cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Negotiating discourses: Sixth-grade students’ use of multiple science discourses during a science fair presentation

This study offers important insights into the coexistence of multiple discourses and the link between these discourses and science understanding. It offers concrete examples of students’ movement between multiple discourses in sixth-grade science fair presentations, and shows how those multiple discourses in science practices illuminate students’ understanding of science and offer insights into how they engage in the complex thinking and communication of the New Literacies. The findings suggest that classroom teachers should recognize and incorporate students’ everyday science talk as a useful tool in instilling basic scientific concepts. Teachers should also help students develop awareness of the value and appropriateness of drawing on life circumstances in talking about science and the benefit of knowing and talking about scientific phenomena along a continuum of science understanding. Teachers should also build their own understandings of the value of discourse in encoding students’ science understandings.
An Approximate Theory of Porous, Sweat, or Film Cooling With Reactive Fluids

R a n n i e ' s a p p r o x i m a t e t heo ry of po rous cooling for i n e r t coo lan t s is h e r e ex tended to t h e case in wh ich t h e coo lan t i tself is react ive (for i n s t a n c e , t h e coo lan t is o n e of t h e p rope l l an t s ) . T h e ex tens ion is possible w i t h t h e h e l p of d r a s t i c a s s u m p t i o n s a b o u t t h e diffusions a n d t h e r e ac t ions of t h e gases . T h e t h e o r y can be appl ied t o t h e case of film cooling, provided t h e l iqu id film is s t ab l e . A n u m e r i c a l app l i ca t ion is developed.
Contact sensing and grasping performance of compliant hands

Limitations in modern sensing technologies result in large errors in sensed target object geometry and location in unstructured environments. As a result, positioning a robotic end-effector includes inherent error that will often lead to unsuccessful grasps. In previous work, we demonstrated that optimized configuration, compliance, viscosity, and adaptability in the mechanical structure of a robot hand facilitates reliable grasping in unstructured environments, even with purely feedforward control of the hand. In this paper we describe the addition of a simple contact sensor to the fingerpads of the SDM Hand (Shape Deposition Manufactured Hand), which, along with a basic control algorithm, significantly expands the grasp space of the hand and reduces contact forces during the acquisition phase of the grasp. The combination of the passive mechanics of the SDM Hand along with this basic sensor suite enables positioning errors of over 5 cm in any direction. In the context of mobile manipulation, the performance demonstrated here may reduce the need for much of the complex array of sensing currently utilized on mobile platforms, greatly increase reliability, and speed task execution, which can often be prohibitively slow.
Innovation SP : Web-wide innovation

The Internet is efficiently spreading the word on global challenges facing humanity, it is time to use it to develop a solution for the same. Co-innovation contributed to by a growing number of researchers has been a recent welcome trend. In this article we pitch the extension of open innovation to the full spectrum of Internet-reach world wide. We describe how to use the InnovationSP as a framework to define, and detail the parts of any global issue, how to manage the barrage of expected input, and how to use binary clarity to summarize the community wisdom expressed via the opinions of surfers world wide. We then point out to a successful implementation of this method for the energy crisis.
Mercury mediated synthesis of bis(carboxy)iodobenzenes

Abstract Iodobenzene dibenzoates and acetoxylates can be conveniently prepared from iodobenzene dichloride and the corresponding mercuric carboxylate generated in situ . Especially noteworthy is the high yield preparation of bis(trifluoro-acetoxy) iodobenzene.
Risk of invasive squamous carcinoma of the cervix associated with screening intervals of 1, 2, and 3 years: a case–control study

Abstract Objective: To compare the risks of developing invasive squamous carcinoma of the cervix (ISCC) associated with different lengths of time following a negative Pap test result. Methods: We conducted a matched case–control study using subjects who were members of Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Plan–Northern California Region. Women with an initial diagnosis of ISCC between 1983 and 1995 who had been members of the Health Plan at least 30/36 months before the date of histologic diagnosis comprised the cases (n = 482). Two controls per case (when available) were matched for age, length of membership, and race (n = 934). We defined the screening interval as the time between the last negative Pap test result and the histologic diagnosis of invasive malignancy. We defined a negative Pap test result as a result reported as normal or one with a reading not associated with squamous dysplasia or cancer (eg, benign cellular changes, metaplasia). Results: Invasive squamous carcinoma of the cervix was diagnosed in 103, 42, and 28 women at 0–18-, 19–30-, and 31–42-month intervals (respectively) following a negative test result. The odds ratio for 2- versus 1-year intervals was 1.72 (95% CI, 1.12–2.64; P = 0.013), and for 3- versus 1-year intervals was 2.06 (95% CI, 1.21 –3.50; P = 0.007). The odds ratio for 3- versus 2-year intervals was 1.20 (95% CI, 0.65–2.21; P = 0.561). These results were not substantially changed by controlling for the number of previous consecutive negative test results or for ever having had an abnormal test result while a plan member. Conclusions: In this large health plan, the odds ratios for the diagnosis of ISCC following a negative Pap test result were significantly greater for 2- and 3-year intervals than for a 1-year interval. We were unable to demonstrate a significant difference between 3- and 2-year intervals. The relevance of our findings needs to be placed in the context of the low absolute risks of developing ISCC during the first 3 years following a negative Pap test result before making policy recommendations.
Materials Follow Form and Function: Probabilistic Factor Graph Approach for Automatic Material Assignments to 3D Objects

There are strong co-relations between material assignment, shape, and functionality of a part in overall product/assembly. However, these strong co-relations are rarely exploited for automated material assignment. We present a probabilistic graphical model-based approach to automatically assign materials to the parts (components) of a 3D object (assembly). The presented model performs material assignment by identifying the relations between shape, functionality, and materials of parts in the existing database objects. By learning the context dependent correlation without supervision from a set of objects and their segmented parts, the learned model can be used to assign proper real materials to the parts of a query object. Our primary contributions are: a) the real materials definition and assignment and b) assigning materials based on the functionality and form of the parts in the object. The performance of proposed computational approach is demonstrated by results of material assignment on various query objects without pre-specified material definitions.© 2014 ASME
Bibliography on binary image compression

This bibliography lists published papers that specifically relate to the compression of digitized binary images from graphics data. By graphics data we mean printed matter, handwriting, line drawings, or any image data that is basically two-level: information on background. The data compression covered here assumes information reduction to images with two levels of signal amplitude followed by redundancy reduction of these binary (i.e., black/white) images.
The Social Construction of Legal Pluralism

This article focuses on historical conditions and sociological variables that contribute to or impede the development of religious freedom. One major set of variables focuses on characteristics of legal and judicial systems. Another set evaluates the characteristics and history of a society, including a society's cultural values, and how those values are implemented in the regulation of religion. A further set of considerations flows directly from the work of Donald Black in the sociology of law, and includes important variables such as status, intimacy, and third-party partisanship, as well as evidentiary processes and production. Finally, the work of William Chambliss has identified the dialectic processes of law development as useful in allowing us to understand how legal structures protective of religious freedom might be produced.
Single-Stage Dual Priority Regulator for photovoltaic systems

Abstract In this paper the design and application of a voltage regulator for use in Photovoltaic Systems with two separate loads of different priority is presented. The Single-Stage Dual Priority Regulator (SSDPR) charges two separate battery systems for high and low priority loads. The controller always charges the main battery first. It toggles between the two batteries when the main battery is nearly charged, and reduces the charge duty cycle of the main battery as it approaches full charge. The SSDPR utilizes the PV more efficiently by supplying low priority loads without jeopardizing the reliability of the critical load. Both the main and auxiliary voltage settings are adjustable, allowing the use of different types of batteries. The SSDPR is being tested in the University of Lowell Vaccine Refrigerator Laboratory. A dual priority regulator is useful in any stand-alone system with multiple loads. Uses include photovoltaic powered homes, medical clinics, and recreational vehicles.
The role of defects on D-C conduction in Ta 2 O 5 films

Thin film tantalum oxide capacitors have been used extensively in the electronic and the telecommunication industry.1 One of the most important parameters that measures the quality of the capacitor is its leakage current. In spite of a large amount of effort to study the conduction mechanism in Ta2O5 films, even the basic question of whether conduction is electrode-limited or bulk-limited has not been satisfactorily answered.2 In a previous publication,3 it was shown that the conduction current in a metal-Ta2O5-metal device is independent of the work function of the metal electrode, for r-f sputtered Ta2O5 films.4 Furthermore, we have shown that there exists drastic differences in the magnitude of the conduction current through M-I-M devices with similar Ta205/metal interfaces but progressively different bulk oxide.5 Therefore, the conduction mechanism cannot be electrode-limited even if interface irregularities are postulated to exist.6 In this talk, direct evidence that the conduction mechanism is indeed bulk-limited will be presented. Detailed results will be published elsewhere.5
Staining procedure to detect viability and the true acrosome reaction in spermatozoa of various species

A simple dual stain procedure (DS) for simultaneously determining sperm viability and acrosomal status is described. The DS includes the use of vital stain trypan blue to detect live and dead spermatozoa and Giemsa to detect the presence or absence of an acrosome. For staining, spermatozoa are washed, incubated with trypan blue, washed, dried onto slides, and subjected to Giemsa. Dead spermatozoa stain blue in the postacrosomal region while live spermatozoa remain unstained. The acrosome stains light purple-dark pink while acrosome-free sperm remain unstained. This staining pattern enables differentiation of spermatozoa which have undergone a true acrosome reaction (TAR) from those which have undergone a false acrosome reaction (FAR). Incubation of bull, boar, ram, and stallion spermatozoa for 60 minutes at 37 degrees C in the presence of calcium ionophore A23187 increased the proportion of spermatozoa undergoing a TAR in all species except the stallion. Incubation of bull spermatozoa for up to 24 hours at 37 degrees C resulted in a decrease over time in the percentage of live acrosome-intact spermatozoa and a simultaneous increase in the percentage of spermatozoa categorized as having undergone a TAR and FAR. The DS could be a useful technique in evaluating sperm viability and acrosomal status in fertilization and clinical studies.
Self-organization of treadmilling microtubules into a polar array

The centrosome is normally thought to determine the cell center and to dictate the formation of a radial array of microtubules that defines the spatial organization of cytoplasm. However, experiments indicate the existence of a mechanism for organization of a centered microtubule array that is independent of the centrosome. Here, we formulate a model of treadmilling dynamics of non-centrosomal microtubules that predicts a spontaneously established, polarized distribution of microtubule orientation. Based on this model, we propose that the autonomous ability of non-centrosomal microtubules to form a polarized array arises from their treadmilling within the space constrained by the cell boundary.
Comparison of Protein Models Minimized by the All-Atom and United-Atom Models in the AMBER Force Field: Correlation of RMS deviation with the Crystallographic R Factor and Size

We performed energy minimization of 25 protein structures, which vary significantly in their size, secondary structural content and crystallographic R factor, in the AMBER force field. We used an unconstrained path and the conjugate gradients algorithm. To determine the reliability of the united-atom approximation, we minimized all the proteins using both the all-atom and united-atom models. The RMS deviations of the minimized structures were plotted as a function of the crystallographic R factors of the initial structures. For the all-atom models, we found a strong linear relationship between the RMS deviations and the R factors (correlation coefficient of 0.78). The RMS deviations of protein structures minimized using united-atom models showed a wider range of distribution and had a correlation coefficient with the R factors of only 0.52. The RMS deviations decrease with an increase in the size of the protein, probably due to the decreased ratio of surface area to volume with increasing size of the protein. The surface atoms and residues showed higher RMS deviations than those in the interior of the protein. Even in these plots the united-atom models show a wide range of distribution of data points. From these results, we recommend the use of all-atom models for energy minimization of proteins in the AMBER force field.
Differential early rearing environments can accentuate or attenuate the responses to stress in male C57BL/6 mice

This study investigated the effects of neonatal handling and maternal separation on the development of anxiety behavior and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis of C57BL/6 mice. We hypothesized short periods of neonatal handling would diminish anxiety and secretion of corticosterone, while longer periods of maternal separation would elevate anxiety and plasma corticosterone compared to a nonhandled group. Mice were bred and reared as follows. After birth, each litter was assigned to one of four groups: mother and pups removed from the home cage for 10 min (group 1) or 180 min a day (group 2); mother only removed from home cage 180 min a day (group 3); and no handling until weaning (group 4). All separation occurred on the first 10 days of life. Juvenile males that experienced 10 min of separation/day exhibited decreased anxiety behavior compared to all other mice. A second group of litters were bred and reared according to groups 1, 2, and 4 as described above. Upon adulthood, anxiety behavior was assessed in males, and the corticosterone response to an acoustic stressor was quantified. No effect of differential rearing was observed on behavior, but there was a marked effect on plasma corticosterone secretion between the groups. Adult male mice neonatally handled for 10 min/day exhibited a blunted corticosterone response, and mice that experienced 180 min of maternal separation exhibited a prolonged corticosterone response to the acoustic stimulus compared to the nonhandled group. These results demonstrate the development of the mouse's hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis can be modified by neonatal rearing conditions, and suggest that the mouse could be a viable animal model to determine the genetic-environmental interactions governing brain development.
Epidermal nevus syndrome: subgroup with neuronal migration defects.

Epidermal nevus syndrome is one of the sporadic congenital hamartoses in which neurologic abnormalities have been frequently reported. We report two cases with severe primary brain involvement, seizures, mental retardation, and facial hemihypertrophy. We emphasize the superiority of magnetic resonance imaging over other radiographic studies in outlining the primary central nervous system anomalies associated with this syndrome. Although attempts were made to distinguish between several variants of epidermal nevus syndrome, it is clear that these are one entity. Proteus syndrome, encephalocraniocutaneous lipomatosis, and epidermal nevus syndrome have several overlapping phenotypic features. We suggest that they represent a phenotypic continuum, which in turn suggests a common pathogenetic process. While the cause of these syndromes is unknown, observations point to a somatic mutation leading to variable patterns of mosaicism. (J Child Neurol 1992;7:29-34).
The rise of translational bioinformatics

A report on the 20th International Conference on Intelligent Systems for Molecular Biology (ISMB), held at Long Beach, California, USA, July 15-17, 2012.
Long-Term History of Chesapeake Bay Anoxia

Stratigraphic records from four sediment cores collected along a transect across the Chesapeake Bay near the mouth of the Choptank River were used to reconstruct a 2000-year history of anoxia and eutrophication in the Chesapeake Bay. Variations in pollen, diatoms, concentration of organic carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, acid-soluble iron, and an estimate of the degree of pyritization of iron indicate that sedimentation rates, anoxic conditions and eutrophication have increased in the Chesapeake Bay since the time of European settlement.
Effects of verapamil on platelet aggregation, ATP release and thromboxane generation.

Abstract We examined the effects of verapamil on platelet function. Verapamil (0.5 μg/ml) in this study inhibited platelet aggregation induced by threshold amounts of ADP, AA, and epinephrine. With higher concentrations of aggregating stimuli, verapamil caused a dose-dependent inhibition of aggregation. Verapamil reduced the extent of epinephrine-induced primary wave, but not that by ADP. Ristocetin-induced aggregation was not affected at any concentration of verapamil. Platelet ATP release induced by AA and ADP was also inhibited. In vitro platelet TXA2 generation was inhibited by verapamil in concentrations lower than those required for inhibition of aggregation.
Solution structure of an intramolecular DNA triplex linked by hexakis(ethylene glycol) units: d(AGAGAGAA-(EG)6-TTCTCTCT-(EG)6-TCTCTCTT).

A DNA molecule was designed and synthesized with three octanucleotide stretches linked by two hexakis(ethylene glycol) chains to form an intramolecular triplex in solution. The structural data obtained from a series of NMR NOESY spectra yielded interproton distances, and COSY experiments provided dihedral angle information for analysis of deoxyribose ring pucker. Using distance geometry followed by simulated annealing with restrained molecular dynamics and relaxation matrix refinement, a well-refined ensemble of conformations was calculated. Although some NOE cross-peaks involving protons of the hexakis(ethylene glycol) linker could be identified, most could not be assigned and the conformations of the linkers were not determined. The deoxyribose conformations are predominantly of the S type, except for the protonated cytosine residues in the third strand which show hybrid N and S character. Overall, the duplex part of the molecule resembles a B-DNA double helix with the third strand bound in its major gr...
New surgical technique for studying placental transfer of drugs in vivo

Abstract A new surgical technique for studying placental transfer of drugs in vivo is outlined. The heart and the amniotic sac were catheterized for easy sampling.
Towards Anonymous Group Setup across Multiple Domains

Anonymous group setup across multiple domains has its practical uses in the context where members from different domains need to group together to accomplish certain tasks while keeping their identities secret until the group setup succeeds. To this end, our paper proposes a new group formation scheme named Anonymous Group Setup (AGS) in anonymous communication. It allows the members from multiple domains to group together without disclosing their identity information to others. The group founder can only reveal their identities after the group setup succeeds. If the group setup fails due to the lack of participation of members from any domains, then their identities remain hidden. Moreover, it supports a dynamic domain division without incurring significant system cost, which implicates the domains can be redefined and the members can be associated with different domains at different times during the group setups. In the end, we give security analysis and provide performance evaluation of AGS through simulation.
Imaging findings of recurrent acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children and young adults, with emphasis on MRI

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common of all childhood malignancies. Current remission rates approach 80%. Recurrent disease can present in a wide variety of ways. MR imaging plays a crucial role in the detection of disease relapse. Because other disorders can mimic recurrence of leukemia, it is important for the radiologist to judge recurrence from non-recurrence accurately in order to avoid unnecessary testing and emotional stress on the patient and family.
Characterization of a rat in vitro ovarian culture system to study the ovarian toxicant 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide

Repeated daily dosing of rats with the occupational chemical 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD) causes selective depletion of the smallest preantral ovarian follicles (primordial and primary). These targeted populations are difficult to study because they comprise very little of the overall mass of ovarian tissue. Additionally, they are randomly distributed throughout the ovary. Therefore, a neonatal rat ovarian culture system containing predominantly primordial and primary follicles was developed and its susceptibility to VCD was assessed. The in vivo sensitivity of neonatal rats to VCD dosing was first confirmed by daily injection of VCD (80 mg/kg/day ip) on postnatal days (PND) 4-19. On PND 19, depletion of primordial and small primary follicles was evident. Ovarian cultures were then established utilizing a floating organ culture system to treat ovaries from PND 4 Fischer 344 rats in vitro. Initial follicle populations in cultured ovaries consisted of primordial (81%) and small primary (19%) follicles, whereas larger-sized preantral follicles had developed after 15 days in culture (67% primordial, 31% small primary, and 2% large primary). Cultured rat ovaries were sensitive to follicle depletion by incubation with VCD (> or =30 microM), and follicle loss occurred in a time-dependent manner (8-15 days). Evidence for apoptosis in VCD-exposed ovaries, as demonstrated in vivo, was obtained using immunohistochemistry. There was significantly more staining for apoptosis-associated active caspase-3 and TUNEL in ovaries incubated with VCD (30 microM, 15 days) compared with matched controls. These results demonstrate that small preantral follicles of cultured neonatal rat ovaries are sensitive to VCD exposure. The similarities between VCD's effects in vitro and in vivo demonstrate the usefulness of this system for future mechanistic studies related to ovarian follicle loss induced by VCD or other ovotoxic chemicals.
Almost continuous images of Peano continua

Abstract We give a necessary and sufficient condition that a 2nd countable space be the almost continuous image of a Peano continuum.
Economist vs. legist, politician, bureaucrat

In 1940 Jacob Viner, commenting on Alfred Marshall's world and economics, observed that no longer did we live in a free society whose economic affairs were conducted by "free individuals." Moreover, both "Victorian complacency" respecting the present and "Victorian optimism" respecting "future progress" had become "utterly inappropriate" [44, p. 261]. By now, 34 years later, the prospect has become worse. For us as economists, however, this is all to the good in that we are confronted by many challenges. Furthermore, as Rondo Cameron has observed [7, p. 147],
Social, organizational, and contextual characteristics of clinical decision support systems for intensive insulin therapy: A literature review and case study

Abstract Introduction Evaluations of computerized clinical decision support systems (CDSS) typically focus on clinical performance changes and do not include social, organizational, and contextual characteristics explaining use and effectiveness. Studies of CDSS for intensive insulin therapy (IIT) are no exception, and the literature lacks an understanding of effective computer-based IIT implementation and operation. Results This paper presents (1) a literature review of computer-based IIT evaluations through the lens of institutional theory, a discipline from sociology and organization studies, to demonstrate the inconsistent reporting of workflow and care process execution and (2) a single-site case study to illustrate how computer-based IIT requires substantial organizational change and creates additional complexity with unintended consequences including error. Discussion Computer-based IIT requires organizational commitment and attention to site-specific technology, workflow, and care processes to achieve intensive insulin therapy goals. The complex interaction between clinicians, blood glucose testing devices, and CDSS may contribute to workflow inefficiency and error. Evaluations rarely focus on the perspective of nurses, the primary users of computer-based IIT whose knowledge can potentially lead to process and care improvements. Conclusion This paper addresses a gap in the literature concerning the social, organizational, and contextual characteristics of CDSS in general and for intensive insulin therapy specifically. Additionally, this paper identifies areas for future research to define optimal computer-based IIT process execution: the frequency and effect of manual data entry error of blood glucose values, the frequency and effect of nurse overrides of CDSS insulin dosing recommendations, and comprehensive ethnographic study of CDSS for IIT.
Modified operation for correction of inguinal hernia

Abstract An effective operation for the correction of the inguinal hernia is presented which has proved satisfactory in 250 cases. The technique is not entirely new. The cord is not transplanted. The introduction of the “suspension” suture is, we believe, the essential factor in correcting an obvious error in present day technique, that of relieving strain on the approximating suture lines and permitting healing of relaxed tissues.
Resolution Independent Density Estimation for motion planning in high-dimensional spaces

This paper presents a new motion planner, Search Tree with Resolution Independent Density Estimation (STRIDE), designed for rapid exploration and path planning in high-dimensional systems (greater than 10). A Geometric Near-neighbor Access Tree (GNAT) is maintained to estimate the sampling density of the configuration space, allowing an implicit, resolution-independent, Voronoi partitioning to provide sampling density estimates, naturally guiding the planner towards unexplored regions of the configuration space. This planner is capable of rapid exploration in the full dimension of the configuration space and, given that a GNAT requires only a valid distance metric, STRIDE is largely parameter-free. Extensive experimental results demonstrate significant dimension-dependent performance improvements over alternative state-of-the-art planners. In particular, high-dimensional systems where the free space is mostly defined by narrow passages were found to yield the greatest performance improvements. Experimental results are shown for both a classical 6-dimensional problem and those for which the dimension incrementally varies from 3 to 27.
The Effect of Pressure on the Intensity of X-Rays Scattered from Nitrogen at Small Angles

It is found that at small angles the scattering from a "permanent" gas diminishes due to intermolecular interference. The scattering cruves at various pressures closely resemble those of a liquid or solid. It is concluded that this is due to the closeness of the scattering centers rather than to any preferred orientation of molecular groups since it is unlikely that such groups would be present in a gas so far from the liquid state.
HMG-CoA reductase, cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase, LCAT, ACAT, LDL receptor, and SRB-1 in hereditary analbuminemia

HMG-CoA reductase, cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase, LCAT, ACAT, LDL receptor, and SRB-1 in hereditary analbuminemia. Background Hereditary analbuminemia is associated with hypercholesterolemia, which has been shown to be primarily caused by increased extrahepatic production of cholesterol. Nagase rats with hereditary analbuminemia (NAR) have been used as a model to dissect the effect of primary hypoalbuminemia from that caused by proteinuria in nephrotic syndrome. The present study was undertaken to explore the effect of hereditary analbuminemia on protein expression of the key factors involved in cholesterol metabolism. Methods Hepatic tissue protein abundance of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (a rate-limiting enzyme in cholesterol catabolism), low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor, high density lipoprotein (HDL) receptor (SRB-1), acyl-coA cholesterol acyltransferase-2 (ACAT-2), and plasma concentration of lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), as well as HMG-CoA reductase, ACAT, and LCAT activities were determined in fasting male NAR and Sprague-Dawley control rats. Results The NAR group exhibited significant up-regulation of HMG-CoA reductase protein abundance but normal HMG-CoA reductase enzymatic activity. This was coupled with a significant up-regulation of cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase and a mild up-regulation of ACAT protein abundance and activity. However, hepatic LDL receptor and HDL receptor and plasma LCAT protein concentration and activity were normal in NAR. Conclusion Hypercholesterolemia in NAR is associated with elevated hepatic HMG-CoA reductase protein abundance, but normal HMG-CoA reductase activity. These findings point to post-translational regulation of this enzyme and favor an extrahepatic origin of hypercholesterolemia in NAR. The observed up-regulation of cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase represents a compensatory response to the associated hypercholesterolemia. Unlike nephrotic syndrome, which causes severe LDL receptor, HDL receptor, and LCAT deficiencies, hereditary analbuminemia does not affect these proteins.
An ab initio study of the geometries, anharmonic force fields and fundamental vibration frequencies of cis- and trans-formic acid

Abstract The geometry, harmonic and anharmonic force fields, and fundamental vibration frequencies of cis - and trans -formic acid are studied ab initio in the 4–31G and (9,5) basis sets. For the more stable trans -conformer (i.e., trans with respect to CH and OH) comparisons are made between the predicted and observed anharmonic frequencies, and between the calculated harmonic force constants and those Redington derived from an analysis of experimental data. In the case of the less stable cis -conformer, for which there is as yet little experimental data, the calculations serve to predict values for the fundamental vibrational frequencies.
Yellow Phosphorus ingestion Three Fatal Poisonings

(1973). Yellow Phosphorus ingestion Three Fatal Poisonings. Clinical Toxicology: Vol. 6, No. 4, pp. 541-545.
Using Multiple Threads to Accelerate Single Thread Performance

Computing systems are being designed with an increasing number of hardware cores. To effectively use these cores, applications need to maximize the amount of parallel processing and minimize the time spent in sequential execution. In this work, we aim to exploit fine-grained parallelism beyond the parallelism already encoded in an application. We define an execution model using a primary core and some number of secondary cores that collaborate to speed up the execution of sequential code regions. This execution model relies on cores that are physically close to each other and have fast communication paths between them. For this purpose, we introduce dedicated hardware queues for low-latency transfer of values between cores, and define special "enque" and "deque" instructions to use the queues. Further, we develop compiler analyses and transformations to automatically derive fine-grained parallel code from sequential code regions. We implemented this model for exploiting fine-grained parallelization in the IBM XL compiler framework and in a simulator for the Blue Gene/Q system. We also studied the Sequoia benchmarks to determine code sections where our techniques are applicable. We evaluated our work using these code sections, and observed an average speedup of 1.32 on 2 cores, and an average speedup of 2.05 on 4 cores. Since these code sections are otherwise sequentially executed, we conclude that our approach is useful for accelerating single thread performance.
Stochastic compartmental modeling and parameter estimation with application to cancer treatment follow-up studies.

In this paper we use marginal probabilities to derive expressions for the means, variances and covariances of m-compartment systems. We also present an efficient algorithm for the estimation of the parameters of the system using time series data when measurements are available from k of the m compartments. An application of the analysis and parameter estimation procedure for a model representing the results of a cancer treatment follow-up study is given.
The Structure of well-Folded β-Hairpin Peptides Promotes Resistance to Peptidase Degradation

To investigate the effect of peptide secondary structure on proteolytic resistance, we have synthesized a series of peptides based on a well-folded beta-hairpin, WKWK. Mutations were made within the peptide which either decreased or increased the propensity to form beta-hairpin structures and one scrambled sequence was used as an unstructured control. The peptides were incubated with three different enzymes, alpha-chymotrypsin, trypsin, and pronase E, which represented both specific and non-specific proteases. The reactions were quenched at varying time points and analyzed with RP-HPLC to determine the rate of degradation for each of the peptides. We found that an increase in structure correlates well with an increase in resistance to degradation. We have shown that having both strong side chain interactions and a rigid D-Pro-Gly beta-turn resulted in the most proteolytic resistant peptides. The results from this study suggest that beta-hairpin structure is a viable way to provide added protease resistance to a peptide.
Efficacy of Peanut Seed Treatments for Organic Management in Georgia

ABSTRACT One of the most critical and influential factors determining ultimate crop success is plant stand establishment. Because synthetic seed treatments are not allowed in organic production systems, alternatives are needed to assist in resistance of pathogens during germination and seedling growth. Several biological control materials were evaluated in laboratory assays and field trials to determine their potential for minimizing disease impact and maximizing yield in organic peanut production. These included Bacillus subtilis and several application methods of copper sulfate. Bacillus subtilis demonstrated excellent control of Aspergillus in the laboratory, but this was not confirmed in the field. Copper sulfate had no benefit against Aspergillus, but had some activity against Rhizopus in the laboratory. When applied dry to the seed, copper sulfate improved plant stands and reduced postemergence plant mortality (damping-off) compared to either B. subtilis or untreated seed. When applied in combinatio...
QTc prolongation in children following congenital cardiac disease surgery.

IntroductionQTc prolongation has been reported in adults following cardiopulmonary bypass; however, this phenomenon has not been studied in children with congenital cardiac disease. This study's aim was to formally assess QTc in children undergoing cardiac surgery.MethodsPre-operative and post-operative electrocardiograms during hospital stays were prospectively analysed on 107 consecutive patients under 18 years of age undergoing cardiac surgery. QTc was measured manually in leads II, V4, and V5. Measurements of 440 and 480 milliseconds were used to categorise patients. Peri-procedural data included bypass and cross-clamp time, medications, and electrolyte measurements. Outcome data included arrhythmias, length of mechanical ventilation, and hospital stay. Patients with post-operative new bundle branch block or ventricularly paced rhythm were excluded.ResultsIn all, 59 children were included, out of which 26 had new QTc over 440 milliseconds and 6 of 59 had new QTc over 480 milliseconds post-operatively. The mean increase in post-operative QTc was 25 milliseconds, p=0.0001. QTc over 480 was associated with longer cross-clamp time, p=0.003. Other risk factors were not associated with post-operative QTc prolongation. This phenomenon was transient with normalisation occurring in 67% of patients over 60 hours on average. One patient with post-operative QTc over 440 milliseconds developed ventricular tachycardia. There was no correlation between prolonged QTc and duration of mechanical ventilation, or hospital stay.ConclusionA significant number of children undergoing cardiac surgery showed transient QTc prolongation. The precise aetiology of QT prolongation was not discerned, though new QTc over 480 milliseconds was associated with longer cross-clamp time. In this cohort, transient QTc prolongation was not associated with adverse sequela.
Optimal routing for wireless mesh networks with dynamic traffic demand

Wireless mesh networks have attracted increasing attention and deployment as a high-performance and low-cost solution to last-mile broad-band Internet access. Traffic routing plays a critical role in determining the performance of a wireless mesh network. To investigate the best routing solution, existing work proposes to formulate the mesh network routing problem as an optimization problem. In this problem formulation, traffic demand is usually implicitly assumed as static and known a priori. Contradictorily, recent studies of wireless network traces show that the traffic demand, even being aggregated at access points, is highly dynamic and hard to estimate. Thus, in order to apply the optimization-based routing solution into practice, one must take into account the dynamic and unpredictable nature of wireless traffic demand. This paper presents an integrated framework for wireless mesh network routing under dynamic traffic demand. This framework consists of two important components: traffic estimation and routing optimization. By studying the traces collected at wireless access points, we first present a traffic estimation method which predicts future traffic demand based on its historical data using time-series analysis. This method provides not only the mean value of the future traffic demand estimation but also its statistical distribution. We further investigate the optimal routing strategies for wireless mesh network which take these two forms of traffic demand estimations as inputs. The goal is to balance the traffic load so that minimum congestion will be incurred. This routing objective could be transformed into the throughput optimization problem where the throughput of aggregated flows is maximized subject to fairness constraints that are weighted by the traffic demands. Based on linear programming, we present two routing algorithms which consider the mean value and the statistical distribution of the predicted traffic demands, respectively. The trace-driven simulation study demonstrates that our integrated traffic estimation and routing optimization framework can effectively incorporate the traffic dynamics in mesh network routing.
2014 Prescott Lecture: designed to fail, reengineered to succeed.

tem failures that lead to impoverished populations in the developed world having poor outcomes are the same factors that prevent citizens in resource-constrained settings from breaking the poverty cycle. It is these system failures that continue to enable media outlets in the developed world to air the images of poverty we so commonly associate with sub-Saharan Africa. While the consequences to patients are direr in the developing world because of the lack of options and safety nets, the image of helplessness and hopelessness often portrayed by the media couldn’t be further from the reality I see within the team and patients I work with on a daily basis in rural western Kenya. I say all of this from the perspec
Neutron Diffraction Residual Strain Tensor Measurements Within The Phase IA Weld Mock-up Plate P-5

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has worked with NRC and EPRI to apply neutron and X-ray diffraction methods to characterize the residual stresses in a number of dissimilar metal weld mockups and samples. The design of the Phase IA specimens aimed to enable stress measurements by several methods and computational modeling of the weld residual stresses. The partial groove in the 304L stainless steel plate was filled with weld beads of Alloy 82. A summary of the weld conditions for each plate is provided in Table 1. The plates were constrained along the long edges during and after welding by bolts with spring-loaded washers attached to the 1-inch thick Al backing plate. The purpose was to avoid stress relief due to bending of the welded stainless steel plate. The neutron diffraction method was one of the methods selected by EPRI for non-destructive through thickness strain and stress measurement. Four different plates (P-3 to P-6) were studied by neutron diffraction strain mapping, representing four different welding conditions. Through thickness neutron diffraction strain mappings at NRSF2 for the four plates and associated strain-free d-zero specimens involved measurement along seven lines across the weld and at six to seven depths. The mountings of more » each plate for neutron diffraction measurements were such that the diffraction vector was parallel to each of the three primary orthogonal directions of the plate: two in-plane directions, longitudinal and transverse, and the direction normal to the plate (shown in left figure within Table 1). From the three orthogonal strains for each location, the residual stresses along the three plate directions were calculated. The principal axes of the strain and stress tensors, however, need not necessarily align with the plate coordinate system. To explore this, plate P-5 was selected for examination of the possibility that the principal axes of strain are not along the sample coordinate system axes. If adequate data could be collected the goal would be to determine the strain tensor's orientation and magnitude of strain along each principle axis direction. « less
Analysis and finite element error estimates for the velocity tracking problem for Stokes flows via a penalized formulation

A distributed optimal control problem for evolutionary Stokes flows is studied via a pseudocompressibility formulation. Several results concerning the analysis of the velocity tracking problem are presented. Semidiscrete finite element error estimates for the corresponding optimality system are derived based on estimates for the penalized Stokes problem and the BRR (Brezzi-Rappaz-Raviart) theory. Finally, the convergence of the solutions of the penalized optimality systems as e → 0 is examined.
Race/ethnicity, social support, and associations with diabetes self-care and clinical outcomes in NHANES.

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to evaluate how social support and race/ethnicity were associated with diabetes self-care behaviors and clinical outcomes.MethodsUsing the cross-sectional 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), the authors examined white, black, and Latino respondents who self-reported a diabetes diagnosis (n = 450), estimating the associations of social support on diabetes outcomes. The primary exposure was a social support index (0-5), which assessed the number of sources of support in one’s life. Outcomes were self-care behaviors (controlling weight, exercising, controlling fat/caloric intake, checking feet, and self-monitoring blood glucose) and intermediate clinical outcomes (hemoglobin A1C, diastolic blood pressure, and low-density lipoprotein [LDL]).ResultsThere were no differences in social support by race/ethnicity. The authors observed several significant race/ethnicity by social support interactions in adjusted models, controlling for age, gende...
A developmental study of low- and middle-class children's responses to wh-questions

Qualitative and developmental differences in low- and middle socioeconomic status (SES) preschoolers' responses to wh-questions were investigated. Sixty low-SES and 60 middle-SES children between the ages 3;6 and 5;2 participated in the study. Findings indicate that the order of acquisition of wh-words was different between low- and middle- SES children relative to the development of why constructs. Low-SES children were also shown to employ a different answering strategy to questions where the answer is not known. Results indicate that among incorrect response patterns for where, when, how, or why questions, significantly more low-SES children responded with what answers. Examination of correct responses revealed that low-SES children gave significantly more responses to where, when, how, and why questions at a level indicating a minimal or restricted understanding of what was being asked.
Application of Heat and Force Fields to Sonic-Boom Minimization

There is much interest and some controversy concerning the possibility of sonic-boom suppression through air stream alteration by application of force or heat fields. The present paper presents a discussion of the relationship of these more exotic schemes to conventional approaches involving shaping of the aircraft itself, describes the required flowfield alteration for the more promising heat field method and provides a first estimate of power requirements. The results of the study indicate that finite rise-time signatures which offer substantial sonicboom alleviation are theoretically obtainable but that severe, if not unsurmountable, problems of implementation are presented. Nomenclature effective cross-sectional area due to a combination of airplane lift, airplane volume, and the altered airstream initial phantom-body cross-sectional area cross-sectional area of airstream airplane flight altitude or perpendicular distance from model to measuring probe airplane or model reference length phantom-body length Mach number power summation, I %-]dx dx with circulation