cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SPECIFYING NODES AT MULTIPLE LOCATIONS FOR ANY NORMAL MODE OF A LINEAR ELASTIC STRUCTURE

Abstract Spring–mass oscillators have long been used as vibration absorbers to quench excess vibration in structural systems. In this paper, sprung masses are used as a passive means of inducing multiple nodes for any normal mode of an arbitrarily supported, linear elastic structure. When the parameters of the elastically mounted masses are properly chosen, their attachment locations can be made to coincide exactly with the nodes of the structure, thereby allowing nodes to be imposed at multiple locations anywhere along the combined assembly. Moreover, when the desired node locations are closely spaced, it is possible to specify a region of nearly zero amplitudes for a particular normal mode. A procedure to guide the proper selection of the spring–mass parameters in order to induce multiple nodes is outlined in detail, and numerical experiments are performed to verify the utility of the proposed scheme of imposing nodes at multiple locations.
Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Orientation and Mobility Services in Public Schools

The related service areas of occupational therapy, physical therapy, and orientation and mobility share some areas of professional practice but are quite distinct in the way services allow children with disabilities to fully participate in contemporary school environments. This article presents an overview of the roles and responsibilities of professionals in these areas and how they offer their services to children with disabilities.
Effect of thermal inhomogeneity on the performance of a Brownian heat engine

We explore the effect of thermal inhomogeneity on the performance of a Brownian heat engine by considering exactly solvable models. We first consider a Brownian heat engine which is modeled as a Brownian particle in a ratchet potential moving through a highly viscous medium driven by the thermal kick it receives from a linearly decreasing background temperature. We show that even though the energy transfer due to kinetic energy is neglected, Carnot efficiency cannot be achieved at quasistatic limit. At quasistatic limit, the efficiency for such a Brownian heat engine approaches the efficiency of endoreversible engine η = 1 − √T c /T h [F.L. Curzon, B. Ahlborn, Am. J. Phys. 43, 22 (1975)]. Moreover, the dependence of the current, the efficiency and the coefficient of performance of the refrigerator on the model parameters is also explored via Brownian dynamic simulations and analytically. We show that such a Brownian heat engine has a higher performance when acting as a refrigerator than when operating as a device subjected to a piecewise constant temperature [M. Asfaw, M. Bekele, Eur. Phys. J. B 38, 457 (2004), M. Asfaw, M. Bekele, Physica A 384, 346 (2007)]. Furthermore, for a Brownian heat engine driven by a piecewise constant temperature, we show that systematic removal of the inhomogeneous medium leads to a homogeneous medium with a uniform temperature where the effect of temperature inhomogeneity is replaced by an effective load.
Straight-Runway Application of the Incentive-Motivation Behavior-Guidance Theory

Compared with animals receiving nonrewarded or 4 rewarded placements, 16 placements to food in the goalbox of a straight runway was effective in producing facilitation of previously unrewarded traversal of a straight runway. The apparatus was built to provide a primary gradient of goalbox cues along the runway, in accord with conditions required by the incentive-motivation hypothesis of behavioral guidance. These results, along with the data of previous studies that failed to obtain the facilitation effect, were attributed to positive and reversed goal-cue gradients in the runway.
Opiate receptor thermodynamics: agonist and antagonist binding.

Abstract The equilibrium thermodynamics of [3H]etorphine and [3H]diprenorphine binding to rat brain membranes were studied. In the absence of NaCl, the binding of [3H]etorphine was endothermic (ΔH° = +2.31 kcal/mol) and driven by a large increase in entropy (ΔH° = +51.8 e.u.). Under similar conditions, the binding of [3H]diprenorphine was exothermic (ΔH° = - 2.78 kcal/mol). In the presence of 100 mM Nacl, [3H]etorphine binding was relatively isothermic (ΔH° = +0.61 kcal/mol) and driven by a large increase in entropy ΔS° = +45.6 e.u.). NaCl significantly decreased both ΔH° (−2.78 to −7.48 kcal/mol) and ΔS° (33.0 to 18.5 e.u.) for [3H]diprenorphine binding. The data suggest that the agonist configuration of the opiate receptor exists in a more open and mobile (higher entropy) conformation than does the antagonist form of the receptor.
Toward a Common Parking Policy: A Cross-Jurisdictional Matrix Comparison of Municipal Off-Street Parking Regulations in Metropolitan Dade County, Florida

Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) were developed to promote regional approaches to transportation problems in large metropolitan areas. However, one particular aspect of the overall transportation picture—off-street parking requirements—has generally been left to local municipal regulation without a conscious effort to integrate local parking policies into areawide transportation programs. In an effort to promote regional approaches that take into account the impact of parking policies on transportation problems, a study was designed to show in matrix form the cross-jurisdictional similarities and differences in offstreet parking requirements as regulated by local municipal zoning ordinances in a typical multijurisdictional setting. In addition, the study highlighted several basic overall parking policy aspects that may serve as starting points in the consensual development of a regional parking policy for metropolitan areas such as Dade County under the aegis of an MPO.
Experimental Comparisons of Connections for GFRP Pultruded Frames

The results of an experimental investigation demonstrate that innovative connection details designed to connect glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) box section beams and columns can produce substantial increases in joint stiffness and strength when compared to standard connection details based on steel design concepts using GFRP I-beams. Increases in stiffness and strength of 90% and 330%, respectively, are observed. A novel monolithic connection element, the cuff, is introduced to avoid many of the pitfalls associated with current practice. A series of connection geometries was built and tested to demonstrate the advantages of such a system.
Scintillator-based transition radiation detectors for very high-energy particles

Abstract The use of relatively thick foils, large spacings, and high plasma frequencies makes it possible to extend the energy range of transition radiation detectors up to Lorentz factors near 10 5 . The maximum sensitivity to particle energy then comes at frequencies above 100 keV , where inorganic scintillators are effective X-ray detectors and Compton scattering can be used to separate the X-ray signal from the particle's ionization. We describe the motivation and use of scintillator-based detectors to measure particle energies.
On Some Nearctic Mygalomorph Spiders

The families of mygalomorph spiders heretofore commonly regarded as occurring in North America north of thirty degrees latitude are these: Ctenizidae, Dipluridae, Atypidae, and Theraphosidae. A study of a number of species indicates that some revision should be made in the definition of some of the families and that two additional names should be added to the above list. These two are the already established names Hexuridae and Acattymidae.
A bottleneck-based beam search for job scheduling in a flexible manufacturing system

In this paper, we study job-scheduling methods for flexible manufacturing systems (FMSs). Routeing flexibility is a feature that distinguishes FMS scheduling from a classic general jobshop problem....
NT69L blocks ethanol-induced increase of dopamine and glutamate levels in striatum of mouse

Recent study shows that NT69L, an analog of neurotensin (NT) (8-13), reduces ethanol consumption and preference in mice through modulation of neurotensin receptor subtype one. The current study showed that NT69L significantly decreased ethanol-induced increase of dopamine and glutamate levels in striatum of mouse. These data suggest that NT69L prevents ethanol consumption through the modulation of both dopaminergic and glutamatergic systems implicated in ethanol addiction. NT agonists may provide novel treatment for alcohol addiction.
Effects of Oxygen Tension and Shear Stress on Human Endothelial Cell Prostacyclin Production

Under in vivo conditions of ischemia and reperfusion, vascular endothelium (EC) experience concurrent changes in oxygen tension, shear stress, and the local concentration of metabolites. These studies explored the combined effects of shear stress and oxygen tension on EC prostacyclin production. EC grown on microcarrier beads were exposed to 120 min of normoxia and basal shear stress by stirring at 20 rpm. After normoxia, EC were exposed to hypoxia (2% 0(2), 20 rpm), ischemia (2%, 0(2), 5 rpm) or sham ischemia (20% 0(2), 5 rpm). Following hypoxia, EC were reoxygenated (20% 0(2), 20 rpm). After ischemia and sham ischemia, EC were reperfused (20% 0(2), 20 rpm). Minimal accumulation of metabolites occurred during normoxia, hypoxia, and reperfusion. All metabolites were allowed to accumulate in the flasks during ischemia and sham ischemia. Prostacyclin levels were measured by ELISA, and prostaglandin H2 synthase levels in cells were analyzed by immunoblotting. An acute decrease in shear stress decreased prostacyclin production. An acute decrease only in oxygen tension did not alter prostacyclin production significantly. The combined acute decrease in both shear stress and oxygen tension significantly stimulated prostacyclin production for 30 min. By 120 min of ischemia and hypoxia, prostacyclin release was significantly less than sham ischemia. Prostacyclin production after 30 min of reoxygenation was significantly less than that of cells subjected to reperfusion. By 120 min of reperfusion and reoxygenation, there was no significant difference in EC prostacyclin synthesis. These findings suggest that temporal and quantitative aspects of EC prostaglandin synthesis are dependent on both oxygen tension and shear stress.
Positive fraction of systematic biopsies predicts risk of relapse after radical prostatectomy

Abstract Objectives. To determine whether the positive fraction of systematic sextant biopsies contributes to the prediction of serologic relapse after radical prostatectomy. Methods. A retrospective review of patients who underwent transrectal ultrasound-guided systematic sextant biopsy and radical prostatectomy was performed. No patients received neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy. The relationship between the positive fraction of systematic biopsies and risk of prostate-specific antigen recurrence was assessed with Kaplan-Meier and multivariate analyses. Results. Patients with three or fewer positive sextant biopsies were at a significantly lower risk of relapse after radical prostatectomy than patients with four or more positive biopsies. Tumor grade and systematic biopsy results were the most powerful predictors of serologic relapse. Conclusions. The positive fraction of systematic biopsies contributes to the prediction of risk of relapse after radical prostatectomy.
Human autologous dendritic cell-glioma fusions: feasibility and capacity to stimulate T cells with proliferative and cytolytic activity.

Gliomas are the most common primary neoplasm of the central nervous system. The failure of conventional treatment modalities to improve outcome over the last two decades has led to interest in alternative treatment modalities. Dendritic cell (DC)-based immunotherapy has utilized DC pulsed with tumor lysate or peptide to induce an anti-tumor immune response mediated largely by CD8 T cells. While this has been effective in preclinical studies, clinical efficacy remains unproven. Recently, hybrid cells produced by fusions of tumor and autologous DC have demonstrated remarkable efficacy for stimulating an anti-tumor immune response in both preclinical and clinical studies of extra-cranial neoplasms. The advantage of generating such hybrid cells is that the entire cellular material of the tumor is processed and presented in both endogenous and exogenous pathways. This leads to activation of both MHC class I restricted CD8 cells as well as MHC class II restricted CD4 T cells.
Calculation of the potentials and 3D electric fields in a proton decay detector

An electrostatic detector for measuring the lifetime of protons has been modeled in three dimensions. Linear hexahedral finite elements were used, and the potential was obtained at all nodes. The three components of the electric field were calculated and used to determine field lines and calculate drift fields and drift times. Effective aperture calculations agreed with the previous measurements. >
Arc jet testing and evaluation of Mo–Si–B coated Mo and SiC–ZrB2 ceramics

Abstract The transition from blunt leading edges to sharp leading edges on re-entry aircrafts is necessary to increase both maneuverability and safety. However, the oxidation resistance of current materials is inadequate for the extreme conditions experienced by sharp leading edge re-entry vehicles. The Mo–Si–B alloy system has been utilized to design a multilayer coating that has the ability to protect from 800 to 1700 °C. Substrates of Mo and ZrB 2 –50 vol% SiC with a flat profile were coated with the Mo–Si–B based coating and evaluated using arc jet testing performed at NASA Langley Research Center. Heat fluxes of 2.5 to nearly 3.5 MW/m 2 and surface temperatures of 1500–1650 °C were achieved during the 20-min tests. The samples presented in this study showed
Clinically accurate assessment and grading of ototoxicity

Objectives/Hypothesis: To design a grading scale and audiologic protocols to better reflect clinical impact than the currently widely used classifications. Study Design: Retrospective. Methods: Audiologic studies from 130 patients receiving cisplatin chemotherapy were analyzed. Pure-tone audiograms were evaluated using the newly proposed grading criteria, Brock criteria, and Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE). The resulting grades were then compared to recommended audiologic interventions. Auditory brainstem response (ABR) data and data on incidences of conductive hearing loss from other multi-institutional studies that the author participated in were compared to data from this cohort. Results: Although the newly proposed, Brock, and CTCAE ototoxicity grades were significantly related to audiologist recommendations for assistive devices (P < .0001), the newly proposed criteria were more specific and allowed better delineation of different patients into distinct subgroups requiring either FM system (grade 2a) or hearing aid (grade 2b or higher). Multi-institutional data review indicated significant problems with ABR evaluations and separating out conductive hearing losses from ototoxicity. Conclusions: The newly proposed grading system needs to be paired with specific recommendations regarding audiologic monitoring protocols as well as active participation by the audiologists implementing the protocol to provide clinically accurate assessment and grading of ototoxicity. Laryngoscope, 121:2649–2657, 2011
Microglia Lacking E Prostanoid Receptor Subtype 2 Have Enhanced Aβ Phagocytosis yet Lack Aβ-Activated Neurotoxicity

Experimental therapies for Alzheimer's disease (AD) are focused on enhanced clearance of neurotoxic Aβ peptides from brain. Microglia can be neuroprotective by phagocytosing Aβ; however, this comes at the cost of activated innate immunity that causes paracrine damage to neurons. Here, we show that ablation of E prostanoid receptor subtype 2 (EP2) significantly increased microglial-mediated clearance of Aβ peptides from AD brain sections and enhanced microglial Aβ phagocytosis in cell culture. The enhanced phagocytosis was PKC-dependent and was associated with elevated microglial secretion of the chemoattractant chemokines, macrophage inflammatory protein-1α and macrophage chemoattractant protein-1. This suggested that microglial activation is negatively regulated by EP2 signaling through suppression of prophagocytic cytokine secretion. However, despite this enhancement of Aβ phagocytosis, lack of EP2 completely suppressed Aβ-activated microglia-mediated paracrine neurotoxicity. These data demonstrate that blockade of microglial EP2 is a highly desirable mechanism for AD therapy that can maximize neuroprotective actions while minimizing bystander damage to neurons.
Coverage and the use of cyclic redundancy codes in ultra-dependable systems

A cyclic redundancy code (CRC), when used properly, can be an effective and relatively inexpensive method to detect data corruption across communication channels. However, some systems use CRCs in ways that violate common assumptions made in analyzing CRC effectiveness, resulting in an overly optimistic prediction of system dependability. CRCs detect errors with some finite probability, which depends on factors including the strength of the particular code used, the bit-error rate, and the message length being checked. Common assumptions also include a passive network inter-stage, explicit data words, memoryless channels, and random independent symbol errors. In this paper we identify some examples of CRC usage that compromise ultra-dependable system design goals, and recommend alternate ways to improve system dependability via architectural approaches rather than error detection coding approaches.
Host Quality and Spatial Patterning in Infections of the Eastern Mudsnail (Ilyanassa obsoleta) by Two Trematodes (Himasthla quissetensis and Zoogonus rubellus)

Abstract: Several studies have suggested that the fitness of a parasite can be directly impacted by the quality of its host. In such cases, selective pressures could act to funnel parasites towards the highest-quality hosts in a population. The results of this study demonstrate that snail host quality is strongly correlated with spatial patterning in trematode infections and that habitat type is the underlying driver for both of these variables. Two trematodes (Himasthla quissetensis and Zoogonus rubellus) with very different life cycles assume the same spatial infection pattern in populations of the first intermediate host (Ilyanassa obsoleta) in coastal marsh habitats. Infected snails are disproportionately recovered from intertidal panne habitats, which offer more hospitable environs for snails than do adjacent habitats (intertidal creeks, coastal flats, and subtidal creeks), in terms of protection from turbulence and wave action, as well as the availability of food stuffs. Snails in intertidal panne h...
Generation of representative traces for performance evaluation of computer architectures

Trace-driven simulation is common technique to accurately estimate the performance of computer systems. Accuracy of the estimated performance greatly depends on the traces as well as the system model itself. The trace based performance evaluation, however, suffers from the high cost of trace generation and execution. This has, provided the necessary impetus towards the development of accurate trace sampling methodologies. In this paper, we have presented a new methodology for generating and validating representative reduced traces. Experimental results show effectiveness and usefulness of the proposed technique.
Reliability of Doppler color flow mapping in the identification and localization of multiple ventricular septal defects.

The purpose of this study was to compare Doppler color flow mapping with angiography and surgical observation for detection of multiple ventricular septal defects (VSDs). Only patients with elevated pulmonary ventricular pressure were included. Among 137 patients with VSDs, 38 multiple defects were identified in 25 patients echocardiographically, 34 multiple defects in 24 patients angiographically, and 21 multiple defects in 17 patients surgically. Using surgical observation as the reference standard, the sensitivity of echocardiography for identifying patients with multiple VSDs was 17 of 17 (100%) and for angiography 15 of 17 (88%). The sensitivity of echocardiography for identifying all multiple VSDs seen at operation was 19 of 21 (90%) and of angiography was also 19 of 21 (90%). In many patients, use of both techniques may no longer may necessary. (ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Volume 10, November 1993)
Effects of Urbanization on Prevalence of Baylisascaris procyonis in Intermediate Host Populations

Baylisascaris procyonis is an intestinal parasite of raccoons (Procyon lotor) that can also infect humans and a wide range of wildlife species. Prevalence of B. procyonis in raccoon populations appears to decrease as the landscape urbanizes, but less is known about prevalence in the small-mammal intermediate hosts of the parasite. We measured prevalence of B. procyonis in populations of mice (Peromyscus spp.) in forest preserves along a gradient of urbanization in Illinois. Prevalence in the mouse intermediate host exhibited a trend opposite raccoons: prevalence increased as surrounding human population density increased. This counterintuitive result may be due to higher overall environmental loads of B. procyonis in urban areas due to higher raccoon densities. Our results emphasize the need to understand fully the transmission dynamics of B. procyonis in its definitive and intermediate hosts in order to design and implement effective strategies to mitigate zoonotic risks to humans.
Self-pollination rate and floral-display size in Asclepias syriaca(Common Milkweed) with regard to floral-visitor taxa

Animals fertilize thousands of angiosperm species whose floral-display sizes can significantly influence pollinator behavior and plant reproductive success. Many studies have measured the interactions among pollinator behavior, floral-display size, and plant reproductive success, but few studies have been able to separate the effects of pollinator behavior and post-pollination processes on angiosperm sexual reproduction. In this study, we utilized the highly self-incompatible pollinium-pollination system of Asclepias syriaca (Common Milkweed) to quantify how insect visitors influenced male reproductive success measured as pollen removal, female reproductive success measured as pollen deposition, and self-pollination rate. We also determined how floral-display size impacts both visitor behavior and self-pollination rate. Four insect taxonomic orders visited A. syriaca: Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera, and Lepidoptera. We focused on three groups of visitor taxa within two orders (Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera) with sample sizes large enough for quantitative analysis: Apis mellifera (Western Honey Bee), Bombus spp. (bumble bees) and lepidopterans (butterflies and moths). Qualitatively, lepidopterans had the highest pollinator importance values, but the large variability in the lepidopteran data precluded meaningful interpretation of much of their behavior. The introduced A. mellifera was the most effective and most important diurnal pollinator with regard to both pollen removal and pollen deposition. However, when considering the self-incompatibility of A. syriaca, A. mellifera was not the most important pollinator because of its high self-pollination rate as compared to Bombus spp. Additionally, the rate of self-pollination increased more rapidly with the number of flowers per inflorescence in A. mellifera than in the native Bombus spp. Apis mellifera’s high rate of self-pollination may have significant negative effects on both male and female reproductive successes in A. syriaca, causing different selection on floral-display size than native pollinators.
Volatile constituents of five species of Portlandia (Rubiaceae)

Portlandia (Rubiaceae) is a genus endemic to Jamaica. The volatile organic constituents of P. albiflora, P. coccinea, P. grandiflora, P. latifolia and P. proctorii were analyzed by headspace solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with capillary mass spectrometry. The main constituents detected in these species are 1-penten-3-one, hexanal, (E)-2-hexenal, linalool, borneol and methyl salicylate. All species are rich in aliphatic aldehydes, mainly represented by (E)-2-hexenal, that range from 17% (P. latifolia) to 90% (P. coccinea) of total volatiles. The high content of aldehydes is characteristic to Portlandia species and may serve as a chemical marker to differentiate Portlandia from related genera within the Rubiaceae.
Who Benefited from the Bailout

The Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) was created to respond to a financial panic. Some might say that it was created in panic. Congress appropriated a huge sum of money, gave the Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) enormous latitude to spend the money, and provided ambiguous and, some might say, contradictory direction on the goals and objectives of TARP. Treasury, in turn, gave clear guidance on how it proposed to use the money - to purchase deeply discounted toxic assets from troubled financial institutions - only to shift directions within weeks, when it used TARP funds to make capital investments in banks. Part I of this Article describes the government’s actions in the financial crisis of 2008, beginning with the collapse of Bear Stearns. Part II follows the money with respect to both TARP and non-TARP funds and assesses those interventions. Part III contains a brief summary of past banking failures in the United States, demonstrating that the government’s intervention was not out of the ordinary. It also discusses how fundamental changes in the banking business model, coupled with significant industry consolidation, will have consequences for future bank failures, which are inevitable. This Article concludes with some observations on what regulators must address to reduce the consequences of future failures.
LMDS, A Broadband Wireless Interactive Access System at 28 GHz

A new broadband wireless interactive access system, Local Multipoint Distribution Service (LMDS) is soon to be deployed in the US. Auctions for the spectrum, issued by Basic Trading Areas (BTAs) are expected to start in late 1997 and be finished in early 1998. The following discussion will introduce LMDS as well as discuss a possible deployment model and consider system link margins that can be expected in a typical deployment. Some cost considerations will also be discussed.
Bone scintigraphy findings of chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis

1271 Learning Objectives 1. Review the scintigraphic patterns of chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO). 2. Emphasize the value of bone scan in diagnosis of CRMO. 3. Illustrate the importance of performing whole-body scans in children presenting with unifocal symptoms. Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) is an autoinflammatory bone disease of unknown etiology. It affects predominantly children and adolescents, and occurs mostly in females. It is characterized by insidious onset of pain and swelling, fluctuating clinical course of relapses and remissions. Typically several bones are affected, either synchronous or metachronous. Bilateral involvement is common. CRMO most commonly affects the metaphysis of long bones, especially tibia, femur, and clavicle. Spine, pelvis, ribs and sternum may also be affected. CRMO is a diagnosis of exclusion. The differential diagnosis includes infectious osteomyelitis, bone malignancy, and other inflammatory arthritis. Although lesions are mostly multiple, patients may present with a single symptomatic focus. Radiographs may be negative at early disease. Bone scan is useful in determining the presence of abnormality, extent of disease. It can reveal areas that are more surgically accessible, as confirmatory biopsy will be required in many patients
Pentacoordinated AB5-Type Main Group Molecules Favorably Adopt sp2 Hybridization in the Central Atom: Bonding without d-Orbital Participation

The pentacoordinated AB5-type main group molecules have long been thought to have sp3d hybridization of the central atom, accounting for their oxidation state and molecular geometry; however, this does not explain the difference in axial and equatorial bond distances within these molecules. In addition, d-orbital participation in bonding for nonmetals is energetically unfavorable because it requires a np → nd excitation energy. In this paper, we have proposed that the sp2 hybrid orbitals are formed on the central atom, overlapping with ligand orbitals in the equatorial positions. The longer axial bonds are formed via the overlap of the unhybridized p orbital on the central atom and the two terminal ligand orbitals, resulting in a three-center, four-electron bond. Examining the partial charge on the central atom using relevant electronegativity values supports this model without a d component in bonding. The model explains well the structure and bonding in pentavalent molecules. We believe that the results will be useful in updating chemistry texts.
Probing Driving Force and Electron Accepting State Density Dependent Interfacial Electron Transfer Dynamics: Suppressed Fluorescence Blinking of Single Molecules on Indium Tin Oxide Semiconductor.

Photoinduced, interfacial electron transfer (ET) dynamics between m-ZnTCPP and Sn-doped In2O3 (ITO) film has been studied using single-molecule photon-stamping spectroscopy. The observed ET dynamics of single m-ZnTCPP adsorbed on ITO was compared with that of m-ZnTCPP adsorbed on TiO2 NPs with and without applied electric potential. Compared to m-ZnTCPP on the TiO2 NP surface, m-ZnTCPP on the ITO surface shows a reduced lifetime as well as suppressed blinking and a quasi-continuous distribution of fluorescence intensities, presumably due to higher electron density in ITO. The higher electron density leads to the occupancy of CB acceptor states/trap states, which supports a higher backward electron transfer (BET) rate that results in a quasi-continuous distribution of fluorescence intensities. The dependence of BET rate on electron density and charge trapping is consistent with our previous observations of quasi-continuous distribution of fluorescence intensities of m-ZnTCPP on TiO2 NPs with applied negati...
Quantile residual life regression with longitudinal biomarker measurements for dynamic prediction

Summary Residual life is of great interest to patients with life threatening disease. It is also important for clinicians who estimate prognosis and make treatment decisions. Quantile residual life has emerged as a useful summary measure of the residual life. It has many desirable features, such as robustness and easy interpretation. In many situations, the longitudinally collected biomarkers during patients' follow-up visits carry important prognostic value. In this work, we study quantile regression methods that allow for dynamic predictions of the quantile residual life, by flexibly accommodating the post-baseline biomarker measurements in addition to the baseline covariates. We propose unbiased estimating equations that can be solved via existing L1-minimization algorithms. The resulting estimators have desirable asymptotic properties and satisfactory finite sample performance. We apply our method to a study of chronic myeloid leukaemia to demonstrate its usefulness as a dynamic prediction tool.
Retinal Remodeling and Metabolic Alterations in Human AMD.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive retinal degeneration resulting in central visual field loss, ultimately causing debilitating blindness. AMD affects 18% of Americans from 65 to 74, 30% older than 74 years of age and is the leading cause of severe vision loss and blindness in Western populations. While many genetic and environmental risk factors are known for AMD, we currently know less about the mechanisms mediating disease progression. The pathways and mechanisms through which genetic and non-genetic risk factors modulate development of AMD pathogenesis remain largely unexplored. Moreover, current treatment for AMD is palliative and limited to wet/exudative forms. Retina is a complex, heterocellular tissue and most retinal cell classes are impacted or altered in AMD. Defining disease and stage-specific cytoarchitectural and metabolic responses in AMD is critical for highlighting targets for intervention. The goal of this paper is to illustrate cell types impacted in AMD and demonstrate the implications of those changes, likely beginning in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), for remodeling of the the neural retina. Tracking heterocellular responses in disease progression is best achieved with computational molecular phenotyping (CMP), a tool that enables acquisition of a small molecule fingerprint for every cell in the retina. CMP uncovered critical cellular and molecular pathologies (remodeling and reprogramming) in progressive retinal degenerations such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP). We now applied these approaches to normal human and AMD tissues mapping progression of cellular and molecular changes in AMD retinas, including late-stage forms of the disease. Major findings: 1) Evidence of metabolic instability in RPE in dry-AMD. 2) Photoreceptors show clear indications of stress prior to cell death. 3) Cone opsin processing by the RPE in AMD retinas may be differentially compromised vs. rod opsin. 4) Muller cells in AMD exhibit alterations in metabolism and morphology consistent with other retinal degenerative diseases. 5) Inner retinal neurons in AMD remodel by sprouting neurites and projecting to aberrant locations. 6) Retinal remodeling occurs underneath drusen. 7) Retinal remodeling occurs in the presence of cone and rod photoreceptors.
The Application of a One-way Punched Location Clamp Device in Car Body

The paper analyzes the techniques of the special welding clamp of front apron wheel,combining the specific design of car body's welding clamp,and introduces the method that the uses UG software to design a twin-four connecting rods one-way punched location clamp device.
Pension accumulation as a semi-Markov reward process, with applications to pension reform

A fundamental point of departure of the economic analysis of savings by individuals is Samuelson’s consumption loan model. Although prevalent in the analysis of social security and saving behavior, this “representative consumer life cycle model” is inappropriate for the study of private (employment) pensions due to a number of important characteristics of these latter arrangements that distinguish them from social security. In addition to wage and benefit levels, accrual of employment pension benefits are based on the applicable vesting provisions (see below) and therefore on mobility. In addition, while the wage factors entered in social security benefit calculations are indexed until retirement, in the case of employment pensions there is either no indexing or only partial indexing until employment termination which may precede retirement by many years. It is well-known that these differences between the two systems have very important consequences in the face of high labor mobility, especially during periods of high wage growth. It is the interaction of labor mobility, inflation, and pension coverage and portability (see below) that results in an unequal distribution of pension benefits to individuals with comparable working lives and lifetime wage profiles. These characteristics are not reflected by the consumption loan model.
Inference of Nonlinear ODE-Based Gene Regulatory Networks via Intrinsically Bayesian Robust Kalman Filtering

Of major interest to systems biology is to characterize the way that genes interact with each other in the context of gene regulatory networks (GRNs). In particular, Kalman filtering has been shown to be effective in this regard for GRNs modeled via ordinary differential equations. Performance of the Kalman-filter-based approach is highly dependent on the accuracy level of the noise statistics considered in the inference problem. However, in many cases the exact knowledge of noise statistics is missing. Therefore, robust inference is of great practical importance. In this paper, we propose an inference method based on intrinsically Bayesian robust (IBR) Kalman filtering. The IBR Kalman filter provides optimal performance on average relative to an uncertainty class of possible noise statistics. The IBR Kalman filter can be found in a similar way that an ordinary Kalman filter is found except that the noise covariance matrices are replaced by their "effective" counterparts and the Kalman gain matrix is replaced by the effective Kalman gain matrix. In this paper, we apply IBR Kalman filtering to infer a yeast cell cycle network whose dynamics are modeled via a set of continuous nonlinear ordinary differential equations.
Postmodernism, Multiculturalism, and the Future of Black Studies

The future of Black Studies is examined in a case study of the development of an American Cultures requirement at the University of California at Berkeley. The requirement is unique in its comparative aspects that include the conceptualization of Whites as one of several identity groups. That is, being White is decentered at the same time as it is acknowledged. The requirement has led to creative applications of the criteria across a range of disciplines. The result has been an example of democratic pluralism that generates generalizations without resorting to absolute truths or universals.
Crystal and molecular structure of glutaconic acid

Crystals of Glutaconic acid, C5O4H6, are triclinic, space group P $${\bar 1}$$ , with the cell dimensions (294 K), a = 4.843(1) A, b = 10.188(1) A, c = 12.609(1) A, α = 83.46(1)°, β = 80.02(1)°, γ = 78.71(1)°, V = 598.8(3) A3 with D m = 1.47, D x = 1.443 g⋅cm −3. There are two independent molecules in the asymmetric unit. The crystal structure was solved by multi solution techniques with three-dimensional data collected (to the limit of 2θmax of 154° for Cu Kα) on a CAD-4 diffractometer. The crystal structure was refined by full matrix least squares method to a final R value of 0.058 for 1894 reflections (I ≥ 2σ). The two independent molecules are conformationally similar. In both the molecules, the carboxyl ends are trans to each other with respect to the central C=C double bond in the structure. The molecules are self-paired through dimeric type of hydrogen bonding involving the terminal carboxyl groups, characteristic of many dicarboxylic acid structures. The crystal structure is stabilized by a series of O–H⋅⋅⋅O hydrogen bonds of the glutaconic acid dimeric units. Free radicals have been shown to be involved in a number of chemical and biological processes and lipid peroxidation is one such process. Glutaconic acid was chosen as a simple unsaturated model of a fatty acid. When irradiated with X-rays, it was found to form a stable free radical structure. ESR (electron spin resonance) and ENDOR (electron nuclear double resonance) studies were used to characterize the free radical structure and correlate with the X-ray structure. The free radical was found to be HOOC–CH=CH–CH–COOH with the glutaconic acid in the trans conformation. The damage occurs at the α-carbon atom (the first carbon of the double bond). The damage consists of a loss of an hydrogen atom. This results in an unpaired electron in the p-orbital delocalized over the three central carbon atoms. The two α-proton couplings were resolved in the ENDOR spectrum. ESR spectra show that the two molecules are magnetically similar that is in agreement with the crystal structure that reveals that the two independent molecules are conformationally similar. This is the characteristic type of damage that occurs in lipids when they form free radicals that in turn reacts with oxygen and other compounds and ultimately results in cellular damage.
Effect of small and large animal skull bone on photoacoustic signal

Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) has proved to be a promising non-invasive technique for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment monitoring of neurological disorders in small and large animals. Skull bone effects both light illumination and ultrasound propagation. Hence, the PA signal is largely affected. This study aims to quantify and compare the attenuation of PA signal due to the skull obstacle in the light illumination path, in the ultrasound propagation path, or in both. The effect of mouse, rat, and mesocephalic dog skull bones, ex-vivo, is quantitatively studied.
Mimics and Artifacts

Discussed in this chapter are commonly seen artifacts and mimics that may resemble infectious agents. Initial hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) or cytologic stains such as Giemsa or Diff-Quik may give the appearance of a variety of different structures that can be of concern for the presence of microorganisms. While this is not an exhaustive list, many of the common situations in which this may occur are presented here.
Radioactivity and Radioisotopes

Radioactivity was discovered in 1896 by Henri Becquerel, when he found that a mixture of uranium salts emitted a mysterious penetrating radiation that passed through thin sheets of metal. Since then, radioactivity has been applied in many diverse areas within the fields of industry, agriculture, medicine, and the military. In industry, sealed radioactive sources are used in industrial radiography, gauging applications, and mineral analysis. Short-lived radioactive material is used in flow tracing and mixing measurements. In agriculture, gamma sterilization is used for food preservation and sterilization of bulk commodities. In medicine, gamma sterilization is also used for sterilizing medical supplies, but more importantly, radioisotopes are indispensable in both diagnosing and treating some diseases including cancer. However, the most prevalent use of radioactivity is in the generation of electrical power. Applications benefiting from nuclear power generation range from industries and residences to submarines and deep space probes.
Ethnic differences in lens parameters measured by ocular biometry in a cataract surgery population

Purpose To investigate whether differences exist in lens position and other lens parameters among major ethnic groups with cataractous eyes, which may help explain racial differences in angle closure risk. Methods This retrospective, cross-sectional study included 807 adult patients who had cataract surgery between years 2014 and 2016 at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Adult patients of white, Asian, Hispanic and African-American ethnicity were included. Lens position (LP), defined as anterior chamber depth (ACD) + 1/2 lens thickness (LT), was assessed using measurements from optical biometry. Other assessed biometric parameters included axial length (AL), relative lens position (RLP) (defined as LP/AL), and anterior chamber depth (ACD). Results A total of 807 patients and 1361 eyes were included in this study from a database of patients having cataract surgery. Mean age was 69.2 years (age range from 18 to 101 years old), and 60.3% of patients were women. The mean LP measurements were 5.54±0.32 mm for white, 5.38±0.32 mm for Asian, 5.32±0.30 mm for Hispanic, and 5.40±0.28 mm for African-American participants. After adjusting for age, sex, and AL, significant differences were found when comparing LP in paired comparisons among White cohort with Asians (P<0.001), Hispanics (P<0.001) and African-Americans (P = 0.003). Additionally, when comparing RLP, similar significant results were found when comparing Whites with Asians (P<0.001), Hispanics (P<0.001) and African-Americans (P = 0.002). Lastly, pair-wise comparison of LT between ethnic groups showed significant differences while comparing Asians with Whites (P = 0.001) and Asians with African-Americans (P<0.001). Conclusion The results of this study suggest that the LP of Hispanic, Asian, and African-American patients are significantly smaller than that of White patients, and among all ethnic groups, Hispanics and after Asians have the smallest LP (P<0.001) and RLP (P<0.001). These findings may have implications for the relative risk of angle closure and the potential IOP response after cataract surgery among different ethnic groups.
Long-term morphine delivery via slow release morphine pellets or osmotic pumps: Plasma concentration, analgesia, and naloxone-precipitated withdrawal.

Aims Slow-release morphine sulfate pellets and osmotic pumps are common routes of chronic morphine delivery in mouse models, but direct comparisons of these drug delivery systems are lacking. In this study, we assessed the efficacy of slow-release pellets versus osmotic pumps in delivering morphine to adult mice.
Plan—Collection Planning

This chapter first analyzes planning methods of library collections vis-a-vis those of a supply chain. It then further introduces the supply chain operations reference (SCOR) model to library professionals, as a prerequisite to further develop the Collection Supply Chain strategies, processes, and metrics in later chapters, particularly those of the Plan process herein. The chapter recommends several new collection planning approaches. Collection Segmentation differentiates collection needs based on necessity, usage, and uniqueness; modes of Access determine service locations. Finally, the chapter suggests Plan activities and their measures for collections. The goal of the chapter is to leverage supply chain principles for collection planning to achieve a higher return on values from collection budgets, labor, and other resources.
The Gender of Caste: Representing Dalits in Print, by Charu Gupta: Seattle, WA, University of Washington Press/Permanent Black, 2016, 352 pp., 33 illustrations, US$45.00 (hardcover), ISBN 9780295995649

Over the past two decades, since the political turmoil of the 1990s, scholars have focused on the marginalised histories of Dalit communities; only very recently, however, have they produced books ...
Stability and dynamics of microring combs: elliptic function solutions of the Lugiato–Lefever equation

We consider a new class of periodic solutions to the Lugiato–Lefever equations (LLE) that govern the electromagnetic field in a microresonator cavity. Specifically, we rigorously characterize the stability and dynamics of the Jacobi elliptic function solutions of the LLE and show that the dn solution is stabilized by the pumping of the microresonator. In analogy with soliton perturbation theory, we also derive a microcomb perturbation theory that allows one to consider the effects of physically realizable perturbations on the combline stability, including effects of Raman scattering and stimulated emission. Our results are verified through full numerical simulations of the LLE cavity dynamics. The perturbation theory gives a simple analytic platform for potentially engineering new resonator designs.
Yeast Mitoribosome Large Subunit Assembly Proceeds by Hierarchical Incorporation of Protein Clusters and Modules on the Inner Membrane.

Summary Mitoribosomes are specialized for the synthesis of hydrophobic membrane proteins encoded by mtDNA, all essential for oxidative phosphorylation. Despite their linkage to human mitochondrial diseases and the recent cryoelectron microscopy reconstruction of yeast and mammalian mitoribosomes, how they are assembled remains obscure. Here, we dissected the yeast mitoribosome large subunit (mtLSU) assembly process by systematic genomic deletion of 44 mtLSU proteins (MRPs). Analysis of the strain collection unveiled 37 proteins essential for functional mtLSU assembly, three of which are critical for mtLSU 21S rRNA stability. Hierarchical cluster analysis of mtLSU subassemblies accumulated in mutant strains revealed co-operative assembly of protein sets forming structural clusters and preassembled modules. It also indicated crucial roles for mitochondrion-specific membrane-binding MRPs in anchoring newly transcribed 21S rRNA to the inner membrane, where assembly proceeds. Our results define the yeast mtLSU assembly landscape in vivo and provide a foundation for studies of mitoribosome assembly across evolution.