cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Forward modeling of space borne gravitational wave detectors

Planning is underway for several space-borne gravitational wave observatories to be built in the next 10 to 20 years. Realistic and efficient forward modeling will play a key role in the design and operation of these observatories. Space-borne interferometric gravitational wave detectors operate very differently from their ground-based counterparts. Complex orbital motion, virtual interferometry, and finite size effects complicate the description of space-based systems, while nonlinear control systems complicate the description of ground-based systems. Here we explore the forward modeling of space-based gravitational wave detectors and introduce an adiabatic approximation to the detector response that significantly extends the range of the standard low frequency approximation. The adiabatic approximation will aid in the development of data analysis techniques, and improve the modeling of astrophysical parameter extraction.
SMV - A Computer Vision Program for Loading Surface Mount Components

A computer vision program was developed to recognize the precise position of surface mount components. It directs a robot to load surface mount components on PC boards. This paper describes software algorithms and required hardware. Calibration between the robot and the vision system and the precision of the vision system are also presented.
Periodized plyometric training is effective for women, and performance is not influenced by the length of post-training recovery.

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a periodized plyometric training program and the impact of the duration of the post-training recovery period on countermovement jump performance. Fourteen women subjects participated in a 6-week periodized plyometric training program. Ten women subjects served as non-training controls. All subjects' countermovement jump height, peak power, and body mass were assessed before and 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 days after training. Kinetic data were obtained via a force platform using the average of 3 repetitions of the countermovement jump for each testing session. Jump height was 25.0% greater (p 0.05) between recovery periods of 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10 days, for the training group. Peak power was 11.6-14.3% (p 0.05) between recovery periods of 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10 days. Analysis revealed no significant difference (p > 0.05) for jump height or peak power from pre- to posttest for the control group. Practitioners should prescribe periodized plyometric programs with decreasing volume and increasing intensity to improve jump performance without a need for a post-training recovery period.
Xanthelasma palpebrarum: A review and current management principles

Abstract After studying this article, the participant should be able to: 1. Describe the differential diagnosis of xanthelasma palpebrarum. 2. Discuss the various nonsurgical and surgical treatment options and their advantages and disadvantages. 3. Describe the circumstances in which recurrence is most likely after treatment. Xanthelasma palpebrarum is the most common cutaneous xanthoma. It typically presents in middle-aged and older adults, most often around the eyelids. The diagnosis can often be made on clinical grounds alone. For the plastic surgeon, it is important to apply an algorithmic approach to the treatment of these lesions. Depending on the size and location, several different methods can be used to address this problem, ranging from simple excision, to laser treatment, to chemical peeling. This article addresses the underlying pathophysiology of xanthelasma and the currently accepted modes of treatment.
Ka-band SAR interferometry studies for the SWOT mission

The primary objective of the National Research Council (NRC) Decadal Survey recommended SWOT (Surface Water and Ocean Topography) Mission is to measure the water elevation of the global oceans, as well as terrestrial water bodies (such as rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and wetlands), to answer key scientific questions on the kinetic energy of ocean circulation, the spatial and temporal variability of the world's surface freshwater storage and discharge, and to provide societal benefits on predicting climate change, coastal zone management, flood prediction, and water resources management. In this paper, we present the overall concept of the SWOT mission, as well as the scientific rational, objectives and development status of the technology items currently under development.
The ability of macrophages from head and neck cancer patients to kill tumor cells: Effect of prostaglandin inhibitors on cytotoxicity

Monocyte-derived macrophages were isolated from the peripheral blood of 39 patients with either squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck or basal and/or squamous cell carcinomas of the facial areas. Macrophages from 6 of the 27 patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck were cytotoxic toward the human tumor cells. When indomethacin, a prostaglandin inhibitor, was added to the noncytotoxic macrophages during the cytotoxicity assay, macrophages from 8 of the 27 patients became cytotoxic for the tumor cells. When 12 patients with basal and/or squamous cell carcinomas of the facial areas were studied, the macrophages from 2 of these patients possessed cytotoxic macrophages. In addition, when indomethacin was added to the noncytotoxic macrophages during the assay, the macrophages from two of these patients became cytotoxic. However, it was also noted that 19 of the 39 patients with either squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck or basal and/or squamous cell carcinomas of the face possessed macrophages that were noncytotoxic toward the tumor cells in the presence and absence of indomethacin. Macrophage-mediated cytotoxicity was also found to be inhibited by factors present in many cancer patients' plasma. Twelve of the 30 patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck possessed a plasma inhibitory factor capable of suppressing macrophage-mediated cytotoxicity by more than 50%, whereas no plasma inhibitory factor was found in the patients with basal and/or squamous cell carcinomas of the face. In addition, 29 of the 30 patients studied were incapable of killing the tumor cells in vitro either because they possessed nonresponsive macrophages and/or they possessed a plasma inhibitory factor.
The structure of the MnIIADP-nitrate-lyxose complex at the active site of hexokinase.

Abstract The coordination scheme of Mn2+ in the hexokinase-MnIIADP-nitrate-lyxose complex has been determined by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy with 17O-enriched ligands. Nitrate binds to the active site of hexokinase when MnIIADP and a sugar substrate or analogue are present. The binding of nitrate enhances inhibition by glucose when ADP is present and narrows the EPR signals of the enzyme-bound MnIIADP complex in the presence of sugar substrates or analogues. Experiments using regiospecifically 17O-enriched ADP, 17O-enriched nitrate, and 17O-enriched water establish the coordination scheme of Mn2+. The EPR experiments show that ADP is a β-monodentate ligand and that nitrate binds directly to Mn2+. Four water molecules complete the coordination sphere of the enzyme-bound Mn2+. The dissociation constant (Kd ∼ 8 mM) of nitrate for the complex with enzyme, MnIIADP, and lyxose was obtained from titration experiments. These results suggest that nitrate-stabilized, dead-end complexes of hexokinase may be useful in stabilizing the closed conformation of this "hinge-bending" enzyme for crystallographic experiments.
Pharmacokinetic analysis of bioequivalence trials: implications for sex-related issues in clinical pharmacology and biopharmaceutics.

Objectives To address the questions of whether women should be included in bioequivalence trials and whether dosage adjustment may be needed in women relative to men. Methods Sex-related analysis was conducted for 26 bioequivalence studies involving both sexes. A total of 94 data sets [47 each for the areas under the plasma concentration–time curve (AUC) and maximum concentration (Cmax)] were used. ANOVA was performed. Three statistical models were used to estimate population means and intrasubject variability between sexes, as well as sex-by-formulation interactions. Comparisons were made by use of confidence intervals, magnitude of observed differences, and statistical significance (α = .05). Results With some exceptions, intrasubject variabilities were similar for men and women. In about 10% of the data sets (AUC or Cmax), women had significantly higher variability. Although fewer, there were examples with higher variability in men. With a 20 percentage point difference used in the test-over-reference mean ratios between sexes as a signal of sex-by-formulation interaction, the frequency of this interaction (AUC or Cmax) is ~13% and ~35%, counting by data sets and studies, respectively. Mean sex-related differences of ≥20% in the pharmacokinetic parameters for the reference product were observed in 39% of the data sets (AUC or Cmax). In ~28% of the data sets, these differences were statistically significant. The frequency was ~15% after body weight correction. Conclusions In general, men and women have similar intrasubject variability. Where variability differs between sexes, there is a suggestion that higher variability in women may be more frequent. The data also suggest that a sex-based subject-by-formulation interaction can occur, although the frequency may be low. Sex-related differences in pharmacokinetics are apparent in many drugs studied. Dosage adjustment with body weight may be warranted for drugs that exhibit a steep dose-response curve. Although exploratory, the results of this study support recommendations of the 1993 Food and Drug Administration gender guideline that women not be excluded from bioequivalence trials. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2000) 68, 510–521; doi: 10.1067/mcp.2000.111184
High Power Optically Pumped Far Infrared Lasers

Intense superradiant laser action in the far infrared (FIR) has been observed in several gases optically pumped with a CO/sub 2/ transversely excited atmospheric-pressure (TEA) laser. A maximum FIR power of 100 kW was observed from CH/sub 3/F at 496 mu m. Characteristics of the system and possibilities of scaling to higher powers are also discussed.
Camera link model estimation in a distributed camera network based on the deterministic annealing and the barrier method

Distributed camera networks have been deployed in the modern surveillance systems. The camera link model, including transition time distribution and brightness transfer function that represent the space-time relationship and color model between two cameras, is a critical element for tracking objects across the cameras. In this paper, we formulate the estimation of the camera link model as an optimization problem, where the deterministic annealing and the barrier method are applied to effectively extract the model parameters. Through the unsupervised scheme, our method utilizes the time stamps and color features together to establish the camera link model in presence of the outliers. Several simulations and comparative studies show the effectiveness of our approach.
An emerging role for adenosine in angiogenesis.

The possibility that adenosine has an important role in cardiovascular function was introduced 75 years ago when Drury and Szent-Gyorgyi1 found that extracts from heart and other tissues produced vasodilation, hypotension, bradycardia, and a decrease in atrioventricular conduction velocity. In the early 1960s, Berne et al2 proposed the so-called retaliatory metabolite concept in which hypoxic tissues produce adenosine from ATP, and the adenosine in turn functions to restore a balance between oxygen demand and oxygen supply by causing vasodilation and increased blood flow. This has been shown to be true for heart, brain, and skeletal muscle in several different species.2 Adenosine thus serves as a negative feedback signal to maintain tissue oxygenation within a normal range. Mounting evidence suggests that adenosine may also have a long-term role to increase tissue oxygenation by stimulating the growth of blood vessels. Physiological concentrations of adenosine or adenosine agonists cause a dose-related increase in the proliferation of endothelial cells obtained from bovine aorta,3 bovine coronary venules,3 and human umbilical veins,4,5 but they have no effect on the proliferation of human fibroblasts4 and rat myocardial myoblasts.5 Also, raising endogenous levels of adenosine by inhibition of adenosine kinase can stimulate the proliferation of human endothelial cells obtained from umbilical veins.5 Adenosine stimulates angiogenesis in the body and chorioallantoic membrane of the chick embryo and could mediate a portion of the hypoxia-induced angiogenesis in the same tissues.6 Early work has also shown that prolonged infusion of adenosine induces angiogenesis in rabbit heart and skeletal muscle.7 That adenosine could have a physiological role in the development of the vasculature is supported by the finding that prolonged administration of dipyridamole, an adenosine-reuptake inhibitor, stimulated angiogenesis in both the heart and skeletal muscle in rats;7 aminophylline, an adenosine-receptor …
Ethnic Differences in Adolescent Perceptions of and Attitudes Toward Substance Use

The current study identified ethnic differences in beliefs about substance use and assessed their impact on frequency of use of various substances. Participants were 1,398 Caucasian and African-American rural secondary school students. Only tobacco or cigarettes had significant differences for both cognitive and frequency of use variables. Results revealed that Caucasian students reported higher past 12-month tobacco use compared to African-American students. Congruently, African-American students reported perceiving significantly greater wrongness in tobacco use. In contrast, Caucasian students had a significantly greater perception of harm of tobacco use compared to African-American students. When these cognitive variables were entered as mediators of the ethnicity–cigarette use relationship, only the attitude of wrongness variable served as a significant partial mediator. These data highlight the importance of addressing attitudes as part of substance use prevention.
The zipper groups of the amyloid state of proteins

Fibrous proteins in the amyloid state are found both associated with numerous diseases and in the normal functions of cells. Amyloid fibers contain a repetitive spine, commonly built from a pair of β-sheets whose β-strands run perpendicular to the fiber direction and whose side chains interdigitate, much like the teeth of a zipper. In fiber spines known as homosteric zippers, identical protein segments sharing identical packing environments make the two β-sheets. In previous work based on atomic resolution crystal structures of homosteric zippers derived from a dozen proteins, the symmetries of homosteric zippers were categorized into eight classes. Here, it is shown through a formal derivation that each homosteric zipper class corresponds to a unique set of symmetry groups termed `zipper groups'. Furthermore, the eight previously identified classes do not account for all of the 15 possible zipper groups, which may be categorized into the complete set of ten classes. Because of their foundations in group theory, the 15 zipper groups provide a mathematically rigorous classification for homosteric zippers.
Mindful staffing: a qualitative description of charge nurses' decision-making behaviors.

Patient outcomes are linked to nurse staffing. Although charge nurses are responsible for intrashift staffing decisions, little is known about their decision-making behaviors. This study describes ...
Gastric Motility in Rats with Varying Ovarian Hormone Status

Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms suggestive of altered motility vary with menstrual cycle phase and menopause, but the effects of ovarian hormones on gastric motility have not been described. Basal and stimulated gastric motility were studied in male and female rats that were ovariectomized and implanted with continuous-release progesterone and/or estrogen pellets. Following 26 days of hormone treatment, rats were implanted with a gastric tension transducer. Contractile activity was recorded, then thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) or saline was injected intracisternally and motility was monitored. An index was calculated based on frequency and amplitude; response to TRH was expressed as percentage of the basal index. Basal contraction frequency was highest in the estrogen and estrogen + progesterone groups. Hormone treatment significantly affected the TRH-stimulated motility index; TRH induced increased motility in all groups, with larger, more sustained responses in vehicle, progesterone, and male groups...
An examination of alcohol and drug use among urban college students

This study examines factors associated with alcohol and recreational drug use among urban college students. Undergraduate students at an urban college (n = 372) in New York City completed questionnaires assessing alcohol and drug use, depression and anxiety symptoms, and delinquent behaviors. Forty-two per cent of the respondents were Hispanic, 25.3% were African-American and 18.8% were Caucasian. Alcohol and drug users were found to have higher levels of delinquency than non-users. There was no relationship between ethnicity, the number of substances used and depression, anxiety, or delinquency. These findings are discussed as they pertain to prevention and intervention programs tailored to address the unique needs of this growing population.
The Kinship Theory of Genomic Imprinting

▪ Abstract The inclusive fitness effect attributable to an allele can be divided into an effect on matrilineal kin when the allele is maternally derived and an effect on patrilineal kin when paternally derived. However, the allele is not subject to selection on its effects on patrilineal kin when maternally derived nor on its effects on matrilineal kin when paternally derived. As a result, natural selection may favor alleles with effects that differ, depending on the allele's parental origin. At autosomal loci, this process is predicted to lead to the silencing of alleles when inherited from one or the other parent. At X-linked loci subject to random X inactivation, the process is predicted to lead to quantitative differences of expression between maternal and paternal alleles but not to complete silencing of one allele. The implications of this theory and some challenges to the theory are reviewed.
Asymmetric Gap Junctional Coupling Between Glial Cells in the Rat Retina

Gap junctional communication between glial cells is thought to play a role in K+ spatial buffering, in the propagation of inter-astrocytic Ca2+ waves, and in glial-neuronal signaling. In the present study, we characterize dye coupling between astrocytes, and between astrocytes and Muller cells, in the isolated rat retina. Whole-cell patch recordings were obtained from retinal astrocytes and Muller cells and the cells filled with Lucifer Yellow and neurobiotin. Spread of Lucifer Yellow to two to ten neighboring astrocytes occurred in 90% of the astrocyte recordings. After fixation and incubation of the retina with fluorescent conjugated streptavidin, neurobiotin was seen to label clusters of 13-88 astrocytes, as well as > 100 Muller cells. In contrast, when Muller cells were filled with Lucifer Yellow and neurobiotin, both tracers were confined solely to the recorded Muller cell. The uncoupling agents octanol, halothane, and doxyl-stearic acid were tested for their ability to uncouple retinal glia in situ. All three agents eliminated the visible spread of Lucifer Yellow from the injected astrocyte and the spread of neurobiotin into Muller cells. However, only doxyl-stearic acid combined with octanol eliminated the spread of neurobiotin between astrocytes. These results demonstrate that astrocytes in the rat retina are coupled to each other and to Muller cells. The astrocyte-to-Muller cell coupling is asymmetric, allowing transfer of the tracer in the forward direction only. In addition, astrocyte-to-Muller cell coupling is more sensitive to the uncoupling agents tested than is astrocyte-to-astrocyte coupling.
Acute urinary tract infection in infants and young children

A nine-month-old girl is brought to the family physician’s office with a temperature of 39.5°C for two days. She has been slightly fussier than usual but has been eating well and acting appropriately. Her vaccinations are up to date. There are no other reported symptoms, and her medical history
Cholinergic modulation of stellate cells in the mammalian ventral cochlear nucleus.

The main source of excitation to the ventral cochlear nucleus (VCN) is from glutamatergic auditory nerve afferents, but the VCN is also innervated by two groups of cholinergic efferents from the ventral nucleus of the trapezoid body. One arises from collaterals of medial olivocochlear efferents, and the other arises from neurons that project solely to the VCN. This study examines the action of cholinergic inputs on stellate cells in the VCN. T stellate cells, which form one of the ascending auditory pathways to the inferior colliculus, and D stellate cells, which inhibit T stellate cells, are distinguished electrophysiologically. Whole-cell recordings from stellate cells in slices of the VCN of mice demonstrate that most T stellate cells are excited by cholinergic agonists through three types of receptors, whereas all D stellate cells tested were insensitive to cholinergic agonists. Nicotinic excitation in T stellate cells has two components. The faster component was blocked by α-bungarotoxin and methyllycaconitine, suggesting that receptors contained α7 subunits; the slower component was insensitive to both. Muscarinic receptors excite T stellate cells by blocking a voltage-insensitive, “leak” potassium conductance. Our results suggest that cholinergic efferent innervation enhances excitation by sounds of T stellate cells, opposing the inhibitory action of cholinergic innervation in the cochlea that is conveyed indirectly through the glutamatergic afferents. The inhibitory action of D stellate cells on their targets is probably not affected by cholinergic inputs. Excitation of T stellate cells by cholinergic efferents would be expected to enhance the encoding of spectral peaks in noise.
A dose‐response study to assess the renal hemodynamic, vascular, and hormonal effects of eprosartan, an angiotensin II AT1‐receptor antagonist, in sodium‐replete healthy men

Study design The effects of orally administered eprosartan on changes induced by angiotensin II in blood pressure, renal hemodynamics, and aldosterone secretion were evaluated in healthy men in this double-blind, randomized, single-dose, placebo-controlled crossover study, which was conducted in three parts. Part 1 (n = 12) assessed the onset and duration of the effect of eprosartan 350 mg or placebo; part 2 (n = 14) assessed the dose-response profile of placebo or 10, 30, 50, 70, 100 or 200 mg eprosartan; and part 3 (n = 5) assessed the duration of the effect of 50, 100, or 350 mg eprosartan. Results In part 1 of the study, 350 mg eprosartan caused complete inhibition of angiotensin II-induced pressor and renal blood flow hemodynamic effects (effects on effective renal plasma flow [ERPF]) and inhibited angiotensin II-induced stimulation of aldosterone secretion from 1 to 3 hours after administration. Eprosartan, 350 mg, inhibited the effects of exogenous angiotensin II by approximately 50% to 70% from 12 to 15 hours after dosing. Eprosartan had no angiotensin II agonistic activity and produced an increase in ERPF starting at 1 to 4 hours after dosing. In study part 2, at 3 hours after single doses of 10, 30, 50, 70, 100, and 200 mg, eprosartan inhibited angiotensin II-induced decreases in ERPF by 39.1%, 49.9%, 33.0%, 56.0%, 71.0%, and 85.7%, respectively, compared with placebo. In study part 3, 50, 100, and 350 mg eprosartan produced measurable inhibition of angiotensin II-induced decreases in ERPF from 12 to 15 hours after administration. In parts 2 and 3, the eprosartan angiotensin II antagonism on blood pressure response and aldosterone secretion mirrored the angiotensin II antagonism on ERPF. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (1998) 63, 471–481; doi:
Microfluidic schemes using electrical and capillary forces

The laboratory-on-a-chip (LOC) and indeed virtually all the technology of microTAS (micro-total-analysis systems) rely upon some microfluidic subsystem to control, transport, and manipulate small liquid masses. The most promising of these subsystems use electrical forces, which have the advantages of voltage-based control and dominance over gravity and capillarity in the 10 to 103 micron diameter range. Gravity is usually ignorable on this scale, but the interactions of electrical and capillary forces are more complex. In particular, microstructures can be designed to exploit this interplay for the cases of electrowetting on dielectric-coated electrodes (EWOD) and liquid dielectrophoresis (DEP). The complementary nature of the two effects explains the operation of droplet-based microfluidic systems in general, and the so-called DEP droplet dispenser in particular.
Dimerization of the quorum-sensing transcription factor TraR enhances resistance to cytoplasmic proteolysis.

Summary TraR is a LuxR-type quorum-sensing protein encoded by the tumour-inducing plasmid of Agrobacterium tumefaciens. TraR requires the pheromone N-3oxooctanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (OOHL) for biological activity, and is dimeric both in solution and when bound to DNA. Dimerization is mediated primarily by two a-helices, one in the N-terminal OOHL binding domain, and the other in the C-terminal DNA binding domain. Each of these helices forms a parallel coiled coil with the identical helix of the opposite subunit. We have previously shown that OOHL is essential for resistance to proteolysis, and here we asked whether dimerization is also required for protease resistance. We constructed a series of sitedirected mutations at the dimer interface, and tested these mutants for activity in vivo. Alteration of residues A149, A150, A153, A222 and I229 completely abolished activity, while alteration of three other residues also caused significant defects. All mutants were tested for dimerization as well as for specific DNA binding. The cellular abundance of these proteins in A. tumefaciens was measured using Western immunoblots and OOHL sequestration, while the halflife was measured by pulse-chase radiolabelling. We found a correlation between defects in in vivo activity, in vitro dimerization, DNA binding and protein halflife. We conclude that dimerization of TraR enhances resistance to cellular proteases.
Structure/function relationships in serotonin transporter: new insights from the structure of a bacterial transporter.

Serotonin transporter (SERT) serves the important function of taking up serotonin (5-HT) released during serotonergic neurotransmission. It is the target for important therapeutic drugs and psychostimulants. SERT catalyzes the influx of 5-HT together with Na+ and Cl− in a 1:1:1 stoichiometry. In the same catalytic cycle, there is coupled efflux of one K+ ion. SERT is one member of a large family of amino acid and amine transporters that is believed to utilize similar mechanisms of transport. A bacterial member of this family was recently crystallized, revealing the structural basis of these transporters. In light of the new structure, previous results with SERT have been re-interpreted, providing new insight into the substrate binding site, the permeation pathway, and the conformational changes that occur during the transport cycle.
Los orígenes del castellano en Valderredible (Cantabria, España): una consideración toponímica

La evidencia arquitectonica y textual que se presenta en el libro El culto a San Millan en Valderredible, Cantabria: las iglesias rupestres y la formacion del Camino de Santiago , demuestra la existencia de un foco de pregrinaje en Valderredible -una region de unos 300 km cuadrados ubicada en el extremo sur de la Comunidad Autonoma de Cantabria (Espana)- que empezo a prosperar en el siglo VI. Es el periodo en el cual el culto a Millan florece en Valderredible cuando el latin hablado, conocido como el latin vulgar, iba adquiriendo los rasgos que lo distinguirian de otras lenguas romanicas.
Thermal Degradation and Flammability Properties of Poly(propylene)/Carbon Nanotube Composites

Nanocomposites based on poly(propylene) and multi-wall carbon nanotubes (up to 2 vol.-%) were melt blended, yielding a good dispersion of nanotubes without using any organic treatment or additional additives. Carbon nanotubes are found to significantly enhance the thermal stability of poly(propylene) in nitrogen at high temperatures. Specifically, the nanotube additive greatly reduced the heat release rate of poly(propylene). They are found to be at least as effective a flame-retardant as clay/poly(propylene) nanocomposites.
A Fully-Coupled Geomechanics and Flow Model for Hydraulic Fracturing and Reservoir Engineering Applications

In this paper we present a practical fullycoupled geomechanics and flow model for application to hydraulic fracturing, especially in tight gas reservoirs, and other reservoir engineering applications. The mathematical formulation is consistent with conventional finitedifference reservoir simulation code to incl ude any number of phases, components and even thermal problems. In addition, the propagation of strain displacement front as a wave, and the relevant changes in stress with time, can be tracked through the wave component of the geomechanics equations. We show the development of an efficient finitedifferenc e computer code for rock deformation including thermal and wave propagation effects. The numerical approach chosen uses two different control volumes—one for fluid and heat flow and another one for rock deformation. The ultimate goal is to provide a tool to assess the effect of pore pressure, cooling or heating the reservoir, and propagation of a strain wave resulting from hydraulic fracturing on the reservoir rock frame. This information is crucial for determining the effect of shear stress on opening or closing of natural fractures during creation of hydraulic fractures, and changes in shearand compressionalwave velocities for seismic imaging purposes. A specific application of the product of this research is to simulate fracture propagation, gel cleanup and water block issues in hydraulic fracturing. The modeling results indicate significant change in shear stresses near hydraulic fractures as a result of hydraulic fracture face displacement perpendicular to the fracture face and not as much from pore pressure change because the filtrate does not travel very far into the reservoir. Similarly, temperature change effects are also very significant in changing stress distribution.
A Study in Ventricular–Ventricular Interaction Single Right Ventricles Compared With Systemic Right Ventricles in a Dual-Chamber Circulation

Background Ventricular–ventricular interaction is known to occur in the normal human heart. To determine whether it plays a role in the function of single right ventricles, systemic right ventricles were compared with and without a left ventricle mechanically coupled to it. Methods and Results A noninvasive magnetic resonance tagging technique (spatial modulation of magnetization [SPAMM]) that lays intersecting stripes down on the myocardium was used to examine 18 patients with systemic right ventricles: 7 with a single right ventricle who have undergone the Fontan procedure (age, 38.8±8.9 months) and 11 with transposition of the great arteries who have undergone an atrial inversion operation (age, 16.3±3.9 years). The motion of the intersection points was tracked through systole to determine regional twist and radial shortening. Shortening rates also were evaluated. Finite strain analysis was applied to the grid lines using Delaunay triangulation, and the two-dimensional strain tensor and principal E1 st...
Canonical forms for linear multivariable systems

A class of well-known canonical forms for single-input or single-output controllable and observable systems are extended to multivariable systems. It is shown that, unlike the single-variable case, the canonical forms are generally not unique, but that the structure of the canonical form can be controlled to some extent by the designer. A major result of the paper is that a multi-input system can be transformed to a set of coupled single-input subsystems.
Interventions Aimed at the Reduction of Prejudice and Conflict

This chapter reviews real-world interventions aimed at prejudice and conflict reduction. Which work? How effective are they? How do we know? I pay specific attention to the research methods used to study the impact of prejudice and conflict reduction interventions, to determine whether the methods allow for conclusions about the interventions’ causal impact. This chapter also discusses the different theoretical bases of prejudice and conflict reduction interventions. Some theoretically driven strategies focus on individual thought and action that give rise to prejudice and conflict, whereas others focus on the environment in which individuals operate. The combined perspectives of social psychology and peace psychology suggest that interventions would do well to use both perspectives. The chapter concludes with recommendations for evaluating and learning from theoretically driven prejudice and conflict reduction interventions.
A regional estimate of postfire streamflow change in California

The effect of fire on annual streamflow has been examined in numerous watershed studies, with some studies observing postfire increases in streamflow while other have observed no conclusive change. Despite this inherent variability in streamflow response, the management of water resources for flood protection, water supply, water quality, and the environment necessitates an understanding of postfire effects on streamflow at regional scales. In this study, the regional effect of wildfire on annual streamflow was investigated using 12 paired watersheds in central and southern California. A mixed model was used to pool and statistically examine the combined paired-watershed data, with emphasis on the effects of percentage area burned, postfire recovery of vegetation, and postfire wetness conditions on postfire streamflow change. At a regional scale, postfire annual streamflow increased 134% (82%–200%) during the first postfire year assuming 100% area burned and average annual wetness conditions. Postfire response decreased with lower percentages of percentage area burned and during subsequent years as vegetation recovered following fire. Annual streamflow response to fire was found to be sensitive to annual wetness conditions, with postfire response being smallest during dry years, greatest during wet years, and slowly decreasing during very wet years. These findings provide watershed managers with a first-order estimate for predicting postfire streamflow response in both gauged and ungauged watersheds.
Determination of Radionuclide Impurities in Tc-99m: A Rapid Pulse Height Analysis Technique

We have developed a simple and rapid procedure for determining levels of multiple radionuclide impurities in Tc-99m generator eluates before use in patients. The technique combines the use of a low gamma energy filter comprised of layers of lead, cadmium, and copper to reduce the radiation from Tc-99m—with pulse height analysis of the transmitted high energy photons from common impurities such as Ru-103, I-131, and Mo-99. The procedure, which employs a multichannel analyzer and subsequent calculations, can be performed in almost the same time required for the current technique using isotope calibrators.
The Frequency of “Brilliant” and “Genius” in Teaching Evaluations Predicts the Representation of Women and African Americans across Fields

Women and African Americans—groups targeted by negative stereotypes about their intellectual abilities—may be underrepresented in careers that prize brilliance and genius. A recent nationwide survey of academics provided initial support for this possibility. Fields whose practitioners believed that natural talent is crucial for success had fewer female and African American PhDs. The present study seeks to replicate this initial finding with a different, and arguably more naturalistic, measure of the extent to which brilliance and genius are prized within a field. Specifically, we measured field-by-field variability in the emphasis on these intellectual qualities by tallying—with the use of a recently released online tool—the frequency of the words “brilliant” and “genius” in over 14 million reviews on RateMyProfessors.com, a popular website where students can write anonymous evaluations of their instructors. This simple word count predicted both women’s and African Americans’ representation across the academic spectrum. That is, we found that fields in which the words “brilliant” and “genius” were used more frequently on RateMyProfessors.com also had fewer female and African American PhDs. Looking at an earlier stage in students’ educational careers, we found that brilliance-focused fields also had fewer women and African Americans obtaining bachelor’s degrees. These relationships held even when accounting for field-specific averages on standardized mathematics assessments, as well as several competing hypotheses concerning group differences in representation. The fact that this naturalistic measure of a field’s focus on brilliance predicted the magnitude of its gender and race gaps speaks to the tight link between ability beliefs and diversity.
Determination of O2 capacity on 39.3 cubic millimeters of blood.

SummaryThe Roughton-Scholander microgasometric procedure has been modified to provide a simple and accurate micromethod for the determination of the O2 capacity of blood. Only 39.3 cmm are required and an analysis may be completed in 10 to 12 minutes. O2 capacities obtained by the micromethod agree well with those measured by the Sendroy macromethod, the average difference being ±0.16 vol%.
Phthalide-based host-plant resistance toSpodoptera exigua andTrichoplusia ni inApium graveolens.

A chemical basis for the difference in suitability between two celeriac (Apium graveolens var.rapaceum) cultivars for the survival and growth ofSpodoptera exigua (Hubner) andTrichoplusia ni (Hubner) was identified as sedanenolide (3-n-butyl-4,5-dihydro-isobenzofuranone). Sedanenolide was isolated using a bioassay-driven extraction and purification procedure and was identified using several spectrometric methods. Foliar concentrations of sedanenolide were negatively correlated with larval performance and were significantly higher in the cultivar less suitable for larval survival and growth. Sedanenolide andBacillus thuringiensis Berliner acted additively in reducing larval growth when combined in artificial diets, a result that is consistent with previous studies in which the combined effect of host plant cultivar andB. thuringiensis on larval survival and growth were additive.
Is Trauma Transfer Influenced by Factors Other Than Medical Need? An Examination of Insurance Status and Transfer in Patients With Mild Head Injury

BACKGROUND The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act was meant to provide access to emergency medical care irrespective of financial resources. Yet, many Level I trauma Centers have raised concerns about the financial drivers influencing transfer. OBJECTIVE : To study the relationship between insurance status and transfer, we focused on patients with mild head injury to tease apart the medical necessity for transfer from other potential drivers, such as financial factors. METHODS Using the 2002 to 2006 American College of Surgeons National Trauma Databank and Massachusetts General Hospital's Trauma Databank from 1993 to 2009, we conducted a retrospective study and limited our population to patients with mild head injuries and mild to moderate systemic injuries as determined by the Glasgow Coma Scale, Abbreviated Injury Scale, or Injury Severity Score. Statistical analyses were conducted with STATA software. RESULTS In a nationalized database, (1) uninsured patients with mild head injury are more likely to be transferred out of a Level II or III facility (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 2.07; P = .000) compared with privately insured patients and (2) uninsured patients are less likely to be accepted by a Level II or III facility for transfer compared with privately insured patients (adjusted OR: = .143; P = .000l). For transfers received by 1 Level I trauma center (Massachusetts General Hospital), uninsured patients are more likely to be transferred to (1) Massachusetts General Hospital between midnight and 6 am (adjusted OR: 5.201; P = .000) compared with other time periods throughout the day and (2) Massachusetts General Hospital on Sunday (adjusted OR: 1.09; P = .000) compared with other days of the week. CONCLUSION Insurance status appears to influence transfer patterns.
High-performance liquid chromatographic assay of ceftibuten in human plasma

Objectives: To determine concentration of ceftibuten in plasma. Methods: Ammonium Acetate-acetonitrile(98: 2 v/v) was used as mobile phase with an ultraviolet detector at 254 nm, the flow rate was 1 ml/min. Results: Calibration is linear from 0. 3125 ug/ml to 20. 00 ug/ml(r = 0. 9999). The absolute recovery of ceftibuten was over 95% and the variation with-day and between-day was less than 4%. Conclusion: This assay appears to be suitable for therapeutic drug monitoring.
Role of insulin and norepinephrine in the hypertension of obesity.

The present study compares plasma norepinephrine (PNE), renin activity (PRA), aldosterone (PA), and insulin (RIAI) levels between 13 normotensive and 42 hypertensive obese subjects during weight maintenance, and in 19 of the 42 obese hypertensive subjects, these variables were measured during 16 weeks on a very low calorie diet (VLCD). Mean values for baseline RIAI and PNE were elevated in the 55 obese subjects compared to nonobese controls. However, when the normotensive and hypertensive groups were compared, mean values for PNE, PRA, PA, and RIAI were not different. In the 19 obese hypertensive subjects studied on the VLCD, there were significant reductions from baseline in mean body weight, blood pressure, RIAI, and PNE, but not for PRA or PA. Two phases of blood pressure, RAIA, and PNE responses to weight loss were noted. In the early phase (days 1-7), blood pressure and RAIA decreased dramatically, whereas PNE, PRA, and PA increased. During the late phase (weeks 2-16), further significant decreases in blood pressure and weight were accompanied by reductions in PNE (604 +/- 50 to 403 +/- 43 pg/mL, P < .01) and in RIAI (13.9 +/- 1.7 to 10.3 +/- 1.6 microU/mL, P < .05). As levels of insulin and norepinephrine were similar in normotensive and hypertensive obese individuals during weight maintenance, they may not contribute to the hypertension associated with obesity. During weight loss, however, the temporal changes in blood pressure, insulin, and norepinephrine suggest their mediation of the hypotensive response.
Draft of the regional pension scheme functioning simulated in the Czech Republic

Abstract The article discusses the issue of retirement security of citizens in advanced age. It deals with the possibility of covering all inhabitants in the region. The analyzed solution is independent of the central state pension scheme, usually implemented in the first pension pillar. Due to the difficult changing of the pension scheme as a whole, the possibilities of the regional pension scheme are described and analyzed by the real conditions in the Czech Republic. Based on the analyses, possible roles of the region and opportunities in it have been defined while ensuring seniors. The result is the defining of the conditions for the public pension fund to function, where the second pillar pension scheme seems optimal. A specific solution also contains an actuarial model of the functioning of the regional pension fund. Under certain conditions, it is possible that the fund development and the pension that a pensioner earned fulfulling the set conditions is considered. Due to the limitations of a regular, predictable income, we can consider the simulated allowances as the lowest income possible.
Successful extubation of newborn infants without preextubation trial of continuous positive airway pressure

Sixty newborn infants who had been mechanically ventilated through 3.0- or 3.5-mm endotracheal tubes were studied to examine the necessity of a preextubation trial of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Thirty randomly assigned study infants were directly extubated from intermittent mandatory ventilation rates of six per minute; 30 randomly assigned control infants were extubated after a six-hour trial of continuous positive airway pressure of 3 cm H2O. Changes in respiratory rate, in PCO2, and in PO2/FIO2 were similar. All 30 study infants tolerated direct extubation without significant apnea or respiratory acidosis. Two study and eight control infants developed apnea during six hours after intermittent mandatory ventilation was discontinued (chi 2 = 4.3, P less than .05). Five control and no study infants had apneic episodes greater than or equal to 0.5 per hour (chi 2 = 5.5, P less than .02). The results of this study suggest that newborn infants may tolerate direct extubation from low intermittent mandatory ventilation rates without a preextubation trial of CPAP. A preextubation trial of CPAP appears to be unnecessary and may cause more frequent apnea in newborn infants if used for more than several hours.
Game theory based data fusion for precision agriculture applications

This paper investigates the utilization of game theory models for automated analysis of hyperspectral imagery fused with other remotely sensed and/or in situ data. The author analyzes two approaches to using strategic, competitive game theory models for groundcover classification, including the application of game theory models to (i) feature-level fusion and (ii) decision fusion for hypertemporal-hyperspectral datasets. Proposed model (i) uses conflict data filtering based on mutual entropy along with the Nash equilibrium as the means to find a steady state solution. Proposed model (ii) utilizes a strategic coalition game, specifically the weighted majority game (WMG). Both models are implemented under the assumption that all players are rational. The author incorporates each of the proposed approaches, (i) and (ii), into a multi-classifier decision fusion (MCDF) system for automated ground cover classification of hyperspectral imagery collected via an unmanned airborne system (UAS) over multiple dates. The paper provides experimental results demonstrating the efficacy of the proposed game theoretic approaches, presenting significant improvements over existing methods.
Asylum in Consulates

The discussion thus far has pointed out that practice shows a great deal of disagreement as to whether the institution of diplomatic asylum is sanctioned by a rule of law in Latin America. It has also concluded that the undeniable existence of such a widespread practice must be explained largely in terms of extra-legal factors — political expediency and humanitarian considerations, and by the fact that international law affords to ambassadors, ministers and other accredited diplomatic officers certain well recognized immunities from local jurisdiction including immunity of their offices and official residences from invasion by local authorities.