cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of Controlled Perturbations in a Hypersonic Boundary Layer

A study was conducted to better characterize the perturbations used to generate instability waves and turbulent spots on the nozzle wall of the Boeing/AFOSR Mach-6 Quiet Tunnel. Instead of creating an arc discharge as expected, the perturber was found to generate a pulsed glow. In order to characterize the initial formation of disturbances generated by the glow discharge, spanwise measurements were made near the perturber location. A low-frequency pressure disturbance was measured; however, higher frequency second-mode waves appear too small to be resolved above the background electronic noise level. Also, the repeatability of the instability wave packets generated by the glow was measured. Similar results were obtained with electrodes changes and when upstream sensor inserts were removed and replaced by contoured blanks. Finally, the axisymmetry of the nozzle-wall flow was studied by moving the setup to the bottom wall of the tunnel. Instability waves had 15–20% higher frequencies and grew more quickly on the bottom wall. These trends were consistent with the azimuthally non-uniform nozzle-wall temperature generated by uneven heating during shutdown.
Dispersion of SiO2 by Coating with a Thickness of Nano-meters on the Surface of Fine α-alumina Powder

A fine α-alumina powder was coated by SiO2 ultra fine particles with a diameter of nano-meters. SiO2 by hydrolysis of ethyl silicate with water adsorbed on the powder was precipitated onto the powder in the hydrophobic liquid which contained 90vol.% ligroin, 10vol.% ethyl silicate and 0.015mol/l stearic acid. The thickness of the coated layer was controllable by changing the amount of the adsorbed water up to 10wt.% of the powder.
Hormonal Control of Flight Muscle Histolysis in Dysdercus fulvoniger

As in several other species of Dysdercus , the flight muscles of the female of D. fulvoniger (DeGeer) histolyse at onset of vitellogenesis. If its natural food in unavailable, vitellogenesis does not commence, the flight muscles develop, and the insects fly readily. Mating does not initiate histolysis. Active corpora allata implanted into starved (flying) females result in histolysis. Allatectomized females when fed and mated do not undergo muscle histolysis or vitellogenesis. Topical application of synthetic juvenile hormone initiates flight muscle histolysis in starved females and in males. Denervation of the flight muscles results in rapid histolysis. It is concluded that flight muscle histolysis in the female is initiated by the juvenile hormone and that the effect is possibly expressed through the flight motor neurons. The characteristics of the reproductive biology and its relationship to migratory behavior in D. fulvoniger are compared to these phenomena in several other members of the genus.
Application of polyethylene glycol electrolyte powder compound for pediatric bowel preparation before colostomy closure

Objective: To observe the effect of peros polyethylene glycol electrolyte powder compound for pediatric bowel preparation before colostomy closure. Methods: 60 cases before colostomy closure were randomly divided into control group and experimental group. The experimental group drunk the solution 6 hours before the operation,while the control group got two times of intestinal lavage( 12 hours and 1 hour before the operation) from the near- end of the colostomy mouth. Compared the cleanliness of the near- end of the colostomy mouth,obedience and untoward effect. Results: The experimental group got much better cleanliness( P 0. 05) and further obedience( P 0. 05) than control group. The experimental group came out 4 cases of oral difficulty,control group. With 11 cases of acute crying and action,among 11 cases,there were 3 cases of mucosal injury,1 case of operation delaying,1 case of emesis.Conclusion: The effect and obedience of drinking the solution before colostomy closure is satisfactory. However,minority got untoward effect such as oral difficulty,emesis. It is still need futher study.
Fostering information strategies through visualization of networks

This study hypothesizes that when social network graphs are used in instruction, students are presented with otherwise hidden information that can be used to make more strategic decisions about who to interact with in discursive activities. Whereas, the majority of rules for previous interactions are based on social or random factors, after studying social network graphs, students cite more cognitive or informational reasons.
AHEC library services: from circuit rider to virtual librarian. Area Health Education Centers.

The North Carolina Area Health Education Centers Library and Information Services (NC AHEC LIS) Network provides library outreach services to rural health care providers in all nine AHEC regions of North Carolina. Over the last twenty-five years, the AHEC and university-based librarians have collaborated to create a model program for support of community-based clinical education and information access for rural health care providers. Through several collaborative projects, they have supported Internet access for rural health clinics. The NC AHEC Digital Library—under development by NC AHEC, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke University, East Carolina University, and Wake Forest University—will further extend access to electronic biomedical information and resources to health professionals in a statewide digital library.
Ogilvie’s Syndrome: A Potential Complication of Vaginal Surgery

AbstractOgilvie’s syndrome is a well described disorder of the gastrointestinal tract and is characterized by marked dilatation of the distal colon without mechanical obstruction. There are numerous proposed etiologies for this syndrome, which include an association with certain medical conditions, medications and major abdominal surgery. The occurrence of Ogilvie’s syndrome, however, is not widely reported following vaginal operations. We present 3 cases in which procedures on the bladder neck performed through the vagina resulted in the development of postoperative Ogilvie’s syndrome. Early diagnosis and treatment of this syndrome are important to avoid significant morbidity and mortality.
Osteogenesis imperfecta type V, spot diagnosis.

BACKGROUND The first case of Osteogenesis Imperfecta Type V in the Polish literature is reported. CASE REPORT Skeletal survey of an 8 year old girl with a history of multiple fractures and bilateral dislocation of radial heads was received for consultation. CONCLUSIONS Generalised osteoporosis with multiple fractures, periosteal thickening and bilateral dislocation of the radial heads are characteristic signs of osteogenesis imperfecta Type V. The Nosology and Classification of Genetic Skeletal Disorders 2006 Revision classified Osteogenesis Imperfecta into 8 major types. Type V is recognizable on the basis of skeletal survey alone.
Construction of G Alpha-16 Chimeras for Detection of GPCR Activation

G protein-coupled Receptors (GPCRs) transduce various extracellular stimuli to intracellular signaling across the plasma membrane. Ligand binding causes a conformational change of the GPCR, resulting in interaction with the GDP-bound G alpha, which forms a heterotrimer with G beta-gamma. Nucleotide exchange of GDP for GTP follows causing the GTP-bound active G alpha to dissociate from G beta-gamma so that both subunits can transduce signaling. There are four subclasses of G alpha subunits, such as G alpha-s, G alpha-i, G alpha-q, and G alpha-12/13, which activate distinct effectors. Members of the G alpha-q subclass (G alpha-q, G alpha-11, G alpha-14, and G alpha-16) directly bind and stimulate the catalytic activity of phospholipase C beta isozymes, which produce two second messengers, diacylglycerol and inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3) from phosphatidylinositol-(4,5)-bisphosphate. IP3 induces calcium release from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER).In order to detect GPCR-G protein coupling by monitoring calcium mobilization, we constructed chimeric G proteins. Calcium mobilization, elicited by GPCR stimulation, was monitored using the calcium indicator Fluo-4-AM. It is known that the C-terminal sequences of G alpha play critical roles in interactions with GPCRs. Because G alpha-16 displays promiscuity toward GPCRs, C-terminal residues (11 or 30 amino acids) of G alpha-16 were replaced with those of other subclasses of G alpha. Human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells were transfected with GPCRs and G alpha-16 chimeras (G alpha-16/s, G alpha-16/o, G alpha-16/i1-i2, G alpha-16/i3, G alpha-16/13). Other assays are also utilized as controls of chimeric G alpha-16 signaling. Additionally, G alpha-16 chimera constructs are being applied to detect modulated- or biased-G protein coupling by heteromerization of GPCRs.
Preclinical Evaluation of Carcinogenicity using the Rodent Two-Year Bioassay

The rodent two-year bioassay is generally considered to be the most reliable experimental tool through which the possible carcinogenicity of a drug or chemical may be predicted. The results of chronic rodent carcinogenicity bioassays demonstrate strong concordance with human cancer responses, and the results of two-year bioassays in rodents are accepted by both American and international regulatory agencies as providing adequate assessments of the potential carcinogenic activity of drugs and chemicals. Standardized study designs are available for two-year bioassays in rats and mice, and interpretation of study data is facilitated by the availability of historical databases for the incidences of malignant and benign lesions in several strains of rodents. Key considerations in study design include animal models, group size, and agent dose levels selected for evaluation.
The Solar Neutrino Problem: Gadfly for Solar Evolution Theory

Prior to the pioneering work by the team from Brookhaven National Laboratory led by Raymond Davis, Jr, solar evolution theory was regarded as a solved problem. The world of astrophysics confidently awaited Davis’s announcement that the Sun was indeed a thermonuclear reactor functioning as everyone knew it did. Initial results showed instead an upper limit for the flux of high-energy neutrinos far below the standard predictions. Then as advances in the experimental precision served for a number of years only to reduce that upper limit, consternation reigned, and the problem of the evolution of the Sun was re-examined in the greatest detail. Every measurement and every assumption that enters the calculation of present solar interior conditions was questioned in an effort to find the root cause of the discrepancy between theory and observations, without apparent success. Parker in his review of thermonuclear reactions in the solar interior for this study reports the current discrepancy as a factor of 3 to 4 overprediction of the counting rate for the 37 CI experiment by the best modern models of the Sun. A current possibility, in view of the recent excitement following reports by Reines concerning a possible nonzero rest mass for the neutrino, is -that the discrepancy may well be due to neutrino oscillations, or some other aspect of neutrino physics, and may not really be symptomatic of a problem with our understanding of the physics and evolution of the solar interior. Even if this should turn out to be the case, those of us who have struggled with the problem over the years will not feel that our efforts have been wasted, for our understanding of the solar interior and our confidence in our knowledge of the consequences of every input datum have grown considerably as the quest progressed, and have reached levels to which we would not have been driven without the stimulus of the enigmatic low reported neutrino counting rate.
Effect of shale core on combustion reactions of tight oil from Wolfcamp reservoir

ABSTRACTA thermogravimetry analyzer was employed to investigate the effect of the shale core on the combustion reactions of the tight oil from the Wolfcamp shale reservoir for the air injection process (AIP). The result indicated that the shale cuttings show strong catalytic effect on tight oil combustion process. A considerable amount of coke was formed at the end of the fuel deposition stage after the addition of shale cuttings. This phenomenon could be beneficial for the combustion process at the high-temperature combustion stage, which is favorable for the implementation of the AIP with a shale oil reservoir.
Local Discontinuous Galerkin Method for the Keller-Segel Chemotaxis Model

In this paper, we apply the local discontinuous Galerkin (LDG) method to 2D Keller---Segel (KS) chemotaxis model. We improve the results upon (Epshteyn and Kurganov in SIAM J Numer Anal, 47:368---408, 2008) and give optimal rate of convergence under special finite element spaces before the blow-up occurs (the exact solutions are smooth). Moreover, to construct physically relevant numerical approximations, we consider $$P^1$$P1 LDG scheme and develop a positivity-preserving limiter to the scheme, extending the idea in Zhang and Shu (J Comput Phys, 229:8918---8934, 2010). With this limiter, we can prove the $$L^1$$L1-stability of the numerical scheme. Numerical experiments are performed to demonstrate the good performance of the positivity-preserving LDG scheme. Moreover, it is known that the chemotaxis model will yield blow-up solutions under certain initial conditions. We numerically demonstrate how to find the approximate blow-up time by using the $$L^2$$L2-norm of the $$L^1$$L1-stable numerical solution.
Can Musical Machines Be Expressive? Views from the Enlightenment and Today

How can music produced by automated technologies be expressive? Transitive theories of expression dominated 18th-century ideas of automated music, and many contemporary designers of robotic instruments adhere to this idea, increasing sonic nuance to make their instruments seem closer to expressive human performers. A listener-centered understanding of expression—an “intransitive” perspective—allows us to reconcile automatic instruments’ capacity for expressivity, even without human performers. The expressive potential of these instruments is best understood as a product of their mechanical nature—their idiomatic movements and sounds, which remain distinct from human-operated instruments. This paper explores two case studies in the history of “expressive” automated instruments: Diderot and Engramelle’s cylinder-driven instruments from 18th century France and contemporary musical robotics.
An Interactive Model of the Corporate Entrepreneurship Process

A review of the intrapreneurship and entrepreneurship literature suggests that there may be consistent organizational and Individual characteristics that lead to intrapreneurial behavior. To date, very little research exists which attempts to establish a theoretical framework or model that outlines the various components, Including Individual and organizational characteristics that affect the corporate entrepreneurship process. This paper proposes a model that explains the intrapreneurial process based on a review of past theoretical and empirical research.
Mutant RUNX1 and histone tales.

In this issue of Blood , Lehnertz et al identify rare cases of histone H3 mutations at position K27 that alter methylation levels and cooperate with RUNX1 mutations, 1 further strengthening the association between RUNX1 and polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) activity in leukemic transformation.
Molecular electronics under the microscope

The field of molecular electronics has developed significantly as experimental techniques to study charge transport through single molecules have become more reliable. Three Articles in this issue highlight how chemists can now better understand and control electronic properties at the molecular level.
Loss of efficacy of the antifungal caspofungin is mediated by increased chitin exposure and concomitant eosinophilia in invasive pulmonary aspergillosis

Recently significant interest has focused on the composite recognition of fungal molecular patterns that program innate and adaptive immunity to the human fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus . We observed that decreased relative levels of cell wall β-glucan to chitin in A. fumigatus strains correlated with increased airway eosinophil recruitment associated with decreased fungal clearance by type 2 immune responses in invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. Furthermore, an increase in surface chitin exposure driven by growth and germination in the presence of the anti-fungal, β-glucan targeting drug caspofungin resulted in increased airway eosinophilia upon aspiration of A. fumigatus conidia. More importantly, in a model of invasive aspergillosis, we observed a decrease in fungal clearance upon caspofungin treatment that was reversed in eosinophil-deficient mice. Eosinophil recruitment was partially dependent on γδ T cells, and our preliminary results show a similar increase in caspofungin mediated clearance in γδ-T cell-deficient mice. Our results provide a novel mechanism that may explain the widely reported paradoxical loss of efficacy in response to caspofungin, and we are currently working to define the relationship between drug treatment, eosinophil activation, and fungal burden in clinical samples.
Review of Race and Social Equity: A Nervous Area of Government

(2015). Review of Race and Social Equity: A Nervous Area of Government. Journal of Public Affairs Education: Vol. 21, No. 3, pp. 467-468.
Adipogenesis and TSH Receptor Expression

The symptoms and signs of Graves’ ophthalmopathy (GO) can be explained mechanically by an increase in the volume of tissues within the confines of the bony orbit. Volume measurements of the orbital adipose/connective tissue compartment and the extraocular muscles using computed tomography (CT) scans revealed abnormalities in 87% of Graves’ patients with clinically detectable GO (1). Enlarged muscles with normal fat volume was noted in 48% of these patients, while enlargement of both the extraocular muscles and the fat compartment was found in 46% of patients. The converse, or increased fat compartment volume with normal muscle volumes, was found in 8% of GO patients. In another study, measurement of extraocular muscle volumes in 50 patients with GO revealed relatively poor correlation between the extent of muscle enlargement and proptosis measurements. In contrast, another group of investigators found the degree of proptosis to correlate well with orbital fat volumes (2). Taken together, these studies suggest that orbital adipose tissue expansion in GO likely influences the degree of proptosis to a greater extent than does the extraocular muscle enlargement.
A canonical Ds(2317)

It is shown that quark mass dependence induced by one-loop corrections to the Breit–Fermi spin-dependent one-gluon-exchange potential permits an accurate determination of heavy–light meson masses. Thus the Ds(2317) is a canonical cs¯ meson in this scenario. The multiplet splitting relationship of chiral doublet models, M(1+)−M(1−)=M(0+)−M(0−), holds to good accuracy in the D and Ds systems, but is accidental. Radiative transitions and bottom flavoured meson masses are discussed.
White Paper on the Ethical Dimensions of Climate Change

The Program on the Ethical Dimensions of Climate Change was launched at the 10th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change that was held in early December of 2004 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The major outcome of this meeting was the Buenos Aires Declaration on the Ethical Dimensions of Climate Change.
Pediatric Head and Neck Malignancies

Head and neck malignancies account for approximately 5% of all pediatric tumors. Although relatively rare, pediatric head and neck malignancies are challenging from a treatment-planning standpoint given proximity to critical structures and developing normal tissue. This chapter provides practical contouring guidelines for common pediatric head and neck tumors including malignant tumors such as rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, salivary gland tumors, and the benign, but locally aggressive, nasopharyngeal angiofibroma. Rhabdomyosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma are covered more broadly in Chaps. 8 and 9.
Simulation of CT images reconstructed with different kernels using a convolutional neural network and its implications for efficient CT workflow

In this study we simulated the effect of reconstructing computed tomography (CT) images with different reconstruction kernels by employing a convolutional neural network (CNN) to map images produced by a fixed input kernel to images produced by different kernels. The CNN input images consisted of thin slices (0.6 mm) reconstructed with a sharpest kernel possible on the CT scanner. The network was trained using supervised learning to produce output images that simulate medium, medium-sharp, and sharp kernels. Performance was evaluated by comparing the simulated images to actual reconstructions performed on a reserved set of patient data. We found that the CNN simulated the effect of switching reconstruction kernels to a high level of accuracy, and in only a small fraction of the time that it takes to perform a full reconstruction. This application can potentially be used to streamline and simplify the clinical workflow for storing, viewing, and reconstructing CT images.
Number and time in acquisition, extinction and recovery.

We measured rate of acquisition, trials to extinction, cumulative responses in extinction, and the spontaneous recovery of anticipatory hopper poking in a Pavlovian protocol with mouse subjects. We varied by factors of 4 number of sessions, trials per session, intersession interval, and span of training (number of days over which training extended). We find that different variables affect each measure: Rate of acquisition [1/(trials to acquisition)] is faster when there are fewer trials per session. Terminal rate of responding is faster when there are more total training trials. Trials to extinction and amount of responding during extinction are unaffected by these variables. The number of training trials has no effect on recovery in a 4-trial probe session 21 days after extinction. However, recovery is greater when the span of training is greater, regardless of how many sessions there are within that span. Our results and those of others suggest that the numbers and durations and spacings of longer-duration "episodes" in a conditioning protocol (sessions and the spans in days of training and extinction) are important variables and that different variables affect different aspects of subjects' behavior. We discuss the theoretical and clinical implications of these and related findings and conclusions-for theories of conditioning and for neuroscience.
Reactive oxygen species production by BP-1,6-quinone and its effects on the endothelial dysfunction: Involvement of the mitochondria.

Abstract Strong epidemiological evidence supports the association between increased air pollution and the risk of developing atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). However, the mechanism remains unclear. As an environmental air pollutant and benzo-a-pyrene (BP) metabolite, BP-1,6-quinone (BP-1,6-Q) is present in the particulate phase of air pollution. This study was undertaken to examine the redox activity of BP-1,6-Q and mechanisms associated with it using EA.hy926 endothelial cells. BP-1,6-Q at 0.01–1 μM significantly stimulated the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS)·in intact cells and isolated mitochondria. Furthermore, BP-1,6-Q-induced ROS was altered by mitochondrial electron transport chain (METC) inhibitors of complex I (rotenone) and complex III (antimycin A), denoting the involvement of mitochondrial electron transport chain (METC) in BP-1,6-Q mediated ROS production. In METC deficient cells, interestingly, BP-1,6-Q-mediated ROS production was enhanced, suggesting that overproduction of ROS by BP-1,6-Q is not only produced from mitochondria but can also be from the cell outside of mitochondria (extramitochondrial). BP-1,6-Q also triggered endothelial-monocyte interaction and stimulated expression of vascular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1). In conclusion, these results demonstrate that BP-1,6-Q can generate ROS within both mitochondria and outside of mitochondria, resulting in stimulation of adhesion of monocytes to endothelial cells, a key event in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.
A systematic review of automated feeder detection software for locoregional treatment of hepatic tumors.

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to perform a systematic review of current literature describing the efficacy and technical outcomes of transarterial liver therapies using automated feeder detection (AFD) software. Materials and methods This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. A structured search was performed in the PubMed, SCOPUS, and Embase databases of patients undergoing locoregional therapy of liver tumors utilizing AFD software. Demographic data, procedure data (including radiometrics) and tumor response rate were recorded. Where available, performance of AFD was compared to conventional digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and cone-beam CT (CBCT) without AFD. Results A total of 14 full-text manuscripts met inclusion criteria, comprising 1042 tumors in 604 patients (305 men, 156 women; mean age, 68.6 ± 6.0 [SD] years), including 537 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, 8 with metastases from neuroendocrine tumors, and 59 patients without reported etiology. Reported sensitivity of AFD ranged between 86% and 98.5%, compared to DSA alone (38% – 64%) or DSA in combination with CBCT (69% – 81%). Three studies reported tumor response by modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (mRECIST) guidelines, with complete response in the range of 60% – 69%. Conclusion AFD is a promising new technology for the identification of intrahepatic and extrahepatic tumor-feeding arteries and should be considered a useful adjunct to conventional DSA and CBCT in the treatment of liver tumors.
Tunable surface wettability and pH-responsive 2D structures from amphiphilic and amphoteric protein microfibrils

Two dimensional films and paper-like structures (60–170 μm thick) have been facilely fabricated by casting ethanolic dispersions of amphiphilic and amphoteric protein microfibrils (ca. 1.3 μm width; 53 μm length) under controlled temperatures and moisture levels. Surface hydrophilicity or hydrophobicity can be easily tuned by the abillity of the highly responsive microfibers to self-organize at the interface to mimic the hydrophilicity or hydrophobicity of cast substrates. For instance, surfaces cast on hydrophobic polystyrene or Teflon were moderately hydrophobic with water contact angles (WCAs) of 54°–71° while those on hydrophilic glass or exposed to air were hydrophilic (WCAs: 5°–10°). Thin film dried in the presence of moisture (60% RH) at 65 °C had the highest crystallinity (CrI: 56%) and β structure (64%), including 48% β-sheet form, and exhibited moisture-responsive Tg, pH-responsive planar swelling, and excellent wet resiliency in extremely acidic (pH = 0) to basic (pH = 10) conditions. The pH-dependent release of highly water-soluble cationic methylene blue bound to protein microfibril (SPMF) films attests to their amphoterism and demonstrates the applicability of such 2D structures for pH-dependent controlled release of other cationic and anionic species. Such versatility of amphiphilic and amphoteric protein microfibrils can be engineered into 2D structures with tunable surface hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity, moisture- and pH-responsive behaviors and controlled release capabilities.
Transitioning Escape Rooms to a Virtual Environment

Escape roomgames have gained in popularity in both entertainment and education venues over the past several year. The global health pandemic put an abrupt end to in-person escape room programs due ...
Health Risks of Space Exploration: Targeted and Nontargeted Oxidative Injury by High-Charge and High-Energy Particles

Significance: During deep space travel, astronauts are often exposed to high atomic number (Z) and high-energy (E) (high charge and high energy [HZE]) particles. On interaction with cells, these particles cause severe oxidative injury and result in unique biological responses. When cell populations are exposed to low fluences of HZE particles, a significant fraction of the cells are not traversed by a primary radiation track, and yet, oxidative stress induced in the targeted cells may spread to nearby bystander cells. The long-term effects are more complex because the oxidative effects persist in progeny of the targeted and affected bystander cells, which promote genomic instability and may increase the risk of age-related cancer and degenerative diseases. Recent Advances: Greater understanding of the spatial and temporal features of reactive oxygen species bursts along the tracks of HZE particles, and the availability of facilities that can simulate exposure to space radiations have supported the characterization of oxidative stress from targeted and nontargeted effects. Critical Issues: The significance of secondary radiations generated from the interaction of the primary HZE particles with biological material and the mitigating effects of antioxidants on various cellular injuries are central to understanding nontargeted effects and alleviating tissue injury. Future Directions: Elucidation of the mechanisms underlying the cellular responses to HZE particles, particularly under reduced gravity and situations of exposure to additional radiations, such as protons, should be useful in reducing the uncertainty associated with current models for predicting long-term health risks of space radiation. These studies are also relevant to hadron therapy of cancer. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 20, 1501–1523.
A Projection Algorithm for Model Reduction

A least squares based algorithm is presented for the efficient computation of reduced order models of high order transfer functions using a projection matrix approach. The reduced order models produced by the proposed projection algorithm are selected from a set of admissible models consisting of all linear combinations of the subsets of a set of mode functions determined from the original system's partial fraction expansion. The functions to be included in the reduced model are selected through a multistage optimization process, where at each stage the mode function that causes the greatest reduction in the sum of the squared error of approximation over a desired range of frequencies is added to the model of the previous stage. Through the use of an easily calculated selection factor and a set of projection matrices, it is possible to select these functions without ever completely solving for the reduced model. Then, the optimal parameters for a linear combination of the selected mode functions is found through the solution of a triangularized system of linear equations which completely determine the reduced order model. The proposed algorithm is demonstrated on an eighth order system and is found to be an effective method with several attractive properties.
Use of Bioimpedance Vector Analysis in Critically Ill and Cardiorenal Patients

Prospective outcome prediction and volume status assessment are difficult tasks in the acute care environment. Rapidly available, non-invasive, bioimpedance vector analysis (BIVA) may offer objective measures to improve clinical decision-making and predict outcomes. Performed by the placement of bipolar electrodes at the wrist and ankle, data is graphically displayed such that short-term morality risk and volume status can be accurately quantified. BIVA is able to provide indices of general cellular health, which has significant prognostic implications, as well as total body volume. Knowledge of these parameters can provide insight as to the short-term prognosis, as well as the presenting volume status.
Municipal Bond New Issue Transaction Costs

As with any market, there are transaction costs associated with the sale of municipal bonds. Only a small number of studies have examined this topic, and therefore we have only a limited understanding of the magnitude and determinants of new issue municipal bond transaction costs. We use data on California municipal bond transaction costs from 2007 to 2009 to test whether scale economies exist. We find that there are considerable transaction cost scale economies for California municipal bonds and that pooling bond sales would likely save substantial amounts of money.
Exploring content validity, item level analysis and predictive validity for two algebra progress monitoring measures

This study examines the content validity, item level analysis and predictive validity of two algebra progress monitoring measures. The content in two algebra progress monitoring measures was examined to determine alignment with the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for algebra. The content for one algebra measure, namely, Algebra Content Analysis (ACA), aligned well with the Common Core State Standards, with each skill tested in the measure aligning with at least one or more CCSS high school algebra domains. In the second algebra measure, Algebra Basic Skills (ABS), three of the five skills tested in the measure aligned with at least one CCSS high school algebra domain, however the remaining two did not align with any of the CCSS high school algebra domains. For item level analyses, item difficulty and discrimination were examined for both algebra measures. Data for analyses were collected from two school districts (A and B). Eighty-three students from District A and fifty-one students from District B participated in this study. Results indicated that the items in both ABS and ACA are mostly found in the ‘average difficulty’ level ranging from .3 to .9. Items in ACA displayed good discriminating power in terms of student ability in algebra. Item discrimination analysis for ABS was not performed due to an inadequate sample of attempted items. Predictive validity at the subskill category levels for both the measures was examined by correlating scores on the subskills with scores for ITED and ITBS. In ACA, with the exception of the subskill 3.1 – Solve Linear Equation, the remaining subskills’ totals did not show encouraging predictive validity with ITBS. ACA 1 and ACA 3 showed weak relations with ITED. With regards to predictive validity of ABS, four subskill categories had moderate relationships with ITED Computation scores. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.
Diversity, Performance, and Satisfaction in Student Group Projects: An Empirical Study

This paper focuses on the effect that diversity has on the performance and satisfaction of student groups in a computer simulation project. Using structural equation modeling, we find evidence to support the contention of previous research that diversity negatively affects group satisfaction. This finding was strongest for undergraduate groups. While the relationship between diversity and performance is inconclusive, groups that are dominated by one person tend to have below average performance.
Alternative Weed Management Strategies for Landscape and Turf Settings

Weeds consistently appear in less maintained landscape and turf settings, particularly in weak or stressed turf or unattended landscape beds. To achieve consistent control, it is necessary to better understand the reason why weeds are often persistent in these settings. Understanding the plant’s interaction with its environment, including rhizosphere ecology, and the impact of stress on plant growth are important considerations in landscape and turf weed management. In landscapes, the most critical time for effective weed management is before planting. Effective landscape planting and design will help prevent future weed problems.
Point mutations upstream of the yeast ADH2 poly(A) site significantly reduce the efficiency of 3'-end formation.

Abstract The sequences directing formation of mRNA 3' ends in Saccharomyces cerevisiae are not well defined. This is in contrast to the situation in higher eukaryotes in which the sequence AAUAAA is known to be crucial to proper 3'-end formation. The AAUAAA hexanucleotide is found upstream of the poly(A) site in some but not all yeast genes. One of these is the gene coding for alcohol dehydrogenase, ADH2. Deletion or a double point mutation of the AAUAAA has only a small effect on the efficiency of the reaction, and in contrast to the mammalian system, it is most likely not operating as a major processing signal in the yeast cell. However, we isolated point mutations which reveal that a region located approximately 80 nucleotides upstream of the poly(A) site plays a critical role in either transcription termination, polyadenylation, or both. These mutations represent the first point mutations in yeasts which significantly reduce the efficiency of 3'-end formation.
Reduction of NOx in synthetic diesel exhaust via two-step plasma-catalysis treatment

Abstract Significant reduction of NOx in synthetic light duty diesel exhaust has been achieved over a broad temperature window by combining atmospheric plasma with appropriate catalysts. The technique relies on the addition of hydrocarbon reductant prior to passing the simulated exhaust through a non-thermal plasma and a catalyst bed. The observed chemistry in the plasma includes conversion of NO to NO2 as well as the partial oxidation of the hydrocarbon. The overall NOx reduction has a maximum of less than 80%, with this maximum obtained only at high-energy input into the plasma, high concentration of hydrocarbon reductant and low space velocity. We present data in this paper illustrating that a multiple-step treatment strategy, whereby two or more plasma-catalyst reactors are utilized in series, can increase the maximum NOx conversion obtainable. Alternatively, this technique can reduce the energy and/or hydrocarbon requirements for a fixed conversion efficiency. When propene is used as the reductant, the limiting reagent for the overall process is most likely acetaldehyde. The data suggest that acetaldehyde is formed in concert with NO oxidation to NO2 in the plasma stage. The limited NOx reduction efficiency attained in a single step, even with excess energy, oxygen content and/or hydrocarbon-to-NOx ratio is well explained by this hypothesis, as is the effectiveness of the multiple-step treatment strategy. We present the data here illustrating the advantage of this approach under a wide variety of conditions.
Value and pitfalls of the lateral lung scan.

Two hundred eighty-one of 443 lung scans composed of anterior, posterior, and lateral projections (done in our hospital) demonstrated defects. In 3.9 percent of them (11 cases), the defects were delineated in the lateral views only, while in 29.2 percent (82 cases), the lateral views either outlined additional defects not appreciated on the straight views, or showed more extensive lung involvement. In the majority of instances, 56.6 percent (159 cases), the lateral views showed comparable findings and also tended to segmentally localize the defects better. However, in 10.3 percent (29 cases), defects present on the straight projections were not detected on the lateral views. Various causes that could give rise to artefactual abnormalities in the lateral lung scan and therefore inhibit its proper interpretation, are reviewed and discussed. Despite these problems, the lateral may be the only view to demonstrate abnormalities and, in fact, frequently provides additional useful information.
Thermal stress problems in tokamak surfaces

Abstract The density of power deposited on some surfaces of a tokamak can easily reach the level where the surface may be destroyed by thermal stress. This report is an examination of the thermal stress problem under tokamak conditions. The magnitude of the maximum power density is given for some existing and future devices. As examples which furnish a guide to power absorption limits for surfaces in high-power plasma devices, we have made estimates of thermal stress in a thick wall subjected to transient heating On one side. Also, detailed results are given for a flat plate heated on one face and cooled on the other. Comparative power density limits are tabulated for various materials of interest for plasma device construction.
Frequency changes in reflex klystrons during square-wave amplitude modulation

Reflex klystrons exhibit small unwanted frequency changes when amplitude-modulated by a square-wave signal. Data obtained from experimental observations of different klystrons are presented for both repeller and grid modulation, and the causes of such frequency changes are discussed.
Buyer Search Costs and Endogenous Product Design

Buyer search costs for price are changing in many markets. Through a model of buyer and seller behavior, I consider the effects of changing search costs on prices both when product differentiation is fixed and when it is endogenously determined in equilibrium. If firms cannot change product design, lower buyer search costs for price lead to increased price competition. However, if product design is a decision variable, lower search costs for price may also lead to higher product differentiation, which decreases price competition. In this case, the overall effect of lower buyer search costs for price may even be higher prices, lower social welfare, and higher industry profits. The result is especially interesting because recent technological changes, such as Internet shopping, can affect the market structure through lowering buyer search costs.
The predictability of words and their grammatical classes as a function of rate of deletion from a speech transcript

Summary The “cloze” procedure, which requires raters to fill in words deleted from a transcript and provides a measure of the predictability of speech, was used to study the predictability of the various grammatical classes and of specific items drawn from them, and changes in such predictability with systematic variation in rate of textual deletion (from every second item deleted to every sixth item deleted). A transcript of running speech elicited by TAT cards constituted the text and two measures were obtained indicating success in verbatim identification (V) and success in form-class identification (FC); the relation between these two measures was also examined. The main findings are (a) that success both in FC and V completion increases moderately with decreasing frequency of deletion, but that raters do fairly well, particularly for FC scores, even when every second item is deleted; (b) that there are considerable differences in performance between grammatical classes both for FC and V scores, these differences being less for the former scores than the latter; and (c) that within any given grammatical class there are still substantial differences among the items with regard to both verbatim and form-class predictability. It was argued that the determinants of FC and V predictability are rather different, FC predictability being more dependent upon the relatively close grammatical environment whereas V predictability depends more on both close and remote topical content or semantic features of discourse. It was also suggested that these determinants may vary with the particular grammatical class under consideration. While grammatical or form-class contraints are tighter than contraints on specific identification it was suggested that the V or V/FC measure provides an underestimate of the actual predictability of the sense of the discourse, and that the communicative significance of a particular level of V or V/FC success may vary with the grammatical class involved, being greater for semantic than for syntactic items.
Effect of Chirality and Length on the Penetrability of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes into Lipid Bilayer Cell Membranes

The ability of carbon nanotubes to enter the cell membrane acting as drug-delivery vehicles has yielded a plethora of experimental investigations, mostly with inconclusive results because of the wide spectra of carbon nanotube structures. Because of the virtual impossibility of synthesizing CNTs with distinct chirality, we report a parametric study on the use of molecular dynamics to provide better insight into the effect of the carbon nanotube chirality and the aspect ratio on the interaction with a lipid bilayer membrane. The simulation results indicated that a single-walled carbon nanotube utilizes different time-evolving mechanisms to facilitate their internalization within the membrane. These mechanisms comprise both penetration and endocytosis. It was observed that carbon nanotubes with higher aspect ratios penetrate the membrane faster whereas shorter nanotubes undergo significant rotation during the final stages of endocytosis. Furthermore, nanotubes with lower chiral indices developed significant...
A modified stent for decompression of cysts.

Abstract Presented is a simple method for decompression of a cyst with the use of a modified stent. The patient is instructed in methods of removal, insertion, and irrigation by means of a blunt No. 16 gauge needle. Periodic follow-up radiographic examinations permit reduction in tube length as the defect “fills in” (Figs. 3 and 4).
Arene-selective peptide and protein derivatization

Abstract Chelate complexes of Ru(II) ( 12a , b ) featuring an η 5 - C 5 ,η 1 - N -C 5 H 4 (CH 2 ) n NH 2 ligand ( n =2, 3) have been synthesized as arene-selective protein modification reagents. The new chelates produce η 6 -arene complexes from a wide variety of arenes, from 1,4-di- t -butylbenzene to phenylalanine-containing peptides and proteins. In methanol or nitromethane at room temperature (r.t.), kinetic products are formed by coordination of the Ru center to N- and S-donors (primary amines, histidine, methionine, cystine), but warming to 60°C leads to migration of the Ru center to a phenylalanine ring, with the formation of η 6 -arene complexes as robust thermodynamic products. Notably, in water the complex 12a reacts at r.t. with the 27-residue protein secretin, which contains a phenylalanine residue, to give an η 6 -arene complex, which can be purified by HPLC and analyzed by electrospray and MALDI-MS.
On The Complexity Of Integrating Spatial Measurements

In this paper, we explore some basic issues concerning the impact of uncertainty on the complexity of map learning: assimilating sensor data to support spatial queries. The primary computational task involves consolidating a set of measurements to support queries concerning the relative position of identifiable locations. We are concerned with the complexity of providing the best possible answers to such queries. We provide a partial categorization of map learning problems according to the sorts of sensors available and the probability distributions that govern their accuracy. The objective of this exercise is to precisely define a set of computational problems and investigate the properties of algorithms that provide solutions to these problems. We show that hard problems involving uncertain measurements arise even in a single-dimensional setting. We also show that there are interesting two-dimensional map learning problems that can be solved in polynomial time. By considering basic time/space tradeoffs, we provide some insight into exactly what makes map learning hard, and how various sensors might be employed to circumvent combinatorial problems.
CORR Insights®: How Much Tumor Surgery Do Early-career Orthopaedic Oncologists Perform?

This CORR Insights® is a commentary on the article “How Much Tumor Surgery Do Early-career Orthopaedic Oncologists Perform?” by Miller and colleagues available at: DOI: 10.1007/s11999-014-3934-x. The author certifies that she, or any member of her immediate family, has no funding or commercial associations (eg, consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article. All ICMJE Conflict of Interest Forms for authors and Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research ® editors and board members are on file with the publication and can be viewed on request. The opinions expressed are those of the writers, and do not reflect the opinion or policy of CORR ® or the Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons®. This CORR Insights® comment refers to the article available at DOI: 10.1007/s11999-014-3934-x.