cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
STRENGTH OF ANISOTROPICALLY CONSOLIDATED COMPACTED CLAY

A series of comparative anisotropically and isotropically consolidated triaxial compression tests were performed on saturated undrained specimens of compacted Kaolinite and a compacted silty clay using consolidation pressures ranging from 15 psi to a maximum of 2,000 psi. Considerable differences were observed in the nonfailure stress strain and pore pressure response of the samples consolidated to different anisotropic stress conditions. However, unique relations were observed for the effective stress Mohr envelopes, the water content versus the major principal consolidation stress, and the undrained peak strength versus water content at failure. These relations were different for the different soils, but for each soil they were independent of the principal stress ratio during consolidation, and of the initial compaction water content.
Emphysematous pyelonephritis caused by Candida albicans.

AbstractWe report a case of emphysematous pyelonephritis that was proved by histological examination and culture to be caused by Candida albicans. The fungal infection caused ureteral obstruction. Nephrectomy alone resulted in complete recovery.
Ultrasonic Backscattering from Polycrystalline Aggregates using Time-Domain Linear Response Theory

The ultrasonic detection of altered microstructures in metals is a difficult, but necessary task. The detection of hard alpha inclusions in titanium jet engine disks is an important, safety related, example of the need. One proposed tool for detecting such altered microstructures involves analyzing changes in the ultrasonic grain noise; i.e., in the incoherent part of the scattered signal.
Performing Art and Its Pedagogy of the False

An extremist, political will to truth has been driven by pernicious falsifications in recent election campaigns in the United States and worldwide. The fake, post-truth logic of this nationalistic ...
Application of lagged correlations between solar cycles and hydrosphere components towards sub-decadal forecasts of streamflows in the Western USA

Trade winds localized within the Western Equatorial Pacific express lagged and statistically significant correlations to sunspot numbers as well as to streamflow in rivers of the Southern Rocky Mountains. Both correlation sets were integrated in a linear regression analysis to produce relatively accurate sub-decadal streamflow forecasts for an annual and a 5-year average. In comparison to the autocorrelation technique, the prototyped method yielded the highest correlations, the highest goodness-of-fit scores, and the lowest root mean squared errors, for both the 5-year average and the annual average assignments. Of all of the cases examined, the highest Kolmogorov-Smirnov test scores between observation and prediction were found for the single solar-based forecast 5 years in advance for the 60-month average streamflow of the Animas River in New Mexico.
Numerical simulation of air cavity under a simplified model-scale hull form

Abstract Injecting air under hulls of marine vessels can lead to reduction of their hydrodynamic resistance. Since experimental development of air-assisted hulls usually requires a large number of tests, numerical simulations of air-ventilated water flows can potentially accelerate the design process. In this study, computational modeling has been carried out for the previously tested simplified hull form with an air cavity formed behind a step. To achieve proper agreement with experimental results, it is established that a sufficiently fine numerical mesh needs to be generated at the cavity re-attachment to the hull and the sharpening treatment of the air-water interface must be included. It is also shown how the cavity length can be manipulated by changing inclination of the cavity-originating step.
Different Perspectives on Higher Education: From Germany to the United States

After visiting four higher education institutions within Germany, reflections on the similarities and differences among the student services counterparts in Europe – both at institutional and federal levels are discussed. Studentenwerk serves as a voluntary association of Germany’s 58 student service organizations, known individually as Studentenwerke. This reflection explores the variety of student services offered in the United States and in Germany through these Studentewerke organizations. Additionally, reflection on the differences in the way higher education is viewed at a societal level is also explored.
Pre-Operative Intracardiac Thrombus is Associated with Increased Risk of Stroke and Death in CF-LVAD Patients

Purpose Advanced heart failure predisposes patients to intracardiac thrombus (ICT) formation. There is a paucity of evidence examining the impact of pre-existing left atrial (LA) or left ventricular (LV) thrombi on post-operative outcomes in patients undergoing durable LVAD implantation. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 525 LVAD patients (374 HMII, 151 HM3) from 2/2009 through 3/2019. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) within 1 month of implant, intra-operative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), and operative reports were reviewed to identify patients with pre-existing ICT at the time of LVAD surgery. The primary outcome was a composite of stroke or death at 6 months. Results Of the 525 patients (age 58±1 years, 81.5% male, 46% ICM) who underwent device implantation during the study period, 41 (7.8%) had a pre-existing ICT (16 in LA, 22 in LV and 3 in both). Patients with ICT had higher mortality (24.4% vs. 9.3%; p=0.002) and higher stroke rate (17.1% vs. 7.6%; p=0.036) at 6 months compared to patients without thrombus. Survival free from stroke and freedom from stroke in the two groups is shown in Figure 1a and 1b. In a multivariable model including age, gender, history of stroke, history of atrial fibrillation/flutter, atrial appendage ligation, and device type, ICT was found to be the only independent predictor of death or stroke at 6 months (HR 2.07, 95% CI 1.10 - 3.89). No stroke or deaths occurred in the 7 HM3 patients who had ICT prior to surgery. Conclusion Pre-existing ICT is associated with decreased survival free of stroke following LVAD implantation. Additional studies are warranted to assess the optimal risk stratification and management of these patients.
21 – Habit Disorders

Publisher Summary The term habit disorders describes a broad class of disorders characterized by repetitive, unwanted behaviors that are distressing and often result in significant functional impairment. The two primary classes of habit disorders are tic disorders and body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs). Tic disorders and BFRBs must be assessed across multiple domains. Establishing the diagnosis and assessing the physical dimensions and severity of the target behavior is of obvious importance; however, other important domains should also be addressed, which include public and private maintaining variables, impairment in physical or social functioning, and the presence of comorbid conditions. A thorough assessment of habit disorders should utilize an assortment of instruments and methods, including unstructured and structured interviews, self-report inventories, self-monitoring, and direct observation. Each method addresses different features of the disorder, and each has varying levels of psychometric support. A multifaceted assessment employing clinical interviews, child and parent reports, and direct observation measures is well suited to accomplish this goal. Structured and unstructured clinical and diagnostic interviews are an invaluable resource for gathering information regarding the background, topography, and severity of the condition, and help to ensure an appropriate diagnosis.
Video-Rate Three-Photon Imaging of Awake Mouse Brain

We demonstrate three-photon imaging of brain activity in awake mice, achieving 30 frames/s at 512×512 pixels per frame and 620×620 μm field-of-view (FOV) at 750 μm depth.
Cervical cancer risk factors and screening preferences among Muslim women in Monrovia, Liberia.

Cervical cancer is the most common cancer in reproductive aged women in Liberia. Lack of awareness and screening capacity are both major contributors to the prevalence of this disease. The minority Muslim population in this country is largely unscreened. The objective of the study was to assess cervical cancer risk factors and screening preferences among Muslim women living in Monrovia, Liberia and to offer self-screening with HPV testing. A multiple step implementation strategy was devised in order to outreach to the Muslim population with the engagement of community and religious leaders, about an upcoming screening program and informational session at a local clinic. Over 150 Muslim women attended the session, 120 completed the HPV screening, and 55 women completed the questionnaires. Questionnaire data revealed overall low risk factors for cervical cancer, but also low use of family planning as well as low knowledge about cervical cancer and HPV. Participants showed an interest in screening and a majority preferred self-collected tests. These preferences should be incorporated in future programming. To engage minority populations in screening programs, there may be success with targeted messages, involvement of community religious leaders, and eliciting feedback to incorporate preferred strategies and improve participation and programming. (Afr J Reprod Health 2020; 24[3]: 101-107).
Evaluation of Survival Outcomes of Endovascular Versus Open Aortic Repair for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms with a Big Data Approach.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a localized enlargement of the abdominal aorta. Once ruptured AAA (rAAA) happens, repairing procedures need to be applied immediately, for which there are two main options: open aortic repair (OAR) and endovascular aortic repair (EVAR). It is of great clinical significance to objectively compare the survival outcomes of OAR versus EVAR using randomized clinical trials; however, this has serious feasibility issues. In this study, with the Medicare data, we conduct an emulation analysis and explicitly “assemble” a clinical trial with rigorously defined inclusion/exclusion criteria. A total of 7826 patients are “recruited”, with 3866 and 3960 in the OAR and EVAR arms, respectively. Mimicking but significantly advancing from the regression-based literature, we adopt a deep learning-based analysis strategy, which consists of a propensity score step, a weighted survival analysis step, and a bootstrap step. The key finding is that for both short- and long-term mortality, EVAR has survival advantages. This study delivers a new big data strategy for addressing critical clinical problems and provides valuable insights into treating rAAA using OAR and EVAR.
A modified El-Haddad model for versatile defect tolerant design

Abstract Defect tolerant design has played a significant role in the aerospace industry for qualifying new materials and retiring legacy components. One tool used in this design framework, the El-Haddad model, demonstrates how fatigue limit stress changes with respect to the size of a material defect. This paper enhances the legacy model to include finite life behavior and stress ratio effects. This enhancement is vetted against literature data from numerous sources, and it is shown quantitatively that the improved model accurately approximates crack growth rate behavior and represents in(finite) fatigue life of experimental components across multiple load ratios and defect sizes.
Autobiographical sociology

In autobiographical sociology a sociologist probes one or more past personal experiences as a way of identifying and analyzing something sociologically relevant. The general nature and importance of autobiographical sociology, as well as illustrations of and guidelines for it, are explored.
Neuroblast migration along cellular substrates in the developing porcine brain

In the past decade it has become evident that neuroblasts continue to supply the human cortex with interneurons via unique migratory streams shortly following birth. Due to the size of the human brain, these newborn neurons must migrate long distances through complex cellular landscapes to reach their final locations. This process is poorly understood, largely due to technical difficulties in acquiring and studying neurotypical postmortem human samples along with diverging developmental features of well-studied mouse models. We reasoned that migratory streams of neuroblasts utilize cellular substrates, such as blood vessels, to guide their trek from the subventricular zone to distant cortical targets. Here we evaluate the association between young interneuronal migratory streams and their preferred cellular substrates in gyrencephalic piglets during the developmental equivalent of human birth, infancy, and toddlerhood.
Neural mechanisms that promote food consumption following sleep loss and social stress: An fMRI study in adolescent girls with overweight/obesity.

STUDY OBJECTIVES Insufficient sleep and social stress are associated with weight gain and obesity development in adolescent girls. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) research suggests that altered engagement of emotion-related neural networks may explain overeating when under stress. The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of acute sleep restriction on female adolescents' neural responding during social evaluative stress and their subsequent eating behavior. METHODS Forty-two adolescent females (ages 15-18 years) with overweight or obesity completed a social stress induction task in which they were told they would be rated by peers based on their photograph and profile. Participants were randomly assigned to one night of sleep deprivation or 9 hours of sleep the night before undergoing fMRI while receiving positive and negative evaluations from their peers. After which, subjects participated in an ad libitum buffet. RESULTS Sleep deprived, relative to non-deprived girls had distinct patterns of neural engagement to positive and negative evaluation in anterior, mid, and posterior aspects of midline brain structures. Moreover, a sleep deprivation-by-evaluation valence-by-caloric intake interaction emerged in bilateral dorsal anterior cingulate. Among sleep deprived girls, greater engagement during negative, but not positive, feedback was associated with lower caloric intake. This was not observed for non-sleep deprived girls. CONCLUSIONS Results suggest an interaction between acute sleep loss and social evaluation that predicts emotion-related neural activation and caloric intake in adolescents. This research helps to elucidate the relationship between sleep loss, social stress, and weight status using a novel health neuroscience model.
Rovibrational bound states of SO 2 isotopologues. II: Total angular momentum J = 11–20

Abstract In a two-part series, the rovibrational bound states of SO2 are investigated in comprehensive detail, for all four stable sulfur isotopes 32–34,36S. All low-lying rovibrational energy levels—both permutation-symmetry-allowed and not allowed—are computed, for all values of total angular momentum in the range J = 0–20. The calculations have carried out using the ScalIT suite of parallel codes. The present study (Paper II) examines the J = 11–20 rovibrational levels, providing symmetry and rovibrational labels for every computed state, relying on a new lambda-doublet splitting technique to make completely unambiguous assignments. Isotope shifts are analyzed, as is the validity of “J-shifting” as a predictor of rotational fine structure. Among other ramifications, this work will facilitate understanding of mass-independent fractionation of sulfur isotopes (S-MIF) observed in the Archean rock record—particularly as this may have arisen from self shielding. S-MIF, in turn is highly relevant in the broader context of understanding the “oxygen revolution”.
Demons of Change: The Transformational Role of the Antagonist in the Apocalypse of Abraham

The Apocalypse of Abraham , a Jewish pseudepigraphon written in the first centuries C.E., baffles its readers' imaginations with a plethora of sacerdotal motifs. The most spectacular cultic responsibilities are given to Abraham's celestial guide, the angel Yahoel, whom the text envisions as the heavenly high priest and the celestial choir-master of the living creatures. Both his peculiar liturgical duties vis-a-vis the throne room's angelic creatures and his bold access to the divine presence reveal Yahoel's status as a very special celebrant ministering in the celestial sanctuary. Some of Yahoel's actions are reminiscent of the cultic acts of the high priest, that singularly unique sacerdotal servant who was able to enter the divine presence in the Holy of Holies on Yom Kippur. This chapter explores the Yom Kippur traditions in the Slavonic apocalypse by paying special attention to the transformational aspects of this enigmatic atoning ritual. Keywords: Apocalypse of Abraham ; enochic antagonist; Jewish tradition; Slavonic apocalypse; Yom Kippur traditions
Identifying the upstream events of innate autoimmunity in intestinal reperfusion injury (BA3P.204)

Acute intestinal ischemia is a medical emergency with a high mortality rate, attesting to the need to understand its pathogenesis and develop effective therapies. Recent studies show that innate autoimmune response initiated by natural IgM and complement plays an important role in the reperfusion injury after intestinal ischemia. The goal of this study was to identify the upstream events of innate autoimmunity in intestinal reperfusion injury. To study this, we used a murine model of natural IgM-mediated intestinal I/R. Our results showed that mice overexpressing anti-oxidant enzyme SOD1 had significantly reduced intestinal tissue damage and blocked IgM-mediated complement activation compared with WT controls. To determine if cell membrane instability is an intermediate event between ROS formation and natural IgM-mediated innate autoimmune response, a cell membrane stabilizer was administered to WT mice prior to the induction of intestinal ischemia. Treatment with cell membrane stabilizer significantly protected animals from I/R injury along with inhibition of IgM-mediated complement activation. Stabilizing the cell membrane did not affect ROS formation in the intestinal model. Thus, these data indicate that intracellular ROS formation is an upstream event of cell membrane instability which leads to subsequent innate autoimmune response by natural IgM and complement.
Acting Reframes: Using NLP to Make Better Decisions In and Out of the Theatre

Chapter 1 -What is NLP? Chapter 2 -What is VAK? Chapter 3- VAK in Theatre Chapter 4- Reframing Chapter 5- NLP Scene Study Chapter 6 - Getting it Done
Navigating Environmental Attitudes by Thomas A. Heberlein

Thomas Heberlein takes us on a journey in understanding the role of environmental attitudes and how they influence human behavior. On one hand, the journey involves an interesting retrospective vie...
Experience with Massive Parallelism for CFD Applications at NASA Ames Research Center

Eines der Hauptziele des Applied Research Branch in der Numerical Aerodynamic Simulation (NAS) Systems Division am NASA Ames Research Center ist die beschleunigte Einfuhrung von parallelen Hochleistungsrechnern in ein produktionsorientiertes Rechenzentrum. In dieser Arbeit werden die Zielrichtungen des NAS Projekts in Bezug auf Parallelrechner dargestellt. Weiterhin werden die Erfahrungen mit experimentellen Parallelrechnern im NAS Applied Research Branch zusam-mengefasst. Im Einzelnen wird uber Ergebnisse mit Anwendungen in der Stromungsmechanik auf der Connection Machine CM-2 und dem Intel iPSC/860 berichtet. Ergebnisse von Berechnungen mit unstrukturierten Gittern und mit Teilchensimulationen werden dargestellt. Angesichts der Erfahrungen bei NASA wird die zunkunftige Entwicklung von Parallelrechnern fur die Anwendungen in der Stromungsmechanik diskutiert.
Ethics, Tax Evasion and Gender: Empirical Studies of Opinion in Utah and 14 Countries in the Western Hemisphere

A number of recent studies have examined the ethics of tax evasion. However, very little research has been done to examine the relationship between age and views on tax evasion. The present paper is intended to partially fill that gap. First the authors distributed a survey soliciting the views on tax evasion to 638 students at a large college in the western United States. Eighteen arguments justifying tax evasion were ranked in terms of strength, from strongest to weakest. Comparisons were also made to determine whether responses varied by age. The authors then examined data on age and tax evasion that was collected as part of a much larger study of human beliefs and values to determine whether views on the ethics of tax evasion change with age.
A new sensor-less position estimation method for a nine-phase Interior Permanent Magnet machine using a high frequency injection in a non-torque generating circuit

This paper presents a sensor-less method to estimate the rotor angle and speed of a nine-phase Interior Permanent Magnet (IPM) machine. The major contributions of this work include the injection of high frequency voltage signals into a non-torque producing circuit of the machine in which the rotor angle is estimated without generating any high frequency torque ripple. The inductances of the third sequence of the nine-phase machine are used to modulate the high frequency injected voltage signals from which the third sequence currents are extracted. Using a heterodyning method and the Luenberger observer, the rotor position is estimated. The requirement of only one low pass filter in the angle estimation algorithm is another novelty. This rotor estimation method can be used for a wide speed range including the zero speed. The proposed method has been tested using the coupled full order model of the nine-phase IPM machine including all the higher order MMF harmonics. Simulation and experimental results are presented.
Adjunctive tenotomy during middle ear surgery.

INTRODUCTION We describe indications and surgical technique for dividing the stapedius and tensor tympani tendons during middle ear surgery. Middle ear muscle reflexes involve contraction of the tensor tympani muscle (TTM) and stapedius muscle (SM) to increase impedance of the middle ear, and may shield the inner ear from loud, continuous nonimpact noise. Sectioning SM and TTM tendons has been advocated for a number of conditions, including improving access to anterior epitympanic (supratubal) recess, releasing a medialized malleus during tympanoplasty and ossiculoplasty, tensor or stapedial myoclonus, reflexive vertigo, and Meniere disease.
Electronic Health Records Data and Metadata: Challenges for Big Data in the United States.

Abstract This article, written by researchers studying metadata and standards, represents a fresh perspective on the challenges of electronic health records (EHRs) and serves as a primer for big data researchers new to health-related issues. Primarily, we argue for the importance of the systematic adoption of standards in EHR data and metadata as a way of promoting big data research and benefiting patients. EHRs have the potential to include a vast amount of longitudinal health data, and metadata provides the formal structures to govern that data. In the United States, electronic medical records (EMRs) are part of the larger EHR. EHR data is submitted by a variety of clinical data providers and potentially by the patients themselves. Because data input practices are not necessarily standardized, and because of the multiplicity of current standards, basic interoperability in EHRs is hindered. Some of the issues with EHR interoperability stem from the complexities of the data they include, which can be both...
Phenylalanine and tyrosine kinetics in young men throughout a continuous 24-h period, at a low phenylalanine intake.

We determined the daily rates of whole-body phenylalanine oxidation (phe-Ox) and hydroxylation (phe-OH) in young men receiving [1- 13 C]phenylalanine and [ 2 H 2 ]tyrosine via primed, constant intravenous (n=5) or oral (n=7) infusions for a consecutive 24 h (12-h fast followed by 12-h fed period), and given a low-phenylalanine (21.9 mg.kg -1 .d -1 ), no-tyrosine, but otherwise adequate L-amino acid-based diet for 6 d before the tracer study. Estimates of the daily rates of phe-Ox and phe-OH were significantly higher (P<0.001) for the subjects receiving the oral tracer, with estimates of phe-Ox obtained with the oral tracer during the 12-h fast period being close to those predicted from similar 24-h leucine kinetic studies (Am J Clin Nutr 1994;59:1000-11). There was generally poor agreement between the measured 24-h rates of phe-Ox and phe-OH compared with the daily rates as predicted from the last hour of the 12-h fast and 5th hour of feeding. From the 24-h data, daily phenylalanine balances were estimated to be positive with the intravenous-tracer protocol and negative with the oral-tracer group. Our results question the adequacy of current international recommendations for aromatic amino acid requirements in healthy adults
A computer vision system for monitoring medication intake

We propose a computer vision system to assist a human user in the monitoring of their medication habits. This task must be accomplished without the knowledge of any pill locations, as they are too small to track with a static camera, and are usually occluded. At the core of this process is a mixture of low-level, high-level, and heuristic techniques such as skin segmentation, face detection, template matching, and a novel approach to hand localization and occlusion handling. We discuss the approach taken towards this goal, along with the results of our testing phase.
Low-energy drop weight performance of cellular sandwich panels

Purpose – The aim of this study is to perform a comparative study on sandwich structures with several types of three-dimensional (3D) reticulate cellular structural core designs for their low-energy impact absorption abilities using powder bed additive manufacturing methods. 3D reticulate cellular structures possess promising potentials in various applications with sandwich structure designs. One of the properties critical to the sandwich structures in applications, such as aerospace and automobile components, is the low-energy impact performance. Design/methodology/approach – Sandwich samples of various designs, including re-entrant auxetic, rhombic, hexagonal and octahedral, were designed and fabricated via selective laser sintering (SLS) process using nylon 12 as material. Low-energy drop weight test was performed to evaluate the energy absorption of various designs. Tensile coupons were also produced using the same process to provide baseline material properties. The manufacturing issues such as geome...
Teacher education in practice: reconciling practices and theories in the United States context

This paper reports findings from an 18-month qualitative study that followed the experiences of nine teacher residents, their site professors, site coordinators, clinical teachers and principals in three professional learning schools. The study examined the tensions that emerged as teacher preparation theory intersected with the context-bound realities of daily life in schools and the political constraints that diminish possibilities for inclusive education. The paper addresses implications for teacher preparation programmes by reporting how teacher residents negotiated their understanding of and commitment for inclusive education through three themes: (a) critical reflection as an emergent practice, (b) whose learning, and (c) the trouble with behaviour. Interpreting these themes has implications for programmatic designs in teacher preparation.
Note on the action of deoxyribonuclease on fractions of calf thymus deoxyribonucleic acid.

Abstract The action of crystalline pancreatic deoxyribonuclease on three fractions of calf thymus DNA and on one unfractionated DNA preparation has been studied. In all cases the distribution of purines and pyrimidines in the largest degradation products, collected in the form of dialysis residues, was investigated. One general characteristic of all residues, which in other aspects varied in composition, was observed, namely, a relative depletion in cytidylic acid.
Evaluation of a selection strategy before use of 16S rRNA gene sequencing for the identification of clinically significant gram-negative rods and coccobacilli.

Although 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing is well established for correctly identifying bacteria, its most efficient use in a routine clinical laboratory is not clear. We devised and evaluated a strategy to select gram-negative rods and coccobacilli (GNRCB) for which sequencing might be necessary before routine identification methods had been exhausted. The prospectively applied selection criteria were primarily based on the isolate’s display of unusual or discordant phenotypic results and/or disease correlation. By using this strategy, we selected a total of 120 GNRCB (representing only ∼2% of all identified). The strategy was demonstrated to be efficient because the preliminary phenotypic identification for 79.2% of those isolates needed revision (18.2% were novel and about a third would have required further extensive testing). The knowledge that 1.6% (ie, 79% of 2%) of isolated GNRCB might benefit from sequence identification could provide guidelines for routine clinical laboratories toward efficient use of sequence analysis.
A Method for the Determination of Atmospheric Transmission Functions from Laboratory Absorption Measurements

It is shown that the average transmission function in the atmosphere can be calculated from the fractional absorption as measured in the laboratory for frequency intervals involving either large or small optical thicknesses. These relations are very general and are independent of any special assumptions as to the shape of the pressure broadened lines, of the variation of spacing, intensity, or half-width of the lines, of the extent of the overlapping of the lines, or of the distribution of the radiating gases in the atmosphere. The optical thickness is considered large or small for a particular interval depending on the intensities and half-widths of the lines contributing to the absorption. The solutions of radiation transfer problems can be obtained from the average transmission function calculated by the above method. A number of examples are given of the application of these results to particular problems. It is shown that in general for pressure broadened lines the fractional absorption is a function only of pressure times optical thickness for large optical thicknesses, and of optical thickness times a function of the pressure for small optical thicknesses.
Morphogenesis of the Acanthocephala.

Abstract Postzygotic development of acanthocephalans is described. The major conclusion that can be drawn is that there has been a great deal of speculation, and that there are still many questions left unanswered. For example, exactly when does the acanthor become a complete syncytium? Is the formulation of the central nuclear mass really homologous to gastrulation, and does this mass really represent endoderm? What is endoderm in an animal with no trace of a digestive system? What is the significance, if any, of the 90 degree change in polarity from the acanthor to the adult? How do a few giant nuclei determine the fate and function of a massive synctial body? These and other questions continue to intrigue and perplex the investigator. Perhaps by the time of ICOPA-VII we will have some of the answers.
The adaptation of the blood-brain barrier to vascular endothelial growth factor and placental growth factor during pregnancy

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and placental growth factor (PLGF) are increased in the maternal circulation during pregnancy. These factors may increase blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, yet brain edema does not normally occur during pregnancy. We therefore hypothesized that in pregnancy, the BBB adapts to high levels of these permeability factors. We investigated the influence of pregnancy-related circulating factors on VEGF-induced BBB permeability by perfusing cerebral veins with plasma from nonpregnant (NP) or late-pregnant (LP) rats (n=6/group) and measuring permeability in response to VEGF. The effect of VEGF, PLGF, and VEGF-receptor (VEGFR) activation on BBB permeability was also determined. Results showed that VEGF significantly increased permeability (×107 μm3/min) from 9.7 ± 3.5 to 21.0 ± 1.5 (P 0.05). Both LP plasma and soluble FMS-like tyrosine-kinase 1 (sFlt1) in NP plasma abolished VEGF-induced BBB permeability in NP veins (9.5±2.9 and 12±2.6; P>0.05). PLGF significantly increased BBB permeability in NP plasma (18±1.4; P<0.05), and required only VEGFR1 activation, whereas VEGF-induced BBB permeability required both VEGFR1 and VEGFR2. Our findings suggest that VEGF and PLGF enhance BBB permeability through different VEGFR pathways and that circulating sFlt1 prevents VEGF- and PLGF-induced BBB permeability during pregnancy. —Schreurs, M. P. H., Houston, E. M., May, V., Cipolla, M. J. The adaptation of the blood-brain barrier to vascular endothelial growth factor and placental growth factor during pregnancy.
Murine glucocorticoid receptors: new evidence for a discrete receptor influenced by H-2.

The glucocorticoid receptor contents in the lungs of females of two congenic strains of mice, B10.A (H-2a) and B10 (H-2b), differing only in the H-2 histocompatibility region of chromosome 17, have been measured by the dextran-charcoal method and by our previously described methods of molecular sieving and ion exchange chromatography [M. Katsumata, C. Gupta, and A. S. Goldman (1985) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 243, 385-395]. As reported, two receptors, II and IB, are demonstrable by each column chromatographic method, and 5,5-diphenylhydantoin binds to receptor IB but not to receptor II. Receptor IB cannot be detected unless molybdate is added in cytosols prepared with hypotonic buffer [10 mM 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid and 10 mM dithiothreitol, pH 7.35) according to S. L. Liu, J. F. Grippo, R. P. Erickson, and W. B. Pratt (1984) J. Steroid Biochem. 21, 633-637], a method which has been reported to give maximal receptor levels. Using hypotonic buffer containing 10 mM molybdate we observed a small but significantly higher content of receptor IB in B10.A mice than that in B10 mice, but no significant difference in receptor II or total receptor content. On the other hand, cytosols prepared with isotonic buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl, 120 mM NaCl, 1 mM EDTA, 10 mM dithiothreitol, and 10 mM molybdate, a modification of the buffer used in our previous report) contained significantly higher levels of receptor IB and of total binding in pulmonary cytosols of B10.A as compared to those of B10. There was no difference in receptor II content. Molybdate stabilizes receptor IB in both buffers. These results explain the apparent contradiction between our results and those of Liu et al. by showing that the hypotonic buffer used by them allows for determination of maximal levels of receptor II, but permits selective destruction of receptor IB. However, the use of isotonic buffer gives maximal values of both receptors II and IB. With isotonic buffer, it is demonstrated that only the level of receptor IB is influenced by H-2-linked genes.
Multi-Attribute Balancing Process for Automotive Components

Meeting customer demands in the form of product multiattributes during the Automotive Product Development Process is the key for achieving superior product quality. Using the Voice of the customer expressed in these multi-attributes to develop Vehicle, Subsystems, and Components Technical Specifications is a necessary step during the early phases of the process. Achieving these multi and sometimes conflicting attributes, however, is the main challenge and the real measure of the process success. In this paper, a general approach to multi-attribute balancing in Automotive Product Development Process is presented. The development of vehicle technical specification based on the voice of the customer is addressed. The processes to flow vehicle level attributes to subsystems and components design targets and constraints are outlined. A resolution process for resolving conflicts between these targets during the early design phases is presented. To demonstrate the application of the resolution process and the steps for multi-attribute balancing of automotive components three different automotive examples are discussed.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Diabetes distress may adversely affect the eating styles of women with type 1 diabetes

The aim of this study was to determine the relationships among diabetes distress, fear of hypoglycemia, and eating styles in women with type 1 diabetes (T1DM). Fifteen women (mean age 37 ± 13.5 years) with T1DM completed surveys measuring diabetes distress, fear of hypoglycemia (FOH), and eating style. Height, weight, and A1C were obtained, and open-ended comments regarding hypoglycemic concerns and experiences were recorded. Diabetes distress was positively associated with A1C (r = .655, p = .008). High levels of external (73 %), emotional (47 %), and restrained (53 %) eating styles were reported. Emotional and external eating styles were positively associated with diabetes distress (r = .575 and r = .622; p 7 %; 53 mmol/mol) had higher levels of restrained eating behavior (F = 10.69, p = .006) and greater interpersonal distress (F = 5.916, p = .03) than those with better glycemic control (A1C < 7 %; 53 mmol/mol). A nonlinear relationship was identified between interpersonal distress and FOH (behavior subscale, p = .0383) indicating that fewer behavioral approaches were employed to avoid hypoglycemia at higher distress levels. The women in this sample were emotionally burdened by their disease. Distress was associated with eating styles linked with overeating and poor glycemic control. High levels of emotional and external eating styles may have important clinical implications for those with T1DM.
Concept extraction and association from cancer literature

There is a large and growing body of web accessible biomedical literature. As this body of electronic literature grows, so does the possibility that document analysis techniques can be used to automatically extract useful biomedical information from them, particularly in the discovery of key concepts dealing with genes, proteins, drugs, and diseases and associations among these concepts. VCGS (Vocabulary Cluster Generating System) was designed to automatically extract and determine associations among tokens from a subset of biomedical literature namely cancer. Such information has notable potential to automate database construction in biomedicine, instead of relying on experts' analysis. This paper reports on the mechanisms for automatically generating clusters of tokens. A formal evaluation of the system, based on a subset of 5338 Pubmed titles and abstracts, has been conducted against the Swiss-Prot database in which the associations among concepts are entered by experts by hand.
The effect of porosity on the austenite to ferrite transformation in powder metallurgy steels

Abstract The effect of porosity on the kinetics of the austenite to ferrite isothermal transformation in powder metallurgy steels was characterized using high-speed quench dilatometery. The measurements reveal that the presence of porosity in these steels reduces the stability of austenite and hence shortens the incubation time of the transformation. An Avrami-type equation was fitted to the measured data in order to quantify the effect of porosity on the Avrami constants. In addition, samples with varying levels of porosity were interruptedly quenched after holding them at 650 °C for 900 s. Quantitative microscopic measurements performed on these samples showed an increase in the number and a decrease in the average diameter of the ferrite grains with increasing porosity. It is hypothesized that pores in powder metallurgy steels increase the rate of nucleation of ferrite from austenite by providing high diffusivity paths for carbon atoms that help accelerate their partitioning during the transformation.
Toward Dual Roles of Users in Recommender Systems

Users usually play dual roles in real-world recommender systems. One is as a reviewer who writes reviews for items with rating scores, and the other is as a rater who rates the helpfulness scores of reviews. Traditional recommender systems mainly consider the reviewer role while not taking into account the rater role. However, the rater role allows users to express their opinions toward reviews about items; hence it may indirectly indicate their opinions about items, which could be complementary to the reviewer role. Since most real-world recommender systems provide convenient mechanisms for the rater role, recent studies show that typically there are much more helpfulness ratings from the rater role than item ratings from the reviewer role. Therefore, incorporating the rater role of users may have the potentials to mitigate the data sparsity and cold-start problems in traditional recommender systems. In this paper, we investigate how to exploit dual roles of users in recommender systems. In particular, we provide a principled way to exploit the rater role mathematically and propose a novel recommender system DualRec, which captures both the reviewer role and the rater role of users simultaneously for recommendation. Experimental results on two real world datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed framework, and further experiments are conducted to understand the importance of the rater role of users in recommendation.
Model-based low-level control in flexible manufacturing systems

Abstract Low-level (supervisory) control of flexible manufacturing systems (FMS) assures conflict-free operation and enforces production requirements such as priorities. It forms a crucial link between medium and higher-level decision making, on the one hand, and the various machine-controllers and servomechanisms on the other. In the absence of a suitable control methodology, ad hoc development is the current practice and compromised results at high cost are far too common. Here we described a model-based framework for a new, systematic approach to supervisory control.
An Object Oriented, Finite Element Framework for Linear Wave Equations

This dissertation documents an object oriented framework which can be used to solve any linear wave equation. The linear wave equations are expressed in the differential forms language. This differential forms expression allows a strict discrete interpretation of the system. The framework is implemented using the Galerkin Finite Element Method to define the discrete differential forms and operators. Finite element basis functions including standard scalar Nodal and vector Nedelec basis functions are used to implement the discrete differential forms resulting in a mixed finite element system. Discretizations of scalar and vector wave equations in the time and frequency domains will be demonstrated in both differential forms and vector calculi. This framework conserves energy, maintains physical continuity, is valid on unstructured grids, conditionally stable and second order accurate. Examples including linear electrodynamics, acoustics, elasticity and magnetohydrodynamics are demonstrated.
Convergent Explanation and Alternative Regularization Patterns: "Were/Weren't" Leveling in a Vernacular English Variety.

Although the process of analogical leveling seems relatively straightforward and its directionality readily predictable, the existence of cross-dialectal leveling alternatives suggests that the processes that actuate and embed analogical leveling can actually be quite complex. Using the case of a vernacular variety spoken on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, we demonstrate how linguistic-systemic principles such as remorphologization, psycholinguistic principles of perceptual saliency, and sociolinguistic processes of symbolic identity converge to account for the development and maintenance of leveling to weren't (I/you/(s)he/we/ you/they weren't here) in this post-insular island community.
Combined ultrasound image guidance and therapy using a therapeutic phased array

Ultrasonic imaging has been suggested for guidance of high intensity focused ultrasound therapy. This is typically implemented using two different ultrasonic transducer systems. However the need for two transducers may pose practical difficulties such as alignment and different coordinate systems. In this paper we investigate the possibility of using the same physical transducer array for performing both therapy and imaging. A spherically shaped 1D 64-element high intensity focused ultrasound transducer capable of operating in therapeutic and imaging modes was designed and fabricated. In vitro experiments were conducted to show that this transducer is capable of creating well defined lesions 30-50 mm deep into bovine muscle samples. Furthermore, an experimental pulse-echo system was designed to collect full synthetic aperture data using this transducer. Images of multiple-wire and speckle-generating phantoms are shown to illustrate the imaging capability of this transducer. Although the image quality achieved with this array is inferior to that obtained by conventional diagnostic imaging transducers, it is sufficiently high to produce image features suitable for guidance.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A neutral trizirconium cluster with chelating and exobidentate dialkoxide groups. The synthesis and crystal structure of Zr3(μ3-O)-(DMPD)4(DMPDH)2 (DMPDH2=2,4-dimethylpentane-1,4-diol)

Abstract Zr3(μ3-O){[CH2C(CH3)2O]2}4 {[HO(CH3)2CCH2C(CH3)2O]}2 was prepared by a transesterification reaction between Zr(O-n-Pr)4 and 2,4-dimethylpentane-2,4-diol, DMPDH2. The product was obtained as a white crystalline solid containing discrete molecules of a μ3-O bridged trizirconium cluster with one chelating DMPD, two chelating DMPDH groups and three exobidentate DMPD groups, with one end bonded to a single Zr atom and the other bridging adjacent Zr atoms. The two chelating DMPDH groups form strong hydrogen bonds to the oxygen atoms of the chelated DMPD group.
Study of Renal Safety in Amphotericin B Lipid Complex–Treated Patients

To investigate the renal safety of amphotericin B lipid complex (ABLC), records from 3514 ABLC-treated patients with fungal infections were reviewed. The median change in predicted creatinine clearance (CCr) from baseline to the end of therapy was -3 mL/min (range, -119 to 118 mL/min); doubling of serum creatinine (S-Cr) level occurred in 13% of patients, and new dialysis was needed for 3% of patients. Patients with underlying renal disease who had received prior antifungal therapy demonstrated a median CCr of 0.5 mL/min (range, -107 to 52 mL/min). Despite increased risk for renal impairment in allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplant recipients, only 17% of patients demonstrated end-of-therapy doubling of S-Cr levels, and the median change in CCr was -10 mL/min (range, -107 to 108 mL/min). In ABLC-treated patients, concomitant treatment with potentially nephrotoxic agents and a baseline S-Cr level of <2 mg/dL were factors predisposing for the development of nephrotoxicity. These data provide evidence that ABLC may be used safely to treat patients who are at increased risk for renal impairment.
Intercultural willingness to communicate and communication anxiety in international teaching assistants

This study addressed patterns and correlates of communication apprehension, intercultural communication apprehension, and intercultural willingness to communicate in international teaching assistants. Results indicated an inverse relationship between communication apprehension of international TAs and their satisfaction with students, relationship with students, and perceptions of student ratings of instruction. Similar results were found for ITA state anxiety. Inverse relationships were also found between ITA intercultural communication apprehension and relationship with students and perceptions of student ratings of instruction. International teaching assistant CA and ICA were positively related with ITA state anxiety.