cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clinical Outcomes Are Similar in Pulsatile and Nonpulsatile Left Ventricular Assist Device Recipients

Background Despite concerns about the adequacy of support provided by continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), direct comparisons of patient characteristics and outcomes between first-generation pulsatile and second-generation nonpulsatile LVADs are absent. We hypothesized that a nonpulsatile Jarvik 2000 LVAD (Jarvik Heart, Inc, New York, NY) would result in comparable outcomes to those of similarly ill patients implanted with a pulsatile LVAD (Novacor, WorldHeart Inc, Oakland, CA; and HeartMate XVE, Thoratec, Pleasanton, CA). Methods We retrospectively compared common pre-LVAD clinical characteristics and indicators of heart failure severity between 13 pulsatile and 14 nonpulsatile LVAD recipients. The outcomes analyzed were either heart transplantation, if the LVAD was intended as a bridge to transplantation, or hospital discharge if the intention was destination therapy. Results There was no significant difference between groups in pre-LVAD disease severity indicators. Nonpulsatile LVAD recipients had a significantly smaller body surface area (1.9 ± 0.2 m 2 versus 2.1 ± 0.2 m 2 , p = 0.04) and cardiopulmonary bypass time was also significantly shorter (61 ± 34 minutes versus 110 ± 49 minutes, p = 0.01). Aside from duration of initial intensive care unit stay (nonpulsatile, 10 ± 16 days; pulsatile, 14 ± 11 days; p = 0.02), there was no difference in post-LVAD outcomes: 10 of 14 nonpulsatile and 8 of 13 pulsatile LVAD patients achieved the combined end point ( p = 0.69). Conclusions Similarly ill congestive heart failure patients benefited equally well from either a nonpulsatile or a pulsatile LVAD. This may support an expanded role for nonpulsatile LVADs in the treatment of severe heart failure.
New family of non-chemically amplified resists

Non-chemically amplified resists offer advantages over chemically-amplified (CA) resists because they are less susceptible to temperature variations and contaminants. In order for non-CA resists to be viable, they have to perform lithographically at an equivalent level with the CA resists from the point of view of quantum yield, resolution and etch resistance. We report here on new non-CA resists based on polymer esters that undergo deesterification to the corresponding acids upon exposure to UV, x-ray and e-beam radiation. The efficiency of the radiation reaction is surprisingly high. The resulting poly acids are base soluble and can be employed as positive working resists. The resists are composed of polymers and copolymers of methacrylate esters. The sensitivity of one derivative to x-ray is 75 mJ/cm 2 and to e-beam is 1.0 (mu) C/cm 2 at 10 KV. Best resolution obtained was 125 nm with x-ray radiation.
Effective Exploration Strategy—Stratigraphic and Paleostructural Controls on Hydrocarbon Migration in Denver Basin: ABSTRACT

Current exploration strategies generally focus on trap identification and the organic richness and maturity of source rocks. Yet, examination of producing basins worldwide commonly indicates a non-uniform distribution of production in basins, which is not related just to trap and source location. Clearly, exploration based on such a strategy may focus efforts on an area where traps End_Page 635------------------------------ and source rocks may appear conducive to hydrocarbon accumulation but where there are no hydrocarbons. A more effective strategy can be developed by first understanding the factors which control the path hydrocarbons take during migration. By determining the timing of hydrocarbon migration, the stratigraphy of carrier beds, and the paleostructural configuration of a basin at and since the time of migration, the pattern of hydrocarbon migration can be modeled. From this it is possible to make a reasonable prediction of the present distribution of hydrocarbons in a basin on a regional scale and to form an effective exploration program for prospect generation. This model is successfully applied in a test case to the middle Cretaceous D and J sands of the Dakota Group in the Denver basin. Most production in the basin is from these sands and is located in a 75-mi (121 km) wide fairway stretching from Denver east and north into western Nebraska. Hydrocarbon migration appears to have begun some time between the Late Cretaceous and middle Tertiary; hydrocarbons migrated a distance of up to 100 mi (161 km). Combination of paleostructural and stratigraphic maps indicates hydrocarbons were focused into the fairway mainly by the stratigraphy of the sands. This strategy works well in an already productive basin and can be particularly useful in frontier areas to make exploration programs more effective. End_of_Article - Last_Page 636------------
Prediction of oxygen transfer and total dissolved gas pressure in airlift pumping

Abstract The results of an experimental study to determine the oxygen transfer properties of a 38 mm diameter airlift pump are presented. The effects of varying initial bubble size, flow rate, flow pattern, and water quality on oxygen transfer were examined. Pumping efficiencies of the airlift pump were found to be as high or higher than centrifugal pumps and oxygen transfer efficiencies as high or higher than fine bubble diffuser aeration systems. Generalized predictive equations for oxygen and nitrogen transfer and supersaturation in airlift pumping are presented
Scanning electron microscopy of pulverulite in the Silurian Lockport Dolomite near Rocky Ridge, OH

Pulverulite, a soft, porous, and crumbly rock, is present in the Silurian Lockport Dolomite at a quarry near Rocky Ridge, OH. The great majority of the pulverulite forms bedding-perpendicular pipes. The most common characteristic of the pulverulite, as seen using scanning electron microscopy, is a series of rounded to subrounded masses of dolomite 5–20 µm in diameter. The author interprets that the pulverulite resulted from the downward percolation of very acidic groundwater, that resulted from chemical reactions involving tree roots and groundwater.
Acid and NaCl self-adaptation with micro-drop stimulation of fungiform papillae.

Abstract A small drop of either citric acid, HCl, or NaCl, judged to be approximately equal in magnitude, was applied to two papillae for a fixed duration (15 sec). The stimulus was then reapplied to the same papillae and judged for magnitude of sensation (“self-adaptation” design). NaCl was about 50% less intense after 15 sec or prior exposure whereas citric acid showed no significant decline and HCl showed either no decline or a significant increase in magnitude. When citric acid was tested with a longer exposure time (55 sec), significant decline in citric acid magnitude occurred for all subjects. These outcomes are discussed with regard to the problem of cutaneous irritation caused by certain stimuli and the difficulty of extracting cutaneous sensations from the sensory experience of strong concentrations of acids and salts.
The catalytic hydrolysis of phosphate ester bonds by thermal polymers of amino acids.

Abstract It was observed that proteinoids (thermally prepared polyamino acids containing the 18 common amino acids) promote the hydrolysis of the ester bond of p-nitrophenylphosphate. The catalytically active proteinoid was fractionated by gel filtration. The effects of enzyme inhibitors or divalent metal ions on the present reaction were similar to those on phosphatase-catalyzed reactions. The optimum pH, Michaelis constant, heat stability, and amino acid composition of the catalytically active proteinoid were investigated and are compared with natural phosphatases. The findings suggest the use of proteinoids as model compounds for investigations of prebiological enzyme-like materials and of the active site of enzymes.
Gen Htr : a tool for comparative assessment of genetic heterogeneity in microbial genomes generated by massive short-read sequencing

Microevolution is the study of short-term changes of alleles within a population and their effects on the phenotype of organisms. The result of the below-species-level evolution is heterogeneity, where populations consist of subpopulations with a large number of structural variations. Heterogeneity analysis is thus essential to our understanding of how selective and neutral forces shape bacterial populations over a short period of time. The Solexa Genome Analyzer, a next-generation sequencing platform, allows millions of short sequencing reads to be obtained with great accuracy, allowing for the ability to study the dynamics of the bacterial population at the whole genome level. The tool referred to as Gen Htr was developed for genome-wide heterogeneity analysis. For particular bacterial strains, Gen Htr relies on a set of Solexa short reads on given bacteria pathogens and their isogenic reference genome to identify heterogeneity sites, the chromosomal positions with multiple variants of genes in the bacterial population, and variations that occur in large gene families. Gen Htr accomplishes this by building and comparatively analyzing genome-wide heterogeneity genotypes for both the newly sequenced genomes (using massive short-read sequencing) and their isogenic reference (using simulated data). As proof of the concept, this approach was applied to SRX007711, the Solexa sequencing data for a newly sequenced Staphylococcus aureus subsp. USA300 cell line, and demonstrated that it could predict such multiple variants. They include multiple variants of genes critical in pathogenesis, e.g. genes encoding a LysR family transcriptional regulator, 23 S ribosomal RNA, and DNA mismatch repair protein MutS. The heterogeneity results in non-synonymous and nonsense mutations, leading to truncated proteins for both LysR and MutS. Gen Htr was developed for genome-wide heterogeneity analysis. Although it is much more time-consuming when compared to Maq, a popular tool for SNP analysis, Gen Htr is able to predict potential multiple variants that pre-exist in the bacterial population as well as SNPs that occur in the highly duplicated gene families. It is expected that, with the proper experimental design, this analysis can improve our understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying the dynamics and the evolution of drug-resistant bacterial pathogens.
Sonifying HTML tables for audio-spatially enhanced non-visual navigation

Computing is now ubiquitous. Accessing the Internet is increasingly common from mobile devices through cellular networks. The Internet is now used for shopping, communicating, and for finding employment and housing. More information is readily available than at any time in human history; however, this information is often inaccessible to people with blindness or low-vision. In order to increase access to information for these individuals, information must be presentable in non-visual formats. Presently, screen readers are able to verbalize on-screen text using text-to-speech (TTS) synthesis; however, this vocalization is inadequate for browsing the Internet. Modern operating systems have generally relied on a graphical display and a mouse for interfacing. For individuals with vision loss, we propose to create and test an auditory interface that incorporates an auditory-spatial orientation with a standard keyboard for input. If information can be structured as a two-dimensional table, each link can be semantically grouped as a cell in a row within the auditory table. This provides a consistent structure for non-visual auditory navigation. After testing the auditory display prototype with 13 participants, it was shown that stereo panning was an effective technique for audiospatially orienting non-visual navigation through a five-row, six-column HTML table as compared to a centered, stationary synthesized voice. Rather than be left out of ubiquitous computing, blind and low-vision individuals may benefit from increased efficiency and accuracy in non-visual navigation. This finding may also stimulate interest in non-visual computing while performing other tasks, such as walking, eating, or driving.
High-Avidity, Low-Affinity Multivalent Interactions and the Block to Polyspermy in Xenopus laevis

The interaction of the lectin XL35 with the jelly coat protein (JCP) surrounding oocytes in Xenopus laevis is essential for the block to polyspermy. The molecular details of this event are poorly understood, and the present study has been undertaken with a view to delineating the mechanism of formation of the fertilization envelope. A range of JCP-derived oligosaccharides were synthesized, and all were installed with an artificial aminopropyl arm. This arm allowed the preparation of monovalent derivatives by acetylation of the amino group or the synthesis of polyvalent compounds by attachment to an activated polyacrylamide polymer. A number of analytical techniques, including enzyme-linked lectin assays and surface plasmon resonance, have been developed and utilized to study the interactions of the mono- and polyvalent compounds with XL35. The results reveal that the lectin XL35 has remarkably broad specificity for galactose-containing saccharides and the affinities are only slightly modulated by secondary features, such as anomeric configuration of the terminal sugar or the identity and linkage pattern of branching sugars. Broad specificity was also observed when the saccharides were presented in a polyvalent fashion. The glycopolymers displayed 10-20-fold increases in valency-corrected affinities compared to the corresponding monovalent counterparts. Although the synthetic polymers are not as potent as the JCP, the kinetics of their interactions mirror closely those of the native ligand, and in each case extremely long-lived interactions were observed. The results of this study indicate that, in X. laevis, the true biological function of multivalency is not to create an extremely tightly binding complex between XL35 and its natural ligand but, instead, to create a very stable protective layer that will not dissociate and is yet flexible enough to encapsulate the developing embryo. It is postulated that, even if these partners are unable to attain true equilibrium on the time scale of the biological event, their mode of interaction would, nevertheless, be expected to guarantee an insurmountable physical block to polyspermy. This study has also highlighted that multivalent interactions require a very long time to achieve equilibrium, and this feature may well be the origin of several of the ambiguities reported in the literature when multivalent ligands have been evaluated.
The crystal habit and morphology of polybutylene terephthalate and related copolymers

Abstract The morphology and crystal habit of segmented copolymers of poly(butylene terephthalate) have been investigated. Single crystals have been grown from the melt in thin films of a 73% poly(butylene terephthalate) content copolymer. The crystals exhibit (hk0) single crystal electron diffraction patterns which indexes to the alpha crystal form of poly(butylene terephthalate). The lamellae are bounded by (010) faces on the long edges of the crystals and (100) and (1−10) faces at the crystal tip. The c ~ ) axis of the unit cell (and hence the polymer chain) is normal to the lamellar surface. The preferred growth direction of the crystal is [210]∗ which is parallel to the projection of the a ~ axis on the a ~ ∗− b ~ ∗ plane. The a ~ axis is inclined at 26° to the a ~ ∗− b ~ ∗ plane. The [2−10]∗ fast growth direction observed for the lamellae also corresponds to the radial growth direction observed in spherulites grown from the melt. The radiation lifetime (100 kV electrons, 23°C) of poly(butylene terephthalate) and poly(butylene terephthalate)-poly(tetramethylene ether glycol) copolymers was measured and found to be 150 C m−2, independent of copolymer composition.
Excitation-contraction coupling in heart: new insights from Ca2+ sparks

Ca2+ sparks, the elementary units of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ release in cardiac, smooth and skeletal muscle are localized (2-4 microns ) increases in intracellular Ca2+ concentration, [Ca2+]i, that last briefly (30-100 ms). These Ca2+ sparks arise from the openings of a single SR Ca2+ release channel (ryanodine receptor, RyR) or a few RyRs acting in concert. In heart muscle, Ca2+ sparks can occur spontaneously in quiescent cells at a low rate (100 s-1 per cell). Identical Ca2+ sparks are also triggered by depolarization because the voltage-gated sarcolemmal L-type Ca2+ channels (dihydropyridine receptors, DHPRs) locally increase [Ca2+]i and thereby activate the RyRs by Ca(2+)-induced Ca2+ release (CICR). The exquisite responsiveness of this process, reflected by the ability of even a single DHPR to activate a Ca2+ spark, is perhaps due to the large local increase in [Ca2+]i in the vicinity of the RyR that is a consequence of the close apposition of the DHPRs and the RyRs. In this review we examine our current understanding of cardiac excitation-contraction (EC) coupling in light of recent studies on the elementary Ca2+ release events or Ca2+ sparks. In addition, we further characterized Ca2+ spark properties in rat and mouse heart cells. Specifically we have determined that: (i) Ca2+ sparks occur at the junctions between the transverse-tubules and the SR in both species; (ii) Ca2+ sparks are asymmetric, being 18% longer in the longitudinal direction than in the transverse direction; and (iii) Ca2+ sparks individually do not produce measurable sarcomere shortening (< 1%). These results are discussed with respect to local activation of the RyRs, the stability of CICR, Ca2+ diffusion, and the theory of EC coupling.
Signature-whistle production in undisturbed free-ranging bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

Data from behavioural observations and acoustic recordings of free-ranging bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) were analysed to determine whether signature whistles are produced by wild undisturbed dolphins, and how whistle production varies with activity and group size. The study animals were part of a resident community of bottlenose dolphins near Sarasota, Florida, USA. This community of dolphins provides a unique opportunity for the study of signature-whistle production, since most animals have been recorded during capture-release events since 1975. Three mother-calf pairs and their associates were recorded for a total of 141.25 h between May and August of 1994 and 1995. Whistles of undisturbed dolphins were compared with those recorded from the same individuals during capture-release events. Whistles were conservatively classified into one of four categories: signature, probable signature, upsweep or other. For statistical analyses, signature and probable signature whistles were combined into a 'signature' category; upsweep and other whistles were combined into a 'non-signature' category. Both 'signature' and 'non-signature' whistle frequencies significantly increased as group size increased. There were significant differences in whistle frequencies across activity types: both 'signature' and 'non-signature' whistles were most likely to occur during socializing and least likely to occur during travelling. There were no significant interactions between group size and activity type. Signature and probable signature whistles made up ca. 52% of all whistles produced by these free-ranging bottlenose dolphins.
Spatial and temporal variability in forest–atmosphere CO2 exchange

Seven years of carbon dioxide flux measurements indicate that a ~ 90-year-old spruce dominated forest in Maine, USA, has been sequestering 174±46 gCm-2 yr-1 (mean±1 standard deviation, nocturnal friction velocity (u*) threshold >0.25ms-1). An analysis of monthly flux anomalies showed that above-average spring and fall temperatures were significantly correlated with greater monthly C uptake while above-average summer temperatures were correlated with decreased net C uptake. Summer months with significantly drier or wetter soils than normal were also characterized by lower rates of C uptake. Years with above-average C storage were thus typically characterized by warmer than average spring and fall temperatures and adequate summer soil moisture.
A Futures Duration‐Convexity Hedging Method

A duration-based hedge ratio is the conventional method to hedge against price changes of a fixed-income instrument. However, the relationship between bond prices and interest rates is nonlinear, creating a convexity effect. Moreover, term structure changes often are nonparallel in nature, which causes imperfect hedges for the duration-based hedging model. One solution to these problems is to dynamically change the duration-based hedge ratio; however, this procedure is costly and is not effective when jumps in prices occur. A superior solution is to develop a two-instrument hedge ratio that simultaneously hedges both duration and convexity effects. This paper first presents such a two-instrument hedge ratio and then we examine its effectiveness. The simulation results show that this duration-convexity hedge ratio is vastly superior to alternative hedge ratio methods for both simple and complex changes in the term structure.
Brain Activation While Thinking About the Self From Another Person's Perspective After Traumatic Brain Injury in Adolescents

Deficits in self awareness and taking the perspective of others are often observed following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Nine adolescents (ages 12-19 years) who had sustained moderate to severe TBI after an average interval of 2.6 years and nine typically developing (TD) adolescents underwent functional MRI (fMRI) while performing a perspective taking task (D'Argembeau et al., 2007). Participants made trait attributions either from their own perspective or from that of the significant other. The groups did not differ in reaction time or on a consistency criterion. When thinking of the self from a third-person perspective, adolescents with TBI demonstrated greater activation in posterior brain regions implicated in social cognition, the left lingual gyrus (BA 18) and posterior cingulate (BA 31), extending into neighboring regions not generally associated with social cognition, that is, cuneus (BA 31) and parahippocampal gyrus, relative to TD adolescents. We postulate that adolescents with moderate to severe TBI recruited alternative neural pathways during perspective-taking because traumatic axonal injury disrupted their fronto-parietal networks mediating social cognition.
Flame-retardant additives for lithium-ion batteries

Abstract To enhance the resistance of lithium-ion battery components to ignition and to reduce the flammability of the electrolyte with minimal effect on performance, we added flame-retardant additives to the electrolyte. The flame retardants were selected from a group of organic phosphate compounds, triphenylphosphate (TPP) and tributylphosphate (TBP), to provide superior thermal safety in lithium-ion cells at the fully charged state. The cycling characteristics of the lithium-ion cells containing flame-retardant additives were found to be similar or superior to the cells that contained no additives. Horizontal burning tests of electrolytes were carried out in a flame test chamber referenced by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) test standard 94 (UL 94) and ASTM D4986-98 to evaluate the electrolyes’ flammability characteristics. The thermal stability characteristics of the electrodes and electrolytes with and without flame-retardant additives were investigated by accelerating rate calorimetry (ARC). Negative electrode samples with electrolytes containing flame-retardant additives revealed less heat generation and higher-onset decomposition temperatures. The results disclose that the thermal safety of lithium-ion cells can be improved by incorporating small amounts of suitable additives such as triphenylphosphate and tributylphosphate to the electrolyte.
Making the case for health-enhancing laws after Bloomberg.

The last of five commentaries on “Bloomberg's Health Legacy: Urban Innovator or Meddling Nanny?” from the September-October 2013.
Fibronectin adsorption on titanium surfaces and its effect on osteoblast precursor cell attachment

Abstract The objective of this study was to investigate the adsorption of fibronectin on titanium (Ti) surfaces and the effect of pre-adsorbed fibronectin on osteoblast precursor cell attachment in vitro. Two different concentrations of bovine fibronectin were used in this study. Protein adsorption on Ti surfaces was analyzed using the micro bicinchoninic acid (BCA) protein assay. Cell concentration on Ti and fibronectin pre-adsorbed Ti surfaces after 3 h incubation was analyzed using the Vybrant™ cell adhesion assay. Cell morphology on Ti and fibronectin pre-adsorbed Ti surfaces was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). After 180 min incubation, maximum adsorption of bovine fibronectin on Ti surfaces was observed. Fibronectin adsorption on Ti surfaces was observed to be significantly dependent on the initial concentration and the amount of incubation time. In the presence of 1 mg/ml fibronectin pre-adsorbed on Ti surfaces after 15 min, osteoblast precursor cell attachment on Ti surfaces was observed to be enhanced compared with control Ti surfaces, Ti surfaces pre-adsorbed with 1 mg/ml fibronectin for 180 min, and Ti surfaces pre-adsorbed with 0.1 mg/ml fibronectin for 15 and 180 min. No significant difference in cell attachment was observed between control Ti surfaces, Ti surfaces pre-adsorbed with fibronectin for 180 min, and Ti surfaces pre-adsorbed with 0.1 mg/ml fibronectin for 15 and 180 min. In addition, no differences in cell morphology of the attached osteoblast precursor cells on control Ti surfaces and Ti surfaces pre-adsorbed with fibronectin were observed in this study. It was concluded that an optimum concentration of adsorbed fibronectin on Ti surfaces plays an important role in governing cell attachment.
Separation of a material in streptokinase-streptodornase which induces delayed skin reaction

Abstract Streptokinase-streptodornase (SK-SD) is a mixture of proteins elaborated by β-hemolytic streptococci. Previous studies have documented several biologic activities of this mixture including: (1) activation of plasminogen by streptokinase and (2) eliciting delayed skin test reactions in a high percentage of adults with a gross and histologic appearance similar to that seen in the tuberculin reaction. In the present study, fractions of SK-SD responsible for plasminogen activation and for skin test antigenicity were separated by column chromatography on DEAE Sephadex. Peak I fractions elicited strongly positive skin tests but did not activate plasminogen. Peak III fractions activated plasminogen but were devoid of skin test reactivity. Therefore, we concluded that the protein mediating the delayed skin reaction has been separated from that with streptokinase activity.
Biphasic Finite Element Modeling of Hydrated Soft Tissue Contact Using an Augmented Lagrangian Method

A study of biphasic soft tissues contact is fundamental to understanding the biomechanical behavior of human diarthrodial joints. To date, biphasic-biphasic contact has been developed for idealized geometries and not been accessible for more general geometries. In this paper a finite element formulation is developed for contact of biphasic tissues. The augmented Lagrangian method is used to enforce the continuity of contact traction and fluid pressure across the contact interface, and the resulting method is implemented in the commercial software COMSOL Multiphysics. The accuracy of the implementation is verified using 2D axisymmetric problems, including indentation with a flat-ended indenter, indentation with spherical-ended indenter, and contact of glenohumeral cartilage layers. The biphasic finite element contact formulation and its implementation are shown to be robust and able to handle physiologically relevant problems.
A prospective, double-blind study of metoclopramide hydrochloride for the control of migraine in the emergency department

Study objective: To determine the effectiveness of IV metoclopramide as sole therapy for relieving the pain of acute migraine in the emergency department. Design: Prospective study. Fifty patients were divided randomly into subjects and placebo controls with blinding of the treating physician and the patient. Participants: Patients presenting to the ED with migraine requiring parenteral treatment. Interventions: Subjects received 10 mg IV metoclopramide and controls received IV normal saline; patient assessment of relief was followed by means of a numerical scale. Measurements and main results: Sixty-seven percent of subjects compared with 19% of controls had effective pain relief within one hour ( P P Conclusion: IV metoclopramide as a single agent is effective and safe therapy for migraine in the ED.
Isotopic and Kinetic Assessment of the Mechanism of CH3OH−H2O Catalysis on Supported Copper Clusters

This study provides kinetic and isotopic evidence for the identity and kinetic relevance of elementary steps in CH3OH−H2O reactions on monofunctional Cu-based catalysts. H2, CO2, and CO were the only products formed in these reactions, which proceed via kinetically relevant C−H bond activation in chemisorbed methoxides. All other elementary steps are in quasi-equilibrium, consistent with the effects of reactants and products on rates, with isotopic tracing and kinetic isotope evidence, and with the equilibrated nature of water gas shift reactions at all reaction conditions. Turnover rates increased with CH3OH pressure but did not depend on CO, CO2, or H2O concentrations. H2 inhibited CH3OH−H2O reactions by decreasing the concentration of surface methoxide intermediates via quasi-equilibrated CH3OH dissociation steps. Isotopic scrambling was complete among hydroxyl groups in methanol and water, but undetectable among hydroxyl and methyl groups in methanol, consistent with quasi-equilibrated O−H activation ...
Financial and Household Exchanges between Generations

Both foundations of the modified extended family model, residential location and marital status, determine exchange patterns. Another dimension of family exchange is the history of relationships; adult children were once members of the nuclear household and relationships and patterns of exchange began in that setting. Families build on past relationships as well as being responsive to differences in the needs of its family members. Furthermore, the number of parent-child dyads within a family affect interaction patterns.
LFAD: Locally- and Feature-Adaptive Diffusion based Image Denoising

LFAD is a novel locally- and feature-adaptive diffusion based method for removing additive white Gaussian (AWG) noise in images. The method approaches each image region individually and uses a different number of diffusion iterations per region to attain the best objective quality according to the PSNR metric. Unlike block-tra nsform based methods, which perform with a pre- determined block size, and clustering-based denoising methods, which use a fixed number of classes, our method searches for an optimum patch size through an iterative diffusion process. It is initialized with a small patch size and proceeds with aggregated (i.e., merged) patches until the best PSNR value is attained. Then the diffusion model is modified; instead of the gradient value, we use the inverse difference moment (IDM), which is a robust feature in determining the amount of local intensity variation in the presence of noise. Experiments with benchmark images and various noise levels show that the designed LFAD outperforms advanced diffusion- based denoising methods, and it is competitive with state-of-the-art block -transformed techniques; block and ring artifacts inherent to transform-based methods are reduced while PSNR levels are comparable.
Endoplasmic reticulum heat shock protein gp96 maintains liver homeostasis and promotes hepatocellular carcinogenesis

Background & Aims gp96, or grp94, is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-localized heat shock protein 90 paralog that acts as a protein chaperone and plays an important role for example in ER homeostasis, ER stress, Wnt and integrin signaling, and calcium homeostasis, which are vital processes in oncogenesis. However, the cancer-intrinsic function of gp96 remains controversial. Methods We studied the roles of gp96 in liver biology in mice via an Albumin promoter-driven Cre recombinase-mediated disruption of gp96 gene, hsp90b1 . The impact of gp96 status on hepatic carcinogenesis in response to diethyl-nitrosoamine (DENA) was probed. The roles of gp96 on human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HCC) were also examined pharmacologically with a targeted gp96 inhibitor. Results We demonstrated that gp96 maintains liver development and hepatocyte function in vivo , and its loss genetically promotes adaptive accumulation of long chain ceramides, accompanied by steatotic regeneration of residual gp96+ hepatocytes. The need for compensatory expansion of gp96+ cells in the gp96− background predisposes mice to develop carcinogen-induced hepatic hyperplasia and cancer from gp96+ but not gp96− hepatocytes. We also found that genetic and pharmacological inhibition of gp96 in human HCCs perturbed multiple growth signals, and attenuated proliferation and expansion. Conclusions gp96 is a pro-oncogenic chaperone and an attractive therapeutic target for HCC.
Analysis of uncertainty in a salt marsh carbon cycling model: A comparison of methods

Abstract Both linear sensitivity analysis and the comparison principle are used to analyze the effect of parameter bias (constant error in the parameters) on the predictions of the Spartina subcomponent of a salt marsh carbon cycling model. A stochastic version of the model and a linear approximation to it are both used to analyze the effects of variance (randomly fluctuating error). Bias is the more serious problem, and the linear sensitivity analysis gives poor error estimates for 10% parameter bias compared to the exact results from the comparison principle, although it does well for 1% parameter bias. Error from bias can be reduced by including thresholds and carrying capacities directly as model parameters. Linear approximations do a fairly good job of predicting the effects of variance. Error from both sources increases rapidly during periods of rapid Spartina growth, but decreases as the system approaches equilibrium.
Genetic enhancements and expectations

Some argue that genetic enhancements and environmental enhancements are not importantly different: environmental enhancements such as private schools and chess lessons are simply the old-school way to have a designer baby. I argue that there is an important distinction between the two practices—a distinction that makes state restrictions on genetic enhancements more justifiable than state restrictions on environmental enhancements. The difference is that parents have no settled expectations about genetic enhancements.
Rights and Social Choice: Is There a Paretian Libertarian Paradox?

In 1970 Amartya Sen exposed an apparent antinomy that has come to be known as the Paradox of the Paretian Libertarian (Sen, 1970b, pp. 152–57). Sen introduced his paradox by establishing a simple but startling theorem. Roughly put, what he proved was that if a mechanism for selecting social choice functions satisfies two standard adequacy conditions, there are possible situations in which it will violate either the very weak libertarian precept that every individual has at least some rights or the seemingly innocuous Paretian principle that an option should be judged unacceptable if there is an available alternative that everyone prefers to it. Many economists and philosophers have proposed solutions to Sen's problem, but there is no general consensus on what solution (if any) is correct. In the present paper I argue that Sen's original theorem fails to establish the existence of any conflict between libertarianism and Paretianism. Furthermore, I contend that Sen has misinterpreted certain other theorems which he has used to defend the existence of a paradoxical conflict between these two doctrines. In general, I try to show that whenever Sen posits a Paretian-libertarian conflict to explain an apparently troubling result in social choice theory, the difficulty can be better dealt with either by claiming that the theorem in question imposes overly strong background constraints on the form of social choice functions or by claiming that it relies on an unacceptable construal of individual rights.
Are Ethics and Efficiency Locked in Antithesis

We argue that ethics and efficiency are not locked in antitheses; that is, we argue that ethics and efficiency are not related in a fixed way. To do this we first argue that we have obligations to other human beings, animals and the environment. These obligations can be grounded in a number of moral theories that share a common normative outcome. We then explicate two conceptions of how ethics and efficiency may and actually do coexist in the food market. We argue that our moral obligations must be included in analyses of the behavior and performance of agri-food markets and that these duties do not lead to inefficiency, per se. At a minimum, they represent a set of constraints on production to which efficient producers adhere. We also note that there are markets for ethically produced foods, ranging from Fair Trade commodities to organic vegetables, wherein producers and consumers discover the prices of ethical attributes in efficient exchange. However, the existence of these markets for ethically produced products does not exhaust our moral obligations. If we have such duties, they must be institutionalized throughout the sector.
Vaccine approaches for multidrug resistant Gram negative infections

Multidrug resistant (MDR) Gram negative bacterial infections are increasing in frequency and are associated with significant financial costs, morbidity and mortality. Current antibiotic therapies are associated with unacceptably poor clinical outcomes and toxicity. Unfortunately, the development of novel antimicrobials is stagnant leaving a significant clinical need for alternative treatments of MDR Gram negative rod infections. Recent preclinical studies have identified Th17 cells as critical mediators of broadly protective adaptive immunity, including protection against MDR infections. Studies of Th17 eliciting antigens, adjuvants and routes of immunization have identified potential vaccine strategies that may confer long-lived adaptive immunity against MDR Gram negative bacterial infections.
An HPC component for parallel, heterogeneous, and dynamic unstructured meshes

Multi-physics HPC applications with mixed discretization schemes, adaptive unstructured meshes, and parallel distributed data sets have inherent complexity that must be managed. Design concepts embedded in the mesh data structures will either segregate complexity from, or compound complexity throughout, such applications. A recent research effort at Sandia National Laboratories is focusing on performance modeling and analysis of these complex applications. For this effort portable compact mini-applications (a.k.a. "dwarf" applications) are being developed to approximate the performance of corresponding "real" applications. For one of these mini-applications a new, fully functional, component has been developed for parallel, heterogeneous, and dynamic unstructured meshes (phdMesh). This component will be made available at software.sandia.gov. A decade of experience with a variety of target applications has led to the concise concepts, object oriented design, and minimalistic application programmer interface (API) of the phdMesh component.
Midiendo diferenciación en riqueza en el registro arqueológico: una propuesta aplicada en el área andina intermedia

Despite the abundance of literature on the role of economics in the development of social inequalities manyof the comparative studies on the topic have used multiple methodologies, even within the same study;or have employed inadequate variables to identify economic or social inequalities. This article describeschanges in the distribution of wealth at the communal scale, of three trajectories of social development inthe Intermediate Area (Mesitas, El Venado and HE-4) by using Lorenz curves and Gini coefficients. Thesemeasures allow an objective and comparable evaluation of societies with similar levels of social inequalityas inferred from burial practices. The results contribute to the discussion of the role of economic inequalityin the institutionalization of social inequalities (or vice versa). It is indicated that: a) the rates of economicinequality within a social developmental trajectory increase when social inequalities are materialized incontexts different from household consumption; b) egalitarian communities have similar levels of wealthdistribution, but they differ from the levels of wealth distribution of communities with materializedsocial inequalities, regardless of the mechanisms that led to the institutionalization of these inequalities.
Brain Trauma Enhances Transient Cytomegalovirus Invasion of the Brain Only in Mice That Are Immunodeficient

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is one of the most common viral pathogens leading to neurological dysfunction in individuals with depressed immune systems. How CMV enters the brain remains an open question. The hypothesis that brain injury may enhance the entrance of CMV into the brain was tested. Insertion of a sterile needle into the brain caused a dramatic increase in mouse CMV in the brains of immunodeficient SCID mice inoculated peripherally within an hour of injury and examined 1 week later; peripheral inoculation 48 h after injury and a 1-week survival resulted in only a modest infection at the site of injury. In contrast, uninjured SCID mice, as well as injured immunocompetent control mice, showed little sign of viral infection at the same time intervals. Direct inoculation of the brain resulted in widespread dispersal and enhanced replication of mCMV in SCID brains tested 1 week later but not in parallel control brains. Differential viremia was unlikely to account for the greater viral load in the SCID brain, since increased mCMV in the blood of SCID compared to controls was not detected until a longer interval. These data suggest that brain injury enhances CMV invasion of the brain, but only when the adaptive immune system is compromised, and that the brain's ability to resist viral infection recovers rapidly after injury.
Assessment of Nutrient Supplement to Reduce Gentamicin-Induced Ototoxicity

Gentamicin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic used to treat gram-negative bacterial infections. Treatment with this antibiotic carries the potential for adverse side effects, including ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity. Ototoxic effects are at least in part a consequence of oxidative stress, and various antioxidants have been used to attenuate gentamicin-induced hair cell death and hearing loss. Here, a combination of nutrients previously shown to reduce oxidative stress in the hair cells and attenuate hearing loss after other insults was evaluated for potential protection against gentamicin-induced ototoxicity. Guinea pigs were maintained on a nutritionally complete standard laboratory animal diet or a diet supplemented with β-carotene, vitamins C and E, and magnesium. Three diets with iterative increases in nutrient levels were screened; the final diet selected for study use was one that produced statistically reliable increases in plasma levels of vitamins C and E and magnesium. In two separate studies, significant decreases in gentamicin-induced hearing loss at frequencies including 12 kHz and below were observed, with less benefit at the higher frequencies. Consistent with the functional protection, robust protection of both the inner and outer hair cell populations was observed, with protection largely in the upper half of the cochlea. Protection was independently assessed in two different laboratories, using two different strains of guinea pigs. Additional in vitro tests did not reveal any decrease in antimicrobial activity with nutrient additives. Currently, there are no FDA-approved treatments for the prevention of gentamicin-induced ototoxicity. The current data provide a rationale for continued investigations regarding translation to human patients.
Medication-Assisted Treatment: Overcoming Individual Resistance Among Members in Groups Whose Membership Consists of Both Users and Nonusers of MAT: A Clinical Review

The last two decades have seen a variety of medication-assisted therapies (MATs) become available for the treatment of both opioid and alcohol dependency. The choice to accept or decline MAT is an individual patient choice tempered by a variety of variables. Nevertheless, group therapy has been the mainstay of treatment for the substance abuse population, and often when relapse occurs, clients are either reintroduced to MAT or offered MAT as an adjunct to the recovery process. In this setting, patients are subsequently placed into a therapy group that consists of both members on MAT and those who are not on MAT. This becomes a natural line of demarcation within the group pitting patients who are on MAT against those who are not. This attitude can cause conflict between members in a therapy group and presents a unique form of individual resistance in the group therapy setting. After a brief review of MAT and the concept of resistance in group therapy, the authors offer interventions for overcoming this uni...
Psychological Consequences of Multiple Social Roles

This research relies on data from a survey conducted in 1981 to explore the potential negative and positive consequences of having multiple roles. The responses of 500 employed women to questions about self-esteem, satisfaction with careers, partners, and children, and perceptions of life stress and pleasure were examined. The number of roles held by respondents ranged from 1 to 5 (worker, partner, parent, volunteer, and student). The results indicated that higher self-esteem and greater job satisfaction were associated with holding more roles. However, neither marital nor parental satisfaction was consistently related to the number of roles held. Although the majority of working women reported their lives to be stressful, this finding was independent of the number of roles held, and women with more roles did not consistently report a greater number of stressful life domains. These findings suggest that, for employed women, having multiple roles may enhance psychological well-being.
Environmental Pollutant Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether, a Flame Retardant, Induces Primary Amnion Cell Senescence.

OBJECTIVE: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are documented to increase the risk for spontaneous preterm birth (PTB). We hypothesize that PBDEs cause oxidative stress (OS) that leads to fetal cell senescence and inflammation associated with PTB. METHODS: Primary amnion epithelial cells (n = 5) isolated from term, not in labor pregnancies, were exposed to PBDE congeners 47 and 99 (each 5 μm). ROS kinetics was monitored. Morphologic changes, phospho-p38 MAPK (P-p38) activation, development of senescence, and induction of uterotonins (COX-2 expression) were quantified using light microscopy, Western blot, senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA β-gal) staining, and qRT-PCR, respectively, after 48 and 72 hr of exposure. RESULTS: Both PBDE congeners induced ROS within 2 min compared to controls (P CONCLUSIONS: Congener-dependent OS response, p38 MAPK activation, senescence, and COX-2 expression were seen in human amnion cells by PBDEs. These findings demonstrate environment pollutant-induced senescence activation and inflammation can lead to pathways resulting in PTB. Language: en