cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Soluble interleukin-4 receptor production by murine myeloid progenitor cells: Induction by interleukin-6 and interferon-γ

Abstract Soluble cytokine receptors, molecules that can selectively modulate the effects of a single cytokine, have generated great interest both as indicators of disease and as targeted immunotherapeutic agents. However, cellular sources for soluble cytokine receptors are not well characterized and the regulation of soluble receptor production is not clear. We recently found that interleukin 6 (IL-6) induces the expression of membrane-bound interleukin 4 (IL-4) receptors (mIL-4R) in the murine myeloid leukemia M1 cell line. In the present study we show that IL-6 induces the expression and secretion of the soluble form of the IL-4 receptor (sIL-4R) in these cells as well, with the protein accumulating for up to 72 hours in the cell supernatants. This inducible production of sIL-4R protein is accompanied by the induction of mRNA specific for sIL-4R. In mature bone marrow (BM)-derived macrophages sIL-4R expression can be induced by exposure to either IL-6 or interferon-γ (IFNγ). The data suggest that myeloid cells exposed to inflammatory stimuli are one possible source for sIL-4R enabling them to modulate the effects of IL-4 on the immune response by the regulated production of the soluble receptor for this cytokine.
Evaluation of corrosion inhibition of brass in chloride media using EIS and ENA

Abstract The corrosion behavior of 26000 brass has been studied in 3% NaCl and in artificial seawater using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and electrochemical noise analysis (ENA). Benzotriazole (BTA), gluconic acid sodium salt (GASS) and polyphosphoric acid sodium salt (PP) were evaluated as corrosion inhibitors. While BTA provides excellent corrosion inhibition in both media, PP was not very effective. For GASS maximum corrosion inhibition was obtained at a concentration of 0.01 M. Analysis of the electrochemical noise (ECN) data demonstrated the need for removal of drifts in the potential and current fluctuations during the measurement period that affected the values of the power spectral density (PSD) plots. After trend removal the slopes of the current PSD plots were −2 in the absence of BTA and −1 in its presence. The slopes of the potential PSD plots did not change from their value of −2 due to the addition of BTA. Very good agreement of impedance and spectral noise plots was observed after trend removal for solutions containing BTA. The location index was not found to provide information concerning corrosion mechanisms. Skewness and kurtosis for both potential and current fluctuations had similar values in the absence and presence of BTA that were typical of a normal distribution of the ECN data.
Flow velocity measurement with ac gradients.

Two NMR experiments are described that use ac field gradients to measure flow velocities. Both experiments perform no spacial localization; instead, fluid velocity is converted to a resonance frequency shift. Thus, by Fourier transformation of a single FID or echo train the distribution of velocities is available. The first experiment uses only one of pulse but requires a homogeneous static field. The second experiment uses the CPMG multiple-pulse sequence to refocus the effects of field inhomogeneity and chemical shifts. Results are shown for both experiments using a simple flowing phantom. Applications of the techniques to time-resolved blood flow measurement are discussed. © 1987 Academic Press, Inc.
Ordered phases in ruthenium binary alloys from high-throughput first-principles calculations

Despite the increasing importance of ruthenium in numerous technological applications, e.g., catalysis and electronic devices, experimental and computational data on its binary alloys are sparse. In particular, data are scant on those binary systems believed to be phase-separating. We performed a comprehensive study of ruthenium binary systems with the 28 transition metals, using high-throughput first-principles calculations. These computations predict novel unsuspected compounds in 7 of the 16 binary systems previously believed to be phase-separating and in two of the three systems reported with only a high-temperature $\ensuremath{\sigma}$ phase. They also predict a few unreported compounds in five additional systems and indicate that some reported compounds may actually be unstable at low temperature. These new compounds may be useful in the rational design of new Ru-based catalysts. The following systems are investigated: AgRu${}^{\ensuremath{\star}}$, AuRu${}^{\ensuremath{\star}}$, CdRu${}^{\ensuremath{\star}}$, CoRu${}^{\ensuremath{\star}}$, CrRu${}^{\ensuremath{\star}}$, CuRu${}^{\ensuremath{\star}}$, FeRu${}^{\ensuremath{\star}}$, HfRu, HgRu${}^{\ensuremath{\star}}$, IrRu, MnRu, MoRu, NbRu, NiRu${}^{\ensuremath{\star}}$, OsRu, PdRu${}^{\ensuremath{\star}}$, PtRu, ReRu, RhRu, RuSc, RuTa, RuTc, RuTi, RuV, RuW, RuY, RuZn, and RuZr (a star denotes systems in which the ab initio method predicts that no compounds are stable).
Microstructure of feeding by tobacco hornworm caterpillars, Manduca sexta

The microstructure of the feeding activity of tobacco hornworm caterpillars (Manduca sexta Johansson) on tomato leaf was examined by means of an automated cafeteria. In this device each activity of the caterpillar generates a characteristic slow electrical change which can be recorded. The apparatus is therefore both accurate and sensitive. Examination of the activity records indicated that larger animals ate more than smaller ones by increasing both bite frequency and the lengths of meals. Meal frequency did not increase. Correlations amongst a variety of measures indicated that there was regulation of feeding both between and within meals.
Transfer effects of endurance training to exercise with untrained limbs.

There has been a controversy over whether the increases in maximal oxygen uptake ( $$\dot V$$ O2 max) and reductions in heart rate at a given submaximal workload after endurance training are limited to exercise with trained limbs or also may be observed during exercise with untrained limbs. In the present study five initially very sedentary young men trained by leg cycling (LT) and five by arm cranking (AT) 30 min per day on 4 days a week for 11 weeks at an intensity ≥75–80% $$\dot V$$ O2 max. Before and after training the subjects performed submaximal and maximal arm cranking and leg cycling tests. Leg cycling and arm cranking $$\dot V$$ O2 max increased 15% and 9% after LT and 12% and 35% after AT, respectively. Heart rate at a given submaximal workload was lower (p<0.05) during trained and untrained limb exercise following LT and AT. However, subjective ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) at a given submaximal workload were lower (p<0.01) only during exercise with trained limbs after LT and AT. In light of previous findings, the present increases in $$\dot V$$ O2 max and reductions in submaximal exercise heart rate with untrained limbs suggest that the initial fitness of the subjects as well as the intensity, frequency, and duration of training may be important factors in determining the extent to which transfer effects of endurance training can be observed. Although the present data suggest that reductions in RPE after endurance training may be the result of local changes in trained muscles, the possible contribution of central nervous adaptations cannot be excluded.
Noncognate Mycobacterium tuberculosis Toxin-Antitoxins Can Physically and Functionally Interact

The Mycobacterium tuberculosis genome harbors a striking number (>40) of toxin-antitoxin systems. Among them are at least seven MazF orthologs, designated MazF-mt1 through MazF-mt7, four of which have been demonstrated to function as mRNA interferases that selectively target mRNA for cleavage at distinct consensus sequences. As is characteristic of all toxin-antitoxin systems, each of the mazF-mt toxin genes is organized in an operon downstream of putative antitoxin genes. However, only one of the seven putative upstream antitoxins (designated MazE-mt1 through MazE-mt7) has significant sequence similarity to Escherichia coli MazE, the cognate antitoxin for E. coli MazF. Interestingly, the M. tuberculosis genome contains two independent operons encoding E. coli MazE orthologs, but they are not paired with mazF-mt-like genes. Instead, the genes encoding these two MazE orthologs are each paired with proteins containing a PIN domain, indicating that they may be members of the very large VapBC toxin-antitoxin family. We tested a spectrum of pair-wise combinations of cognate and noncognate Mtb toxin-antitoxins using in vivo toxicity and rescue experiments along with in vitro interaction experiments. Surprisingly, we uncovered several examples of noncognate toxin-antitoxin association, even among different families (e.g. MazF toxins and VapB antitoxins). These results challenge the "one toxin for one antitoxin" dogma and suggest that M. tuberculosis may enlist a sophisticated toxin-antitoxin network to alter its physiology in response to environmental cues.
The null field equations for flexural oscillations of elastic plates

A null field method is constructed to solve the exterior Dirichlet, Neumann, and Robin boundary value problems associated with the high-frequency harmonic oscillations of Mindlin-type plates. The case of an infinite plate with a bounded elastic inclusion is also considered. Additionally, the completeness of certain sets of wavefunctions is investigated. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Power Quality and Dynamic Performance Improvement of Wind Farms Using a STATCOM

This paper investigates the use of a static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) to improve the power quality and fault ride-through capability of a wind farm equipped with fixed- speed wind turbines driving squirrel-cage induction generators. Two different control schemes are developed to control the STATCOM; one is a conventional linear PI control scheme, and the other is an input-output feedback linearization (IOL) based nonlinear control scheme. Simulation studies are carried out in the PSCAD/EMTDC environment to examine the performance of the wind farm with and without the STATCOM. Results show that the STATCOM significantly reduces the voltage fluctuations caused by wind speed variations and enhances the fault ride- through capability of the wind turbines. Compared to the linear PI control, the nonlinear IOL control provides the STATCOM with the same performance for voltage fluctuation mitigation and transient PCC voltage regulation, but with an improved performance for transient dc-link voltage regulation.
Serum Peptidome Patterns That Distinguish Metastatic Thyroid Carcinoma from Cancer-free Controls Are Unbiased by Gender and Age

Serum peptidomics is a special form of functional proteomics. The small number of blood proteins that are the source of most prominent peptides in human serum serve as a substrate pool for commonly occurring and/or cancer-derived proteases. Exoprotease activities in particular, when superimposed on the ex vivo coagulation and complement degradation pathways, contribute to generation of not only cancer-specific but also "cancer type"-specific serum peptides. Following development of a unique, semiautomated serum peptide profiling platform and after completing investigations to eliminate common experimental bias, we have now studied possible effects of gender and age on serum peptidomes of 200 healthy men and women, ages 20-80, and of 60 patients (30 men and 30 women) with metastatic thyroid carcinomas. Extensive MALDI-TOF MS and data analysis suggested negligible contributions of both age and gender to the serum peptidome patterns except that healthy men and women under 35 years, but not older individuals, could be distinguished with approximately 70% accuracy. Considering the more advanced age of most patients, this finding is unlikely to interfere with peptidomics analysis of most cancers. By examining patient samples and age/gender-matched controls followed by variability analysis of either demographic or disease (versus control) groups, we could conclusively rule out demographic bias. An optimized, 12-peptide ion thyroid cancer signature was then developed, enabling classification of an independent validation set with 95% sensitivity and 95% specificity (binomial confidence intervals, 75.1-99.9%). Ten of these peptides had previously been assigned to signature patterns of other solid tumor cancers. One of the two newly discovered peptides was dehydro-Ala(3)-fibrinopeptide A. As we expand this study to include hundreds of thyroid cancer patients, the peptide signature will be adjusted, further validated, and then evaluated in a clinical setting used either independently or in combination with existing markers.
Lower-extremity selective voluntary motor control in patients with spastic cerebral palsy: increased distal motor impairment

Aim Multiple impairments contribute to motor deficits in spastic cerebral palsy (CP). Selective voluntary motor control (SVMC), namely isolation of joint movement upon request, is important, but frequently overlooked. This study evaluated the proximal to distal distribution of SVMC impairment among lower extremity joints. Method Using a recently developed tool, the Selective Control Assessment of the Lower Extremity (SCALE), we evaluated the SVMC of the hip, knee, ankle, subtalar joint, and toes in a cross-sectional, observational study of 47 participants with spastic, diplegic, hemiplegic, and quadriplegic CP (22 males, 25 females; mean age 11y 9mo, SD 4y 8mo; Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I–IV). Results Statistically significant decreases in SCALE scores from hip to toes were found using the Page statistical test for trend (p<0.001). Statistically significant differences (p<0.05) were found between all joint pairs, except toes versus subtalar, toes versus ankle, and right ankle versus subtalar joints. Cross-tabulation of score frequencies for all pairs revealed that proximal joint scores were higher or equal to distal ones 81 to 100% of the time. Excluding toes versus subtalar joints, proximal scores exceeded distal ones 94 to 100% of the time. Interpretation We confirmed increasing proximal to distal SVMC impairment, which may have implications for treatment and research.
Strained Bedfellows: Pagans, New Agers, and “Starchy Humanists” in Unitarian Universalism

Malgre une forte majorite de membres liee a des courants humanistes, l'Universalisme Unitarien semble assimiler un certain nombre de mouvements religieux influences par le neo-paganisme et le New age. L'A. etudie ce developpement en apparence contradictoire. Dans ce but il examine le developpement historique de l'Universalisme Unitarien, comment il a integre un certain nombre de nouveaux mouvements religieux. Il s'efforce de comprendre pourquoi cette integration a engendre des conflits internes en son sein. Il etudie l'influence en retour de l'Universalisme Unitarien sur ces mouvements
Ultrathin CVD Cu Seed Layer Formation Using Copper Oxynitride Deposition and Room Temperature Remote Hydrogen Plasma Reduction

Cu seed layers for future interconnects must have conformal step coverage, smooth surface morphology, and strong adhesion. Conformal deposition had been achieved by chemical vapor deposition CVD, but CVD Cu films have rough surfaces and poor adhesion. In this paper, conformal, smooth, adherent, continuous, and thin 9n m Cu films were made by CVD. CuON was deposited from a Cu-amidinate precursor, H2O, and NH3 at 140‐180°C on Ru. Crystallites in the deposited film have either a Cu2 Oo r Cu3N structure depending on the ratio of H2 Ot o NH3. As-deposited CuON films have a smooth surface morphology 0.5 nm root-mean-square rms roughness and are highly conformal 95% step coverage in 40:1 aspect ratio holes .T he CuON films were then reduced with remote hydrogen plasma near room temperature to minimize agglomeration of the thin Cu films during reduction. After reduction, CuON films having a Cu2O crystal structure showed a higher density Cu film 95% than those having a Cu3N crystal structure 84%. Both reduced Cu films had a smooth morphology 1 nm rms roughness. Thus, deposition of a CuON film having a Cu2O crystal structure and then reduction with remote hydrogen plasma can make Cu layers that can serve as seed layers of future Cu interconnects.
Molecular identification by generating coherence between molecular normal modes using stimulated Raman scattering

We propose a method of driving the vibrations of normal modes of a target molecule into coherence using stimulated Raman scattering. In concert many vibrations can produce a larger anti-Stokes signal than a single vibration. The same illumination does not drive other molecules to have coherent vibrations so that these molecules produce a weaker signal. We investigate how target and confounder molecules can be distinguished by pulses that drive many vibrations coherently, which has applications in coherent Raman microspectroscopy.
Le Pandanus Rouge: Corps, Différence des Sexes Et Parenté chez les Ankave-Anga

Le pandanus rouge: Corps, difference des sexes et parente chez les Ankave-Anga. Pascale Bonnemere. Paris: CNRS-Editions, editions de la maison des Sciences de I'Homme, 1996. 426 pp., figures, maps, color plates, bibliography, index.
Ramosetron in Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Diarrhea: New Hope or the Same Old Story?

Over the last decade, greater understanding of the pathophysiology of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) has resulted in exploration of newer treatment targets, including tryptophan hydroxylase inhibitor (LX-1031), newer M3 muscarinic antagonists (otilonium, darifenacin, solifenacin), oral carbon adsorbents (AST-120), mast cell stabilizers (disodium cromoglycate, ketotifen), and amino acids (glutamine)1. Only a handful of these have been approved (e.g., otilonium by European Medicine Agency), many are being used off-label, and a few are in an investigational pipeline. Thus, there is a significant unmet need for treatment of disorders associated with chronic diarrhea such as IBS-D.
Variation and universals in VOT: evidence from 18 languages

Abstract Voice onset time (VOT) is known to vary with place of articulation. For any given place of articulation there are differences from one language to another. Using data from multiple speakers of 18 languages, all of which were recorded and analyzed in the same way, we show that most, but not all, of the within language place of articulation variation can be described by universally applicable phonetic rules (although the physiological bases for these rules are not entirely clear). The between language variation is also largely (but not entirely) predictable by assuming that languages choose one of the three possibilities for the degree of aspiration of voiceless stops. Some languages, however, have VOTs that are markedly different from the generally observed values. The phonetic output of a grammar has to contain language specific components to account for these results.
Interleukin‐1α stimulates non‐amyloidogenic pathway by α‐secretase (ADAM‐10 and ADAM‐17) cleavage of APP in human astrocytic cells involving p38 MAP kinase

Interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha) stimulates a disintegrin and metalloproteinase, ADAM-17 synthesis, consistent with activation of the soluble fragment of Amyloid Precursor Protein, APP, (sAPPalpha) in human primary astrocytes. To characterize the mechanism by which IL-1alpha promotes the non-amyloidogenic pathway of APP metabolism, we used U373 MG astrocytoma cells. IL-1alpha significantly increased levels of ADAM-10 and ADAM-17 mRNA in 16 hr. Upregulation of ADAM-17 mRNA by IL-1alpha was more pronounced despite higher basal levels of ADAM-10 mRNA. This pattern was also observed at the protein level with the upregulation of alpha-secretase. RNA interference (RNAi) of ADAM-10 and ADAM-17 inhibited IL-1alpha-stimulated sAPPalpha release and the effect was more pronounced with ADAM-17 RNAi. Concomitantly, the level of sAPPalpha was significantly increased by IL-1alpha in 48 hr; however, IL-1alpha stimulated cell-associated APP levels maximally at 6 h but the induction declined at 48 hr. IL-1alpha treatment of cells for 48 h reduced both intracellular and secreted levels of amyloid-beta, Abeta-40, and Abeta-42 peptides. Multiple MAP kinases (MAPK), including MEK/ERK, p38 kinase, PI3 kinase (PI3K) but not JNK were involved in the regulation of IL-1alpha-stimulated alpha-secretase activity and sAPPalpha release. p38 MAPK seems to be the most proximal of these MAPKs, as it was the earliest to be activated by IL-1alpha and blocking this pathway attenuated activation of IL-1alpha-induced MEK and PI3K pathways. Our data show a complex mechanism of sAPPalpha regulation by IL-1alpha that involves ADAM-10, ADAM-17 and p38 MAPK upstream of MEK and PI3K.
Spatial and Temporal Active Layer Dynamics along Three Glacial Meltwater Streams in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica

Abstract Active layer thickness was monitored along three ephemeral streams in the Taylor Dry Valley of Antarctica during the 1997–1998 summer season. Five to seven cross sections were established on each stream, and the thickness of the active layer was measured every 1.5 m over intervals ranging from 2 to 30 days. Active layer depths ranged from a minimum of 3 cm in early November to a maximum of 60 cm in late January, and the depth of the active layer increased rapidly as summer temperatures climbed above freezing. While there were significant differences in the thickness of the active layer among the three streams, the timing of rapid thaw was similar for all cross sections. Changes in active layer thickness were responsive to both daily and seasonal changes in air temperature. There was more rapid thaw under the areas with flowing water, suggesting a transfer of heat from meltwater into the underlying sediments, and some evidence of an insulating effect during cold periods. Active layer thickness was...
Animal Handling Procedures and Facilities Used by Dairy Producers to Conduct Health and Reproductive Examinations

The objectives of this study were to observe procedures and protocols used on large dairies during routine activities, such as herd health events, and to collect preliminary information that could be used to design a research project to define the annualized cost of different animal handling systems currently being used on modern dairy farms. Ten Wisconsin commercial dairy farms were observed when their veterinarian conducted routine herd health and reproductive examinations. On-farm veterinary time, times of actual veterinarian examinations, and perceived advantages and disadvantages of systems were recorded. Six different systems to select and restrain animals were identified: sort gate to pen with self-locking (SL) manger stalls (sort-to-SL pen), sort gate to palpation rail (PR) (sort-to-PR), all animals restrained in PR retuning from parlor (all-in-PR), all animals restrained in return lane from parlor (all-in-return-lane), all animals restrained in SL manger stalls in home pen (home-pen-with-SL), and selected animals cornered in home pen (home-pen-corner-in-FS). Average veterinarian on-farm time results were 1.86 min per cow (home-pen-with-SL), 2.07 min per cow (all-in-PR), 2.43 min per cow (home-pen-corner-in-FS), 2.73 min per cow (sort-to-PR), 3.38 min per cow (all-in-return-lane), and 3.43 min per cow (sort-to-SL pen). Veterinarian exam time results were 1.19 min per cow (all-in-return-lane), 1.31 min per cow (sort-to-PR), 1.49 min per cow (all-in-PR), 1.63 min per cow (home-pen-with-SL), 2.26 min per cow (home-pen-corner-in-FS), and 2.43 min per cow (sort-to-SL pen). The time associated with handling animals, according to different animal handling systems, varied by farm and was caused by system and operator differences. Selecting, consolidating, and treating animals in a separate place reduced work time per animal, but increased on-farm time per animal. The home-pen-with-SL system had the least average veterinarian on-farm time.
HGum: Messaging Framework for Hardware Accelerators (Abstact Only)

Software messaging frameworks help avoid errors and reduce engineering effort in building distributed systems by (i) providing an interface definition language (IDL) to precisely specify the structure of the message (the message schema) and (ii) automatically generating the serialization and deserialization functions that transform user data structures into binary data for sending across the network and vice versa. Similarly, a hardware-accelerated system that consists of host software and multiple FPGAs, could also benefit from a messaging framework to handle messages both between software and FPGA and also between different FPGAs. The key challenge for a hardware messaging framework is that it must be able to support large messages with complex schema while meeting critical constraints such as clock frequency, area, and throughput. We present HGum, a messaging framework for hardware accelerators that meets all the above requirements. HGum is able to generate high-performance and low-cost hardware logic by employing a novel design that algorithmically parses the message schema to perform serialization and deserialization. Our evaluation of HGum shows that it not only significantly reduces engineering effort but also generates hardware with comparable quality to manual implementation.
Receptivity: The Inspiration of Mark Morkovin (Invited)

This paper provides a review of the current findings in receptivity for subsonic/transonic flows, including a discussion of the origin of the concept via Mark Morkovin, a remarkable aeronautical engineer, educator, and colleague. Disturbances external to the boundary layer – whether freestream sound or vorticity – can interact with surface roughness, the leading edge, or other inhomogeneities and enter the boundary layer as steady and/or unsteady fluctuations of the basic state. This process establishes the initial conditions of disturbance amplitude, frequency, phase, and scales for the breakdown of laminar flow. The past decades have seen considerable progress in the understanding of receptivity mechanisms guided by the roadmap (Morkovin et al. 1 ).
Cutaneous Sarcoma-like Lesions of the Horse Caused by the Agent of Bovine Papilloma.

SummaryMaterial derived from spontaneous field cases of bovine papilloma of the skin was capable of causing a sarcoma-like lesion in the skin of the horse. The tumors so induced have some characteristics resembling equine sarcoid. The ability of an oncogenic agent to induce an epithelial tumor in one animal and to cause a new growth of connective tissue cells in another species is unique.
Compositionally Modulated Structures Studied by in Situ Scanning Tunneling Microscopy

Two different short period superlattice (SPS) structures with nominally equivalent lattice mismatch, InAs/AlAs and InAs/GaAs are examined using in situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Depending upon the growth conditions, the composition of the InAs/AlAs SPS structure can be either homogeneous or modulated in the lateral direction. Distinct periodic structures are clearly visible in images of the modulated SPS while no periodicity is observed in the homogeneous SPS. For a 30 period SPS consisting of 2 monolayers of AlAs and 2 monolayers of InAs we observe structures 20 nm in size with an average spacing of ∼25 nm in orthogonal directions, which is approximately the same length scale as the composition modulation. Despite the nominally equivalent lattice mismatch, the InAs/GaAs SPS structures are quite different. Some degree of modulation is always observed in these structures. Homogeneous structures are not observed. For the modulated SPS structures, scanning tunneling spectroscopy can be used to characterize the chemical profile.
Is there a central nervous system component to acute baroreflex resetting in rats

This study was designed to evaluate a possible central nervous system (CNS) component to acute baroreflex resetting. In nine arterial baroreceptor-denervated, chloralose-urethan-anesthetized rats, a control (C) aortic nerve stimulation curve (3-5 V, 1 ms, 0-64 Hz) was obtained. Next, a constant "baroreceptor" input was delivered to the CNS (left aortic nerve stimulation, 10 min, 10.2 +/- 1.5 Hz). Within the first 13 s of aortic nerve stimulation, maximum inhibition of lumbar sympathetic nerve activity (LSNA) was 60 +/- 7.8% of baseline and at 1 min it increased to 68 +/- 5.6% of baseline. At the end of the 10-min aortic nerve stimulation, LSNA was not different from the response at 1 min (68 +/- 5.6% = 74 +/- 4.1%). Immediately after the constant stimulation (within 30 s), a test or reset (RS) curve was obtained (0-64 Hz). A recovery (RC) curve was obtained 10-20 min later. The slope of the linear portion of the curve and the stimulation frequency that produced 50% maximum inhibition (ES50) were compared among the three baroreflex curves (C, RS, RC,) and no significant differences were found. Thus, although a CNS component to baroreflex adaptation was evident during the first minute of aortic nerve stimulation, a longer term acute resetting of the baroreflex curve did not occur.
Frequency distribution of carpal osteochondral fragmentation in a population of flat racing Thoroughbreds in the UK

Summary Lameness associated with osteochondral fragmentation of the carpus is a common injury in racing horses. Frequency distributions of sites of fragmentation have previously been published in racehorses in the USA, Australia, New Zealand and Japan but not in racing Thoroughbreds in the UK. The objectives of the study were to document sites of osteochondral fragmentation in the carpus of a population of Thoroughbred flat racehorses in the UK and compare these with other Thoroughbred populations globally and other flat racing breeds. This study was a single centre retrospective observational study; case records of flat racing Thoroughbreds with sites of carpal bone fragmentation that underwent arthroscopic surgery at Newmarket Equine Hospital between 2008 and 2013 were reviewed. A total of 291 sites of fragmentation were identified arthroscopically within the carpal joints of 174 horses. This involved 135 (75%) middle carpal (MCj) and 44 (25%) antebrachiocarpal joints (ABCj), which differs from other populations reported. The most common sites of fragmentation were dorsodistal radial carpal bone (DDiCr) (49%), dorsoproximal third carpal bone (DPrC3) (22%), dorsodistal radius (DDiR) (15%), dorsoproximal radial carpal bone (DPrCr) (5%) and dorsoproximal intermediate carpal bone (DPrCi) (4%). The dorsodistal radial carpal bone is also the most common site in American (US) Quarter Horses (QHs) and Thoroughbreds (TBs) and Australian (AUS) TBs, while DPrC3 has a greater prevalence in US Standardbreds (SBs). Thereafter the frequency distribution differs between the reported study groups. Although all horses underwent bilateral radiographic examination, 45% of the total population had unilateral arthroscopic evaluation. This may therefore underestimate the total number of sites of fragmentation reported. In summary the frequency distribution of carpal fragmentation in flat racing Thoroughbreds in the UK appears to differ from other populations of racehorses.
Combined Pseudo-Ligand Affinity Chromatography as a General Method for Plasma Protein Purification

Abstract We have investigated the use of Procion Red HE-3B pseudo-ligand affinity chromatography (PLAC) as a second step to further purify proteins fractionated by PLAC on immobilized Cibacron Blue 3-GA. When the unbound proteins of the Blue column were run on the Red A, the first proteins to be eluted were alpha 1 -acid glycoprotein and prealbumin, followed by alpha 1 -antitrypsin. Elution of the column with a salt gradient separated IgG and IgA from transferrin and alpha 2 -HS glycoprotein. Separation of orosomucoid from prealbumin was achieved by ion-exchange chromatography, and alpha 1 -antitrypsin was purified by chromatography on immobilized Concanavalin A. No alteration of the proteins occurred as judged by their M.W., isoelectric points, and immunological and biological reactivities; overall yields ranged between 32 and 70%. Combined PLAC represents a useful and simple technique for the purification of plasma proteins which are sensitive to denaturation.
Using Intrinsic Performance Counters to Assess Efficiency in Task-Based Parallel Applications

The ability to measure performance characteristicsof an application at runtime is essential for monitoring the behavior of the application and the runtime system on the underlying architecture. Traditional performance measurement tools do not adequately provide measurements of asynchronous task-basedparallel applications, either in real-time or for post-mortem analysis. We propose that this capability is best performed directly by the runtime system for ease in use and to minimize conflicts and overheads potentially caused by traditional measurement tools. In this paper, we describe and illustrate the use of theperformance monitoring capabilities in the HPX runtimesystem. We describe and detail existing performance counters made available through HPX's performance counter framework and demonstrate how they are useful to understanding application efficiency and resource usage at runtime. This extensive framework provides the ability to asynchronously query softwareand hardware counters and could potentially be used as the basis for runtime adaptive resource decisions. We demonstrate the ease of porting the Inncabs benchmark suite to the HPX runtime system, the improved performance of benchmarks that employ fine-grained task parallelism when ported to HPX, and the capabilities and advantages of using thein-situ performance monitoring system in HPX to give detailed insight to the performance and behavior of the benchmarks and the runtime system.
Identify and Help At-Risk Students Before It Is Late

Identifying at-risk students early in the term is valuable. It is because an instructor can have more time to provide extra support, and students can also estimate how much extra effort they should put on to succeed in class. Prior work showed it is possible to predict at-risk students, but they either did not provide a specific prediction method or are too onerous to implement. Thus, my dissertation will develop and evaluate more robust, universal, and simple prediction methodology to classify at-risk students and propose how to automatically generate customized practice materials for early intervention. Once the methodology becomes robust, I will implement publicly accessible educational software application so that other CS instructors can easily adopt this method.
Efforts at maximal cytoreduction improve survival in ovarian cancer patients, even when complete gross resection is not feasible.

Abstract Objective We sought to determine survival associated with residual disease (RD) after primary debulking surgery (PDS) for advanced ovarian cancer (OC), and evaluate impact on complications and survival after practice changes to improve PDS. Methods Outcome variables were collected for patients undergoing PDS for FIGO (2009) stage IIIC OC from 2003 to 2011. The cohort was divided into time periods (2003–2006 vs. 2007–2011), before and after cytoreduction standardization. RD categories were: RD0, RD 0.1–0.5cm, RD 0.6–1.0cm, and RD>1cm. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results 447 patients (mean age, 65.3years) met inclusion criteria. RD for the entire cohort: RD0=44.5%; RD 0.1–0.5cm=30.9%; RD 0.6–1.0cm=11.4%; and RD>1cm=13.2%, with median OS of 58months, 35months, 29months, and 22months, respectively. OS was significantly better for RD0 vs. all other RD categories (p≤0.001), and for RD 0.1–1.0cm vs. RD>1cm (p=0.01). RD0 improved from 32.7% to 54.3% (p 1cm decreased from 20.3% to 7.3% (p Conclusion Patients with RD0 had longest OS, with survival advantage for RD1 when compared to RD>1cm. These data support PDS to lowest RD even when RD0 cannot be obtained. Practice improvement efforts can increase RD0 rates, improving OS without compromising morbidity.
Sex Differences: Satellite DNA Directs Male-Specific Gene Expression

Summary Dosage compensation in some animals involves up-regulation of genes on the male's X chromosome. A study in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster shows that satellite DNA, and corresponding small non-coding RNA, helps the dosage compensation machinery preferentially find X sequences.
Molecular Recognition of Dopamine with Dual Near Infrared Excitation-Emission Two-Photon Microscopy

A key limitation for achieving deep imaging in biological structures lies in photon attenuation of fluorescence. In particular, neurotransmitter imaging is challenging in the biologically-relevant context of the intact brain, for which photons must traverse the cranium, skin, and bone. Thus, fluorescence imaging is limited to the surface cortical layers of the brain, only achievable with a craniotomy. Herein, we describe optimal excitation and emission wavelengths for through-cranium imaging, and demonstrate that near-infrared emissive nanosensors can be photoexcited using a two-photon 1550 nm excitation source. Dopamine-sensitive nanosensors can undergo 2-photon excitation, and provide chirality-dependent responses selective for dopamine with fluorescent turn-on responses varying between 20% and 350%. We further calculate the 2-photon absorption cross-section and quantum yield of dopamine nanosensors, and confirm a 2-photon power law relationship for the nanosensor excitation process. Finally, we show improved image quality of nanosensors imbedded 2 mm deep into a brain-mimetic tissue phantom, whereby 1-photon excitation yields 42% scattering, in contrast to 4% scattering when the same object is imaged under 2-photon excitation. Our approach overcomes traditional limitations in deep-tissue fluorescence microscopy, and can enable neurotransmitter imaging in the biologically-relevant milieu of the intact and living brain.
Near-field limitations of Fresnel-regime coherent diffraction imaging

Coherent diffraction imaging (CDI) is a rapidly developing form of imaging that offers the potential of wavelength-limited resolution without image-forming lenses. In CDI, the intensity of the diffraction pattern is measured directly by the detector, and various iterative phase retrieval algorithms are used to ``invert'' the diffraction pattern and reconstruct a high-resolution image of the sample. However, there are certain requirements in CDI that must be met to reconstruct the object. Although most experiments are conducted in the ``far-field''---or Fraunhofer---regime where the requirements are not as stringent, some experiments must be conducted in the ``near field'' where Fresnel diffraction must be considered. According to the derivation of Fresnel diffraction, successful reconstructions can only be obtained when the small-angle number, a derived quantity, is much less than one. We show, however, that it is not actually necessary to fulfill the small-angle condition. The Fresnel kernel well approximates the exact kernel in regions where the phase oscillates slowly, and in regions of fast oscillations, indicated by large $An$, the error between kernels should be negligible due to stationary-phase arguments. We experimentally verify this conclusion with a helium neon laser setup and show that it should hold at x-ray wavelengths as well.
Negative stiffness honeycombs as tunable elastic metamaterials

Acoustic and elastic metamaterials are media with a subwavelength structure that behave as effective materials displaying atypical effective dynamic properties. These material systems are of interest because the design of their sub-wavelength structure allows for direct control of macroscopic wave dispersion. One major design limitation of most metamaterial structures is that the dynamic response cannot be altered once the microstructure is manufactured. However, the ability to modify wave propagation in the metamaterial with an external stimulus is highly desirable for numerous applications and therefore remains a significant challenge in elastic metamaterials research. In this work, a honeycomb structure composed of a doubly periodic array of curved beams, known as a negative stiffness honeycomb (NSH), is analyzed as a tunable elastic metamaterial. The nonlinear static elastic response that results from large deformations of the NSH unit cell leads to a large variation in linear elastic wave dispersion ...
TROPONIN LEVEL AT PRESENTATION IS A STRONG PREDICTOR OF OUTCOME FOR PATIENTS UNDERGOING PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY INTERVENTION FOR ST ELEVATION MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION: INSIGHTS FROM THE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF MICHIGAN CARDIOVASCULAR COLLABORATIVE (BMC2) REGISTRY

Troponin release in ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) has predictable kinetics and is a robust marker of ischemic time. We evaluated the relationship between presenting troponin levels and in-hospital mortality in STEMI patients (pts) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (
Audio journaling for self-reflection and assessment among teens in participatory media programs

We examine the use of "Audio Journaling" as a multi-faceted practice and participatory research method to engage young participants in forms of creative expression, self and peer-based reflection, and participatory assessment. We share our experiences from incorporating this approach in three different participatory media programs conducted with adolescents in Gaza, Jerusalem, and New York City since 2011. In prior work, audio diaries have been used as reflective probes with young adults for conducting social research, and with the visually impaired to elicit rich contextual experiences informing HCI design. Our findings illustrate how audio journaling can be used with adolescents in participatory media programs to capture spontaneous and introspective experience-focused accounts with emotional resonance, while revealing the process of sense-making in a lightweight and unobtrusive manner. We believe these practices can enhance participatory learning, co-creation, and peer-based evaluation of program outcomes.
Neo-Adjuvant chemotherapy: new approaches involving alkylating agent modulation

The modulation of chemotherapeutic agents has a long history. A modulator is best defined as an agent that modifies the biochemical pharmacology of the modulee in the direction of the improved therapeutic index. Modulation has been perhaps most intensively studied with Fluorouracil wherein a variety of potential modulators have been evaluated. Within the past several years it has been found that leucovorin has a profound effect on the biochemistry and cytotoxicity of Fluorouracil. This effect has been realized in the clinic in metastatic colorectal cancer, in head and neck cancer (PFL program), and perhaps in breast cancer.
Dynamics of multiple-collapse with ultrashort laser pulses

We investigate the self-focusing dynamics of ultrashort pulses in dispersive media. In the anomalous dispersion regime, the pulse may undergo multiple collapse at locations separated by several diffraction lengths.
The Electroreceptors: Diversity in Structure and Function

Sensory systems that operate in an aquatic habitat face different environmental constraints than their terrestrial counterparts in the detection of stimuli. The different transmission properties of air and water for sound, light, and chemical stimuli have resulted in habitat-specific differences in the structure and function of many sensory receptor organs. Electroreception, on the other hand, is unique to the aquatic habitat and, since air behaves as an insulator, rather than a conductor, is physically restricted to it.
Long-Term Acute Care Hospital Use of Non-Mechanically Ventilated Hospitalized Older Adults.

Author(s): Makam, Anil N; Nguyen, Oanh Kieu; Xuan, Lei; Miller, Michael E; Halm, Ethan A | Abstract: ObjectivesTo determine why non-mechanically ventilated hospitalized older adults are transferred to long-term acute care (LTAC) hospitals rather than remaining in the hospital.DesignObservational cohort.SettingNational Medicare data.ParticipantsNon-mechanically ventilated hospitalized adults aged 65 and older with fee-for-service Medicare in 2012 who were transferred to an LTAC hospital (n=1,831) or had a prolonged hospitalization without transfer (average hospital length of stay or longer of those transferred to an LTAC hospital) and had one of the 50 most common hospital diagnoses leading to LTAC transfer (N=12,875).MeasurementsWe assessed predictors of transfer using a multilevel model, adjusting for patient-, hospital-, and hospital referral region (HRR)-level factors. We estimated proportions of variance at each level and adjusted hospital- and HRR-specific LTAC transfer rates using sequential models.ResultsThe strongest predictor of transfer was being hospitalized near an LTAC hospital (l1.4 vs g 33.6 miles, adjusted odds ratio=6.2, 95% confidence interval (CI)=4.2-9.1). After adjusting for case mix, differences between hospitals explained 15.4% of the variation in LTAC use and differences between regions explained 27.8%. Case mix-adjusted LTAC use was high in the South, where many HRRs had rates between 20.3% and 53.1%, whereas many HRRs were less than 5.4% in the Pacific Northwest, North, and New England. From our fully adjusted model, the median adjusted hospital LTAC transfer rate was 7.2% (interquartile range 2.8-17.5%), with substantial within-region variation (intraclass coefficient=0.25, 95% CI=0.21-0.30).ConclusionsNearly half of the variation in LTAC use is independent of illness severity and is explained by which hospital and what region the individual was hospitalized in. Because of the greater fragmentation of care and Medicare spending with LTAC transfers (because LTAC hospitals generate a separate bundled payment from the hospital), greater attention is needed to define the optimal role of LTAC hospitals in caring for older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc 66:2112-2119, 2018.
The two-stage no-wait/blocking proportionate super shop scheduling problem

We analyze the ‘no-wait’ proportionate two-stage super shop scheduling problem with the objective of minimising the maximum job completion time (makespan). The existing simple sorting procedures fo...
Ethnic minority members may be at risk for state hopelessness following hospitalization for ischemic heart disease.

Abstract Objective To examine differences in state and trait hopelessness between ethnic minority and White patients hospitalized with ischemic heart disease (IHD). Methods A descriptive cross-sectional design was used to enroll 517 patients at one Midwestern U.S. hospital. The State-Trait Hopelessness Scale measured hopelessness. Results State hopelessness was higher in ethnic minority patients compared to Whites. Ethnic minority patients who had never been married had higher state hopelessness than those who were married or separated/divorced. There were no differences in trait hopelessness. Conclusions Ethnic minority patients with IHD, who have never been married, may be at higher risk for state hopelessness.
A Realist Analysis of the Relationship between Logic and Experience

I undertake to explain how the well known laws of formal logic – Barbara Syllogism, modus ponens, etc. – relate to experience by developing Edmund Husserl's critique ofFormalism and Psychologism in logical theory and then briefly explaining his positive views of the laws of logic. His view rests upon his understanding of the proposition as a complex, intentional property. The laws of formal logic are, on his view (and mine), statements about the truth values of propositions as determined by their formal character and relationships alone. The laws thus understood explain how algorithms set up to mirror them can accomplish what they do to advance knowledge, even though they operate purely mechanically. Further, they explain the proper sense in which formal laws "govern," and may guide, processes of actual thinking. Husserl's theory is a realist theory in the sense that, on his interpretation, the laws of pure or formal logic hold true regardless of what any individual, culture or species may or may not think, or even if no thinking ever occurs.