cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Differential patterns of alcohol and nicotine intake: Combined alcohol and nicotine binge consumption behaviors in mice.

Abstract Late adolescence and young adulthood, corresponding to the high school and college years, are vulnerable periods for increased alcohol and nicotine use. The dramatic increase in the prevalence of electronic cigarette use is particularly concerning in these age groups. Late adolescents and young adults are more likely to engage in cycles of binge drug consumption, and alcohol and nicotine are frequently used together. However, there are few data examining the combination of alcohol and nicotine in binge models in animal models. In this study, our objectives were to determine how voluntary nicotine consumption beginning in late adolescence influenced subsequent binge alcohol consumption in young adulthood, how a combination of alcohol and nicotine binge consumption differed from alcohol-only binge consumption, and whether nicotine would be consumed when presented in a binge procedure. Male C57BL/6J mice voluntarily consumed unsweetened alcohol and nicotine in continuous-access bottle-choice procedures in combination with cycles of drinking-in-the-dark. Our results show that experience with voluntary nicotine consumption in late adolescence did not affect subsequent binge alcohol consumption in early adulthood. However, mice that consumed nicotine in adolescence showed an initial decrease in alcohol preference, and consequently increase in nicotine preference, on the first session of combined ethanol and nicotine binge consumption in adulthood compared with mice that drank only water during late adolescence. Lastly, we found that mice readily consumed unsweetened nicotine when presented in a binge procedure, and the level of consumption exceeded the nicotine consumption observed in the combination alcohol and nicotine binge. Our data show that expansion of the patterns of alcohol and nicotine co-consumption in a mouse models is possible, which will enable us to dissect relevant molecular targets underlying these consumption patterns and better inform drug development efforts.
Disseminated coccidioidomycosis mimicking cicatricial alopecia

Coccidioidomycosis is a fungal infection that is endemic to the semiarid regions of the southwestern United States, particularly Arizona and California.1, 2 It is primarily a pulmonary infection, acquired via the inhalation of fungal spores. Cutaneous manifestations of coccidioidomycosis are common and can occur via 3 pathogenic mechanisms: reactive eruptions, primary cutaneous infection, and secondary dissemination to the skin.2 Reactive skin manifestations tend to occur early in the disease course and include generalized exanthem, Sweet syndrome, erythema nodosum, interstitial granulomatous dermatitis, and an erythema multiforme–like eruption.2, 3, 4 Primary cutaneous infection is rare and occurs via inoculation of fungus directly into the skin from the environment. Secondary dissemination occurs via hematogenous spread from the lungs (the primary area of infection, in most cases) to other organs such as the skin, bones, and meninges. The skin is one of the most common sites of secondary dissemination. Disseminated cutaneous infection is characterized by the presence of fungal spherules in the skin. Immunosuppressed patients, as well as certain ethnic and racial groups, such as African Americans and Filipinos, have an increased propensity for severe disease and secondary dissemination.5, 6 Disseminated cutaneous coccidioidomycosis has a highly variable clinical and histologic appearance.5 Here, we report a unique case of disseminated infection mimicking cicatricial alopecia.
Marilla Waite Freeman: The Librarian as Literary Muse, Gatekeeper, and Disseminator of Print Culture

Abstract Contrary to the popular image of the librarian as a passive organiser of books and other forms of print, librarians are and have been active selectors, collectors, and disseminators of pri...
An Update on Sizing and Performance Analysis of a Hybrid Turboelectric Regional Jet for the NASA ULI Program

Under the NASA University Leadership Initiative (ULI) program, a team of universities are collaborating on the advancement of technologies a hybrid turboelectric regional jet, with an intent to enter service in the 2030 timeframe. In the previous studies of the ULI program, the in-service benefits of the technologies under development were analyzed by integrating the technologies of interest to a 2030 regional jet with a hybrid turbo-electric distributed propulsion system. As the program has progressed, the projected performances for each technology and subsystem have been updated. This paper presents an update in the sizing and performance analysis of the regional jet with the hybrid turbo-electric distributed propulsion system, by integrating the updated values of the technologies and subsystems to the vehicle. The updates in this paper include the DC/AC conversion links, efficiency of generator and cabling losses, weight of the wires, the battery cooling through the environmental control system, motor and inverter cooling by the thermal management system, and the redundancy strategy of the propulsion system. The updates of the results from the integrated model include the overall efficiency of the propulsion system, mission fuel savings, mission energy flow distribution, and the optimal hybridization rate in climb and cruise. The overall fuel saving benefit for the target 600-nmi mission is 19.9% compared to the baseline aircraft.
Defining Moments: A Nurse's Touch.

In most cultures, touch is the sense we most strongly associate with healing. In this essay, I describe the different ways touch was incorporated into my cancer treatment as well as wonder how touc...
Abstract 13904: Ex vivo Biomechanical Analysis of Elastic Artificial Chordae Implantation for Beating-heart Transapical Mitral Valve Repair

Introduction: Beating-heart transapical mitral valve repair represents a significant advancement in the minimally invasive treatment of mitral regurgitation. However, current techniques require inc...
Planospheric camera model

Realtime stereo processing, particularly in computationally constrained environments such as the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover, requires image rectification to enable efficient one-dimensional correlation. A camera model has been designed to perform better image rectification for fish-eye lenses with a particular emphasis on the engineering cameras on Perseverance. The primary innovation is the use of a unit projection sphere rather than an image plane as the rectifying surface. For stereo rectification, the rows (for a horizontal pair) or the columns (for a vertical pair) of both cameras must lie on the same epipolar plane. Thus, we use a pair of moving planes to define the rows and columns. Each plane rotates about a dedicated static axis passing through the sphere center. Virtual pixels are located where the planes intersect with each other and the unit sphere.
Retrospective study of the prevalence of factors contributing to successful standing at first attempt in horses recovering from general anesthesia

Abstract Objectives Several factors affect the quality of recovery from general anesthesia in horses. These can increase the likelihood of injury. Body and limb position during recovery may correlate with successful standing. The objective of this study was to identify the prevalence of and the factors associated with successful standing on the first attempt in horses undergoing general anesthesia. Study design Retrospective study. Methods Video of recovery and anesthetic records from 221 equine patients were reviewed by six veterinary students. Cases with poor video quality or incomplete anesthetic records were excluded. Demographic variables, type of procedure, perioperative drugs administered, assistance during recovery and body and limb positions during the first attempt to stand were recorded. Association between putative variables (including specific descriptors for body and limb position) and success for standing were analyzed using backwards logistic regression; significance set at 0.05. A decision tree for a successful attempt was created to be able to predict the outcome of a recovery attempt based on these variables. Results Extension of the carpal joints, head and neck alignment with the thoracic limbs, greater time in lateral recumbency, coordination during sternal recumbency, longer time to first attempt to stand and pelvic limb position were associated with successful standing on the first attempt. The association between extension of the carpal joints with wide base positioning of the pelvic limbs provided the best success rate for standing, whereas the association of flexed carpal joints and head and neck orientation different from the thoracic limbs resulted in a worse success rate. Conclusions and clinical relevance Results suggest that certain limb and body positions displayed by horses during recovery may be associated with the likelihood of successful standing at the first attempt. These variables may be useful for assessing recovery quality in future research.
Factors Associated With Treatment Discontinuation in Patients With Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer Undergoing Chemoradiation.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S) Radiation treatment with concurrent chemotherapy (CRT) is a definitive treatment option for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). Despite its effectiveness, CRT is underutilized given perceptions regarding fitness of patients for treatment and subsequent utility. Within the national Veterans Affairs' (VA) database, we investigated the factors associated with and the impact of treatment discontinuation in patients with MIBC treated with CRT. MATERIALS/METHODS In the VA database, we identified patients with urothelial histology, MIBC (T2-4a/N0-3/M0) diagnosed between 2000 and 2018 and treated with definitive intent CRT. Patients' electronic health records were chart reviewed to document if they completed definitive radiation (defined as at least 55 Gy). Preferred chemotherapy regimen was defined as containing cisplatin or combination mitomycin/5-fluorouracil. Primary endpoint of discontinued radiation was evaluated in a multivariable logistic regression. Secondary endpoints of 30/90-day mortality, overall mortality (OM), bladder cancer-specific mortality (BCM), non-bladder cancer-specific mortality (NCM), locoregional failure (LRF), and distant failure (DF) were evaluated in multivariable Cox and Fine-Gray models. RESULTS Of an identified 369 veterans with MIBC who underwent CRT, 30 (8.1%) patients did not complete definitive radiation. The most common reasons for treatment discontinuation included comorbidities/infections necessitating hospital admission (63.3%) and treatment intolerance/declining performance status (26.7%). In multivariable logistic regression, the only significant sociodemographic or clinical variables associated with radiation discontinuation were creatinine clearance (CrCl) ≤ 50 (OR 3.61, 95% CI 1.51-8.66, P < 0.01) and non-preferred chemotherapy regimen (OR 3.43, 95% CI 1.36-8.67, P = 0.01). In the discontinued radiation cohort, 30-day mortality was 33.3% and 90-day mortality was 50.0% with the majority of deaths due to non-bladder cancer-specific causes. In this cohort, no patient or tumor variables were associated with either endpoint. In the completed radiation cohort, 30-day mortality was 2.7% and 90-day mortality was 6.8%. In multivariable analysis, radiation discontinuation was significantly associated with worse OM (HR 2.50, 95% CI 1.37-4.56, P < 0.01) and worse NCM (HR 2.29, 95% CI 1.21-4.32, P = 0.01). It was not associated with inferior BCM (HR 0.56, 95% CI 0.25-1.26, P = 0.16), LRF (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.44-1.97, P = 0.85), or DF (HR 0.60, 95% CI 0.28-1.28, P = 0.19). CONCLUSION More than 90% of patients with MIBC who undergo definitive intent CRT are able to complete their radiation course. Decreased creatinine clearance and receipt of non-preferred chemotherapy notably increased the odds of not completing radiation. Further research is required to develop evidence-based guidelines on patient selection to ensure curative therapy is offered to appropriate patients.
Automobile Accidents and Autopsy Protocol: Some Reflections of a Forensic Pathologist

The increasingly critical problem of automobile crash deaths involves a vase area of both criminal and civil law and a great responsibility on the part of the lawyer. An attempt will be made in this article to erect some helpful directional guideposts to assist the lawyer in the investigation and discovery of facts important in th epreparation and trial of cases involving highway deaths. The role of the pathologist in connection with these deaths deals with two types of factual evidence: physical evidence, involving the collection of blood, vehicle fragments, etc.; and direct evidence, covering the medical aspects of the autopsy.... Language: en
Kidney transplantation in the morbidly obese: complicated but still better than dialysis.

Obese patients are denied renal transplantation in many centers. We report results regarding obesity from a new transplant program (1999 through 2007). Six hundred and forty-two patients were transplanted: 439 patients with BMI 35 (Group 3). Follow-up was at least one yr. Medical and surgical management was performed by the same team throughout the study period. There were no demographic differences between groups except for increased diabetes in Groups 2 and 3. Actuarial graft and patient survivals were not statistically different between groups. Group 3 patients had numerical trends toward more delayed graft function and lower graft survivals but these did not reach statistical significance. Biopsy-proven rejections did not differ between groups. Wound infections were statistically significant in Groups 2 and 3 compared to Group 1 (p < 0.01). Despite increased wound infection rates with increased BMI, transplanting patients with morbid obesity results in better survival for individual patients than dialysis. Thus, there is no a priori ethical reason for treating obese ESRD patients differently from those with other comorbidities.
Program structure as basis for parallelizing global register allocation

A model that uses knowledge about program structure to guide global register allocation explicitly is proposed. Restrictions that must be met by the live ranges of loops and conditionals such that the corresponding portion of the register conflict graph is an interval graph are defined. Interval graphs are desirable because they can be colored optimally in polynomial time and because clique separators can be located systematically in interval graphs. Clique separated components of the conflict graph can be colored individually and recombined to an overall coloring, a platform for parallel global register allocation. The method has been implemented and results are presented for a benchmark of C kernels. It was possible to map most conflict graphs of the benchmark to an equivalent interval graph. In each conflict graph, it was possible to identify a large number of clique separators; the parallelization of global register allocation is then straightforward. >
The reality of object-oriented technology in the corporation

One of the major causes of limited success in adopting object-oriented methodologies is the failure of management and design teams to recognize and plan for the scope of this change. Using object-oriented methodologies is far more than a language change; object-oriented methodologies require an entirely different management, planning, and measurement system. Changes to an object-oriented language require much training and large learning curves for individual software developers. This paper discusses the effects of a change to object-oriented systems development from the standpoint of the effects upon three groups: individual programmers, software development teams, and management.
Crise du français, impact de la francophonie?

Resume A une epoque ou la precarisation du francais au sein de l’institution universitaire americaine s'inscrit dans une logique plus vaste de depreciation economique, institutionnelle et axiologique touchant les humanites non seulement aux Etats-Unis mais aussi en Europe, l’emergence des litteratures en francais ecrites hors de l’Hexagone et la visibilite croissante de leurs auteurs invitent etudiants, enseignants et chercheurs a elargir leur horizon culturel, a repenser les hierarchies artistiques, a innover leur outillage conceptuel et a imaginer de nouvelles facons de lire et de se situer par rapport aux textes. Les articles reunis dans ce numero etayent l'evidence, l'urgence et les tensions qui caracterisent les liens entre une vision transfrontaliere et cosmopolitique du francais et de la litterature en francais, d'un part, et la relance des savoirs et des disciplines dont elles font l'objet, d'autre part. Abstract While the Humanities, in the US as well as Europe, suffer the consequences of a political and economic context which increasingly promotes the business model in higher education, questions about the depreciation of French as a world language abound. Consequently, French Studies have also undergone an institutional and moral crisis which calls into question the growing impact of Francophone studies on the discipline while also inviting new transnational and cosmopolitan perspectives. Proceeding from a special session organized on behalf of the Conseil International d'Etudes Francophones (CIEF) at the 2014 Modern Language Association Convention, the articles gathered in this issue illustrate both the difficulties raised and the opportunities afforded by this dual crisis.
Malaria Prevention Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) Among International Flying Pilots and Flight Attendants of a US Commercial Airline

Background In 2010, malaria caused approximately 216 million infections in people and 655,000 deaths. In the United States, imported malaria cases occur every year, primarily in returning travelers and immigrants from endemic countries. In 2010, five Plasmodium falciparum malaria cases occurred among crew members of one US commercial airline company (Airline A). This investigation aimed to assess the malaria prevention knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of Airline A crew members to provide information for potential interventions. Methods The web link to a self‐administered on‐line survey was distributed by internal company communications to Airline A pilots and flight attendants (FA) eligible for international travel. The survey collected demographic information as well as occupation, work history, and malaria prevention education. Results Of approximately 7,000 nonrandomly selected crew members, 220 FA and 217 pilots completed the survey (6%). Respondents correctly identified antimalarial medication (91% FA, 95% pilots) and insect repellents (96% FA, 96% pilots) as effective preventive measures. While in malaria‐intense destinations, few FA and less than half of pilots always took antimalarial medication (4% FA, 40% pilots) yet many often spent greater than 30 minutes outdoors after sundown (71% FA, 66% pilots). Less than half in both groups always used insect repellents (46% FA, 47% pilots). Many respondents were unaware of how to get antimalarial medications (52% FA, 30% pilots) and were concerned about their side effects (61% FA, 31% pilots). Conclusion Overall, FA and pilots demonstrated good knowledge of malaria prevention, but many performed risky activities while practicing only some recommended malaria preventive measures. Malaria prevention education should focus on advance notification if traveling to a malaria‐endemic area, how to easily obtain antimalarial medications, and the importance of practicing all recommended preventive measures.
New hydroxybenzyl and hydroxypyridylmethyl substituted triazacyclononane ligands for use with gallium(III) and indium(III)

The 67Ga(III) and/or 111In(III) complexes of four new hexadentate ligands have been prepared and evaluated in vitro and in vivo. These substituted triazacyclononane ligands bind the metal ion through three tertiary ring nitrogens and three oxygens from pendant phenolic or hydroxypyridyl arms. The hydroxypyridyl moieties increase the aqueous solubility of the metal complexes while retaining a lipophilic character. As indicated by their large positive partition coefficients, the phenolic ligands proved to be significantly more lipophilic than the hydroxypyridyl ligands. Biodistribution in Sprague-Dawley rats indicated that the more lipophilic phenolic complexes cleared the body primarily through the liver, while the less lipophilic hydroxypyridyl complexes cleared rapidly, primarily through the kidney. To differentiate the clearance characteristics of these radiolabeled compounds, radiochemical purity of selected complexes in vivo was measured. The complexes were evaluated for overall charge in vitro and in vivo, in plasma samples. In addition, plasma and urine were analyzed for possible metabolites. With one exception, each complex was unmetabolized in vivo. All complexes and metabolites formed were neutral in vitro and in vivo. Extended stability in serum of selected radiometal complexes has been measured. Each complex measured was stable to exchange with transferrin, up to 72 h, as expected from the large stability constants of the complexes. The clearance characteristics of the hydroxypyridyl and phenolic ligands, however, were markedly different. The rapid hepatic clearance of the phenolic ligands indicates potential as bifunctional chelates for Ga(III) or In(III).
On The Problem Of Standard Stars, Extinction, And The Photometric Zero-Point Of Uncalibrated Photographic Plates

Stars of known brightness can be used to estimate the surface brightness of extended objects to a given isophote set by the background sky density on photographic plates. The method requires the digitization of images by the measurement of specular photographic densities. A versatile theory has been proposed by Zou, Chen, and Peterson for which star trails can have arbitrary shape. The method frees observers from the need for spot sensitometry if standard stars of sufficient number and brightness range are in the field. The present formulation is an elaboration which allows for atmospheric extinction and variable background sky density. It permits a solution in principle for the photometric zero-point. A simultaneous solution for the extinction coefficients and the polynomial expansion coefficients can be found by best-fit methods. The photometric zero-point of the standard stars permits calibration of the H-D curve. Energy per pixel area is converted to intensity knowing the exposure time, and the aperture and focal length of the telescope. The incorporation of extinction corrections and variable background should permit photometry of extended objects across wide fields such as those accessible to cameras of the Schmidt design.
Improving particle separation from an ethanol extract to water: settling dependence on fine particle content.

Abstract Removing solid particles from ethanolic corn extracts by gravitational settling into a water layer has been studied as part of a project to develop a low cost method to extract ethanol-soluble protein from corn meal. Settling has several advantages over industrially proven methods of liquid/particle separation: (1) less expensive equipment; (2) particles that settle at different rates can be collected from different outlets, and (3) extract liquid entrained by settling particles dissolves in the water from which the ethanol can be recovered by distillation. When fine particles were pumped as part of the extract into the 5-l settling layer at a high enough rate, they formed a particle layer at the extract/water interface. The particle layer prevents further settling and is a non-sustainable operating condition. The layer does not form when the mass fraction of particles in the extract was 0.11 or less. This value is greater than the value obtained by extrapolating published settling data for denser (mineral) particles. Overall, entrainment of extract liquid for the settling was about the same as entrainment during centrifugation. In-line measurements and recordings of ethanol concentration, density, and particle content of the water stream carrying settled coarse particles from the settling tank showed that specific entrainment was greater for the finer particles.
Realization theory and quadratic optimal controllers for systems defined over Banach and Frechét algebras

If a system (A,B,C) depends in a bounded, measurable, continuous, smooth or even analytic manner on plant parameters, then a very important and natural problem to study is the existence of a feedback law F, which is a switching gain in the sense that F depends on (A,B,C) and in this way depends on the plant parameters, which stabilizes the system for all values of the parameter and which has the same kind of dependence on the paramters. Using the Gel'fand theory for Banach algebras, the author proved such a theorem in the bounded measurable case under reasonable hypothesis deriving this case and the continuous case from the analytic case by use of the operational calculus and earlier work on systems with parameters. Now, recent work by E. Kamen on the stability of half-plane digital filters shows that similar problems for other Banach algebras also arise in applications. This situation makes the construction of a realization theory for and of stabilizability criteria for systems defined over a Banach or Frechet algebra A desirable, and in this paper we develop such a theory with special emphasis on the construction of finitely-generated realizations, the existence of coprime factorizations for T(s) defined over A, and solvability of the quadratic optimal control problem and the associated algebraic Riccati equation over A.
Variability in Gastroschisis Management: A Survey of North American Pediatric Surgery Training Programs

Background The optimal surgical management of gastroschisis has yet to be determined. We sought to define the practice patterns in the management of gastroschisis, and to ascertain the degree of variability among and within pediatric surgical training programs. Materials and Methods An electronic survey was sent to all second-year residents in ACGME-accredited pediatric surgery programs in the United States and Canada. The questionnaire evaluated operative strategies, pain control, complications, and adherence to institutional protocols. Results Of the 38 pediatric surgical training programs, 27 second-year residents (71%) completed the survey. An institutional protocol was utilized in only one program, and 70% reported treatment variability among faculty. Attempted primary closure was the treatment of choice in 76% of centers, and routine silo placement at 24%. The location for routine silo placement was in the neonatal intensive care unit (77%), operating room (22%), and delivery room (1%). General anesthesia was used for all primary closures, while silos were placed using intravenous sedation at 36% of centers. The most frequent silo-related complication was dislodgement, reported by 80%. Other preformed silo complications included the inability to achieve primary fascial closure (27%) and intestinal injury (27%). When entering clinical practice, 74% of trainees stated that they would first attempt primary closure, while 22% favored routine placement of a preformed silo. Conclusions Protocol-driven care of infants with gastroschisis is rare in pediatric surgery training centers, leading to great variability in care between institutions, as well as among faculty within single programs. Data-driven protocols may improve care of infants with gastroschisis.
Essential Tremor 10, 20, 30, 40: Clinical Snapshots of the Disease by Decade of Duration

Background and purpose Essential tremor (ET) is a chronic, progressive neurological disorder in which disease burden may slowly accrue. There are few long-term studies, and the clinical and functional status of patients, with each decade of disease duration, has not been documented in detail. We used cross-sectional data on 335 patients with ET (disease duration 1–81 years) to produce clinical snapshots of the disease at each 10-year milestone (i.e. < 10, 10–19, 20–29, 30–39, ≥ 40 years). We hope these data will be of value in clinical-prognostic settings both to patients and their treating physicians. Methods In this cross-sectional, clinical-epidemiological study at Columbia-University Medical Center, each patient underwent a single evaluation, including self-reported measures of tremor-related disability, performance-based measures of function, and neurologist-assessments of tremor type, location and severity. Results A variety of metrics of tremor severity increased across the 10-year time intervals. By ≥ 40 years duration, one-third of patients had tremor in at least two cranial locations (neck, voice, jaw), and the proportion with high-amplitude tremor reached 20.3% (while drawing spirals), 33.8% (spilling while drinking) and 60.8% (spilling while using a spoon). Yet even in the longest tremor duration group, very few (< 10%) were incapacitated (i.e. completely unable to perform the above-mentioned tasks), and one-third continued to exhibit no cranial tremor. Conclusions These data paint a picture of progressive decade-by-decade decline in ET. Yet patients with long disease duration did not relentlessly converge at the same end-stage of severe, functionally incapacitating, diffuse tremor. In this respect, long-duration ET patients presented a heterogeneous picture.
Transient and steady heat transfer in a conducting and radiating medium

The transient and steady heat transfer in a conducting, emitting, and absorbing medium is analyzed according to the differential formulation. The differential equations are first transformed into integral equations and then solved by successive approximations. Great insight into the effect of absorption and emission on the temperature distribution is afforded by the calculation of radiation potential. The steady problem is briefly examined and discussed together with the transient problem. For small times emission is found negligibly small in comparison with absorption, whereas for large times it is important only in a thin layer near the hotter surface.
Post-application of anti-desiccant agents improves efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes in formulated host cadavers or aqueous suspension against diapausing codling moth larvae (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Abstract Codling moth (CM), Cydia pomonella (L.) is the most serious pest of apple and other pome fruit worldwide. In temperate climates, diapausing cocooned larvae make up 100% of the population. Control of this stage would reduce or eliminate damage by first generation CM in late spring and early summer. Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are good candidates for control of CM in the cryptic habitats where the larvae overwinter. The two predominant limiting factors for EPNs are adequate moisture and temperatures below 15°C. Formulation that maintains moisture and enables survival of EPN infective juveniles (IJs) until they can infect overwintering larvae would significantly improve their utility for protection of apple, pear and walnut. In laboratory studies conducted in moist mulch (consisting of apple and conifer wood), Galleria mellonella (L.) larvae infected with Steinernema carpocapsae (Weiser), S. feltiae (Filipjev), or Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Poinar and coated with starch and clay, produced m...
Differences in the effects of prostaglandin F2a, a constituent of cerebral tissue, and prostaglandin E1 on conscious cats and chicks

Abstract Prostaglandin F 2a , a normal constituent of ox brain, produced no obvious effects when injected into the cerebral ventricles of four unanaesthetized cats in doses of 15–100 μg per animal. In contrast the closely related prostaglandin E 1 produced marked sedation and stupor in doses of 20 μg per animal in each of these animals confirming the results obtained previously with this compound. In twenty chicks, intravenous injections of prostaglandin F 2a (25–450 μg/kg) caused extension of the limbs and sometimes extension of the neck, followed by a tendency of the limbs to abduct. In lower doses (5–25 μg/kg) abduction of the limbs was the only change observed. Unlike prostaglandin E 1 , prostaglandin F 2a caused no respiratory depression and little or no sedation in these doses.
Chip-scale Microscopy for Addressing Petri-dish Imaging Needs

We will discuss our recent work on chip-scale microscopy for imaging petri-dish cultures. We will report the demonstration of a chip-scale imaging solution that is capable of autonomous and high-resolution imaging over the entire culture growth area. We further demonstrate that this solution enables direct imaging of cell cultures from within an incubator.
The role of recombinant insulin-like growth factor I in the treatment of the short child.

Purpose of reviewCommercial preparations of recombinant human insulin-like growth factor I became available in 2005. Off-label use has been promoted because of the paucity of patients having approved indications; I review the background and rationale for such use.Recent findingsAttempts to identify
Compact three-dimensional camera for robotic applications

A new geometry for the acquisition of three-dimensional coordinates of points on the surfaces of objects is described. It is based on the use of a pattern projected onto the scene and a mask in the aperture of an objective lens. A compact charge-coupled-device camera is used to make the three-dimensional measurements. Experimental results are presented.
Micromechanics-Based Predictive Model for Compressively Loaded Angle-Ply Composite Laminates

A micromechanics-based analysis to predict damage initiation in compressively loaded symmetric angle-ply laminates is described. The e nite element method in conjunction with the commercial code Abaqus is used to solve the governing system of equations. The results obtained for the predictions are compared against a set of experimental results previously made available for AS4/3502 symmetric angle-ply laminates. A unie ed model that captures damage initiation and that describes failure mode transition as a function of ply angle is reported. The prediction of the model is found to compare favorably against the experimental data.
Prevalence of atopy and asthma in eastern versus western Europe: why the difference?

Learning Objectives This article reinforces the reader's knowledge of the epidemiology of allergy and asthma in eastern versus western European countries and the ability to recognize the different hypotheses formulated to explain the rising trend of allergic asthma in Europe. Data Sources Articles in English comparing the epidemiology of allergy in eastern versus western Europe published before December 31, 2000. Results Significant higher prevalences of atopy and allergic asthma were observed in the early 1990s among populations living in western compared with eastern European countries. Changes in lifestyle after the fall of the communist system were associated with an increasing trend of atopic sensitization and hay fever in former East Germany after only 6 to 8 years after the Germany reunification. It has been hypothesized that a similar “converging” trend in the prevalence of allergic asthma and of bronchial hyperresponsiveness may take longer periods. Conclusions The prevalence of allergic asthma has increased decades earlier in western Europe with respect to eastern Europe. This is probably attributable to changes in lifestyle that had already occurred rather than to air pollution. The factors of a western lifestyle (diet, hygiene, varied allergen exposure) that have determined the difference in allergic asthma prevalence across Europe have yet to be identified.
Study of Porosity and Voids in Dental Gold Castings

The problem of voids and porosity has long plagued the dental technician. Many times an otherwise acceptable casting has had to be discarded because voids or porosities have developed within the casting. Because of numerous variables a technician often does not know the cause of the casting failure. Many investigators have studied variables that may affect the occurrence of voids and porosities.'-5 Asgar6 has conducted a study on the effects of sprue gauge, length, direction, shape, number of sprues, and flaring. He also studied the pressure of the casting machine and the amount of gold used when casting. He found that all of these variables have some effect on the occurrence of voids and porosities. Tucillo and Nielsen7 have reported that short, thick sprues tend to minimize local porosity but tend to form surface porosities. They found that the reverse was true with long, thin sprues. Brumfield8 recommended inserting a wax rod into the core of the investment when investing the pattern. In this way, gasses could leave the mold cavity in a short time and be free of voids and porosities. Strickland and Sturdevant9 say that "back pressure" porosity will be eliminated if a mold temperature of over 1,100 F is used. They have also found that the type of investment can be important in the elimination of "back pressure" porosity. Strickland and Sturdevant9 contend that varying the temperature of the casting alloy has no effect on "back pressure" porosity. Sprue size, oven burnout temperature, casting temperature of the gold, presence of a vent or heat sink, and type of investment are among the variables that confront the operator in casting. Small full crowns such as those on premolars are probably the castings most often destroyed by voids and porosities. By making over 200 castings using
An Adsorption Model for Friction in Boundary Lubrication

A model describing the relationship between friction coefficient and surface adsorption of a two-component lubricant (i.e. base lubricant and one additive) is developed for boundary lubrication. This model relates the coefficient of friction to the extent of metal-metal contact or, inversely, the fractional surface coverage of the lubricant. Using a suitable adsorption isotherm, an expression for friction coefficient is obtained, relating the friction coefficient to the additive concentration and the adsorption energy. The proposed model and the selected adsorption isotherm are experimentally verified by testing several model additives in a petroleum-base lubricant. An excellent correlation is obtained between the adsorption-free energies calculated from the friction coefficient data and the adsorption-free energies determined from adsorption studies. The ranking order of additives based on friction coefficient is explained in terms of the molecular structure and the structural effects on the adsorption-f...
Field on the Normative Role of Logic

Harman (1986) asserts that logic is neither a normative nor a psychological theory and, although immediate implication and inconsistency may play a role in reasoning, there is nothing special about logic in this connection. Field (2009) purports to reject these claims but actually accepts them and concludes that, because of the semantic paradoxes, logic is ‘somehow connected to norms of thought’. A real non sequitur!
Artificial neural network modeling of RF MEMS resonators

In this article, a novel and efficient approach for modeling radio-frequency microelectromechanical system (RF MEMS) resonators by using artificial neural network (ANN) modeling is presented. In the proposed methodology, the relationship between physical-input parameters and corresponding electrical-output parameters is obtained by combined circuit/full-wave/ANN modeling. More specifically, in order to predict the electrical responses from a resonator, an analytical representation of the electrical equivalent-network model (EENM) is developed from the well-known electromechanical analogs. Then, the reduced-order, nonlinear, dynamic macromodels from 3D finite-element method (FEM) simulations are generated to provide training, validating, and testing datasets for the ANN model. The developed ANN model provides an accurate prediction of an electrical response for various sets of driving parameters and it is suitable for integration with an RF/microwave circuit simulator. Although the proposed approach is demonstrated on a clamped-clamped (C-C) beam resonator, it can be readily adapted for the analysis of other micromechanical resonators. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE 14: 302–316, 2004.
Talc friction in the temperature range 25°–400 °C: relevance for fault-zone weakening

Abstract Talc is one of the weakest minerals that is associated with fault zones. Triaxial friction experiments conducted on water-saturated talc gouge at room temperature yield values of the coefficient of friction, μ (shear stress, τ/effective normal stress, σ′N) in the range 0.16–0.23, and μ increases with increasing σ′N. Talc gouge heated to temperatures of 100°–400 °C is consistently weaker than at room temperature, and μ Talc has a temperature–pressure range of stability that extends from surficial to eclogite-facies conditions, making it of potential significance in a variety of faulting environments. Talc has been identified in exhumed subduction zone thrusts, in fault gouge collected from oceanic transform and detachment faults associated with rift systems, and recently in serpentinite from the central creeping section of the San Andreas fault. Typically, talc crystallized in the active fault zones as a result of the reaction of ultramafic rocks with silica-saturated hydrothermal fluids. This mode of formation of talc is a prime example of a fault-zone weakening process. Because of its velocity-strengthening behavior, talc may play a role in stabilizing slip at depth in subduction zones and in the creeping faults of central and northern California that are associated with ophiolitic rocks.
Self-organizing epitaxial growth for the deposition of novel superlattices

Abstract We report a novel self-organizing epitaxial deposition mode for the AlGaAs alloy during MEE deposition. The role of surface steps appears to be essential as a catalyst in the self-ordering of the alloy. Further we have shown that the attachment kinetics favor the segregation of the binary alloy with the largest formation enthalpy at step edges. The formation of novel “coherent tilted superlattices” is a direct consequence of this form of epitaxy.
The third order nonlinear susceptibility of semiconductor doped glasses at low power excitation

Abstract The third order nonlinear susceptibility X (3) in CdS 0.9 Se 0.1 doped glasses CS 3–68 and OG 530 has been investigated by phase conjugation, produced by degenerate four wave mixing of low power picosecond laser pulses at 532 nm. The magnitude, the phase and the response time of X (3) have been determined as well as their laser exposure dependence. Similar commercial glasses have been investigated and show a large spread of their nonlinear susceptibility, ranging between -10 -8 and -10 -7 esu.
Mechanism for large neutrino magnetic moments.

A general mechanism, based on very simple considerations of spin, is proposed, which has the effect of enhancing the neutrino magnetic dipole moment relative to the neutrino mass.
Development of monoclonal antibodies specific for Pyricularia grisea, the rice blast pathogen

The development of polyclonal antisera and monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) specific for Pyricularia grisea was explored. Polyclonal antisera and MAbs against germinating conidia cross-reacted with unrelated fungi and extracts of healthy rice tissue in ELISA. However, MAbs produced from crushed conidia showed various levels of specificity to the fungus. Fourteen hybridoma lines secreting antibodies positive for the immunogen and negative for healthy rice tissue were selected from three independent fusions of NS-1 myeloma cells with splenocytes from mice immunized with crushed conidial suspensions of P. grisea race IB-49. Four stable cell lines were recloned. MAbs secreted from cell lines 4G11, 8H1 and 3E4 reacted strongly with conidial antigen, and MAb 11C6 preferably with mycelial antigen in ELISA. MAb 4G11 bound to the surface of conidia whereas 8H1 and 3E4 bound on germ-tubes in the indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). In cross-reaction tests with ELISA MAb 4G11, an IgG1 antibody, reacted negatively with isolates representing 11 fungal genera and was defined as species-specific. Further tests against 17 isolates of P. grisea indicated that MAb 4G11 reacted positively with 11 and 12 of the isolates in ELISA and IFA, respectively. MAb 4G11 could detect homologous conidial antigen at 14–70 ng ml −1 , 10–20 conidia/well, and the fungal antigen in infected rice tissue in ELISA. It may have potential diagnostic value.
Alternative Hedge Fund Product Performance: The Impact of Regulation on Performance

In the financial press, hedge funds are often maligned for being tax inefficient. In this article, the author reviews various legal and tax regulations that impact hedge fund and mutual fund after-tax returns. She demonstrates that it is possible to employ current tax regulations in such a way as to make hedge funds more tax efficient than mutual funds with similar return patterns. This article demonstrates that the organizational form of the hedge fund and thus the partial netting and “in-kind” distributions available to them can be implemented in such a manner as to outweigh the tax detriments endured by hedge funds in the form of higher tax rates bestowed on them due to short-term capital gain distributions, the section 1256 rules, and unqualified dividend distributions. Various volatility/return combinations were tested. Results show that for the majority of positive return patterns, mutual fund taxes were greater than hedge fund taxes. There was a stark difference, however, when returns were negative. When returns were negative, at all levels of volatility tested, hedge fund taxes were higher than mutual fund taxes. The reason for this contrast is a subject for future research.
Privacy-Preserving Point-to-Point Transportation Traffic Measurement through Bit Array Masking in Intelligent Cyber-physical Road Systems

Traffic measurement is a critical function in transportation engineering. We consider privacy-preserving point-to-point traffic measurement in this paper. We measure the number of vehicles traveling from one geographical location to another by taking advantage of capabilities provided by the intelligent cyber-physical road systems that enable automatic collection of traffic data. The challenge is to allow the collection of aggregate point-to-point data while preserving the privacy of individual vehicles. We propose a novel measurement scheme which utilizes bit arrays to collect "masked" data and adopts maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to obtain the measurement result. Both mathematical proof and simulation demonstrate the practicality and scalability of our scheme.
Interaction of E2F7 Transcription Factor with E2F1 and C-terminal-binding Protein (CtBP) Provides a Mechanism for E2F7-dependent Transcription Repression

Previous work has identified distinct functions for E2F proteins during a cellular proliferative response including a role for E2F1–3 in the activation of transcription at G1/S and a role for E2F4–8 in repressing the same group of E2F1–3 target genes as cells progress through S phase. We now find that E2F7 and E2F8, which are induced by E2F1–3 at G1/S, can form a heterodimer with E2F1 through interactions involving the DNA-binding domains of the two proteins. In vitro DNA interaction assays demonstrate the formation of an E2F1-E2F7 complex, as well as an E2F7-E2F7 complex on adjacent E2F-binding sites. We also show that E2F7 recruits the co-repressor C-terminal-binding protein (CtBP) and that CtBP2 is essential for E2F7 to repress E2F1 transcription. Taken together, these findings suggest a mechanism for the repression of transcription by E2F7. Background: E2F7 is a transcription factor that controls cell cycle by repressing the expression of G1/S genes in late S phase. Results: E2F7 forms a heterodimer with E2F1, and it recruits the co-repressor CtBP to repress G1/S transcription. Conclusion: E2F7 represses gene transcription by interacting with E2F1 and co-repressor CtBP. Significance: These findings suggest a mechanism for the repression of transcription by E2F7.