cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Estimating general pollution waveforms in non-monitored electrical system buses

This work studies the estimation of injected currents in internal system buses. It generalizes previous studies on harmonic pollution estimation, such as to allow estimating general injected current waveforms. The electrical network is first modeled in order to derive necessary and sufficient conditions to permit single frequency component estimation. This result is shown to be sufficient when applicable to the desired spectrum region. Digital signal processing techniques are used as a basis to return from frequency-domain back into time-domain, recovering the unknown waveform. An illustrative case supports the theory, indicating excellent match between injected and recovered currents. Computational load is discussed and possible reduction procedures are suggested.
How to incorporate new pattern pairs without having to teach the previously acquired pattern pairs

In this paper, we deal with the problem of associative memory synthesis. The particular issue that we wish to explore is the ability to store new input-output pattern pairs without having to modify the path weights corresponding to the already taught pattern pairs. The approach to the solution of this problem is via interpolation carried out in a Reproducing Kernel Hilbert Space setting. An orthogonalization procedure carried out on a properly chosen set of functions leads to the solution of the problem.
A General Procedure to Assess the Internal Structure of a Noncognitive Measure—The Student360 Insight Program (S360) Time Management Scale

The factorial structure of the Time Management (TM) scale of the Student 360: Insight Program (S360) was evaluated based on a national sample. A general procedure with a variety of methods was introduced and implemented, including the computation of descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Overall, the results indicated that the TM scale measured multidimensional constructs of TM with 5 factors. The paper concludes with a discussion of several issues concerning the wording of items and residual dependencies, as well as future directions for research.
Incorporation of the A31P Cardiac Myosin Binding Protein C Missense Mutation Into Feline Cardiac Sarcomeres

Mutations in cardiac myosin binding protein C (cMyBP-C) are a frequent cause of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a major cause of sudden cardiac death and heart failure. Mutations include single amino acid substitutions and premature stop codons, but it is unclear whether dominant negative effects of mutant proteins, depletion of wild-type protein due to an affected allele (haploinsufficiency), or aberrant protein processing/degradation leads to disease. To distinguish among these possibilities, we investigated the sarcomeric localization and functional effects of a spontaneous cMyBP-C missense mutation in Maine Coon cats, a naturally occurring feline model of HCM. Immunofluorescent localization using an antibody specific for the A31P mutation showed that A31P cMyBP-C was incorporated into the sarcomeres of cats heterozygous and homozygous for the A31P mutation with similar distribution patterns as wild-type cMyBP-C. However, dominant negative effects due to incorporation of the mutant protein were not evident because myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity of tension and rate of tension development were not different in permeabilized myocytes from wild-type versus A31P cats. Actin binding and in vitro motility experiments also showed no difference between wild-type and A31P recombinant feline C0C2 proteins. By contrast, cytosolic proteasomes from a homozygous cat showed elevated β-5 (chymotrypsin-like) proteolitic activity compared to wild-type or heterozygous cats. Additional experiments are necessary to determine whether aberrant protein degradation of A31P cMyBP-C contributes to disease. Supported by NIH HL080367.
Relationship of the Social Environment and Patients' Physical Status to Depression in Lung Cancer Patients and Their Spouses

Psychosocial and physical data on 20 lung cancer patients and 18 spouses were gathered for six months after the patients' diagnosis to determine the relationship of the social environment and the patients' physical status to depressive symptoms in patients and spouses. It was found that physical status was related to depressive symptoms in patients but not in their spouses. The spouses' depressive symptoms were independent of the patients' physical status but were related to a measure of involvement in the social environment. These findings highlight the importance of screening spouses of cancer patients for psychosocial impairment and the fact that such impairment cannot be predicted from the patients' physical status.
Gallery of datacubes obtained with the Livermore imaging Fourier transform spectrometer

We have acquired spatial-spectral datacubes of astronomical objects using the Livermore visible-band imaging Fourier transform spectrometer at Apache Point Observatory. Each raw datacube contains hundreds of thousands of spectral interferograms. We present in-progress demonstrations of these observations.
An Introduction to the Rock-Forming Minerals, 3rd ed., by William A. Deer, Robert A. Howie, and Jack Zussman. The Mineralogical Society, London. 498 pages; 2013; £45 plus shipping (softbound).

It is difficult to overstate the impact of the Rock-Forming Minerals Series on three generations of geologists and mineralogists. The original set of five volumes was published in 1962; the greatly...
SEM autoradiography: aggregation of inhaled 239PuO2.

SummaryAggregation of inhaled 239PuO2 particles in the pulmonary region of the lung may be required for promotion of pulmonary carcinogenesis in rats. Female Wistar rats were exposed to an aerosol of 239PuO2 and their lungs examined by scanning electron microscopic (SEM) autoradiography. SEM autoradiography provides a rapid and inexpensive method for viewing a large lung tissue volume for alpha tracks. Evidence of particle aggregation was seen by 28 days post-inhalation and was marked by 90 to 150 days post-inhalation. Subpleural plutonium particles resulted in exposure into the pleural cavity. Peribronchiolar, alveolar plutonium particles and particle aggregates gave the greatest radiation dose to the bronchiolar epithelium. High-dose, overlapping, alpha-track, radiation zones in bronchiolar epithelium may be required for maximum development of lung tumors.
Signal-to-noise ratio analysis of the optically coupled CCD x-ray imaging system

The optically coupled CCD x-ray imaging system is a cascaded multistage imaging chain. Its design considerations and performance evaluation rely heavily on the analysis of signal-to- noise ratio. In this study, theoretically models of related characteristics are derived. The results of quantitative analysis are also presented.
Cesarean to Immediate Neonatal Intervention: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Perinatal Care of a Pregnancy Complicated by a Fetal Airway Obstruction

Paper Presentation Background Oropharyngeal teratomas (epignathus) are rare (1:35,000–200,000) tumors composed of all three germ cell layers. They appear as heterogeneous masses with solid and cystic components and are believed to result from a migration and entrapment of mesoderm and endoderm with ectoderm during embryogenesis of the oral cavity. Fetuses diagnosed with oropharyngeal teratomas are at risk of life-threatening airway obstruction necessitating the establishment of a stable airway, usually with a tracheostomy, while on placental bypass during an ex utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) procedure or within minutes of birth. Polyhydramnios, preterm labor, and preterm delivery are additional risk factors. We review the multidisciplinary perinatal care of a pregnant woman whose fetus was diagnosed with an oropharyngeal teratoma. Case A 32-year-old, gravida 3, para 1011, presented for initial evaluation at 25 weeks 2 days gestation. A large mass originating from the base of the tongue and protruding from the mouth of the fetus with a volume of 16.5 ml was seen on imaging studies. Mild polyhydramnios was present with an amniotic fluid index (AFI) of 24 cm. Weekly ultrasounds demonstrated the increasing size of the teratoma and AFI. Delivery via an EXIT procedure was scheduled for 35 weeks gestation. At 32 weeks 5 days gestation, the woman presented with an AFI of 48 cm and maternal complaints related to the polyhydramnios. An amnioreduction was performed for 2,000 ml. During fetal monitoring post procedure, late decelerations were noted, and the woman underwent a stat cesarean for placental abruption. A tracheostomy was performed within minutes of delivery, and the infant was subsequently transferred to the NICU. Conclusion Nurses were ideally suited to provide family-centered and holistic care to this woman and her family. Nurses with varying areas of expertise participated in her care in the outpatient and inpatient settings. Throughout the pregnancy continuum, nurses were the primary sources of clinical care, education, and psychosocial support. Timely, articulate communication between nurses at the time of the cesarean facilitated the rapid assembly of the multidisciplinary team and the procurement of the required instruments from the main perioperative area allowing for immediate, successful, neonatal intervention.
Comprehension of informed consent information by young-old through old-old volunteers

Comprehension of typewritten informed consent information was evaluated for young-old (60-69 years) through old-old (80-89 years) volunteers as a function of years of education (less than 12, 12, and greater than 12), readability of information (low [college level] vs high [7th grade]), and typeface used in the preparation of the materials (Prestige Elite 72, Letter Gothic, and Orator). All volunteers (N = 235) read a typewritten information sheet and retained it for review while answering eight multiple choice questions. Immediate feedback was provided, and a second test was administered if any answers were incorrect. The findings indicated that comprehension varied directly with education and inversely with age. Typeface and age interacted due to age-related differences with the two smaller (Prestige Elite and Letter Gothic), but not with the largest of the typefaces (Orator). These findings suggest that the observed age-related differences may have been due to visual and not cognitive deficits. Readability did not affect performance either by itself or in combination with any other variable.
A Comparison of Hearing Aids with Amplitude Compression

Intelligibility scores with a modified rhyme test were obtained for normally hearing subjects and subjects with sensorineural hearing impairment using several commercial hearing aids. These hearing aids differed mainly in values of time constants of compression and of harmonic distortion during overshoots. In general, better performance was obtained for the shorter time constants of compression, but performance seemed also to be affected by the occurrence of higher levels of harmonic distortion and of peak-clipping during overshoots.
Choquet weak convergence of capacity functionals of random sets

The results in this paper are about the convergence of capacity functionals of random sets. The motivation stems from asymptotic aspects in inference and decision-making with coarse data in biostatistics, set-valued observations, as well as connections between random sets with several emerging uncertainty calculi in intelligent systems such as fuzziness, belief functions and possibility theory. Specifically, we study the counter-part of Billingsley's Portmanteau Theorem for weak convergence of probability measures, namely, convergence of capacity functionals of random sets in terms of Choquet integrals.
Defining an Enhanced RTL Semantics

In this paper, we formally define an enhanced RTL semantics. This is intended to elevate the RTL design abstraction level and help bridge the HDL semantic gap among synthesis, simulation and formal verification tools. We define the enhanced semantics based on a new RTL++ language that supports pipelined operations using a new pipelined register variable concept. The execution semantics of RTL++ is specified in a structural operational semantics style aimed at forming the basis for related simulation and formal verification algorithm development. An RFSM model is defined to support natively the synthesis semantics of RTL++. We also present an example of extending SystemC to support the notion of a pipelined register variable.
ODA16 aids axonemal outer row dynein assembly through an interaction with the intraflagellar transport machinery

Formation of flagellar outer dynein arms in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii requires the ODA16 protein at a previously uncharacterized assembly step. Here, we show that dynein extracted from wild-type axonemes can rebind to oda16 axonemes in vitro, and dynein in oda16 cytoplasmic extracts can bind to docking sites on pf28 (oda) axonemes, which is consistent with a role for ODA16 in dynein transport, rather than subunit preassembly or binding site formation. ODA16 localization resembles that seen for intraflagellar transport (IFT) proteins, and flagellar abundance of ODA16 depends on IFT. Yeast two-hybrid analysis with mammalian homologues identified an IFT complex B subunit, IFT46, as a directly interacting partner of ODA16. Interaction between Chlamydomonas ODA16 and IFT46 was confirmed through in vitro pull-down assays and coimmunoprecipitation from flagellar extracts. ODA16 appears to function as a cargo-specific adaptor between IFT particles and outer row dynein needed for efficient dynein transport into the flagellar compartment.
The Human-Animal Team Approach for Children with Emotional Disorders: Two Case Studies

The therapeutic potential of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) was assessed in two case studies of emotionally disturbed children. Two boys (11 and 12 years of age) participated in weekly AAT sessions for 12 weeks. Progress of individual goals was assessed through The ADD-H Comprehensive Teacher Rating Scale (ACTeRS), direct observation and videotapes of the therapy sessions, Individual Education Plans (IEP), and post-intervention interviews with the participants, their families, and educational professionals. Data analysis revealed progress in most identified goals.
Partial replacement of nonfat milk solids and cane sugar in ice cream with lactose hydrolyzed sweet whey solids

Evaluation of vanilla-flavored ice creams that contained either 67 or 79% lactose hydrolyzed sweet whey solids (LHW) as a replacement for both milk solids nonfat (MSNF) and cane sugar showed that replacement of 2.75% of combined MSNF and cane sugar solids (13.6% of the total MSNF and 8.3% of the total cane sugar solids) with LHW can be made with no loss of ice cream quality. Increasing levels of LHW above 2.75% progressively lowered the quality of ice creams stored at -20°C. Replacement with 5.5% of 67% LHW produced significant losses of flavor quality but did not change hedonic texture. Replacement with 5.5% of 79% LHW did not change either hedonic flavor or texture. Replacement with 8.25 and 11% LHW significantly decreased mix viscosities and freezing points, ice cream flavor scores (increased saltiness and caramel-like flavors) and consistencies although hedonic texture ratings were not always significantly lowered. Except for the 11% substitution of LHW for MSNF, ice creams had satisfactory heat shock stabilities.
Evidence-based perspective on the effect of automobile-related modifications on the driving ability, performance, and safety of older adults.

A systematic review of literature related to the impact of modifications made to automobiles on the driving ability, performance, and safety of older adults was completed as a part of the Evidence-Based Literature Review Project of the American Occupational Therapy Association. This review evaluated research on high-tech options, such as advanced technology systems (Intelligent Transportation Systems) currently in active development by manufacturers and researchers and the effect of features such as the instrument panel and window tinting. Although the evidence related to Intelligent Transportation Systems is inconclusive, studies have indicated that older adults would use selected technology options. Aftermarket window tinting negatively affects older adults' driving performance, and no evidence demonstrates that hydrophobic window treatment improves driving performance. The implications for occupational therapy practice, research, and education also are discussed. Language: en
CORTISOL DECREASES AND SEROTONIN AND DOPAMINE INCREASE FOLLOWING MASSAGE THERAPY

In this article the positive effects of massage therapy on biochemistry are reviewed including decreased levels of cortisol and increased levels of serotonin and dopamine. The research reviewed inc...
Patterns of brain acetylcholine release predict individual differences in preferred learning strategies in rats

Acetylcholine release was measured simultaneously in the hippocampus and dorsal striatum of rats before and during training on a maze that could be learned using either a hippocampus-dependent spatial strategy or a dorsal striatum-dependent turning strategy. A probe trial administered after rats reached a criterion of 9/10 correct responses revealed that about half of the rats used a spatial strategy and half a turning strategy to solve the task. Acetylcholine release in the hippocampus, as well as the ratio of acetylcholine release in the hippocampus vs. the dorsal striatum, measured either before or during training, predicted these individual differences in strategy selection during learning. These findings suggest that differences in release of acetylcholine across brain areas may provide a neurobiological marker of individual differences in selection of the strategies rats use to solve a learning task.
A comparison of US Government standard voice coders

The new US Government standard 4800-b/s code-excited linear predictive (CELP) coder is compared with the 2400-b/s linear prediction (LPC-10e) and 16000-b/s continuously variable slope delta modulation (CVSD) Federal Standard voice coders. This comparison includes speech quality and intelligibility in quiet and noisy environments/channels, speaker recognition, analog and digital implementation requirements, tandem coding, and coding delay. CELP is shown to offer dramatic improvements in speech quality relative to LPC-10e and CVSD. Although CELP requires significantly more computation than CVSD or LPC-10e, a version can be implemented on a single, new-generation, digital-signal-processing (DSP) chip. CELP provides interoperability among various computationally complex implementations, and CELP's robust performance tolerates a wide range of speaker variation, background noise conditions, analog impairments (i.e. nonflat microphones and channels), tandems, and errors. These features make CELP ideal for many speech applications. >
Apoptosis Plays a Distinct Role in the Loss of Precursor Lymphocytes during Zinc Deficiency in Mice

Lymphopenia is a characteristic of zinc deficiency, which is associated with massive loss of pre-B and pre-T cells from the primary lymphoid organs of zinc-deficient mice that have elevated serum corticosterone (CS). We examined whether this naturally elevated glucocorticoid level is associated with increased apoptotic loss of pre-T cells in the thymus of A/J and CAF1/J mice. In three experiments, partially atrophied thymuses were removed from 20 marginally zinc-deficient (ZD) young adult mice and cultured for 6 h in parallel with thymocytes prepared from 17 adequately fed mice. Thymocyte immunophenotyping combined with flow cytometric cell cycle analysis was used to identify the degree of apoptotic cell death among thymocytes of the two dietary groups, which were compared in the absence of in vivo phagocytosis. Apoptosis was enhanced 50-300% among pre-T cells (CD4+CD8+) prepared from ZD mice. This resulted in a 38% shrinkage of the thymic pre-T cell compartment, which was associated with an 80% decrease in thymic cell number. Pro-T cells (CD4-CD8-) and mature T cells (CD4+CD8-, CD4-CD8+), which express higher levels of Bcl-2 protein, survived ZD to a greater extent and formed a greater proportion of the remaining thymocyte population in ZD mice. Collectively, these data show that heightened degrees of apoptotic cell death induced in vivo by CS-disrupted thymic T cell lymphopoiesis, identifies the means of disruption of marrow B cell lymphopoiesis and explains the appearance of lymphopenia.
Biochemical, biological, pharmacologic, toxicologic, kinetic and clinical (subhuman and human) relationships.

Questions are posed regarding the marked differences in clinical response of different types of cancer to chemotherapeutic agents in the light of the quite similar sensitivity of many different types of cancer cells to such agents when they are exposed in log-phase cultures in vitro (the cell-culture paradox). Thymidine index data, cell-culture response data, data on the relative sensitivity of “resting” vs. log phase leukemia cells and in vivo tumor responses are presented. Consideration of these diverse results suggest that biochemical differences exploited by some chemotherapeutic agents often may be largely quantitative—associated with the ratio of proliferating to nonproliferating cells in a normal or neoplastic tissue—thus the ratio of cells carrying out vulnerable biochemical reactions to cells not carrying out vulnerable biochemical reactions when both are exposed to drug in vivo.
Performances on ratio and interval schedules of reinforcement: Data and theory

Two differences between ratio and interval performance are well known: (a) Higher rates occur on ratio schedules, and (b) ratio schedules are unable to maintain responding at low rates of reinforcement (ratio “strain”). A third phenomenon, a downturn in response rate at the highest rates of reinforcement, is well documented for ratio schedules and is predicted for interval schedules. Pigeons were exposed to multiple variable-ratio variable-interval schedules in which the intervals generated in the variable-ratio component were programmed in the variable-interval component, thereby “yoking” or approximately matching reinforcement in the two components. The full range of ratio performances was studied, from strained to continuous reinforcement. In addition to the expected phenomena, a new phenomenon was observed: an upturn in variable-interval response rate in the midrange of rates of reinforcement that brought response rates on the two schedules to equality before the downturn at the highest rates of reinforcement. When the average response rate was corrected by eliminating pausing after reinforcement, the downturn in response rate vanished, leaving a strictly monotonic performance curve. This apparent functional independence of the postreinforcement pause and the qualitative shift in response implied by the upturn in variable-interval response rate suggest that theoretical accounts will require thinking of behavior as partitioned among at least three categories, and probably four: postreinforcement activity, other unprogrammed activity, ratio-typical operant behavior, and interval-typical operant behavior.
A systematic approach to evaluate herb-drug interaction mechanisms: investigation of milk thistle extracts and eight isolated constituents as CYP3A inhibitors.

Despite increasing recognition of potential untoward interactions between herbal products and conventional medications, a standard system for prospective assessment of these interactions remains elusive. This information gap was addressed by evaluating the drug interaction liability of the model herbal product milk thistle (Silybum marianum) with the CYP3A probe substrate midazolam. The inhibitory effects of commercially available milk thistle extracts and isolated constituents on midazolam 1′-hydroxylation were screened using human liver and intestinal microsomes. Relative to vehicle, the extract silymarin and constituents silybin A, isosilybin A, isosilybin B, and silychristin at 100 μM demonstrated >50% inhibition of CYP3A activity with at least one microsomal preparation, prompting IC50 determination. The IC50s for isosilybin B and silychristin were ∼60 and 90 μM, respectively, whereas those for the remaining constituents were >100 μM. Extracts and constituents that contained the 1,4-dioxane moiety demonstrated a >1.5-fold shift in IC50 when tested as potential mechanism-based inhibitors. The semipurified extract, silibinin, and the two associated constituents (silybin A and silybin B) demonstrated mechanism-based inhibition of recombinant CYP3A4 (KI, ∼100 μM; kinact, ∼0.20 min−1) but not microsomal CYP3A activity. The maximum predicted increases in midazolam area under the curve using the static mechanistic equation and recombinant CYP3A4 data were 1.75-fold, which may necessitate clinical assessment. Evaluation of the interaction liability of single herbal product constituents, in addition to commercially available extracts, will enable elucidation of mechanisms underlying potential clinically significant herb-drug interactions. Application of this framework to other herbal products would permit predictions of herb-drug interactions and assist in prioritizing clinical evaluation.
Hormonal Control of Phospholipid Methylation in Uterine Luminal Epithelial Cells during Uterine Sensitivity to Deciduogenic Stimuli

Estrogen secretion during pregnancy or pseudopregnancy defines a period of uterine sensitivity to decidu-ogenic stimuli, perhaps by altering the capacity of the luminal epithelium to respond to these stimuli. In several types of cells, the transduction of signals acting upon cell membranes appears to involve activation of the transmethylation of membrane phos-pholipids. To examine the role of membrane phospholipid meth-ylation in the development and loss of uterine sensitivity, the capacity of luminal epithelial cells to incorporate 3H-methyl groups from methyl-[3H]methionine into phospholipid was determined during pseudopregnancy and after progestin and estrogen treatment of ovariectomized rats to induce uterine sensitivity. During pseudopregnancy, phospholipid transmethylation increased between days 3 and 4 and then decreased. Phospholipid transmethylation also decreased after estradiol treatment of progestin-pretreated ovariectomized rats. Lowest levels of meth-ylation were observed on day 6 of pseudop...
A disintegrin and metalloprotease 21 (ADAM21) is associated with neurogenesis and axonal growth in developing and adult rodent CNS.

We have reported that α6β1 integrin regulates the directed migration of neuroblasts from the adult rodent subventricular zone (SVZ) through the rostral migratory stream (RMS). ADAM (a disintegrin and metalloprotease) proteins bind integrins. Here, we show that ADAM21, but not ADAM2, -3, -9, -10, -12, -15, or -17, is expressed in adult rats and mice by ependyma and SVZ cells with long basal processes, and in radial glia at early postnatal times. ADAM21-positive processes projected into the RMS, contacted blood vessels, and were present within the RMS intermingled with neuroblasts up to where neuroblasts start their radial migration and differentiation in the olfactory bulb. Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteases (TIMPs) 1, 2, and 3 are present in the ependymal layer but not in the SVZ and RMS. Thus, ADAM21 could regulate neurogenesis and guide neuroblast migration through cleavage-dependent activation of proteins and integrin binding. ADAM21 is also present in growing axonal tracts during postnatal development and in growing primary olfactory axons in adults. In the olfactory nerve layer, ADAM21 often, but not always, colocalizes with OMP, a marker of mature olfactory neurons, but is not colocalized with the immature marker βIII-tubulin. This suggests that ADAM21 is involved in the final axonal outgrowth phase and/or synapse formation. TIMP3 is present in periglomerular neurons, where it could restrict ADAM21-mediated axonal growth to the glomeruli. ADAM21's unique disintegrin and metalloprotease sequences and its restricted expression suggest that it might be a good target for influencing neurogenesis and neuronal plasticity. J. Comp. Neurol. 490:163–179, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Lineage Commitment: Cytokines Instruct, At Last!

Instructive and permissive models of commitment have been proposed for hematopoietic cytokines. In recent issues of Science and Cell, Rieger et al. (2009) and Sarrazin et al. (2009) together show that cytokines can instruct lineage choice.
Europium, tris{3‐[2,2,3,3,4,4,4‐heptafluoro‐1‐(oxo‐kO)butyl]‐1,7,7‐trimethyl[2.2.1] heptan‐2‐onato‐kO}

[34788-82-4] C42H42O6F21Eu (MW 1193.73) InChI = 1S/3C14H15F7O2.Eu/c3*1-10(2)6-4-5-11(10,3)8(22)7(6)9(23)12(15,16)13(17,18)14(19,20)21;/h3*6,22H,4-5H2,1-3H3;/q;;;+3/p-3/t3*6?,11-;/m000./s1 InChIKey = QRTRLIXNKPHKHH-XKGYMHHZSA-K (NMR shift reagent; Lewis acid catalyst) Alternate Name: Eu(hfc)3. Physical Data: mp 156–158 °C. Solubility: soluble in most organic solvents. Form Supplied in: solid; widely available. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: stable; hygroscopic; dry in vacuo at rt or 100 °C over P2O5; store in a desiccator.
Approximate operational calculus in chemical engineering

Approximations are suggested to extend the usefulness of operational calculus in solving boundary-value problems of interest to the chemical engineer. General approximations are outlined and specific ones illustrated. The use of computing machines with operational calculus is also considered.
Stochastic modeling of TCP over lossy links

An analytical framework for modeling the performance of a single TCP session in the presence of random packet loss is presented. A Markovian approach is developed that allows us to study both memoryless channels (IID packet loss) and channels with memory (correlated packet loss) modeled by a two-state continuous-time Gilbert model. The analytical results are validated against results using the ns simulator. It is shown that the model predicts throughput for LAN/WAN (low and high bandwidth-delay products) with good accuracy. Further, throughput for the IID loss model is found to be relatively insensitive to the probability density function (PDF) of the loss inter-arrival process. For channels with memory, we present an empirically validated rule of thumb to categorize the channel transition frequency.
Laboratory Investigation of Moisture Damage in Warm-Mix Asphalt Containing Moist Aggregate

In recent years, rising energy prices, global warming, and more stringent environmental regulations have generated interest in warm-mix asphalt (WMA) technologies as a means to decrease energy consumption and emissions associated with conventional hot-mix asphalt. In this study, a laboratory investigation was conducted of moisture damage in WMA mixtures containing moist aggregates. Indirect tensile strength (ITS), tensile strength ratio, deformation, and toughness tests were performed to determine the mixtures' moisture susceptibilities. The experimental design included two percentages of moisture content (0% and ~0.5% by weight of the dry mass of the aggregate), two WMA additives (Asphamin and Sasobit), and three aggregate sources. In this study 15 mix designs were performed, and 180 specimens were tested. Test results indicated that, as expected, dry ITS values were affected by aggregate moisture and hydrated lime contents, whereas a WMA additive did not significantly alter the dry ITS and toughness val...
Forging then Taming Leviathan: State Capacity, Constraints on Rulers, and Development

Empirical research in the New Institutional Economics tradition has concentrated on the degree to which institutional constraints on rulers protect property rights and foster growth through private investment. This view of institutions is overly narrow, neglecting the role of state capacity in particular. Both state authority and constraints on rulers matter for economic performance, but the relative strength of these effects depends upon a country's distance from the frontier of the world economy. Tests using a panel data set that covers up to 84 countries from the period 1960 to 2005 reveal that, in countries that have low Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita, constraints on rulers in the form of checks and balances affect neither the rate of productivity growth nor the growth of capital stock per worker. Basic state authority, however, has a strong, positive effect on both of these outcomes. The story is different for advanced industrial economies, where the effects of checks are positive, especially with respect to productivity growth. Institutional checks on rulers are thus not an agent of investment-based growth but support continued growth based upon innovation at the leading edge.
Novel synthesis of branched polypropylene via solid-state shear pulverization

Abstract As synthesized by Ziegler–Natta or metallocene catalysis, commercial polypropylene (PP) is linear and has low melt strength. A common approach for improving melt strength is to incorporate long-chain branches (LCBs). We describe the discovery of a novel approach to prepare LCB PP by subjecting linear PP to solid-state shear pulverization (SSSP) with benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as the lone additive. Depending on BPO content, LCB PP can be formed by radical reactions during SSSP or post-SSSP melt extrusion. Using shear rheology, we demonstrated that LCB PP was formed during SSSP of samples with 4 and 6 wt% BPO. Relative to linear PP, the post-SSSP sample (purified of residual BPO) made with 6 wt% BPO exhibited enhanced shear thinning behavior, a decreased dependence of storage modulus ( G ′) on frequency ( ω ) at low ω , and a deviation from linear polymer behavior in its van Gurp–Palmen curve. For samples that were prepared with low levels of BPO (0.5–1.5 wt%), LCBs were not formed (within error) during SSSP; instead, LCBs were formed during post-SSSP melt extrusion (with residual BPO). While a sample with 1.5 wt% BPO showed no deviation from linear polymer behavior when tested immediately after SSSP, the same sample after post-SSSP melt extrusion demonstrated enhanced shear thinning behavior, decreased dependence of G ′ on ω at low ω , deviation from linear polymer behavior in its van Gurp–Palmen plot, and improved crystallization and tensile properties (as is expected for branched PP). We also showed that the LCB formation is achieved by taking advantage of the near-ambient temperature conditions associated with SSSP and is unattainable via conventional melt processing of PP.
Desipramine induced changes in the norepinephrine transporter, α- and γ-synuclein in the hippocampus, amygdala and striatum

The high incidence of depression in Parkinson's disease (PD) has been well documented in the clinic; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms of these overlapping pathologies remain elusive. Using a rodent model of depression, the Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rat, we previously demonstrated that in the frontal cortex the altered expression and protein interactions of α- and γ-synuclein (α-Syn, γ-Syn) were associated with dysregulated trafficking of the norepinephrine transporter (NET). Chronic treatment with desipramine (DMI), a NET-selective antidepressant, caused a disappearance of depressive-like behavior that was accompanied by a change in α-Syn and γ-Syn expression and their trafficking of NET. Using this same model, we examined the expression of NET, α-Syn and γ-Syn in the hippocampus, amygdale, brainstem, and striatum, all regions implicated in the development or maintenance of depression or PD pathology. Following chronic treatment with DMI, we observed a significant decrease in NET in the hippocampus, amygdala, and brainstem; decrease in γ-Syn in the hippocampus and amygdala; and, increase in α-Syn in the hippocampus and amygdala. Unexpectedly, we observed a significant decrease in α-Syn expression in the striatum of the WKY following chronic DMI treatment. The altered expression of NET, α-Syn and γ-Syn in different brain suggest that DMI's ability to improve depressive-like behavior in a rodent is associated with region-specific changes in the regulation of NET by α- and γ-Syn.
Trends in Fruit Breeding

Fruit breeding is a long-term process which takes a minimum of about a decade from the original cross to a finished cultivar. Thus, much thought needs to go into which objectives to be emphasized in the breeding. Although certain objectives, such as yield and basic quality, are always important, the overall lifestyle, environmental, marketing, and production trends affect the objectives that breeders emphasize in their programs as they strive to anticipate the future needs of the fruit industry. The importance of each trend varies with the crop and environment. The major trends are to develop cultivars which simplify orchard practices, have increased resistance to biotic and abiotic stress, extend the adaptation zones of the crop, create new fruit types, create fruit cultivars with enhanced health benefits, and provide consistently high quality.
Income Inequality, Corruption, and the Non-Observed Economy: A Global Perspective

How large the non-observed economy (NOE) is and what determines its size in different countries and regions of the world is a question that has been and continues to be much studied by many observers (Schneider and Enste, 2000, 2002)2. The size of this sector in an economy has important ramifications. One is that it negatively affects the ability of a nation to collect taxes to support its public sector. The inability to provide public services can in turn lead more economic agents to move into the non-observed sector (Johnson, Kaufmann, and Shleifer, 1997). When such a sector is associated with criminal or corrupt activities it may undermine social capital and broader social cohesion (Putnam, 1993), which in turn may damage economic growth (Knack and Keefer, 1997; Zak and Knack, 2001). Furthermore, as international aid programs are tied to official measures of the size of economies, these can be distorted by wide variations in the relative sizes of the NOE across different countries, especially among the developing economies.
A Rapidly Growing Abdominal Mass: Desmoid Tumor in Pregnancy.

Background Desmoid tumors are benign soft tissue tumors that locally invade adjacent tissue. There is a paucity of reports describing the rapid growth of these tumors during pregnancy. Case A giant desmoid tumor arising from the left abdominal wall of a young female patient with rapid growth during pregnancy is described. Preoperative evaluation included ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging. Decision made by a multidisciplinary team was not to intervene before birth, and abdominal delivery at term was accomplished. Conclusion Desmoid tumors should be part of the differential diagnosis in an abdominal wall tumor of rapid growth during pregnancy. Future studies are needed for better understanding of the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of desmoid tumors in pregnant women.
Glutathione – From antioxidant to post-translational modifier

Helmut Sies is one of the leading investigators in the multiple roles of glutathione (GSH) in biology. He has pioneered work on the role of GSH in preventing oxidative stress, in transport of GSSG, in protection of protein thiols from irreversible oxidation through mixed disulfide formation and demonstrated a role of protein glutathionylation in response to hormonal stimulation well before redox signaling became a major subject of investigation. Here I will describe the roles of GSH in several aspects of biology, the work of my laboratory in those findings, and how Helmut Sies work influenced our studies.
Why Do Discuss the Problems on Vector Control and Direct Torque Control

The background, purpose and realistic significance about the discussing the control tactics of high-performance invertors for the adjustable drive of AC motors is explained from the three angles of open up market, technology evolution and the making policy for leaders in this paper. It is pointed out that this discussion would promote the development of the manufacture technology of invertors for AC motors and would push their applications in the high-efficient energy saving and the industries and transportations forward to automatization and intelligentization, developing more healthily.
Study on pathogen of infectious endocarditis caused by coagulase-negative staphylococcus

Objective To understand the etiology and clinical characteristics of coagulase-negative staphylococcus(CNS)caused infectious endocarditis.Methods The clinical data of 18 inpatients with CNS caused infectious endocarditis from Jan.2008 to Oct.2013 were analyzed retrospectively.Results In the basic etiology,9cases of prosthetic valve endocarditis(PVE)occupied the first position(50.0%);fever(100.0%)was the most common clinical presentation;The etiology showed that 15strains(83.3%)of Staphycoccus epidermidis,2strains(11.1%)of Staphycoccus haemolyticus,1strain(5.6%)of staphylococcus hominis were isolated;there were 14 strains of methicillin-resistant Staphycoccus epidermidis(MRCNS)among 18 strains of CNS.The drug susceptibility test showed that MRCNS was multiple drug resistant.12 cases were cured,5cases were improved and discharged from hospital,and 1case died.Conclusion CNS has become an important pathogen causing infectious endocarditis,MRCNS has high detection rate and shows multiple drug resistance.It is necessary to reasonably choose antibacterial drugs and give the enough treatment course of anti-infection therapy,the patients with operation indications should be timely performed operation for improving the prognosis.
Reinterpreting Traditional Cultural Properties: A Political Ecology of Emotion Perspective:

Interpretations of traditional cultural properties in the context of cultural resource management in the US demonstrate little understanding of, or concern for, the affective ecologies of landscape...
Fertilizer and Swine Manure Management Systems: Impacts on Agronomic and Environmental Soil Phosphorus Tests and on Phosphorus Loss with Subsurface Drainage

Introduction Manure or fertilizer can be used to supply the phosphorus (P) needs of crops. However, excess P application increases the risk of P loss from fields and of water quality impairment through increased algae growth. Poor water quality in many Iowa lakes has prompted questions about the impact of P management practices on P loss from fields and the effectiveness of using agronomic soil tests for environmental purposes.
Discrete Adjoint Sensitivity Analysis of Hybrid Dynamical Systems With Switching

Sensitivity analysis is an important tool for describing power system dynamic behavior in response to parameter variations. It is a central component in preventive and corrective control applications. The existing approaches for sensitivity calculations, namely, finite-difference and forward sensitivity analysis, require a computational effort that increases linearly with the number of sensitivity parameters. In this paper, we investigate, implement, and test a discrete adjoint sensitivity approach whose computational effort is effectively independent of the number of sensitivity parameters. The proposed approach is highly efficient for calculating sensitivities of larger systems and is consistent, within machine precision, with the function whose sensitivity we are seeking. This is an essential feature for use in optimization applications. Moreover, our approach includes a consistent treatment of systems with switching, such as dc exciters, by deriving and implementing the adjoint jump conditions that arise from state-dependent and time-dependent switchings. The accuracy and the computational efficiency of the proposed approach are demonstrated in comparison with the forward sensitivity analysis approach. This paper focuses primarily on the power system dynamics, but the approach is general and can be applied to hybrid dynamical systems in a broader range of fields.
The Development and Validation of the Couple and Relationship Education Attitudes Index: Results from Two Studies

ABSTRACTAs relationship educators work to reach more participants for their programs, they often face challenges with recruitment and retention. The theory of planned behavior, along with research, posits that attitudes are often predictive of behavior, and that attitudes toward education and help-seeking can be varied by unique contexts. This paper reports on the development and validation of an index that measures attitudes toward couple relationship education (CRE). The two scales within this index (benefits of CRE & CRE is not a good fit) assess how comfortable individuals are with CRE. The results from two studies support the validation of the index and show how CRE attitudes are linked to relational factors and a measure of intentions to attend CRE, using the scales within the index. Implications for researchers and practitioners are discussed.
Neural Circuitry of Reward Prediction Error

Dopamine neurons facilitate learning by calculating reward prediction error, or the difference between expected and actual reward. Despite two decades of research, it remains unclear how dopamine neurons make this calculation. Here we review studies that tackle this problem from a diverse set of approaches, from anatomy to electrophysiology to computational modeling and behavior. Several patterns emerge from this synthesis: that dopamine neurons themselves calculate reward prediction error, rather than inherit it passively from upstream regions; that they combine multiple separate and redundant inputs, which are themselves interconnected in a dense recurrent network; and that despite the complexity of inputs, the output from dopamine neurons is remarkably homogeneous and robust. The more we study this simple arithmetic computation, the knottier it appears to be, suggesting a daunting (but stimulating) path ahead for neuroscience more generally.
The Method of Random Skewers

Ecological and evolutionary studies are often concerned with the properties of covariance matrices. The method of random skewers (RS method) has been used compare a matrix to an a priori vector or to compare two matrices. The method involves multiplying a matrix by many random vectors drawn from a uniform distribution over all possible vector directions. The comparisons are usually made using the average angle (or cosine) of the response vectors to an a priori vector or to the response vectors corresponding from another matrix. Angles are usually constrained to the interval 0°–90° because the distribution of response vectors is bipolar bimodal. The size of the average angle or cosine depends strongly on the relative sizes of the eigenvalues (especially the first). The distribution of angles between pairs of response vectors from two covariance matrices is more complicated because it depends on the differences in orientation of the eigenvectors and the relative sizes of the eigenvalues of the both matrices. The average absolute value of the angles between these pairs of response vectors depends on the relative sizes of the eigenvalues of the matrices making it difficult to interpret its meaning without knowledge of the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the two matrices. Thus, it is simpler to just directly compare matrices in terms of these quantities.