cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A velocity-current formulation for stationary MHD flow

Abstract We derive a velocity-current formulation for the equations of stationary, incompressible magnetohydrodynamics under natural interface conditions for the magnetic field and prove its well-posedness for small data by means of a variational principle.
Hybrid Wind/Photovoltaic/Diesel System Research at the University of Massachusetts:

The past decade has yielded significant developments in the design, analysis and installation of hybrid (wind/photovoltaic (PV)/diesel) power systems. This paper presents a summary of recent progress on this subject in the United States with emphasis on the analytical and experimental work carried out at the University of Massachusetts. Topics discussed here include: 1) system configuration and hardware, 2) modeling and design tools, and 3) recent applications.
Structure of the aesthetasc (olfactory) sensilla of the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus: transformations as a function of salinity

The aesthetasc sensilla of the euryhaline blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, are innervated by the dendrites of from 40 to 160 bipolar chemosensory neurons. Each dendrite forms two cilia within the basal portion of the sensillum, and these subsequently branch yielding approximately 10 outer dendritic segments per neuron. Auxiliary cells surround the inner dendritic segments and also ensheathe the outer dendritic segments up to the terminus of the ”constricted region” (a zone in which there is a slight narrowing of the aesthetasc). Crystal violet staining suggesting access of odor stimuli is limited to that portion of the sensillum distal to the constricted region. In freshwater-acclimated blue crabs the length and level of branching in the dendrites extending beyond the constricted region is significantly reduced relative to that of seawater-acclimated animals (mean lengths: 150 µm versus 517 µm, respectively). After transfer of freshwater-acclimated crabs to seawater there is a rapid increase in length of the outer dendritic segments, reaching 60% of that for seawater-acclimated crabs by 48 h. A similar time course for regrowth is seen for seawater-acclimated crabs in which the outer dendritic segments have been osmotically ablated. Conversely, with rapid transfer of seawater-acclimated animals to lower salinities, there is a correspondingly rapid reduction in length of the outer dendritic segments. The reduced length of the outer dendritic segments in freshwater-acclimated animals may reflect the effective distance over which an appropriate osmotic/ionic microenvironment for neural function can be maintained within the aesthetasc.
Polar cap electric field saturation during interplanetary magnetic field Bz north and south conditions

[1] We report the results of an investigation of the saturation of the polar cap electric field during periods of large northward and southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). While it has been demonstrated that saturation can occur for both northward and southward IMF, a direct comparison between the two regimes during saturated driving has not been performed. We use solar wind measurements to search for events between 1998 and 2007 when the IMF is stable for 50 min. The selected intervals are binned according to interplanetary electric field (-V sw × B). SuperDARN Doppler radar velocity vectors from high-latitude antisunward looking beams are averaged to determine the approximate polar cap electric field. Results show that sunward convection under northward IMF is stronger in summer than in winter, but that antisunward convection under southward IMF exhibits the opposite seasonal behavior. One explanation is that, as the earth tilts near solstice, lobe reconnection is less effective in the winter hemisphere.
Partial acoustic filtering applied to the equations of compressible flow

This paper reports that gas contained in a rectangular laser cell of large length and mall width is subjected to large, transient, spatially nonuniform, volumetric heating when pumped. The heating time scale is much longer than the time required for an acoustic wave to traverse the width but can be comparable to the time required for an acoustic wave to traverse the length. Approximate equations describing the motion are derived by applying partial acoustic filtering to the equations of motion: pressure waves traversing the width are removed while pressure waves traversing the length are retained. For a simplified one-dimensional example, a significant density variation is found across the width of the laser cell; moreover, this density variation is in good agreement with a numerical solution of the unapproximated gas dynamic equations although the latter requires two orders of magnitude more computational time.
Social control doctrines of mental illness and the medical profession in nineteenth-century America

Social control doctrines of mental disorders have influenced a generation of psychologists and have shaped attitudes and discussions about how to treat the mentally ill. In light of the failure of deinstitutionalization as a public policy and the contemporary concern with the medical or biological bases of psychiatric disorders, this paper re-examines social control doctrines. Reviewing mid-nineteenth century statistical accounts, the author challenges claims of social control theorists and shows that in recent years some former social control advocates and revisionists have "recanted" and criticized their earlier use of the concept of social control, particularly the characterization of the asylum as a "total institution."
Sex pheromone of the female dermestid beetleTrogoderma glabrum (Herbst)

5 components of the sex pheromone of the female dermestid beetle,Trogoderma glabrum, have been isolated and identified: methyl (E)-14-methyl-8-hexadecenoate, (E)-14-methyl-8-hexadecen-l-ol, methyl (Z)-7-hexadecenoate,n-hexanoic acid, and 4-hydroxyhexanoic acid lactone (γ-caprolactone). A sixth weakly active compound was isolated but not identified. Each of the identified compounds independently elicited attractive and sexually excitatory responses inT.glabrum males.
Introduction and establishment of Trioxys pallidus [Hym.: Aphidiidae] in Oregon, U.S.A. for control of filbert aphid Myzocallis coryli [Hom.: Aphididae]

Hazelnut orchards in Spain, France, and Italy were searched for parasitoids of the filbert aphid,Myzocallis coryli (Goetze). A biotype ofTrioxys pallidus Haliday was found to parasitize the aphid throughout western Europe. Wasps were imported, quarantined, mass-reared, and released in Oregon orchards. The wasp successfully attacked and completed its development on Oregon populations of the filbert aphid. A greenhouse culture of the parasitoid was maintained continuously for over 50 generations, and approximately 30,000 adult wasps were released in western Oregon. Overwintering survival has been documented in at least 12 different locations. In 3 commercial hazelnut orchards, the parasitoids proved capable of reducing aphid population peaks by 33–48%.
Somatostatin and growth hormone-releasing factor release from zucker rat hypothalamic tissue

Abstract Plasma somatotropin (ST) levels are depressed in the genetically obese Zucker rat compared to those of their littermates. It is believed that this defect is associated with one or both of the hypothalamic neuropeptides that control ST release: growth hormone releasing factor (GRF) and Somatostatin (SS). The mechanism by which SS and GRF neuropeptides are regulated remains uncertain. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of 2 deoxy-glucose (2DG), isoproterenol (ISO), tryptophan (TRP), and 5HT on SS and GRF release in hypothalamic tissue from lean and obese Zucker rats. An in vitro perifusion system was established to examine the release of SS and GRF from perifused hypothalami taken from 8- and 12-week-old Zucker rats under basal conditions and in response to 2DG, ISO, TRP, 5HT, and KC1 administration. Hypothalami were perifused with Dulbecco's modified eagle's medium continuously at 37°C for 5 h at a flow rate of 100 ml/min. ISO and 2DG significantly ( p
Analytic Element Modeling of Cylindrical Drains and Cylindrical Inhomogeneities in Steady Two-Dimensional Unsaturated Flow

The analytic element method, first developed for modeling flow in saturated porous media, is adapted to the solution of the governing equation for steady flow in unsaturated porous media. The governing equation for steady-state unsaturated flow is made amenable to analytic element solution through transformation with the Kirchhoff integral, representation of the hydraulic conductivity by an exponential function of the pressure head, and use of a coordinate transformation. A number of analytic elements are available for the resulting modified Helmholtz equation; analytic element equations are presented for uniform flow, cylindrical drains, and cylindrical inhomogeneities. The analytic element solution allows for the analytic evaluation of the pressure head, saturation, and Darcy flux at any point in the vadose zone. The applicability of the analytic element method to simulate unsaturated flow is demonstrated by solving for several cases of steady flow in a region containing arbitrarily located cylindrical inhomogeneities, and for flow in a region containing one cylindrical inhomogeneity and two cylindrical drains.
Growth and grazing responses of Chrysochromulina ericina (Prymnesiophyceae): the role of irradiance, prey concentration and pH

The effect of irradiance, prey concentration and pH on the growth and grazing responses of the mixotrophic prymnesiophyte Chrysochromulina ericina under N-and P-replete conditions was studied using the pedinophyte Marsupiomonas pelliculata as prey. The two organisms were inoculated in monocultures and in mixed cultures at different predator: prey ratios at three irradiances and allowed to grow for 4–7 days. All cultures were non-axenic. Algal densities and pH were monitored throughout the experiments and growth and grazing rates were measured. An increase in growth of C. ericina cultures at irradiances of 25 and 70 μmol photons m−2 s−1 was observed after the addition of prey, while growth of C. ericina cultures at the high irradiance (150 μmol photons m−2 s−1) was unaffected by the addition of prey. However, although the growth of C. ericina increased at low irradiance (25 μmol photons m−2 s−1), it did not reach the same level as monocultures at the high irradiance (150 μmol photons m−2 s−1), suggesting that phagotrophy can only partly replace photosynthesis in C. ericina. Maximum growth rates of C. ericina at irradiances of 25 and 70 μmol photons m−2 s−1 were obtained at concentrations of > 0.15–0.3×105 M. pelliculata ml−1, corresponding to 50–100 μg C 1−1. Ingestion of M. pelliculata cells by C. ericina did not generally follow Michaelis—Menten kinetics. Deviation from the expected saturation kinetics was especially pronounced at irradiances of 70 and 150 μmol photons m−2 s−1. At these irradiances ingestion of M. pelliculata cells by C. ericina decreased at high concentrations of M. pelliculata, indicating an increased uptake of bacterial prey in these cultures. The growth rate of C. ericina was affected in both monocultures and in mixed cultures when pH increased above 8.6, and growth stopped around pH 9. The prey alga M. pelliculata tolerated high pH better and, consequently, took over in the mixed cultures when pH exceeded 9. The ecological significance of mixotrophy in the genus Chrysochromulina is discussed.
Cysteine Induced Odor Intensification in Onions and Other Foods

SUMMARY— Adding cysteine to food products prepared from onion and other species of the genus Allium results in lo-to 40-fold increase in odor intensity and in alteration of GLC patterns of the volatiles. Other nonvolatile sulfhydryl compounds, but not ascorbic acid, also intensify the odor. The reactions responsible for this cysteine effect are not directly enzymatic in nature and appear, at least in part, to involve a series of sulfhydryl-disulfide type interchanges among cysteine and the sulfur-containing products of the enzymatic breakdown of flavor precursors in these foods.
Endotension after endovascular aneurysm repair: the Ancure experience.

Abstract Purpose: The expansion of aneurysms after endovascular repair is a consequence of persistent sac pressure, usually resulting from an endoleak. Several authors have suggested that sac expansion can occur even in the absence of endoleak, referring to this phenomenon as endotension . This study undertakes a review of the largest US endograft trial data to better define the significance of aneurysm expansion in the absence of endoleak. Methods: The core laboratory imaging database from the Ancure (Guidant) endovascular graft Phase I and Phase II trials approved by the Food and Drug Administration was reviewed with attention to aneurysm size and endoleak. Aneurysm size was measured with standardized two-dimensional computed tomography (CT) scan at the area of largest initial aneurysm diameter. Endoleak was detected with CT scans, color duplex ultrasound scans, and angiography in selected cases. Patients were evaluated at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, and every 12 months thereafter. An endograft was classified as leaking if any endoleak was detected with any modality at any time point. Results: A total of 658 patients were entered into these protocols and the data submitted to the core laboratory. A control group of 120 conventional aortic patients and a group of 62 without baseline CT data were excluded from further analysis. Of the remaining 476 patients, 144 (60 tube, 60 bifurcated, and 24 mono-iliac) were free of endoleak at all intervals and had baseline CT measurements to allow comparison. Overall, the average size decrease in this nonleaking group was 9.9 ± 9.4 mm (range, –50.6-11.1 mm) at a mean follow-up of 23.3 months. Evaluation for overall aneurysm expansion revealed 17 patients who had an increase of 2.3 ± 2.9 mm (range, 0.3-11.1 mm) at a mean follow-up of 14.1 months. Only two patients without evidence of endoleak exhibited growth of more than 5 mm at maximum follow-up (7.6 mm at 12 months and 11.1 mm at 36 months). Additional analysis of sealed endoleaks and late endoleaks failed to demonstrate any group with expansion in the absence of detectable endoleak. Conclusions: Endotension appears to be rare in this large series of prospectively evaluated endografts. From this review, endotension seems more likely to represent missed endoleak than true aneurysm expansion in the absence of perigraft flow. (J Vasc Surg 2001;34:421-7.)
On the Characterization of Lifting Forces During the Rapid Compaction of Deformable Porous Media

In a recent paper, Wu et al. (2005, "Dynamic Compression of Highly Compressible Porous Media With Application to Snow Compaction, "J. Fluid Mech., 542, pp. 281-304) developed a novel experimental and theoretical approach to investigate the dynamic lift forces generated in the rapid compression of highly compressible porous media, (e.g., snow layer), where a porous cylinder-piston apparatus was used to measure the pore air pressure generation and a consolidation theory was developed to capture the pore-pressure relaxation process. In the current study, we extend the approach of Wu et al. to various porous materials such as synthetic fibers. The previous experimental setup was completely redesigned, where an accelerometer and a displacement sensor were employed to capture the motion of the piston. The pore-pressure relaxation during the rapid compaction of the porous material was measured. The consolidation theory developed by Wu et al. was modified by introducing the damping effect from the solid phase of the porous materials. One uses Carman-Kozeny's relationship to describe the change in the permeability as a function of compression. By comparing the theoretical results with the experimental data, we evaluated the damping effect of the soft fibers, as well as that of the pore air pressure for two different porous materials, A and B. The experimental and theoretical approach presented herein has provided an important methodology in quantifying the contributions of different forces in the lift generation inside porous media and is an extension of the previous studies done by Wu et al.
A novel nuclear localization signal in human DNA topoisomerase I

DNA topoisomerase (topo) I is a nuclear enzyme that plays an important role in DNA metabolism. Based on conserved nuclear targeting sequences, four classic nuclear localization signals (NLSs) have been proposed at the N terminus of human topo I, but studies with yeast have suggested that only one of them (amino acids (aa) 150–156) is sufficient to direct the enzyme to the nucleus. In this study, we expressed human topo I fused to enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) in mammalian cells and demonstrated that whereas aa 150–156 are sufficient for nuclear localization, the nucleolar localization requires aa 157–199. More importantly, we identified a novel NLS within aa 117–146. In contrast to the classic NLSs that are rich in basic amino acids, the novel NLS identified in this study is rich in acidic amino acids. Furthermore, this novel NLS alone is sufficient to direct not only EGFP into the nucleus but also topo I; and the EGFP·topo I fusion driven by the novel NLS is as active in vivo as the wild-type topo I in response to the topo I inhibitor topotecan. Together, our results suggest that human topo I carries two independent NLSs that have opposite amino acid compositions.
Chronic 17β-Estradiol Replacement Increases Nitric Oxide–Mediated Vasodilation of Guinea Pig Coronary Microcirculation

Background —Estrogen is cardioprotective of the coronary circulation by mechanisms incompletely understood. This study determined the effect of chronic 17β-estradiol replacement on dilator responses to acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside of the isolated coronary microcirculation. Methods and Results —Adult female guinea pigs were ovariectomized, and a 21-day-release pellet containing 0.0, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, or 1.0 mg 17β-estradiol was implanted subcutaneously. Serum estradiol concentrations ranged from 3.9 to 74.9 pg/mL, increasing with the dose of estradiol. After 19 to 20 days, the animals were euthanized, and their hearts were removed and perfused with buffer at constant flow on an isolated heart apparatus. Both perfusion pressure and contractile force were measured in prostaglandin F 2α –constricted hearts. Vasodilation to the cumulative addition of the endothelium-dependent agonist acetylcholine (10 − 9 to 10 − 5 mol/L) and the nitric oxide (NO) donor sodium nitroprusside (10 − 9 to 10 − 5 mol/L) was measured before and after NO synthesis inhibition by nitro-l-arginine (LNA, 10 − 4 mol/L). Baseline coronary resistance was unaltered by estradiol, although LNA increased resistance in estradiol-treated hearts more than in ovariectomized controls. Chronic 17β-estradiol increased sensitivity (measured by −log EC 50 values) but not maximal response to acetylcholine compared with ovariectomized controls. Differences were abolished by LNA at all doses of estradiol. Sodium nitroprusside–induced dilation was unaffected by estradiol replacement. Conclusions —Chronic 17β-estradiol replacement, at doses producing hormone levels within the physiological range, enhances dilator sensitivity of the coronary microcirculation through enhanced NO production by the endothelium, independent of changes in NO sensitivity of the vascular smooth muscle. Thus, estradiol enhances NO production as a protective mechanism of the coronary microcirculation.
Comparison of steroidogenic effects of cAMP and dbcAMP in the rat adrenal gland.

The steroidogenic response of superfused rat adrenal quarters to ACTH and cAMP began after a lag period of 3.3 =t 0.5 and 3.0 ± 0.3 min, respectively. The lag period with dbcAMP was 6.0 ± 0. 7 min. In all cases the lag period was independent of the dose of the stimulant. The current theory of the mode of action of ACTH and cAMP postulates that cAMP promotes the synthesis of a labile regulatory protein that in turn accelerates steroidogenesis. If the synthesis of protein accounts for most of the lag period, the size of the protein can be estimated to be 14,000 to 200,000 daltons. 3H from labelled cAMP entered adrenal tissue more rapidly than 3H from dbcAMP. Therefore, the greater potency of dbcAMP in stimulating steroidogenesis cannot be explained solely by a faster rate of penetration. The cAMP was almost completely changed to adenosine and nucleotides; dbcAMP was virtually unchanged. Maximal stimulation of superfused adrenal quarters by dbcAMP (1.2 X 10∼4JVI) caused a rate of steroidogenesis 30% lower th...
Measurement of red cell velocity with a two-slit technique and cross-correlation: use of reflected light, and either regulated dc or unregulated ac power supplies.

Abstract The data illustrate red cell velocity values obtained from microvessels of brain and muscle by utilizing a two-slit technique and cross-correlator in settings employing reflected light. Similarities are shown between these data and data obtained or reported from transilluminated vessels. These similarities include relative independence of apparent centerline velocities on the plane of focus, and relatively low ratios of velocities at the center to velocities near the wall. It is shown, in addition, that accurate velocity measurements can be made utilizing a nonregulated ac power supply, although it cannot be stated that such measurements could be obtained in circumstances other than those described.
Benchmarks for splenectomy in pediatric trauma: how are we doing?

Abstract Background/purpose Following publication of American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA) hospital benchmarks for the operative management of blunt splenic trauma in specialized centers, it was found that most hospitals exceeded these benchmarks. We sought to determine if benchmarks were being met a decade later and to identify factors associated with splenectomy in injured children. Methods Rates of splenic procedures were calculated for children ≤19 with a blunt splenic injury (ICD-9 865) using the 2010–2011 National Trauma Data Bank. Multivariable analysis was performed to determine independent predictors of splenectomy. Results Of 8597 children, 24.3% received care at pediatric trauma centers (PTC), 34.6% at adult trauma centers (ATC), and the remaining 41.2% at other centers (OTC). The overall operative rate was 9.2% (3.9% if age ≤14, 6.7% if ≤17). Operative rates were higher in children treated at ATC and OTC when compared to PTC. On multivariable analysis, age >14, coexisting injuries, severity of splenic injury, and care at ATC or OTC were predictive of undergoing operative treatment. Conclusions Operative rates for splenic injuries meet APSA benchmarks at PTC yet remain high at other centers. Care at an ATC or OTC is associated with greater odds of operative management after adjustment for age and injury severity.
Flicker noise in advanced CMOS technology: Effects of halo implant

A new model and a theory to capture the effects of halo (pocket) implants on the flicker noise of the advanced-node MOSFETs have been proposed and verified with measurements. The model can accurately capture the bias dependence of the drain-current flicker-noise (FN) power density. Also for the first time, we explain and model the unexpected channel-length dependence of FN power density in strong-halo devices.
History: Women at the edge of science

Jennifer Rampling assesses a study of the Renaissance women who dared to tackle alchemy's secrets.
Species and Temperature Measurements in a Pulsed Plasma Jet by Molecular Beam Mass Spectrometry

Abstract Molecular beam mass spectrometry has been used to determine temperature and species concentrations in the discharge plume of a pulsed plasma jet igniter. Laser schlieren photographs of the plume/sampling cone interaction reveal that the molecular beam sampling has negligible effect on jet fluid mechanics up to the time of impingement, and temperature and species measurements indicate that at later times the gas is sampled from within the plume. The temperature in an atmospheric pressure jet of nitrogen ranged from a maximum of 50,000 K to ambient temperature. Peak nitrogen atom concentration at the detector was found to range from 5 percent. 2 mm from the igniter, to less than 100 ppm at 14 mm.
Effective elastic properties of solids with defects of irregular shapes

Pores and defects in real materials often have very irregular shapes. Thus, micromechanical modeling based on the analytical solutions of elasticity becomes inapplicable. The objective of this paper is to present a computational procedure to calculate the contribution of the irregularly shaped defects into the effective moduli of two-dimensional elastic solids. In this procedure, the cavity compliance tensor is constructed numerically for an individual defect, and then used in the elastic potential-based approach to predict the effective moduli of porous solids. Two computational methods are used in this paper to calculate the components of a cavity compliance tensor: finite element analysis and numerical conformal mapping. Application of this procedure to the regular hole shapes produces results that are in good correspondence with analytical predictions.
A Nearest-Neighbor Approach to the Automatic Analysis of Ancient Greek Morphology

We propose a data-driven method for automatically analyzing the morphology of ancient Greek. This method improves on existing ancient Greek analyzers in two ways. First, through the use of a nearest-neighbor machine learning framework, the analyzer requires no hand-crafted rules. Second, it is able to predict novel roots, and to rerank its predictions by exploiting a large, unlabelled corpus of ancient Greek.
The binding of mercury to bovine serum albumin

Abstract Additional studies on the binding of mercury by serum albumin is presented. Data were obtained by radiotracer methods and the technique of equilibrium dialysis. The results showed that mercury is bound at other sites in addition to the carboxyl and sulfydryl groups reported previously.
Gene targeted DNA double-strand break induction by 125l-labeled triplex-forming oligonucleotides is highly mutagenic following repair in human cells

A parallel binding motif 16mer triplex-forming oligonucleotide (TFO) complementary to a polypurine-polypyrimidine target region near the 3'-end of the SupF gene of plasmid pSP189 was labeled with [5-(125)I]dCMP at position 15. Following triplex formation and decay accumulation, radiation-induced site-specific double-strand breaks (DSBs) were produced in the pSP189 SupF gene. Bulk damaged DNA and the isolated site-specific DSB-containing DNA were separately transfected into human WI38VA13 cells and allowed to repair prior to recovery and analysis of mutants. Bulk damaged DNA had a relatively low mutation frequency of 2.7 x 10(-3). In contrast, the isolated linear DNA containing site-specific DSBs had an unusually high mutation frequency of 7.9 x 10(-1). This was nearly 300-fold greater than that observed for the bulk damaged DNA mixture, and >1.5 x 10(4)-fold greater than background. The mutation spectra displayed a high proportion of deletion mutants targeted to the(125)I binding position within the SupF gene for both bulk damaged DNA and isolated linear DNA. Both spectra were characterized by complex mutations with mixtures of changes. However, mutations recovered from the linear site-specific DSB-containing DNA presented a much higher proportion of complex deletion mutations.
Combined pattern search and ranking and selection for simulation optimization

A new algorithm class is presented for optimization of stochastic simulation models. The algorithms, which combine generalized pattern search (GPS) with ranking and selection (R&S), require "black-box" simulation evaluations and are applicable to problems with mixed variables (continuous, discrete numeric, and categorical). Implementation of the mixed-variable generalized pattern search with ranking and selection (MGPS-RS) algorithm with three different R&S procedures is demonstrated and tested on a small set of standard test functions. Results of this preliminary performance evaluation are summarized and compared with existing search methods.
Germinal matrix haemorrhage: destroying the brain's building blocks.

The most skilled stonemasons cannot construct a cathedral without an ample supply of fine granite blocks. Likewise, the human brain cannot be built properly if stocks of neuroglial progenitors (the building blocks of the brain) are depleted by injury during the critical period of progenitor cell proliferation and migration, as occurs in germinal matrix haemorrhage in prematurity. The article by Prof. Marc Del Bigio (2011), representing the analysis of a career-spanning autopsy cohort of preterm infants with and without germinal matrix haemorrhage, he addresses a persistent clinical concern facing paediatric specialists caring for survivors of prematurity: what are the consequences of germinal matrix haemorrhage on normal brain development at the microanatomic level, and do they explain observed neurodevelopmental and neuroimaging outcome data? As a serious complication of prematurity, germinal matrix haemorrhage and its frequent accompaniment, intraventricular haemorrhage, have been recognized in the medical literature since the turn of the last century (Corvelaire, 1903). In the period from 1940 to 1970, population studies identified the maternal, obstetric and neonatal risk factors for development of germinal matrix haemorrhage, including vaginal delivery, low birth weight, low Apgar scores, hypoxia and hypercapnea (Bassan, 2009; Ballabh, 2010). Improvements since the 1970s in neonatal intensive care have reduced the incidence of cardiorespiratory complications and increased survival following preterm delivery; however, the overall incidence of intraventricular haemorrhage in very low birth weight infants has remained static over the last two decades (Jain et al. , 2009). Thus, intraventricular haemorrhage is still a significant problem affecting >12 000 infants per year in the USA …
A comparison of water and carbon dioxide exchange at a windy alpine tundra and subalpine forest site near Niwot Ridge, Colorado

Eddy covariance measurements of the surface energy balance and carbon dioxide exchange above high-elevation (3,480 m above sea level) alpine tundra located near Niwot Ridge, Colorado, were compared to simultaneous measurements made over an adjacent subalpine forest over two summers and one winter, from June 9, 2007 to July 3, 2008. The surface energy balance closure at the alpine site averaged 71 and 91%, winter and summer, respectively, due to the high wind speeds, short turbulent flux footprint, and relatively flat ridge-top location of the measurement site. Throughout the year, the alpine site was cooler with higher relative humidity, and had a higher horizontal wind speed, especially in winter, compared to the forest site. Wind direction was persistently downslope at the alpine site (summer and winter, day and night), whereas upslope winds were common at the forest site during summer daytime periods. The latent and sensible heat fluxes were consistently larger in magnitude at the forest site, with the largest differences during summer. The horizontal advective flux of CO2 at the alpine site averaged 6% of the net ecosystem exchange (NEE) during summer nights (5% during summer daytime), and was small in relation to the high wind speeds, relatively flat site, and weak sources of CO2 upwind of the site. The magnitudes and diurnal behavior of the alpine NEE calculated using three methods; eddy-covariance, friction velocity filter, and with advection and storage calculations, gave similar results. The period of net CO2 uptake (negative NEE) was 100 days at the alpine site with a net uptake of 16 g C m−2, compared to 208 days at the forest site with a net uptake of 108 g C m−2, with initiation of net uptake coinciding with air temperatures reaching +10°C. Winter respiration loss at the alpine site was 164 g C m−2 over 271 days, compared to 52 g C m−2 over 175 days at the forest site, with the initiation of net loss coinciding with air temperatures reaching −10°C at each site.
Alcohol, Marijuana, and Tobacco: Effects of Prenatal Exposure on Offspring Growth and Morphology at Age Six

Little is known about the long-term effects of prenatal exposure to alcohol. There are even fewer reports on the longitudinal effects of exposure to either marijuana or tobacco during pregnancy. This study is on the 6-year follow-up of 668 children enrolled in the Maternal Health Practices and Child Development Project. Mothers were interviewed at the 4th and 7th months of pregnancy, and mothers and children were evaluated at delivery, 8, and 18 months, and 3 and 6 years postpartum. At 6 years of age, children who were exposed to alcohol prenatally were significantly smaller in weight, height, head circumference, and palpebral fissure width. These effects on size were mediated by the effect of prenatal alcohol exposure on the offspring at 8 months. Prenatal alcohol exposure was also significantly associated with maternal reports of the child's appetite at 6 years. There were no effects of prenatal marijuana or tobacco exposure on growth when the children were age 6. There were also no significant relationships between prenatal exposure to alcohol, marijuana, or tobacco and the rate of morphologic anomalies, including the features of the fetal alcohol syndrome.
Semidefinite Programming in Analysis and Optimization of Performance of Sigma-Delta Modulators for Low Frequencies

This paper concerns analysis and synthesis of Sigma-Delta modulators with a one-bit quantizer. The Sigma-Delta modulator model in this paper is a feedback system consisting of a linear dynamical system in the forward loop (loop filter) and a one-bit quantizer (sign function) in the feedback, with the zeros of the loop filter being the main design parameters. An upper bound on the average power of the quantization error within a specific frequency range is formulated. This upper bound is based on a worst-case performance criterion and is directly proportional to the maximum amplitude of the output before quantization and inversely proportional to the minimum magnitude of the transfer function of the loop filter within the frequency range of interest. Minimization of this upper bound is desirable for optimization of performance. Quadratic Lyapunov functions and the finite frequency KYP lemma are used to formulate the design problem as an optimization problem. It is shown that after various convex relaxations this problem can be set up as a semidefinite program. Several second order Sigma- Delta modulators are designed and their performances are compared with a benchmark Sigma-Delta modulator. Our designs performed better than the benchmark in various simulations.
Teaching information security to engineering managers

The concepts and practice of information security have for the most part been contained within computer science or electrical engineering departments in academia. However, as the information age matures and pervasive IT supports every engineering discipline, a requirement to teach information security to engineering managers emerges. The challenges of presenting concepts, theories, and approaches to engineering managers are many when those concepts have been developed from a decidedly computer-oriented perspective. This paper explores experiences, challenges, and innovative solutions based on the last five years of educational efforts at the graduate level.
Soft matrix is a natural stimulator for cellular invasiveness

Directional mesenchymal cell invasion in vivo is understood to be a stimulated event and to be regulated by cytokines, chemokines, and types of extracellular matrix (ECM). Instead, by focusing on the cellular response to ECM stiffness, we found that soft ECM (low stiffness) itself is sufficient to prevent stable cell-to-cell adherens junction formation, up-regulate matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) secretion, promote MMP activity, and induce invadosome-like protrusion (ILP) formation. Consistently, similar ILP formation was also detected in a three-dimensional directional invasion assay in soft matrix. Primary human fibroblasts spontaneously form ILPs in a very narrow range of ECM stiffness (0.1-0.4 kPa), and such ILP formation is Src family kinase dependent. In contrast, spontaneous ILP formation in malignant cancer cells and fibrosarcoma cells occurs across a much wider range of ECM stiffness, and these tumor cell ILPs are also more prominent at lower stiffness. These findings suggest that ECM softness is a natural stimulator for cellular invasiveness.
Effects of Supplemental Vitamin D and Calcium on Oxidative DNA Damage Marker in Normal Colorectal Mucosa: A Randomized Clinical Trial

The exact antineoplastic effects of calcium and vitamin D(3) in the human colon are unclear. Animal and in vitro studies show that these two agents reduce oxidative stress; however, these findings have never been investigated in humans. To address this, we conducted a pilot, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 2 x 2 factorial clinical trial to test the effects of calcium and vitamin D(3) on a marker of oxidative DNA damage, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG), in the normal colorectal mucosa. Patients (N = 92) with at least one pathology-confirmed colorectal adenoma were treated with 2 g/d calcium and/or 800 IU/d vitamin D(3) versus placebo over 6 months. Overall labeling and colorectal crypt distribution of 8-OH-dG in biopsies of normal-appearing rectal mucosa were detected by standardized automated immunohistochemistry and quantified by image analysis. After 6 months of treatment, 8-OH-dG labeling along the full lengths of colorectal crypts decreased by 22% (P = 0.15) and 25% (P = 0.10) in the calcium and vitamin D(3) groups, respectively, but not in the calcium plus vitamin D(3) group. The estimated treatment effects were strongest among participants with higher baseline colon crypt vitamin D receptor expression (P = 0.05). Overall, these preliminary results indicate that calcium and vitamin D(3) may decrease oxidative DNA damage in the normal human colorectal mucosa, support the hypothesis that 8-OH-dG labeling in colorectal crypts is a treatable oxidative DNA damage biomarker of risk for colorectal neoplasms, and provide support for further investigation of calcium and vitamin D(3) as chemopreventive agents against colorectal neoplasms.
Nitrofurantoin Prophylaxis for Bacteriuria and Urinary Tract Infection in Children With Neurogenic Bladder on Intermittent Catheterization

ria into bladder urine is inevitable in the course of repeated catheterization. In previous work we found bacteriuria was present in 75% of urine samples collected from children with neurogenic bladder on CIC followed for 6 months.2 In addition, pyuria was associated with bacteriuria two thirds of the time. Bacteriuria, even with pyuria, did not predict the presence of symptomatic urinary tract infection and was not associated with deterioration of the upper urinary tract during the 6 month period of study. Antimicrobial prophylaxis is commonly used in patients with chronic neurogenic bladder on CIC in an attempt to prevent bacteriuria and symptomatic infection, but the effectiveness of this strategy has not been established. A problem in investigation of the efficacy of prophylaxis is differentiation between bacteriuria and symptomatic infection. In addition, concerns about the long-term use of prophylactic antibiotics in patients with neurogenic bladder include not only drug toxicity but also the emergence of more resistant bacterial species to cause bacteriuria and infection.3
Effects of ionizing radiation on gene expression in cultured rat heart cells.

Purpose : To determine the in vitro effect of ionizing radiation on TGF- β 1, FGF-2, IL-1 β, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and procollagen types I and III gene expression in three different cell...
Constrained Cramér–Rao Bound on Robust Principal Component Analysis

We investigate the behavior of the mean-square error (MSE) of low-rank and sparse matrix decomposition, in particular the special case of the robust principal component analysis (RPCA), and its generalization matrix completion and correction (MCC). We derive a constrained Cramer-Rao bound (CRB) for any locally unbiased estimator of the low-rank matrix and of the sparse matrix. We analyze the typical behavior of the constrained CRB for MCC where a subset of entries of the underlying matrix are randomly observed, some of which are grossly corrupted. We obtain approximated constrained CRBs by using a concentration of measure argument. We design an alternating minimization procedure to compute the maximum-likelihood estimator (MLE) for the low-rank matrix and the sparse matrix, assuming knowledge of the rank and the sparsity level. For relatively small rank and sparsity level, we demonstrate numerically that the performance of the MLE approaches the constrained CRB when the signal-to-noise-ratio is high. We discuss the implications of these bounds and compare them with the empirical performance of the accelerated proximal gradient algorithm as well as other existing bounds in the literature.
As complexidades dinâmicas da interpretação de metáforas

A interpretacao de metaforas requer esforco cognitivo e produz alguns conjuntos complexos de efeitos cognitivos. Embora a maioria dos estudiosos da metafora acredite que ha maneiras especificas para se estudar o esforco envolvido na compreensao metaforica e seus efeitos, existem varios problemas metodologicos associados com a especificacao de significados metaforicos e quanto aos modos as pessoas chegam a entender tais significados. Minha proposta e a de que tanto o significado metaforico quanto a interpretacao metaforica e fundamentalmente indeterminada. Contudo, ha uma variedade consideravel de fatores que moldam o esforco que e colocado para se entender a metafora e os efeitos especificos que resultam dessa experiencia. Tais fatores de natureza pessoal, linguistica e socio-cultural sao as vezes reconhecidos pelos estudiosos da metafora; contudo, necessitamos examinar os modos complexos como esses fatores interagem para caracterizar sistematicamente as experiencias das pessoas com metaforas.
Performance of conservative synchronization methods for complex interconnected campus networks in ns-3

Distributed simulations provide a powerful framework for utilizing a greater amount of computing resources, but require that consideration be taken to ensure that the results of these simulations match results that would have been produced by a single sequential resource. Also, synchronization among the multiple nodes must also occur to ensure that events processed in the simulation maintain a timestamped order across all nodes. This work uses the popular network simulator ns-3. The ns-3 simulator is a discrete event network simulator used for educational and research-oriented purposes which provides two implementation options for distributed simulations based on the null message and granted time window algorithms. We examine the performance of both distributed schedulers available in ns-3 in an effort to gauge specific features of an overall distributed network topology that warrant the use of one synchronization method over the other.
Improving an Unjustified Common Practice in Ex Post LMP Calculation

A common practice for the Ex Post LMP calculation at a number of U.S. ISOs uses a small constant range, typically from -2.0 to +0.1 MW, as each generator's lower and upper bounds. This paper shows that this is an unjustified practice as the marginal units and LMP may change if the bounds are changed. A simple yet effective improvement is proposed.
Generic components for petascale adaptive unstructured mesh-based simulations

In the traditional programming paradigm, data structures and algorithms are developed for specific data types and requirements. This leads to code redundancy and inflexibility, thus not allowing effective code reuse for similar applications. One effective approach to increase code reuse is generic programming, which focuses on the development of efficient, reusable software libraries through suitable abstractions for the common requirements. In this paper, we present how we applied generic programming to an ongoing effort for mesh-based adaptive simulations on massively parallel computers. Three generic components, iterator, set and tag, were developed using design pattern, C++ template programming and the standard template library. The scaling studies on petascale supercomputers demonstrate the efficiency of the reusable, generic components which do not sacrifice the performance of the previous tools developed in the traditional object-oriented programming paradigm.
Residence time and food contact time effects on transfer of Salmonella Typhimurium from tile, wood and carpet: testing the five‐second rule

Aims: Three experiments were conducted to determine the survival and transfer of Salmonella Typhimurium from wood, tile or carpet to bologna (sausage) and bread. Methods and Results: Experiment 1. After 28 days, 1AE 5t o 2AE5 log10 CFU cm )2 remained on tile from and the more concentrated media facilitated the survival of S. Typhimurium compared with the more dilute solutions. Experiments 2 and 3. The bacterial transfer rate to food decreased as the bacterial residence time on the surface increased from 2, 4, 8 to 24 h with transfers of 6AE5, 4AE8, 4AE6 and 3AE9 log CFU ml )1 in the rinse solutions, respectively. Over 99% of bacterial cells were transferred from the tile to the bologna after 5 s of bologna exposure to tile. Transfer from carpet to bologna was very low (<0AE5%) when compared with the transfer from wood and tile (5–68%). Conclusions: (i) Salmonella Typhimurium can survive for up to 4 weeks on dry surfaces in high-enough populations to be transferred to foods and (ii) S. Typhimurium can be transferred to the foods tested almost immediately on contact. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study demonstrated the ability of bacteria to survive and cross-contaminate other foods even after long periods of time on dry surfaces, thus reinforcing the importance of sanitation on food contact to minimize the risk of foodborne illness.
Composite power system reliability evaluation using support vector machines on a multicore platform

Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) is a very powerful and flexible tool when used for sampling states during the probabilistic reliability assessment of power systems. Despite the advantages of MCS, the method begins to falter when applied to large and more complex systems of higher dimensions. In these cases it is often the process of classifying states that consumes the majority of computational time and resources. This is especially true in power systems reliability evaluation where the main method of classification is typically an Optimal Power Flow (OPF) formulation in the form of a linear program (LP). Previous works have improved the computational time required for classification by using Neural Networks (NN) of varying types in place of the OPF. A method of classification that is lighter weight and often more computationally efficient than NNs is the Support Vector Machine (SVM). This work couples SVM with the MCS algorithm in order to improve the computational time of classification and overall reliability evaluation. The method is further extended through the use of a multi-core architecture in order to further decrease computational time. These formulations are tested using the IEEE Reliability Test Systems (IEEE-RTS79 and IEEE-RTS96). Significant improvements in computational time are demonstrated while a high level of accuracy is maintained.