patterns of the post-WW II American suburbs. Taking into account intersections of many weaker factors, this paper approaches suburbanization as an intra-metropolitan residential mobility pattern. Over the course of the second half of the 20th century, residential mobility preferences coupled with land market preferences, technological advancement, and political support to escalate rates of city-to-suburb residential mobility and spread this pattern of mobility.
Our Path to Less Toxic Amphotericins

We launched our research program with the search for small molecule replacements for missing proteins that underlie currently incurable human diseases. This pursuit drew us to amphotericin B, a remarkable natural product that is the archetype for ion-channel-forming small molecules. We quickly realized, however, that there was a second very important reason to study this natural product, as it represents the most powerful, broad-spectrum, and resistance-evasive treatment for invasive fungal infections, which still kill more than 1.5 million people each year – more than malaria or tuberculosis. The problem with amphotericin B is that it is highly toxic to humans, which limits the dose that can be administered. Through an extensive series of synthesis-enabled studies, we came to understand that, in contrast to the long-standing mechanistic model, amphotericin B kills yeast by simply binding ergosterol – channel formation is not required. This allowed us to focus squarely on the actionable problem of selectively binding ergosterol over cholesterol en route to an improved therapeutic index. This journey has yielded new types of amphotericin derivatives that bind ergosterol but not (detectably) cholesterol, and kill yeast but are substantially less toxic than amphotericin B in vitro and in vivo. This advanced mechanistic understanding has also brightened the prospect of developing small molecules that replace missing protein ion channels, thereby operating as prostheses on the molecular scale.
Phrasal Recognition

In this paper, we introduce visual phrases, complex visual composites like "a person riding a horse." Visual phrases often display significantly reduced visual complexity compared to their component objects because the appearance of those objects can change profoundly when they participate in relations. We introduce a dataset suitable for phrasal recognition that uses familiar PASCAL object categories, and demonstrate significant experimental gains resulting from exploiting visual phrases. We show that a visual phrase detector significantly outperforms a baseline which detects component objects and reasons about relations, even though visual phrase training sets tend to be smaller than those for objects. We argue that any multiclass detection system must decode detector outputs to produce final results; this is usually done with nonmaximum suppression. We describe a novel decoding procedure that can account accurately for local context without solving difficult inference problems. We show this decoding procedure outperforms the state of the art. Finally, we show that decoding a combination of phrasal and object detectors produces real improvements in detector results.
Dissemination and Salivary Delivery of Lyme Disease Spirochetes in Vector Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae)

The spirochetal agent of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi , disseminated from the guts of infected Ixodes dammini ticks following host attachment and appeared in saliva before rapid engorgement commenced. In about half of the adult ticks studied, spirochetes disseminated to the hemocoel at 4 days after attachment. Of these, half produced saliva containing spirochetes. Infected nymphs correspondingly produced spirochete-containing saliva at 3 days postattachment, the time at which saliva was first collected. We conclude that contact between spirocheteinfected ticks and a host provides the stimulus that ultimately results in dissemination of infection and delivery via saliva. This salivary route of infection appears to be the route of Lyme disease transmission in nature.