cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Environment on TBC Lifetime

While the water vapor content of the combustion gas in natural gas-fired land based turbines is ∼10%, it can be 20–85% with coal-derived (syngas or H2) fuels or innovative turbine concepts for more efficient carbon capture. Additional concepts envisage working fluids with high CO2 contents to facilitate carbon capture and sequestration. To investigate the effects of changes in the gas composition on thermal barrier coating (TBC) lifetime, furnace cycling tests (1 and 100h cycles) were performed in air with 10, 50 and 90 vol.% water vapor and CO2-10%H2O and compared to prior results in dry air or O2. Two types of TBC’s were investigated: (1) diffusion bond coatings (Pt diffusion or Pt-modified aluminide) with commercial electron-beam physical vapor-deposited yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) top coatings on second-generation superalloy N5 and N515 substrates and (2) high velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) sprayed MCrAlYHfSi bond coatings with air-plasma sprayed YSZ top coatings on superalloys X4, 1483 or 247 substrates. For both types of coatings exposed in 1h cycles, the addition of water vapor resulted in a decrease in coating lifetime, except for Pt diffusion coatings which were unaffected by the environment. In 100h cycles, environment was less critical, perhaps because coating failure was chemical (i.e. due to interdiffusion) rather than mechanical. In both 1h and 100h cycles, CO2 did not appear to have any negative effect on coating lifetime.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
1-Dimensional Selective Nuclear Overhauser Effect NMR Spectroscopy to Characterize Products from a Two-Step Green Chemistry Synthesis.

One dimensional (1-D) 1H and 13C NMR experiments are common tools used in undergraduate organic laboratories to characterize synthesized molecules. However, 1-D NMR spectra cannot always provide un...
Intellectual Humility and Reactions to Opinions about Religious Beliefs

Intellectual humility, a recognition of the fallibility of one's own views and an openness to changing those views when warranted, is a construct with roots in philosophy that is only now beginning...
The Seminar on Ship Hydrodynamics, Organized by Professor M.G. Krein

This paper was intended as an attempt to elucidate the remarkable contribution of M.G. Krein to ship hydrodynamics and study of wave processes in water.
Gastric Blood Flow and Secretion

Eugene Jacobson, the most assiduous student of gastric blood flow in the 1960s, said that there are three possible relationships between gastric blood flow and secretion: 1. Within physiological limits, secretion depends on blood flow, and an increase in blood flow causes an increase in secretion. 2. Within physiological limits, blood flow depends upon secretion, and an increase in secretion causes an increase in blood flow by means of the mechanisms responsible for active hyperemia. 3. Changes in blood flow and secretion are unrelated responses to their respective stimulating and inhibiting mechanisms.
Treatment and outcomes of small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix (SCCC).

5531Background: Extrapulmonary small cell carcinoma is rare. SCCC represent 2% of cervical cancers and can portend a poor prognosis. Treatment standardization is challenging given its rarity. We de...
The Transcription Factor EB Links Cellular Stress to the Immune Response .

The transcription factor EB (TFEB) is the master transcriptional regulator of autophagy and lysosome biogenesis. Recent advances have led to a paradigm shift in our understanding of lysosomes from a housekeeping cellular waste bin to a dynamically regulated pathway that is efficiently turned up or down based on cellular needs. TFEB coordinates the cellular response to nutrient deprivation and other forms of cell stress through the lysosome system, and regulates a myriad of cellular processes associated with this system including endocytosis, phagocytosis, autophagy, and lysosomal exocytosis. Autophagy and the endolysosomal system are critical to both the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system, with functions in effector cell priming and direct pathogen clearance. Recent studies have linked TFEB to the regulation of the immune response through the endolysosmal pathway and by direct transcriptional activation of immune related genes. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of TFEB's function and the molecular mechanisms behind TFEB activation. Finally, we discuss recent advances linking TFEB to the immune response that positions lysosomal signaling as a potential target for immune modulation.
Number Concepts, Prime Numbers, and the Division Algorithm

Introduction The topic of this section is the divisibility of integers, the basic building blocks (called prime numbers) for integers, and how to apply this foundation to problem solving in combinatorics and word problems in which integers solutions are sought (Diophantine equations). Brief Description The operations of addition and multiplication are two ways to combine integers to get a third integer (this is called the closure property). We’ll now talk a bit about trying to do the operations in reverse (subtraction and division) and discuss the formal definitions which will give rise to the big question of this half of the text and the big theorem, Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic, and its applications.
Intraoperative Laser-Assisted Indocyanine Green Imaging Can Reduce the Rate of Fat Necrosis in Microsurgical Breast Reconstruction.

Background Fat necrosis following microsurgical breast reconstruction is common and problematic for patients and surgeons alike. Indocyanine green angiography provides a means of evaluating flap perfusion at the time of surgery to inform judicious excision of hypoperfused tissue. The authors hypothesized that incorporation of protocolized indocyanine green-informed flap debridement at the time of surgery would decrease the incidence of fat necrosis. Methods A retrospective study of two cohorts was performed evaluating patients before and after implementation of protocolized indocyanine green-guided flap excision. Variables included demographics, procedural details, and complications. Multivariable analysis was used to determine significant differences between the cohorts and evaluate for meaningful changes in fat necrosis. Results Eighty patients were included, accounting for 137 flaps. Flap type was the only significant difference between the two groups, with the indocyanine green group more likely to be deep inferior epigastric perforator flaps (43.1 percent versus 25.3 percent; p = 0.038). The overall postoperative incidence of fat necrosis was 14.6 percent (20 of 137 flaps). Comparing by cohort, the standard debridement group showed 18 of 79 flaps with fat necrosis (22.8 percent), whereas the indocyanine green-informed debridement group showed only two of 58 flaps with fat necrosis (3.4 percent; odds ratio, 0.11; 95 percent CI, 0.02 to 0.60; p = 0.011). There were no other significant differences in complication profile. Conclusions Intraoperative use of indocyanine green angiography was associated with significantly lower odds of fat necrosis. This technology may reduce additional revision operations and improve patient satisfaction. Additional studies are needed to determine whether this innovation is cost-effective and generalizable to the entire autologous breast reconstruction population. Clinical question/level of evidence Therapeutic, III.
Muddying the waters: A political ecology of mosquito-borne disease in coastal Ecuador.

The mosquito-borne arboviral diseases dengue, chikungunya, and Zika are major public health burdens in Latin America. To analyze the socio-environmental dynamics of these diseases, we apply a political ecology of health and disease framework that is attentive to local etiological frameworks, structural sociopolitical conditions, processes of identity construction, and the contested, politicized nature of public health work. We use multiple qualitative methods to analyze perceptions and interactions with the local environment in relation to mosquito-borne disease across three small communities in Manabi Province, Ecuador. We find that participants' perceptions and practices are complex and multilayered: subjects possess a mixed theory of causation, where these diseases are caused not only by mosquitoes, but also by people's interactions with a changing environment; most environmental management to control vector mosquitoes is carried out informally by women as part of domestic routines; and contrary to public health messaging that stresses the importance of individual agency, participants prefer some of the most invasive techniques for mosquito control (i.e. fumigation with insecticides). However, individual agency in disease control is constrained by poor water infrastructure and lack of public health coordination. Our approach advocates for recognition of local knowledges and sociopolitical constraints in the development of public health messages and interventions.
Structural health monitoring using extremely compressed data through deep learning

Abstract This study introduces a novel convolutional neural network (CNN)‐based approach for structural health monitoring (SHM) that exploits a form of measured compressed response data through tra...
Mechanical Ventilation in Children on Venovenous ECMO.

BACKGROUND: Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) is used when mechanical ventilation can no longer support oxygenation or ventilation, or if the risk of ventilator-induced lung injury is considered excessive. The optimum mechanical ventilation strategy once on ECMO is unknown. We sought to describe the practice of mechanical ventilation in children on VV-ECMO and to determine whether mechanical ventilation practices are associated with clinical outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study in 10 pediatric academic centers in the United States. Children age 14 d through 18 y on VV-ECMO from 2011 to 2016 were included. Exclusion criteria were preexisting chronic respiratory failure, primary diagnosis of asthma, cyanotic heart disease, or ECMO as a bridge to lung transplant. RESULTS: Conventional mechanical ventilation was used in about 75% of children on VV-ECMO; the remaining subjects were managed with a variety of approaches. With the exception of PEEP, there was large variation in ventilator settings. Ventilator mode and pressure settings were not associated with survival. Mean ventilator FIO2 on days 1–3 was higher in nonsurvivors than in survivors (0.5 vs 0.4, P = .009). In univariate analysis, other risk factors for mortality were female gender, higher Pediatric Risk Estimate Score for Children Using Extracorporeal Respiratory Support (Ped-RESCUERS), diagnosis of cancer or stem cell transplant, and number of days intubated prior to initiation of ECMO (all P 0.5) (46% vs 22%, P = .001). CONCLUSIONS: Ventilator mode and some settings vary in practice. The only ventilator setting associated with mortality was FIO2, even after adjustment for disease severity. Ventilator FIO2 is a modifiable setting that may contribute to mortality in children on VV-ECMO.
Fragmentation alters ecological gradients and headwater fish assemblage composition relative to land use in a dendritic river system

The spatial and hydrological properties of headwaters allow dendritic systems to contribute to patterns of regional diversity. However, such ecological gradients may be disrupted as a result of hab...
Analysis of optimal superconvergence of the local discontinuous Galerkin method for nonlinear fourth-order boundary value problems

This paper is concerned with the convergence and superconvergence of the local discontinuous Galerkin (LDG) finite element method for nonlinear fourth-order boundary value problems of the type $u^{(4)}=f(x,u,u^{\prime },u^{\prime \prime },u^{\prime \prime \prime })$ , x ∈ [a,b] with classical boundary conditions at the endpoints. Convergence properties for the solution and for all three auxiliary variables are established. More specifically, we use the duality argument to prove that the errors between the LDG solutions and the exact solutions in the L2 norm achieve optimal (p + 1)th-order convergence, when polynomials of degree p are used. We also prove that the derivatives of the errors between the LDG solutions and Gauss-Radau projections of the exact solutions in the L2 norm are superconvergent with order p + 1. Furthermore, a (2p + 1)th-order superconvergent for the errors of the numerical fluxes at mesh nodes as well as for the cell averages is also obtained under quasi-uniform meshes. Finally, we prove that the LDG solutions are superconvergent with an order of p + 2 toward particular projections of the exact solutions. The error analysis presented in this paper is valid for p ≥ 1. Numerical experiments indicate that our theoretical findings are optimal.
When Little Things Make a Big Difference.

The immune system, which encompasses a dynamic network of organs, cells, and molecules, functions to maintain homeostasis as well as to respond to threats. Regulation of the immune system at the ge...
Market-Based Values—Learning From the Game

Gaming is now very much a consumer activity with multiple business models and large revenue streams. If we view it as some kind of educational activity, we can rightly ask, "What does it teach us about consumer electronics?" Consumer Engineers are responding to the requirements of businesses and the requirements of Consumers. Certainly, they still need to show that their technology will be acceptable and popular in the consumer market, but they also need to show that their technology is of value to the teams and organizations that create games. They must show that their platform is able to be efficient, easy to host, is compatible with other software systems, provides the data necessary and all the other things that are of interest to game developers but have little direct value to game players.
Trioxane—An Unusual Component in an Improvised Explosive-Actuated Incendiary Device

Purple granules were found as an adulterant in a specimen of double-based smokeless powder that had been obtained from an improvised explosive-actuated incendiary device. These granules were identified as having originated from tablets used by the U.S. Army in heating rations in the field. Trioxane, the active ingredient in these tablets, was identified by infrared and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
Local Control of Coronary Blood Flow and Adenosine

The control of myocardial blood flow is orchestrated by multiple regulatory processes, which result in close spatial and temporal coupling between myocardial oxygen supply and demand. The magnitude of coronary flow is a function of the driving pressure and the resistance of the vascular bed. Local control of coronary blood flow is mediated by alterations in vascular resistan ce in response to changes in the balance between myocardial oxygen supply and demand. In turn, coronary vascular resistance is adjusted by multiple interacting mechanisms including myocardial metabolism (metabolic control), endothelial control, autoregulation, myogenic control, extra-vascular compressive forces, and neural control. Coronary autoregulation and metabolic vasodilation are two basic forms of local coronary flow regulation. This review will discuss the local determinants of blood flow regulation to the myocardium, and will focus on the role of adenosine in this process.
Systemic treatment with a 5HT1a agonist induces anti-oxidant protection and preserves the retina from mitochondrial oxidative stress.

Chronic oxidative stress contributes to age related diseases including age related macular degeneration (AMD). Earlier work showed that the 5-hydroxy-tryptamine 1a (5HT1a) receptor agonist 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)-tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) protects retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells from hydrogen peroxide treatment and mouse retinas from oxidative insults including light injury. In our current experiments, RPE derived cells subjected to mitochondrial oxidative stress were protected from cell death by the up-regulation of anti-oxidant enzymes and of the metal ion chaperone metallothionein. Differentiated RPE cells were resistant to oxidative stress, and the expression of genes for protective proteins was highly increased by oxidative stress plus drug treatment. In mice treated with 8-OH-DPAT, the same genes (MT1, HO1, NqO1, Cat, Sod1) were induced in the neural retina, but the drug did not affect the expression of Sod2, the gene for manganese superoxide dismutase. We used a mouse strain deleted for Sod2 in the RPE to accelerate age-related oxidative stress in the retina and to test the impact of 8-OH-DPAT on the photoreceptor and RPE degeneration developed in these mice. Treatment of mice with daily injections of the drug led to increased electroretinogram (ERG) amplitudes in dark-adapted mice and to a slight improvement in visual acuity. Most strikingly, in mice treated with a high dose of the drug (5 mg/kg) the structure of the RPE and Bruch's membrane and the normal architecture of photoreceptor outer segments were preserved. These results suggest that systemic treatment with this class of drugs may be useful in preventing geographic atrophy, the advanced form of dry AMD, which is characterized by RPE degeneration.
The Chimpanzee Genome -- A Bittersweet Celebration

Deciphering human uniqueness by comparing the chimpanzee and human genomes is a fascinating but tough task, according to Olson and Varki in their Perspective. Reporting on a recent symposium at the University of California, San Diego, Olson and Varki provide an update on intriguing differences between humans and chimps at the molecular level.
Continuous flow left ventricular assist devices: Dare to compare.

Mechanism Continuous flow, axial Continuous flow, centrifugal Operating range (typical range), rpm 6000-15,000 (8000-11,000) 2400-3200 (2400-2800) Inflow sintering Complete Partial (ring) Placement Subdiaphragmatic Intrapericardial Antithrombotic prescription Aspirin/warfarin Aspirin/warfarin Bridge to transplant approval Yes, 2008 Yes, 2012 Destination therapy approval Yes, 2010 No No. of implants worldwide >21,000 >9000 From the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, Bronx, NY. Disclosures: Author has nothing to disclose with regard to commercial support. Received for publication Sept 24, 2015; accepted for publication Sept 24, 2015; available ahead of print Oct 27, 2015. Address for reprints: Daniel J. Goldstein,MD,Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, NewarkBeth IsraelMedical Center, 3400 Bainbridge Ave, MAP Building Fifth Fl, Bronx, NY 10467 (E-mail: dgoldste@montefiore.org). J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2016;151:190-1 0022-5223/$36.00 Copyright 2016 by The American Association for Thoracic Surgery http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcvs.2015.09.104 HeartMate II (Thoratec Corp, Pleasanton, Calif) and HVAD (HeartWare Inc, Framingham, Mass) left ventricular assist devices.
Electronic monitoring of offenders: can a wayward technology be redeemed?

Electronic monitoring of offenders is being increasingly used as an alternative to incarceration. Although surveillance and the threat of punishment can temporarily suppress criminal behavior, this strategy has not reduced long-term re-offending. An alternative use of monitoring technology would reward prosocial behavior on a variable schedule. Miniature and inexpensive Bluetooth or WiFi-enabled transceivers can electronically enrich designated environments in order to encourage offenders to attend classes, arrive promptly at work, or make appropriate decisions at critical choice-points in a crime-prone neighborhood. Within the criminal justice system, only small, incremental changes can be expected.
Choroidal neovascularization after laser in situ keratomileusis in a patient with presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome.

PURPOSE A 44-year-old patient with presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome (POHS) who developed a choroidal neovascular membrane (CNV) after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) surgery is presented. METHODS A 44-year-old male patient with moderate myopia and POHS who underwent LASIK surgery complained of distorted vision after the procedure. He had a quiet POHS lesion prior to refractive surgery. Fundus examination and fluorescein angiography revealed subfoveal CNV after the LASIK surgery. He underwent 2 sessions of photodynamic therapy (PDT). RESULTS Subfoveal CNV involuted after PDT and his vision improved from 20/300 to 20/25 at 13 months follow-up. CONCLUSIONS CNV can be triggered by LASIK surgery in patients with POHS. Those patients should be made aware of and closely followed up postoperatively for this complication. (Eur J Ophthalmol 2004; 14: 261-3).
Epidemic 2014 Enterovirus D68 Cross-Reacts with Human Rhinovirus on a Respiratory Molecular Diagnostic Platform

Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) is an emerging virus known to cause sporadic disease and occasional epidemics of severe lower respiratory tract infection. However, the true prevalence of infection with EV-D68 is unknown, due in part to the lack of a rapid and specific nucleic acid amplification test as well as the infrequency with which respiratory samples are analyzed by enterovirus surveillance programs. During the 2014 EV-D68 epidemic in the United States, we noted an increased frequency of “low-positive” results for human rhinovirus (HRV) detected in respiratory tract samples using the GenMark Diagnostics eSensor respiratory viral panel, a multiplex PCR assay able to detect 14 known respiratory viruses but not enteroviruses. We simultaneously noted markedly increased admissions to our Pediatric Intensive Care Unit for severe lower respiratory tract infections in patients both with and without a history of reactive airway disease. Accordingly, we hypothesized that these “low-positive” RVP results were due to EV-D68 rather than rhinovirus infection. Sequencing of the picornavirus 5’ untranslated region (5’-UTR) of 49 samples positive for HRV by the GenMark RVP revealed that 33 (67.3%) were in fact EV-D68. Notably, the mean intensity of the HRV RVP result was significantly lower in the sequence-identified EV-D68 samples (20.3 nA) compared to HRV (129.7 nA). Using a cut-off of 40 nA for the differentiation of EV-D68 from HRV resulted in 94% sensitivity and 88% specificity. The robust diagnostic characteristics of our data suggest that the cross-reactivity of EV-D68 and HRV on the GenMark Diagnostics eSensor RVP platform may be an important factor to consider in making accurate molecular diagnosis of EV-D68 at institutions utilizing this system or other molecular respiratory platforms that may also cross-react.
From Hammerstein to Hammerstein: The American Musical, 1927-1943: An Essay and Bibliography (Music Mini-Perspectives; no. 12)

Abstract The American musical from Show Boat (1927) to Oklahoma (1943) is surveyed in an essay and bibliography. The entire Broadway careers of Jerome Kern, Irving Berlin, George and Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter, and Rodgers and Hart are featured.
Neurologic Aspects of HIV Infection in Infants and Children: Therapeutic Approaches and Outcome

Central nervous system (CNS) HIV-related disorders frequently have devastating consequences. Significant progress has been made in the early diagnosis and treatment of the HIV-infected patient. As a result, the prevalence and natural history of neurologic illnesses have changed. This paper reviews the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and neuropathogenesis of HIV-related CNS disorders. Advances in antiretroviral therapy, neuroprophylaxis, and neuroprotective strategies are also discussed.
Robust estimation for structural spurious regressions and a Hausman-type cointegration test

This paper analyzes an approach to correcting spurious regressions involving unit-root nonstationary variables by generalized least squares (GLS) using asymptotic theory. This analysis leads to a new robust estimator and a new test for dynamic regressions. The robust estimator is consistent for structural parameters not just when the regression error is stationary but also when it is unit-root nonstationary under certain conditions. We also develop a Hausman-type test for the null hypothesis of cointegration for dynamic ordinary least squares (OLS) estimation. We demonstrate our estimation and testing methods in three applications: (i) long-run money demand in the U.S., (ii) output convergence among industrial and developing countries, and (iii) purchasing power parity (PPP) for traded and non-traded goods.
A role for Egfl7 during endothelial organization in the embryoid body model system

Epidermal growth factor-like domain 7, Egfl7, is a largely endothelial restricted gene which is thought to have a role during the differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) along the endothelial lineage. While it has been shown that Egfl7 knock-down in zebrafish impairs endothelial cord formation, the role of the gene in mammals has been unresolved. Interpretation of mouse knockout studies has been complicated by the fact that deletion of miR-126, an intronic microRNA located within Egfl7, results in vascular defects. Here we use an siRNA knock-down approach to target specific regions of Egfl7 without affecting miR-126 expression. Egfl7 was knocked down in mouse ESCs and the effect on vascular development was assessed using the in vitro embryoid body (EB) model after either 7 or 14 days of differentiation. Knock-down of Egfl7 resulted in the formation of abnormal sheet-like CD31+ structures that were abundant within EBs after 7 days of differentiation. Only up to 60% of these sheets co-expressed basement membrane and endothelial cell junction markers. Similar CD31+ sheets were also seen as outgrowths from 7 day EBs into collagen gels. A partial remodelling occurred by 14 days of differentiation when fewer CD31+ sheets were seen both within EBs, and as outgrowths from EBs. Formation of these sheets was due, at least in part, to increased proliferation specifically of CD31+ cells. Cell death within EBs was unaffected by Egfl7 knock-down. In conclusion, our work shows that knock-down of Egfl7 causes defects in early vascular cord formation, and results in the development of CD31+ sheet-like structures. This suggests that Egfl7 is vital for the formation of endothelial cell cords, and that the gene has an important role during both vasculogenesis and angiogenesis in mammalian cells.
Immunoregulatory effects of regulated, lung-targeted expression of IL-10 in vivo.

Regulation of pulmonary inflammation involves an intricate balance of both pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators. Acute lung injury can result from direct pulmonary insults that activate alveolar ma...
Transient Expression of a Transfected Gene in Cultured Epidermal Keratinocytes: Implications for Future Studies

We examine the effect of keratinocyte differentiation upon transient expression of a nonepithelial gene following DNA-mediated transfer. Cultures of primary epidermal keratinocytes were transfected with the reporter gene, chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT). The CAT gene was linked ar the 5' end to the long terminal repeat (LTR) regulatory sequences from Rous sarcoma virus, and gene transfer was accomplished by the calcium phosphate coprecipitation method. Transfected cells were fractionated on Ficoll 400 density gradients. The major finding of this study was that the larger, more differentiated cells displayed five- to sevenfold higher levels of CAT activity per cell than the smaller, less differentiated cells. The higher levels of CAT activity did not result from greater uptake of DNA because cells of all gradient fractions contained one to two copies of plasmid DNA per cell. Furthermore, the CAT gene linked to the regulatory sequences from another virus, SV40, gave the same result. We conclude that the CAT gene, when controlled by these viral regulatory sequences, is expressed more efficiently in differentiated keratinocytes. These results have important implications for the interpretation of future studies of gene expression in transfected keratinocytes.
Freezing Nucleation Rates of Dilute Solution Droplets Measured between −30° and −40°C in Laboratory Simulations of Natural Clouds

Abstract A 1.2 m3 continuous slow-expansion cloud chamber was used to simulate natural, liquid cloud formation on soluble cloud condensation nuclei (CCN). Droplet freezing was observed during continued simulated adiabatic ascent and cooling to −40°C. Sharply increasing ice nucleation rates were observed between −34° and −39°C, independent of the chemical composition of three CCN used. From the experimental data, nucleation rates are estimated assuming a homogeneous-freezing mechanism. It is concluded that homogeneous-freezing was observed. The results are compared to other laboratory and field studies. These results compare most closely with values calculated from data taken in real clouds and should be relevant to ice formation in cirrus clouds.
Advanced-stage small cell carcinoma of the ovary in pregnancy: long-term survival after surgical debulking and multiagent chemotherapy.

Abstract We report the longest disease-free survival achieved in an advanced-stage small cell carcinoma of the ovary. The patient had a stage IIIc tumor diagnosed during pregnancy. She underwent a total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, omentectomy, and optimal tumor debulking. Following her immediate postoperative recovery, she was treated with a multiagent chemotherapy regimen with germ cell activity consisting of vinblastine, cisplatin, cyclophosphamide, bleomycin, doxorubicin, and etoposide. She is alive and without evidence of disease 512 years after diagnosis. This is the second reported case in pregnancy and the longest disease-free survivor of metastatic small cell ovarian carcinoma in the medical literature.
On hybrid competitive Lotka–Volterra ecosystems

Abstract This paper is concerned with competitive Lotka–Volterra model in random environments. It uses regime-switching diffusion to model the dynamic of population sizes of n different species in a ecosystem subject to the random changes of the external environment. We show that the positive solution of the associated stochastic differential equation does not explode in finite time with probability 1. Moreover, we demonstrate that the solution is stochastically bounded, continuous, and has finite moments. Furthermore, we obtain certain asymptotic results regarding large time behavior and present some numerical experimental results.
Recovery study on the Youngs modulus of shock-loaded alloy 2024 Al

The recovery of Young's Modulus of alloy 2024 Al shock-loaded at shock pressures of 1.5 and 11 kbars was investigated at 41 and 56° C respectively. The activation energy of diffusion and the maximum percentage of recovery for the specimens as a function of shock pressures were evaluated. Based on the experimental results, some aspects of the defects in the specimens as a function of shock pressure are discussed.
Isotope effect and proton hopping in high-temperature protonic conductors

Studies of the 'isotope effect' in proton migration most often involve substitution of D for H. In the case of high-temperature protonic conductors (HTPCs) having the perovskite structure, Arrhenius behavior of the conductivity is consistently found, with activation energy for deuterium E D >E H by 0.03 to 0.06 eV, and a ratio of preexponentials A H /A D < 1. In addition, the magnitude of the preexponentials is generally lower than expected by about one order of magnitude. These results are examined in terms of four theories. Satisfactory description of the principal facts is given by a formal semi-classical theory, which is widely used in chemistry, and alternatively by the escape theory, originated by Kramers, which treats collisions of a light atom with a matrix of more massive atoms.
In situ surface pH measurement during electrolysis using a rotating pH electrode

An in situ technique has been developed for measuring the surface pH adjacent to a solid electrode/liquid interface during electrolysis. Measurements of the surface pH can be used to obtain insights regarding the electrodeposition of various transition metals and to obtain a better understanding of associated in situ surface chemistry effects. Many transition metals and alloys deposit with simultaneous hydrogen evolution and, as a result, are accompanied by a pH rise near the cathode, thereby affecting the reactivity of the nearby metal-ion species. Measurements of the surface pH of a solution containing simple salts during hydrogen evolution from a cathode were performed. The surface pH of a cathode during Ni and NiFe electrodeposition was also measured. The experiments demonstrated that, in the absence of buffers or metal ions, the surface pH rises many pH units above the bulk value. During Ni and NiFe electrodeposition, however, the surface pH of solutions consisting of simple salts and starting from a bulk pH level of 2 does not increase more than 3 pH units from the bulk value. In the case of Ni and NiFe electrodeposition, surface buffering occurs because of the hydrolysis of the metal-ion species present. Additionally, it is found that during the anomalous codeposition of NiFe, the surface pH is much lower than that required by the Dahms-Croll hypothesis.
The effect of diazoxide in children with islet cell adenomas.

1. Three children diagnosed preoperatively as having islet cell adenoma of the pancreas were studied. Only one of them exhibited hyperinsulinism during a provocative test. In the remaining two patients the diagnosis was made on the basis of an inappropriately high insulin/glucose ratio during hypoglycemia (relative hyperinsulinemia). The patients responded differently to Diaz-oxide treatment although circulating Diazoxide levels were found to be the same as those of five normal control subjects given similar amounts of the drug. One patient showed an improvement in glucose levels while in another patient the drug was ineffective. The third patient exhibited increased insulin response to a glucose stimulus. All three patients had a partial pancreatectomy with removal of their tumors. The insulin levels in both the tumors and the normal pancreatic tissue are reported.
Comparison of hot hydroxylamine hydrochloride and oxalic acid leaching of stream sediment and coated rock samples as anomaly enhancement techniques

Abstract A hot hydroxylamine hydrochloride (H-Hxl) extraction in 25% acetic acid is compared with the commonly used oxalic acid extraction as a method of anomaly enhancement for Cu and Zn in samples from two very different metal deposits and climatic environments. Results obtained on minus-80-mesh stream sediments from an area near the Magruder massive sulfide deposit in Lincoln County, Georgia, where the climate is humid subtropical, indicate that H-Hxl enhances the anomaly for Cu by a factor of 2 and for Zn by a factor of 1.5, compared to the oxalic method. Analyses of Fe oxide-coated rock samples from outcrops overlying the North Silver Bell porphyry copper deposit near Tucson, Arizona, where the climate is semi-arid to arid, indicate that both techniques effectively outline the zones of hydrothermal alteration. The H-Hxl extraction can also perform well in high-carbonate or high-clay environments, where other workers have suggested that oxalic acid is not very effective. Therefore, the H-Hxl method is recommended for general exploration use.
An Evaluation of Satellite-based Insolation Estimates for Ohio.

Abstract The National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS) has developed an operational procedure to estimate hourly and daily totals of global solar radiation (insolation) from geostationary operational environmental satellite (GOES) observations. Production of the insolation estimates began for the eastern two-thirds of the United States in the summer of 1980 and is expected to continue through 1986. The NESDIS estimates comprise a unique set of insolation data, but their accuracy needs to be assessed for atmospheric and surface conditions which differ from those for the Great Plains. Accuracy of 1982 NFSDIS daily estimates for Ohio was assessed through comparison with insolation measurements from eight high-quality stations. The NESDIS estimates are for target areas of approximately 50 × 50 km centered on the intersection of 1° lines of latitude and longitude. In this study, only estimates for the target centered closest to each station were compared with measurements from tha...
Optimizing JavaScript code for V8

The performance of programs running in JavaScript engines is notoriously difficult to predict. Indeed, JavaScript is a complex language and, due to time-constraints and limited engineering resources, all popular virtual machines only optimize a subset of the language. Code that runs outside this (non obvious) sweet spot can pay huge performance penalties.JavaScript engines generally have at least two modes of operation: one non-optimized, and one optimized. Initially all functions are compiled to run in the non-optimized mode. Heuristics, like statistic profilers or invocation counters, then trigger the expensive recompilation of hot methods. Methods frequently see a performance improvement of an order of magnitude when they run in optimized mode. It is hence crucial that programs spend their time in optimized code.There are several ways compilers can do this:• avoid statements that cannot be optimized by the JIT. Indeed, V8 still cannot generate optimized code for all JavaScript constructs.• avoid bailouts. Optimized code is generated under the assumption that the generated code will run with similar dynamic types as seen before. If that assumption fails, the optimized code must be thrown away.• make code monomorphic. Optimized code is more efficient if it specializes for fewer dynamic types. Frequently it is possible to reduce the number of types by duplicating functions.Knowing when and where to apply these tips is almost impossible without proper tool-support. In this tutorial I will discuss the listed optimization techniques and present the tools that allow the investigation of V8 generated code. In particular, I will focus on V8s tracing flags, which report when methods are (de)optimized or inlined, Hydrogen traces, which represent V8s intermediate representation, and assembly dumps. During the talk I will concentrate on a Scheme-to-JavaScript compilation, but all talking-points will be of interest to any developer creating JavaScript code. http://floitsch.blogspot.com/2012/03/optimizing-for-v8-introduction.html
An integrated anatomic, physiologic and cineradiologic study of the canine gastroesophageal sphincter.

Cineradiographs were taken before and after implantation of four strain transducers on the muscle of the distal esophagus of each of 10 healthy female beagles. After appropriate physiologic studies, the dogs were sacrificed and necropsied. A transition zone of mucosa, 1.4±0.6 mm wide, was found caudad to the squamocolumnar junction. Thickening of the circular muscle started 1.4±0.3 mm distal to the squamocolumnar junction and was 10.7±0.4 mm wide. The circular striated muscle of the esophagus terminated abruptly at the proximal edge of the muscle thickening. The striated longitudinal muscle continued its progress to the distal end of this muscle thickening, covering it like a mantle. The phrenoesophageal membrane was inserted 6.3±0.9 mm distal to the squamocolumnar junction. Transducers implanted over the muscle thickening showed relaxation with a swallow; those placed 1 cm proximal to the insertion of the phrenoesophageal membrane showed only contractions. Cineradiographic studies revealed a biconcave area in the portion of the esophagus that showed relaxation on physiologic study. The area of muscle thickening represented the inferior esophageal sphincter which, in the dog, is composed of smooth rather than striated muscle. Relating the findings to those in man, it was noted that the squamocolumnar junction of man is more caudad. Man does not have a well defined smooth muscle band as a sphincter, although opinions vary concerning the presence of muscle thickening in the distal esophagus. He does have a biconcave area but this is 2–3 cm orad to the position in the dog. Man has a vestibule distal to the biconcave area, but the dog does not. The peristaltic wave in the dog stops at the biconcave area and, in this respect, it is similar to that in man. In the preparation studied, the sphincter did not move proximally with a swallow as some believe it does in man.
Computed Tomographic Angiography under Sedation in the Diagnosis of Suspected Canine Pancreatitis: A Pilot Study

Background Computed tomography (CT) is highly accurate for diagnosing pancreatitis in humans. The diagnosis of pancreatitis in dogs is based on clinical signs, laboratory findings, and ultrasonographic (US) changes. There are, however, inherent limitations in relying on laboratory and ultrasound findings for the clinical diagnosis of pancreatitis in dogs. Hypothesis/Objectives We hypothesized that CT angiography would be a rapid and reliable method to confirm pancreatitis in dogs compared to ultrasonography. The aim was to describe the CT characteristics and compare them to ultrasound findings and correlate the CT appearance to the severity of the patients' clinical course. Animals A prospective pilot case series; 10 dogs with pancreatitis were enrolled if the history, clinical signs, laboratory, and ultrasonographic findings were indicative of pancreatitis. Methods A 3-phase angiographic CT was performed under sedation. Afterward, each dog had US-guided aspirates of the pancreas collected and blood drawn for cPLi assay. Images were evaluated for portion of visible pancreas, pancreatic size and margin, pancreatic parenchyma, presence of peripancreatic changes and contrast enhancement pattern. The results were compared with outcome. Results An enlarged, homogeneously to heterogeneously attenuating and contrast-enhancing pancreas with ill-defined borders was identified in all dogs. CT identified more features characterizing pancreatic abnormalities compared to US. Thrombi were found in 3/10 dogs. Three dogs with heterogeneous contrast enhancement had an overall poorer outcome than those with homogenous enhancement. Conclusions and Clinical Importance CT angiography under sedation was used in dogs to confirm clinically suspected pancreatitis and identified clinically relevant and potentially prognostic features of pancreatitis in dogs.
Simple and versatile high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous quantitation of the lactone and carboxylate forms of camptothecin anticancer drugs.

Abstract The well documented hydrolysis of the α-hydroxy-δ-lactone ring moiety in camptothecin and related analogues is routinely monitored using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Previous HPLC separations of the lactone and carboxylate forms of camptothecins have often required mobile phases containing three to four components; ion-pairing reagent to provide adequate retention of the carboxylate form of the drug; buffer to control the ionic strength and pH of the mobile phase; acetonitrile to control the retention of the lactone form and, in some instances, sodium dodecyl sulfate to reduce peak tailing. Because of the complexity of the mobile phases employed, development of these assays can be a laborious process, requiring re-optimization for each new analogue. In this study, we have developed a simple HPLC methodology for the simultaneous separation of the lactone and carboxylate forms of numerous camptothecin analogues. The mobile phase employed includes only triethylamine acetate (TEAA) buffer and acetonitrile. In this application, triethylamine serves multiple roles; as the ion-pairing reagent, as a masking agent for underivatized silanols and as the major buffer component. By altering only the composition of TEAA buffer with respect to acetonitrile, method development becomes a more streamlined and time efficient process. In this publication, we present the simultaneous separation of the lactone and carboxylate forms of camptothecin and four related analogues, namely, topotecan, GI 147211, 10-aminocamptothecin and the CPT-I I-SN-38 drug-metabolite pair. It is proposed that this new mobile phase, consisting of only triethylamine acetate buffer and acetonitrile, can be used for the analysis of the several camptothecin derivatives presently in clinical trials as well as the numerous other analogues in preclinical development.
Sudden Contraction Losses in Two-Phase Flow

The experimentally determined pressure drops due to a sudden contraction in two-phase flow in round pipes is given as a function of system pressure, flowing mixture quality, contraction area ratio, and mass velocity. The theoretical equation derived for the resulting pressure drop is ΔPc = G322gcρ [1 − σ2 + KTPC] where K TPC is a parameter independent of mass velocity. This parameter was evaluated for three different two-phase flow models. It is shown that the fog-flow (homogeneous) model gives the best correlation of data over the whole range of conditions studied. The range of pressures studied was 200–500 psia; the area ratios varied from 0.144 to 0.398; the mass velocity varied from 0.52 × 106 to 4.82 × 106 lb/hr-ft2 . The fluid used in this study was water.
Electroosmosis: A reliable fluid propulsion system for flow injection analysis

An electroosmosis based fluid propulsion system is described. The electroosmotic pump, operating in a high electric field, is isolated from other components by a grounding joint that is electrically conductive and permits the pumped fluid to be hydrodynamically coupled to contents downstream without leakage. The pump was used in single- and double-line flow injection analysis (FIA) systems. The determinations of chloride and iron(III) are discussed as representative examples. The experimental results shows excellent reproducibilities (relative standard deviation 0.4-0.8%), reflecting the stability and the reliability of the pump. The system can also be operated in a hybrid manner
Cytokine production by in vitro processed and unprocessed haematopoietic cells.

The studies described here demonstrate that in vitro processing of cells before extraction of RNA has a major effect on the number and type of cytokine transcripts present within MDS and leukemia cells. Transcripts for GM-CSF, a cytokine whose production by leukemia cells is believed to play an important role in the pathogenesis of leukemia, was not detectable in 12/13 unprocessed AML specimens, in 12/12 MDS specimens, or in 7/7 CML specimens but once detected in many specimens after processing. These data strongly suggest that leukemia cell production of GMCSF rarely occurs in vivo.
Investigation of endothelial function by pulse contour analysis: a protocol for drug administration and timing of pulse contour assessment.

AIMS Pulse contour analysis (PCA) obtained by finger photoplethysmography produces a digital volume pulse (DVP) including an inflection point in its down-slope. The reflection index (RI: ratio of the inflection point height over the maximal DVP) is responsive to vasodilatation. We aimed to optimize the drug dose and time interval for assessing endothelial function using PCA in healthy volunteers and patients with severe coronary artery disease.
Increasing Resource Efficiency through Residential Greywater Use

To support population growth, a viable fresh water supply, supporting water and wastewater treatment infrastructure, and electric capacity is needed. Historically the answer to growing demand was to build more reservoirs, however; viable potential sites are not plentiful. In addition, infrastructure for water supply and treatment is difficult, expensive, and time-consuming to develop. Greywater use offers the opportunity to stretch our water supply and electrical capacity through dual water use and less treatment. Greywater may offer a viable solution to increasing water supplies in the near term as we plan and development new water resources. This research identifies the potential impacts of greywater toilets on a large scale in two communities that are considering building additional water storage capacity. The use of greywater toilet systems in new and existing homes in these communities could potentially support new residential growth for 3.4 years in these areas. This could reduce the pressure on the...