cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Short communication: Determination of the milk pharmacokinetics and depletion of milk residues of flunixin following transdermal administration to lactating Holstein cows.

ABSTRACT Flunixin is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug and the most commonly prescribed analgesic in cattle in the United States. Recently, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a transdermal formulation of flunixin for control of pyrexia associated with bovine respiratory disease and the control of pain associated with foot rot. The transdermal formulation is not currently approved for use in lactating dairy cattle in the United States, but extra-label use in dairy cattle is permissible under US regulations. The objectives of this study were to determine the pharmacokinetics in milk of dairy cows treated with transdermal flunixin and determine an appropriate withdrawal time for milk. Ten lactating Holstein cows were enrolled into the study in mid lactation. Following treatment, cows were milked 3 times per day through 144 h. Milk samples were collected for drug analysis using ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. The geometric mean maximum concentration for flunixin in milk was 0.010 μg/mL and was 0.061 μg/mL for the active metabolite, 5-hydroxyflunixin. The geometric mean terminal half-life was 20.71 h for flunixin and 22.62 h for 5-hydroxyflunixin. Calculations to approximate a withdrawal time in milk following transdermal flunixin administration were accomplished using a statistical tolerance limit procedure. This analysis indicated that it would be prudent to observe a withdrawal period of 96 h following the last treatment. This is more than twice as long as the labeled withdrawal period of 36 h following use of the injectable formulation. The withdrawal period suggested by this work should be applied carefully, as this study was not conducted under the full quality control practices required by the US FDA for a full drug approval study. Caution should be taken when applying this withdrawal time to diseased animals, animals that are milked with different milking frequencies, and those in different stages of production as these have all been shown to affect drug depletion from milk.
Some Fundamental Results on Z-valued Calculus

Zadeh proposed a concept of Z-number as a formal basis of handling of imprecision and partial reliability of information. A Z-number \( Z = (A,B) \) is a pair of fuzzy numbers used to describe information about a value of a real-valued random variable \( X \). \( A \) is considered as a fuzzy evaluation of \( X \), and B is a fuzzy reliability of A. A Z-number is a special case of a Z-set, where the latter corresponds to a general case when \( X \) is not necessarily defined in the real line R. The concept of a Z-set would enhance neoclassical analysis that embraces methods to reflect imprecision, randomness and uncertainty in computation and reasoning. This concept is closely related to fuzzy set theory, set-valued analysis and its extensions.
Ventricular Assist Device Patient Phenotypes: What Attributes Describe Long Term Survival?

Purpose Presently, 50% of patients on LVAD support are alive on therapy at 5 years. While preoperative (preop) variables can predict short term (ST) survival, correlates of long term (LT) survival remain poorly characterized. Using Intermacs-STS, we aim to identify preop and postoperative correlates of LT survival. Methods Patients (n=16474) undergoing LVAD implant (2012-18) in Intermacs-STS were categorized as ST (survival ≤1 year postoperative, n=7483), mid-term (MT, 1-3 years, n=5976) and LT (>3 years, n=3015) survivors. Pre-implant characteristics and events during support were compared between the three groups to identify mortality correlates. Results Compared with patients dying in the ST, LT survivors were more likely to be younger, not listed for transplant, with higher BSA and VAS scores and several lower risk preop characteristics but differences between MT and LT survivors were not clinically significant (table). On multi-variable analysis, patients suffering post-LVAD stroke (HR 1.42, image), any major infection (HR 1.13), pump related infection (HR 1.19), and/or device malfunction (HR=1.22) (all p 1 year, as were patients with a history of pulmonary disease (HR 1.19, 0.01), cancer (HR 1.26, p=0.01), CABG (HR 1.24, p Conclusion The preop clinical features of ST and LT survivors vary significantly. Preop characteristics mainly select out early deaths, failing to accurately characterize survival after 1 year. LT survival is heavily influenced by device complications and pre-existing medical co-morbidities.
Controlling Metal-Insulator Transitions in Vanadium Oxide Thin Films by Modifying Oxygen Stoichiometry.

Vanadium oxides are strongly correlated materials which display metal-insulator transitions (MITs) as well as various structural and magnetic properties that depend heavily on oxygen stoichiometry. Therefore, it is crucial to precisely control oxygen stoichiometry in these materials, especially in thin films. This work demonstrates a high-vacuum gas evolution technique which allows for the modification of oxygen concentrations in VOX thin films by carefully tuning the thermodynamic conditions. We were able to control the evolution between VO2, V3O5, and V2O3 phases on sapphire substrates, overcoming the narrow phase stability of adjacent Magneli phases. A variety of annealing routes were found to achieve the desired phases and eventually control the MIT. The pronounced MIT of the transformed films along with the detailed structural investigations based on X-ray diffraction measurements and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy show that optimal stoichiometry is obtained and stabilized. Using this technique, we find that the thin-film V-O phase diagram differs from that of the bulk material because of strain and finite size effects. Our study demonstrates new pathways to strategically tune the oxygen stoichiometry in complex oxides and provides a road map for understanding the phase stability of VOX thin films.
Preliminary efficacy of AWARE in college health service centers: A group psychotherapy intervention for Asian American women.

Objective: Asian Women's Action for Resilience and Empowerment (AWARE) is a psychotherapy intervention designed to improve the mental health of Asian American women. This study documented the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of AWARE at three university health service centers in Massachusetts. Participants: 174 female Asian American college/graduate students were screened, and 48 (64%) met the eligibility criteria and enrolled in the study. Methods: This study was a non-randomized, pre-post design at three university/college health service centers in Massachusetts. Retention rates and changes in depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms were measured. Results: Results demonstrated high feasibility and significant preliminary efficacy of AWARE across the sites. After the completion of AWARE, participants showed statistically and clinically significant reduction of depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms (p-values <.001). Conclusions: This study provides strong evidence that AWARE can be successfully implemented in university settings and provides a promising model of mental health treatment for Asian American women.
Preliminary results of the program on the surgical control of the hyperlipidemias (POSCH)

The Program on the Surgical Control of the Hyperlipidemias (POSCH) is a randomized, prospective, secondary intervention trial examining the effects of lipid modification on overall mortality and the course of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in 838 survivors of a single myocardial infarction. Partial ileal bypass, a surgical procedure developed at the University of Minnesota and introduced in 1963, was selected as the intervention modality in POSCH. Complete, five-year lipid results are available currently in 660 POSCH participants, 330 surgical patients and 330 control patients treated with the Phase II American Heart Association diet. Total plasma cholesterol was 24.3 ± 0.9 percent lower (mean ± SEM) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol was 38.7 ± 1.2 percent lower in the surgical group when compared with the diet-treated controls five years following operation. High density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol was 6.9 ± 1.8 percent higher in the surgical patients. In a subgroup of 185 control and 190 surgical patients undergoing apolipoprotein and HDL subfraction analysis, apolipoprotein B-100 was significantly lower and apolipoprotein A-I and HDL subfraction 2 were significantly higher in the operated patients in comparison with the controls. Partial ileal bypass has induced marked, sustained, favorable lipid modification. Based on morbidity and mortality assumptions derived from epidemiologic analyses, these lipid alterations should result in significant reductions in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality when the final POSCH morbidity and mortality experience is examined at the conclusion of the trial in July, 1990.
Neural and physiological relations observed in musical beat and meter processing

Introduction Music is ubiquitous and powerful in the world's cultures. Music listening involves abundant information processing (e.g., pitch, rhythm) in the central nervous system and can also induce changes in the physiology, such as heart rate and perspiration. Yet, previous studies tended to examine music information processing in the brain separately from physiological changes. In the current study, we focused on the temporal structure of music (i.e., beat and meter) and examined the physiology, neural processing, and, most importantly, the relation between the two areas. Methods Simultaneous MEG and ECG data were collected from a group of adults (N = 15) while they passively listened to duple and triple rhythmic patterns. To characterize physiology, we measured heart rate variability (HRV), indexing the parasympathetic nervous system function (PSNS). To characterize neural processing of beat and meter, we examined the neural entertainment and calculated the beat-to-meter ratio to index the relation between beat-level and meter-level entrainment. Specifically, the current study investigated three related questions: (a) whether listening to musical rhythms affects HRV; (b) whether the neural beat-to-meter ratio differed between metrical conditions, and (c) whether neural beat-to-meter ratio is related to HRV. Results Results suggest that while at the group level, both HRV and neural processing are highly similar across metrical conditions, at the individual level, neural beat-to-meter ratio significantly predicts HRV, establishing a neural-physiological link. Conclusion This observed link is discussed under the theoretical "neurovisceral integration model," and it provides important new perspectives in music cognition and auditory neuroscience research.
Empirical likelihood-based inferences for median medical cost regression models with censored data.

Recent studies show that medical cost data can be heavily censored and highly skewed, which leads to have more complex cost data analysis. In this paper, we propose influence function and empirical...
Microscopic Understanding of the Ionic Networks of “Water-in-Salt” Electrolytes

“Water-in-salt” electrolytes with excellent electrochemical and physical properties have been extensively investigated. However, the structural understanding of the lithium bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) in water is still lacking. Here, we perform synchrotron X-ray scattering to systemically study the structural variation of TFSI anions in an aqueous solution under a variety of concentrations and temperatures. There are two different solvation structures in the solution: TFSI- solvated structure and TFSI- network. As the concentration increases, the TFSI- solvated structure gradually disappears while the TFSI- network gradually forms. Even at relatively low concentrations, the TFSI- network can be observed. Our experimental results show that these two structures can coexist at a particular concentration, and temperature changes will lead to one structure’s formation or disappearance. Also, the TFSI- network is the key to obtain a stable electrochemical window under relatively high temperatures.
Real-Time Quaking-Induced Conversion Detection of PrPSc in Fecal Samples From Chronic Wasting Disease Infected White-Tailed Deer Using Bank Vole Substrate

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) that is fatal to free-range and captive cervids. CWD has been reported in the United States, Canada, South Korea, Norway, Finland, and Sweden, and the case numbers in both wild and farmed cervids are increasing rapidly. Studies indicate that lateral transmission of cervids likely occurs through the shedding of infectious prions in saliva, feces, urine, and blood into the environment. Therefore, the detection of CWD early in the incubation time is advantageous for disease management. In this study, we adapt real-time quacking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) assays to detect the seeding activity of CWD prions in feces samples from clinical and preclinical white-tailed deer. By optimizing reaction conditions for temperature as well as the salt and salt concentration, prion seeding activity from both clinical and preclinical animals were detected by RT-QuIC. More specifically, all fecal samples collected from 6 to 30 months post inoculation showed seeding activity under the conditions of study. The combination of a highly sensitive detection tool paired with a sample type that may be collected non-invasively allows a useful tool to support CWD surveillance in wild and captive cervids.
Influence of Plant and Animal Proteins on Inflammation Markers among Adults with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Proteins, especially plant proteins, may reduce inflammation among adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to evaluate the effect protein types (animal or plant) have on inflammation markers (CRP, IL-6, TNF-α) among adults with varying stages of CKD. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) was conducted to identify articles from inception until January 2021, utilizing six databases. Controlled trials that compared the effects of different protein types were analyzed using random-effects meta-analysis. Quality assessment and risk of bias of the included articles were assessed by using Cochrane risk of bias instrument and ROBINS-I. Out of the 10 studies that met the criteria, there was a decreasing trend in CRP levels when consuming plant proteins compared to animal proteins among non-dialysis participants. There was a statistically significant decrease when comparing animal proteins to unspecified proteins in CRP levels among dialysis participants [Hedges’ g = 2.11; 95% CI 1.12, 3.11; p ≤ 0.001], favoring unspecified proteins. Furthermore, animal proteins (eggs, red meat) showed increasing trends in CRP levels compared to whey protein isolate. Caution must be considered regarding these results as controlled, non-randomized, trials were included in the analysis, which may have contributed to high risk of bias. Future research should focus on protein types and the impact they have on kidney disease progression and inflammation markers.
Regression analysis of distributional data through Multi-Marginal Optimal transport.

We formulate and solve a regression problem with time-stamped distributional data. Distributions are considered as points in the Wasserstein space of probability measures, metrized by the 2-Wasserstein metric, and may represent images, power spectra, point clouds of particles, and so on. The regression seeks a curve in the Wasserstein space that passes closest to the dataset. Our regression problem allows utilizing general curves in a Euclidean setting (linear, quadratic, sinusoidal, and so on), lifted to corresponding measure-valued curves in the Wasserstein space. It can be cast as a multi-marginal optimal transport problem that allows efficient computation. Illustrative academic examples are presented.
Optimization of the Solution-Based Aluminium Gallium Oxide Buffer Layer for CdTe Solar Cells

Here, we introduce Aluminum Gallium Oxide (AlGaOx) buffer synthesized through a solution-based approach which passivates the interface recombination in CdTe thin film solar cells. This paper seeks to optimize the performance of the solution based AlGaOx buffer without the use of copper (Cu). The results indicated that diluting AlGaOx solution with 10ml dimethylformamide (DMF) solvent removes the blocking effect, achieving a maximum device efficiency of 13.3%, similar to the standard device (Cu/Au) efficiency of 13.6%. These implications could help eliminate the need for Cu in the rear contact. Hence, AlGaOx back buffer shows possibility of being used in bifacial and tandem device configuration for CdTe cells.
Spatiotemporal patterns of urban mosquitoes are modulated by socioeconomic status and environmental traits in the United States

The distribution of mosquitoes and associated vector diseases (e.g., West Nile, dengue, and Zika viruses) is likely a function of environmental conditions in the landscape. Urban environments are highly heterogeneous in the amount of vegetation, standing water, and concrete structures covering the land at a given time, each having the capacity to influence mosquito abundance and disease transmission. Previous research suggests that socioeconomic status is correlated with the ecology of the landscape, with lower-income neighborhoods generally having more concrete structures and standing water via residential abandonment, garbage dumps, and inadequate sewage. Whether these socio-ecological factors affect mosquito distributions across urban environments in the United States (US) remains unclear. Here, we present a meta-analysis of 22 paired observations from 15 articles testing how socioeconomic status relates to overall mosquito burden in urban landscapes in the United States. We then analyzed a comprehensive dataset from a socioeconomic gradient in Baltimore, Maryland to model spatiotemporal patterns of Aedes albopictus using a spatial regression model with socio-ecological covariates. The meta-analysis revealed that lower-income neighborhoods (regions making less than $50,000 per year on average) are exposed to 151% greater mosquito densities and mosquito-borne illnesses compared to higher-income neighborhoods (≥$50,000 per year). Two species of mosquito (Ae. albopictus and Aedes aegypti) showed the strongest relationship with socioeconomic status, with Ae. albopictus and Ae. aegypti being 62% and 22% higher in low-income neighborhoods, respectively. In the spatial regression analysis in Baltimore, we found that Ae. albopictus spatial spread of 1.2 km per year was significantly associated with median household income, vegetation cover, tree density, and abandoned buildings. Specifically, Ae. albopictus abundance was negatively correlated with median household income, vegetation cover, and tree density. Ae. albopictus abundance and the cover of abandoned buildings were positively correlated. Together, these results indicate that socio-ecological interactions can lead to disproportionate impacts of mosquitoes on humans in urban landscapes. Thus, concerted efforts to manage mosquito populations in low-income urban neighborhoods are required to reduce mosquito burden for the communities most vulnerable to human disease.
Internal Flows Models

It is common for engineering devices to be designed with pipes or ducts in which fluids (gas or liquid) flow. The fluid enters at an inlet temperature and the walls of the duct are at a different temperature. This chapter addresses internal flows in which a single ducted stream is involved. The next chapter considers heat exchangers, where one stream transfers heat to another. When mass flows into a control volume, it carries the energy associated with it. This mechanism of energy transfer is termed advection and will be modeled as a fluid temperature-dependent current source. There are also momentum considerations, as the flows are driven by pressure (or gravity) and opposed by friction, so that pumps or compressors are generally needed to move the fluid. Several 1-node models are developed (thermally long, thermally short, average temperature, and well mixed) and contrasted. The choice of a model in practice depends on whether temperatures or flow rates are considered to be input parameters.
“You have to go through it and have your children” : reproductive experiences among women with vulvodynia

Vulvodynia is a potentially debilitating chronic pain condition affecting the vulva (external genitalia) in women, with typical age of onset during the early-to mid-reproductive years. Yet, virtually nothing is known about the thoughts, feelings and experience of vulvodynia patients regarding conception, pregnancy and delivery; including the effect that a hallmark symptom, dyspareunia (painful sex), can have on a couple’s physical and emotional ability to conceive. We sought to describe these experiences and beliefs among women with vulvodynia who were pregnant or who recently had delivered a child.
The effect of the Enneagram on psychological well-being and unconditional self-acceptance of young adults

This quasi-experimental study investigated whether the knowledge of the Enneagram system affects unconditional self-acceptance and psychological well-being of university students who have been attending university for at least a year. It also measured the correlation between the total scores on the psychological well-being instrument and unconditional self-acceptance questionnaire. A two-group design was employed, wherein a control and an experimental group completed a preand two post-tests on psychological well-being and unconditional self-acceptance. The randomly selected experimental group received three weekly educational sessions on the Enneagram system. Results show that the knowledge of the Enneagram personality system does not have a significant effect on psychological well-being. Due to a small sample size and violation of the assumptions required to conduct an ANCOVA it was not possible to determine if the knowledge of the Enneagram affects unconditional self-acceptance. Findings indicate also a low to moderate positive correlation between the Unconditional self-acceptance questionnaire Chamberlain and Haaga (2001a) and Ryff Psychological Well-Being Scale (1989). Recommendations include using a larger sample, changing the number of educational sessions or their format, and using an additional test to measure irrational thoughts. Therefore, in a future study it may be favorable that the intervention be an integral part of a family and consumer sciences university course. Finally, despite the results of this study there are some indicators that suggest the Enneagram system be taught in schools and
Testing for the onset of fertility decline: an illustration with the case of Egypt

This paper describes and illustrates how the economic household production model can be taken as a frame of reference to test the stage of the fertility transition for a given society. Egypt during the 1970s and early 1980s is taken as the setting to illustrate the test. Egyptian fertility trends from the mid-1960s to the early 1980s puzzled demographers and social scientists. It was not known if Egypt was at the onset of a sustainable fertility decline by the early 1980s. The illustration exercise shows that the Egyptian household fertility behaviour during this period fits poorly with the model specification corresponding to a post-transition society. We find that fertility by the end of the 1970s was not endogenous to other household decisions, and conclude that a sustained decline in fertility was unlikely without this endogeneity. These results agree with previous literature on the fertility transition in Egypt. The paper concludes with limitations of the empirical test presented, laying emphasis on the lessons learned to examine the stage of the fertility transition in any society. The conclusions also highlight the importance of considering the stage of the transition in order to specify fertility models appropriately.
Thinking Globally and Acting Locally: The Emergence of Global Environmental Problems and the Critical Need to Develop Sustainable Development Programs at State and Local Levels in the United States

Globalization of markets and communications is making us aware that we are becoming residents in a global village. No small part of this awareness is an increasing consciousness that what we do or do not do in our own neighborhood can have ripple effects over the entire planet. Yet, despite a growing recognition of environmental interdependence of all peoples, the United States (U.S.) has thus far failed to develop an environmental law regime that responds to the growing global environmental problems. This part of the Article examines the explosion of environmental law in the United States, the growth of global environmental concern, and the U.S. response to these concerns.
Asymptotic analysis of eigenfrequencies of Euler-Bernoulli beam equation with structural damping

An explicit expression is derived for the eigenfrequencies of a Euler-Bernoulli beam with damping modeled by an integro-PDE proposed by D.L. Russell. It is shown that the asymptotic distribution of the eigenspectrum is similar to that of a beam with a uniform damping constant acting opposite to the rate of change of the bending moment. >
Effects of microchannel geometry on pulsed flow mixing

Abstract Although the mixing of reagents is often crucial in many microfluidic devices, good mixing in these laminar, low Reynolds number, flows remains a challenge. It was shown in Refs. [Glasgow, I., Aubry, N., 2003. Lab on a Chip 3, p. 114; Glasgow, I., Batton, J., Aubry, N., 2004. Lab on a Chip 4, p. 558] that pulsing can induce mixing at the confluence of two inlet microchannels in an efficient manner. In this paper, we show that this mixing is affected by both the geometry of the confluence and the inclusion of features in the channels, which induce secondary flow. More specifically, we study mixing in 200 μm wide by 120 μm deep channels, at flow rates from 48 nl s −1 to 4.8 μl s −1 , corresponding to Reynolds numbers of 0.3–30. For the parameter values studied, the pulsed flow technique is more effective at mixing than the secondary flow induced by the channel geometry features, and combining both methods leads to even better mixing. In addition, pulsing the reagents such that they pass multiple times through the spatial features, which induce secondary flow leads to mixing over shorter distances.
Peroneal artery perforator-based propeller flap reconstruction of the lateral distal lower extremity after tumor extirpation: case report and literature review.

Background: Soft tissue defects in the distal lower extremity present a formidable challenge due to the lack of reliable local flap options. Pedicled adipofasciocutaneous flaps provide the closest match to local tissues, but random pattern flaps are limited in reliability, size, reach, and arc-of-rotation. One hundred and eighty degree perforator-based propeller flaps are an innovative option because they provide robust axial perfusion to flaps with significantly greater surface area and ease of transposition versus that provided by their random pattern counterparts in these anatomic regions traditionally addressed with free tissue transfer. Case: We present a rare case of aggressive digital papillary carcinoma of the posteriolateral ankle and Achilles region. Wide local excision resulted in a defect with Achilles tendon exposure and denudation. A fasciocutaneous propeller flap based on a dominant peroneal artery perforator was raised and rotated 1808 to resurface the wound, providing a gliding surface for Achilles tendon function. The reconstruction was successful with no complications, excellent contour, and esthetic appearance. Conclusions: Peroneal perforator-based propeller flaps in the ankle region are useful local options providing unparalleled form and function, with excellent surface area and mobility, for dynamic areas of the lower extremity, without sacrificing any major vessels or nerves. This technique adds to the reconstructive microsurgeon’s armamentarium for complex coverage of the ankle region. V C 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. Microsurgery 28:663–670, 2008. The skin in the ankle and Achilles region is thin, pliable, sensate, and provides a gliding surface for the Achilles tendon. These properties are vital to the normal function of the ankle as a dynamic joint during ambulation. The challenge for the reconstructive surgeon is to match the original tissue properties if joint function and esthetic form are to be preserved. Free tissue transfer has been the traditional reconstructive modality in this region; however, microsurgical skill, specialized equipment, and resources required for these complex operations are not commonly available outside of tertiary care centers. Furthermore, tissue properties of some free flaps may not be ideal matches to the thin, supple fasciocutaneous tissue of the ankle region. Muscle flaps are associated with a loss of function, albeit often imperceptibly, as well as with inadequate reach in the distal lower extremity. 1,2 Reconstruction with local fasciocutaneous flaps is an ideal option because it provides the closest match to lost tissue in terms of skin color, durability, volume, and pliability. Local random pattern flaps are unreliable because of limited flap dimensions, a wide pedicle base restricting flap mobility, and relatively poor tissue laxity. There is an upward of 25% flap necrosis in single-stage distal lower extremity recon
RATE COEFFICIENTS FOR DISSOCIATIVE ELECTRON ATTACHMENT BY HALOMETHANE COMPOUNDS BETWEEN 300 AND 800 K

The temperature dependence of the rate coefficients for thermal energy dissociative electron attachment reactions has been measured for nine halomethane compounds. Rate coefficients for CCl4, CFCl3, CF2Cl2, CF3Cl, CHCl3, CH2Cl2, CHFCl2, CH3I, and CH2Br2 were determined between 300 and 800 K from relative rate measurements by using SF6 as a reference compound. A flowing afterglow−electron cyclotron resonance technique was employed. Mass spectral analysis of product negative ions confirmed a dissociative attachment mechanism. Semiempirical quantum mechanical calculations of the geometry change associated with negative ion formation were carried out.
A technology compatibility kit for safety critical Java

Safety Critical Java is a specification designed to case development and analysis of safety critical programs that must be certified. Since it is being developed with the Java Community Process, a Technology Compatibility Kit is required so that all aspiring implementations can check for conformance to the specification. In this paper, we present design considerations for an open source compatibility kit. Also we present initial experiments in using our kit to test a reference implementation being developed concurrently with the specification. The testing results are reported and discussed.
Simultaneous reticulocyte and platelet counting on a clinical flow cytometer

Laser flow cytometric analysis is well suited to many clinical immunofluorescent and hematologic applications. One of these is automated reticulocyte and platelet enumerations. We have performed a clinical evaluation of a fluorescence laser flow cytometer reticulocyte and platelet enumeration method using the fluorochrome acridine orange. One hundred and thirty-two clinical specimens from inpatients in our comprehensive cancer center were analyzed for platelet counts and 101 samples from the same population were analyzed for reticulocyte counts by the flow cytometer and simultaneously by conventional techniques. Both the reticulocyte and platelet enumerations achieved a high degree of correlation with standard methods for the nonbone marrow-transplant patients studied (R = .989 for reticulocytes and R = .995 for platelets). Marrow transplant patients had a slightly poorer correlation coefficient for the reticulocyte enumeration (R = .923), but analysis of serial determinations of these patients' samples for reticulocyte counts revealed that results were more consistent over time with the automated method than with the traditional manual method. The laser flow cytometer fluorescence reticulocyte and platelet enumeration methods described are efficient, rapid, and reliable for platelet and reticulocyte counting.
PARTIAL PURIFICATION OF SOLUBLE 5′-NUCLEOTIDASE FROM RABBIT HEART: 39

Cytosolic 5′-nucleotidase from rabbit heart has been purified approximately 40-fold to a specific activity of 0.6 μmol/mg protein/min. At this stage of purification, the enzyme is free of other phosphatases and is stable to repeated cycles of freezing and thawing over a 3 months period. Soluble 5′-nucleotidase has an absolute requirement for divalent metal ions and is activated by ATP, GTP, and ADP. Activation by these nucleotides causes a shift from a sigmoidal to a hyperbolic substrate saturation curve. ATP (1 mM) increases the Kapp of the enzyme for AMP about 5-fold. Activation by GTP is similar. Activation by ADP also increases Kapp, but high concentrations of ADP cause a decrease in Vmax. AMP is the preferred substrate in terms of Vmax/Kapp, with AMP>UMP>GMP>IMP. Nucleoside monophosphates other than AMP are inhibitory at high substrate concentrations. The fully activated enzyme exhibits a Kapp for AMP of 2.5 mM. The enzyme purified by us has properties different from the soluble liver enzyme described by Van Den Berghe et al. (Biochem. J. (1977) 162, 611) and from the plasma membrane enzyme from rat heart described by Naito & Lowenstein (Biochem. (1981) 20, 5188) with respect to both substrate specificity and regulatory properties.
How do selectins mediate leukocyte rolling in venules

At the onset of inflammation, 20–80% of all leukocytes passing postcapillary venules roll along the endothelium. Recent blocking experiments with antibodies and soluble adhesion receptor molecules, as well as in vitro reconstitution experiments, suggest that leukocyte rolling is mediated by adhesion molecules that belong to the selectin family. What differentiates a selectin-counterreceptor interaction that leads to leukocyte rolling from others that mediate firm adhesion after static incubation but no adhesion when incubated under flow conditions? Here, we explore this question by introducing a quantitative biophysical model that is compatible with the laws of mechanics as applied to rolling leukocytes and the present biochemical and biophysical data on selectin mediated interactions. Our computational experiments point to an adhesion mechanism in which the rate of bond formation is high and the detachment rate low, except at the rear of the contact area where the stretched bonds detach at a high uniform rate. The bond length and bond flexibility play a critical role in enhancing leukocyte rolling at a wide range of fluid shear rates.
Notes on some South American species of Psychotria subgenus Heteropsychotria (Rubiaceae), with observations on rubiaceous taxonomic characters

During the preparation of a treatment of the Rubiaceae for theGuide to the Vascular Plants of Central French Guiana, several field and laboratory observations have contributed toward a better understanding of the morphological variation of certain species ofPsychotria and have stimulated a reevaluation of some morphological features used by previous authors in distinguishing taxa in thePsychotria. Typification for all taxa is provided, several new synonyms and one new combination,Psychotria carapichea (Poir.) Delprete, are proposed, and illustrations ofP. ligularis andP. carapichea are included.
Graduate Students' Evolving Ideas on Engineering Education and Engineering Educators

Graduate students at Purdue University enrolled in two introductory engineering education graduate courses were interviewed at the beginning, middle, and end of the Fall 2005 semester. The majority of the students were members of the first cohort of an engineering education graduate program. During the course of three interviews, graduate students discussed their education, teaching and industry experience, future professional goals, working definitions of engineering education, and the engineering education courses. This qualitative study addresses the participants' responses to three of the interview questions: 1) How do you define engineering education?; 2) What is the role of an engineering educator?; 3) What are some challenges facing engineering educators? This paper analyzes the data collected from the graduate students and compares general responses across the early, mid-semester, and end-of-semester interviews
Résultats à long terme du prélèvement endoscopique ou à ciel ouvert de la veine saphène pour pontage au membre inférieur

Objectif Le prelevement endoscopique de veine saphene (PVE) a des taux d’infection de paroi et un cout moindres compares au prelevement conventionnel, bien que les donnees a long terme pour la voie ouverte manquent. Une petite serie d’etudes a recemment suggere que la permeabilite est inferieure a celle du prelevement conventionnel de veine, et nous avons ainsi cherche a explorer cette question en passant en revue notre experience cumulative de cette technique. Methodes Les resultats a court et a long terme de tous les pontages des membres inferieurs (PMI) utilisant la veine saphene dans un etablissement faits en 8,5 ans ont ete retrospectivement revus. Resultats 363 patients d’un âge moyen de 67 ± 24 a 100 ans avaient un PMI et avaient des dossiers disponibles pour la revue. De ces 363 patients, 170 ont eu un PVE (90% avec une technique sans insufflation) et 193un prelevement conventionnel (au moyen d’incisions continues ou discontinues) ; 48% des patients avaient une perte de substance et aucune difference d’indication operatoire n’etait notee entre les groupes. Le suivi moyen etait de 35,1 mois (extremes : p Conclusions Les resultats globaux de cette etude montrent un taux de permeabilite a long terme inferieur pour la veine saphene prelevee par voie endoscopique apres PMI dans notre serie globale, et ne confirment pas l’avantage a court terme precedemment montre dans une cohorte selecyionnee. Ces differences etaient cependant, minimes ou absentes chez les patients presentant une claudication ou en l’absence de diabete, et le PVE peut continuer a jouer un role dans ces cas.
Proteomics: Mapping reactive cysteines

A new quantitative proteomic approach can identify reactive cysteine residues in native proteins and distinguish them on the basis of reactivity. This resource-rich study offers a useful new technology and is a significant step toward understanding the reactivity and functions of cysteines in cells.
Electron spin relaxation of radicals in γ-irradiated malonic acid and methyl malonic acid

Radicals generated by γ-irradiation of malonic acid and methyl malonic acid were studied as a function of temperature by inversion recovery, echo-detected saturation recovery and electron-electron double resonance (ELDOR) at X-band, and by continuous-wave saturation recovery at X-band and S-band. ELDOR reductions for malonic acid radical in polycrystalline and single-crystal samples indicate that nuclear spin relaxation is faster than both electron spin relaxation and cross relaxation between 93 and 233 K. Deuteration of the carboxylate protons caused the maximum ELDOR reduction to shift from about 110 to 150 K, consistent with the assignment of the rapid nuclear spin relaxation to hydrogen-bonded proton dynamics. ELDOR enhancements for both radicals formed in methyl malonic acid indicate that cross relaxation is faster than both electron spin relaxation and nuclear spin relaxation between 77 and 220 K. Enhanced cross relaxation and electron spin relaxation are attributed to the rotation of methyl groups at a rate comparable to the electron Larmor frequency. The temperature dependence of the enhancement of 1/T 1e was analyzed to determine the activation energies for methyl rotation. The same radical is formed in irradiated methyl malonic acid and L-alanine, but the barrier to rotation of the α-methyl is 500 K in the methyl malonic acid host and 1500 K in the L-alanine host, which indicates a large impact of the lattice on the barrier to rotation.
Chondrolipoangioma. A cartilage-containing benign mesenchymoma of soft tissue.

The clinical and pathologic features of four cases of benign mesenchymoma in which mature cartilage represented the predominant component are reported. the distinctive histologic feature in all four cases was a lobular proliferation of cartilaginous tissue exhibiting a spectrum of hyaline cartilage, fibrocartilage, myxoid cartilage, and cartilage with ossification and even bone marrow formation, intimately associated with mature adipose tissue and vascular elements. the localization of these tumors was in the proximity of a bone, but not attached to the periosteum or in continuity with a joint. Because these lesions may be mistaken for other cartilaginous neoplasms of soft tissue, recognition of this entity has potentially important diagnostic and therapeutic implications in that mutilating surgery may be avoided.
A Matrix-Isolation Spectroscopic and Theoretical Investigation of Tris(8-hydroxyquinolinato)aluminum(III) and Tris(4-methyl-8-hydroxyquinolinato)aluminum(III)†

Infrared and photoluminescence spectra of matrix-isolated and thin-film samples (both at 11 K) of tris(8-hydroxyquinolinato)aluminum(III) (Alq3) and tris(4-methyl-8-hydroxyquinolinato)aluminum(III) (Almq3) were collected and compared to vibrational spectra generated by B3LYP based density functional calculations. The present infrared spectral results suggest that both Alq3 and Almq3 exist primarily in the meridional or C1 isomeric form with little or no spectral evidence for the presence of the alternate, facial (C3 symmetry) geometric isomer. In addition, photoluminescence spectra of these molecules isolated in an argon matrix show vibronic structure in the emission band associated with the S1 → S0 transition.
Retinal cyclic-GMP phosphodiesterase γ-subunit: Use of mutant synthetic peptides to define function

Previously, we have domain-mapped the 87 amino acid PDE gamma inhibitory subunit of the retinal phosphodiesterase (PDE) alpha beta gamma 2 complex using synthetic peptides (1). The PDE gamma subunit has a binding domain for transducin-alpha (T alpha) and for PDE alpha/beta within residues #24-45. An inhibitory region for PDE alpha/beta is within residues #80-87. In order to establish the role of individual amino acids in the function of the PDE gamma inhibitory subunit, mutants were synthesized and utilized in PDE inhibition assays. The following mutants exhibited a decreased ability to inhibit PDE alpha/beta: Tyr84----Gly; Arg24----Gly; and Arg33----Pro. Sequence comparisons with cone PDE gamma indicate that there is identity within these functional regions.
Active and exploratory perception

Abstract The main goal of this paper is to show that there is a natural flow from active perception through exploration to perceptual learning. W have attempted to conceptualize the perceptual process of an organism that has the top-level task of surviving in an unknown environment. During this conceptualization process. Four necessary ingredients have emerged for either artificial or biological organisms. First, the sensory apparatus and processing of the organism must be active and flexible. Second, the organism must have exploratory capabilities. Third, the organism must be selective in its data acquisition process. Fourth, the organism must be able to learn. In the section on learning, we have clearly delineated the difference between what must be innate and what must be learned. In order to test our theory, we present the system's architecture that follows from the perceptual task decomposition. The predictions of this theory are that an artificial system can explore and learn about its environment modulo its sensors, manipulators, end effectors, and exploratory procedures/attribute extractors. It can describe its world with respect to the built-in alphabet, that is, the set of perceptual primitives.
Acoustic variations in adductor spasmodic dysphonia as a function of speech task.

Acoustic phonatory events were identified in 14 women diagnosed with ADSD and compared to those of 14 women age-matched (±2 years) with no evidence of vocal pathology/dysfunction. The three acoustic parameters examined during sustained vowel production and reading included phonatory breaks, aperiodicity, and frequency shifts. Intra- and intermeasurer correlations showed high reliability for the measures. Findings indicated that those with ADSD produced a greater frequency of aberrant acoustic events than the controls during both tasks. For the group with ADSD, the amount and type of each event also varied with utterance type. The sustained vowel sample produced by those with ADSD consisted of a greater percentage of aperiodic segments followed by phonatory breaks and frequency shifts. During reading, frequency shifts were the predominant acoustic event, followed by phonatory breaks and aperiodicity. The advantage of segmenting the acoustic waveform into these measures and the relevancy of examining intert...
Further observations on the chromatography of myosin preparations on hydroxyapatite

Abstract An improved procedure for a high ionic strength chromatographic fractionation of myosin preparations on hydroxyapatite was developed and applied to crude preparations of myosin made from fresh and aged bovine and rabbit muscles, and to a preparation containing both sarcoplasmic and myofibrillar proteins made from fresh rabbit muscle. The efficiency of the procedure in removing actin and other contaminating proteins from myosin was demonstrated. The results also indicate that the method would be useful in a study of the compositional changes in muscle on aging.
High-temperature generation and ESR matrix isolation studies of ZnF and CdF in neon and argon matrices

Abstract The diatomic radicals, ZnF and CdF, have been generated at high temperatures and isolated in solid neon and argon matrices at 4 K and 12 K, respectively. ESR studies of these 2Σ ground-state radicals yield the following parameters: ZnF, g ⊥ = 1.996(1), g ⊥ = 2.002(1), A ⊥ ( 19 F ) = 143(2) MHz , A ‖ ( 19 F) = 673(2) MHz ; CdF, g⊥ = 1.985(2), g‖ = 2.001(3), A⊥ = 64(2), A‖ = 670(7). The relationship between metal ionization potentials and 19F hfs is discussed and compared to other diatomic radical species. ZnF and CdF exhibit the most extreme degree of preferential orientation in the neon matrix lattice observed thus far.
The components of the Wired Spanning Forest are recurrent

We show that a.s. all of the connected components of the Wired Spanning Forest are recurrent, proving a conjecture of Benjamini, Lyons, Peres and Schramm. Our analysis relies on a simple martingale involving the effective conductance between the endpoints of an edge in a uniform spanning tree. We believe that this martingale is of independent interest and will find further applications in the study of uniform spanning trees and forests.
Comments on a report of the separation of the enantiomers of π-donor analytes on π-donor chiral stationary phases

Abstract A report by Oliveros et al . [J. Chromatogr. 589 (1992) 53] concerning the separation of the enantiomers of several π-basic analytes on π-basic chiral stationary phases was investigated. Claims for the separation of the enantiomers of two of these analytes are believed to be erroneous, the confusion in one instance presumably arising from the presence of an impurity in the commercially available material. Several methods for verifying the assignment of two chromatographic peaks as arising from enantiomers are also presented.