cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adenosine Signaling, Priapism and Novel Therapies

ABSTRACT Introduction Priapism is defined as abnormal prolonged penile erection lasting at least for 4 hours occurring without sexual interest. Forty percent of sickle cell disease (SCD) patients display priapism. The disorder is dangerous and urgent given its association with ischemia‐mediated erectile tissue damage and subsequent erectile dysfunction. Current strategies to manage the disorder are poor due to lack of fundamental understanding of the molecular mechanisms of priapism. Adenosine is a signaling nucleoside that elicits many pathophysiological effects by engaging membrane receptors. Recent evidence shows that adenosine may play an important role in priapism via adenosine receptor. Aim To summarize the recent findings on the importance of adenosine signaling in the pathogenesis of priapism. Main Outcome Measures Evidence in the literature on the association between adenosine signaling and the development of priapism. Methods This article reviews the literature that relates to the contributory role of adenosine signaling in priapism in multiple animal models and humans. Results Excessive adenosine accumulation in the penis, coupled with increased A 2B R signaling, contributes to priapism in two independent lines of mutant mice. One is adenosine deaminase (ADA)‐deficient mice, the only animal displaying spontaneously prolonged penile erection, and the other is SCD transgenic mice, a well‐accepted priapic animal model. Both polyethylene glycol‐modified ADA (PEG‐ADA) enzyme therapy and A 2B R antagonists are capable of inhibiting potent corpus cavernosal vascular relaxation associated with priapic‐like activity seen in both ADA‐deficient mice and SCD transgenic mice, indicating that PEG‐ADA enzyme therapy is likely to be a novel therapy for such a dangerous urological disorder. Conclusions. Overall, the research reviewed here raises the intriguing possibility that elevated adenosine signaling contributes to priapism in general and that this signaling pathway represents a potentially important therapeutic target for the treatment of priapism. Dai YB, Zhang YJ, Phatarpekar P, Mi T, Zhang H, Blackburn MR, and Xia Y. Adenosine signaling, priapism and novel therapies.
Contractile Function of the Mechanically Lengthened Intestine

Background The application of longitudinal mechanical force induces lengthening of the small intestine. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the contractile function of the mechanically lengthened jejunum in a rodent model. Materials and methods Three groups of rats including normal jejunum, isolated jejunal segment without mechanical lengthening, and isolated lengthened jejunal segment, were studied for contractile function. The isometric contractions of jejunal segments were investigated in organ baths for spontaneous activity and response to potassium chloride and cholinergic carbachol. Results The normal control group showed a basal spontaneous activity with an average frequency of 33 ± 0.68 contractions per min (cpm). The basal spontaneous activity for the isolated group had an average frequency of 26 ± 2.7 cpm and for the lengthened group had an average frequency of 24 ± 5.7 cpm. Although the normal control group had a higher frequency of basal spontaneous activity as compared to either the isolated or lengthened groups, there was no statistically significant difference between the frequencies in the isolated and the lengthened groups. All three groups demonstrated a sustained increase in tension upon administration of either potassium chloride or carbachol. Conclusions The response to pharmacological stimulation, as measured by total area under the tension curve and maximal change in basal tone, was larger in the normal group than in the isolated groups. The addition of longitudinal mechanical force to lengthen the isolated jejunal segment did not further alter this change.
Antecedents of Grievance Filing Behavior: Attitude/Behavioral Consistency and the Union Steward

In this study the grievance behavior of stewards, unlike rank and file members, was found to vary systematically with company commitment, union commitment, and job satisfaction. In addition, the re...
Parallel transmit excitation at 1.5 T based on the minimization of a driving function for device heating

Purpose: To provide a rapid method to reduce the radiofrequency (RF) E-field coupling and consequent heating in long conductors in an interventional MRI (iMRI) setup. Methods: A driving function for device heating (W) was defined as the integration of the E-field along the direction of the wire and calculated through a quasistatic approximation. Based on this function, the phases of four independently controlled transmit channels were dynamically changed in a 1.5 T MRI scanner. During the different excitation configurations, the RF induced heating in a nitinol wire immersed in a saline phantom was measured by fiber-optic temperature sensing. Additionally, a minimization of W as a function of phase and amplitude values of the different channels and constrained by the homogeneity of the RF excitation field (B{sub 1}) over a region of interest was proposed and its results tested on the benchtop. To analyze the validity of the proposed method, using a model of the array and phantom setup tested in the scanner, RF fields and SAR maps were calculated through finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations. In addition to phantom experiments, RF induced heating of an active guidewire inserted in a swine was also evaluated. Results: In the phantom experiment, heating atmore » the tip of the device was reduced by 92% when replacing the body coil by an optimized parallel transmit excitation with same nominal flip angle. In the benchtop, up to 90% heating reduction was measured when implementing the constrained minimization algorithm with the additional degree of freedom given by independent amplitude control. The computation of the optimum phase and amplitude values was executed in just 12 s using a standard CPU. The results of the FDTD simulations showed similar trend of the local SAR at the tip of the wire and measured temperature as well as to a quadratic function of W, confirming the validity of the quasistatic approach for the presented problem at 64 MHz. Imaging and heating reduction of the guidewire were successfully performed in vivo with the proposed hardware and phase control. Conclusions: Phantom and in vivo data demonstrated that additional degrees of freedom in a parallel transmission system can be used to control RF induced heating in long conductors. A novel constrained optimization approach to reduce device heating was also presented that can be run in just few seconds and therefore could be added to an iMRI protocol to improve RF safety.« less
Word sense acquistion for multilingual text interpretation

We discuss a method for using automated corpus analysis to acquire word sense information for multilingual text interpretation. Our system, SHOGUN, extracts data from news stories with broad coverage in Japanese and English. Our approach focuses on tying together word senses, using a combination of world knowledge (oatlogy) with word knowledge (corpus data). We explain the approach and its results in SHOGUN.
Acute Renal Failure in Horses

Acute renal failure (ARF) in horses is usually prerenal or renal in origin and is most often caused by hemodynamic or nephrotoxic insults. The clinical management of patients that have ARF is largely supportive, including correction of fluid deficits and electrolyte and acid–base disturbances and treatment and reversal of the underlying cause. Use of dopamine and mannitol to promote renal blood flow and urine output is no longer recommended.
∆ 9 -Tetrahydrocannabinol-dependent mice undergoing withdrawal display impaired spatial memory

Rationale Cannabis users display a constellation of withdrawal symptoms upon drug discontinuation, including sleep disturbances, irritability, and possibly memory deficits. In cannabinoid-dependent rodents, the CB1 antagonist rimonabant precipitates somatic withdrawal and enhances forskolin-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity in cerebellum, an effect opposite that of acutely administered ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary constituent in cannabis.
An HLA class II region restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) in patients with dermatitis herpetiformis: association with HLA-DP phenotype.

Abstract Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is characterized in part by an associated gluten-sensitive enteropathy (GSE), and a strong association with the HLA antigens HLA-A1, -B8, -DR3, and -DQw2, essentially identical to that seen in patients with isolated GSE (celiac disease). A 4.0-kb RsaI RFLP has been identified using a DQ β-chain cDNA and localized to the HLA-DP β-chain region. This RFLP has been found more frequently in patients with isolated GSE than in normal HLA matched controls. We have analyzed genomic DNA from 24 patients with DH and 15 HLA-matched controls to determine if this 4.0-kb RsaI RFLP was present in patients with DH. Twenty-one of 24 (87%) of patients with DH were found to have this RFLP as compared to 7 of 10 (70%) HLA-DR3, -DQw2 matched control subjects (p = 0.23). Thus, the 4.0-kb RsaI RFLP detected in patients with isolated GSE is also present in patients with DH; however, its frequency in DH patients does not differ significantly from that of HLA matched controls. Family studies of patients with DH revealed that although the 4.0-kb RsaI RFLP segregated with the HLA-A1, -B8, -DR3, -DQw2 haplotype in one family, it did not segregate with this disease-associated haplotype in two other families. In both patient and control populations, this RFLP was associated with HLA-DPwl or -DPw3 phenotypes; 25 of 26 (96%) HLA-DPwl or -DPw3 subjects were found to have this RFLP compared to only 1 of 6 (17%) who did not express HLA-DPwl or -DPw3 (p c = 0.0009). These population and family data suggest that this 4.0-kb Rsal RFLP is primarily associated with the HLA-DPwl, -DPw3 phenotype, rather than the clinical manifestations of DH. These data further document that the strongest association of DH with HLA antigens remains with HLA-DQw2 and HLA-DR3 antigens.
Concentrations of gaseous elemental mercury in ambient air within an academic chemistry building

Gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) concentrations were determined within an academic chemistry building by cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry. Concentrations varied depending on the room activity, with night time and weekend levels the lowest and most stable (typically between 10 and 20 ng/m3), and daytime weekday levels the highest (averaging about 3–5 times higher). Laboratory air exhibited daytime concentration spikes as high as 1,600 ng/m3. Office levels were similar to weekend laboratory concentrations, suggesting a general building-wide mercury background. However, concentration spikes suggest GEM levels may be exacerbated by foot traffic which may cause motion-induced wafting from higher concentration areas. Based on current regulations the GEM levels do not present a health hazard.
Aortic valve repair for aortic stenosis in adults

Abstract The stenotic aortic valve was surgically repaired in 48 adults, 21 women and 27 men, aged 38 to 83 years. Five had congenital aortic stenosis (AS), with a mean aortic valve gradient and area of 58 ± 23 mm Hg (standard deviation) and 0.54 ± 0.13 cm 2 , respectively; 32 had senile AS with a mean aortic valve gradient and area of 43 ± 20 mm Hg and 0.98 ± 0.41 cm 2 ; and 11 had rheumatic AS with a mean aortic valve gradient and area of 59 ± 24 mm Hg and 0.47 ± 0.15 cm 2 . Only 6 patients underwent isolated aortic valvoplasty, 11 underwent concomitant mitral valve procedure, and 34 underwent concomitant coronary revascularization. Repair consisted of decalcification in 33 patients and decalcification as well as commissurotomy in 15 patients. There were three hospital deaths, none related to the aortic valve. Only 2 patients (both rheumatic) did not improve clinically. During follow-up (mean, 64 ± 41 months) aortic valve restenosis developed in 24% (10 patients, 3 / 5 congenital, 4 / 11 rheumatic, and 3 / 32 senile) at a mean of 64 ± 28 months. Postoperative Doppler echocardiographic assessment of 21 patients with senile AS at 1.1 ± 2.7 and 18.1 ± 1.4 months showed significantly lower aortic valve gradient and improved area in comparison with preoperative values. At 36 ± 2.7 months, aortic valve gradient and area were not significantly different than preoperative values, and at 58.5 ± 2.6 months aortic valve gradient was 1.41 ( p = 0.07) times the preoperative value. At 7 years, actuarial freedom from aortic valverelated symptoms of the patients with senile AS was 87%. We conclude that in select patients aortic valve repair results in excellent relief of AS. Late restenosis is expected and more likely to occur in the valves with congenital and rheumatic disease than in those with senile disease.
MULTIPLE-QUANTUM EPR COHERENCE IN A SPIN-CORRELATED RADICAL PAIR SYSTEM

Abstract Multiple-quantum EPR coherence phenomena in a photo-induced spin-correlated radical pair system are examined. Because of the special singlet-triplet mixing mechanism, we have proposed a phase-cycled two-pulse sequence to excite and detect the single-quantum as well as the normally forbidden zero- and double-quantum transitions. Complementary to the method of electron spin echo modulation, this technique can also provide useful structural information about electron-electron exchange and dipolar interactions, in addition to the Zeeman and nuclear hyperfine interactions. Analytical expressions are derived for the multiple-quantum signals.
Optimization of Single Row Jet Impingement Array by Varying Flow Rates

The current detailed experimental study focuses on the optimization of heat transfer performance through jet impingement by varying the coolant flow rate to each individual jet. The test section consists of an array of five jets, which is individually fed and metered separately, and expels air through one exit. The jet diameter D, channel height to jet diameter H/D, and jet spacing to diameter S/D, are all held constant at 9.53 mm (0.375 in), 2 and 4 respectively. The Reynolds number, which is based on jet diameter and bulk mean velocity at each jet, ranges from 50,000 to 80,000. A transient liquid crystal technique is employed in this study to determine the local and overall-average heat transfer coefficient distribution on the target plate. Commercially available CFD software, ANSYS CFX, is used to qualitatively correlate the experimental results and to provide detailed insights of the flow field created by the array of jets. The results revealed higher heat transfer coefficients in the impingement area, while decreasing in the radial direction. The upstream region exhibited high heat transfer performance, which is ultimately driven by the jet impingement from the first jet to the third jet. Heat transfer performance decreases at the downstream region with the development of cross-flow. By varying the jet flow rates at approximately ±2%, local heat transfer at the downstream region is elevated and the total heat transfer enhancement on the target surface is enhanced up to 35% compared to the baseline case.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Rayleigh-sommerfeld diffraction theory and Lambert’s law

The Rayleigh-Sommerfeld diffraction theory is used to derive expressions for (1) the spectral irradiance on the surface of a hemisphere covering the aperture and (2) the spectral radiant intensity. For a uniform, noncoherent source-aperture, both calculations predict a cosθ angular variation, as is known to be the case of Lambertian sources. A cosine-fourth dependence of the spectral irradiance on a plane parallel to the aperture plane is also indicated.
Transition metal‐catalyzed tandem isomerization and cationic polymerization of allyl ethers. II. Structural and mechanistic studies

In the presence of organosilanes, dicobalt octacarbonyl catalyzes the polymerization of alkyl allyl ethers to give high molecular weight polymers. This article reports the results of a detailed mechanistic study of this new polymerization reaction. The evidence obtained in this study supports a stepwise process involving first, the reaction of dicobalt octacarbonyl with an organosilane to form HCo(CO) 4 and R 3 SiCo(CO) 4 . In subsequent steps, HCo(CO) 4 isomerizes the allyl ether to a 1-propenyl ether and then this compound is polymerized by the formal transfer of a silyl cation from R 3 SiCo( CO ) 4 .
Measuring the task-evoked pupillary response with a remote eye tracker

The pupil-measuring capability of video eye trackers can detect the task-evoked pupillary response: subtle changes in pupil size which indicate cognitive load. We performed several experiments to measure cognitive load using a remote video eye tracker, which demonstrate two extensions to current research in this area. First, we show that cognitive pupillometry can be extended from head-mounted to remote eye tracking systems. Second, we demonstrate the feasibility of a more fine-grained approach to analyzing pupil size data gathered with an eye tracker, which provides more detail about the timing and magnitude of changes in cognitive load.
Butterfly-inspired photonics reverse diffraction color sequence.

Biological systems have been an infinite reservoir of inspiration ever since humans started to develop tools and machinery. Just as early scientists and engineers attempted to mimic birds and fish in the development of flying machines and submarines, today, new technologies find their inspiration from biology, such as gecko feet (1), antireflective eye lenses (2), iridescent insects (3), and water-repellant surfaces (4). Incorporating biological systems and concepts into technological design can happen in several ways: inspiration, mimicking, and replication (5). In the latter, entire organisms or body parts are directly used, and their structural features are replicated into another compound (6⇓–8). Examples include 3D photonic crystals from iridescent beetle scales (9, 10) or antireflective microlens arrays from insect eyes (11, 12). In contrast, in bioinspiration and biomimicry, a biological function or activity—rather than the organism itself—is converted into an artificial, human-made material or device. In PNAS, England et al. report an optical micrograting array inspired by a photonic structure found in iridescently colored butterfly wings (13). The authors demonstrate a micrograting array that not only mimics the unique diffraction properties of the biological structure with reversed color-order sequence, but also can be designed to tune these optical properties.
20(S)-Hydroxycholesterol Inhibits PPARγ Expression and Adipogenic Differentiation of Bone Marrow Stromal Cells Through a Hedgehog-Dependent Mechanism†

Specific oxysterols have been shown to be pro-osteogenic and anti-adipogenic. However, the molecular mechanism(s) by which oxysterols inhibit adipogenic differentiation is unknown. We show that the anti-adipogenic effects of osteogenic oxysterol, 20(S)-hydroxycholesterol, are mediated through a hedgehog-dependent mechanism(s) and are associated with inhibition of PPARγ expression. Introduction: Multipotent bone marrow stromal cells (MSCs) are common progenitors of osteoblasts and adipocytes. A reciprocal relationship between osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation may explain the increased adipocyte and decreased osteoblast formation in aging and osteoporosis. We have previously reported that specific oxysterols stimulate osteogenic differentiation of MSCs while inhibiting their adipogenic differentiation. Materials and Methods: The M2–10B4 (M2) murine pluripotent bone MSC line was used to assess the inhibitory effects of 20(S)-hydroxycholesterol (20S) and sonic hedgehog (Shh) on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and adipogenic differentiation. All results were analyzed for statistical significance using ANOVA. Results and Conclusions: Treatment of M2 cells with the osteogenic oxysterol 20S completely inhibited adipocyte formation induced by troglitazone after 10 days. PPARγ mRNA expression assessed by RT-qPCR was significantly induced by Tro after 48 (5-fold) and 96 h (130-fold), and this induction was completely inhibited by 20S. In contrast, 20S did not inhibit PPARγ transcriptional activity in M2 cells overexpressing PPARγ and retinoid X receptor (RXR). To elucidate the molecular mechanism(s) by which 20S inhibits PPARγ expression and adipogenic differentiation, we focused on the hedgehog signaling pathway, which we previously showed to be the mediator of osteogenic responses to oxysterols. The hedgehog signaling inhibitor, cyclopamine, reversed the inhibitory effects of 20S and Shh on troglitazone-induced adipocyte formation in 10-day cultures of M2 cells by 70% and 100%, respectively, and the inhibitory effect of 20S and Shh on troglitazone-induced PPARγ expression was fully reversed at 48 h by cyclopamine. Furthermore, 20S and Shh greatly inhibited PPARγ2 promoter activity induced by CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α overexpression. These studies show that, similar to the induction of osteogenesis, the inhibition of adipogenesis in murine MSCs by the osteogenic oxysterol, 20S, is mediated through a hedgehog-dependent mechanism(s).
ENGLISH IN LANGUAGE SHIFT: THE HISTORY, STRUCTURE AND SOCIOLINGUISTICS OF SOUTH AFRICAN INDIAN ENGLISH

ENGLISH IN LANGUAGE SHIFT: THE HISTORY, STRUCTURE AND SOCIOLINGUISTICS OF SOUTH AFRICAN INDIAN ENGLISH. Rajend Mesthrie . New York: Cambridge University Press, 2006. Pp. xix + 252. $43.00 paper. This book was first published in 1992. This digitally printed paperback version came out in 2006, affording scholars a further opportunity to read this interesting account of the evolution of a new variety of English: South African Indian English (SAIE). A detailed historical background of when, who, and why Indian indentured laborers arrived in South Africa is provided.
Long-term results of the bulbourethral sling procedure.

Purpose: We evaluated the long-term efficacy of the male bulbourethral sling procedure in the treatment of post-radical prostatectomy urinary incontinence. Materials and Methods: Between October 1994 and June 2000, 95 patients with post-radical prostatectomy incontinence underwent bulbourethral sling placement with tetrafluoroethylene bolsters at our hospital. Ultimately 71 of these patients responded to our questionnaire and they were classified into 2 groups. Group 1 consisted of 62 patients who had not undergone prior radiation therapy and group 2 consisted of 9 who had undergone radiation therapy before the sling procedure. Patients were asked to respond to questions regarding continence status as well as the validated Incontinence Quality of Life and International Prostate Symptom Score questionnaires. Results: Mean followup from the most recent sling procedure was 4 years (range 0.27 to 6.55). Average patient age at questionnaire response was 74 years. A total of 86 procedures were performed on 71 patients. Of the 71 patients 7 underwent either sling removal or artificial urinary sphincter placement and were excluded from questionnaire analysis. Including retightening procedures 68% of the patients (72% of group 1, 43% of group 2) required 2 or less pads daily. Of the patients 36% (42% of group 1 and 14% of group 2) required 0 pads. Conclusions: The male bulbourethral sling procedure remains an effective treatment for post-prostatectomy incontinence at 4-year followup.
Burnout and distress among internal medicine program directors: results of a national survey

BACKGROUND Physician burnout and distress has been described in national studies of practicing physicians, internal medicine (IM) residents, IM clerkship directors, and medical school deans. However, no comparable national data exist for IM residency program directors.
Fact or fiction: privacy in American libraries

If this nation is to be wise as well as strong, if we are to achieve our destiny, then we need more new ideas for more wise men reading more good books in more public libraries. These libraries should be open to all except the censor. We must know all the facts and hear all the alternatives and listen to all the criticisms. Let us welcome controversial books and controversial authors. For the Bill of Rights is the guardian of our security as well as our Liberty. John F. Kennedy
Silicon micromachining for microsensors and microactuators

Abstract System integration is often limited by the incompatibility of technologies used for the fabrication of signal processors and signal transducers like sensors and actuators. Most of the problems related to conventional transducers such as miniaturization, performance or price can be overcome by the use of silicon as a mechanical material and the use of highly developed IC technologies for their fabrication. Therefore, a rapidly increasing demand of micromachined silicon transducers can be observed. The multidisciplinary use of silicon for mechanical and electronic functions on the same chip leads to completely new transducer and system concepts. This review describes the fabrication processes commonly used for silicon micromachining. The potential of this technology will be illustrated by various examples of micromechanical transducers.
A critique of the principle of cognitive simplicity in comparative cognition

A widespread assumption in experimental comparative (animal) cognition is that, barring compelling evidence to the contrary, the default hypothesis should postulate the simplest cognitive ontology (mechanism, process, or structure) consistent with the animal’s behavior. I call this assumption the principle of cognitive simplicity (PoCS). In this essay, I show that PoCS is pervasive but unjustified: a blanket preference for the simplest cognitive ontology is not justified by any of the available arguments. Moreover, without a clear sense of how cognitive ontologies are to be carved up at the joints—and which tools are appropriate for the job—PoCS rests on shaky conceptual ground.
Progressive ordering with decreasing temperature of the phospholipids of influenza virus

Using linewidth and spinning sideband intensities of lipid hydrocarbon chain resonances in proton magic angle spinning NMR spectra, we detected the temperature-dependent phase state of naturally occurring lipids of intact influenza virus without exogenous probes. Increasingly, below 41 degrees C ordered and disordered lipid domains coexisted for the viral envelope and extracts thereof. At 22 degrees C much lipid was in a gel phase, the fraction of which reversibly increased with cholesterol depletion. Diffusion measurements and fluorescence microscopy independently confirmed the existence of gel-phase domains. Thus the existence of ordered regions of lipids in biological membranes is now demonstrated. Above the physiological temperatures of influenza infection, the physical properties of viral envelope lipids, regardless of protein content, were indistinguishable from those of the disordered fraction. Viral fusion appears to be uncorrelated to ordered lipid content. Lipid ordering may contribute to viral stability at lower temperatures, which has recently been found to be critical for airborne transmission.
Agenda setting and political advertising: Origins of the news agenda

The number of potential sources shaping the media's agenda is large, ranging from external sources in government and the private sector to the idiosyncrasies of individual journalists. The focus in this study is intermedia agenda setting. Commonly defined in terms of the influence that the news agendas of different news organizations have on each other, the concept of intermedia agenda setting is expanded to include another key element of mass communication: advertising. Advertising agendas occasionally have been examined as an influence on the public agenda, an alternative test of the basic, agenda‐setting hypothesis. Here, however, the advertising agenda established by political candidates through their television political commercials is added to the model of the agenda‐setting process to answer more fully the question, who sets the media's agenda? The study examines the direction of influence or intermedia convergence of issue agendas during the 1990 Texas gubernatorial campaign. Content analysis was ...
Synthesis of free-standing chabazite-type films

Abstract An optimized synthesis procedure is reported for synthesis of free-standing chabazite-type films on walls of polypropylene reaction bottles. The optimum synthesis procedure involved a step heating procedure, in which the reaction composition is heated to 90°C for 40 h, followed by a rapid heating to 103°C, which is maintained for 2 h, and then the completion of the synthesis at 90°C for one more hour. The rapid heating to 103°C introduces thermally induced currents and particles from the settled gel move up from the bottom into solution by convection. This process promotes rapid film formation by releasing nuclei/aluminosilicate colloids into the solution. The films formed are typically 10 μm thick and made up of 4–5 μm spherical particles. It is malleable when wet and can be calcined. Relatively large pieces (cm2) can be readily peeled off from the walls of the polypropylene bottle.
Three-dimensional natural convective flow in a vertical annulus with longitudinal fins

Abstract Numerical results of heat transfer rates and flow fields in a vertical annulus with longitudinal fins for various parameters [Rayleigh number (103 ⩽ Ra ⩽ 106), radius ratio (1 ⩽ κ ⩽ 5), fin ratio 0.25 ⩽ FR ⩽ 0.75, number of fins, and fin thickness angle (δ = 2° or 6°)] have been obtained. Placing fins of fin ratio 0.5 and fin thickness angle 6° on the inner cylinder of an annulus with radius ratio 2 increases the heat transfer by as much as 70%. For fixed Rayleigh number, radius ratio, aspect ratio, fin ratio and fin thickness angle, the heat transfer rate is maximum for a specific number of fins. The heat transfer rates increase as the fin ratio and radius ratio increase. In addition, the heat transfer rates decrease if the aspect ratio and the fin thickness angle increase. The maximum Nusselt number and optimum number of fins have been obtained as functions of various parameters. Heat transfer correlations have been provided in the range of the parameters considered.
Safe Territory? The Humorous Narratives of Bilingual Women

Humor in a second language (L2) can present an intimidating linguistic and cultural challenge for L2 speakers, yet it is a crucial means by which friendships are developed. In this article, I report on the humorous narratives constructed by 4 bilingual women in interaction with native English speakers. Unlike previous studies, which have pointed to women's tendencies to tell stories of their own foibles, these women told few first-person narratives, and these often positioned the speaker in a positive manner. The majority of these women's narratives contained third-party protagonists and frequently demonstrated that party's foolishness. The results show an overall pattern of positive self-portrayal of by the narrator. Telling overtly or implicitly self-aggrandizing stories was a way for these women to create solidarity among themselves and deal with the marginalization that many L2 speakers experience by virtue of their nonnative speaker status.
DYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS AND MODE LOCALIZATION OF ELASTICALLY CONSTRAINED AXIALLY MOVING STRINGS AND BEAMS

Abstract The free vibration response of an axially moving string and Euler–Bernoulli beam supported by an intermediate elastic constraint is studied. The transfer function method is used to formulate the free response solution. For the beam, the elastic constraint can consist of either a transverse spring or both transverse and rotational springs. The effects of both speed and tension on mode localization are studied. A wave analysis is employed to further investigate the behaviour of the systems. Reflection and transmission coefficients are formulated to show the effects of the system parameters on the coupling of the subsystems. The addition of the constraint is shown to increase the critical speed of the beam for low values of tension. For the string, mode localization increases as speed increases. However, the behaviour of the beam is shown to change significantly depending on both the system parameters and type of constraint. The effects of tension and speed on the delocalization frequency of the weakly bi-coupled beam are also presented.
Single-crystal ferroelectric microwave capacitor fabricated by separation by hydrogen implantation

Microwave ferroelectric capacitors have been fabricated using separation by hydrogen ion implantation and transfer of a 500 nm thick single-crystal SrTiO3 layer to an insulating glass substrate. The capacitor films are of high quality with a measured quality factor of nearly 100 at 10 GHz.
Time limited field of regard search

Recent work by the US Army RDECOM CERDEC Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate (NVESD) has led to the Time-Limited Search (TLS) model, which has given new formulations for the field of view (FOV) search times. The next step in the evaluation of the overall search model (ACQUIRE) is to apply these parameters to the field of regard (FOR) model. Human perception experiments were conducted using synthetic imagery developed at NVESD. The experiments were competitive player-on-player search tests with the intention of imposing realistic time constraints on the observers. FOR detection probabilities, search times, and false alarm data are analyzed and compared to predictions using both the TLS model and ACQUIRE.
Soil and hydrologic effects on fate and horizontal transport in the capillary fringe of surface-applied nitrate

Substantial horizontal solute transport has been demonstrated to occur in the capillary fringe (CF) above a flowing ground water, yet the importance of the CF for solute movement has generally been ignored. This study was conducted to evaluate the fate and horizontal transport of surface-applied nitrate (NO3−) in the CF under simulated hydrologic conditions that varied flow rates. Two soils of different organic carbon content were packed in separate 240-cm long, 60-cm high and 25-cm thick flow cells. A simulated water table (WT) was established at 20 cm above the bottom of each flow cell and different pore-water velocities across the flow cell were simulated while a solution containing NO3− and bromide (Br−) was continuously applied over a small area on the surface of the soil in the flow cell. Soil solution samples were collected from two depths below the WT and two depths within the CF above the WT at four locations along the flow cell. Subsurface horizontal transport of surface-applied NO3− tended to occur exclusively in the CF as the pore-water velocity was increased. In the flow cell with soil having a small amount of organic carbon (0.3 g kg− 1), normalized concentration of NO3− and Br− remained very comparable at all monitoring locations above and below the WT. Nitrate loss via denitrification in this case was not observed as conditions were oxidizing. In flow cells with soils having an organic carbon content of 35 g kg− 1, some Br− was detected below the WT while NO3− was essentially absent. Conditions below the WT favored NO3− loss via denitrification as reflected by very low redox potentials (< 250 mV). These results suggest that collection of samples from the CF should be considered when monitoring subsurface fate and transport of surface-applied NO3− in locations with laterally moving shallow ground water.
A computer-assisted system for physical ergonomics analysis

Abstract A major obstacle to the widespread application of ergonomics knowledge to the working populaton is the inability to impart this knowledge to the ergonomics practitioner. Therefore, industry fails to derive maximum benefits from ergonomics research. The application of computer-assisted systems in ergonomics is one feasible solution to overcome this obstacle. This paper describes the development of an interactive computer-assisted Ergonomics Analysis SYstem (EASY). EASY is written in Foxbase Plus and QuickBASIC for IBM-PC compatible microcomputers. The system consists of three major components: the Ergonomics Information Analysis System (EIAS) for evaluation of tasks by the worker, the Physical Work Stress Index (PWSI) used by the supervisor or the ergonomist for further investigation of problem situations, and the Dynamic Lifting Analysis System (DLAS) for manual material handling tasks. Extensive use of menus for database entry/editing and analysis provides an efficient and friendly interface design. The system was evaluated by comparing the results of EASY and individuals with an introductory knowledge of ergonomics with experts' conclusions for nine test jobs involving a variety of physical works stressors. The evaluatioon indicated that 83% of EASY's disgnoses were accepted by the experts with some variation between individual experts and between EASY and the other diagnosticians.
Examination of subchondral bone architecture in experimental osteoarthritis by microscopic computed axial tomography

Subchondral bone changes have been proposed as an early event in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. In this study, microscopic computed axial tomography was used to evaluate the subchondral bone structure in femoral heads from a guinea pig model of osteoarthritis. Examination of trabecular bone within the femoral head showed a highly significant increase in bone fraction in the experimental animals. This was due to the development of trabeculae that were thicker and closer together. We conclude that trabecular remodeling may be an early event in this model of osteoarthritis.
Reliability phenomena under AC stress

Reliability phenomena are usually studied as DC effects at first. AC effects become important to setting realistic reliability acceptance criteria and predicting circuit reliability as technology scaling gradually erodes the margin of safety. This paper reviews the AC effects in hot-electron effect, electromigration, and gate oxide breakdown and stability.
Nucleation, Growth and Evolution of Hydroxyapatite Films on Calcite

Marble, a non-porous stone composed of calcite, is subject to acid rain dissolution due to its relatively high dissolution rate. With the goal of preventing such damage, we have investigated the deposition of films of relatively insoluble hydroxyapatite (HAP) on marble. This paper investigates the factors that affect the nucleation and growth kinetics of HAP on marble. A mild, wet chemical synthesis route, in which diammonium hydrogen phosphate (DAP) salt was reacted with marble, alone and with cationic and anionic precursors under different reaction conditions, was used to produce inorganic HAP films on the mineral surface. Film nucleation, growth and metastable phase evolution were studied, using techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GID). The onset of nucleation, and the growth rate of the film, increased with cationic (calcium) and anionic (carbonate) precursor additions. The calcium and phosphate precursors also influenced metastable phase formation, introducing a new phase.
Detection of water ice on Nereid.

We report the detection of the 1.5 and 2.0 μm absorption bands of water ice in the near-infrared reflection spectrum of Neptune's distant irregular satellite Nereid. The spectrum and albedo of Nereid appear intermediate between those of the Uranian satellites Umbriel and Oberon, suggesting a surface composed of a combination of water ice frost and a dark and spectrally neutral material. In contrast, the surface of Nereid appears dissimilar to those of the outer solar system minor planets Chiron, Pholus, and 1997 CU_26. The spectrum thus provides support for the hypothesis that Nereid is a regular satellite formed in a circumplanetary environment rather than a captured object.
Information Extraction from Multimodal ECG Documents

With the rise of tools for clinical decision support,there is an increased need for automatic processing of electrocardiograms (ECG) documents. In fact, many systems have already been developed to perform signal processing tasks such as 12-lead off-line ECG analysis and real-time patient monitoring. All these applications require an accurate detection of the heart rate of the ECG. In this paper, we present the idea that the image form of ECG is actually a better medium to detect periodicity in ECG. When the ECG trace is scanned or rendered in videos, the peaks of the waveform (R-wave) is often traced thicker due to pixel dithering. We exploit the pixel thickness information, for the first time, as a reliable feature for determining periodicity. Results are presented on a database of 16,613 12-channel ECG waveforms, which demonstrate robustness and accuracy of our image-based period detection method on these ECGs of various cardiovascular diseases. 94.5% of bradycardia and tachycardia patient records are correctly identified using our estimated heart period as the disease criteria.
On trajectory optimization for active sensing in Gaussian process models

We consider the problem of optimizing the trajectory of a mobile sensor with perfect localization whose task is to estimate a stochastic, perhaps multidimensional field modeling the environment. When the estimator is the Kalman filter, and for certain classes of objective functions capturing the informativeness of the sensor paths, the sensor trajectory optimization problem is a deterministic optimal control problem. This estimation problem arises in many applications besides the field estimation problem, such as active mapping with mobile robots. The main difficulties in solving this problem are computational, since the Gaussian process of interest is usually high dimensional. We review some recent work on this problem and propose a suboptimal non-greedy trajectory optimization scheme with a manageable computational cost, at least in static field models based on sparse graphical models.
KCC and NKCC activity affect spike frequency adaptation in CO2-sensitive avian intrapulmonary chemoreceptors (1092.3)

IPC are respiratory chemoreceptors that exhibit SFA, have phasic and tonic CO2 sensitivity, and help control breathing in birds. In IPC, large changes in PCO2, pHi, and [HCO3]i occur with each breath. Here we test the hypothesis that Cl- transmembrane flux may be involved in IPC CO2 transduction to balance intracellular [HCO3-] changes. Furosemide (FU), an equipotent inhibitor of both K+ -Cl- cotransport (KCC), which allows for Cl- efflux driven by the K+ gradient, and Na+ -K+ -2Cl- cotransport (NKCC), which allows for Cl- influx driven by the Na+ gradient, was given to anesthetized Anas platyrhynchos (N=6) while recording single-unit IPC. FU progressively reduced SFA at 10-40 mg/kg (p≤0.0001). In contrast, tonic IPC discharge was decreased at low FU doses (0.5-5 mg/kg, p≤0.0001) but increased at higher dosages (10-40 mg/kg, p≤0.0001). Results suggest that IPC SFA and tonic CO2 sensitivity are influenced by KCC and/or NKCC, presumably by reducing ability of the cell to produce Cl- counte...
Metaphors of smokeless tobacco addiction and cessation

The metaphors that tobacco users employ when trying to quit offer insights into the subjective experience of the cessation process. A review of more than 2100 posts in an online forum for participa...
Impact of renewable fuels standard ethanol mandates on the corn market

Since 2002, the Renewable Fuels Standard has established mandated levels of ethanol blending in gasoline. Mandated ethanol use represents an important component of ethanol demand. Thus, the ethanol mandates influence derived demand for corn. This work investigates the potential impact of ethanol mandates on equilibrium corn prices and quantities, focusing on how the mandates influence market participant expectations. Results illustrate that due to the stochastic nature of supply and demand shocks, even a mandate that is technically nonbinding can have a substantial impact on corn prices and quantities through the mandate's impact on the price-responsiveness of demand from the ethanol sector. [JEL classifications: Q13, Q42, Q48]. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Peptide binding proclivities of calcium loaded calbindin-D28k

Calbindin-D28k is known to function as a calcium-buffering protein in the cell. Moreover, recent evidence shows that it also plays a role as a sensor. Using circular dichroism and NMR, we show that calbindin-D28k undergoes significant conformational changes upon binding calcium, whereas only minor changes occur when binding target peptides in its Ca2+-loaded state. NMR experiments also identify residues that undergo chemical shift changes as a result of peptide binding. The subsequent use of computational protein–protein docking protocols produce a model describing the interaction interface between calbindin-D28k and its target peptides.
Analysis of secondary scattering for strut lobes in reflector antenna

The feed support struts used in reflector antennas often cause significant effects on their sidelobe patterns. The plane wave illumination of each strut by the reflector results in the strut scattering cone. The purpose of the paper is to present some results on the secondary scattering of the strut lobes. The two mechanisms addressed are: 1. Secondary scattering by another strut which is designated as the reflector-strut-strut (RSS) scattering, 2. Secondary scattering by the reflector surface which is designated as the reflector-strut-reflector (RSR) scattering. The primary strut scattering is designated as RS scattering. The main effect of RSS scattering is to cause the peaks of the RS lobes to decrease by as much as 3 dB, for typical center-fed reflector geometries. Consequently, measured strut lobe peaks are typically 1-3 dB lower than strut lobes calculated using RS analysis, i.e., no RSS. The RSR scattering effect is most significant for reflectors with very low sidelobes. For verification purposes, the authors measured a reflector with a thick cylinder oriented at an angle to emphasise the RSR effect. Comparison of measured and calculated results are given. >
Persistence of Altered Movement Patterns During a Sit-to-Stand Task 1 Year Following Unilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty

Background and Purpose: Following total knee arthroplasty (TKA), quadriceps femoris muscle strength (force-generating capacity) and functional test scores improve but continue to be lower than those in people without injury. Analysis of the sit-to-stand (STS) task demonstrated side-to-side differences in subjects with TKA, as well as differences between subjects with TKA and control subjects. It was hypothesized that, when using a self-selected starting position, subjects 1 year following TKA would show improvements in strength and movement patterns but would continue to show asymmetries of angles and moments at the hips and knees. Subjects and Methods: Twenty-four subjects (12 subjects with unilateral TKA and 12 control subjects) were recruited; those with TKA were tested 3 months and 1 year following surgery. Motion analysis of an STS task was synchronized with 2 force platforms and electromyography. Outcome measures included joint angles and moments, electromyography, vertical ground reaction forces, muscle strength, and functional performance tests. Results: Subjects with TKA showed improvements in symmetry of motion, strength, and functional performance from 3 months to 1 year following TKA. Compared with control subjects, subjects with TKA relied on increased hip flexion and a larger hip extensor moment to perform the STS task. Discussion and Conclusion: The increased hip extensor moment demonstrated that subjects adopted a strategy to avoid the use of the quadriceps femoris muscle, yet this strategy persisted as quadriceps femoris muscle strength improved. This pattern may be a learned movement pattern that may not resolve without retraining.