cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sleep health education and a personalized smartphone application improve sleep and productivity and reduce healthcare utilization among employees: Results of a randomized clinical trial

Sleep deficiency and undiagnosed or untreated sleep disorders are pervasive among employed adults, yet often ignored in the context of workplace health promotion programs among employers. Smartphone applications (app) are a promising, scalable approach to improving sleep among employees. In this randomized clinical trial, we evaluate the dayzz app, a personalized sleep training program that promotes healthy sleep and sleep disorders awareness through personalized, comprehensive sleep improvement solutions. In a sample of daytime employees affiliated with a large healthcare organization, we evaluated the dayzz app in a parallel-group, randomized, waitlist control trial. Participants were randomly assigned to either use the dayzz app throughout the study or the waitlist control condition where they would receive the dayzz app at the end of the study period. We collected data on employee sleep (e.g., sleep duration, sleep health behavioral changes); workplace outcomes (e.g., employee presenteeism, absenteeism, and performance); and healthcare utilization (e.g., mental health, ambulatory visits, and emergency room visits), throughout the study. Results show that those assigned to the experimental condition exhibited an increase in healthy sleep behaviors; an increase in sleep duration; a trend toward a more regular sleep schedule; and a significant increase in overall sleep quality. Regarding workplace outcomes, results showed that those in the experimental condition also demonstrated a trend toward less absenteeism and significantly lower presenteeism; and those in the experimental condition reported lower healthcare utilization. Results from this randomized clinical trial demonstrate that a workplace sleep wellness program can be beneficial to both the employee and employer.
The energy park concept

In recent years the concept of clustering large amounts of electrical generating capacity (10–50 thousand megawatts) into one geographic site has been suggested as an alternative to dispersed siting of electric power plants. Such large concentrations of power generation have been called energy parks or energy centers. Interest in this energy park concept has been generated by increasing concern over environmental protection and land use. These concerns have made dispersed siting of power plants much more difficult and time consuming to undertake. As a result, utilities have been prompted to consider seriously the energy park concept as a method for meeting future electric power demands, particularly when they are forced to consider sites that are long distances from primary load centers.
SECTION 6.8 – Multiaxial Fatigue Damage Criteria

This chapter provides an overview of multiaxial fatigue damage criteria. There are two multiaxial fatigue damage criteria that are needed for metals. One criterion is used for ductile materials that fail by the nucleation and growth of shear microcracks. A second criterion is used for higher-strength materials where failure is governed by the nucleation and growth of model tensile cracks. The models provide an estimate of the fatigue life for complex multiaxial loading. The damage model is interpreted as the cyclic shear strain modified by the normal stress to include the crack closure effects. Material constants are obtained from standard low-cycle fatigue tests of the material. For a complex stress state the planes experiencing the largest amplitudes of shear and normal strains is determined from the stress and strain tensors. Once these planes are identified, the normal stresses are determined. Fatigue lives can be estimated from both models. Frequently, the expected mode of damage, tensile or shear is not known. In this case, the lower of the two estimates is often used.
Visual stabilization of posture in retinitis pigmentosa and in artificially restricted visual fields.

Purpose To investigate the relationship between retinitis pigmentosa (RP) progression and the visual contribution to posture stabilization; to examine the extent to which visual-field diameter affects the visual contribution to posture stabilization. Methods Posture information was recorded in 35 subjects with well-characterized RP and in 20 subjects with normal vision. Data were collected as each subject stood in a dark environment and as each subject viewed a stationary visual display. In both conditions, somatosensory feedback was concurrently altered. Data were also collected on 10 additional subjects with normal vision wearing field-restricting goggles (visual-field diameters ranged from 26.5 down to 6 degrees). Results RP progression is accompanied by a steady decrease of the visual stabilization of posture, from normal values at the onset of the disease to the absence of visual stabilization and, eventually, to visual destabilization of posture. Decreasing visual field diameter in the subject with normal vision resulted in a linear decrease of the visual stabilization of posture. However, subjects with RP with comparable visual-field loss showed significantly lower visual stabilization than normal subjects with artificially restricted fields. Moreover, subjects with normal vision with restricted visual fields as small as 6 degrees failed to show visual destabilization of posture. Conclusions Most likely, the additional reduction in the visual stabilization of posture shown in subjects with RP, as well as the visual destabilizing effect manifest in the late stages of RP, is caused by anomalous processing of visual information in the remaining visual field.
On a class of conformal metrics.

Last year when I was preparing for course lectures the work of Ahlfors [1] which establishes that the Bloch constant is at least as large as it appeared to me that the resources of the theory of metrics of negative curvature offered rich possibilities from a function-theoretic point of view. The parallelism between certain properties of subharmonic functions and those of the metrics introduced by Ahlfors [1] is so striking that we are led to ask whether one can introduce a class of metrics including the metrics of Ahlfors for which not only does a Schwarz-Pick-Ahlfors lemma hold, but also requirements of differentiability disappear, as in the modern theory of subharmonic functions.
Persistent activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase by regulated proteolysis suggests a neuron-specific function of the ubiquitin system in Aplysia

In response to the facilitating neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT), the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) acquires a special mnemonic characteristic in Aplysia sensory neurons. PKA becomes persistently activated at basal cAMP concentrations owing to a decreased regulatory (R) to catalytic (C) subunit ratio. We previously implicated ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis in this selective loss of R. Here we show that ubiquitin (Ub), Ub-conjugates and proteasomes are present in cell bodies, axon, neuropil and nerve terminals of Aplysia neurons. Because R subunits are not decreased in muscle exposed to 5-HT, comparison of the two tissues provides a tractable approach to determine how the Ub pathway is regulated. We compared the structure of M1, the muscle-specific R isoform, to that of N4, a major neuronal R isoform, to rule out the possibility that the differences in their stability result from differences in structure. We present evidence that N4 and M1 are encoded by identical transcripts; they also behave similarly as protein substrates for the Ub pathway in extracts of the two tissues. Nervous tissue contains 20-times more free Ub, but we present evidence that the susceptibility of R subunits to degradation in neurons relative to muscle results from the greater capacity of neurons to degrade ubiquitinated proteins through the proteasome. Thus, factors that regulate the activity of proteasomes could underlie the enhanced degradation of R subunits in long-term sensitization.
Intracellular Localization of Nigeran in the Wall of Aspergillus aculeatus by Autoradiography with the Electron Microscope

Aspergillus aculeatus mycelium was incubated with [(3)H]glucose under conditions that promote nigeran (mycodextran) accumulation (low pH, in the absence of nitrogen). Autoradiography revealed that essentially all the (3)H was localized around the hyphal perimeter. The results strongly support a hyphal wall location for nigeran.
Molecular Weights of DNA from Bacteriophages T5, T5st(0), BF23, and BF23st(4)

Abstract The DNA molecular weights were determined by calibrated electron microscopy. The results (in units of 106) are: for T5, 77.4 ± 2.4; T5st(0), 72.4 ± 1.9; BF23, 76.7 ± 2.3; and BF23st(4), 71.4 ± 1.7.
Chemotaxis of the marine bacterium Vibrio furnissii to sugars. A potential mechanism for initiating the chitin catabolic cascade

Immense quantities of chitin are catabolized by marine bacteria, and this process involves at least three signal transduction systems in Vibrio furnissii. One system, chemotaxis to chitin oligosaccharides, is probably used to colonize chitin particles. But how do the first few cells find this highly insoluble polysaccharide? The following hypothesis is proposed to answer this question: the bacteria respond to soluble chemo-attractants in exudates from injured organisms. Virtually all chitin-producing organisms also contain glucose and/or trehalose, often at high concentrations such as trehalose in insect hemolymph. Chemotaxis of V. furnissii was therefore studied with a variety of sugars. Fructose, ribose, and glycerol are catabolites but not attractants. The cells exhibit weak constitutive taxis to Glc and GlcNAc. After induction, they show a weak response to galactose but are strongly attracted to the following substrates of the phosphoenolpyruvate:glycose phosphotransferase system (PTS): GlcNAc, trehalose, glucose, sucrose, mannose, and mannitol. There is a rough qualitative but no quantitative correlation between the rate of phosphorylation and the chemotactic response to PTS sugars. Trehalose is especially noteworthy because it is phosphorylated at a very rapid rate by uninduced cells but is not an attractant until the cells are induced. We suggest that unidentified inducible factors link the PTS to chemotaxis.
A new link between pesticides and Parkinson's disease.

Environmental factors are thought to be an important cause of Parkinson's disease. A new study shows that rats chronically treated with the mitochondrial inhibitor rotenone, a common pesticide, develop neuropathological and behavioral symptoms of Parkinsonism.
Diagrammatic representation of data types and data manipulations in a combined data- and control-flow language

Many visual languages only support data of predefined types. For fine-grain general-purpose visual languages based on the data-flow paradigm, there is the need to describe various data structures that will represent the structure of the data that flows in various parts of a graph. In this paper we describe our design of various static and dynamic data structure constructs, a visual formalism to describe data types and a visual representation of manipulations of data structures.
Liposomes containing 3H-actinomycin D. differential tissue distribution by varying the mode of drug incorporation.

Abstract Actinomycin D was encapsulated within liposomes in two different ways. When the drug was incorporated in the lipid phase, as part of the membrane bi-layers of the liposomes, they were called "lipid phase liposomes" (LPL); when the drug was incorporated in the aqueous solution in the center and between the lipid bi-layers of the liposomes, they were called "aqueous phase liposomes" (APL). Distributions of 3 H-actinomycin D in tissues of mice were determined from 15 minutes to 48 hours after a single intravenous injection of either LPL, APL, or nonencapsulated actinomycin D. Marked differences in tissue distribution were shown. 3 H-actinomycin D incorporated in LPL showed high concentrations in the lungs and low concentrations in the intestinal wall; whereas the reverse was found with APL. The spleen and bone marrow of mice receiving LPL showed an increase in 3 H-radioactivity between 3 and 24 hr after injection that was closely correlated with a concomitant decrease in activity in the liver and lungs. Mice receiving either APL or nonencapsulated actinomycin D had higher levels of the drug in the blood, kidneys and intestinal wall than did mice receiving LPL. In vitro studies showed that 3 H-actinomycin D leaked out from APL significantly faster than that from LPL. We have demonstrated that the tissue distribution of a drug can be modified not only by liposome encapsulation, but also by varying the way of incorporating the drug within liposomes, and thereby altering the surface properties. The two forms of incorporating drugs within liposomes are potentially useful to direct antitumor agents to specific tumor bearing tissues.
COMPUTER INTRUSION DETECTION WITH CLASSIFICATION AND ANOMALY DETECTION, USING SVMs

This paper describes experiences and results applying Support Vector Machine (SVM) to a Computer Intrusion Detection (CID) dataset. First, issues in supervised classification are discussed, then the incorporation of anomaly detection enhancing the modeling and prediction of cyber-attacks. SVM methods are seen as competitive with benchmark methods and other studies, and are used as a standard for the anomaly detection investigation. The anomaly detection approaches compare one class SVMs with a thresholded Mahalanobis distance to define support regions. Results compare the performance of the methods and investigate joint performance of classification and anomaly detection. The dataset used is the DARPA/KDD-99 publicly available dataset of features from network packets, classified into nonattack and four-attack categories.
Hydrogenation of [7]paracyclophane. Formation of a hyperstable bridgehead olefin

Abstract Catalytic hydrogenation of [7]paracyclophane results in absorption of only two moles of hydrogen to give the olefin 1. Resistance to further hydrogenation and MM2 calculations show that 1 is a member of the class of hyperstable olefins. The structure of 1 is secured by both spectroscopic and chemical means.
The impact of Deepwater Horizon oil spill on petroleum hydrocarbons in surface waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico

Abstract This study evaluated impacts of the BP Deepwater Horizon ( DWH ) oil spill on petroleum hydrocarbons in surface waters of the Louisiana continental shelf in northern Gulf of Mexico. Surface water (~top 5 cm) without visible oil was collected from three cruises in May 2010 during the oil spill, August 2010 after the well was capped, and May 2011 one year after the spill. Concentrations of total dissolved n -alkanes (C 9 –C 35 ) in surface seawater were more than an order of magnitude higher in May 2010 than August 2010 and May 2011, indicating contamination by the DWH oil spill. This conclusion was further supported by more abundant smaller n -alkanes (C 9 –C 13 ), together with pristane and phytane, in May than August 2010 samples. In contrast, even carbon-numbered dissolved n -alkanes (C 14 –C 20 ) dominated the May 2011 samples, and this distribution pattern of dissolved n -alkanes is the first documentation for water samples in the northern Gulf of Mexico. However, this pattern was not observed in May 2011 suspended particles except for Sta. OSS. This decoupling between dissolved and particle compositions suggests that either these even carbon-numbered n -alkanes originated from bacteria rather than algae, or that the alkanes in the shelf were transported from elsewhere. Concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in suspended particles were 5 times higher on average in May 2010 (83–252 ng L −1 ) than May 2011 (7.2–83 ng L −1 ), also indicating contamination by the DWH oil spill. Application of a biomarker ratio of 17α(H),21β(H)-30-norhopane over 17α(H),21β(H)-hopane confirmed that suspended particles from at least two stations were contaminated by the DWH oil spill in May 2010. Taken together, these results showed that surface waters of the sampling area in May 2010 were contaminated by the oil spill, but also that rapid weathering and/or physical dilution quickly reduced hydrocarbon levels by August 2010.
Determine antenna factors at different heights by standard site method with calculable dipole antenna

In this paper, a calculable dipole antenna is introduced into the conventional standard site method (SSM) to overcome the problem caused by the variation in the antenna factors for an antenna located at different heights above a conducting ground plane and to improve the accuracy of the antenna measurement. The variation of antenna factors at different heights is calculated and adopted in the antenna measurement to minimize the ground-plane effect. Measurement results show the improvement in the accuracy of antenna factors obtained by the SSM with a calculated dipole antenna.
Prescribing Recommendations For Interferon-Beta In Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common cause of nontraumatic disability affecting young adults in temperate climates. Based on the concept of MS as a tissue-specific autoimmune disease, immunosuppression and immunomodulation have been the mainstays of therapeutic strategies. The rationale for using interferons (IFNs) to treat MS relies primarily on their immunoregulatory effects. Two phase III randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trials independently documented clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evidence for the efficacy of IFNβ using similar but distinct products. As a result of these clinical studies, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved recombinant IFNβ-1b and, subsequently, recombinant IFNβ-1a for relapsing-remitting MS. IFNβ-1b is currently approved for use in almost all countries around the world, while IFNβ-1a has gained approval in Europe and Israel.
ISOLATION OF IMMUNOLOGICALLY COMPETENT LYMPHOCYTES FROM SENSITIZED MOUSE SPLEENS.

SummaryHighly purified suspensions of living, immunologically competent lymphocytes were obtained from splenic tissue of mice by destroying the red blood cells with hypotonic saline and separating ...
Compensation for spill-in and spill-out partial volume effects in cardiac PET imaging.

Background Partial volume effects (PVEs) in PET imaging result in incorrect regional activity estimates due to both spill-out and spill-in from activity in neighboring regions. It is important to compensate for both effects to achieve accurate quantification. In this study, an image-based partial volume compensation (PVC) method was developed and validated for cardiac PET.
The use of model-derived and observed precipitation in long-term sulfur concentration and deposition modeling

Abstract As a continuation of a previous study for the winter of 1987, the Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory Model (HY-SPLIT) with Atmospheric Chemistry Including Deposition (ACID) is run for each season of 1989. Two simulations for each season are run; one using forecast precipitation data from the Nested Grid Model (NGM), and the other using gridded measured precipitation data from observing stations of the National Weather Service (NWS). Modeled seasonal and annual sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) and sulfate (SO 4 2− ) concentrations in air and SO 4 2− wet deposition over the eastern United States are compared with observed values. The model does well predicting the seasonal and annual spatial pattern of SO 2 and SO 4 2− concentrations in air, and of SO 4 2− wet deposition when using NWS precipitation. In all but the spring season, the model tends to overpredict SO 2 concentration in air, but is well within a factor of 2; mean relative errors (MREs) are less than 20%. SO 4 2− concentration in air is slightly overpredicted during the fall and winter and underpredicted during the spring and summer; MREs are less than 12%. SO 4 2− wet deposition is underpredicted for all seasons; MREs are less than 30%. The model-predicted and measured values of the previous study are well within the scatter of the data in this study. Using NGM precipitation does not significantly affect the results for the 1989 study period. Although the NGM does overpredict the precipitation during the summer months along the Gulf states, thereby increasing slightly the SO 4 2− wet deposition and further underpredicting the modeled SO 4 2− air concentration, the differences are small enough to suggest that the use of model-forecast precipitation can be an adequate substitute for precipitation observations over a seasonal or longer period.
Root rot of onion caused byPythium irregulare andPythium coloratum

Pythium irregulare andPythium coloratum were isolated consistently from roots of onion plants exhibiting root rot and associated foliar symptoms in fields located in Organe County, NY.P. coloratum predominated following extremely wet weather in 1984 and 1986, whileP. irregulare was prevalent following moderately wet weather in 1985. Both species produced root rot symptoms similar to field symptoms when 12 week old onion plants (cv Downing Yellow Globe) were inoculated and incubated in a growth chamber at 14°C for 10 days. This is the first report ofP. irregulare andP. coloratum as causes of root rot of onion.
Blood donor‐, apheresis‐, and transfusion‐related activities: results of the 1991 American Association of Blood Banks Institutional Membership Questionnaire

Approximately 2154 regional blood centers and hospital-based blood banks and transfusion services responded to the 1991 American Association of Blood Banks Institutional Membership Questionnaire that elicited data from 1990. Information from 2144 institutions was considered valid. Questionnaire topics were donor blood collections, hemapheresis, perioperative cell salvage, component usage, and transfusion-associated diseases. Institutional members reported collecting 9.3 million units, of which 90.9 percent were for allogeneic use in the community, 6.0 percent were for autologous use, and 3.1 percent were directed donations. The percentage of directed-donor units that were crossed over for allogeneic use (51%) was greater than the percentage of units transfused to the designated patient (49%). Only 12.5 percent of institutions reported obtaining specific consent for transfusion. Of the 15.4 million transfused blood components, 8.5 million were red cells, 4.1 million were platelets, 1.8 million were fresh-frozen plasma, and 0.9 million were cryoprecipitate. There were 1263 reported cases of transfusion-associated hepatitis. Approximately 44 percent of the patients who were tested proved positive for hepatitis B surface antigen, and 80 percent of the patients who were tested proved positive for antibody to hepatitis C. The questionnaire's aggregate results can be used to assess current patterns of blood donation and transfusion activities.
Self-Consistent Occupation Probabilities in Brueckner-Hartree-Fock Calculations

A method is developed for evaluating self-consistent occupation probabilities in Brueckner-Hartree-Fock calculations of finite nuclei. The method does not involve explicitly the overlaps of defect wave functions but is based instead on the energy dependence of the $G$ matrix elements. Results are presented for $^{16}\mathrm{O}$ using a $G$ matrix which shifts only the low-lying intermediate-particle spectrum.
Smad2-Dependent Downregulation of miR-30 Is Required for TGF-β-Induced Apoptosis in Podocytes

Transforming growth factors beta (TGF-β) are multi-functional cytokines capable of inducing apoptosis in epithelial cells, including glomerular podocytes. We and others have previously shown that podocyte-selective genetic deletion of the microRNA (miR)-processing enzyme, Dicer, caused glomerulosclerosis that was associated with podocyte apoptosis, and the miR-30 family was implicated in the process. Here, we report that apoptosis-associated genes were highly enriched among the predicted targets of miR-30 when compared with randomly selected miRs (26% vs. 4.5 ± 2.1%) or with the known TGF-β-regulated miR-192 (6%), miR-216a (5.1%), and miR-217 (0%). miR-30 family members were abundantly expressed in podocytes in normal mice but were downregulated in albumin/TGF-β transgenic mice with podocyte apoptosis and glomerulosclerosis. In vitro, TGF-β downregulated miR-30s in wildtype and Smad3-deficient, but not Smad2- or Smad2/Smad3-deficient, podocytes. The TGF-β-induced activation of caspase 3 and an increase in TUNEL-positive nuclei were significantly inhibited by the lentivirus-mediated overexpression of miR-30d, but not by a scrambled control miR, in podocytes. TGF-β stimulated the phosphorylation of pro-apoptotic p53 in podocytes with lentiviral expression of a scrambled miR, but not in podocytes expressing miR-30d. In contrast, miR-30d had no effect on the phosphorylation of pro-apoptotic p38 MAP kinase induced by TGF-β. Thus, we report that Smad2-dependent inhibition of miR-30s in podocytes is required for the activation of p53 and the induction of apoptosis by TGF-β. These results demonstrate a novel functional role for miR-30 in podocyte survival and indicate that the loss of miR-30 survival signaling is a novel and specific mechanism of TGF-β-induced podocyte apoptosis during glomerulosclerosis. We propose the therapeutic replacement of miR-30 as a novel strategy to prevent the podocyte apoptosis that is characteristic of progressive glomerular diseases.
Alkylsilazalanes. Reaction of trimethylaluminium with silazanes: Synthesis and molecular structure of [Al(CH3)2]2[C12H32N2Si4] and [Al(CH3)2]2[C8H28N2Si4]

Abstract The crystalline product [Al(CH3)2]2[C12H32N2Si4] (I), obtained from reaction of 2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-2,5-disila-1-azacyclopentane with trimethylaluminium in a heptane-chlorobenzene mixture, crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pbca (No. 61) with unit-cell parameters a = 15.393(3), b = 12.987(2), c = 13.189(4) A, V = 2637.4(2) A3 and Dc = 1.06 g cm−3 for Z = 4. Full-matrix least-squares refinement based on 1549 observed reflections with intensities in the range 4.00 1 (No. 2) with unit-cell parameters a = 9.354(2), b = 14.670(3), c = 17.536(4) A, α = 91.24(2), β = 90.63(2), γ = 99.46(2)°, V = 2372.7(9) A3 and Dc = 1.06 g cm−3 for Z = 4. Full-matrix least-squares refinement based upon 5033 observed reflections with intensities in the range 3.50
Long-term contracts, imperfect information, and monetary policy

Abstract This paper considers the implications of imperfect information for monetary policy in a model with rational expectations and long-term contracts. The source of uncertainty is the inability of the monetary authority and private agents to directly observe systematic aggregate real and nominal disturbances. Imperfect information introduces the possibility of persistence in the departure of output from the natural level which lasts well beyond the wage setting interval, because the filtering process that agents use to estimate the disturbances leads to serially correlated errors in the wage setting process. It also implies that a monetary feedback rule can affect output only if it is tied to unexpected movements in the information variables. The policy issue posed is related to Friedman's original defense of the constant money growth rule, which emphasized uncertainty about the system rather than the neutrality of systematic monetary rules.
A direct algorithm for computing 2-D AR power spectrum estimates

An algorithm for computing the parameters in a 2-D autoregressive spectral estimate without prior estimation of the correlation is described. The algorithm utilizes the multichannel form of the Burg algorithm and the relation between multichannel and 2-D AR modeling. The procedure permits computation of the spectral matrix for several channels of 2-D data; models with support in different quadrants are combined to form the spectral estimate. >
High Volume and Outcome After Liver Resection: Surgeon or Center?

In a case controlled analysis, we attempted to determine if the volume–survival benefit persists in liver resection (LR) after eliminating differences in background characteristics. Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), we identified all LR (n = 2,949) with available surgeon/hospital identifiers performed from 1998–2005. Propensity scoring adjusted for background characteristics. Volume cut-points were selected to create equal groups. A logistic regression for mortality was then performed with these matched groups. At high volume (HV) hospitals, patients (n = 1423) were more often older, white, private insurance holders, elective admissions, carriers of a malignant diagnosis, and high income residents (p < 0.05). Propensity matching eliminated differences in background characteristics. Adjusted in-hospital mortality was significantly lower in the HV group (2.6% vs. 4.8%, p = 0.02). Logistic regression found that private insurance and elective admission type decreased mortality; preoperative comorbidity increased mortality. Only LR performed by HV surgeons at HV centers was independently associated with improved in-hospital mortality (HR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.22–0.83). A socioeconomic bias may exist at HV centers. When these factors are accounted for and adjusted, center volume does not appear to influence in-hospital mortality unless LR is performed by HV surgeons at HV centers.
Uncertainty propagation of transmissibility-based structural health monitoring features

Features derived from estimations of transmissibility (output-to-output response) are now widely used in vibration-based structural health monitoring (SHM) applications. However, for realistic conditions, transmissibility measurements are always subject to environmental, operational and measurement variability, and the uncertainty will propagate through to any features derived from it, leading to misinterpretation and false alarms. This paper proposes a statistical model that quantifies that uncertainty so that confidence intervals on feature estimates are possible, leading to reduced false alarms and the possibility of a minimum detection performance calculation. The uncertainty quantification model is validated via a clamped plate structure, and for a stricter validation requirement, additive noise is contaminated to the lab measurements to simulate more realistic in-situ conditions. A good consistency is observed between the proposed statistical model and real test results, and leads to promising applications for structural health monitoring with quantified uncertainty.
Frequency of mediastinal lymph node metastases in patients undergoing EUS evaluation of pancreaticobiliary masses.

Abstract Background: Mediastinal lymph node metastases have rarely been reported in patients with pancreatic cancer. Our aim was to determine the frequency of mediastinal lymph node metastases in patients with pancreaticobiliary masses by using EUS-guided fine needle aspiration. Methods: Sixty-six consecutive patients with pancreatobiliary masses were evaluated on EUS for the presence of mediastinal lymph node metastases. All masses were staged by commonly used EUS criteria by using sector scanning echoendoscopes. Mediastinal lymph nodes with EUS features that suggested malignancy were aspirated. Results: Of the 66 patients (mean age 65.6 years; 38 men), 4 had biliary masses, 5 had lesions of the major duodenal papilla, and 57 had pancreatic masses. Eleven patients (10 pancreatic masses, 1 biliary mass) had enlarged mediastinal lymph node (12-30 mm) on EUS; in 2 patients these had a benign appearance and were not aspirated. Nine patients underwent EUS-guided fine needle aspiration: in 1 the cytology was inconclusive (patient subsequently had a negative Whipple resection); in 4 the mediastinal lymph node cytology was benign; the remaining 4 patients had adenocarcinoma cells in the aspirate from mediastinal lymph node. These 4 pancreatic tumors were staged by EUS as T2N1M1 (1), as T4N0M1 (2, one later found to also have a lung mass), and T4N1M1 (1). Conclusion: Enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes were found on EUS in 16.6% (95% CI [7.7%, 25.6%]) of patients with pancreatobiliary masses and in 17.5% (95% CI [7.6%, 27.4%]) of patients with pancreatic masses. The frequency of mediastinal lymph node metastases in pancreatobiliary masses was 6.1% (95% CI [0.34%, 11.9%]) and in pancreatic masses 7.0% (95% CI [0.4%, 13.6%]). Routine EUS evaluation of the mediastinum in patients with pancreatic masses is warranted. (Gastrointest Endosc 2001;54:331-5.)
Overcoming problems: the perceived importance of willpower and other contributors

The present investigation examined the beliefs of nonprofessionals (N =225) concerning the importance of 20 contributors toward overcoming six problems. Factor analyses of importance ratings revealed similar patterns of covariation for each of the problems. The following four factors were identified: Social Consequences, Inner Control, Understanding, and a Positive Outlook-Instrumental Approach. The importance of individual contributors and the factors varied across problems, with those variables assessing inner control showing the greatest variability. Discussion centered on the distinction between the rated importance of self-reliance and the decision to seek help, and also considered the degree to which the beliefs of nonprofessionals would be incongruent with those of the professional provider.
Endogenous carbon monoxide production in disease

Carbon monoxide (CO) in tissues and cells can originate from inhalation of CO or endogenously. Endogenous production, carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) formation, and exhaled CO levels are influenced by physiological factors, including disease. It is suggested that endogenous CO production can be used as a biomarker for oxidative and inflammatory processes. Also, endogenous CO can contribute to increased body burden of CO, which may both disrupt normal CO signaling cascades and increase the risk of CO toxicity.
Identification of a new gene (rat TM6P1) encoding a fasting-inducible, integral membrane protein with six transmembrane domains.

Abstract We describe the isolation of a new gene that encodes a membrane-integrated protein with six transmembrane domains, termed TM6P1. A 403-bp expressed sequence tag was isolated from fasted rat liver subtracted cDNA library, and its full-length cDNA is 1482 bp long. It contains an open reading frame of 816 bp and is predicted to encode a 271-amino acid protein with a deduced mass of 29 520 Da. A sequence homology search failed to show significant correspondence to any known protein in the databank. TM6P1 has six highly hydrophobic domains that are predicted to be transmembrane helices. Consistent with this prediction, the TM6P1-EGFP fusion protein was shown to localize to the plasma membrane. TM6P1 mRNA is widely expressed in rat tissues, with placenta and liver being the most abundant sites. Fasting increased TM6P1 mRNA nearly two-fold in liver. Taken together, our data suggest that TM6P1 is a unique new membrane integral protein that might have a function important during fasting-induced catabolism.
Diffusion and high resolution MRI of traumatic brain injury in rats: time course and correlation with histology.

Abstract Although widely employed in studies of cerebral ischemia, the use of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) for traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been both limited and primarily confined to the first few hours after injury. Therefore, the present study examined the temporal evolution of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal changes from hours to weeks after moderate fluid-percussion TBI in rats. We used isotropic diffusion along three directions and high resolution (HR) spin-echo pulse sequences to visualize DWI and HR MRI changes, respectively. Late changes were compared to histopathological and neurological outcome. A significant decrease (P
Rat thymic estrogen receptor--I. Preparation, location and physiochemical properties.

Specific, high affinity estrogen receptor has been shown to be present in the thymus tissue from both rat and bovine sources. The receptor is located in the reticuloepithelial portion of the organ in the rat and is not present in the T-lymphocyte fraction. The equilibrium association constant and concentration of specific estrogen receptor was determined in thymic cytosol by Scatchard plot analysis. The equilibrium association constant (KA) for bovine was 1.72 ± 0.12 × 109M−1 and for rat was 7.14 ± 0.52 × 109M−1. The receptor concentration for bovine thymus was 0.298 ± 0.03 pmol/g tissue and rat was 0.362 ± 0.017 pmol/g tissue or for bovine 6.57 ± 0.13 fmol/mg protein and for rat was 7.18 ± 0.61 fmol/mg protein. From competition assays, the receptor possessed specificity for estradiol and the estrogen-like compound diethylstilbestrol, but not for progesterone, testosterone, triamcinolone or cortisol, Dihydrotestosterone was shown to bind slightly (0.04% with respect to estradiol) and only at high concentrations (4 × 10−6M). By sucrose gradient centrifugation studies the thymic estrogen receptor was shown to have a sedimentation value of 7–8s in low salt or 3–4s in high salt buffer. A possible mechanism for estradiol suppression of the cell mediated immune system is discussed.
Collagen synthesis by cultured skin fibroblasts from siblings with hydroxylysine-deficient collagen.

Abstract It has been previously shown that dermis from subjects with hydroxylysine-deficient collagen contains approximately 5% of normal levels of hydroxylysine and sonicates of skin fibroblasts contain less than 15% of normal levels of collagen lysyl hydroxylase activity. However, cultures of dermal fibroblasts from two siblings with hydroxylysine-deficient collagen (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Type VI) compared to fibroblasts from normal subjects synthesize collagen containing approximately 50% of normal amounts of hydroxylysine. The lysyl hydroxylase deficient cultures synthesize both Type I and Type III collagen in the same proportion as control cultures. Both α1(I) and α2 chains are similarly reduced in hydroxylysine content. Collagen prolyl hydroxylation by normal and mutant cells is severely depressed without ascorbate but in all cultures collagen lysyl hydroxylation is the same with or without ascorbate supplementation. In mutant cells the rate of prolyl hydroxylation measured after release of inhibition by α,α′-dipyridyl is the same as in control cells. The rate of lysyl hydroxylation is reduced in mutant cells but only to approximately 50% of normal.
The effects of manganese on glutamate, dopamine and γ-aminobutyric acid regulation

Exposure to high levels of manganese (Mn) results in a neurological disorder, termed manganism, which shares a similar phenotype to Parkinson's disease due to the involvement of the basal ganglia circuitry in both. The initial symptoms of manganism are likely due to the involvement of the globus pallidus, a region rich in γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) projections, while those of Parkinson's disease are related to the degeneration of the substantia nigra, a dopaminergic nucleus. Additionally, it is known that glutamate regulation is affected by increases in brain Mn levels. As Mn predominantly accumulates in the basal ganglia, it potentially could affect the regulation and interactions of all three neurotransmitters. This review will focus on the circuitry of these neurotransmitters within the basal ganglia and address potential sites for, as well as the temporal relationship, between Mn exposure and changes in the levels of these neurotransmitters. While most research has focused on perturbations in the dopaminergic system, there is evidence to support that early consequences of manganism also include disturbances in GABA regulation as well as glutamatergic-related excitotoxicity. Finally, we suggest that current research focus on the interdependence of these basal ganglial neurochemicals, with a greater emphasis on the GABAergic and glutamatergic systems.
Processing of porous NiTi by spark plasma sintering method

Intermediate porosity (25%-40%) NiTi is processed by Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) method. In order to increase the porosity, the SPS chamber setup is modified. A pair of spacers is added to the chamber punch setup so that the pressure applied on the powder is minimized. As a result, the porosity is increased. TiH 2 powder is added as a pore-forming reagent to the element powder mixture for sintering. The decomposition of TiH 2 increases the porosity efficiently. Two kinds of heat treatments are applied to convert the porous NiTi to superelastic grade. One is homogenization followed by aging treatment, the other is aging treatment only. It is found that homogenization heat treatment reduces the porosity. Compressive testing under both room temperature and temperature above the austenite transformation finish temperature are conducted. Porous NiTi specimens perform ductility and show clear superelestic loop with high flow stress and strain.
CONFLuEnCE: Implementation and application design

Data streams have become pervasive and data production rates are increasing exponentially, driven by advances in technology, for example the proliferation of sensors, smart phones, and their applications. This fact effectuates an unprecedented opportunity to build real-time monitoring and analytics applications, which when used collaboratively and interactively, will provide insights to every aspect of our environment, both in the business and scientific domains. In our previous work, we have identified the need for workflow management systems which are capable of orchestrating the processing of multiple heterogeneous data streams, while enabling their users to interact collaboratively with the workflows in real time. In this paper, we describe CONFLuEnCE (CONtinuous workFLow ExeCution Engine), which is an implementation of our continuous workflow model. CONFLuEnCE is built on top of Kepler, an existing workflow management system, by fusing stream semantics and stream processing methods as another computational domain. Furthermore, we explicate our experiences in designing and implementing real-life business and scientific continuous workflow monitoring applications, which attest to the ease of use and applicability of our system.
Impact of Correlated Distributed Generation on Information Aggregation in Smart Grid

Real-time control of a smart grid with renewable energy based generations requires accurate state estimates, that is typically based on measurements aggregated from smart meters. However, the amount of data/measurements increases with the scale of the physical grid, posing a significant stress on both the communication infrastructure as well as data processing control centers. This paper first investigates the effect of geographical footprint of distributed generation (DG) on the voltage states of a smart distribution system. We demonstrate that the strong coupling of the physical power system results in estimated voltage phasors exhibiting a correlation structure that allows for compressed measurements. Specifically, by exploiting principles of 1D and 2D compressed sensing, we illustrate the effectiveness of voltage estimation with significantly low number of random spatial, temporal as well as spatio-temporal power measurements. Results demonstrate the importance of accounting for correlation in information aggregation in smart grids.
In Situ Thickness Determination of Adsorbed Layers of Poly(2-Vinylpyridine)−Polystyrene Diblock Copolymers by Ellipsometry

To gain more insight into the process of formation of adsorbed layers of diblock copolymers, ellipsometry was used to monitor in situ the thickness and adsorbed amount of a series of polystyrene-b-poly(2-vinylpyridine) diblock copolymers adsorbed on silicon from toluene. First, it is demonstrated that ellipsometry can be sensitive to both the zeroth (Γ0) and first (Γ1) moments of the interfacial density profiles of the PS/PVP layers, providing sufficient information to measure the thickness 2Γ1/Γ0 at each stage of the adsorption process. Second, it is found that in the early stages of layer formation, at the point where adsorbed chains are forced to laterally overlap, the thickness of the PS/PVP layers is equal to approximately 2.2Rg. As the adsorbed amount surpasses approximately twice this surface density, the thickness grows as the layer becomes progressively more crowded. In this growth regime, the dependence of the thickness on the adsorbed amount makes a transition to a one-third power-law at the hi...
Climatic anomalies in the tropical pacific ocean and corn yields in the United States.

The association between climatic anomalies in the tropical Pacific Ocean, often called El Nino events, and annual corn production in the United States was investigated. Temperature and atmospheric pressure in parts of the United States have been correlated with El Nino events. This research suggests that in years in which an El Nino event causes surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific to become warmer than normal, there is a higher probability of an above-average corn crop in the United States. For years when sea surface temperatures are average or cool, no significant association is observed.
Dark-line atomic resonances in submillimeter structures

We present measurements of dark-line resonances excited in cesium atoms confined in submillimeter cells with a buffer gas. The width and contrast of the resonances were measured for cell lengths as low as 100 mm. The measured atomic Q factors are reduced in small cells because of frequent collisions of atoms with the cell walls. However, the contrast of coherent population trapping resonances measured in the small cells is similar in magnitude to that obtained in centimeter-sized cells, but substantially more laser intensity is needed to excite the resonance fully when increased buffer-gas pressure is used. The effect of the higher intensity on the linewidth is reduced because the intensity broadening rate decreases with buffer-gas pressure. OCIS codes: 020.1670, 300.6260. Compact frequency references have become increasingly important for military 1 and civilian 2 applications in recent years. For many applications in the f ield of navigation (e.g., global positioning systems) and communication systems, inexpensive miniature references with frequency stabilities in the 10 211 range at integration times approaching one day would be of great advantage. It has been predicted 3 that atomic clocks based on coherent population trapping (CPT) spectroscopy in millimeter-sized vapor cells might fulfill these requirements. It is well known that two phase-stable laser fields in resonance with a resonance line of the alkali atoms, and with a difference frequency equal to the hyperfine splitting, induce coherence between the two hyperfine ground
Targeting oncogenic Ras signaling in hematologic malignancies

Ras proteins are critical nodes in cellular signaling that integrate inputs from activated cell surface receptors and other stimuli to modulate cell fate through a complex network of effector pathways. Oncogenic RAS mutations are found in ∼ 25% of human cancers and are highly prevalent in hematopoietic malignancies. Because of their structural and biochemical properties, oncogenic Ras proteins are exceedingly difficult targets for rational drug discovery, and no mechanism-based therapies exist for cancers with RAS mutations. This article reviews the properties of normal and oncogenic Ras proteins, the prevalence and likely pathogenic role of NRAS, KRAS, and NF1 mutations in hematopoietic malignancies, relevant animal models of these cancers, and implications for drug discovery. Because hematologic malignancies are experimentally tractable, they are especially valuable platforms for addressing the fundamental question of how to reverse the adverse biochemical output of oncogenic Ras in cancer.