cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simple Photocatalysis Model for Photoefficiency Enhancement via Controlled, Periodic Illumination

Under steady illumination, aqueous phase photocatalytic oxidation reactions using titanium dioxide characteristically exhibit low quantum yields, i.e., the incident light is used inefficiently in the process. Sczechowski, Koval, and Noble1 reported substantially higher photoefficiencies (defined as reaction rate divided by incident photon rate) for TiO2 while using controlled, periodic illumination instead of continuous illumination in a flow system. We propose a transient kinetic model which suggests that rapid consumption of preadsorbed reactant inventory by photoproduced holes (or by their oxidation product, OH radical, etc.) accounts for such high photoefficiencies with periodic illumination and that the characteristically slow adsorption of additional oxygen and/or electron transfer to oxygen is responsible for low quantum yields observed under steady illumination. A model simulation provides trends of photoefficiency with variation of the length of light and dark periods which resemble the observed ...
lin-35 and lin-53, Two Genes that Antagonize a C. elegans Ras Pathway, Encode Proteins Similar to Rb and Its Binding Protein RbAp48

The Ras signaling pathway for vulval induction in Caenorhabditis elegans is antagonized by the activity of the synthetic multivulva (synMuv) genes, which define two functionally redundant pathways. We have characterized two genes in one of these pathways. lin-35 encodes a protein similar to the tumor suppressor Rb and the closely related proteins p107 and p130. lin-53 encodes a protein similar to RbAp48, a mammalian protein that binds Rb. In mammals, Rb and related proteins act as regulators of E2F transcription factors, and RbAp48 may act with such proteins as a transcriptional corepressor. We propose that LIN-35 and LIN-53 antagonize the Ras signaling pathway in C. elegans by repressing transcription in the vulval precursor cells of genes required for the expression of vulval cell fates.
Variations in Definitions of Mortality Have Little Influence on Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Performance Ratings

Objective To measure the influence of varying mortality time frames on performance rankings among regional neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in a large state. Study design We performed a cross-sectional data analysis of very low birth weight infants receiving care at 24 level 3 NICUs. We tested the effect of 4 definitions of mortality: (1) death between admission and end of birth hospitalization or up to 366 days; (2) death between 12 hours of age and the end of birth hospitalization or up to 366 days; (3) death between admission and 28 days; and (4) death between 12 hours of age and 28 days. NICUs were ranked by quantifying their deviation from risk-adjusted expected mortality and dividing them into 3 tiers: top 6, bottom 6, and in between. Results There was wide interinstitutional variation in risk-adjusted mortality for each definition (observed minus expected z -score range, −6.08 to 3.75). However, mortality-based NICU rankings and classification into performance tiers were very similar for all institutions in each of our time frames. Among all 4 definitions, NICU rank correlations were high (>0.91). Few NICUs changed relative to a neighboring tier with changes in definitions, and none changed by more than one tier. Conclusion The time frame used to ascertain mortality had little effect on comparative NICU performance.
Glass transition in poly(propylene glycol) networks

Difficulty in controlling and determining the structural parameters of polymer networks has hindered experimental studies on the glass transition in crosslinked polymers. A series of wellcharacterized networks of poly(propylene glycol) having narrow network chain-length distributions and average molecular weight between crosslinks Mc in the range of 425–3000 has been prepared. The glass transition temperatures Tg of these networks were found to vary linearly with M, consistent with several theoretical treatments. Both the physical crosslinking and the incorporation of crosslinking agent into the system (a “copolymer” effect) are shown to be responsible for increase in Tg upon crosslinking in this system. Varying the network chain-length distribution without changing Mc did not affect the Tg of the system. The chemical nature of the crosslinking agent, however, does affect the Tg of the network, particularly at high crosslink densities.
Interlaboratory variation of plasma total homocysteine measurements: results of three successive homocysteine proficiency testing surveys.

Background: Numerous studies have demonstrated that increased plasma total homocysteine (tHcy), whether measured after fasting or after a methionine load, is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular and thromboembolic diseases. However, little information is available regarding interlaboratory variation of tHcy measurements, especially at the increased tHcy concentrations observed after loading. Methods: We conducted three Homocysteine Proficiency Testing Surveys at 6-month intervals. Sets of five plasma pools with endogenous tHcy concentrations ranging from 5 to 48 μmol/L were sent to participants. We received 11, 23, and 17 responses in the first, second, and third surveys, respectively. The following methods were used by participating laboratories: fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA); HPLC with fluorescent detection (HPLC-FD), further subdivided by type of reduction/derivatization; HPLC with electrochemical detection (HPLC-ED); amino acid analyzer with ninhydrin detection; and liquid chromatography–electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Results: In surveys 1 and 2, no notable differences among the mean tHcy values obtained by the different methods performed were observed. In survey 3, tHcy values obtained by the FPIA method were significantly lower ( P 19 μmol/L). The mean among-method variations in surveys 1, 2, and 3 were 19%, 12%, and 9.6%, respectively. When results of the three surveys were combined, the mean among-method variation on 170 samples was 13%. Within-method variation was lowest for the FPIA method (4.4%), and ranged from 11–20% for HPLC methods. Conclusions: Various degrees of imprecision and lack of correlation among tHcy methods indicate that there is a need to improve analytical precision, decrease analytical difference, and standardize tHcy measurements among laboratories.
Radial distribution of plasma density in the positive column of the high-current stationary glow discharge

A model is presented which describes the radial distributions of the plasma density, electric potential, current density, and magnetic field in the positive column of a stationary glow discharge not in contact with the longitudinal walls of the discharge chamber. In this model, the compression of the positive column is provided by the azimuthal magnetic field created by the discharge current. The value of, the discharge current is obtained for the case where charged-particle diffusion is balanced by the actions of the radial electric field and the magnetic pinch effect. The radial distributions of plasma parameters are also calculated for the case of high-current glow discharges where charged-particle diffusion can be ignored. >
Joining massive high-dimensional datasets

We consider the problem of joining massive datasets. We propose two techniques for minimizing disk I/O cost of join operations for both spatial and sequence data. Our techniques optimize the available buffer space using a global view of the datasets. We build a boolean matrix on the pages of the given datasets using a lower bounding distance predictor. The marked entries of this matrix represent candidate page pairs to be joined. Our first technique joins the marked pages iteratively. Our second technique clusters the marked entries using rectangular dense regions that have minimal perimeter and fit into buffer. These clusters are then ordered so that the total number of common pages between consecutive clusters is maximal. The clusters are then read from disk and joined. Our experimental results on various real datasets show that our techniques are 2 to 86 times faster than the competing techniques for spatial datasets, and 13 to 133 times faster than the competing techniques for sequence datasets.
Wideband planar arrays with variable element sizes

The authors introduce new architectures that permit the operation of antenna arrays over several octaves. The concept is based on adding elements in between and of half the size of other elements in order to extend one octave in frequency. This wideband array with variable element size (WAVES) antennas was demonstrated by calculations and by measurements using Archimedian spirals as elements to maintain a simple clean main beam and principal plane sidelobes below about -10 dB over two octaves. Further measurements were performed on the test array in the lower frequency octave with all eight elements connected. Proper operation here relies on the fact that elements operating below their intended operating frequency have a high input impedance and would effectively not be active. >
2.0 W CW X-band GaInP/GaAs heterojunction bipolar transistor

We report 2.0 W CW (continuous wave) output power at 9.5 GHz with a GaInP/GaAs HBT having a total emitter area of 2/spl times/500 /spl mu/m/sup 2/. The collector-emitter bias dependence and the frequency dependence of the large-signal performance of both the 2/spl times/400 and 2/spl times/500 /spl mu/m/sup 2/ unit cells are described. The uniformity of the output power and power-added efficiency is also discussed. >
Stable and Efficient Li-Ion Battery Anodes Prepared from Polymer- Derived Silicon Oxycarbide−Carbon Nanotube Shell/Core Composites

We demonstrate the synthesis and electrochemical performance of polymer-derived silicon oxycarbide–carbon nanotube (SiOC–CNT) composites as a stable lithium intercalation material for secondary battery applications. Composite synthesis was achieved through controlled thermal decomposition of 1,3,5,7-tetramethyl 1,3,5,7-tetravinyl cyclotetrasiloxane (TTCS) precursor on carbon nanotubes surfaces that resulted in formation of shell/core type ceramic SiOC–CNT architecture. Li-ion battery anode (prepared at a loading of ∼1.0 mg cm–2) showed stable charge capacity of 686 mA h g–1 even after 40 cycles. The average Coulombic efficiency (excluding the first cycle loss) was 99.6%. Further, the post electrochemical imaging of the dissembled cells showed no apparent damage to the anode surface, highlighting improved chemical and mechanical stability of these composites. A similar trend was observed in the rate capability tests, where the SiOC–CNT anode (with 5 wt % loading in TTCS) again showed stable performance, co...
GridMapper: a tool for visualizing the behavior of large-scale distributed systems

Grid applications can combine the use of computation, storage, network, and other resources. These resources are often geographically distributed, adding to application complexity and thus the difficulty of understanding application performance. We present GridMapper, a tool for monitoring and visualizing the behavior of such distributed systems. GridMapper builds on basic mechanisms for registering, discovering, and accessing performance information sources, as well as for mapping from domain names to physical locations. The visualization system itself then supports the automatic layout of distributed sets of such sources and animation of their activities. We use a set of examples to illustrate how the system can provide valuable insights into the behavior and performance of a range of different applications.
Toward a Sociocultural Perspective on Means of Self-Destruction

: The relationship between an individual's intent to die and choice of method is examined. A sociocultural perspective is developed in an attempt to: explain the principle differences in choice of method by sex; to explain regional variations over time, by sex; and to differentiate between regional and/or cultural areas in their use of firearms as a means of self-destruction. The concept of availability is examined, and it is shown that it consists of, at least, two dimensions: the physical presence of a method, and the sociocultural acceptability of that method that results in the individual's selection of a particular method of self-destruction from a range of socially and culturally acceptable means of suicide. A concept of suicidal threshold is advanced as suggestive of a suicidal level that an individual must reach before a suicidal process develops and results in the person's self-inflicted death.
Statistical Features of Human Exons and Their Flanking Regions

To facilitate gene finding and for the investigation of human molecular genetics on a genome scale, we present a comprehensive survey on various statistical features of human exons. We first show that human exons with flanking genomic DNA sequences can be classified into 12 mutually exclusive categories. This classification could serve as a standard for future studies so that direct comparisons of results can be made. A database for eight categories (related to human genes in which coding regions are split by introns) was built from GenBank release 87.0 and analyzed by a number of methods to characterize statistical features of these sequences that may serve as controls or regulatory signals for gene expression. The statistical information compiled includes profiles of signals for transcription, splicing and translation, various compositional statistics and size distributions. Further analyses reveal novel correlations and constraints among different splicing features across an internal exon that are consistent with the Exon Definition model. This information is fundamental for a quantitative view of human gene organization, and should be invaluable for individual scientists to design human molecular genetics experiments.
Anterior and posterior cruciate ligament rupture after thermal treatment

This article reports the first published case of spontaneous, simultaneous rupture of both the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments 3 months after radiofrequency thermal probe treatment. The patient had no previous traumatic injury to the knee. Simultaneous rupture occurred under minimal physiologic load. Clinical, radiologic, and surgical findings are presented.
Simple models and measurements of magnetically induced heating effects in ferromagnetic fluids

This paper discusses several approximate analytic techniques for calculating power dissipation and forces in ferromagnetic fluids subjected to a spatially uniform but time varying magnetic field. This power dissipation results in a rising temperature in a ferrofluid sample. Several possible heating mechanisms in magnetic fluids have been investigated, including electromagnetic and hydrodynamic processes, and a simple method for prediction of power dissipation in a sample has been developed. Experimental results are given for an induction heating problem where it is shown that the power dissipation in a sample of ferrofluid cannot be explained by induction heating of the individual suspended particles. A simple viscous drag model is introduced which shows better agreement with measured power dissipation in the sample than an eddy current model for excitation frequencies under 1 MHz.
Hardware support for dynamic activation of compiler-directed computation reuse

Compiler-directed Computation Reuse (CCR) enhances program execution speed and efficiency by eliminating dynamic computation redundancy. In this approach, the compiler designates large program regions for potential reuse. During run time, the execution results of these reusable regions are recorded into hardware buffers for future reuse. Previous work shows that CCR can result in significant performance enhancements in general applications. A major limitation of the work is that the compiler relies on value profiling to identify reusable regions, making it difficult to deploy the scheme in many software production environments. This paper presents a new hardware model that alleviates the need for value profiling at compile time. The compiler is allowed to designate reusable regions that may prove to be inappropriate. The hardware mechanism monitors the dynamic behavior of compiler-designated regions and selectively activates the profitable ones at run time. Experimental results show that the proposed design makes more effective utilization of hardware buffer resources, achieves rapid employment of computation regions, and improves reuse accuracy, all of which promote more flexible compiler methods of identifying reusable computation regions.
Ontogeny of Diving and Feeding Behavior in Juvenile Seaturtles: Leatherback Seaturtles (Dermochelys coriacea L) and Green Seaturtles (Chelonia mydas L) in the Florida Current

Abstract We compared activity, diving behavior and response to prey by Dermochelys coriacea and Chelonia mydas during their first 8–10 weeks of development. We reared juveniles in the laboratory and, at two-week intervals, released them in the ocean for a brief trial. Each turtle towed a device used to measure its dive profile. All turtles swam throughout their trials, but D. coriacea swam more slowly than C. mydas. Dermochelys coriacea dives had V-shaped profiles and older turtles made longer and deeper (up to 18 m) dives than younger turtles. Chelonia mydas dives were usually shallow (<6 m) and consisted of three (V, S, and U) profiles. Older C. mydas made dives that were longer but only slightly deeper than those of younger turtles. Dermochelys coriacea fed throughout the water column exclusively on gelatinous prey Aurelia, ctenophores, and unidentified gelatinous eggs. Chelonia mydas fed near the surface on floating Thalassia and Sargassum or at shallow depths on ctenophores and unidentified gelatinou...
Extinction of growth hormone expression in somatic cell hybrids involves repression of the specific trans-activator GHF-1

Abstract Growth hormone (GH) expression in pituitary-derived cells has been attributed to the presence of a positive trans -activator, GHF-1, which binds to two sites on the GH promoter. Somatic cell hybridization of non-GH-expressing L cells with pituitary-derived GH3 cells usually results in extinction of GH production. While previous studies showed that extinction occurs at the level of GH transcription, the exact mechanism remained elusive. We therefore characterized two parental cell lines and three hybrids, two of which extinguish GH expression and one in which GH is reexpressed after loss of mouse chromosomal material. Using in vivo transfections, in vitro transcription, DNAase I footprints, and immunoblotting experiments, no evidence for a direct repressor of GH transcription was found. Rather, extinction of GH expression in fibroblast ⇔mes; pituitary hybrids was accompanied by loss of GHF-1 protein and mRNA expression, suggesting that extinction occurs by repression of this trans -activator.
Inhibitors of the mitotic kinesin spindle protein

Small molecule inhibitors of kinesin spindle protein (KSP), a kinesin essential to mitotic spindle formation, arrest cell cycle progression and the proliferation of tumour cells in vitro and in vivo, and thus demonstrate potential as novel antimitotic agents. Recently, KSP inhibitors of wide structural diversity have appeared in the patent literature. This review covers issued patents and patent applications that disclose novel small molecule inhibitors of the mitotic kinesin KSP that appeared between 2001 and July 2004.
Tactile Change Blindness in an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Control Task

One promising means of overcoming data overload in complex domains is through the introduction of tactile displays, which can offload the overburdened visual channel. However, the effectiveness of tactile displays depends on taking into consideration attentional systems and the limitations of the human perception. One important question is the extent to which the tactile modality is susceptible to change blindness, i.e. the failure to detect even large and expected changes when these changes coincide with a “transient” stimulus. Recent research has demonstrated an analog of change blindness in the tactile modality for pattern change recognition. The present study examined whether tactile change blindness, as well as crossmodal visual-tactile change blindness, occurs in the context of search and monitoring tasks, and whether it is affected by the addition of a secondary task. The application domain for this experiment was simulated Unmanned Aerial Vehicle control. The findings confirmed the occurrence of tactile change blindness; however, no crossmodal change blindness was observed and change detection was unaffected by the addition of a secondary search task. Overall, this research add to the knowledge base in multimodal and redundant information processing and can inform the design of multimodal displays for complex, data-rich domains.
Is Riboflavin Synthesized in the Feces of Fowl

Abstract SYNTHESIS of riboflavin in the fowl has never been reported, but the reports of synthesis of “B vitamins” in the digestive tracts of the cow (Bechdel, Honeywell, Dutcher, and Knutsen, 1928) and in the rat (Guerrant, Dutcher, and Tomey, 1935, and others) suggest that it may occur in other species. A study was made therefore to determine whether riboflavin is synthesized in the digestive tract (as was believed by the investigators cited) or after the feces were voided as seemed equally possible. Before answering this question it was first necessary to determine whether or not the feces of the fowl actually do contain more riboflavin than is present in the feed. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE The White, Leghorn cockerels, pullets, and chicks used in this study were kept in wire-bottomed cages or batteries in order to reduce the chance for coprophagy, and to facilitate the collection of feces from individuals. When fertile . . .
Colorado River Basin Development and its Potential Impact on Tribal Life

Economic development of the Colorado River Basin will be rapidly advanced by present plans for energy exploitation, mineral extraction and irrigation expansion using the gigantic reservoir behind Glen Canyon Dam (Lake Powell). It might be expected that tribal peoples within the Basin which include more than one-quarter of the Indians of the United States, would derive substantial benefits from these proposals.However, recent social trends throughout the area have led to almost universal separation of largely urban populations from immediate dependence on the adjacent natural resources. Both Indians and Whites have become dependent on service occupations related to the space-missile and electronics industries, recreation and tourism, all of which are located in or near the cities.Since a large portion of the resources to be developed are contained within Indian reservations, substantial amounts of wealth will be created. However, tribal corporations which are the counterparts of external corporate enterpri...
Human Rights as Metaphor for Political Community beyond the Nation State

One generally enjoys rights, if at all, then only as a member of a particular political community. The nation state’s territorial sovereignty precludes the possibility of human rights. I propose a ‘human rights state’ whose members seek the corresponding nation state’s embrace of human rights. It functions as a metaphor with ‘deontic power’, with each member carrying these deontic powers in a ‘human rights backpack’. Metaphorical thinking is more plausible than theology or metaphysics on the approach I adopt: social construction. Accordingly, all norms are human inventions and at best emerge through ongoing self-reflective politics: rejected or embraced on the basis of critical examination and justification. Creating justice begins with an act of imagination, envisioning better alternatives, and resisting taking for granted many aspects of the communities we are born into. Metaphorical thinking facilitates creating justice in this sense: limiting the sovereignty of the nation state to the extent necessary to allow for human rights.
Geometrical effects on hold-off voltage in polystyrene insulator

Research has shown that there are several methods by which higher flashover and breakdown voltages of electrical insulating materials can be achieved. While breakdown voltage is predominantly affected by the insulation bulk material, many factors contribute to the flashover performance of an insulator. Such includes material composition, operating environment, interface between current carrying conductor and the insulating medium, as well as micro scale defects on the surface of the insulator. Furthermore, the physical geometry of the insulating material has been identified as a critical factor that also affects the flashover performance. This research focuses on how geometric designs of polystyrene insulator samples affect the surface flashover characteristics and holdoff voltage in vacuum. Studies of similar polymers in literature have shown that a reduction in the electric field strength at the cathode triple junction reduces the primary electron emission at the cathode under high voltage stresses. Four groups of polystyrene shapes were studied and the analyses of the effects of the geometries are presented along with results from finite element analysis studies.
Perceiving graphical and pictorial information via touch and hearing

With the ever increasing availability of the Internet and electronic media rich in graphical and pictorial information - for communication, commerce, entertainment, art, education - it has been hard for the visually impaired community to keep up. We propose a non-invasive system that can be used to convey graphical and pictorial information via touch and hearing. The main idea is that the user actively explores a two-dimensional layout consisting of one or more objects on a touch screen with the finger while listening to auditory feedback. We have demonstrated the efficacy of the proposed approach in a range of tasks, from basic shape identification to perceiving a scene with several objects. The proposed approach is also expected to contribute to research in virtual reality, immersive environments, and medicine.
A Fear of Trying: Dysfunctional Conservatism:

As the American Psychoanalytic Association faces mounting external pressures that threaten its very survival, its leadership and members appear increasingly preoccupied with issues of internal governance and training standards. This inward gazing, though in keeping with analysts' personality and occupational traits, serves to obscure and defend against the anxieties associated with threats from the surround. Such maladaptive defensive activity contributes to organizational stagnation, dysfunctional conservatism, and a "fear of trying." Suggestions to combat this self-defeating behavior are offered.
Discharge Rating Equation and Hydraulic Characteristics of Standard Denil Fishways

This paper introduces a new equation to predict discharge capacity in the commonly used Denil fishway using water surface elevation in the upstream reservoir and fishway width and slope as the independent variables. A dimensionless discharge coefficient based only on the physical slope of the fishway is introduced. The discharge equation is based on flow physics, dimensional analysis, and experiments with three full-scale fishways of different sizes. Hydraulic characteristics of flow inside these fishways are discussed. Water velocities decreased by more than 50% and remained relatively unchanged in the fully developed flow downstream of the vena contracta region, near the upstream baffle where fish exit the fishway. Engineers and biologists need to be aware of this fact and ensure that fish can negotiate the vena contracta velocities rather than velocities within the developed flow region only. Discharge capacity was directly proportional to the fishway width and slope. The new equation is a design tool for engineers and field biologists, especially when designing a fishway based on flow availability in conjunction with the swimming capabilities of target fish species.
The dominance dilemma: Do women really prefer dominant mates?

Previous research has led to a widely accepted conclusion that heterosexual women prefer mates who are high in dominance. Three experiments designed to distinguish dominance from prestige and examine moderating contextual factors challenge this conclusion. College women at 2 U.S. universities evaluated hypothetical, potential mates described in written vignettes. Participants in Study 1 preferred a high-prestige to a high-dominance target. With dominance and prestige manipulated independently in Study 2, participants preferred high to low prestige but also preferred low to high dominance. Participants in Study 3 preferred high to low dominance, but only (a) when displayed in the context of an athletic competition and (b) in ratings of attractiveness and desirability as a short-term (vs. long-term) mate.
Measuring Brain Manganese and Iron Accumulation in Rats following 14 Weeks of Low-Dose Manganese Treatment Using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy and Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Chronic exposure to manganese (Mn) may lead to a movement disorder due to preferential Mn accumulation in the globus pallidus and other basal ganglia nuclei. Iron (Fe) deficiency also results in increased brain Mn levels, as well as dysregulation of other trace metals. The relationship between Mn and Fe transport has been attributed to the fact that both metals can be transported via the same molecular mechanisms. It is not known, however, whether brain Mn distribution patterns due to increased Mn exposure vs. Fe deficiency are the same, or whether Fe supplementation would reverse or inhibit Mn deposition. To address these questions, we utilized four distinct experimental populations. Three separate groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats on different diets (control diet [MnT], Fe deficient [FeD], or Fe supplemented [FeS]) were given weekly intravenous Mn injections (3 mg Mn/kg body mass) for 14 weeks, whereas control (CN) rats were fed the control diet and received sterile saline injections. At the conclusion of the study, both blood and brain Mn and Fe levels were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging. The data indicate that changes in dietary Fe levels (either increased or decreased) result in regionally specific increases in brain Mn levels compared with CN or MnT animals. Furthermore, there was no difference in either Fe or Mn accumulation between FeS or FeD animals. These data suggest that dietary Fe manipulation, whether increased or decreased, may contribute to brain Mn deposition in populations vulnerable to increased Mn exposure.
Interactive Optical Disc Systems: Part 1: Analog Storage

The distinction between digital and analog data, the specific advantages of analog storage and the use of optical discs to store analog data are detailed. The configuration and potential of Level One, Level Two, and Level Three laser disc systems are explained. Side bars address: 1) selection of display devices for use with laser disc systems, and 2) laser disc systems for accessing audio data.
Cone calorimetric analysis of flame-retarded polyurea for coating applications:

A two-component polyurea elastomer is evaluated for fire retardancy using the cone calorimeter and thermal analysis. The content of the fire retardant, aluminum diethylphosphinate, the thickness, a...
Selective CO2 Adsorption in a Supramolecular Organic Framework

Considering the rapidly rising CO2 level, there is a constant need for versatile materials which can selectively adsorb CO2 at low cost. The quest for efficient sorptive materials is still on since the practical applications of conventional porous materials possess certain limitations. In that context, we designed, synthesized, and characterized two novel supramolecular organic frameworks based on C-pentylpyrogallol[4]arene (PgC5 ) with spacer molecules, such as 4,4'-bipyridine (bpy). Highly optimized and symmetric intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions between the main building blocks and comparatively weak van der Waals interactions between solvent molecules and PgC5 leads to the formation of robust extended frameworks, which withstand solvent evacuation from the crystal lattice. The evacuated framework shows excellent affinity for carbon dioxide over nitrogen and adsorbs ca. 3 wt % of CO2 at ambient temperature and pressure.
T.P.17 Alternate translational initiation and amelioration of phenotype in the DMD gene

Abstract Nonsense mutations within exon 1 of DMD do not result in severe DMD but instead lead to very mild BMD, due to an alternative initiation of translation at AUG codons within in exon 6. This leads to translation of a nearly full-length but N-terminal truncated dystrophin lacking the first half of the canonical actin binding domain 1 (ABD1). We have identified the motif encoded in exon 5 that recruits ribosomes for alternate translational initiation within exon 6, and using a dual luciferase reporter system we have determined that this motif is selectively activated in muscle cell lines but not fibroblasts or HEK cells. Our data suggest that this motif is an IRES (internal ribosome entry site) as complementary experiments have ruled out any promoter activity or aberrant splicing. The exceedingly mild clinical features of patients with an exon 1 DMD founder allele (p.Trp3X) suggest that the product of this IRES initiation is a highly functional protein. We are therefore exploring different strategies to induce IRES utilisation for therapeutic purposes in patients with mutations in exons 1 through 4. One of them is based on forced synthesis of this IRES protein isoform that can be induced by exon 2 skipping. This leads to a frameshift and premature stop codon in exon 3, which thereby force the use of the IRES. We have developed four different antisense sequences for efficient skipping of exon 2 that are incorporated into a short U7 RNA derivative that was previously used in other studies to induce efficient exon skipping in DMD . We are currently testing these antisense constructs in patient cells carrying mutations in the first exons to evaluate the potential positive benefit of this out of frame skipping strategy.
Franklin H. Epstein Lecture. Cardiac development and implications for heart disease.

This review traces the development of the embryonic heart from a simple midline tube to the four-chambered structure of the adult heart. Recent research has uncovered findings that will influence the classification and management of congenital heart disease.
Brief Talk about Construction Engineering Cost Mmanagement System of Our Country

Engineering cost management as the basic construction activities of the center link,our government also has carried the project cost management reform on many times,but the project cost management system still has many problems.This paper puts forward some measures for perfecting the project cost management from the government and policy laws and project cost management in the aspects of subject puts.
In vivo metabolism of apolipoproteins A-I and E in patients with abetalipoproteinemia: implications for the roles of apolipoproteins B and E in HDL metabolism

The metabolism of high density lipoproteins (HDL) is tightly linked to the metabolism of apoB-containing lipoproteins through the exchange and transfer of lipids and apolipoproteins within the plasma compartment. Abetalipoproteinemia (ABL), a genetic disease in which apoB is absent from the plasma and HDL are the sole plasma lipoproteins, is a model for the investigation of HDL metabolism without modification by apoB-containing lipoproteins. Apolipoproteins A-I and E are two of the major apolipoproteins in HDL. Plasma apoA-I levels, but not apoE levels, have been reported to be decreased in patients with ABL. Furthermore, HDL from ABL patients is enriched in apoE compared with normal subjects. The purpose of the present study was: 1) to elucidate the metabolic basis of the low apoA-I levels in ABL; 2) to determine whether in vivo apoE production rates are normal in the absence of apoB-lipoprotein secretion; and 3) to test the hypothesis that apoE influences apoA-I and HDL catabolism in ABL. 131I-labeled apoA-I and 125I-labeled apoE were reassociated with autologous lipoproteins and injected into two unrelated ABL patients and control subjects. The mean residence time of apoA-I in ABL (2.4 days) was significantly decreased by nearly 50% compared with control subjects (4.7 +/- 0.6 days). ApoA-I production rates were also significantly decreased by 40% in ABL (7.1 mg/kg-d) compared with control subjects (11.8 +/- 1.7 mg/kg-d). The mean residence time of apoE in ABL (0.50 days) was somewhat shorter than that of control subjects (0.66 +/- 0.15 days), whereas the mean apoE production rate in ABL (2.14 mg/kg-d) was not substantially different from that of control subjects (1.55 +/- 0.62 mg/kg-d). HDL subfractions LpA-I and LpA-I:A-II were isolated using immunoaffinity chromatography. In contrast to the normal metabolism, apoA-I in LpA-I:A-II particles was catabolized at a faster rate than apoA-I in LpA-I, accounting for the greater decrease of plasma LpA-I:A-II relative to LpA-I in the ABL patients. HDL subfractions with and without apoE were also isolated using anti-apoE immunoaffinity chromatography. Labeled apoA-I in apoE-containing HDL was catabolized faster than that in HDL without apoE. Among the three different forms of apoE, the apoE monomer was catabolized at the fastest rate, the apoE homodimer at an intermediate rate, and the apoE-A-II heterodimer had the slowest rate of catabolism.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
The last Jesuit censuses of the Pimeria Alta Missions, 1761 and 1766.

ABSTRACTFollowing some 80 years of contact with the Jesuit mission system in the Pimeria Alta, the Indian population had declined dramatically, primarily as a result of Euro-Asiatic diseases to which the Pima had no natural immunities. The last Jesuit censuses of these missions, discussed and translated here, serve as a guide to the dynamics of depopulation and the state of the Indian population on the eve of the expulsion.
Impact of RNA degradation on fusion detection by RNA-seq

RNA-seq is a well-established method for studying the transcriptome. Popular methods for library preparation in RNA-seq such as Illumina TruSeq® RNA v2 kit use a poly-A pulldown strategy. Such methods can cause loss of coverage at the 5′ end of genes, impacting the ability to detect fusions when used on degraded samples. The goal of this study was to quantify the effects RNA degradation has on fusion detection when using poly-A selected mRNA and to identify the variables involved in this process. Using both artificially and naturally degraded samples, we found that there is a reduced ability to detect fusions as the distance of the breakpoint from the 3′ end of the gene increases. The median transcript coverage decreases exponentially as a function of the distance from the 3′ end and there is a linear relationship between the coverage decay rate and the RNA integrity number (RIN). Based on these findings we developed plots that show the probability of detecting a gene fusion (“sensitivity”) as a function of the distance of the fusion breakpoint from the 3′ end. This study developed a strategy to assess the impact that RNA degradation has on the ability to detect gene fusions by RNA-seq.
Estimation and correction of irregular respiratory motion of the heart in presence of partial angle effects due to amplitude binning in SPECT

Respiratory motion combined with the “respiratory creep” of the heart can affect the appearance of defects and even conceal them, thereby impacting the diagnostic accuracy of cardiac PET or SPECT perfusion images. Several groups have investigated the use of registration to estimate respiratory motion between 3D reconstructions of respiratory binned projection data in PET, and in SPECT. Motion estimation can be done by first binning the list-mode data into different respiratory gates using an external monitor of respiratory motion. Amplitude binning has been determined to be more accurate than phase-binning thus in general it is favored. However one issue with amplitude binning is that if the patients’ respiratory motion varies greatly with time, it may result in low or no counts in some amplitude bins at some projection angles. In this work we describe a method to overcome the limited-angle effect and estimate 2 DOF (SI and AP direction translation) motion robustly. We tested our method on a (modified) NCAT phantom with and without noise. After the estimation step, we reconstruct the object preserving all the counts, using a motion compensated MLEM algorithm. In our case studies we show that the motion correction help reveal lesions in some cases, and helps to clear up false cooling effect in others.
Treatment effectiveness and fidelity of manual therapy to the knee: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Manual therapy (MT) is a commonly used treatment for knee osteoarthritis (OA) but to date only one systematic review has explored its effectiveness. The purpos e of the present study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature, to determine the effectiveness and fidelity of studies using MT techniques in individuals with knee OA. Relevant studies were assessed for inclusion. Effectiveness was measured using effect sizes, and methodological bias and treatment fidelity were both explored. Effect sizes were calculated using standardized mean differences (SMD) based on pooled data depending on statistical and clinical heterogeneity, as well as risk of bias. The search captured 2,969 studies; after screening, 12 were included. Four had a low risk of bias and high treatment fidelity. For self-reported function, comparing MT with no treatment resulted in a large effect size (standardized mean difference [SMD] 0.84), as did adding MT to a comparator treatment (SMD 0.78). A significant difference was found for pain when adding MT to a comparator treatment (SMD 0.73). The findings in the present meta-analytical review support the use of MT versus a number of different comparators for improvement in self-reported knee function. Lesser support is present for pain reduction, and no endorsement of functional performance can be made at this time.
Functionalized Porous Aromatic Framework for Efficient Uranium Adsorption from Aqueous Solutions

We demonstrate the successful functionalization of a porous aromatic framework for uranium extraction from water as exemplified by grafting PAF-1 with the uranyl chelating amidoxime group. The resultant amidoxime-functionalized PAF-1 (PAF-1-CH2AO) exhibits a high uranium uptake capacity of over 300 mg g–1 and effectively reduces the uranyl concentration from 4.1 ppm to less than 1.0 ppb in aqueous solutions within 90 min, well below the acceptable limit of 30 ppb set by the US Environmental Protection Agency. The local coordination environment of uranium in PAF-1-CH2AO is revealed by X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopic studies, which suggest the cooperative binding between UO22+ and adjacent amidoxime species.
An integral projection model with YY-males and application to evaluating grass carp control

Abstract Invasive fish species disrupt ecosystems and cause economic damage. Several methods have been discussed to control populations of invasive fish including the release of YY-males. YY-males are fish that have 2 male chromosomes compared to a XY-male. When YY-males mate, they only produce male (XY) offspring. This decreases the female proportion of the population and can, in theory, eradicate local populations by biasing the sex-ratio. YY-males have been used as a population control tool for brook trout in montane streams and lakes in Idaho, USA. The YY-male control method has been discussed for grass carp in Lake Erie, North America. We developed and presented an integral projection model for grass carp to model the use of YY-males as a control method for populations in this lake. Using only the YY-male control method, we found that high levels of YY-males would need to be release annually to control the species. Specifically, these levels were the same order of magnitude as the baseline adult population (e.g., 1000 YY-males needed to be released annual for 20 years to control a baseline adult population of 2500 grass carp). These levels may not be reasonable or obtainable for fisheries managers given the impacts of YY-males on aquatic vegetation and other constraints of natural resource management.
Sustainability in Mixed-Criticality Scheduling

Sustainability is a formalization of the requirement for scheduling algorithms and schedulability tests that a system deemed to be correctly schedulable should remain so if its run-time behavior is better than anticipated. The notion of sustainability is extended to mixed-criticality systems, and sustainability properties are determined for a variety of widely-studied uniprocessor and multi-processor mixed-criticality scheduling algorithms.
Advancing Patient-Centered Care in Tuberculosis Management: A Mixed-Methods Appraisal of Video Directly Observed Therapy

Background Directly observed therapy (DOT) remains an integral component of treatment support and adherence monitoring in tuberculosis care. In-person DOT is resource intensive and often burdensome for patients. Video DOT (vDOT) has been proposed as an alternative to increase treatment flexibility and better meet patient-specific needs. Methods We conducted a pragmatic, prospective pilot implementation of vDOT at 3 TB clinics in Maryland. A mixed-methods approach was implemented to assess (1) effectiveness, (2) acceptability, and (3) cost. Medication adherence on vDOT was compared with that of in-person DOT. Interviews and surveys were conducted with patients and providers before and after implementation, with framework analysis utilized to extract salient themes. Last, a cost analysis assessed the economic impacts of vDOT implementation across heterogeneous clinic structures. Results Medication adherence on vDOT was comparable to that of in-person DOT (94% vs 98%, P = .17), with a higher percentage of total treatment doses (inclusive of weekend/holiday self-administration) ultimately observed during the vDOT period (72% vs 66%, P = .03). Video DOT was well received by staff and patients alike, who cited increased treatment flexibility, convenience, and patient privacy. Our cost analysis estimated a savings with vDOT of $1391 per patient for a standard 6-month treatment course. Conclusions Video DOT is an acceptable and important option for measurement of TB treatment adherence and may allow a higher proportion of prescribed treatment doses to be observed, compared with in-person DOT. Video DOT may be cost-saving and should be considered as a component of individualized, patient-centered case management plans.
Central, Eastern, and Southeastern European Countries’ Convergence: A Look at the Past and Considerations for the Future

CESEE countries have achieved substantial progress and their income and living standards have improved significantly since the beginning of transition. Nevertheless, convergence to high-income status is not assured. Strong demographic headwinds ahead and a subdued outlook for capital accumulation reinforce the need for productivity growth to converge to the income levels of advanced European countries. Better governance and institutions hold high promise to deliver the needed productivity growth, by spurring innovation, fostering competition, and retaining and attracting skilled workers.
Case 20: Repair of a Thoracic Duct

A 72 year old man had undergone an uneventful transhiatal esophagectomy for Barrett’s esophagitis. Ten days later he returns to the hospital with increasing shortness of breath. A large left pleural effusion is diagnosed. A chest tube is placed and creamy fluid was withdrawn. The chest tube continued to drain chyle and he is scheduled for repair of the thoracic duct. To identify the site of the injury to the duct, a 250 mL milk and heavy cream (50:50) mixture is ordered to be given 3 h prior to surgery. This is given, so that the surgeon can observe milky fluid dripping from the open thoracic duct and repair it.