cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Foreign Body-Type Multinucleated Giant Cell Formation Is Potently Induced by α-Tocopherol and Prevented by the Diacylglycerol Kinase Inhibitor R59022

Multinucleated foreign body giant cells (FBGCs) form by monocyte-derived macrophage fusion on implanted biomedical devices and are believed to mediate oxidative damage to biomaterial surfaces. Our in vitro system of human macrophage culture and interleukin (IL)-4-induced FBGC formation was developed to study the macrophage fusion mechanism and the physiological significance of FBGCs on implanted biomaterials and at other sites of chronic inflammation. Here, we demonstrate that the antioxidant vitamin E (90% α-tocopherol) moderately induces macrophage fusion and increases IL-4-induced FBGC formation. Moreover, purified α-tocopherol, but not β-, γ-, or δ-tocopherol, most remarkably induces macrophage fusion, leading to cultures of confluent FBGCs below normal plasma concentrations. This is not observed with the similar antioxidants probucol or Trolox, suggesting that the α-tocopherol effects on FBGC formation are independent of its antioxidant activity. Consistent with the reported activation of diacylglycerol kinase by α-tocopherol, the diacylglycerol kinase inhibitor R59022 completely abrogates FBGC formation. R59022 inhibition of IL-4-induced FBGC formation is reversed by α-tocopherol, suggesting that FBGC formation involves diacylglycerol kinase activation. This study suggests a novel role for diacylglycerol kinase in the mechanism of macrophage fusion/FBGC formation at sites of chronic inflammation and reveals that the pleiotropic lipophilic compound, α-tocopherol, is a highly potent macrophage fusion factor.
The Effectiveness of Graphic Organizers for Three Classifications of Secondary Students in Content Area Classes

Previous research concerning the graphic or visual display of information with academically handicapped students has not addressed the instructional conditions that exist in mainstream settings. This article investigates the effectiveness of graphic organizers for three classifications of secondary students enrolled in content area classes: students with learning disabilities, remedial students, and students in regular education. The results of three separate experiments indicated that graphic organizers, whether teacher-directed, student-directed with text references, or student-directed with clues, produced significantly higher performance than self-study for each group of students. Several practical issues involving the use of graphic organizers with heterogeneous groups of secondary students are discussed.
Acute toxicity of ammonia in Pacu fish (Piaractus mesopotamicus, Holmberg, 1887) at different temperatures levels

Piaractus mesopotamicus juveniles (total length 12 ± 0.5 mm) were exposed to different concentrations of ammonia-N (un-ionized plus ionized ammonia as nitrogen), using the static renewal method at different temperature levels (15, 20 and 25°C) at pH 7. The 24, 48, 72, 96 h LC50 values of ammonia-N in P. mesopotamicus juveniles were 5.32, 4.19, 3.79 and 2.85 mg L−1 at 15°C; 4.81, 3.97, 3.25 and 2.50 mg L−1 at 20°C; and 4.16, 3.79, 2.58 and 1.97 mg L−1 at 25°C respectively. The 24, 48, 72, 96 h LC50 values of NH3-N (un-ionized ammonia as nitrogen) were 0.018, 0.014, 0.013, 0.009 mg L−1 at 15°C temperature; 0.023, 0.019, 0.016 and 0.012 mg L−1 at 20°C; 0.029, 0.026, 0.018 and 0.014 mg L−1 at 25°C. The temperature increase from 15 to 25°C caused an increase of ammonia-N susceptibility by 21.80%, 9.55%, 31.92% and 30.87%, after 24, 48, 72 and 96 h exposure respectively. Furthermore, we found that exposure of fish to ammonia-N caused an elevation in total haemoglobin and blood glucose with an increase of 2 mg L−1 concentration. Ammonia levels tolerated, especially in different temperatures levels, have important implications for the management of aquaculture.
Derivation of Piezoelectric Losses from Admittance Spectra

High power density piezoelectrics are required to miniaturize devices such as ultrasonic motors, transformers, and sound projectors. The power density is limited by the heat generation in piezoelectrics, therefore, clarification of the loss mechanisms is necessary. This paper provides a methodology to determine the electromechanical losses, i.e., dielectric, elastic and piezoelectric loss factors in piezoelectrics by means of a detailed analysis of the admittance/impedance spectra. This method was applied to determine the piezoelectric losses for lead zirconate titanate ceramics and lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate single crystals. The analytical solution provides a new method for obtaining the piezoelectric loss factor, which is usually neglected in practice by transducer designers. Finite element simulation demonstrated the importance of piezoelectric losses to yield a more accurate fitting to the experimental data. A phenomenological model based on two phase-shifts and the Devonshire theory of a polarizable–deformable insulator is developed to interpret the experimentally observed magnitudes of the mechanical quality factor at resonance and anti-resonance.
Commercial bank net interest margins, default risk, interest-rate risk, and off-balance sheet banking

Abstract This paper tests the hypothesis that banks with more risky loans and higher interest-rate risk exposure would select loan and deposit rates to achieve higher net interest margins. Call Report data for different size classes of banks for 1989–1993 show that the net interest margins of commercial banks reflect both default and interest-rate risk premia. The net interest margins of money-center banks are affected by default risk, but not by interest rate risk, which is consistent with their greater concentration in short-term assets and off-balance sheet (OBS) hedging instruments. By contrast, (super-) regional banking firms are sensitive to interest-rate risk but not to default risk. The data show that OBS activities promote a more diversified, margins-generating asset base than deposit- or equity-financing, and that cross-sectional differences in interest-rate risk and liquidity risk are related to differences in OBS exposure.
Instability of stationary and uniformly moving cylindrical fluid bodies—II. Viscoelastic threads and experimental observations

Abstract The instability analysis of Part I is extended to the breakup of viscoelastic threads in fluid media (also possibly viscoelastic). Critical Growth rates and wave-numbers are calculated in terms of the viscosity ratio, the Ohnesorge numbers (continuous and dispersed phases), and elasticity numbers for each of the respective phases. Comparisons with results for Newtonian systems indicate viscoelastic threads to be less stable than Newtonian threads under similar conditions. Also, the critical wave-numbers observed with viscoelastic threads can differ significantly from those observed with Newtonian systems, particularly if the relative magnitudes of elasticity of the dispersed and continuous phases are quite different. Systems with similar magnitudes of elasticity in each phase exhibit wave-numbers similar to Newtonian systems of similar viscosities. Experimental results obtained from observations of fluid thread breakup in a Taylor four-roller device provide a basis for checking the predictions of the lineararized theory for both Newtonian and viscoelastic systems. In general, the agreement is good and the theoretical predictions of Parts I and II seem to be reasonable representations of experimental fact.
Thermal X-ray emission from neutron stars

In the present paper, the status of theories concerning the thermal properties of neutron stars are reviewed, and means by which observational astronomy may contribute to future studies are examined. Particular attention is given to program of the Einstein Observatory (HEAO 2) which calls for observations of over 50 SNR and 35 radio pulsars. The present paper includes a survey of all objects within 350 pc of the earth.
Meeting the challenge of measuring return on investment for user centered development

To demonstrate return on investment (ROI), usability organizations must measure their impact on business-wide metrics such as quality, innovation, cost, and customer satisfaction. Although much work has focused on calculating costs and benefits of specific projects, demonstrating ROI of a usability program remains a difficult task. To build a successful measurement program for ROI, a framework is needed in which value can be explored, measured, and analyzed from different perspectives. SIG attendees will explore the foundations of such a framework by exchanging information on the challenges they face as they demonstrate ROI, suggesting possible solutions and measures, and identifying important business-wide goals.
An historical analysis of the lexical emergence of the Big Five personality adjective descriptors

This study examined two questions regarding the emergence of adjectives that describe the Big Five Personality dimensions and when they emerged into the modern English lexicon: (1) Did the terms that describe these qualities appear simultaneously or sequentially? (2) Can the emergence of these terms be linked to specific historical eras? Results showed that the adjective descriptors for Openness appeared in the modern lexicon significantly later than those for Agreeableness, Extraversion, and Conscientiousness. The historical context surrounding the emergence of Openness was presented and the implications of these findings for understanding personality were discussed.
Lasers without photons — or should it be lasers with too many photons?

Expanding the fields of a laser cavity in a set of orthonormal modes is a standard technique in laser theory. Expansion in a normal mode set is also the basis of the concept of “photons”. A substantial number of practical lasers do not, however, support any kind of normal or orthogonal cavity modes, and thus, their fields cannot be represented (at least not easily) in terms of normal modes, or photons. This leads to a number of unusual results, including situations in which the lowest-order mode of a cavity can contain substantially more energy than the total energy in the cavity, as well as enhanced quantum spontaneous emission far stronger than the “single extra photon” level characteristic of an ordinary laser oscillator. We review the theoretical origins of these unusual effects and present experimental confirmation of greatly enhanced Schawlow-Townes fluctuations in an unstable-resonator laser with a Petermann-noise enhancement factor of several hundred times.
A direct nicotinic receptor-mediated inhibition recorded intracellularly in vitro

ACETYLCHOLINE activates both nicotinic and muscarinic receptors in the central nervous system1. Although the action of acetylcholine at muscarinic receptors has been well characterized, relatively little is known at the cellular level concerning nicotinic receptor stimulation in brain. Central nicotinic receptors have been implicated in Alzheimer's disease2, seizure activity3, the generation of slow-wave theta rhythm in the hippocampus4 and the potential abuse liability of nicotine5. At the neuronal level, nicotinic agonists have been most often associated with postsynaptically mediated excitation and membrane depolarization at various sites, including Renshaw spinal motoneurons6, locus coeruleus7 and the medial habenular nucleus8. Nicotine acting presynaptically can produce either excitation or inhibition indirectly through the release of endogeneous transmitters or modulators9–12. Whereas a direct inhibitory effect of nicotine has been suggested by one in vivo extracellular recording study in rat cerebellar Purkinje neurons13, the mechanism(s) underlying this action is not yet known. We now report our findings obtained using in vitro intracellular methods in a submerged brain slice preparation in which application of nicotinic agonists to rat dorsolateral septal neurons reveal a direct membrane hyperpolarization mediated by an increase in potassium conductance.
Elimination of bicarbonate interference in the binding of U(VI) in mill-waters to freeze-dried chlorella vulgaris.

Freeze-dried preparations of Chlorella vulgaris will accumulate U(Vl) from alkaline, bicarbonate-containing waters collected from uranium mill process streams, provided that the pH is pre-adjusted to between 4.0 and 6.0. Bicarbonate ion complexes the uranyl ion in these waters and seriously interferes with the binding of U(Vl) to the algal cells at pH values above 6.0. No binding of U(Vl) to the algae occurred at the natural pH of 8.0 when Chlorella vulgaris was suspended in untreated mull-waters containing up to 2.5 x 10/sup -4/M U(Vl). However, when the pH of these waters was lowered from 8.0 to near 5.0, with nitric acid, nearly quantitative binding of U(Vl) to the alga was achieved. Binding is rapid and largely unaffected by ions including Na/sup +/, Cl/sup -/, NO/sub 3//sup -/, /sup -/OAc, and SO/sub 4//sup 2 -/. Our results indicate that provided steps are taken to eliminate bicarbonate interference, such as adjustment of the pH to near 5.0, dried algal biomass could prove useful for the removal and recovery of U(Vl) from high carbonate-containing waters.
Diffuse microgliosis associated with cerebral atrophy in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

The cause of cerebral atrophy in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is obscure because human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-related histopathological changes hardly correlate with cerebral atrophy. In this study, brain ventricular expansion was compared to the frontal lobe density of mononuclear and astroglial cells at autopsy. Twenty-eight male patients with AIDS displaying varying degrees of atrophy were compared to 17 age-matched male control subjects without AIDS or atrophy. An index of ventricular expansion was measured in uniformly sliced, formalin-fixed brain specimens, and immunochemically marked cells in coronal sections of the left superior frontal gyrus (Brodmann area 8) were quantified by field counting and planimetry. In the cortex, diffuse ferritin-stained microglia and glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive astrocytes were about twice as numerous in the patients with AIDS. Sixty-five percent (18/28) of the patients with AIDS had a microglial cell density greater than 2 standard deviations above the control mean. Microglial cell density was correlated positively with the severity of ventricular expansion (r = 0.71, p < 0.0001), while hypertrophied astroglial cells were very weakly related. In white matter, Ham-56-positive macrophages and glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive astrocytes were not meaningfully correlated with the index of ventricular expansion. Brain ventricular expansion and diffuse cortical microgliosis are highly prevalent anomalies in patients with AIDS, and their interrelationship may be more important than previously recognized.
Co-repressor Release but Not Ligand Binding Is a Prerequisite for Transcription Activation by Human Retinoid Acid Receptor α Ligand-binding Domain

Nuclear hormone receptors coordinately regulate the activity of genetic networks through the recruitment of transcriptional co-regulators, including co-repressors and co-activators. Allosteric modulation of the ligand-binding domain by hormonal activators shifts the co-factor binding preference by defined structural changes in overlapping docking sites. We report here that mutations at conserved residues within the docking motif of the retinoic acid receptor α cause defects in dimerization, co-regulator association, and transcriptional regulation. Furthermore, although a minimal co-repressor receptor interaction domain is sufficient for receptor binding, flanking sequences appear to stabilize this interaction without interfering with ligand sensitivity. However, ligand sensitivity is changed by the K262A mutation, which requires much higher concentrations of all-trans-retinoic acid to promote co-repressor dissociation. Consequently, K262A functions as a dominant-negative mutant at low concentrations of all-trans-retinoic acid. As a result, transcriptional activation is mechanistically linked to co-repressor release.
Fused‐ring tropylium ion formation and fragmentation

Fused-ring tropylium ions, formed in the electron impact mass spectra of methyl phenanthrenes and methyl anthra-cenes were studied by mass spectrometric and computational methods. These ions form through a cyclopropyl intermediate. As a result of an equilibrium between the benzylium and tropylium ion configurations, partial carlton atom scrambling occurs in the fused-ring structures. Fragmentation of these ions occurs only in the ring incorporating the methyl carbon. These conclusions are supported by MNDO calculations and by 13C-labeled methyl-phenanthrene and methylanthracene fragmentation studies.
High-performance implementation of the level-3 BLAS

A simple but highly effective approach for transforming high-performance implementations on cache-based architectures of matrix-matrix multiplication into implementations of other commonly used matrix-matrix computations (the level-3 BLAS) is presented. Exceptional performance is demonstrated on various architectures.
Midribs of cycad pinnae

Comparisons of midribs of three cycad genera,Chigua, Cycas, andStangeria, the only three genera characterized by midribs in the pinnae, show that those ofChigua andStangeria are very similar to each other and quite unlike those ofCycas. Midribs ofCycas include a single, median vein, and the pinnae of these species lack lateral veins. Pinnae midribs ofChigua andStangeria include several (2–5 and 2–8, respectively) longitudinal parallel veins, and dichotomizing lateral veins arising from the midrib. Pinnae of other cycads, includingZamia, with whichChigua appears to be most closely allied, exhibit evenly spaced, longitudinally parallel, dichotomizing veins, a character considered to be primitive. All veins in cycad leaves have a single mesarch protoxylem pole. The midrib condition inChigua andStangeria represents an advanced state in comparison to that in the leaf of the Marattiales, for example, where there is a single veined midrib but with numerous mesarch protoxylem poles. It would appear that the midrib has been derived independently at least three times within the cycads, once in each major group.
The use of individualized problems to improve students' learning

Abstract Individualized problems is a methodology that creates an unlimited set of numerically unique problems, that cover the same material and are of similar difficulty. Individualized problems combine the best features of take-home and in-class examinations in meeting test objectives. Students can benefit from collaboration, but cannot mechanically copy each other's solutions. The problems also provide opportunities for problem solving without the artificial time constraints of in-class examinations. Professors can provide students with timely feedback, yet minimize the time spent on grading. More importantly, individualized problems can improve students' learning of accounting material. An empirical test compares the in-class test performance of students previously assigned individualized homework problems on two specific topics with the performance of students given identical take-home problems. One problem is relatively easier than the other. Results show a significant positive differential learning impact for the easier problem for (1) weak/average undergraduate students (13-point improvement), (2) strong undergraduate students (16-point improvement), and (3) weak/average graduate students (22-point improvement). There is no learning effect for strong graduate students, who averaged 97 points or better for both the individualized and identical problems. The tests show a very slight learning effect for the more difficult problem for weak/average students (4–5 point improvement, but not statistically significant), and no learning effect for the strong students. Questionnaire responses indicate that student reaction to these take-home problems is highly favorable.
Identification of a cis-acting element involved in the regulation of BACE1 mRNA alternative splicing.

β-site APP cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) is the transmembrane aspartyl protease that catalyzes the first cleavage step during proteolysis of the β-amyloid precursor protein, a process involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease. BACE1 pre-mRNA undergoes complex alternative splicing, and cis-acting elements important for its regulation have not been identified. We constructed and compared several BACE1 minigenes and found that BACE1 sequence from exon 3 through exon 5 was required for minigenes to undergo correct splicing. Minigene splicing was validated by showing specific splicing inhibition upon splice site mutation. Furthermore, we showed that mutation of the minigene at a predicted exonic splicing enhancer in exon 4 of BACE1 increased exon 4 skipping. Therefore, we have for the first time found evidence of a regulatory site involved in BACE1 alternative splicing, and these data indicate that minor sequence changes can dramatically alter BACE1 alternative splicing.
Promoting Residents' Professional Development and Academic Productivity Using a Structured Faculty Mentoring Program

Background: The importance of effective mentoring in career success is universally accepted but has not been well studied in academic medicine. Purposes : The purpose was to describe a formal mentoring program of residents by faculty in obstetrics and gynecology and assess professional and educational outcomes. Methods: In 2006, a formal mentoring program was developed. Faculty and residents were provided instruction. Residents selected their mentors and met regularly. Resident–mentor contracts were signed. Mentors developed corrective plans and monitored residents with problems. Outcomes were measured prospectively. Results: Twenty-five residents and 18 faculty participated. After 2 years, 7 residents (28%) had scientific publications as compared to 10% in the year preceding the mentoring program. Eleven (44%) presented oral or poster presentations, and 17 (68%) were conducting scientific research. Mentors' effectiveness was rated between 4.3 and 4.7 (Likert scale of 1–5). Three of 4 residents in remedia...
Data Visualization, Data Reduction and Classifier Fusion for Intelligent Fault Detection and Diagnosis in Gas Turbine Engines

In this paper, we investigate four key issues associated with data-driven approaches for fault classification using the Pratt and Whitney commercial dual-spool turbofan engine data as a test case. The four issues considered here include: (1) Can we characterize, a priori, the difficulty of fault classification via self-organizing maps? (2) Do data reduction techniques improve fault classification performance and enable the implementation of data-driven classification techniques in memory-constrained digital electronic control units (DECUs)?, (3) When does adaptive boosting, an incremental fusion method that successively combines moderately inaccurate classifiers into accurate ones, help improve classification performance?, and (4) How to synthesize classifier fusion architectures to improve the overall diagnostic accuracy? The classifiers studied in this paper are the support vector machine (SVM), probabilistic neural network (PNN), k-nearest neighbor (KNN), principal component analysis (PCA), Gaussian mixture models (GMM), and a physics-based single fault isolator (SFI). As these algorithms operate on large volumes of data and are generally computationally expensive, we reduce the dataset using the multi-way partial least squares (MPLS) method. This has the added benefits of improved diagnostic accuracy and smaller memory requirements. The performance of the moderately inaccurate classifiers is improved using adaptive boosting (AdaBoost). These results are compared to the results of the classifiers alone, as well as different fusion architectures. We show that fusion reduces the variability in diagnostic accuracy, and is most useful when combining moderately inaccurate classifiers.
Self-attitude change and deviant behavior

For each of 22 essentially uncorrelated deviant acts the following hypothesis was tested: Among persons who report not having performed the act during a period prior to the first testing, regardless of initial level of self-derogation, individuals who report (a year later) at the second testing having performed the deviant act during the intervening year will have manifested significantly greater increases in self-rejecting attitudes over the same period than persons who report not having performed the act. Data were obtained from participants in a longitudinal study of junior high school students who responded to questionnaires at the first two testings. Self-attitudes were measured by scores on a self-derogation scale. Change in self-derogation from the first to the second testing was determined by expressing the later score as a deviation from the posttest-on-pretest regression line. Deviant behaviors were indicated by self-reports. The change score comparisons between persons who reported and did not report deviant responses at the later time were made separately for persons with initially low, medium, and high self-derogation scores respectively. The comparisons were in the hypothesized direction in all 66 (22 deviant acts X 3 initial selfderogation levels) instances. In 58 instances the results were significant. The strong support for the hypothesized association between deviant responses and increases in self-rejection is interpreted as congruent with the position that the genesis of negative self-attitudes is a common influence in the adoption of deviant responses in general.
Nonlinear 3-D trajectory guidance for unmanned aerial vehicles

In this paper, we propose a backstepping based nonlinear guidance controller, designed for 3-D path tracking for a UAV. The guidance law design assumes first order dynamics for the speed, heading and elevation angles. We demonstrate closed loop stability via Lyapunov analysis. The efficacy of the controller is demonstrated for two cases, namely the straight path following and a curved path following.
Treatment of Catfish Fillets with Citric Acid Causes Reduction of 2-Methylisoborneol, but not Musty Flavor

: Catfish fillets containing 2-methylisoborneol were vacuum-tumbled in 0%, 0.5%, and 2% citric acid solutions, or left untreated to evaluate acid treatment for reducing musty flavor. Color, texture, composition, and expressible moisture were determined using raw fish. Untreated and 2% acid-treated cooked fish were evaluated by sensory evaluation. MIB, determined by GC-MS, significantly decreased from 4.43 to 2.80 μg/kg as a result of vacuum-tumbling with 2% citric acid. The moisture content, expressible moisture loss and lightness of the samples increased as a result of acid treatment. Panelists preferred untreated samples compared to the 2% acid-treated samples, but were unable to differentiate between them in terms of musty flavor.
Numerical Design of a High-Flux Microchannel Solar Receiver

This computational study investigates design of microchannel based solar receiver for use in concentrated solar power. A design consisting of a planar array of channels with solar flux incident on one side and using supercritical carbon dioxide as the working fluid is sought. Use of microchannels is investigated as they offer enhanced heat transfer in solar receivers and have the potential to dramatically reduce the size and increase the performance. Designs are investigated for an incident heat flux of 1 MW/m2, up to 3.3 times that of current solar receivers [1], resulting in significant reduction of size and cost. The goal is to design a microchannel receiver with inlet and outlet temperatures of the working fluid of 500°C and 650°C, operating pressure of 100 bar, pressure drop less than 0.35 bar and surface efficiency greater than 90% defined by radiation and convection losses to the environment. Three micro-channel designs are considered: rectangular cross section with high and low aspect ratio (designs A and B) and rectangular cross section with an array of micro pin-fins of various shape spanning the height of the channel (design C). Numerical simulations are performed on individual channels and on a unit cell of the pin-fin design. Structural analysis is performed to ensure that the design can withstand the operating pressure and thermal stresses. The effects of flow maldistribution and header system in an array of channels are also investigated. Preliminary results show that all three designs are capable of meeting the requirements, with the pin-fin design having the lowest pressure drop and highest efficiency.© 2013 ASME
2-Hydroxyacids as biochemical ligands. Copper(II)-facilitated hydrolysis of 2-hydroxyacid esters

Copper complexes of several biochemically important 2-hydroxyacids have been prepared and characterized. 2-Hydroxyfatty acids, which are components of complex brain lipids, readily act as bidentate ligands to form Cu(2-hydroxyacid)2. Treatment of Cu[l(+)-2-hydroxyacid]2 with strong acid results in partial racemization of the recovered hydroxyacid. The stereochemical integrity of l(+)mandelic acid is maintained if it is recovered from its copper complex by reaction with disodium EDTA. This process is suggested for the isolation of naturally occurring 2-hydroxyacids from biological extracts. 2-Acetoxyoctadecanoic acid and methylesters of 2-hydroxyacids are readily hydrolyzed by warming in aqueous alcohol containing Cu(II). The results of these reactions, which are presumably metal-ion facilitated, are discussed in relation to biochemical reactions occurring with naturally occurring 2-hydroxyacid derivatives.
Realistic animation of legged running on rough terrain

Animations of legged creatures running over rough terrain were generated automatically, using physical modelling and animation with newly developed techniques from robotics and artificial intelligence. The 2D animations correctly simulate gravity, inertia, balance, and friction. The running motion generated is not repetitive; each stride is different, as dictated by the terrain. Dramatic movement effects such as slips, falls, struggling on slippery surfaces, and fall recoveries were demonstrated. >
Development and validation of a prioritization rule for obtaining an immediate 12-lead electrocardiogram in the emergency department to identify ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Background Current guidelines recommend an immediate (eg, Methods An ECG prioritization rule was derived and validated using classification and regression tree analysis among >3 million ED visits to 107 EDs from 2007 to 2008. Results The final study population included 3,575,178 ED patient visits; of these, 6,464 (0.18%) were diagnosed with STEMI. Overall, 1,413 (21.9%) of patients with STEMI did not present to the ED with chest pain. Major predictors of those requiring an immediate ECG in the ED included age ≥30 years with chest pain; age ≥50 years with shortness of breath, altered mental status, upper extremity pain, syncope, or generalized weakness; and those with age ≥80 years with abdominal pain or nausea/vomiting. When the ECG prioritization rule was applied to a validation sample, it had a sensitivity of 91.9% (95% CI 90.9%-92.8%) for STEMI and a negative predictive value 99.98% (95% CI 99.98%-99.98%). Conclusion A simple ECG prioritization rule based on age and presenting symptoms in the ED can identify patients during triage who are at high risk for STEMI and therefore should receive an immediate 12-lead ECG, often before they are seen by a physician.
Reye Syndrome Associated with Vaccination with Live Virus Vaccines An Exploration of Possible Etiologic Relationships

To determine whether vaccination with live virus vaccines may be etiologically related to Reye syndrome, we examined 404 cases reported to the Center for Disease Control. Fifteen of 269 children with Reye syndrome has been inoculated with live virus vaccines within 30 days before onset of illness. Although this temporal relationship may have occurred by chance, seasonal distribution and clustering of incubation periods suggests that live virus vaccines may occasionally serve as cofactors in the etiology of Reye syndrome through undefined mechanisms.
Seasonal variability in the salinity and oxygen isotopic composition of seawater from the Cariaco Basin, Venezuela: Implications for paleosalinity reconstructions

Oxygen isotope measurements (δ18Ow) were made on seawater samples collected monthly between May 1996 and February 1997 and between December 2005 and May 2006 at various water depths at the Cariaco Basin ocean time series station (10°30N, 64°40W). The δ18Ow values are compared with concurrent salinity measurements to assess the δ18Ow:salinity relationship in this tropical region and to determine if significant seasonal variability exists in the relationship. The δ18Ow values range from 0.88 to 1.19‰ SMOW in the upper 250 m. Our results indicate that the strongest positive linear correlation between δ18Ow and salinity in the upper 250 m occurred during the February and April 2006 upwelling season (R2 = 0.95 and 0.94, respectively). The salinity: δ18Ow relationship displays significant seasonal variability which is attributed to seasonal changes in freshwater input from the Tuy, Neveri, and Unare rivers into the Cariaco Basin. Specifically, an inverse correlation (R2 = 0.77) exists between monthly Neveri River discharge and sea surface salinity. Our results demonstrate that significant seasonal changes in the δ18Ow:salinity relationship occur in the tropics. The data also show a distinct difference between the surface water δ18Ow:salinity relationship during the upwelling season (R2 = 0.96) and the nonupwelling season (R2 = 0.93) revealing zero-salinity end-members of −28.53 (SE ± 3.04) and −8.77 (SE ± 1.33), respectively. The seasonal mixing lines are an important consideration when utilizing the salinity:oxygen isotope relationship for paleosalinity reconstructions. The oxygen isotope composition (δ18Oc) was also measured in two surface-dwelling planktonic foraminiferal species, Globigerinoides ruber and Globigerina bulloides, from biweekly sediment trap samples collected in the Cariaco Basin between November 1996 and February 1997 and May 2003 through May 2006. The large range in δ18Oc during the study period, 1.4‰ for G. ruber and 1.5‰ for G. bulloides, is attributed to changes in calcification depths of the species from 1996–1997 to 2005–2006. Using the surface water δ18Ow:salinity equations generated for the upwelling and nonwelling seasons in the Cariaco Basin, we compare measured seawater salinity with the calculated seawater salinity at various depths of calcification. The δ18Ow:salinity equation generated from surface waters during the upwelling months yields salinity estimates that best agree with measured salinities.
A Hybrid MPI Simulator

Performance analysis of large scale applications and predicting the impact of architectural changes on the behavior of such applications is difficult. Traditional approaches to measuring applications usually change their behavior, require recompilation, and need specialized tools to extract performance information. Often the tools are programming language specific and not suitable for all applications. If, instead, an application is to be modeled to gather the same kind of information, then in-depth knowledge of the applications is required. Furthermore, parameters that control the behavior of the application on a specific machine have to be adjusted; often in ways that are more art than science. In this paper we describe an approach that is a hybrid between running a parallel application in stand-alone made and simulating the network it uses for MPI data exchanges. The discrete event network simulator is execution-driven by the application. We explain how our early prototype works and how it can be used. We mention several experiments that we have already performed with this prototype and show its potential for future research.
A Complete Gentzen-Style Axiomatization for Set Constraints

Set constraints are inclusion relations between expressions denoting sets of ground terms over a ranked alphabet. They are the main ingredient in set-based program analysis. In this paper we provide a Gentzen-style axiomatization for sequents $\Phi\force\Psi$, where $\Phi$ and $\Psi$ are finite sets of set constraints, based on the axioms of termset algebra. Sequents of the restricted form $\Phi\force\bottom$ correspond to positive set constraints, and those of the more general form $\Phi\force\Psi$ correspond to systems of mixed positive and negative set constraints. We show that the deductive system is (i) complete for the restricted sequents $\Phi\force\bottom$ over standard models, (ii) incomplete for general sequents $\Phi\force\Psi$ over standard models, but (iii) complete for general sequents over set-theoretic termset algebras.
Root contraction in Cycas and Zamia (Cycadales) determined by gelatinous fibers.

UNLABELLED • PREMISE OF THE STUDY Reaction wood (RW) in seed plants can induce late and usually secondary changes in organ orientation. Conifers produce compression wood (CW), generated by compression tracheids, which generate a push force. Angiosperms produce tension wood (TW), generated by tension wood fibers (TWF) often described as "gelatinous fibers," which exert a pull force. Usually RW is produced eccentrically, but it can occur concentrically, as in aerial roots of Ficus. However, gymnosperms can produce gelatinous fibers (tension fibers, TF), as in cortical and secondary phloem tissues (Gnetum). TFs are therefore limited neither to wood, xylem, nor angiosperms. Here we demonstrate that TFs in secondary phloem are involved in contraction of roots of cycads and compare them with TFs of Ficus.• METHODS We sectioned root material of cycads at various stages of seedling development using simple staining and histochemical procedures to follow the course of secondary phloem development. Aerial roots of Ficus were compared with the cycad root material.• KEY RESULTS Tension fibers (gelatinous fibers) occur extensively and continuously in the secondary phloem in roots that undergo contraction. Older tissues, but notably the xylem, become distorted by contraction. TFs in cycads correspond in cell wall features to TFs that occur in Ficus, but do not occur in secondary xylem. The individual fibers visibly contract.• CONCLUSIONS Tissue contraction in Cycas and Zamia corresponds to that found in angiosperms and Gnetum and further broadens the scope of the activity of tension tissues. This finding possibly indicates that gelatinous fibers originated at a very early period of seed plant evolution.
Thermal management and power packaging for spacecraft of the next millennium

Summary form only given, as follows. Spacecraft power management subsystems have evolved a great deal since the first launch of unmanned spacecraft in the late 1950's. To take advantage of rapidly emerging technologies in the commercial sector and provide more launch and exploration opportunities, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has implemented a "faster, cheaper, better" philosophy toward the design of space exploration missions. The challenges that this approach to spacecraft design places on the production of electrical power, energy storage and power distribution are discussed in this paper with primary emphasis placed on power distribution and regulation. Technology trends, system tradeoffs, packaging, thermal management and emerging issues associated with "system-on-a-chip" concepts are discussed. Examples of past, current and proposed future NASA space exploration are used to illustrate these aspects of spacecraft for the new millennium.
A potential role for cadmium in the etiology of varicoceleassociated infertility

Objective To determine whether mannose ligand receptor and acrosome reaction deficits in sperm from men with varicocele are related to the transition metal content of their semen. Design Cadmium and zinc in semen and blood plasma were assayed for fertile males, men without varicocele who required intracytoplasmic sperm injection to achieve fertilization, and men evaluated for potential varicocele-associated infertility. The relationship between actin cytoskeletal distributions and acrosome status was determined for fertile donor sperm in the presence and absence of exogenous cadmium. Setting University hospital-based molecular biology research laboratory. Patient(s) Patients from two university hospital-based IVF-assisted reproductive technology programs and two male urology private practices. Intervention(s) Fertile donor sperm were exposed to exogenous cadmium during capacitating incubations followed by culture at temperatures up to 41 °C. Main Outcome Measure(s) Metal ion levels in semen and blood plasma were determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy. Motile sperm were examined for mannose ligand binding and the ability to undergo spontaneous and induced acrosome reactions. Unfixed, Triton-permeabilized sperm were probed with antiactin and antimyosin antibodies. Result(s) Cadmium was elevated and zinc was decreased in the seminal plasma of men with varicocele. The content of these metals in semen and blood was not correlated. Cadmium exposure in vitro reduced mannose receptor expression, acrosome exocytosis, and cytoskeletal formation by fertile donor sperm. Conclusion(s) Defects in transition metal regulation or excessive cadmium exposure are involved in varicocele-associated infertility. Fertil Steril ® 1997;67:336-47
Right Brain: A reading specialist with alexia without agraphia Teacher interrupted

Reading to children was a source of fulfillment in the life of M.P., a 40-year-old aunt, kindergarten teacher, and reading specialist. Whether in the classroom, the reading room, or the living room, M.P. found joy in the dual role of teacher and storyteller. For her, it was an important means of relating to those under her care. But all of that changed when, on a Thursday morning, M.P. found herself standing at the front of her class and holding in her hands an indecipherable mystery.
Use of a Crack‐Bridging Single‐Fiber Pullout Test to Study Steel Fiber/Cementitious Matrix Composites

The fracture process of steel fiber/cementitious matrix composites has been studied using a single-fiber pullout test that permits detailed measurements of the load-crack opening displacement relationship during fiber debonding and unloading. Using a suitable analytical model, the interfacial fracture energy and interfacial sliding friction have been calculated for composites incorporating steel fibers with cement paste or mortar matrices. Comparison of theoretical debonding curves with the experimental data show that the model accurately represents the fiber debonding process, except for a decrease in interfacial sliding friction due to wear of matrix asperities at the interface. Differences between the calculated interfacial properties of several specimens are associated with changes in the interfacial microstructure.
Synthesis of P-, S-, Si-, B-, and Se-Heterocycles via Ring-Closing Metathesis

Heterocyclic compounds are an important class of motif in natural products and have found various applications in agriculture, pharmaceutical agents, and material science. This chapter describes various synthetic strategies toward heterocycle compounds containing P, S, Si, B, and Se atoms utilizing RCM method. Herein, efficient and innovative synthetic methods ranging from small molecules to large rings for natural products in the use of RCM are discussed.
Abstract P288: Cardiovascular Disease, Risk Factors, and Physical Activity are Significant Predictors of Self-Rated Health and Well-Being

Introduction: Self-rated health, a measure of general health, is recognized as a valid measure for predicting future health outcomes, especially survival. In this study, the role of cardiovascular disease (CVD), CVD risk factors, and level of physical activity (PA) in predicting self-rated health and well-being was investigated. It was hypothesized that individuals who reported having CVD, at least one CVD risk factor (e.g., hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, or current cigarette smoking), or not meeting current PA guidelines (≥ 30 min. moderate-intensity aerobic activity at least 5 days/week) would report lower general health and well-being scores than individuals without CVD, CVD risk factors, or meeting current PA guidelines. Methods: Participants were English speaking adults, aged 55 years and older, attending the 2014 Minnesota State Fair. Self-reported questionnaires were used to gather data on PA, CVD, CVD risk factors, general health, and well-being. The Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity was used to assess level of PA. General health was assessed with a comparative self-rated health question: “In general, compared to other people your age, would you say that your health is” with the response items “excellent,” “very good,” “good,” “fair,” or “poor.” Well-being was assessed with the Cantril self-anchoring striving scale (i.e., Cantril-ladder). Proportional odds models were applied to the data to examine the effect of CVD, CVD risk factors, and levels of PA on self-rated health and well-being. Results: Study participants ( N =434) were primarily white (94%), college educated (75%) females (58%) with a mean age of 65.1 ( SD =7.0) years. More than half (62.7%) met the PA guidelines and 49.5% reported at least one of the following: heart disease, stroke, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, or diabetes. Only 1.1% were current smokers, thus smoking was excluded from final analyses. Meeting the PA guidelines was associated with higher Cantril scores ( p p =0.046). Similarly, individuals who reported meeting the PA guidelines had higher comparative self-rated health scores ( p p =0.018). Conclusions: CVD, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, and levels of PA below the recommended guidelines predict lower self-rated general health and well-being. These findings underscore the importance of interventions to improve PA, particularly among individuals with CVD or who are at risk for CVD, to improve perceptions of general health and well-being, and ultimately overall health outcomes.
Dynamics of water and solute transport in polymeric reverse osmosis membranes via molecular dynamics simulations

Abstract The Angstrom-scale transport characteristics of water and six different solutes, methanol, ethanol, 2-propanol, urea, Na+, and Cl-, were studied for a polyamide reverse osmosis (RO) membrane, FT-30, using non-equilibrium molecular dynamics (NEMD) simulations. Results indicate that water transport increases with an increasing fraction of connected percolated free volume, or water-accessible open space, in the membrane polymer structure. This free volume is enhanced by the dynamic structure of the membrane at the molecular level as it swells when hydrated and vibrates due to molecular collisions allowing a continuous path connecting the opposite membrane surfaces. The tortuous paths available for transport of solutes result in Brownian motion of solute molecules and hopping from pore to pore as they pass through the polymer network structure of the membrane. The transport of alcohol solutes decreases for solutes with larger Van der Waals volume, which corresponds to less available percolated free volume, or solute-accessible space, within the membrane polymer structure. However, the Van der Waals size of the dehydrated solutes is generally not a good measure to predict solute transport or rejection. Urea has reduced transport compared to ethanol, most likely due to more complex chemistry, even though urea has a smaller Van der Waals volume than ethanol. Na+ and Cl- experience the lowest transport, likely due to strong ion-water and ion-ion electrostatic interactions.
A Complex Rolle's Theorem

(1992). A Complex Rolle's Theorem. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 99, No. 9, pp. 858-861.
Identification of 3,3'-T2S as a fetal thyroid hormone derivative in maternal urine in sheep

We measured 3,3'-diiodothyronine sulfate (T2S) in serum and urine (n = 5–6) obtained from euthyroid fetal (94–145 days of gestation, term = 150 days), newborn, and adult sheep and in serum and urin...