cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The reactivity of different coal and residuum combinations in coprocessing

Abstract This investigation evaluated the reactions of a variety of different coal and residuum combinations in coprocessing and the types of reaction products achieved. The coals ranged in rank from bituminous to lignite while the residua ranged from those with high asphaltene and metal contents to those which were waxy and had low metal contents. Catalytic coprocessing reaction conditions of 425°C and 60 minutes were selected on the basis of the largest differences observed in the products achieved with two quite different combinations. Coprocessing reaction products from the different combinations were compared and showed that substantial upgrading occurred with all combinations regardless of coal rank or residuum type. Lower rank lignite and subbituminous coals produced higher levels of hexane soluble materials regardless of the residuum used. Deashed Elkhorn coal showed less upgrading than Elkhorn under equivalent conditions. Residuum properties of metal content, Ramsbottom carbon, specific gravity and sulfur content appeared to be related to the production of different products from coprocessing. Lignite and subbituminous coal yielded a higher contribution of coal-derived material to be hexane soluble product fraction and a lower contribution to the asphaltene fraction than did the bituminous coals. Most of the heavier fractions were produced from coal regardless of the coal and residuum combination used.
Immediate changes after manual therapy in resting-state functional connectivity as measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging in participants with induced low back pain.

Abstract Objective The purposes of this study were to use functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate the immediate changes in functional connectivity (FC) between brain regions that process and modulate the pain experience after 3 different types of manual therapies (MT) and to identify reductions in experimentally induced myalgia and changes in local and remote pressure pain sensitivity. Methods Twenty-four participants (17 men; mean age ± SD, 21.6 ± 4.2 years) who completed an exercise-injury protocol to induce low back pain were randomized into 3 groups: chiropractic spinal manipulation (n = 6), spinal mobilization (n = 8), or therapeutic touch (n = 10). The primary outcome was the immediate change in FC as measured on functional magnetic resonance imaging between the following brain regions: somatosensory cortex, secondary somatosensory cortex, thalamus, anterior and posterior cingulate cortices, anterior and poster insula, and periaqueductal gray. Secondary outcomes were immediate changes in pain intensity, measured with a 101-point numeric rating scale, and pain sensitivity, measured with a handheld dynamometer. Repeated-measures analysis of variance models and correlation analyses were conducted to examine treatment effects and the relationship between within-person changes across outcome measures. Results Changes in FC were found between several brain regions that were common to all 3 MT interventions. Treatment-dependent changes in FC were also observed between several brain regions. Improvement was seen in pain intensity after all interventions (P .05). There were no observed changes in pain sensitivity, or an association between primary and secondary outcome measures. Conclusion These results suggest that MTs (chiropractic spinal manipulation, spinal mobilization, and therapeutic touch) have an immediate effect on the FC between brain regions involved in processing and modulating the pain experience. This suggests that neurophysiologic changes after MT may be an underlying mechanism of pain relief.
The influence of nitrous oxide on oxyhaemoglobin dissociation and measurement of oxygen tension

Summary There are conflicting reports of the effect of nitrous oxide on the oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curve. We have therefore determined P50 of haemoglobin in the presence of either nitrous oxide or nitrogen and studied the upper portion of the curve in greater detail. No significant differences in the oxyhaemoglobin dissociation curve were observed when nitrous oxide was substituted for nitrogen. The oxygen tensions measured in gas mixtures were not significantly different when determined simultaneously with a polarographic oxygen electrode and the mass spectrometer when nitrous oxide was used instead of nitrogen.
Use of a magnetic spectrometer to profile light elements by elastic recoil detection

Abstract A magnetic spectrometer of limited momentum acceptance, equipped with an energy sensitive detector, is shown to be capable of providing the necessary isotopic identification of each of the recoiling light elements present in a sample. The high precision of the energy analysis provided by the magnetic field, when coupled with the large stopping power of the recoiling light element ions observed in a glancing angle geometry, produces an exceptionally high depth resolution, measured as 2.0 nm for carbon in carbon at the surface with no straggling. The method permits essentially simultaneous profiling of all elements from hydrogen to oxygen. As applied in this laboratory, the recoils from elastic scattering of 3 MeV 4 He ions are detected with the spectrometer positioned at an angle of 45° to the beam.
Ion transmission studies of multiple-sector isotope-ratio mass spectrometers

Abstract Theoretical and experimental studies were conducted to determine the ion transmission efficiency of multiple-sector isotope-ratio mass spectrometers with tandem magnets of normal geometry. The computer program GIOS (general ion optical systems) was used to perform theoretical calculations of focusing properties and ion transmission efficiency. Actual transmission through multiple-sector instruments was determined from measurements of the ion beam vertical profile at the focus of each sector. Transmission was found to be strongly dependent on source filament geometry. The studies also determined a way to significantly increase ion transmission without changing the basic geometry of existing instruments. A cylindrical einzel lens located near the focus between the magnets provides vertical focusing of the ion beam without perturbing focal properties in the plane of mass dispersion. With a single V-filament ion source, a transmission increase from ≈ 75% to ≈ 100% was achieved.
Transorbital target localization in the porcine model

Current pharmacological therapies for the treatment of chronic optic neuropathies such as glaucoma are often inadequate due to their inability to directly affect the optic nerve and prevent neuron death. While drugs that target the neurons have been developed, existing methods of administration are not capable of delivering an effective dose of medication along the entire length of the nerve. We have developed an image-guided system that utilizes a magnetically tracked flexible endoscope to navigate to the back of the eye and administer therapy directly to the optic nerve. We demonstrate the capabilities of this system with a series of targeted surgical interventions in the orbits of live pigs. Target objects consisted of NMR microspherical bulbs with a volume of 18 μL filled with either water or diluted gadolinium-based contrast, and prepared with either the presence or absence of a visible coloring agent. A total of 6 pigs were placed under general anesthesia and two microspheres of differing color and contrast content were blindly implanted in the fat tissue of each orbit. The pigs were scanned with T1-weighted MRI, image volumes were registered, and the microsphere containing gadolinium contrast was designated as the target. The surgeon was required to navigate the flexible endoscope to the target and identify it by color. For the last three pigs, a 2D/3D registration was performed such that the target's coordinates in the image volume was noted and its location on the video stream was displayed with a crosshair to aid in navigation. The surgeon was able to correctly identify the target by color, with an average intervention time of 20 minutes for the first three pigs and 3 minutes for the last three.
Acifluorfen effects on intermediates of chlorophyll synthesis in green cucumber cotyledon tissues

Abstract Photobleaching herbicides like acifluorfen (AF) cause accumulation of protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) due to inhibition of protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase, resulting in deregulation of the porphyrin pathway. Chlorophyll intermediates other than PPIX have been reported to accumulate in response to these herbicides. The effects of AF and other chlorophyll synthesis modulators on the accumulation of PPIX, Mg-PPIX, Mg-PPIX monomethylester (ME), and protochlorophyllide (PChlide) in green cucumber cotyledon tissues were examined. Only PPIX accumulated above control levels in 0.3 to 33 μM AF treatments. At concentrations of 100 and 333 μM AF, there was a slight increase in Mg-PPIXME, however, PChlide levels were decreased by these AF concentrations. In δ-aminolevulinic acid (ALA)-treated tissues, PPIX, Mg-PPIX, Mg-PPIXME, and PChlide accumulated above control levels. ALA and 2,2′-dipyridyl (DP) increased AF-enhanced PPIX levels and AF prevented or reduced ALA- or DP-stimulated Mg-PPIX, Mg-PPIXME, and PChlide levels. Herbicidal damage in all treatments correlated best with PPIX caused to accumulate by these chlorophyll synthesis modulators rather than with other chlorophyll intermediates. These data indicate that PPIX is the only chlorophyll intermediate caused to accumulate in AF-treated tissues that plays a significant role in herbicidal activity of AF, and that AF blocks carbon flow to chlorophyll intermediates after PPIX.
Buckling of Local Thin Areas Under External Pressure

A parametric study of square local thin areas on cylindrical shells under external pressure was conducted using finite element method. The study concentrated on both elastic and as well as plastic buckling of the local thin areas. From the study, conservative screening curves were developed to address the structural integrity of the local thin area under external pressure.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Signature file methods for implementing a ranking strategy

In this paper we present two partitioning methods for signature files in order to implement the tf × idf ranking strategy efficiently. The methods represent term frequencies without storing them explicitly. The first method partitions terms in a document based upon their term frequencies. The second one further partitions the terms vertically based upon their ordinal numbers in the dictionary. The latter allows partial retrieval of the signature files in response to a query. A fast weight computation method is also described. Detailed analysis of the new methods is given. Experimental runs are performed on the document collections made available with the SMART system.
Ultrastructural study of concanavalin-A binding to the surface of preimplantation mouse embryos

Receptors for Con-A were labelled (using the peroxidase-diaminobenzidine technique) on the plasma membrane of unfertilized and fertilized mouse eggs, cleavage stage embryos, trophoblast and inner cell mass (ICM) of the blastocyst. Embryos were exposed to Con-A concentrations of 10 microgram/ml, 50 microgram/ml, or 1,000 microgram/ml and the lowest concentration was observed to be the most suitable for discerning differences between stages of embryonic development. On the surface of unfertilized and fertilized eggs and 2-cell embryos, reaction product appeared as a thin, discontinuous layer. The surface of 4- and 16-cell stage embryos had a thicker, continuous, although non-uniform, layer of the reaction product. On the surface of the cells of the late morula, and on the trophoblastic cells of the blastocyst, clustering of reaction product was observed. Cells of ICM of intact blastocyst were free of the reaction product, showing that either Con-A and/or peroxidase cannot penetrate tight junctions between trophoblastic cells. Reaction product in the form of a thin, uniform layer covered the free surface of the cells of the ICM after they had been isolated (using immunosurgery) and exposed to 50 microgram/ml of Con-A. The amount and distribution of Con-A receptors is discussed, along with their redistribution and mobility in relation to the agglutinability of preimplantation mouse embryos.
The role of RNA polymerase in the control of RNA synthesis in vitro from Rana pipiens embryo chromatin

Abstract DNA-RNA hybridization experiments were employed to examine the qualitative aspects of RNA synthesis during the early development of Rana pipiens. 1. 1. With the addition of exogenous RNA polymerase, a greater portion of the genome was transcribed from isolated chromatin of larvae (4.5%) and tailbud embryos (3.5%) than was transcribed from the chromatin of gastrulae (2.7%). This stagewise difference was lost when the chromatin of these stages was deproteinized to similar levels before use as templates. In this case, the RNA made from all three stages hybridized with 20.5% of the genome. 2. 2. When nuclei were used to generate RNA in vitro, without the addition of exogenous RNA polymerase, gastrulae and neurulae produced quantitatively more RNA and qualitatively more kinds of RNA than did isolated nuclei from later stage embryos. 3. 3. The activity of RNA polymerase isolated with the chromatin and free in the nuclear supernatant was determined. Higher RNA polymerase activity was found associated with the chromatin and in the nuclear sap of the early embryos (gastrulae and neurulae) than in tailbud embryos and larvae.
Leveraging Weather Forecasts in Renewable Energy Systems

Abstract Systems that harvest environmental energy must carefully regulate their usage to satisfy their demand. Regulating energy usage is challenging if a system's demands are not elastic, since it cannot precisely scale its usage to match its supply. Instead, the system must choose how to satisfy its demands based on its current energy reserves and predictions of its future energy supply. In this paper, we show that prediction strategies that use weather forecasts are more accurate than prediction strategies based on the past, and are capable of improving the performance of a variety of systems. We analyze weather forecast, observational, and energy harvesting data to formulate a model that translates a weather forecast to a solar or wind energy harvesting prediction, and quantify its accuracy. We then compare the performance of three types of energy harvesting systems—a lexicographically fair sensor network, an off-the-grid sensor testbed, and a solar-powered smart home—using prediction models based on both forecasts and the past. In each case, forecast-based predictions significantly improve system performance.
Hepatitis C viral infection in patients with hemophilia and hemolytic disorders.

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Intrusions and double-diffusive convection

A STRATIFIED fluid layer in which two components contribute to the vertical density distribution need not be stable even though the net density decreases upwards. If one of the components is unstably distributed, then molecular diffusion can release its potential energy—a phenomenon known as double-diffusion convection1. Considerable progress has been made over the past 10 years in the study of double-diffusive convection in situations where the properties vary in one direction (vertically) only. In the ocean, horizontal advection is nearly always important and its neglect in the previous laboratory experiments makes it difficult to apply the results in a wider context. A first step in the study of two-dimensional effects in double-diffusive convection was made by Turner and Chen2, and here I follow up one of their suggestions in detail in the hope that it may help to understand the layering which occurs when an outflow intrudes into an ambient fluid with the same density but different component concentrations3.
Monocyte activation after burns and endotoxemia.

Abstract We describe the settings in which monocytes (M) are activated, as monokines may mediate organ dysfunction occurring after surgery and sepsis. To monitor M activation, we measured the relative number of M cell surface receptors for C3b and iC3b by indirect immunofluorescence. M exposed to increasing concentrations of endotoxic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) expressed increased mean cell surface C3b receptor-dependent fluorescence (35 buffer alone vs 354 LPS at 1000 ng/ml) and iC3b receptor-dependent fluorescence (78 vs 404). To determine whether this M activation could be reproduced by endotoxemia, normal volunteers were randomly administered saline or a single dose of LPS (20 u/kg). We found increased M cell surface C3b receptors 4 hr after LPS (341 LPS (n = 22) vs 168 saline (n = 20)) which returned to control levels at 24 hr. A similar transient increase was seen at 4 hr with M cell surface iC3b receptors (304 LPS (n = 23) vs 104 saline (n = 20)). To determine whether this could be used clinically, seven patients with burns (10–70% body surface area) were serially sampled up to 50 days. Each patient demonstrated elevations of M cell surface C3b and iC3b receptors, which gradually decreased over many weeks. For the group as whole, mean M cell surface C3b receptor-dependent fluorescence was 287, Days 0–5 postburn (vs 132 in 147 normals); 315, Days 6–9; 217, Days 10–13; 237, Days 14–19; and 185, Days 20+. For M cell surface iC3b receptors, the data were 508, Days 0–5 (vs 120 in 98 normals); 463, Days 6–9; 372, Days 10–13; 375, Days 14–19; and 299, Days 20–50. We conclude that M activation, as assessed by increased cell surface C3 receptors, occurs after burn injury and a simple model of sepsis. The M activation is readily monitored by using indirect immunofluorescence and the flow cytometer.
Concertina tearing of metal plates

Abstract Small scale experiments on wedge indentation into metal plates revealed the existence of two different failure modes. In the case of sharp wedges with a small tip angle, plates failed by developing a longitudinal cut at or ahead of the tip of the wedge followed by the formation of two curls at the wake of the wedge. However, the same plates failed by folding in front of the wedge and tearing at remote boundaries when the wedge was blunt and/or the tip angle was large. This so-called “concertina tearing” mode was also observed in intermediate scale laboratory tests and in real-world grounding accidents. The present paper develops a simplified theory of the process of concertina tearing. Closed-form solutions are derived for the plate-resisting force and the length of the folding wave. The results were compared with small and intermediate scale indentation tests on metal plates, and showed good agreement.
Guest editorial: What democracy looks like

Greetings from Wisconsin, 3 months into what some have tagged our ‘‘Main Street Rebellion.’’ A couple of weeks ago, I found myself sitting in a messy, airless room above a coffee shop, poring over Republican-filed petitions to recall Democratic senators. We were perusing the handiwork of out-of-state canvassers who had entered long lists of names from the phone book, including an entry for State Assembly Representative Mark Pocan’s father, who has been dead for 20 years. Other volunteers were out in the streets collecting affidavits from people who had signed the petitions because they were told they demanded the recall of Governor Scott Walker. Republicans were contesting the validity of six recall petitions filed by Democrats against Republican senators—on the grounds that the petitioners’ names were not included on all pages of the document. Three blocks away from the coffee shop office, teams of citizen observers watched the recount of ballots from the recent State Supreme Court election. Looking up from a pile of petitions, a fellow volunteer plaintively turned the movement’s pervasive tag-line into a question: ‘‘This is what democracy looks like?’’ How did we get to this point? And what does it say about the prospects for grassroots movements targeting corporate power and defending labor rights and social spending? These are questions I have been asking myself incessantly since February. Here is an attempt to recap the, ‘‘How did we get here’’ question. In February and March of this year, public sector workers and their friends and neighbors took to the streets in Wisconsin. A few months earlier, perhaps in a fit of pique at the bad news of the recession, our state had elected a Republican governor and Republican majorities in both legislative houses. The governor, Scott Walker, had campaigned as a moderate but soon revealed himself to be at the cutting edge of the Tea Party agenda. The massive demonstrations that began February 14th were
Condensation Heat Transfer on a Partially Hydrophobic Surface

Renewable energy systems operated by a thermal energy resource such as geothermal power plants and solar thermal power systems are demanding improvement in their condensation performance [Kutscher & Costenaro, 2009]. While their energy resources are naturally obtained at almost no cost, heat rejecting components become relatively expensive to maintain and operate. In this research, a heterogeneous condensing surface is proposed to enhance the condensation heat transfer coefficient in vapor-to-liquid heat exchangers. On its surface, parallel stripes with hydrophobic feature and ones without it alternate. The effect of the partially hydrophobic condensing surface on the dropwise condensation heat transfer of saturated steam on the flat plate copper surface is experimentally investigated. A vertical flat plat condenser is constructed to evaluate the performance of the heterogeneous condensing surface in comparison with a plain copper sample and a homogeneous hydrophobic-treated copper sample. Experimental results show that condensation heat transfer of steam on the homogeneous hydrophobic-treated sample is superior to that on the plain copper surface despite the fact that both the surfaces stably promote dropwise condensation. The heat transfer coefficients for the heterogeneous surface at lower subcooling temperatures, when its stripes situate horizontally, are as high as the heat transfer coefficients for the homogeneous hydrophobic-treated surface. The enhancement for the horizontal heterogeneous sample over the plain copper sample is approximately 100%. The heat transfer coefficient for the heterogeneous sample with its stripes being vertical at 4 K subcooling is 25% greater than that of the plain copper sample. Higher heat transfer coefficients are observed at lower subcooling temperatures for all the samples. The results and observations of this project suggest that the heterogeneous surface has the potential to enhance the heat transfer coefficients.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Hindcasting the January 2009 Arctic Sudden Stratospheric Warming with Unified Parameterization of Orographic Drag in NOGAPS. Part II: Short-Range Data-Assimilated Forecast and the Impacts of Calibrated Radiance Bias Correction

AbstractThis study is Part II of the effort to improve the forecasting of sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) events by using a version of the Navy Operational Global Atmospheric Prediction System (NOGAPS) that covers the full stratosphere. In Part I, extended-range (3 week) hindcast experiments (without data assimilation) for the January 2009 Arctic major SSW were performed using NOGAPS with a unified orographic drag parameterization that consists of the schemes employed by Webster et al., as well as Kim and Arakawa and Kim and Doyle. Part I demonstrated that the model with upgraded middle-atmospheric orographic drag physics better forecasts the magnitude and evolution of the SSW and better simulates the trend of the Arctic Oscillation (AO) index. In this study (Part II), a series of 5-day hindcast experiments is performed with cycling data assimilation using the Naval Research Laboratory Atmospheric Variational Data Assimilation System-Accelerated Representer (NAVDAS-AR), a four-dimensional variational d...
Transition Metal-Carbon Monoxide Interactions

In contrast with hydrogen, carbon monoxide interacts with metals predominantly as an intact molecule. Therefore, some of the properties of the isolated CO molecule, in particular its electronic structure, shall be discussed in this section.
The action of acetylcholine upon heart rate changes markedly with development in bullfrogs

Dose-response curves for the action of acetylcholine (ACh) and its antagonist, atropine, upon heart rate in situ were made for three larval stages and adults of the bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana. The absolute magnitude of heart rate inhibition at any ACh concentration progressively increased throughout larval development. Unexpectedly, metamorphosis to the adult resulted in a sharp decrease in cholinergic cardiac sensitivity down to levels similar to the earliest larvae. Thus, cholinergic sensitivity of heart rate, reflecting properties of the cardiac pacemaker, is greatest immediately before metamorphosis and lowest in early larvae and adults.
Statistical Geomorphology of the Lunar Surface

When the lunar crater area density (number of craters per unit area) is contoured on the lunar surface, it is evident that lunar craters are not distributed at random. The terra-mare dichotomy is clearly indicated and, in addition, the terrae themselves display nesting and parallelism of the contours. A mathematical “nesting index” is defined, which varies from zero for a random set of contours to 1 for a perfect bull's eye. For the whole front face of the moon, the nesting index is as high as 0.90. When only the southern terrae are considered, the nesting index is as high as 0.83. Also, there are systematic relationships between the classes of craters (degree of erosion) and crater density. As a result of these observations, the following working hypothesis is proposed. Two independent erosional processes operate on the lunar surface. The first is continuous and reduces craters from class 1 to class 2 to finally class 3 and sometimes class 4. The second process is discontinuous and produces craters of class 5 and occasionally class 4. Barring interference from the discontinuous process, a newly formed crater will remain in class 1 for the length of time necessary for the crater density of that area to increase by a value, k In practice k ranges from 6 to 24 craters per 58 × 103km2. It can be shown that such a process is described by a line of slope —1 when the logarithm of the percentage of class 1 craters is plotted versus the logarithm of the density of craters. The position along this line of slope —1 of any lunar area is defined as the geomorphic index. The distribution and location of this index suggest the presence of two types of processes of rejuvenation on the lunar surface. The first, and most evident, is mare flooding, which is able to completely bury the majority of craters of an area or reduce them to class 4 or 5. For the case of the maria it is likely that the geomorphologic indices are closely related to time indices, that is, geomorphologically younger maria were the most recent to be formed. The probable order of formation of the mare surfaces is presented. The second process of rejuvenation operated on the terrae. It can be shown that rejuvenation progressively decreases as one goes from a mare shore toward the center of the terrae. The hypothesis is presented that mare-producing impacts rejuvenate the environs of the impact locus by seismic waves and ballistic sedimentation. Rejuvenation can also explain the nesting indices of the crater density contours, previously described.
A dominant negative mutant of the E. coli RNA helicase DbpA blocks assembly of the 50S ribosomal subunit

Escherichia coli DbpA is an ATP-dependent RNA helicase with specificity for hairpin 92 of 23S ribosomal RNA, an important part of the peptidyl transferase center. The R331A active site mutant of DbpA confers a dominant slow growth and cold sensitive phenotype when overexpressed in E. coli containing endogenous DbpA. Ribosome profiles from cells overexpressing DbpA R331A display increased levels of 50S and 30S subunits and decreased levels 70S ribosomes. Profiles run at low Mg 2+ exhibit fewer 50S subunits and accumulate a 45S particle that contains incompletely processed and undermodified 23S rRNA in addition to reduced levels of several ribosomal proteins that bind late in the assembly pathway. Unlike mature 50S subunits, these 45S particles can stimulate the ATPase activity of DbpA, indicating that hairpin 92 has not yet been sequestered within the 50S subunit. Overexpression of the inactive DbpA R331A mutant appears to block assembly at a late stage when the peptidyl transferase center is formed, indicating a possible role for DbpA promoting this conformational change.
Dissipative fluid dynamics for the dilute Fermi gas at unitarity: Free expansion and rotation

We investigate the expansion dynamics of a dilute Fermi gas at unitarity in the context of dissipative fluid dynamics. Our aim is to quantify the effects of shear viscosity on the time evolution of the system. We compare exact numerical solutions of the equations of viscous hydrodynamics to various approximations that have been proposed in the literature. Our main findings are (i) shear viscosity leads to characteristic features in the expansion dynamics; (ii) a quantitative description of these effects has to include reheating; (iii) dissipative effects are not sensitive to the equation of state $P(n,T)$ as long as the universal relation $P=\frac{2}{3}\mathcal{E}$ is satisfied; (iv) the expansion dynamics mainly constrains the cloud average of the shear viscosity.
Born to run; the story of the PEPCK-Cmus mouse

In order to study the role of the cytosolic form of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (GTP) (EC 4.1.1.32) (PEPCK-C) in skeletal muscle, PEPCK-C mus mice were created by introducing the cDNA for the enzyme, linked to the human a-skeletal actin gene promoter, into their germ line. Two founder lines generated by this procedure were bred together, creating a line of mice that have 9.0 units/g skeletal muscle of PEPCK-C, as compared to 0.080 units/g in muscle from control animals. The mice were more active than controls in their cages and could run for up to 5 km, at a speed of 20 m/min without stopping (control mice run for 0.2 km at the same speed). Male PEPCK-C mus mice are extremely aggressive, as well as hyperactive. During strenuous exercise, they use fatty acids as a fuel more efficiently than do controls and produce far less lactate than do control animals, perhaps due to the greatly increased number of mitochondria in their skeletal muscle. PEPCK-C mus mice also store up to five-times more triglyceride in their skeletal muscle, but have only marginal amounts of triglyceride in their adipose tissue depots, despite eating 60% more than controls. The concentration of leptin and insulin the blood of 8e12 months of PEPCK-C mus mice is far lower than noted in the blood of control animals of the same age. These mice live longer than controls and the females remain reproductively active for as long as 35 months. The possible reasons for the profound alteration in activity and longevity caused the introduction of a simple metabolic enzyme into the skeletal muscle of the mice will be discussed. 2008 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.
Differential effects of energy stress on AMPK phosphorylation and apoptosis in experimental brain tumor and normal brain

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a known physiological cellular energy sensor and becomes phosphorylated at Thr-172 in response to changes in cellular ATP levels. Activated AMPK acts as either an inducer or suppressor of apoptosis depending on the severity of energy stress and the presence or absence of certain functional tumor suppressor genes. Here we show that energy stress differentially affects AMPK phosphorylation and cell-death in brain tumor tissue and in tissue from contra-lateral normal brain. We compared TSC2 deficient CT-2A mouse astrocytoma cells with syngeneic normal astrocytes that were grown under identical condition in vitro. Energy stress induced by glucose withdrawal or addition of 2-deoxyglucose caused more ATP depletion, AMPK phosphorylation and apoptosis in CT-2A cells than in the normal astrocytes. Under normal energy conditions pharmacological stimulation of AMPK caused apoptosis in CT-2A cells but not in astrocytes. TSC2 siRNA treated astrocytes are hypersensitive to apoptosis induced by energy stress compared to control cells. AMPK phosphorylation and apoptosis were also greater in the CT-2A tumor tissue than in the normal brain tissue following implementation of dietary energy restriction. Inefficient mTOR and TSC2 signaling, downstream of AMPK, is responsible for CT-2A cell-death, while functional LKB1 may protect normal brain cells under energy stress. Together these data demonstrates that AMPK phosphorylation induces apoptosis in mouse astrocytoma but may protect normal brain cells from apoptosis under similar energy stress condition. Therefore, using activator of AMPK along with glycolysis inhibitor could be a potential therapeutic approach for TSC2 deficient human malignant astrocytoma.
Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations in US Airspace

The US military currently conducts the most flights of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) worldwide, including intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and combat missions in current theaters of war, and training flights in the US National Airspace System (NAS). Other militaries, particularly the Israel Defense Force, also regularly conduct UAS missions. Aviation regulations were developed for manned aircraft operations; UAS-specific regulations have yet to appear. The aviation regulations set the requirements for UAS operations in unrestricted airspace, with requirements for a special experimental certificate for civil (commercial) operations, or a certificate of authorization or waiver (COA) for public (government) operations that include domestic military, government agencies, law enforcement, emergency first-responders, and public universities. This chapter describes the range of UAS operated today, in terms of the physical characteristics and performance that must be taken into account for flight tests and operations. Examples are selected from UAS operating in the NAS. The airspace regulatory environment is discussed with an overview of COA application process and procedures for deploying and small UAS in the NAS are described for closed range testing and nomadic, science-based missions. Finally, the state of the public perception of UAS operations is discussed. Keywords: remotely piloted aircraft; remotely piloted vehicle; robotic aircraft; RPA; RPV; uninhabited aerial vehicle; uninhabited aircraft system; unmanned aerial system; unmanned aerial vehicle; unmanned aircraft system (UAS); UAV
Right aortic arch and coarctation: a rare association.

Objectives. Understand anatomical and clinical correlatives to coarctation in right aortic arch. Background. Coarctation of the aorta is rare in patients with a functional right aortic arch. We reviewed a single institutional experience, examining associated diagnoses, diagnostic methodology, and surgical approaches. Methods. A retrospective study was performed of our echocardiographic, magnetic resonance imaging, catheterization, and surgical databases from 1988 to 2001. Results. Of 240 patients with right aortic arch, 10 (4.1%) had coarctation, constituting 1.9% of all native coarctations (n = 524). Nine (90%) had long-segment hypoplasia. Six (60%) had an aberrant left subclavian artery or retroesophageal diverticulum, 3 (30%) had mirror image branching, and 1 (10%) had a double arch with an atretic left arch. Other congenital heart defects were seen in 6 (60%) comprising 3 with ventricular septal defects, and one each with double-outlet right ventricle, cor triatriatum, and pulmonary valve abnormality. No patients with long-segment hypoplasia had bicuspid aortic valve. Six (60%) had vascular rings, and 5 (50%) had other associated syndromes. Magnetic resonance imaging and/or echocardiography successfully diagnosed all of these patients. Although long-segment right aortic arch coarctation courses behind the trachea posteriorly, only 2 needed an extra-anatomic (jump) graft; the remainders were repaired with patch angioplasty. Conclusion. Coarctation with right aortic arch is rare, constituting 4.1% of all patients with right aortic arch, compared with 5–8% of patients with left aortic arch and congenital heart disease. Nearly all had long-segment hypoplasia without bicuspid aortic valve, and half were part of other syndrome complexes. This association can be diagnosed noninvasively and can often be repaired by patch angioplasty.
Mice Lacking Hepatic Lipase Are Lean and Protected against Diet-Induced Obesity and Hepatic Steatosis

Hepatic lipase (HL)-mediated lipoprotein hydrolysis provides free fatty acids for energy, storage, and nutrient signaling and may play a role in energy homeostasis. Because HL-activity increases with increased visceral fat, we hypothesized that increased HL-activity favors weight gain and obesity and consequently, that HL deficiency would reduce body fat stores and protect against diet-induced obesity. To test this hypothesis, we compared wild-type mice (with endogenous HL) and mice genetically deficient in HL with respect to daily body weight and food intake, body composition, and adipocyte size on both chow and high-fat (HF) diets. Key determinants of energy expenditure, including rate of oxygen consumption, heat production, and locomotor activity, were measured by indirect calorimetry. HL-deficient mice exhibited reduced weight gain on both diets (by 32%, chow; by 50%, HF; both P < 0.0001, n = 6-7 per genotype), effects that were associated with reduced average daily food intake (by 22-30% on both diets, P < 0.0001) and a modest increase in the rate of oxygen consumption (by 25%, P < 0.003) during the light cycle. Moreover, in mice fed the HF diet, HL deficiency reduced both body fat (by 30%, P < 0.0001) and adipocyte size (by 53%, P < 0.01) and fully prevented the development of hepatic steatosis. Also, HL deficiency reduced adipose tissue macrophage content, consistent with reduced inflammation and a lean phenotype. Our results demonstrate that in mice, HL deficiency protects against diet-induced obesity and its hepatic sequelae. Inhibition of HL-activity may therefore have value in the prevention and/or treatment of obesity.
Experimental Evaluation of a Mathematical Model for Predicting Transfer Efficiency of a High Volume?Low Pressure Air Spray Gun

The transfer efficiency of a spray-painting gun is defined as the amount of coating applied to the workpiece divided by the amount sprayed. Characterizing this transfer process allows for accurate estimation of the overspray generation rate, which is important for determining a spray painter's exposure to airborne contaminants. This study presents an experimental evaluation of a mathematical model for predicting the transfer efficiency of a high volume -low pressure spray gun. The effects of gun-to-surface distance and nozzle pressure on the agreement between the transfer efficiency measurement and prediction were examined. Wind tunnel studies and non-volatile vacuum pump oil in place of commercial paint were used to determine transfer efficiency at nine gun-to-surface distances and four nozzle pressure levels. The mathematical model successfully predicts transfer efficiency within the uncertainty limits. The least squares regression between measured and predicted transfer efficiency has a slope of 0.83 a...
Mediators of ocular angiogenesis

Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing vasculature. Pathologic angiogenesis in the eye can lead to severe visual impairment. In our review, we discuss the roles of both pro-angiogenic and anti-angiogenic molecular players in corneal angiogenesis, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, exudative macular degeneration and retinopathy of prematurity, highlighting novel targets that have emerged over the past decade.
Mean stress effects on low cycle fatigue for a high strength steel

Abstract— ASTM A723 Q & T steel with a yield strength and ultimate strength of 1170 and 1262 MPa respectively was evaluated for mean stress-strain effects under smooth specimen axial strain controlled low cycle fatigue conditions with strain ratios R of −2, −1, 0, 0.5 and 0.75. Cycles to failure ranged from 15 to 105. Cyclic stress-strain response based upon half-life hysteresis loop peaks were similar for all R ratios. Mean stress relaxation occurred for R≠−1 only when plastic strain amplitudes were present and this occurred above total strain amplitudes of 0.005. Thus, mean stress relaxation was completely dependent upon cyclic plasticity. Mean strains did not affect low cycle fatigue life unless accompanied by half-life mean stress. Tensile mean stress was detrimental and compressive mean stress was beneficial and these effects only occurred at strain ampltidues below 0.005. Three different mean stress models were used to evaluate the low cycle fatigue data and the SWT log-log linear model best represented the data. These results can be used with the local notch strain fatigue life prediction methodology.
A three-species model for simulating torsional response of shape memory alloy components using thermodynamic principles and discrete Preisach models

Shape memory alloy (SMA) components under torsional loading have shown the ability to deliver near-constant forces over large working strokes, thus enabling them to find various engineering applications. In this work, a model to capture the torsional response of SMA components under both superelastic and shape memory effects is formulated. A three-species Gibbs-potential-based formulation is employed to separate the thermoelastic response of the SMA from its dissipative response. The dissipative part is then modeled with a discrete Preisach approach. The proposed approach combines the elegance of the thermodynamic-based approach with the algorithmic efficiency/simplicity of the Preisach model and thus providing an effective way in predicting complex SMA responses. The model is constructed directly in terms of experimentally measurable quantities: torque and angle of twist rather than estimating them by solving for non-homogeneous shear stresses across the specimen cross-section. The model is used to predi...
Differential effects of phenobarbital and pentobarbital on stimulus train-induced bursting in the hippocampal slice.

Summary: :Stimulus train-induced bursting (STIB) in the hippocampal slice is an in vitro model of epileptiform activity that is analogous to kindling and requires no manipulation of the neurochemical or ionic environment. The bursts recorded from slices after STIB closely resemble the discharges observed in vivo after kindling and may provide a convenient and accessible model for studies of the electrophysiological underpinnings of epileptiform bursting in local neural circuits. One critical element in the validation of this model is the responsiveness of STIB to traditional sedatives and anticonvulsants. In this study we assessed the effects of the barbiturates phenobarbital and pentobarbital on both spontaneous and stimulus-triggered bursts after STIB. Concentration-response studies indicated that both drugs had inhibitory effects on stimulus-triggered bursting, although at significantly different concentrations. The rate of spontaneous bursting, however, was not significantly affected by phenobarbital at any of the concentrations tested, whereas pentobarbital reduced the frequency of spontaneous bursting in a concentration-dependent manner. These results indicate that STIB is responsive to the barbiturates tested, although the drugs have differential potencies depending on the type of bursting measured. These effects may be the result of differential potencies of these drugs on y-amino-butyric acid-mediated inhibition within local hippocampal circuits, as well as different effects on the bio-physical characteristics of pacemaker cells within these circuits.
Easing Team Politics in Agile Usability: A Concept Mapping Approach

Team politics complicate software projects. They cause internal conflicts that can not only cost a software team time and money, but may also detract from the needs of the product’s end users. In this paper, we explore the use of concept maps as a means of mitigating such team conflicts. Approaching agile usability through the lens of distributed cognition, concept mapping could improve team communications. We conducted interviews with eleven practitioners from three local software development companies to gain preliminary evidence of the practicality of the approach. Participants were questioned about their challenges in agile development and about their overall impressions of a concept mapping approach. We asked about the practicality and acceptability of implementing such a methodology, along with general concerns and recommendations. Results indicate that there is a need for improvement in agile usability, and a concept mapping approach is promising for addressing existing concerns. With refinement of the method and the development of the proper tools, this approach has great potential to improve team interaction in agile usability environments.
Injectable polyurethane composite scaffolds delay wound contraction and support cellular infiltration and remodeling in rat excisional wounds.

Injectable scaffolds present compelling opportunities for wound repair and regeneration due to their ability to fill irregularly shaped defects and deliver biologics such as growth factors. In this study, we investigated the properties of injectable polyurethane biocomposite scaffolds and their application in cutaneous wound repair using a rat excisional model. The scaffolds have a minimal reaction exotherm and clinically relevant working and setting times. Moreover, the biocomposites have mechanical and thermal properties consistent with rubbery elastomers. In the rat excisional wound model, injection of settable biocomposite scaffolds stented the wounds at early time points, resulting in a regenerative rather than a scarring phenotype at later time points. Measurements of wound width and thickness revealed that the treated wounds were less contracted at day 7 compared to blank wounds. Analysis of cell proliferation and apoptosis showed that the scaffolds were biocompatible and supported tissue ingrowth. Myofibroblast formation and collagen fiber organization provided evidence that the scaffolds have a positive effect on extracellular matrix remodeling by disrupting the formation of an aligned matrix under elevated tension. In summary, we have developed an injectable biodegradable polyurethane biocomposite scaffold that enhances cutaneous wound healing in a rat model.
Alkali Silicate Glass based thermal coatings

This paper describes a family of composite materials that are based on Alkali Silicate Glass (ASG), which can be processed and cured at temperatures that are compatible with conventional electronics packaging processes. The focus of this paper is on ASG composite materials with high thermal conductivity filler materials for use as thermal encapsulants and adhesives in electronics packaging. Data are presented for testing on a thermal test die encapsulated with an ASG-diamond composite as well as an evaluation of using the material to adhere an inductor coil to a circuit board. These results indicated that the thermal conductivity of the material exceeded 10 W/mK and it remained robust after 1000 thermal shocks.
Control of Mechanical Systems Using a Parameterized Spectral Decomposition Approach

This study investigates a control methodology for dynamic systems based on representing all possible system responses under all possible values of the control variables. The underlying idea is to extend the system along the “control dimension” and explicitly account for the dependence of the system state on control variables. A spectral discretization along the “control dimension” is employed. The optimal control values are chosen to obtain the desired system response. Numerical studies for the control of linear and nonlinear quarter car models riding on various terrain profiles show promising results.Copyright © 2004 by ASME