cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evolution of mechanical properties during cure for out-of-autoclave carbon-epoxy prepregs

Extent of cure and rheological properties were obtained for out-of-autoclave materials, Cycom 5320-8HS and Cycom 5320-PW, for the manufacturer recommended cure cycle using differential scanning calorimeter and encapsulated sample rheometer (ESR), respectively. Rheological properties from ESR were further used in designing the cure cycles to study the evolution of mechanical properties. Five panels were cured at different cure stages using the designed cure cycles and coupons were tested for short beam shear and combined loading compression properties at different cure stages. To correlate the mechanical properties with its respective glass transition temperature, dynamic mechanical analyzer was used to obtain the glass transition temperature for the coupons obtained from the respective panels. Statistical results showed significant difference in short beam shear and combined loading compression properties up to vitrification, however, no significant difference was observed on these mechanical properties after vitrification. The observed linear trend between degree of cure (DOC) and glass transition temperature (Tg) was validated using DiBenedetto relation. Linearly increasing trend between DOC and glass transition temperature (Tg) for different cure states suggests that both DOC and Tg can be used interchangeably to define the state of material. A good correlation was observed between material cure state and the mechanical properties. A mathematical model was also proposed to determine the short beam shear and combined loading compression properties based on material cure state. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41548.
Eyewitness Identification Procedures: The Fifth Rule

The National Institute of Justice recently published a report of the first 28 cases in which convicted felons were exonerated by DNA evidence after varying numbers of years in prison. Remarkably, all of these cases contained one or more false eyewitness identifications (Connors, Lundregan, Miller, & McEwan, 1996). To those unfamiliar with the hundreds of published studies on the subject, this disclosure may come as something of a shock. To members of the scientific community, however, it suggests the humbling possibility that our research has underachieved in its impact on the criminal justice system. The time has come for eyewitness researchers and experts to move out of the laboratory and courtroom-and into the police station. The time has come to use all that we know to improve the procedures used to conduct the lineups and photoarrays that too often give rise to mistaken identifications. In this light, the guidelines put forth by Wells, Small, Penrod, Malpass, Fulero, and Brimcombe (1998) represent a most important, insightful, and necessary step. The four recommendations-for double-blind lineup testing, nonbiased instructions, the matching of distractors to the witness's description, and the immediate assessment of confidence-are ideally suited to minimize many potential problems. But what about the potential negative impact of failing to elevate-and hence, relegating-other prescriptions to "rule" status? The rationale for limiting the number of rules is commendable, as is the need to ensure that these rules be relatively independent of one another, feasible, and easy to justify. But there is one recommendation (already being implemented in some precincts) that the authors considered and did not propose that is arguably the most important rule of all: the videotaping of the lineup and witness identification. There are two reasons for this proposed addition. First, we need to acknowledge that the circumstances surrounding lineup identifications are often not accurately preserved or represented in police reports and testimony. As with others who serve as eyewitness experts, I have had more than one occasion to observe that descriptions of the process given by investigators are often inconsistent with statements made by the witnesses themselves or even with videotapes when these are available (in my own experience, for example, I have
What Is the Evidence for the Use of Corticosteroids in Migraine

Corticosteroids are widely prescribed for the management of migraine attacks. The earliest clinical studies examining the efficacy of corticosteroid monotherapy for managing migraine attacks date back to 1952. Since then, 26 heterogeneous clinical studies and four meta-analyses have been conducted to assess the efficacy of corticosteroids in either aborting acute migraine attacks, prolonged migraine attacks or recurrent headaches. Most of these (86 %) studies employed different comparator arms with corticosteroids monotherapy administration while some studies (14 %) evaluated adjunctive corticosteroid therapy. The majority of these clinical studies revealed the superior efficacy of corticosteroids as mono- or adjunctive-therapy both for recurrent and acute migraine attacks, while the remaining showed non-inferior efficacy. Different forms of oral and parenteral corticosteroids in either single-dose or short-tapering schedules are prescribed; there are clinical studies supporting the efficacy of both methods. Corticosteroids can be administered safely up to six times annually. Corticosteroids are also useful in managing patients who frequent emergency departments with "medication-seeking behavior." Migraine patients with refractory headaches, history of recurrent headaches, severe baseline disability, and status migrainosus were found to have the most beneficial response from corticosteroid therapy.
Oxidative stress alters base excision repair pathway and increases apoptotic response in Apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1/Redox factor-1 haploinsufficient mice

Abstract Apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1/redox factor-1 (APE1/Ref-1) is the redox regulator of multiple stress-inducible transcription factors, such as NF-κB, and the major 5′-endonuclease in base excision repair (BER). We utilized mice containing a heterozygous gene-targeted deletion of APE1/Ref-1 (Apex+/−) to determine the impact of APE1/Ref-1 haploinsufficiency on the processing of oxidative DNA damage induced by 2-nitropropane (2-NP) in the liver tissue of mice. APE1/Ref-1 haploinsufficiency results in a significant decline in NF-κB DNA-binding activity in response to oxidative stress in liver. In addition, loss of APE1/Ref-1 increases the apoptotic response to oxidative stress, in which significant increases in GADD45g expression, p53 protein stability, and caspase activity are observed. Oxidative stress displays a differential impact on monofunctional (UNG) and bifunctional (OGG1) DNA glycosylase-initiated BER in the liver of Apex+/− mice. APE1/Ref-1 haploinsufficiency results in a significant decline in the repair of oxidized bases (e.g., 8-OHdG), whereas removal of uracil is increased in liver nuclear extracts of mice using an in vitro BER assay. Apex+/− mice exposed to 2-NP displayed a significant decline in 3′-OH-containing single-strand breaks and an increase in aldehydic lesions in their liver DNA, suggesting an accumulation of repair intermediates of failed bifunctional DNA glycosylase-initiated BER.
Large-Scale Synthesis of All Stereoisomers of a 2,3-Unsaturated C-Glycoside Scaffold

All stereoisomers of a highly functionalized 2,3-unsaturated C-glycoside can be accessed in 10-100 g quantities from readily available starting materials and reagents in 3-7 steps. These chiral scaffolds contain three stereogenic centers along with orthogonally protected functional groups for downstream reactivity.
An interaction matrix for the energy analysis of an n-layered magnetic thin-film system

Abstract Normalized interaction factors have been developed for the analysis of the interaction energy and the magnetic as well as the electric properties of a multi-layered magnetic thin-film system. Mathematical expressions of these factors with respect to dimensions and separations of the films have been developed. Interaction factors and self-demagnetization energies of an n-layered magnetic thin-film system can be expressed by a matrix representation. For a magnetic thin-film system with k-dimensional magnetization, the interaction energy of the system can be described by k (k ≤ 3) symmetric interaction matrices. Diagonal elements of the interaction matrices are zero because they represent the self-energy of the system. The off-diagonal elements of the interaction matrix are nonzero for a system which includes interactions. By using these interaction factors and finding a minimum energy configuration, the direction of magnetization in each film can be numerically determined. The numerical solutions to the electrical property of a coupled MR thin-film system using these interaction factors agree with previous experimental findings.
The influence of work-and-family conflict on male entrepreneurs’ life satisfaction: a comparison of entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs

In this study, the relationships between two types of work-and-family conflict and life satisfaction of male entrepreneurs were examined. In addition, comparisons were made among entrepreneurs and organizationally employed non-founding top managers and among novice and repeat entrepreneurs. The study is based on survey methodology, recognized measures, and samples of 429 entrepreneurs (194 novice entrepreneurs; 235 repeat entrepreneurs) and 118 organizationally employed non-founding top managers. The results show both types of work-and-family conflict were negatively associated with life satisfaction and there were important differences among entrepreneurs and organizationally employed non-founding top managers and among novice and repeat entrepreneurs.
Cognitive consequences of a sustained monocyte type 1 IFN response in HIV-1 infection.

With successful antiretroviral therapy, HIV-1-infected subjects can achieve undetectable peripheral viral loads and immune homeostasis. However, in a subset of individuals on therapy, peripheral monocytes have a gene expression profile characteristic of a type 1 interferon α (IFN) response. This type 1 IFN response correlates with a number of pathogenic conditions including neural cell injury and in combination with HCV infection, cognitive impairment. Lessons from the non-human primate models of pathogenic and nonpathogenic SIV suggest that returning the initial IFN spike in acute SIV infection to normal allows the immune system to control infection and return to homeostasis. An IFN “alarm” signature, defined as monocyte activation with overexpression of the type1 IFN genes IF127 and SN, would be useful for identifying a subset of subjects with HIV-1 infection that could progress to a number of pathologies associated with immune activation including cognitive dysfunction. This strategy is being actively pursued for autoimmune diseases that are characterized by an IFN signature. Therapies to block the IFN signature are under investigation as a means to reset the immune system and in a subset of HIV-1-infected subjects may be an adjuvant to standard antiviral therapy to return cognitive function.
Production of collagen synthesis inhibitory lymphokine by human leukemic T-lymphocyte cell lines

It has been previously shown that normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells produce a soluble factor(s) that causes selective inhibition of collagen production by cultured human diploid fibroblasts, and that stimulation of the mononuclear cells by appropriate mitogens greatly enhances its production. Because of the difficulties inherent in obtaining sufficient peripheral blood lymphocytes to purify the collagen synthesis inhibitory factor (CSIF) further and to study in detail its mechanisms of action, we have examined CSIF production by several leukemic human T- and B-lymphocyte cell lines. From the 10 lines tested (4 T- and 6 B-lymphocyte cell lines), we found 2 T-lymphocyte cell lines which produced CSIF constitutively. When the effects of various lymphocyte mitogens on CSIF production by these cell lines were examined, it was found that only phorbol myristic acid was stimulatory. Further studies demonstrated that optimal CSIF production by the phorbol myristic acid-stimulated leukemic T-lymphocytes could be achieved in a chemically defined, serum-free medium. The CSIF in the supernatants from such cultures was further purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation and gel filtration chromatography and it was shown that it had similar properties to those of CSIF produced by normal human peripheral blood lymphocytes. These findings indicate that certain leukemic T-lymphocyte cell lines are capable of CSIF production in continuous cultures. These results will permit the large scale production of CSIF and a better understanding of its mechanisms of action.
Masturbation in Urban China

This study examined the prevalence and sources of masturbatory practice in a nationally representative sample from China completed in the year 2000, with analysis of sources focused on 2,828 urban respondents aged 20–59. In this subpopulation, 13% (95% CI, 10–18) of women and 35% (CI, 26–44) of men reported any masturbation in the preceding year. Prevalence for people in their 20s was higher, and closer to US and European levels, especially for men. Particularly for women, masturbation not only compensated for absent partners but also complemented the high sexual interests of a subset of participants. For both women and men, practicing masturbation appeared to be a two-step process. In the first step, events such as sexual contact in childhood, early puberty, and early sex were related to sexualization and the “gateway event” of adolescent masturbation. In the second step, other factors, such as liberal sexual values and sexual knowledge, further increased the current probability of masturbation. Overall, the results suggest that masturbation is readily adopted even at more modest levels of economic and social development, that masturbation is often more than simply compensatory behavior for regular partnered sex, that masturbatory patterns are heavily influenced by early sexualization, and that a complex model is needed to comprehend masturbatory practice, particularly for women.
Brightness discrimination learning in posterior neodecorticated and normal hooded rats

Normal hooded rats were superior to posterior operates on acquisition of a simultaneous brightness problem. Acquisition of a subsequent successive problem showed that operates had improved significantly but were still inferior to normals. Both normals and operates learned the simultaneous problem faster when a dark stimulus was the positive cue; however, free choice preference for the dark was demonstrated in normal Ss only. Effects of preference and perceptual factors on learning are discussed.
The laborist: a new focus of practice for the obstetrician.

Abstract The practice of obstetrics has changed dramatically in the last decade. Evidence exists for a marked increase in professional dissatisfaction, substance abuse, poor personal relationships, and burnout. These conditions are now being seen in younger physicians and in training programs. Physicians have stopped practicing obstetrics at a much younger age and are increasingly quitting training programs. These findings, along with the recent professional liability insurance crisis, leave many communities with a shortage of physicians who practice obstetrics. A potential solution for alleviating some of these conditions is the introduction of a physician whose sole focus of practice is managing the patient in labor. This physician, called the "laborist," may be able to improve patient care and satisfaction because the laborist will have no other distractions during this time. Also, the laborist will remove from the obstetrician the need to be always available to the laboring patient, which potentially may decrease stress, improve physician well-being, increase length of professional practice, and decrease burnout. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2003;188:310-2.)
Relation of sex and gender role to love, sexual attitudes, and self-esteem.

One theory of love (J. A. Lee, The Colors of Love: An Exploration of the Ways of Loving, Don Mills, Ontario: New Press, 1973) assumes at least six different attitudinal orientations toward love. Based on Lee's approach, recent research (e.g., C. Hendrick & S. Hendrick, “A Theory and Method of Love,” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1986, 50, pp. 392–402) has found consistent sex differences in love attitudes. Other research has found comparable sex differences in sexual permissiveness and other sexual attitudes. The present study explored the possibility that gender role orientation might be related to differences in love and sexual attitudes. A sample of 286 college students completed the Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI), Love Attitudes Scale, Sexual Attitudes Scale, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Correlational analyses revealed many significant associations among love and sexual attitudes, self-esteem, and masculinity and femininity. Subjects were also classified according to gender role as androgynous, masculine, feminine, or undifferentiated, according to BSRI scores. Analyses of variance showed effects for both sex of subjects and gender role orientation on several of the dependent measures. The pattern of the results suggested that sex-stereotyped couples may have difficulties in romantic relationships because of the discrepancies in their love and sexual attitudes. An argument was made in support of the recent trend toward a multidimensional concept of gender role orientation.
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI, NMR) SCAN IN A CASE OF CALLOSAL APRAXIA AND PSEUDONEGLECT

L'imagerie RMN montre un ramollissement interessant la plus grande partie du corps calleux, respectant le genou et le splenium et l'absence de lesion corticale
Neurotrophic Factors in Neurodegeneration

Neurotrophic factors (NTFs) have the unique potential to support neuronal survival and to augment neuronal function in the injured and diseased nervous system. Numerous studies conducted over the last 20 years have provided evidence for the potent therapeutic potential of NTFs in animal models of neurodegenerative diseases. However, major obstacles for the therapeutic use of NTFs are the inability to deliver proteins across the blood-brain-barrier, and dose-limiting adverse effects resulting from the broad exposure of nontargeted structures to NTFs. Two recent developments have allowed NTFs' promise to be truly tested for the first time: first, recent improvements in viral vectors that allow the targeted delivery of NTFs while providing a long-lasting supply and sufficient therapeutic doses of NTFs; and second, improved animal models developed in recent years. In this review, we will discuss some of the potential therapeutic applications of NTFs in neurodegenerative diseases and the potential contribution of disturbed neurotrophic factor signaling to neurodegenerative diseases.
Assembly of a marine viral metagenome after physical fractionation.

Metagenomic analyses of marine viruses generate an overview of viral genes present in a sample, but the percentage of the resulting sequence fragments that can be reassembled is low and the phenotype of the virus from which a given sequence derives is usually unknown. In this study, we employed physical fractionation to characterize the morphological and genomic traits of a subset of uncultivated viruses from a natural marine assemblage. Viruses from Kāne‘ohe Bay, Hawai‘i were fractionated by equilibrium buoyant density centrifugation in a cesium chloride (CsCl) gradient, and one fraction from the CsCl gradient was then further fractionated by strong anion-exchange chromatography. One of the fractions resulting from this two-dimensional separation appeared to be dominated by only a few virus types based on genome sizes and morphology. Sequences generated from a shotgun clone library of the viruses in this fraction were assembled into significantly more numerous contigs than have been generated with previous metagenomic investigations of whole DNA viral assemblages with comparable sequencing effort. Analysis of the longer contigs (up to 6.5 kb) assembled from our metagenome allowed us to assess gene arrangement in this subset of marine viruses. Our results demonstrate the potential for physical fractionation to facilitate sequence assembly from viral metagenomes and permit linking of morphological and genomic data for uncultivated viruses.
Dexmedetomidine: applications in pediatric critical care and pediatric anesthesiology.

Etomidate is a carboxylated, imidazole-containing intravenous anesthetic agent introduced into clinical anesthesia practice in 1972. Its distinctive features that make it useful as an anesthetic induction include a lack of adverse effects on hemodynamic function as well as beneficial effects on cerebral blood flow and intracranial pressure. Because of these properties, its major role in anesthetic practice has been for the induction of anesthesia in patients with diminished cardiovascular function. As opposed to the considerable reported clinical experience with etomidate in the adult population, there remains limited reported information concerning its use in pediatric patients. This article reviews the specific end-organ effects of etomidate, the reports concerning its use in pediatric patients, and its adverse effect profile.
The structure and performance of US hotel real estate investment trusts

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) have become a dominant force in the global equity investment marketplace. Modern REITs have their genesis in the US, where they emerged as investment vehicles during the early 1960s. Since that time, the structure of the industry as a whole has changed and has become more efficient through the direct intervention of the US government. This paper outlines the present structure of US REITs and examines the performance of a relatively new subsector of the equity REIT market, hotel REITs. The study found that on average, hotel REITs performed better than the equity REIT portfolio. Hotel REITs were, however, riskier than other equity REITs. On a risk-adjusted basis, hotel REITs did not outperform the market portfolio.
Impulse entrainment: computer simulations and studies on the parallel fibers of the cerebellum.

Abstract The interspike interval for a pair of propagating impulses was studied from a simulation model of axons with a triphasic recovery cycle (relative refractory, supernormal, and subnormal periods) and from electrophysiologic results on the parallel fibers of the cerebellar cortex. Impulse entrainment, whereby convergence of the interspike interval to a fixed value occurs, was predicted from the model for impulses initiated at any point during the recovery cycle. Convergence of the interspike interval toward a fixed value was also observed for the parallel fibers when impulses were initiated during the relative refractory or the early supernormal periods. We suggest that convergence of the interspike interval contributes to regularization of constitutent impulses within a spike train.
Universal cycles of k -subsets and k -permutations

Jackson, B.W., Universal cycles of k-subsets and k-permutations, Discrete Mathematics 117 (1993) 141-150. In this paper the author constructs universal cycles of 3-subsets of an n-set for n 28 and (n, 3)= 1, verifying a conjecture of Chung et al. (1989) for 3-subsets. Universal cycles of 4-subsets of an n-set for n > 8 and (n, 4) = 1 are also constructed, partially solving the same conjecture for 4-subsets. Universal cycles of k-permutations are constructed for any k > 3 and n > k + 1.
Cefazolin in the treatment of bacterial pneumonia

Cefazolin sodium was tested in vitro against isolates of Diplococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Haemophilus influenzae. Each isolate was tested with at least two inoculum sizes of organisms. Cefazolin also was studied in the treatment of 82 patients with bacterial pneumonia. In concentrations < 1 Ltg/ml, cefazolin inhibited all isolates of D. pneumoniae and S. aureus, whereas with a larger inoculum of bacterial cells, approximately 10% of K. pneumoniae and H. influenzae grew in concentrations of 25 [tg of antibiotic per ml. Penicillin-sensitive as well as penicillin-resistant isolates of S. aureus were killed by < 1 jxg of cefazolin per ml when the inoculum contained 104 bacteria per ml; however, 25 tg/ml was required to kill 100% of the strains when the inoculum size was increased 100-fold. Clinically, cefazolin treatment appeared to be effective in 74 of 82 patients with pneumonia. Pain was not prominent after im injection, and thrombophlebitis was not observed in those treated by iv injection.
Nonlinear grassland responses to past and future atmospheric CO 2

Carbon sequestration in soil organic matter may moderate increases in atmospheric CO(2) concentrations (C(a)) as C(a) increases to more than 500 micromol mol(-1) this century from interglacial levels of less than 200 micromol mol(-1) (refs 1 6). However, such carbon storage depends on feedbacks between plant responses to C(a) and nutrient availability. Here we present evidence that soil carbon storage and nitrogen cycling in a grassland ecosystem are much more responsive to increases in past C(a) than to those forecast for the coming century. Along a continuous gradient of 200 to 550 micromol mol(-1) (refs 9, 10), increased C(a) promoted higher photosynthetic rates and altered plant tissue chemistry. Soil carbon was lost at subambient C(a), but was unchanged at elevated C(a) where losses of old soil carbon offset increases in new carbon. Along the experimental gradient in C(a) there was a nonlinear, threefold decrease in nitrogen availability. The differences in sensitivity of carbon storage to historical and future C(a) and increased nutrient limitation suggest that the passive sequestration of carbon in soils may have been important historically, but the ability of soils to continue as sinks is limited.
Sleep Deprivation by the “Flower Pot” Technique and Spatial Reference Memory

This study investigated whether paradoxical, or rapid eye movement (REM), sleep deprivation (SD) affected spatial memory. SD was induced in male Wistar rats by housing them on small platforms over water. They fell into the water if they lost muscle tone. Controls were either housed in tanks with large platforms (TC) or in normal cages (CC). All rats had free access to food and water. Each day they were tested in a place-learning set task using a Morris water maze. The rats were released from 6 different starting points (sets) and allowed 2 min to find a submerged platform. Two trials were conducted from each starting point. SD caused a significant decrement in performance in Trial 1 from Day 2. By Day 4, when distance swum to find the platform was plotted against set, area under the curve was doubled in SD compared to that in TC and CC rats, indicating a significant impairment in reference spatial memory. There was no consistent effect on working memory, indicated by Trial 2. SD caused weight loss and increased serum corticosterone compared to that in CC rats. There were no differences in concentrations of hypothalamic, hippocampal, or cortical catecholamines or their metabolites. Serotonin metabolism was elevated in the hypothalamus and hippocampus in SD rats. These results indicate that SD induced in rats housed on small platforms causes a substantial impairment of reference memory. The memory deficit may not be specific to SD because the rats are physically stressed and lose some nonREM sleep when housed in these conditions.
Body image and eating disordered behavior in a community sample of Black and Hispanic women

Abstract Objective The current study examined body image concerns and eating disordered behaviors in a community sample of Black and Hispanic women. In addition, this study explored whether there are ethnic differences in the correlates or in the prediction of body image concerns. Method Participants were 120 (67 Black and 53 Hispanic) women who responded to advertisements to participate in a study of women and health. Participants completed a battery of established self-report measures to assess body image, eating disordered behaviors, and associated psychological domains. Results Black and Hispanic women did not differ significantly in their self-reports of body image, eating disordered behaviors, or associated psychological measures. Comparisons performed separately within both ethnic groups revealed significant differences by weight status, with a general graded patterning of greater concerns in obese than overweight than average weight groups. In terms of predicting body image, multiple regression analyses testing a number of variables, including BMI, performed separately for Black and Hispanic women revealed that eating concern and depressive affect were significant predictors of body image concern for both groups. Discussion Overall, Black and Hispanic women differed little in their self-reports of body image, eating-disordered features, and depressive affect. Higher weight was associated with a general pattern of increased body image concerns and features of eating disorders in both groups and with binge eating in Black women. Eating concerns and depressive affect emerged as significant independent predictors of body image for both ethnic groups.
Should Blacks Represent Blacks and Women Represent Women? A Contingent "Yes"

Disadvantaged groups gain advantages from descriptive representation in at least four contexts. In contexts of group mistrust and uncrystallized interests, the better communication and experiential knowledge of descriptive representatives enhances their substantive representation of the group's interests by improving the quality of deliberation. In contexts of historical political subordination and low de facto legitimacy, descriptive representation helps create a social meaning of "ability to rule" and increases the attachment to the polity of members of the group. When the implementation of descriptive representation involves some costs in other values, paying those costs makes most sense in these specific historical contexts.
Preparation and Characterization of Microcellular Polystyrene Foams Processed in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

The foaming of polystyrene using supercritical (SC) CO2 has been studied to better understand the microcellular foaming process, as we plan future studies that involve the creation of composite microcellular foams. Rapid decompression of SC CO2-saturated polystyrene at sufficiently high temperatures (above the depressed Tg) yields expanded microcellular foams. The resulting foam structures can be controlled by manipulating processing conditions. Experiments varying the foaming temperature while holding other variables constant show that higher temperatures produce larger cells and reduced densities. Structures range from isotropic cells in samples retaining their initial geometry to highly expanded foams recovered in the shape of the foaming vessel and having oriented, anisotropic cells and limited density reduction. Higher saturation pressures lead to higher nucleation densities and hence smaller cells. Decreasing the rate of depressurization permits a longer period of cell growth and therefore larger ce...
Validation of predictive heat and mass transfer green roof model with extensive green roof field data

Green roof technology has been adopted in the United States as a specialized roofing system and as a sustainable technology capable of saving energy. Most of the previous thermal performance models for green roofs have had the main goal of quantifying these energy savings. However, until recently, none of the models had been fully validated with laboratory and experimental data including both heat flux and surface temperature data. A recently developed green roof thermal performance model was validated with detailed experimental data from a new experimental apparatus called a Cold Plate, which is specifically designed and built for that purpose. In order to further examine the accuracy of the model, this paper describes the dynamic validation of the model using field data from a green roof installed on a commercial roof in Chicago. The dynamic validation consists of comparing substrate surface temperature, heat flux through the roof, and net radiation. The validated results show that the green roof thermal model predicts the heat and mass transfer appropriately as long as the long-wave radiation data from a weather station are used to reduce a possible bias resulting from the sky condition.
The effects of antibiotics on hemolytic behavior of red cells

Human blood was sheared between rotating polyethylene disks and plasma hemoglobin measured at intervals to produce kinetic hemolysis curves (KHC), plotted as free hemoglobin concentration vs time. The KHC produced by blood samples incubated in the presence of penicillin, streptomycin, gentamicin, and amikacin lie always below those for control samples, indicating a reduction in hemolysis; this reduction was greater as the drug concentration was increased. Explanations in terms of alterations in red cell structure were sought by several characterization tests of amikacin-loaded blood samples. Drug-localization studies demonstrated that significant fractions of the total dosage were associated with the red-cell membrane. Resistive pulse spectroscopy was used to show how amikacin affected cell size, deformability, and osmotic fragility; results were sensitive to storage age of the blood. In all cases, the effect of shearing was to reduce cell size, deformability, and osmotic fragility. Mechanisms for hemolytic protection by drugs are proposed.
Telepresence over satellite

Abstract The utilisation of distributed medical intelligence can contribute significantly to the continuous improvement of patient care and accelerates the qualification process of the medical staff. An efficient way of realization is the use of satellite networks for telemedical applications, as satellite communication has some distinct advantages over terrestrial communication channels: mesh topology networks, broad geographical coverage, multicast capabilities, etc. Using off-the-shelf hardware components and a specially designed communication software (WinVicos), various telemedical applications (teleconsultation, telementoring, teleteaching, etc.) have been realized.
Waddington redux: models and explanation in stem cell and systems biology

Stem cell biology and systems biology are two prominent new approaches to studying cell development. In stem cell biology, the predominant method is experimental manipulation of concrete cells and tissues. Systems biology, in contrast, emphasizes mathematical modeling of cellular systems. For scientists and philosophers interested in development, an important question arises: how should the two approaches relate? This essay proposes an answer, using the model of Waddington’s landscape to triangulate between stem cell and systems approaches. This simple abstract model represents development as an undulating surface of hills and valleys. Originally constructed by C. H. Waddington to visually explicate an integrated theory of genetics, development and evolution, the landscape model can play an updated unificatory role. I examine this model’s structure, representational assumptions, and uses in all three contexts, and argue that explanations of cell development require both mathematical models and concrete experiments. On this view, the two approaches are interdependent, with mathematical models playing a crucial but circumscribed role in explanations of cell development.
Adaptation of poplar leaf rust to Eastern cottonwood

Genotypes of eastern cottonwood, Populus deltoides, from Kentucky or Mississippi were inoculated using a leaf disk assay with isolates of poplar leaf rust, Melampsora medusae f. sp. deltoidae (Mmd), from both locations to determine if pathogenic races differ at these locations. Disease severity measurements, including infection probability (number of uredia produced per uredospore), sporulation (number of uredospores/cm2), and the progeny/parent ratio (number of daughter uredia produced per mother uredium) were significantly higher when trees of southern origin were inoculated with isolates from southern locations as compared to isolates from northern locations. In addition, larger variation in disease severity measurements attributable to specific interactions, i.e. the variance due to isolates adjusted for virulence on a universal suscept, were found in northern than in southern isolates. These results suggest that isolates of southern origin have broader adaptation and are more virulent on local southern host genotypes than isolates of northern origin. However, the larger variance attributable to specific interactions in northern isolates indicates the potential for pathogen adaptation to resistant host genotypes in Kentucky.
FOXP3 expression and nodal metastasis of breast cancer.

T regulatory cells, a subset of T lymphocytes, function to suppress immune responses. FOXP3, a member of the forkhead family of transcription factors, is a good marker for T regulatory cells. Since sentinel nodes are important sites of immunomodulation in breast cancer, we studied the association between T regulatory cells and nodal metastasis using FOXP3 expression in sentinel nodes with and without metastatic breast carcinoma. Following sample size calculations, we selected 140 sentinel nodes from breast cancer patients; 70 with metastasis (sentinel node+) and 70 without metastasis (sentinel node–). FOXP3 expression in sentinel nodes was studied by immunohistochemistry. Cortical cells expressing FOXP3 were counted in 10 high power fields. In the evaluable cases, the node positive (n = 66) and negative (n = 69) groups were well balanced for all clinicopathological parameters except histological type. The mean number of T regulatory cells expressing FOXP3 (per 10 hpf) was 139 in the node positive and 132 in the node negative group (P = 0.540). The mean number of T regulatory cells was 162 in patients ≤35 years of age (n = 8) compared to 133 in older patients (P = 0.250). Primary tumor pathological characteristics like tumor type, grade, size, and ER, PR, and HER2 status did not correlate with FOXP3 expression. The number of FOXP3-expressing T regulatory cells does not differ significantly between sentinel node+ and sentinel node– samples. It was also not affected by primary tumor characteristics like tumor type, grade, size, hormone receptor, and HER2 status.
Near-tip dual-length scale mechanics of mode I cracking in laminate brittle matrix composites

This paper presents the results of a numerical study on the near-tip mechanics of mode I cracking in brittle matrix composite laminates. A finite element model is developed within the context of two competing characteristic lengths present in the composite, i.e., the microstructural length such as the layer thickness and the macro-length such as the crack length, uncracked ligament size, etc.. The crack surfaces are assumed to be traction free and perpendicular to the reinforcing layers. Conditions leading to macroscopic homogeneous orthotropic mechanical behavior are also assumed. Thus, the near-tip numerical studies are carried out within a small scale heterogeneous zone which surrounds the crack tip and is dominated at its outer boundary by the displacements associated with a mode I crack in a homogeneous orthotropic medium. The model is used to calculate the stresses and stress intensities in the vicinity of the crack tip which develop due to the alternating fiber/matrix heterogeneous composite microstructure. Parameter studies elucidating the effects of the two competing composite characteristic lengths on the evolution and structure of the near-tip heterogeneous stress fields are carried out. The results indicate that when the characteristic microstructural length is relatively large compared to the macroscopic length, the singular heterogeneous stress fields may deviate substantially from the assumed homogenized orthotropic fields. The study can be used to determine the necessary conditions under which homogenization applies in obtaining an accurate description of the stresses in the vicinity of the crack tip in a laminated composite.
Lack of major cytoplasmic protein contamination of rat liver nuclear chromatin.

Des mesures quantitatives et des modeles sur gels d'acrilamide ont permi de conclure que les proteines cytoplasmiques preparees de cette maniere ne produisent pas de contamination appreciable.
A logical semantics for object-oriented databases

Although the mathematical foundations of relational databases are very well established, the state of affairs for object-oriented databases is much less satisfactory. We propose a semantic foundation for object-oriented databases based on a simple logic of change called rewriting logic, and a language called MaudeLog that is based on that logic. Some key advantages of our approach include its logical nature, its simplicity without any need for higher-order features, the fact that dynamic aspects are directly addressed, the rigorous integration of user-definable algebraic data types within the framework, the existence of initial models, and the integration of query, update, and programming aspects within a single declarative language.
Differences in DNA-damage in non-smoking men and women exposed to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS).

Abstract There is much data implicating environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in the development and progression of disease, notably cancer, yet the mechanisms for this remain unclear. As ETS is both a pro-oxidant stressor and carcinogen, we investigated the relationship of ETS exposure to intracellular and serum levels of DNA-damage, both oxidative 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8OHdG) and general, in non-smokers from non-smoking households, occupationally exposed to ETS. General DNA-damage consisting of single and double strand breaks, alkali-labile sites and incomplete base-excision repair, increased significantly in a dose-dependent manner with ETS exposure in men (P = 0.015, n = 32, Pearson) but not women (P = 0.736, n = 17). Intracellular 8OHdG-DNA-damage and general DNA-damage were both greater in men than women (P = 0.0005 and 0.016, respectively) but 8OHdG serum levels did not differ between the genders. Neither 8OHdG-DNA-damage nor serum levels correlated with increasing ETS exposure. This is the first study to demonstrate dose-dependent increases in DNA-damage from workplace ETS exposure. Perhaps most interesting was that despite equivalent ETS exposure, significantly greater DNA-damage occurred in men than women. These data may begin to provide a mechanistic rationale for the generally higher incidence of some diseases in males due to tobacco smoke and/or other genotoxic stressors.
A β-catenin/TCF-coordinated chromatin loop at MYC integrates 5′ and 3′ Wnt responsive enhancers

Aberrant MYC gene expression by the Wnt/β-catenin pathway is implicated in colorectal carcinogenesis. Wnt/β-catenin signaling stimulates association of the β-catenin coactivator complex with two Wnt responsive enhancers (WREs) located in close proximity to MYC gene boundaries. Each enhancer directly binds members of the TCF/Lef family of transcription factors that, in turn, recruit β-catenin. In a previous report, we showed that the downstream MYC enhancer (MYC 3′ WRE) cooperated with the upstream enhancer (MYC 5′ WRE) to activate expression of a heterologous reporter gene in response to Wnt/β-catenin and mitogen signaling. Here we use chromatin conformation capture (3C) to show that the MYC 5′ and 3′ WREs are juxtaposed at the genomic MYC locus during active transcription. This MYC 5′3′ chromatin loop is present in HCT116 human colorectal cancer cells that contain high levels of nuclear β-catenin and is absent in HEK293 cells that contain trace amounts of nuclear β-catenin. Depletion of functional β-catenin/TCF complexes blocks formation of the MYC 5′3 chromatin loop. Furthermore, we find that the chromatin loop is absent in quiescent cells, but is rapidly and transiently induced by serum mitogens in a β-catenin-dependent manner. Thus, we propose that a distinct chromatin architecture coordinated by β-catenin/TCF-bound WREs accompanies transcriptional activation of MYC gene expression.
The Relative Influence of the Schoolroom and the Home (Family) in the Epidemiology and Spread of Group A Streptococci (GAS) † 827

GAS upper respiratory tract infection is highly contagious; the organism often is quite prevalent among children as well as adults. Two settings that have a major influence in the epidemiology of GAS are the school and the home/family. To date, the relative influence of these two settings on the epidemiology has been incompletely defined. To assess the influence of these different environs on the spread of GAS, a 9-month prospective population-based study was conducted in a semi-closed community. 187 subjects(75% of those eligible) were studied with frequent clinical evaluations and throat cultures (TC); 60% were school-age. The mean number of visits was 11 per subject (range 10-13). 2112 TC were obtained. The overall positivity rate was 24%. Symptomatic subjects with positive TC were treated. 85% of GAS were type M-28.
Tandem small molecule organic photovoltaic cells with broad spectral response up to 1 μm and a high open-circuit voltage

We report a series-connected small molecule tandem photovoltaic cell utilizing two donors with complementary photovoltaic characteristics, lead phthalocyanine (PbPc) in the front subcell and boron subphthalocyanine chloride (SubPc) in the back subcell, to achieve both near infrared (NIR) response up to 1 μm and high open-circuit voltage (VOC) of more than 1.5 V in the same device. We find that the C60 layer thickness in the front subcell has a critical impact on the overall optical structure and photovoltaic performance of the tandem device. By combining transfer matrix calculations with subcell-selective spectral measurements, we are able to tune the optical field distribution inside the active layers and increase the photocurrent outputs from both subcells, leading to EQE > 30% over the wavelength range 400 nm < λ < 900 nm. This optimized tandem cell exhibits JSC = (5.5 ± 0.1) mA/cm2, fill factor = 0.54, VOC = 1.53 V, and a power conversion efficiency of (4.5 ± 0.2)%.
Ethno-Cultural Identity and Self-Esteem: A Reapplication of Self-Attitude Formation Theories

Traditional application of self-attitude formation theories to members of ethnocultural minority groups has postulated that they will internalize the dominant social group's negative evaluations of them and thus suffer from low self-esteem. Therefore, members of ethnocultural minority groups have been said to be in need of interventions designed to increase their self-esteem through enhancement of their ethnic identity. However, empirical findings fail to support the proposition that ethnocultural minority group members in general suffer from low self-esteem. It is suggested that these empirical findings are entirely consistent with self-attitude formation theories and that those theories actually predict that only a specific subset of ethnocultural minority group members will tend to internalize negative evaluations from out-groups. That subset consists of those ethnocultural minority group members who are immersed in a dissonant ethnocultural context. Conclusions are drawn about the appropriate role whi...