cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
DEPRESSION OF CORTICAL SOMATOSENSORY EVOKED POTENTIALS BY NITROUS OXIDE

The effects of the inhalation of50% nitrous oxide on somatosensory evoked potentials during a fentanyf-oxygen anaesthetic technique for central nervous system surgery were evaluated. The latency and amplitude of the first cortical wave were obtained using conventional somatosensory techniques with median or posterior tibialnerve stimulation. Data were collected before and after the inhalation of 50% nitrous oxide in oxygen introduced at the conclusion of the surgical procedure. The addition of nitrous oxide was associated with consistent decreases in the amplitude of somatosensory evoked potentials, but with no significant changes in latency. Since no electrical, physiological, or surgical event was associated with these changes, the results suggest that they were attributable to nitrous oxide per se.
Alendronate decreases urine calcium and supersaturation in genetic hypercalciuric rats

Alendronate decreases urine calcium and supersaturation in genetic hypercalciuric rats. Background The mechanism of excess urine calcium excretion in human idiopathic hypercalciuria (IH) has not been determined but may be secondary to enhanced intestinal calcium absorption, decreased renal calcium reabsorption, and/or enhanced bone demineralization. We have developed a strain of genetic hypercalciuric stone-forming (GHS) rats as an animal model of human IH. When these GHS rats are placed on a low-calcium diet (LCD), urinary calcium (U Ca ) excretion exceeds dietary calcium intake, suggesting that bone may contribute to the excess U Ca excretion. We used the GHS rats to test the hypothesis that bone contributes to the persistent IH when they are fed an LCD by determining if alendronate (Aln), which inhibits bone resorption, would decrease U Ca excretion. Methods GHS rats ( N = 16) and the parent strain (Ctl, N = 16) were fed 13 g/day of a normal (1.2%) calcium diet (NCD) for seven days and were then switched to a LCD (0.02%) for seven days. Ctl and GHS rats in each group were then continued on LCD for an additional seven days, with or without injection of Aln (50 μg/kg/24 hrs). U Ca excretion was measured daily during the last five days of each seven-day period. To determine the effects of Aln on urine supersaturation, the experiment was repeated. All relevant ions were measured, and supersaturation with respect to calcium oxalate and calcium hydrogen phosphate was determined at the end of each period. Results U Ca was greater in GHS than in Ctl on NCD (7.4 ± 0.5 mg/24 hrs vs. 1.2 ± 0.1, GHS vs. Ctl, p P Ca in GHS rats and brought GHS U Ca well below calcium intake. Aln caused a marked decrease in calcium oxalate and calcium hydrogen phosphate supersaturation. Conclusion Thus, on a LCD, there is a significant contribution of bone calcium to the increased U Ca in this model of IH. Aln is effective in decreasing both U Ca and supersaturation. The Aln-induced decrease in urine supersaturation should be beneficial in preventing stone formation in humans, if these results, observed in a short-term study using the hypercalciuric stone-forming rat can be confirmed in longer term human studies.
The Practical Organization of Moral Transactions: Gift Giving, Market Exchange, Credit, and the Making of Diaspora Bonds

The fusion of gift giving and market exchange elements in economic transactions creates practical difficulties. How can the parties involved agree about the meaning of their engagement and the value of the exchanged objects? This article tackles the topic—an important one in economic sociology—by looking at moral transactions (i.e., transactions that combine pecuniary and ethical considerations). Through an empirical study of the issuance of Irish and Israeli diaspora bonds during the 1920s and 1950s, respectively, I identify practices that help actors overcome the difficulties inherent in moral transactions. Clarification practices allow actors to treat the exchange as either gift giving or market exchange. Blurring practices allow actors to complete a transaction without agreeing on its meaning. Blurring practices require creating a zone of indeterminacy, that is, a context in which the parties can cooperate without agreeing on their relationships. The broader implications of these practices are then discussed.
Sites of UV-induced phosphorylation of the p34 subunit of replication protein A from HeLa cells.

Exposure of mammalian cells to UV radiation alters gene expression and cell cycle progression; some of these responses may ensure survival or serve as mutation-avoidance mechanisms, lessening the consequences of UV-induced DNA damage. We showed previously that UV irradiation increases phosphorylation of the p34 subunit of human replication protein A (RPA) and that this hyperphosphorylation correlated with loss of activity of the DNA replication complex. To characterize further the role of RPA hyperphosphorylation in the cellular response to UV irradiation and to determine which protein kinases might be involved, we identified by phosphopeptide analysis the sites phosphorylated in the p34 subunit of RPA (RPA-p34) from HeLa cells before and after exposure to 30 J/m2 UV light. In unirradiated HeLa cells, RPA-p34 is phosphorylated primarily at Ser-23 and Ser-29. At least four of the eight serines and one threonine in the N-terminal 33 residues of RPA-p34 can become phosphorylated after UV irradiation. Two of these sites (Ser-23 and Ser-29) are known to be sites phosphorylated by Cdc2 kinase; two others (Thr-21 and Ser-33) are consensus sites for the DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK); the fifth site (Ser-11, -12, or -13) does not correspond to the (Ser/Thr)-Gln DNA-PK consensus. All five can be phosphorylated in vitro by incubating purified RPA with purified DNA-PK. Two additional sites, probably Ser-4 and Ser-8, are phosphorylated in vivoafter UV irradiation and in vitro by purified DNA-PK. The capacity of purified DNA-PK to phosphorylate many of these same sites on RPA-p34 in vitro implicates DNA-PK or a kinase with similar specificity in the UV-induced hyperphosphorylation of RPAin vivo.
HIGH SPEED ROTARY PULSE WIDTH MODULATED ON/OFF VALVE ∗

A key enabling technology to effective on/off valve based control of hydraulic systems is the high speed on/off valve. High speed valves improve system efficiency for a given PWM frequency, offer faster control bandwidth, and produce smaller output pressure ripples. Current valves rely on the linear translation of a spool or poppet to meter flow. The valve spool must reverse direction twice per PWM cycle. This constant acceleration and deceleration of the spool requires a power input proportional to the PWM frequency cubed. As a result, current linear valves are severely limited in their switching frequencies. In this paper, we present a novel fluid driven PWM on/off valve design that is based on a unidirectional rotary spool. The spool is rotated by capturing momentum from the fluid flow through the valve. The on/off functionality of our design is achieved via helical barriers that protrude from the surface of a cylindrical spool. As the spool rotates, the helical barriers selectively channel the flow to the application (on) or to tank (off). The duty ratio is controlled by altering the axial position of the spool. Since the spool no longer accelerates or decelerates during operation, the power input to drive the valve must only compensate for viscous friction, which is proportional to the PWM frequency squared. We predict that our current design, sized for a nominal flow rate of 40l/m, can achieve a PWM frequency of 84Hz. This paper presents our valve concept, design equations, and an analysis of predicted performance. A simulation of our design is also presented.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Sufficiency of detector information under incomplete configuration for intersection OD estimation

To generate effective control strategy, traffic signal control systems require reliable estimates of turning movement flows. However, current control systems are often hungry for extensive detector information from a rich detector configuration. Due to various factors, maintaining satisfactory functionality in surveillance systems, although not impossible, is somehow difficult. A question is raised as to whether the surveillance system provides sufficient detector information for the controllers. Detector information sufficiency can be evaluated in both temporal or spatial dimensions. This paper focuses on investigating the detector information quality as a function of the density of spatial distribution. With a full set of detectors at intersections, it has been established that useful estimates of turning movement proportions can be generated using OLS-based methods, given time-series of input and output counts are available. A partial set of detectors will provide less information, leading to estimates with less accuracy and greater variability. The important issue is how dense does the detector configuration need to be to provide sufficient information to support parameter estimation. This paper investigates this issue based on the notion of identifiability. A numerical test is also proposed to evaluate the sufficiency of particular detector configuration.
P04.71. Acupuncture, self-care homeopathy, and practitioner-based homeopathy: comparing users in the 2007 NHIS

Results All users were significantly more likely than the general population to be female, to have a Bachelor’s or higher education and to describe their health as good to excellent. However, acupuncture users were significantly more likely to score in the range of Serious Mental Illness on the K6 depression scale. Self-care homeopathy was most used by individuals of multiple race (4.4%), followed by Native Americans (3.8%); practitioner guided homeopathy by Asian Indians (2.1%); and acupuncture by Chinese (6.8%). Whites seemed more likely to use homeopathy (1.9%) than acupuncture (1.6%), but the difference was not significant (p=0.10). Of the conditions listed, homeopathy was most used for respiratory infections and acupuncture for back pain. All users were significantly more likely than the general population to have delayed or not obtained medical care because of cost. In contrast, they were also more likely to have income from interest and investments. Realistic estimates of actual expenditures are difficult due to the bimodal nature of the question asked with a threshold of $500.
Residential Building Codes, Affordability, and Health Protection: A Risk‐Tradeoff Approach

Residential building codes intended to promote health and safety may produce unintended countervailing risks by adding to the cost of construction. Higher construction costs increase the price of new homes and may increase health and safety risks through “income” and “stock” effects. The income effect arises because households that purchase a new home have less income remaining for spending on other goods that contribute to health and safety. The stock effect arises because suppression of new-home construction leads to slower replacement of less safe housing units. These countervailing risks are not presently considered in code debates. We demonstrate the feasibility of estimating the approximate magnitude of countervailing risks by combining the income effect with three relatively well understood and significant home-health risks. We estimate that a code change that increases the nationwide cost of constructing and maintaining homes by $150 (0.1% of the average cost to build a single-family home) would induce offsetting risks yielding between 2 and 60 premature fatalities or, including morbidity effects, between 20 and 800 lost quality-adjusted life years (both discounted at 3%) each year the code provision remains in effect. To provide a net health benefit, the code change would need to reduce risk by at least this amount. Future research should refine these estimates, incorporate quantitative uncertainty analysis, and apply a full risk-tradeoff approach to real-world case studies of proposed code changes.
Alternative Measures of Crime: A Statistical Evaluation*

The purpose of this paper is to explore two alternative measures of "crime": official incidence reports, compiled and published as the Uniform Crime Reports (UCR), and citizen-defined victimizations, compiled and published as the National Crime Surveys (NCS). Six categories of crime are examined (auto theft, burglary, larceny, robbery, rape, and assault) for thirty-nine cities, and two categories (auto theft and robbery) are analyzed for ten other cities. Previous studies have approached the problem of comparing UCR and NCS measurements of crime with a "validity and convergence" perspective. The regression model approach we adopt, which expands on those studies, assesses the extent to which these alternative measurements of crime are equivalent, comparable or divergent. We regress victimizations on incidents and then check the goodness-of-fit of our model with three tests: (1) an examination of victimization/incidence ratios for all cities; (2) a determination if confidence intervals placed about victimization estimates included incidents; and (3) a forecast of victimizations using incidents. Results indicated that, in general, the two measurements of property crimes are comparable; however, only those of auto thefts approached equivalence. On the other hand, the measurements of personal crimes are clearly divergent. We conclude that future research must explain why some crimes are easier to assess than others, and why some cities do so much better at assessing crime than other cities. Unlike many other indicators of the quality of life, problems in measuring crime arise far less from ambiguity in conceptualization than from difficulties of observation. Hence, while we know that crimes are violations of criminal law, we cannot, for obvious reasons, directly record and enumerate their every occurrence. We are left, therefore, with such flawed and surrogate measures of crime as "crimes known to the police" and "victims' reports" of their experiences. And, given imperfect measurement, we are left with a residual category, the so-called dark figure of crime, which is hidden from both the social scientist's analysis and the policy maker's planning efforts. More specifically, the policy maker and the social analyst want to know what these surrogate measures, taken singly or together, tell us about the level of crime in society. Since both measures suffer from biases, neither will provide definitive answers. Still, an analysis of the relationship between measures can lead to significant insights on a number of matters: (1) it may yield more accurate assessments of the "true" level of crime in society; (2) the biases in one
Conceptualizing Biopolitics: Citizen-State Interactions in the Securing of Water Services in South Africa

Despite constitutional obligations to provide clean water to all citizens in South Africa, access to water and related services remains highly contested. The discord between constitutional promises and lived realities of water access, particularly through national infrastructure, provides a platform on which to examine Foucauldian notions of biopolitics, the control of populations through technologies of governing. Drawing on the situations of residents in the rural Vhembe district in the north eastern corner of the country, I examine how individuals conceptualize the relationship that exists between citizen and state and the responsibilities of each in post-Apartheid South Africa as it relates to water access. In addition, I describe strategies employed throughout South Africa to voice rights to water and how these approaches are perceived. Finally, I consider how the three primary forms of 'water citizenship'-citizen, agent, and subject-influence the current and future health of vulnerable residents.
Functional Outcomes and Patient Satisfaction After Fasciotomy for Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome

Background:Patients with chronic exertional compartment syndrome who have failed nonoperative treatment are evaluated with pre-exertion and postexertion compartment pressure testing and may be treated with fasciotomy. Failure rates of up to 20% have been reported and may be related to factors such as age, sex, postexertion compartment pressures, compartment(s) released, and duration of symptoms.Hypothesis:Higher preoperative postexertion compartment pressures are correlated with higher success and patient satisfaction rates after fasciotomy.Study Design:Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.Methods:From 1999 to 2008, patients with clinical symptoms of chronic exertional compartment syndrome with failed nonoperative management underwent standardized pre-exertion and postexertion compartment pressure measurements. Patients were then offered continued nonoperative treatment or referral to an orthopaedic surgeon for compartment release. Patients with a minimum 2-year follow-up were given a telephone questionnair...
A WIMSical approach to decoding DNA methylation in myeloid leukemia

Integrated transcriptomic and high-resolution whole genome methylation analysis in a myeloid leukemia cell line defines genes that respond to clinically relevant DNA methyltransferase inhibitors.
Pathology of GM2 gangliosidosis in Jacob sheep.

The GM2 gangliosidoses are a group of lysosomal storage diseases caused by defects in the genes coding for the enzyme hexosaminidase or the GM2 activator protein. Four Jacob sheep from the same farm were examined over a 3-year period for a progressive neurologic disease. Two lambs were 6-month-old intact males and 2 were 8-month-old females. Clinical findings included ataxia in all 4 limbs, proprioceptive deficits, and cortical blindness. At necropsy, the nervous system appeared grossly normal. Histologically, most neurons within the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral ganglia were enlarged, and the cytoplasm was distended by foamy to granular material that stained positively with Luxol fast blue and Sudan black B stains. Other neuropathologic findings included widespread astrocytosis, microgliosis, and scattered spheroids. Electron microscopy revealed membranous cytoplasmic bodies within the cytoplasm of neurons. Biochemical and molecular genetic studies confirmed the diagnosis of GM2 gangliosidosis. This...
ESTIMATION OF TRANSPORTATION DEMAND

The present analysis of transport demand for manufactured iron and steel products, one of the high-valued commodities, results in price elasticities of demand which are midly elastic with regard to motor carriers and slightly inelastic with regard to railroads. These estimates are sufficiently at variance with the elasticity findings for all manufactured goods together to suggest that there probably exists a rather broad spectrum of transport demand elasticities for most manufactured goods.22 Together with the elasticity estimates obtained, motor carriers have been capturing larger shares of the transport service market over time, more so than would be expected from the price elasticities alone. This is to suggest that nonprice determinants may be crucial in transport desision making, even in the short run. Railroads derive disproportionately large revenue contributions from manufactured goods. Were they to engage in a pricing policy which approximated marginal costs it appears that the rapid growth in the motor carrier share of the manufactured goods market might be halted. Such a pricing policy would not only shift intermodal competition as to commodities handled, but more importantly, it would reintroduce intermodal competition by lengths of haul. Perhaps comparative advantage, and thereby optimal allocation, would be enhanced.
Estimating probabilistic timing performance for real-time embedded systems

In system-level design of real-time embedded systems, being able to capture the interactions among the tasks with respect to timing constraints and determine the overall system timing performance is a major challenge. Most previous works in the area are either based on a fixed execution time model or are only concerned with the probabilistic timing behavior of each individual task. The few papers that deal with overall system probabilistic behavior have used improper assumptions. In this paper, given that the execution time of each task is a discrete random variable, a novel concept of state is introduced based on a new metric that is derived that measures the probability of a task set being able to be scheduled. Several approaches to evaluating the metric are also presented. Applying this metric in the system-level design exploration process, one can readily compare the probabilistic timing performance of alternative designs.
The poverty of neorealism

Almost six years ago, E. P. Thompson fixed his critical sights across the English Channel and let fly with a lengthy polemic entitled The Poverty of Theory. Thompson's immediate target was Louis Althusser. His strategic objective was to rebut the emergent Continental orthodoxy that Althusser championed: structural Marxism, a self-consciously scientific perspective aiming to employ Marxian categories within a structuralist framework to produce theoretical knowledge of the objective structures of capitalist reality. The charges Thompson hurled defy brief summary, but some key themes can be quickly recalled. Althusser and the structuralists, Thompson con-
A Methodology for Integrated Conceptual Design of Aircraft Configuration and Operation to Reduce Environmental Impact

Significant reductions in environmental impact and operating costs are achievable when both aircraft configuration and operation are considered simultaneously at the early stages of aircraft design. The challenges with combining these disciplines are that the design space becomes larger, and each design evaluation requires coupled analyses. This paper presents a methodology in which a low-speed aerodynamic model and a trajectory simulation are integrated to study trades between aircraft performance, environmental impact, and cost. Four studies are conducted using this method to illustrate ways to reduce the environmental impacts of future airplanes in a future air-traffic system. First, a study of the departure procedure for the Boeing 747-200 shows that significant benefits are possible by modifying the current procedures without changing the aircraft. For instance, from the start of takeoff roll to 10,000 feet the following are mutually achievable: a 37% reduction in climb time, a 26% reduction in fuel consumption, a 26% reduction in 55 EPNdB noise exposure area, and a 2.6% reduction in operating costs. A second example analyzes trades between noise and operating cost and considers current noise taxation schemes. Then, the sensitivity of the takeoff and approach noise certification procedures are presented to show it is possible to simultaneously evaluate both configuration and operational changes. The results of these studies are that takeoff noise is insensitive to small configuration changes, but procedural modifications can have a significant impact. For approach, the noise can be significantly reduced through either configuration or procedural changes.
Towards Monitoring-Oriented Programming: A Paradigm Combining Specification and Implementation

With the explosion of software size, checking conformance of implementation to specification becomes an increasingly important but also hard problem. Current practice based on ad-hoc testing does not provide correctness guarantees, while highly confident traditional formal methods like model checking and theorem proving are still too expensive to become common practice. In this paper we present a paradigm for combining formal specification with implementation, called monitoringoriented programming (MoP), providing a light-weighted formal method to check conformance of implementation to specification at runtime .S ystem requirements are expressed using formal specifications given as annotations inserted at various user selected places in programs. Efficient monitoring code using the same target language as the implementation is then automatically generated during a precompilation stage. The generated code has the same effect as a logical checking of requirements and can be used in any context, in particular to trigger user defined actions, when requirements are violated. Our proposal is language- and logicindependent, and we argue that it smoothly integrates other interesting system development paradigms, such as design by contract and aspect oriented programming. A prototype has been implemented for Java, which currently supports requirements expressed using past time and future time linear temporal logics, as well as extended regular expressions.
Memory improvement in assisted living elders.

Part of the Cognitive Behavioral Model of Everyday Memory (CBMEM), an eight session cognitive enhancement program, entitled "Memories, Memories, Can We Improve Ours?" was tested with older adults living in an assisted living facility in the midwest. The aims of this quasi-experimental study were: to improve everyday memory, memory self-efficacy, and meta-memory. A total of 19 older adults (14 female, 5 male) with an average age of 83 years participated. For the pretest there were 16 individuals in the experimental group. The experimental group was post-tested one week after completing the intervention. At posttest memory self-efficacy scores significantly increased in the experimental group (M1 = 52.13, M2 = 68.50, where M1 represents pretest and M2 represents posttest). Total memory performance scores were not significantly different at posttest; however the prospective memory items of asking for an appointment (M1 = .56, M2 = 1.25), asking for a belonging (M1 = .62, M2 = .88), and delivering a message (M1 = 1.00, M2 = 1.19) significantly improved.
X-Ray Study of Reactions Involving Accelerators. Orientation of Crystalline Phases on Stretching of Rubber Stocks

Abstract About a year ago, in the course of a systematic survey of the x-ray diffraction patterns of a number of routine rubber samples with different accelerators present, certain similarities were noted in the diffraction effects from the accelerators in these stocks. Close examination of these effects showed that they were identical. The stocks contained the accelerators tetramethylthiuram disulfide, tetramethylthiuram monosulfide and zinc dimethyldithiocarbamate, which are chemically similar (Table I); the first is the disulfide, the second, the monosulfide, and the third, the zinc salt. Thus, the diffraction patterns indicate that, on curing, the disulfide and the monosulfide in the presence of sulfur react with zinc oxide to form the zinc salt. This is not a new concept. The zinc salts have been extracted with solvents from stocks similar to the above, and it has been supposed that such reactions occur. However, the extraction method leaves some doubt as to whether the salt was originally present in...
An Alternative Physical Therapy Approach to the Overactive Pelvic Floor

Viscerally mediated pain, either as a causal or perpetuating factor, has the ability to alter tissue tension within the whole of the pelvic floor. Both acute and chronic painful phases of urogenital and gastrointestinal dysfunction have the ability to alter the resting state of the pelvic floor structures, including pelvic floor muscles. A gentle manual therapeutic technique, visceral manipulation, when combined with correction of visceral function, has shown promise in decreasing much of the physical tension that occurs with abdominal and pelvic visceral dysfunction, thereby reducing subjective pain and improving function throughout the pelvis and abdomen.
Laser Direct-Write of Embryonic Stem Cells and Cells Encapsulated in Alginate Beads for Engineered Biological Constructs

The ability to control the deposition of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs), and mESCs encapsulated in 200-μm diameter alginate microbeads, into customized patterns has recently been achieved using laser direct-write (LDW). Gelatin-based LDW was utilized to target and reproducibly deposit groups of cells directly onto receiving substrate surfaces. Live/dead staining for cell viability and immunocytochemistry for the pluripotency marker, Oct-4, indicated that transferred mESCs were viable following transfer, and maintained an important embryonic stem cell marker, respectively. LDW was further used to print mESCs encapsulated in hydrogel microbeads into customized patterns on a single-bead basis. Recent efforts have also achieved patterns of discrete co-cultures of mESCs and breast cancer cells in separate hydrogel microbeads. Altogether, we demonstrated the feasibility of LDW to print patterns of mESCs and mESC-microbeads for the biomimetic assembly of engineered cellular constructs and tissue models.
Dosage-Response Analysis for Methyl Parathion, Methomyl, and Permethrin on the Tobacco Budworm and Bollworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Georgia

Larvae of Heliothis virescens (F.) and H. zea (Boddie) were collected in Georgia from corn, cotton, crimson clover, and tobacco. Evaluation for dosage response showed both species to be much more susceptible to permethrin than methyl parathion or methomyl. H. virescens was more tolerant than H. zea to all three insecticides. Comparison to previous work and a susceptible laboratory strain showed field-collected larvae of H. virescens to have decreased susceptibility to methyl parathion and methomyl. Little differences in LD50. values were obtained from cultures collected from different host plants.
Fault-Tolerant Attitude Control of a Micro-Satellite using a Redundancy-Free Single Gimbal Variable Speed Control Moment Gyroscope (SGVSCMG) System

Actuator redundancies in spacecraft have traditionally been adopted as a necessity to deal with unexpected failures or degradation of principal components. A compromise is therefore made in the cost, weight and size budgets to accommodate redundancies to provide a certain degree of fault-tolerant capability (FTC) for the entire operational life of the spacecraft. Redundancies have become synonymous with the fault-tolerant capability of spacecraft. A redundancy free fault-tolerant attitude control system using single gimbal variable speed control moment gyros (SGVSCMG) for a micro-satellite with an imaging payload is proposed in this paper to challenge this notion. A quaternion based feedback control law is developed and the non-linear rotational equations of motion are linearized to obtain a state space model from which an optimal LQR controller is designed. Failures in actuators are modelled as a multiplicative degradation in output torque and the e ect is measured in terms of the settling time to reach the target attitude which is one of the crucial performance measures of a remote-sensing mission. Settling times are compared for failures in all three actuators and also with another commonly used four-actuator pyramidal con guration using reaction wheels. Numerical simulations show the e ectiveness of the proposed control system with separate faults in the gimbals and wheels compared to the traditionally used con gurations.
THE INTERNAL FRICTION OF DEFORMED Fe-Nb-C ALLOYS IN THE RANGE FROM ROOM TEMPERATURE TO 180 ℃

The RT-180℃ internal frictions of the Fe-(0.05%-0.43%)Nb-(0.036%-0.125%)C alloys deformed after holding at 700℃ for 30 min and quenching in water were measured. It was found that besides the Snoek peak, there is a damping peak in this range of temperature. The internal frictions of the deformed specimens undergoing a medial treatment at 980℃ for 2 h and then cooled rapidly by splashing water were also measured. The internal friction results of the two type automobile steels which were deformed and/or further in situ aged at room temperature were given too. It is considered that the deformation peak of the Fe-Nb-C alloys is the so-called B peak, and caused by a movement of the dislocations dragged by the carbon atom diluted Cottrell atmosphere, and pinned by the clusters of the carbon atom saturated Cottrell atmosphere. These dilute atmospheres preferentially occupied at dislocation can be produced in the deformed alloys.
Perturbations to the Hedgehog Pathway in Sea Urchin Embryos

The Hedgehog pathway has been shown to be an important developmental signaling pathway in many organisms (Ingham and McMahon. Genes Dev 15:3059-3087, 2001). Recently that work has been extended to developing echinoderm embryos (Walton et al. Dev Biol 331(1):26-37, 2009). Here we describe several methods to perturb the Hedgehog signaling pathway in the sea urchin. These include microinjection of Morpholinos and mRNA constructs as well as treatments with small molecule inhibitors. Finally we provide simple methods for assaying Hedgehog phenotypes in the sea urchin embryo.
Life span of beef-type Bos taurus and Bos indicus x Bos taurus females in a dry, temperate climate.

Females representing Hereford, Red Poll, F1 Hereford x Red Poll, F1 Red Poll x Hereford, F1 Angus x Hereford, F1 Angus x Charolais, F1 Brahman x Hereford, and F1 Brahman x Angus breed types were evaluated from birth until 10 yr of age. Of 308 females born alive, 35.7% died or were culled because of injury, serious illness, or reproductive failure. Breed types differed (P less than .01) in total number of mating seasons per cow and total number of progeny born and weaned. Values for lifetime total number of calves weaned were as follows: Hereford, 4.54; Red Poll, 5.45; Hereford x Red Poll, 4.45; Red Poll x Hereford, 5.49; Angus x Hereford, 5.98; Angus x Charolais, 5.57; Brahman x Hereford, 6.96; and Brahman x Angus, 6.22. Brahman crosses (P less than .01) and Angus x Charolais (P less than .10) exceeded Hereford dams in lifetime total number of calves weaned but did not differ from Angus x Herefords. Analysis of the Hereford-Red Poll diallel showed no evidence of heterosis in life span traits. Results indicate that breed type was a major source of variation in reproductive life span of beef-type females. F1 Bos indicus crosses and Angus x Herefords were outstanding in longevity.
Duodenal bacterial and nonbacterial protein supply in steers fed forage and grain diets.

Four beef steers (avg wt 300 kg) fitted with duodenal re-entrant cannulae were used to study the effect of dietary concentrate to forage ratio on bacterial and nonbacterial N flow in the duodenum. According to a change-over design, the steers were designated to receive an all forage (83% alfalfa hay and 17% wheat straw) and an 80% sorghum grain diet. Lignin (ADL) and chromium oxide (Cr2O3) ratio techniques were compared with automated total collection (ATC) of digesta for quantitating duodenal protein flow and efficiency of bacterial N yield in the rumen. Estimates of bacterial protein synthesis and ruminal escape of feed protein based on Cr2O3 and lignin tended to be higher by 8 to 16% than those obtained by ATC. Efficiency of ruminal bacterial protein yield estimated by these two markers tended to be greater than that based on ATC (16 vs 12 g of bacterial protein/100 g ruminal true digestion of dry matter corrected for bacterial cell synthesis). Efficiency values did not differ between diets. Crude protein flow into the duodenum was about 33% greater (P less than .01) for the grain than the forage diet, although protein intake was about 10% less on the grain diet. Duodenal bacterial protein, rather than feed protein escaping ruminal degradation, accounted for most of this difference. Average duodenal flow of N, expressed as g/Mcal metabolizable energy (ME) intake, was 11.9 for the forage diet and 10.3 for the grain diet.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
“Katherine Nanny, alias Naylor”: A life in puritan Boston

Katherine Wheelwright Nanny Naylor (1630–1716) arrived in Boston with her family in 1636. During the last half of the 17th century, she occupied a property along Ann Street in Boston’s North End. The excavation of that property nearly 300 years later prompted research on Katherine’s life. From the bare bones of vital records, deeds, and probate records, a fascinating life emerged. Katherine raised several families on the Ann Street property, despite outliving most of her children. She was widowed at an early age and remarried. She successfully sued for divorce from her second husband on the grounds of domestic abuse—including an apparent poisoning attempt—and adultery. Ultimately she died at a ripe old age. Her story illuminates the daily lives of Puritan Bostonians.
Healthcare Transformation: What Are the Challenges?

Healthcare will transform, encouraged by market, societal, and technological forces. During this period of disruption, new alliances will be formed, opportunities will manifest, and a greater awareness of what really matters will emerge. A clear understanding of each of the components—patients, providers, hospitals, systems, and payers—is necessary, but not sufficient, to ensure success. Lessons learned from those that have been able to adapt and prosper are elucidated and the key components of effective leadership are emphasized.
Rapunzel syndrome is not just a mere surgical problem: A case report and review of current management

Recurrent Rapunzel syndrome (RRS) is a rare clinical presentation with fewer than six cases reported in the PubMed literature. A report of RRS and literature review is presented. A 25-year-old female was admitted to hospital with a 4-wk history of epigastric pain and swelling. She had a known history of trichophagia with a previous admission for Rapunzel syndrome requiring a laparotomy nine years earlier, aged 16. Psychological treatment had been successfully achieved for nine years with outpatient hypnotherapy sessions only, but she defaulted on her last session due to stressors at home. The abdominal examination demonstrated an epigastric mass. Computer tomography scan revealed a large gastric bezoar and features of aspiration pneumonia. The patient underwent emergency open surgical laparotomy for removal as the bezoar could not be removed endoscopically. The bezoar was cast in a shape that mimicked the contours of the stomach and proximal small bowel, hence the diagnosis of RRS. The patient was seen by a psychiatrist and was commenced on Quetiapine before discharge. She continues to attend follow-up.
Lower kidney allograft survival in African-Americans compared to Hispanic-Americans with lupus.

Background and objectiveAfrican–Americans and Hispanic–Americans with lupus are the two most common minority groups who receive kidney transplants in the USA. It is unknown if African–Americans and...
Novel targeted therapy for neuroblastoma: silencing the MXD3 gene using siRNA

BackgroundNeuroblastoma is the second most common extracranial cancer in children. Current therapies for neuroblastoma, which use a combination of chemotherapy drugs, have limitations for high-risk subtypes and can cause significant long-term adverse effects in young patients. Therefore, a new therapy is needed. In this study, we investigated the transcription factor MXD3 as a potential therapeutic target in neuroblastoma.MethodsMXD3 expression was analyzed in five neuroblastoma cell lines by immunocytochemistry and quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR, and in 18 primary patient tumor samples by immunohistochemistry. We developed nanocomplexes using siRNA and superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles to target MXD3 in neuroblastoma cell lines in vitro as a single-agent therapeutic and in combination with doxorubicin, vincristine, cisplatin, or maphosphamide-common drugs used in current neuroblastoma treatment.ResultsMXD3 was highly expressed in neuroblastoma cell lines and in patient tumors that had high-risk features. Neuroblastoma cells treated in vitro with the MXD3 siRNA nanocomplexes showed MXD3 protein knockdown and resulted in cell apoptosis. Furthermore, on combining MXD3 siRNA nanocomplexes with each of the four drugs, all showed additive efficacy.ConclusionThese results indicate that MXD3 is a potential new target and that the use of MXD3 siRNA nanocomplexes is a novel therapeutic approach for neuroblastoma.
Polymer Osmotic Pressure in Hydrogel Contact Mechanics

Abstract Simple, semi-dilute hydrogels made from flexible polymers are often used as material surrogates for biological tissues, despite the dramatic differences between gels and tissues in their micro- and nano-structure, osmotic properties, and fluid permeability. Moreover, these simple hydrogels are often treated as poroelastic, even when applied pressures are below the hydrogel's osmotic pressure. Here we investigate the role of polymer osmotic pressure in hydrogel contact mechanics with a series of local indentation tests and bulk compression tests. Performing hydrogel indentation atop an inverted confocal microscope and applying surface pressures less than the hydrogel osmotic pressure, we find that hydrogel deformation behavior agrees with the Hertz model, observing no evidence of fluid flow or volumetric gel compression. A long-time creep of the hydrogel is also found, which can be predicted from a model of diffusive relaxations within the gel. In bulk compression tests, the gel is found to be incompressible, and therefore water cannot be driven out of the gel, unless the applied pressure exceeds the hydrogel osmotic pressure.
Classroom implementation of a games-based activity on astronomy in higher education

The use of games-based learning to support science education affords students the opportunity to explore new and inaccessible worlds. However, teaching undergraduate non-science majors about astrophysics is complicated due to the scientific intricacies associated with the field. This paper briefly describes the preliminary results from an initial playtest conducted at five universities across the United States. Undergraduate non-science majors reported the game was useful in learning about the scale of the universe, exploration, and scientific formulas. However, many saw a disconnect between gameplay and university instruction. This paper closes with a brief glimpse into the future of astronomy education and video games.
On Network Change

Because networks affect a variety of important firm outcomes, understanding the drivers of network change is fundamental. Research has focused only on two mechanisms by which networks change: tie a...
Correcting analytics maturity myopia

Abstract Companies face increasing pressure to compete in the practice of analytics and strive for analytics maturity to sustain their competitive advantage. A single-minded, narrow focus on gaining analytics maturity, however, leads to analytics maturity myopia. Based on our studies of analytical capabilities and numerous conversations with executives and managers, we offer a scorecard for organizations to identify the presence of analytics maturity myopia and propose a framework for organizations to correct this issue. The proposed framework partially explains the mixed and conflicting results regarding the relationship between analytics maturity and business value found in the literature. Specifically, we recommend that companies focus on three factors that are critical to realizing value from analytics initiatives: (1) a balanced view of value to different stakeholders, (2) a continuous expansion of the business ecosystem beyond current stakeholders to identify and pursue new opportunities, and (3) use of an emergent strategy to take advantage of unexpected opportunities and develop organizational agility.
Does CVS–Aetna Spell the End of Business as Usual?

Does CVS–Aetna Spell the End of Business as Usual? The proposed $70 billion deal between CVS and Aetna would be a vertical merger that could heighten competition. By offering a new value proposition, the new company would aim to stay relevant despite encroachment by e-tailers and reduce total spending for care.
Urinary Tract Obstruction and Dilatation

Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) has an incidence of 3–6 per 1000 birth and is a common cause of chronic kidney disease in children. While most CAKUT are believed to be sporadic, recent studies have suggested a high incidence (upto 50%) of CAKUT in families of index cases of urinary tract anomaly (Renkema et al. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 26:3843–51, 2011; Bulum et al. Pediatr Nephrol. 28:2143–7, 2013). This suggest a genetic basis and various genes such as HNF1 β[beta], PAX2, RET and ROBO2 have been implicated. Commonly CAKUT result in dilatation and/or obstruction of the urinary tract anywhere from the kidney down to the bladder and urethra. There can be isolated dilatation of the pelvicalyceal system (hydronephrosis [HDN]) or associated ureteric dilatation (hydroureteronephrosis [HDUN]) with or without bladder abnormality. HDN/HDUN can be secondary to obstructive or non-obstructive pathology. Obstruction is defined as 'some impedence to the flow of urine, which causes gradual and progressive damage to the kidney' (Dhillon. Essentials of paediatric urology. Informa Healthcare, p. 133–42, 2008). The non-obstructive dilatation can be due to vesico-ureteric reflux (VUR) or it can be non-obstructive, non-refluxing dilatation. Non-obstructive non-refluxing pathology, which is usually due to inherent dysplasia of the developing urinary tract, is more difficult to define and to differentiate from obstruction. Occasionally obstruction and reflux can coexist.
An allosteric propofol-binding site in kinesin disrupts kinesin-mediated processive movement on microtubules.

Microtubule-based molecular motors mediate transport of intracellular cargo to subdomains in neurons. Previous evidence has suggested that the anesthetic propofol decreases the average run-length potential of the major anterograde transporters kinesin-1 and kinesin-2 without altering their velocity. This effect on kinesin has not been observed with other inhibitors, stimulating considerable interest in the underlying mechanism. Here, we used a photoactive derivative of propofol, meta-azipropofol (AziPm), to search for potential propofol-binding sites in kinesin. Single-molecule motility assays confirmed that AziPm and propofol similarly inhibit kinesin-1 and kinesin-2. We then applied AziPm in semiquantitative radiolabeling and MS microsequencing assays to identify propofol-binding sites within microtubule–kinesin complexes. The radiolabeling experiments suggested preferential AziPm binding to the ATP-bound microtubule–kinesin complex. The photolabeled residues were contained within the kinesin motor domain rather than at the motor domain–β-tubulin interface. No residues within the P-loop of kinesin were photolabeled, indicating an inhibitory mechanism that does not directly affect ATPase activity and has an effect on run length without changing velocity. Our results also indicated that when the kinesin motor interacts with the microtubule during its processive run, a site forms in kinesin to which propofol can then bind and allosterically disrupt the kinesin–microtubule interaction, resulting in kinesin detachment and run termination. The discovery of the propofol-binding allosteric site in kinesin may improve our understanding of the strict coordination of the motor heads during the processive run. We hypothesize that propofol's potent effect on intracellular transport contributes to various components of its anesthetic action.
Psychotropic Medications and Crime: The Seasoning of the Prozac Defense

This chapter discusses those cases where examinees present a history of having been treated with psychotropic medication during the time of the offense. In such cases, forensic mental health professionals are consulted to address questions related to the mental capacities of a defendant at the time of an alleged crime. Related questions revolve around whether the medication is in part, wholly or not at all responsible for the crime. Attention drawn to the most notable cases has prompted psychiatrists to scrutinize the causal relationship between various medications and violent behaviors. The follow paragraphs explore the issue of psychotropics and crime within the medical community and among lawmakers – concluding that examining behavioral reactions to medications or combinations of medications is among the most complex medico-legal questions facing forensic psychiatrists