cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biological Pathways of Long-Term Visit-to-Visit Blood Pressure Variability in the American Population: Cardiovascular Health Study and Women's Health Initiatives

Studies reported a positive relationship between visit-to-visit blood pressure variability (VVBPV) and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality independently of the mean arterial blood pressure across clinical visits. The literature is scarce on the genes and biological mechanisms that regulate long-term VVBPV. We sought to identify biological pathways that regulate visit-to-visit blood pressure variability. We used phenotypic and genotype data from the Women’s Health Initiatives and Cardiovascular Health Studies. We defined VVBPV of systolic and diastolic blood pressure phenotypes as the standard deviation about the participant’s regression line with systolic and diastolic blood pressure regressed separately across visits. We imputed missing genotypes and then conducted a genome-wide association analysis to identify genomic variants related to the VVBPV and detect biological pathways. For systolic VVBPV, we identified a neurological pathway, the GABAergic pathway ( values = 1.1E − 2), and a vascular pathway, the RAP1 signaling pathway ( values = 5.8E − 2). For diastolic VVBPV, the hippo signaling ( values = 4.1E − 2), CDO myogenesis ( values = 7.0E − 2), and O-glycosylation of TSR domain-containing protein pathways ( values = 9.0E − 2) were the significant pathways. Future studies are warranted to validate these results. Further understanding of the roles of the genes regulating the identified pathways will help researchers to improve future pharmacological interventions to treat VVBPV in clinical practice.
Framing the Question of the Admissibility of Expert Testimony about Recollections of Trauma in the United States

To understand the rules of any legal system it is necessary to understand the constructs that underlie that system. Similarly worded rules may have vastly different consequences in different legal systems based on unspoken values and assumptions that underlie the operation of the legal system. This is nowhere more apparent than in seeking to understand the American legal system. The American legal system is built on a common law system inherited from England, informed by a revolutionary, rugged individualistic heritage of distrusting authority. This heritage is reflected in the U.S. Constitution which does not give citizens the right to receive anything from the government but rather grants them the right to protection from the government. This same heritage of distrust of authority is reflected in contemporary American political debates, for example those involving governmental assurances of health care for all citizens, in which the rejection of universal health care (unique among western democracies), is tied, in part, to the assumption that the government cannot be trusted to get it right.
Historically Black Colleges and Universities Supporting Veterans and Servicemembers: Insights From the Past in Preparation for the Future

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have a history of providing a welcoming space for veterans and is important for HBCUs to continue fostering an affirming educational space for this special student population. This article focuses on current veteran-friendly practices within HBCUs. Specifically, we provide an overview of the historical footprint of HBCUs and military education. In addition, we illuminate six HBCUs that are distinguished within the 2020-2021 Military Friendly listing. We conclude this article with future considerations for HBCUs as they continue to enrich their campuses to affirm veterans, servicemembers, and their families.
Emulation of an Isolated Induction Generator Under Unbalanced Conditions

The induction generator is an essential element of many renewable energy systems, such as wind power plants. The advantages of using induction machines (IMs) compared to other types of machines are well-known and discussed extensively in the literature. In isolated power systems, the self-excited induction generator (SEIG) is commonly used to feed power in remote areas. In this paper, a power electronic converter based SEIG emulator is developed using dSPACE to investigate the SEIG operation under unbalanced conditions. The induction generator (IG) model considering the saturation effect and variable stator/rotor leakage split ratio is established, and used in the SEIG emulator. The SEIG system under unbalanced condition is then simulated based on Matlab/Simulink. Furthermore, experimental results based on a real SEIG are presented to verify the developed machine emulator.
Speeding-up Simulation of Multiphase Flow in Digital Images of Heterogeneous Porous Media by Curvelet Transformation

Multiphase fluid flow in porous media is important to a wide variety of processes of fundamental scientific and practical importance. Developing a model for the pore space of porous media represents the first step for simulating such flows. With rapid increase in the computation power and advances in instrumentation and imaging processes, it has become feasible to carry out simulation of multiphase flow in two- and three-dimensional images of porous media, hence dispensing with development of models of pore space that are based on approximating their morphology. Image-based simulations are, however, very time consuming. We describe an approach for speeding-up image-based simulation of multiphase flow in porous media based on curvelet transformations, which are specifically designed for processing of images that contain complex curved surfaces. Most porous media contain correlations in their morphology and, therefore, their images carry redundant information that, in the curvelet transform space, can be removed efficiently and accurately in order to obtain a coarser image with which the computations are far less intensive. We utilize the methodology to simulate two-phase flow of oil and water in two-dimensional digital images of sandstone and carbonate samples, and demonstrate that while the results with the curvelet-processed images are as accurate as those with the original ones, the computations are speeded up by a factor of 110–150. Thus, the methodology opens the way toward achieving the ultimate goal of simulation of multiphase flow in porous media, namely, making image-based computations a standard practice.
Paget ‘s Disease: Not So Typical for Atypical Femur Fracture

Introduction: Atypical femur fractures (AFF) are reported in patients taking prolonged bisphosphonate therapy, but Paget’s disease (PD) has been rarely reported as a cause of AFF. Case: 71-year-old female with past medical history of right hip osteoarthritis, seizure disorder, hypertension, and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis presented with persistent right hip pain. There was no history of trauma or fall. She had otosclerosis with bilateral hearing loss and bilateral stapedectomies. Her medications were primidone, levothyroxine, lisinopril-hydrochlorothiazide, and vitamin D. She did not smoke tobacco or drink alcohol. She had elevated serum alkaline phosphatase of 300 U/L (35–104). The X-ray of the skull was negative for any cortical thickening. CT of right femur revealed cortical thickening and coarsening of trabeculae of the proximal right femur consistent with PD and incomplete atypical subtrochanteric proximal fracture. Urine NTx 303 BCE/mM Cr (<89). Bone scan showed uptake in the R proximal femur, L distal tibia, and L3-L4 vertebral bodies suspicious of PD. DXA showed osteopenia. She was given zoledronic acid 5 mg IV. Discussion: PD leads to an increased incidence of fractures particularly of the lower extremities with most fractures transverse in nature. Non-union is not uncommon1. Stress fractures in PD are caused by disorganized bone remodeling due to excessive breakdown and formation of bone. Our patient met the major criteria for AFF as per the ASBMR 2010 task force report but there was no exposure to bisphosphonates2. The ASBMR task force recommended that bisphosphonates should be discontinued in patients with bisphosphonate-associated AFF due to their severely suppressed bone turnover status. On the other hand, the AFF in patients with PD may heal in response to bisphosphonate treatment. References: 1. Singer FR. Bone Quality in Paget’s Disease of Bone. Curr Osteoporos Rep. 2016;14(2):39–42. DOI:10.1007/s11914-016-0303-62. Shane E, Burr D, Ebeling PR, Abrahamsen B, Adler RA et.al. Atypical subtrochanteric and diaphyseal femoral fractures: report of a task force of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research. J Bone Miner Res. 2010; 25:2267–2294.
Newspapers and political participation: The relationship between ballot rolloff and local newspaper circulation:

Although declining newspaper circulation has important political consequences, less is known about how this decline affects local elections. We address this gap, pairing evidence of legislative bal...
Experimental Tests and Interpretations of the X(2900)

Abstract We examine whether the LHCb vector u d c ¯ s ¯ state X(2900) can be interpreted as a kinematical cusp effect arising from D ¯ ⁎ K ⁎ and D ¯ 1 K interactions. The production amplitude is modelled as a triangle diagram with hadronic final state interactions. A satisfactory fit to the Dalitz plot projection is obtained that leverages the singularities of the triangle diagram without the need for D ¯ K resonances. A somewhat better fit is obtained if the final state interactions are strong enough to generate resonances, although the evidence in favour of this scenario is not conclusive. We also make predictions for the production and decays of X(2900) states, and their possible charged partners, in B+ and B0 decays, considering a number of competing models for the states, including triangle diagrams mediated by quark exchange or pion exchange, and resonance scenarios including molecules and tetraquarks. Assuming only isospin symmetry and the dominance of colour-favoured weak decays, we find characteristic differences in the predictions of the different models. Future experimental studies can therefore discriminate among the competing interpretations for the states.
The Mission of Catholic High Schools and Today’s Millennials: Three Suggestions

A new generation of American Catholics, called the millennial generation, has emerged. This article examines how millennials think about their world, their Church, and their schools; discusses how and why their thinking will change as they mature; and offers research-based suggestions on how best to present the Catholic tradition to them.
Book Review: Caring Liturgies: The Pastoral Power of Christian Ritual

Caring Liturgies: The Pastoral Power of Christian Ritual. By Susan Marie Smith. Minneapolis, Minn.: Fortress Press, 2012. viii + 152 pp. $18.00 (paper).How does one bring the theological and liturgical resources of the church into situations of transition, celebration, and loss that are not clearly described in official denominational worship resources? This is the question that Susan Marie Smith addresses in Caring Liturgies: The Pastoral Power of Christian Ritual. Smith offers principles drawn from the fields of ritual studies and liturgical theology that will give lay people and clergy the confidence to create "rites of transition and healing that may be one-time events particular to a person, a congregation, or a situation" (p. 2).Smith begins by observing that ritual has often been construed as compulsive or manipulative at worst and arid at best. This ritual myopia has led to lost opportunities for pastoral care due to a lack of confidence and imagination on the part of lay and clergy leadership. Smith urges readers to "practice ritual resourcefulness, but only with ritual competence," which requires "the ability to know when and how to ask for, plan, lead, or support rituals that mediate healing, transition, and life" (p. 17).As a counterpoint to common misunderstandings of ritual, Smith argues that ritual can be creative and generative, and that the church needs to reclaim its role in encouraging new rites for specific occasions that are essential to the "process of conversion in faith and growth in Christ" (p. 14). Caring Liturgies draws upon scholarship within the discipline of ritual studies, particularly using the work of Catherine Bell and Ronald Grimes, to describe how to create rites that speak to situations in which an appropriate liturgical response is unclear. The book progresses from defining and describing the nature of a creative rite (chapter 1), to suggesting who should take part in shaping and executing them (chapter 2). Chapters 3, 4, and 5 describe how to create actual rites, and chapter 6 concludes with the bigger picture of why creative rites are important, grounding them in the paschal mystery of Christ as "the lens through which to look at the focal persons life" (p. 124).A particularly helpful insight is Smiths proposal that creative rites be shaped around one central, "defining metaphor" (p. 74). Smith employs a Ricoeurean understanding of metaphor and symbol to make the distinction that metaphors are a product of language, while symbols are expressed through "things, people, and actions" (p. …
Human chromosome 6- and 11-encoded factors support human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Rev function in A9 cells

The precise mechanism of Rev-mediated expression of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) late genes is not well characterized. We recently proposed a requirement for HIV-1 Rev responsive element (RRE) RNA binding host nuclear proteins in Rev function. In this report, using a transient transfection assay of Rev function, we further demonstrate the role of host cell factors in HIV-1 Rev function. Murine A9 cells, which are inefficient in forming RRE-host protein ribonucleoprotein complexes, are also inefficient in supporting Rev function. We also show that host cell factor(s) encoded by human chromosomes 6 and 11 can support HIV-1 Rev-mediated expression of unspliced viral mRNAs in murine A9 cells.
AEROBIC RESPIRATORY METABOLISM OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS FROM AN INFECTED ANIMAL

Gellenbeck, S. Mercy (Catholic University, Washington, D. C.). Aerobic respiratory metabolism of Staphylococcus aureus from an infected animal. J. Bacteriol. 83:450-455. 1962.-The separation of Staphylococcus aureus from the tissue fluids of an infected guinea pig has allowed a comparison of cells (GPR) separated in this manner with the same strain (PR847) grown on an artificial medium. In general, the respiratory response of organisms separated from tissue fluid was higher than that of staphylococci grown in vitro, though endogenous respiration of the in vitro strain consistently averaged 50% higher than the GPR cells. The guinea pig serum, defined medium, Trypticase soy broth, and the guinea pig filtrate were the complex substrates, listed in order of the least to the most stimulatory. Omission of nicotinamide and thiamine from the defined medium resulted in a decrease of oxygen consumption for the PR847 strain, but not for the GPR cells; however, when several amino acids were eliminated from the defined medium, the oxygen uptake of the GPR cells was depressed more than that of the staphylococci grown in vitro. In glucose alone, the organisms separated from the tissue fluid respired over 30% more effectively than the in vitro staphylococci. The filtrate, whether whole or boiled, provided a substrate in which organisms from both sources approximately doubled their oxygen uptake over that of either whole or boiled serum. Soluble components of the 50% ammonium sulfate fractionation of the filtrate stimulated GPR and PR847 cells more than did the 100% ammonium sulfate fraction under the conditions employed.
Predicting the development of brain metastases in patients with local/regional melanoma.

Background The brain is a common site of recurrence in melanoma patients. Brain recurrence may present as a seizure, hemorrhage, or death. We sought to determine predictors of brain metastases in patients with primary and regional melanoma in order to facilitate targeted screening. Methods Prospectively maintained databases were used to identify patients treated for local or regional melanoma who developed stage IV melanoma with and without brain metastasis at initial recurrence. One hundred twenty patients were identified with brain relapse and compared to 487 patients without brain recurrence. Results On univariate analysis, patients with brain metastases were younger (55 vs. 59yrs, P = 0.04) but did not differ in primary site (head and neck 23% vs. 21%, P = 0.20). Brain metastasis patients had thinner primaries (mean 3.4 vs. 4.5 mm, P = 0.01). There were no other pathologic differences including ulceration (55% vs. 53%, P = 0.75), mitoses (7 vs.7.5, P = 0.61) or histologic subtype. Younger age and decreased Breslow thickness were independently associated with brain metastases at stage IV recurrence (OR = 1.10 P = 0.01 and OR = 1.02 P = 0.02, respectively). Conclusions Our analysis, the largest to date, demonstrates that thinner Breslow depth and younger age were associated with brain recurrence at first presentation with Stage IV disease. J. Surg. Oncol. 2014 109:770–774. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Temperature dependent resistance of exchange biased spin valves with extremely thin IrMn

Summary form only given. The properties of IrMn spin valves with IrMn layer thicknesses ranging from 4 /spl Aring/ to 28 /spl Aring/ are explored at temperatures to 5 K. In particular, the temperature dependence of the resistance is investigated. The structure of the spin valves is: Si/50 /spl Aring/ Ti/40 /spl Aring/ NiFe/8 /spl Aring/ Co/30 /spl Aring/ Cu/30 /spl Aring/ Co/t/sub IrMn//50 /spl Aring/ Ti. The low temperature GMR is not greatly affected by the thickness of the IrMn. The thinner the IrMn, the lower the temperature at which the GMR is adversely affected. This is consistent with a reduction in the blocking temperature. A number of interesting features in the coercivity and field training are IrMn thickness dependent. The exchange field, coercive field, GMR and resistance each show characteristic temperatures. All of these and the blocking temperature depend on t/sub IrMn/. Because the temperature dependence of the magnetic fields in these samples is so complicated we examine the directly measured resistance as a function of temperature.
Endangered Subjects: The First-person Narrator in Sylvia Plath's Hospital Poems "Waking in Winter," "Tulips," and "Three Women"

Sylvia Plath's departure in her poems' subject matter from what she called "the old lyric sentimental stuff" is nowhere more obvious than in her hospital poems (J293). In "Waking in Winter" (1960), "Tulips" (1961), and "Three Women" (1962) in particular, the confluence of self and environment, or self and nature, is reflected as a crisis of subjecthood. The poems demonstrate an uncanny consequence of an encounter with what Ralph Waldo Emerson phrased as "the currents of Universal Being" that "circulate" through the beholder's "transparent eye-ball" ("Nature" 10). When, for Emerson, "the individual feels himself invaded" by "an influx," the oracular, perceiving self becomes part of an integrating dynamic of "joyful perception" between the self and the world ("The Over-Soul" 392). Plath's early Ariel poems and her hospital poems in particular explore this romantic ambition. In the three poems I will discuss, it is in moments of attempted integration with the subject's surroundings that Plath's narrators feel "...the inexorable reality of the outer world," a phrase in the introduction to her copy of The Basic Writings of Sigmund Freud 1 which Plath underlined with an asterisk in the margin (Freud 12). This dynamic, I believe, shares with Emerson an ambition for the possibilities of "metamorphosis" ("The Poet" 456). It is a word which occurs repeatedly in Emerson's essay, "The Poet." But in Plath's modern 1950s world, the transformative powers of Emerson's poet are menaced and fragmented as they undergo transformations, or, more literally, morph according to their physical encounters with the world. The speaker in "Tulips" (titled "Sickroom Tulips" in a first draft 2 ) notes, "They have propped my head between the pillow and the sheet-cuff/Like an eye between two white lids that will not shut./Stupid pupil, it has to take everything in." (CP160). The Emersonian promise of a
An extreme value approach to information technology security investment

Information technology security investment is receiving increasing attention in recent years. Various methods have been proposed to determine the effective level of security investment. In this paper, we introduce an extreme value approach to address the issues of effective budgeting and investing in IT security. In our model, the security status of a system depends on two factors: system security level, which is measured by the level of security investment, and system attack level, which reflects the security risk with which the system is confronted. Security investment level is endogenous to the system, while attack level is exogenous. Extreme value analysis is used to characterize the stochastic behavior of high-level attacks based on the historical data and to make inferences on future attacks. Based on these inferences, we determine the effective security solutions and the level of security investment to modulate the likelihood of system failure. For illustration purposes, we use an extreme value approach to analyze a set of traffic data collected from a regional bank.
What makes game players want to play more? a mathematical and behavioral understanding of online game design

The online game industry is a rapidly growing Internet-based business that has become very competitive in recent years. Game vendors have the option of designing online games in such a manner that they can match players against other players. Therefore, the interesting question is to identify conditions in these human-computer-human interactions that can motivate players to be engrossed and play more games and for longer periods of time. We approach this issue using a novel combination of mathematically based Tournament Theory and behaviorally oriented Flow theory to propose that when players' skills are equally matched, the challenge intensity of the game is moderate and players will play more games and for long. We also propose that individual traits such as performance goal orientation will moderate these effects. We test our ideas with a laboratory research design. Our preliminary findings provide support for our ideas.
Professionalizing the american states in the 1990s

This article reviews state executive branch efforts to professionalize in the 1990s. The states’ political, fiscal, and managerial capabilities are assessed by examining recent changes in governors’ offices, executive branch reorganizations, and management and productivity initiatives. The focus is on the process used to better prepare the states to respond to change, the multi-agency issues under reform, and the relative lack of integration of state agency reform with local government change. The analysis is based on research conducted by the author in 1991.
Adenovirus‐mediated gene therapy of experimental gliomas

The efficacy of adenovirus (ADV)-mediated gene therapy to treat brain tumors was tested in a syngeneic glioma model. Tumor cells were transduced in situ with a replication-defective ADV carrying the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-tk) gene controlled by the Rous sarcoma virus promoter. Expression of the HSV-tk gene enables the transduced cell to convert the drug ganciclovir to a form that is cytotoxic to dividing cells. Tumors were generated in Fischer 344 rats by stereotaxic implantation of 9L gliosarcoma cells into the caudate nucleus. Eight days later, the tumors were injected either with the ADV carrying the HSV-tk (ADV-tk) gene or a control ADV vector containing the β-galactosidase (ADV-βgal) gene and the rats were treated with either ganciclovir or saline. Tumor size was measured 20 days after implantation of 9L cells or at death. Rats treated with ADV-βgal and ganciclovir or with ADV-tk and saline had large tumors. No tumors were detected in animals treated with ADV-tk and with ganciclovir at doses ≥80mg/kg. An infiltrate of macrophages and lymphocytes at the injection site in animals treated with ADV-tk and ganciclovir indicated an active local immune reaction. In survival studies, all animals treated with ADV-tk and ganciclovir have remained alive longer than 80 and up to 120 days after tumor induction whereas all untreated animals died by 22 days. These results demonstrate that ADV-mediated transfer of HSV-tk to glioma cells in vivo confers sensitivity to ganciclovir, and represents a potential method of treatment of brain tumors. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
EFFECTS OF A MEMORY AND AGING WORKSHOP ON NEGATIVE BELIEFS OF MEMORY LOSS IN THE ELDERLY

Two studies investigated elderly (mean age = 76.2, 69.8 years) and young (mean age = 23.8 years) adults’ self‐perceptions and beliefs regarding the effects of aging on memory. In the first experiment, the Metamemory in Adulthood Questionnaire (MIA; Dixon & Hultsch, 1983) was used to measure elderly subjects’ awareness of memory processes before and after a 2‐day, interactive memory workshop. The second experiment measured the effectiveness of a similar workshop by comparing the pre‐ and postworkshop scores of elderly and young workshop participants and nonparticipants on the MIA and a set of fact/fiction statements. The Nelson‐Denny Vocabulary Test (ND; Nelson & Denny, 1973) and California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT; Delis, Kramer, Kaplan, & Ober, 1987) measured verbal ability, ensuring that differences in pre‐ and postworkshop scores resulted from the workshop manipulation. In both studies, elderly workshop participants improved on the locus subscale of the MIA (i.e., reattribution of control of memory p...
Economic reform of China: Cause and effects

Despite the early success in mobilizing the people after seizing power in 1949, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) soon faced difficult bottlenecks. After the disastrous Great Leap Forward, compound...
Induction of Type I Interferon Signaling Determines the Relative Pathogenicity of Staphylococcus Aureus Strains

The tremendous success of S. aureus as a human pathogen has been explained primarily by its array of virulence factors that enable the organism to evade host immunity. Perhaps equally important, but less well understood, is the importance of the intensity of the host response in determining the extent of pathology induced by S. aureus infection, particularly in the pathogenesis of pneumonia. We compared the pathogenesis of infection caused by two phylogenetically and epidemiologically distinct strains of S. aureus whose behavior in humans has been well characterized. Induction of the type I IFN cascade by strain 502A, due to a NOD2-IRF5 pathway, was the major factor in causing severe pneumonia and death in a murine model of pneumonia and was associated with autolysis and release of peptidogylcan. In contrast to USA300, 502A was readily eliminated from epithelial surfaces in vitro. Nonetheless, 502A caused significantly increased tissue damage due to the organisms that were able to invade systemically and trigger type I IFN responses, and this was ameliorated in Ifnar-/- mice. The success of USA300 to cause invasive infection appears to depend upon its resistance to eradication from epithelial surfaces, but not production of specific toxins. Our studies illustrate the important and highly variable role of type I IFN signaling within a species and suggest that targeted immunomodulation of specific innate immune signaling cascades may be useful to prevent the excessive morbidity associated with S. aureus pneumonia.
Fabrication of CZTS-based thin film solar cells using all-solution processing and pulsed light crystallization

Solar cells can be produced using thin film based photovoltaic materials; these are highly efficient with respect to their optical properties and manufacturing cost. The prospective thin film solar cells are composed of Copper, Zinc, Tin, and Sulfide, or ‘CZTS’, this contains chemicals, which are both earth-abundant and non-toxic. The all-solution based process is investigated which is on a single-step electro-chemistry deposition that provides all constituents from the same electrolyte. This investigation was successful in our research group with a high degree of success and a photo-thermal energy driven sintering process that forms a CZTS material from the as-deposited chemicals was added. This enables the as-deposited chemicals to be covalently bonded and crystallized without using a costly vacuum process. In post-heat treatment, a homemade intense pulsed lighting (IPL) system was utilized for rapid thermal annealing. The successful deposition of the CZTS thin film was then evaluated and analyzed using cyclic voltammetry (CV), SEM/EDAX, and XRD. It has been concluded that photovoltaic thin film fabrication is truly comparable to the conventional deposition and annealing methods in terms of photovoltaic efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Determinants of maternal behaviour towards 3-year-old siblings

The marked differences between siblings brought up together within the same family have been attributed to differential maternal treatment of the children. In a study of 44 sibling pairs from the Colorado Adoption Project, mothers' behaviour towards each of two siblings was videotaped in their home at 36 months of age. Mothers were found to be consistent in affectionate, verbal and controlling behaviour to the siblings, but there was no stability in mothers' verbal or controlling behaviour to the same child between 24 and 36 months. The relative consistency of the mothers towards their two children was related to maternal personality factors, child temperament, and the biological or adoptive status of the siblings. The importance of a child's developmental stage as an influence on maternal behaviour is discussed in relation to the development of differences between the siblings.
Tensor Analysis of Multielectrode-Tube Circuits

The method of tensors, as applied to the analysis of electrical systems, has gained favor because of its versatility. The most common application of the method in electrical engineering is the analysis of the dynamics of rotating machinery, but a further application is presented in this paper. The attack includes flexible analyses of the characteristics of triodes, tetrodes, and pentodes, and their use as amplifiers, oscillators, and modulators.
Hydrothermal plumes along the East Pacific Rise, 8°40′ to 11°50′N: Particle distribution and composition

The discovery of a volcanic eruption at the 9°45.52′N site on the East Pacific Rise (EPR) led us to investigate how the composition of suspended matter in hydrothermal plumes may be used to provide a better understanding of the relative age and vent fluid characteristics of a ridge crest system during surface ship surveys. During the TROUGHS (Tropical Ridge Observations of Underwater Geochemical Hydrothermal Signals) expedition we collected hydrothermal plume particles along a 350 km section, extending from approximately 8°40′N to 11°50′N, of the EPR north and south of the Clipperton Transform Fault. Over the segment south of the Clipperton Transform Fault, the SFe ratio in the particles ranged from about 0.9 to 10, with the highest values immediately over the new vent field at the 9°45.52′N site. These enrichments exactly coincide with the elevated 3He/heat and CH4Mn ratios in the plumes over the same vent field. The S-rich particles are primarily organic and may be related to the ‘bacteria blizzard’ associated with the eruption. In addition, very high CuFe and ZnFe ratios were observed in the hydrothermal plumes south of the Clipperton Transform Fault. These high ratios are indicative of the predominance of high-temperature, H2S-rich vents between 9°35′N and 9°50′N. In contrast, the samples from the segment north of Clipperton Transform Fault had SFe ratios which ranged from 0.04 to 0.82, typical of mature, Fe-rich hydrothermal plumes. These results suggest that the gas-rich vent fluids at the 9°45.52′N site produced the sulfur-enriched particles in the water column. Gas-rich plumes and sulfur-enriched plume particles were also observed underneath the 1986 Megaplume on the Juan de Fuca Ridge (JdFR), suggesting a similar mode of formation. North of the Clipperton Transform Fault, the hydrothermal particles are dominated by Fe-rich oxyhydroxide particles, characteristic of mature high-temperature vent fields. The plume maximum is centered at 11°08′N. The Fe oxyhydroxide particles scavenge Ca, Si, P, V, Cr and As from seawater. For P and V the mean element/Fe ratios in the EPR hydrothermal particles are intermediate between JdFR and TAG hydrothermal systems. For As the mean element/Fe ratios of all three systems are about the same. New evidence for Si scavenging by hydrothermal Fe oxyhydroxide particles indicates that this sink for dissolved Si in the oceans is small.
Sociodemographic Groups at Risk: Race/Ethnicity

Typically, when the term “health disparity” is used, disparities in health related to or associated with race and/or ethnicity are what is meant. Disparities related to race and ethnicity are indeed the topic of this discussion, but there are many other types of health disparities that are often tightly linked to race/ethnic disparities, such as those related to sex, socioeconomic status, and region (such as the Stroke Belt), that should not be overlooked. Why do health disparities in race/ethnic minority groups occur? There are many potential explanations, including genetic factors and common environmental exposures. There are also likely many potential important cultural differences in perceptions of health and the healthcare system that shape the behavior of inhabitants of their culture, including but not limited to social support structure, mistrust/varying expectations of the medical system, dietary differences, physical activity norms, medical compliance, fear and/or denial, and fatalism. There are many “access to care” issues for race/ethnic minorities that could potentially interfere with health, such as poverty, health literacy and numeracy, language barriers, access to transportation, and child care. Finally, the intrinsic structure of the healthcare system lends itself to health disparities. Previously, it has been shown that the majority of care for race/ethnic minorities is provided by very few providers, who are then overwhelmed and unable to provide the highest quality of care.1 Also, medical professional stereotyping or discrimination and cultural biases are likely prevalent in some areas. Overall, the Institute of Medicine report regarding racial disparity in 2003 showed that even when access to care issues were controlled for, the overall quality of care was poorer for race/ethnic minorities.2 A thorough review of all racial disparities in stroke is not possible within the focus of this short review. Therefore, this review will focus mostly on racial disparities regarding …
Fabrication of bead-size sorting chip for chemical array sensor

Combinations of micromachined platforms and chemically sensitive micro-beads have been demonstrated for use as multi-analyte chemical and biological agent detectors. Two critical requirements for bead-based chemical detection platforms are bead retention and assembly. Separate “cover layers” have been used in the past for retention, but this constrains fluid flow through the device, and may require the use of precision spacers. In addition, since chemical sensing molecules within the beads can be quite sensitive exposure to high temperatures or harsh chemicals used in micromachining must be avoided after beads are placed in the platform. Here we present a new device whose fabrication is completed before placing the beads, and that provides both bead confinement and a means for self-assembly of arrays. Simple micromachined flexible “fingers” are used for all functions. The micromachined fingers are designed to bend out of the way as a bead is placed into a micromachined storage well, but then snap back after the bead is fully inserted into the well. We have also demonstrated that by designing different sized openings over each well it is possible to construct self-assembling bead arrays.
rethinking resistance: dialogics of “disaffection” in colonial Fiji

In a colonial society of indigenous Fijian Pacific islanders, colonizing British, and indentured South Asian “coolies,” the terms “loyalty” and “disaffection” were a crucial locus of debate. This article examines important moments of dialogue in Fiji's colonial history, not to reveal the unified logic of an enduring British hegemony, nor to find the agency of the colonized in “resistance,” but to discover the relations of domination actually made and contested. Contests for power in postcolonial Fiji continue a dialogue about chiefship and custom, labor and profit, citizenship, and, above all, loyalty and disaffection, [colonialism, dialogics, Fiji Islands, hegemony, resistance, Overseas Indians]
Modeling the impacts of farming practices on water quality in the Little Miami River Basin.

Since intensive farming practices are essential to produce enough food for the increasing population, farmers have been using more inorganic fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. Agricultural lands are currently one of the major sources of non-point source pollution. However, by changing farming practices in terms of tillage and crop rotation, the levels of contamination can be reduced and the quality of soil and water resources can be improved. Thus, there is a need to investigate the amalgamated hydrologic effects when various tillage and crop rotation practices are operated in tandem. In this study, the Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was utilized to evaluate the individual and combined impacts of various farming practices on flow, sediment, ammonia, and total phosphorus loads in the Little Miami River basin. The model was calibrated and validated using the 1990–1994 and 1980–1984 data sets, respectively. The simulated results revealed that the SWAT model provided a good simulation performance. For those tested farming scenarios, no-tillage (NT) offered more environmental benefits than moldboard plowing (MP). Flow, sediment, ammonia, and total phosphorus under NT were lower than those under MP. In terms of crop rotation, continuous soybean and corn–soybean rotation were able to reduce sediment, ammonia, and total phosphorus loads. When the combined effects of tillage and crop rotation were examined, it was found that NT with continuous soybean or corn–soybean rotation could greatly restrain the loss of sediments and nutrients to receiving waters. Since corn–soybean rotation provides higher economic revenue, a combination of NT and corn–soybean rotation can be a viable system for successful farming.
On and off the horse: Mechanisms and patterns of injury in mounted and unmounted equestrians

A B S T R A C T Introduction: The purpose of this study is to determine whether discrepant patterns of horse-related trauma exist in mounted vs. unmounted equestrians from a single Level I trauma center to guide awareness of injury prevention. Methods: Retrospective data were collected from the University of Kentucky Trauma Registry for patients admitted with horse-related injuries between January 2003 and December 2007 (n = 284). Injuries incurred while mounted were compared with those incurred while unmounted. Results: Of 284 patients, 145 (51%) subjects were male with an average age of 37.2 years (S.D. 17.2). Most injuries occurred due to falling off while riding (54%) or kick (22%), resulting in extremity fracture (33%) and head injury (27%). Mounted equestrians more commonly incurred injury to the chest and lower extremity while unmounted equestrians incurred injury to the face and abdomen. Head trauma frequency was equal between mounted and unmounted equestrians. There were 3 deaths, 2 of which were due to severe head injury from a kick. Helmet use was confirmed in only 12 cases (6%). Conclusion: This evaluation of trauma in mounted vs. unmounted equestrians indicates different patterns of injury, contributing to the growing body of literature in this field. We find interaction with horses to be dangerous to both mounted and unmounted equestrians. Intervention with increased safety equipment practice should include helmet usage while on and off the horse.
The Institute of Medicine, the Food and Drug Administration, and the calcium conundrum.

In the present article we aim to bring forward the apparent disconnect between two US government-sponsored entities – the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – regarding the safe upper limit of Ca intake. In light of the 2011 US Congress-appointed IOM report indicating an upper limit of elemental Ca intake of 2000–2500 mg/d in adults (based on age group), it is perplexing that the FDA has not yet required a change on the labelling of over-the-counter Ca-containing antacids, some of which indicate an upper limit of elemental Ca intake of 2800–3000 mg/d. Even more concerning is that Ca intake is rarely from supplementation in isolation. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 2003–2006 indicate that mean dietary Ca intakes for males ranged from 871 to 1266 mg/d and for females from 748 to 968 mg/d depending on the age group. The estimated total Ca (diet + supplements) intake exceeded the upper limit in 5 % of the population older than 50 years. Furthermore, NHANES data from 1999–2000 indicate that when Ca is taken as part of an antacid preparation, patients often fail to report this as Ca intake. Thus, individuals taking the maximum allowable dose of supplemental Ca as antacids are at high risk for complications associated with excess Ca intake. Our hope is that by describing Ca homeostasis and highlighting the risks and dangers of Ca overload, the FDA will align its recommendation with the IOM and solve the current Ca conundrum in the USA for the sake of patient safety.
A survey of vessel dimensions in stems of tropical lianas and other growth forms

Vessel dimensions (total diameter and length) were determined in tropical and subtropical plants of different growth forms with an emphasis upon lianas (woody vines). The paint infusion and compressed air methods were used on 38 species from 26 genera and 16 families in the most extensive survey of vessel length made to date. Within most stems there was a skewed frequency distribution of vessel lengths and diameter, with many short and narrow vessels and few long and wide ones. The longest vessel found (7.73 m) was in a stem of the liana (woody vine) Pithecoctenium crucigerum. Mean vessel length for 33 species of lianas was 0.38 m, average maximum length was 1.45 m. There was a statistically significant inter-species correlation between maximum vessel length and maximum vessel diameter. Among liana stems and among tree+shrub stems there were statistically significant correlations between stem xylem diameter and vessel dimensions. Lianas with different adaptations for climbing (tendril climbers, twiners, scramblers) were similar in their vessel dimensions except that scramblers tended to have shorter (but not narrower) vessels. Within one genus, Bauhinia, tendril climbing species had greater maximum vessel lengths and diameters than tree and shrub species. The few long and wide vessels of lianas are thought to hydraulically compensate for their narrow stem diameters. The many narrow and short vessels, which are present in the same liana stems, may provide a high resistance auxiliary transport system.
Current Reference Pre-Charging Techniques for Low-Power Zero-Crossing Pipeline-SAR ADCs

Current pre-charging techniques are introduced to generate the reference in MDACs of pipeline ADCs. They are specifically applied to zero-crossing-based (ZCB) pipeline-SAR ADCs in this paper. The proposed reference pre-charge technique relaxes power and area requirements for reference voltage generation and distribution in ZCB Pipeline ADCs, by eliminating power-hungry low-impedance reference voltage buffers. Dynamic reference loading (DRL), a variant of current reference pre-charging, is further proposed to reduce the loading due to the reference capacitors leading to improvements in the ADC noise performance. A proof-of-principle reference pre-charged DRL ZCB Pipelined-SAR ADC, implemented in 65 nm CMOS, shows an SFDR/SNR/SNDR of 77 dB/70 dB/66 dB at 25 MHz, while consuming 4.8 mW at 50 MS/s for an FOM of 57 fJ/step. The ADC does not require any additional power and/or area for reference voltage generation and distribution.
Amplification of major histocompatibility complex class II gene diversity by intraexonic recombination

Abstract The roles of mutational and recombinational processes in the diversification of the exon encoding the antigen binding site in the murine major histocompatibility complex class II gene Ab were assessed by phylogenetic analysis of allelic nucleotide sequences. A total of 46 alleles of Ab exon 2 from 12 Mus species or subspecies and 2 Rattus species were sequenced after amplification by the polymerase chain reaction. Reliable allelic genealogies could not be determined by phylogenetic analyses, due to extensive homoplasy in the data set. This homoplasy results from the shuffling of polymorphisms between alleles by recombinational processes, indicating that polymorphisms in the antigen binding site encoded by Ab are generated by a combination of two processes. First, the accumulation of point mutations has produced highly divergent polymorphic sequence motifs in five regions of Ab exon 2, each encoding a portion of the binding site. Some of these motifs have persisted as polymorphisms in rodents since before the divergence of mouse and rat (greater than 10 million years ago). The second process mediating Ab diversification involves the shuffling of these polymorphic sequence motifs into numerous allelic combinations by repeated intraexonic recombination. Site-specific hyperrecombinational mechanisms are not involved in this process within the exon. We postulate that these mechanisms continuously generate new Ab alleles with highly divergent binding sites from which alleles with advantageous antigen-binding properties are selectively maintained by some form of balancing selection.
The Potential of MEMS for Advancing Experiments and Modeling in Cell Mechanics

Response to mechanical stimuli largely dictates cellular form and function. A host of extraordinary yet unexplained responses have been identified within the hierarchical cell structure. As experimental and model-based investigations in cell mechanics advance, the underlying structure-function mechanisms dictating these responses emerge. Here we explore the potential of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) for advancing understanding of cell mechanics. To motivate the discussion, existing experimental techniques are summarized. Interrelated model-based approaches, which aim to interpret or predict observed results, are also outlined. We then focus on a representative set of MEMS-based devices designed for investigations in cell mechanics and point to the fact that, while these devices have yet to maximize their functionality through higher levels of sensor/actuator integration, they are highly complementary to existing techniques. In closing, novel MEMS sensor and actuator schemes that have yet to materialize in this field are discussed to motivate the next generation of MEMS for investigations in cell mechanics.
Efficient infrared quantum counter and excited-state absorption cross-section measurements in europium-doped calcium fluoride

Upconversion signals in the wavelength region 407–550 nm were emitted from CaF2:Eu3+ under 578.7 (or 589.2-) nm dye-laser excitation. The intensities of the upconversion signals were enhanced 25× under double-resonance excitation by a 589.2-nm dye laser and a 703.6-nm Ti:sapphire laser. Excited-state absorption cross sections were estimated for some of the transitions.