cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nonequilibrium Molecular Dynamics of Trp Zwitterion in Water: Picosecond Fluorescence Measurements Versus Computer Simulations

This is an experimental test of MD simulations on the picosecond timescale. Tryptophan zwitterion in TIP3P water at 278°K was simulated using CHARMM22 forcefield with the excited-state Trp atomic charges from [Toptygin et al., J. Phys. Chem. B 2010, 114, 11323]. Six stable excited-state rotamers of Trp sidechain were found with the population density peaks near (χ1,χ2) = (67°,80°), (−170°,57°), (−65°,115°), (65°,-85°), (−165°,-112°), (−65°,-80°). Curved boundaries between the rotamers on the (χ1,χ2) map were drawn along the troughs of the population density. Population density distribution within the boundaries of one rotamer reaches equilibrium in less than 20ps; equilibration between different rotamers takes much longer. At t>20ps rotamer populations can be described by a system of six first-order homogeneous linear differential equations. The solution is a sum of six terms Vmnexp(-t/τn). Population decay of each rotamer is not monoexponential and τn is not a lifetime. The same set of τn applies to all rotamers, but a different set of Vmn corresponds to each rotamer. The rotamers have slightly different fluorescence emission spectra, therefore fluorescence intensity is a sum of six terms αn(ν)exp(-t/τn), where αn vary with the photon energy hν. We have determined τn and αn(ν) in the global analysis of spectrally- and time-resolved fluorescence data (time resolution 65ps FWHM). Only four exponential terms could be resolved from the experimental data in H2O at 5°C (τ1 = 4780ps, τ2 = 2500ps, τ3 = 867ps, τ4 = 411ps); according to MD simulations the fifth term (τ5 = 241ps) has a very small amplitude, and the sixth (τ6 = 22ps) is faster than the time resolution. For a precise agreement between the experimental and simulated values of τn it is necessary to lower all potential barriers between rotamers by 0.178kcal/mol. This shows that fluorescence spectroscopy can be used to fine-tune torsional parameters.
Variable Fidelity Modeling as Applied to Trajectory Optimization for a Hydraulic Backhoe

Modeling, simulation, and optimization play vital roles throughout the engineering design process; however, in many design disciplines the cost of simulation is high, and designers are faced with a tradeoff between the number of alternatives that can be evaluated and the accuracy with which they are evaluated. In this paper, a methodology is presented for using models of various levels of fidelity during the optimization process. The intent is to use inexpensive, low-fidelity models with limited accuracy to recognize poor design alternatives and reserve the high-fidelity, accurate, but also expensive models only to characterize the best alternatives. Specifically, by setting a user-defined performance threshold, the optimizer can explore the design space using a low-fidelity model by default, and switch to a higher fidelity model only if the performance threshold is attained. In this manner, the high fidelity model is used only to discern the best solution from the set of good solutions, so computational resources are conserved until the optimizer is close to the solution. This makes the optimization process more efficient without sacrificing the quality of the solution. The method is illustrated by optimizing the trajectory of a hydraulic backhoe. To characterize the robustness and efficiency of the method, a design space exploration is performed using both the low and high fidelity models, and the optimization problem is solved multiple times using the variable fidelity framework.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
TLR7 Recognition Is Dispensable for Influenza Virus A Infection but Important for the Induction of Hemagglutinin-Specific Antibodies in Response to the 2009 Pandemic Split Vaccine in Mice

Recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns by pattern recognition receptors of the innate immune system is crucial for the initiation of innate and adaptive responses and for immunological memory. We investigated the role of TLR7 in the induction of adaptive immunity and long-term memory following influenza virus infection and vaccination in C57BL/6 mice. During infection with influenza A/PR8/34 virus, the absence of either TLR7 or MyD88 leads to reduced virus-specific antibodies in the serum and antibody-secreting cells in their secondary lymphoid organs, particularly in bone marrow. In spite of this, the absence of TLR7/MyD88 signaling did not impair the production of protective antibodies. Following immunization with the 2009 pandemic inactivated split vaccine, TLR7−/− mice had significantly lower levels of germinal center formation, antibody-secreting cells, and circulating influenza virus-specific antibodies than control animals. Consequently, TLR7−/− mice failed to develop protective immunological memory upon challenge. Furthermore, the immunogenicity of the split vaccine was likely due to TLR7 recognition of virion RNA, as its removal from the split vaccine significantly reduced the levels of influenza virus-specific antibodies and compromised the vaccine protective efficacy in mice. Taken together, our data demonstrate that TLR7 plays an important role in vaccine-induced humoral immune responses to influenza virus through the interaction with viral RNA present in the split vaccine.
The Challenges of Air Pollution and Residual Risk Assessment

The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 authorized the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to promulgate and implement technology-based standards on emissions of 188 hazardous air pollutants. These emission limits were to reflect the maximum achievable control technology (MACT) for categories of source. Although the MACT standards have resulted in a significant reduction of toxic air emissions, an assessment of the residual risk of toxic air emissions from MACT-regulated sources is needed to determine whether further controls are needed. This article discusses the problems associated with air pollution, and describes steps taken by the EPA to develop a risk assessment methodology that evaluates the residual health risks and ecological effects associated with exposure to toxic air pollutants from different source categories. The method, called total risk integrated methodology, depends upon a dispersion model to assess human exposure to toxic compounds.
Alignment of primary Al3Ni phases in hypereutectic Al-Ni alloys with various compositions under high magnetic fields

Al-Ni hypereutectic alloys with various compositions were solidified under various magnetic field conditions to investigate the alignment of primary Al3Ni phases. The results showed that the application of high magnetic fields could improve the homogeneity of the primary Al3Ni phase distribution and induce the alignment of primary Al3Ni phases in the direction perpendicular to the magnetic field direction to form chain-like structures. However, the alignment was different from the orientation of the Al3Ni phases. Furthermore, the degree of the alignment decreased with the increasing concentration of Ni element. This can be attributed to the combination effects of high magnetic field and alloy composition on the concentration field around the crystallized primary Al3Ni crystals.
Directional Emission of Multiply Charged Ions During Dissociative Ionization in Asymmetric Two-Color Laser Fields

Intense, asymmetric 1ω+2ω laser fields are used to affect the directional ejection of multiply charged ion fragments from a variety of molecules, including N2, O2, CO, HBr, and CO2. By tuning the relative phase, ϕ, between the two fields, we observe large forward-backward dissociation asymmetries. The largest asymmetries are obtained at the same values of ϕ for all species, suggesting a common dynamical mechanism. Following an independent phase calibration, the sign of the asymmetry appears to be opposite that expected from the standard enhanced ionization model.
Occurrence of selenocysteine in the selenium-dependent formate dehydrogenase of Methanococcus vannielii

The selenium-dependent formate dehydrogenase of Methanococcus vannielii was isolated from bacteria grown in the presence of [75Se]selenite. Purification under strictly anaerobic conditions resulted in the simultaneous enrichment of formate dehydrogenase activity, 75Se, and a brown chromophore that absorbs maximally at 380 nm. Acid hydrolysis of the enzyme after reduction with borohydride and alkylation with iodoacetamide, released a radioactive selenoamino acid derivative that was identified as [75Se]carboxymethyl-selenocysteine. This is the third selenoenzyme shown to contain selenocysteine.
ATR-FTIR observations of water structure in colloidal silica: implications for the hydration force mechanism

Attenuated total internal reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) was used to probe the change in water structure in silica colloids as a function of particle density. The absorption index (k) spectra were calculated from the ATR spectra using the subtractive Kramers-Kronig transform in order to avoid the effects of the density-dependent refractive index on the raw spectra and allow direct comparison of the different chemical environments. Normalized difference spectra were obtained by subtracting the k spectrum of bulk water from those of the silica colloids. At low particle densities, these difference spectra reveal the presence of a strongly hydrogen-bonded hydration layer at the surface of the colloidal particles. At higher particle densities, the hydrogen-bonding network is increasingly disrupted. The results provide direct experimental evidence of hydrogen-bond breaking as the mechanism for the hydration force, which provides the extraordinary stability of colloidal silica.
Reading ability as a predictor of library anxiety

Because the main purpose of libraries is to serve as an avenue for obtaining a multitude of text in various forms, and reading is the key activity undertaken by library users, it is likely that students with the poorest reading skills are the most uncomfortable in a library research setting. Yet, surprisingly, no research exists investigating the relationship between levels of reading ability and library anxiety. This was the purpose of the present inquiry. Specifically, the current study examined the relationship between reading comprehension and reading vocabulary and five dimensions of library anxiety (namely, barriers with staff, affective barriers, comfort with the library, knowledge of the library, and mechanical barriers). Participants were 45 African‐American graduate students from various disciplines. They were administered the Library Anxiety Scale and the Nelson‐Denny Reading Test. A canonical correlation analysis (Rc=0.39) revealed that reading comprehension and reading vocabulary were related statistically significant to barriers with staff, comfort with the library, and knowledge of the library. Implications are discussed.
ICT-integrated education and national innovation systems in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries

The widespread use and availability of information and communication technologies (ICT) has greatly impacted how nations conceptualize innovation and the ways formal mass education can be used to advance socio-political and economic agendas. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have increasingly focused on the roles of science and technology in building research development and innovation (RDI) capacity to create national innovation systems (NIS). This paper uses evidence from the 2007 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) and the 2009 World Bank Institute Knowledge Economy Index (KEI) to investigate the spread of ICT in national education systems in the GCC countries and the impact of ICT-based learning as a catalyst for NIS and RDI capacity in the region. Previous research suggests that ICT-based instruction has the potential to build capacity in knowledge development, which is a key component in the establishment of national innovation systems. However, the analyses presented here suggest that the ways ICT is used in education in the GCC do not build capacity in knowledge development in youth. Although evidence shows that GCC countries do have institutional capacity in ICT, it is not used for knowledge development in part because of limitations imposed by the cultural contexts for education in the Gulf. The paper concludes with recommendations for ways that GCC teachers can use ICT to create national innovation systems and research capacity through reforms to teacher training and professional development.
COMMENT ON "THE RASTALL MODEL AND STAPP'S PROOF OF NONLOCALITY"

It is shown that the argument set forth as being my argument is fundamentally different from my argument.
Physics and Consciousness

Presented herein is the proposition that humans can, under certain conditions, attain a higher awareness, a "cosmic" or "unitive" consciousness in which they have immediate knowledge of a reality underlying the phenomenal world. Resistances to this belief are cited, as are their contemporary counterforces. New models of reality urged by relativity theory, quantum mechanics and Bell's theorem are invoked as parallels, metaphors, and potential sources for empirical validation of this thesis.
Mass-25 isobaric multiplets

High-precision mass determinations have now been made for all four members of the lowest two T=32 states in the A=25 system. The results are used to compute the coefficients of the isobaric-mass-multiplet equation.
Energy spectra from “beam-target” nuclear reactions in magnetic fusion devices

Abstract Analytical expressions for the energy distribution of fusion products created in “beam-target” fusion reactions in a strong magnetic field are derived.
A possible mechanism for prevention of intestinal programmed cell death after ischemia-reperfusion injury by hepatocyte growth factor pretreatment.

Abstract Background/Purpose: Intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury produces necrosis and apoptosis resulting in tissue loss. The authors have observed previously that pretreatment with hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) attenuates enterocyte apoptosis after IR. This study investigated the effects of HGF on tissue levels of caspase-8, an apoptosis initiator, and caspase-3, an apoptosis effector, in intestinal mucosa after IR. Methods: Thirty rats underwent placement of jugular venous catheters connected to osmotic pumps; 15 rats received vehicle, and 15 rats received HGF (150 μg/kg/d). After a 48-hour infusion, 5 rats from each group underwent either 35 minutes of superior mesenteric artery occlusion alone, or ischemia followed by 2 or 6 hours of reperfusion. Mucosal protein was analyzed for caspase-8 and caspase-3 activity. DNA fragmentation was used to measure the presence of apoptosis. Statistical significance was determined using analysis of variance. Results: After 6 hours of reperfusion, caspase-3 activity was increased significantly in control animals ( P P Conclusion: By preventing the activation of enterocyte caspase enzymes, and, thus, reducing apoptosis, HGF may enhance preservation of the intestine after IR injury. J Pediatr Surg 37:1696-1699. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
A Study of Individual Differences in Associative Capacity

* Recommended by G. S. Snoddy, accepted for publication by Carl Murchison of the Editorial Board, and received in the Editorial Office, February 21, 1933.
Complement inhibition and myocellular energetics during sepsis1

Abstract Purpose: Sepsis significantly alters skeletal muscle energy metabolism. The complement system is thought to be responsible, in part, for the tissue injury observed in sepsis. Complement activation is effectively inhibited by using soluble complement receptor 1 (sCR1). These studies were designed to determine whether complement inhibition affects myocellular energetics. Methods: To determine if complement inhibition favorably affects myocellular energetics during sepsis, male Wistar rats (250 g) were randomized to one of four groups: sham cecal ligation puncture (CLP) + placebo (Pbo) (n = 8), sham CLP + sCR1 (3.5 mg) (n = 8), CLP + Pbo (n = 8), and CLP + sCR1 (n = 8). Six hours after their respective procedures, in vivo 31 P magnetic resonance spectroscopy ( 31 P MRS) of the gastrocnemious muscle was performed to determine the phosphocreatine (PCr) to ATP ratio (energy reserves), the ATP to inorganic phosphate (Pi) ratio (energy state), the PCr/Pi ratio (thermodynamic capacity), and intracellular pH (pH i ). The rats were only allowed water ad libidum for 48 hours. After this, all animals were fed standard chow, and mortality was recorded after 24 hours and 5 days. Results: legend . Sham/Pbo Sham/sCR1 CLP/Pbo CLP/sCR1 legend PCr/ATP 3.81 ± 0.18 3.41 ± 0.06 ∗ 3.83 ± 0.22 3.66 ± 0.12 ATP/Pi 2.74 ± 0.6 3.88 ± 0.9 2.83 ± 0.6 3.65 ± 0.6 PCr/Pi 9.99 ± 1.7 13.18 ± 3 10.78 ± 2.2 13.16 ± 2 pH i 7.19 ± 0.05 7.14 ± .005 7.22 ± 0.05 7.19 ± .02 legend The values are mean ± SEM, determined by ANOVA and LSD, ∗ p = .08 versus sham/Pbo and p = .06 versus CLP/Pbo. The 24 hour mortality was 37% and 62% for the CLP/Pbo and the CLP/sCR1 groups, respectively. Five-day mortality was 50% and 62%, respectively. Energy reserves were reduced by 10% in the sham/sCR1 group compared with its placebo control; however, this effect was not observed in the CLP/sCR1 group compared with the CLP/Pbo. Although energy state and thermodynamic capacity were increased in both sCR1 groups as compared with their controls, this difference was not statistically significant. High energy ratios were unchanged in the CLP/sCR1 group as compared with the sham/sCR1 group. Conclusions: Although complement inhibition may have an adverse effect on 24-hour mortality, our findings suggest that complement does not play a significant role in myocellular energetics during systemic infection, at least during the initial 6 hours of the septic response.
Down-Regulation of Liver JAK2-STAT5b Signaling by the Female Plasma Pattern of Continuous Growth Hormone Stimulation

The suppression of male-specific, GH pulse-induced, liver transcription in adult female rats has been linked to the down-regulation of STAT5b activation by the female plasma pattern of near-continuous GH exposure. The mechanism underlying this down-regulation was studied in the rat liver cell line CWSV-1, where continuous GH suppressed the level of activated (tyrosine- phosphorylated) STAT5b to approximately 10–20% of the maximal GH pulse-induced STAT5b signal within 3 h. In contrast to the robust JAK2 kinase-dependent STAT5b activation loop that is established by a GH pulse, JAK2 kinase signaling to individual STAT5b molecules was found to be short lived in cells treated with GH continuously. Moreover, maintenance of the low-level STAT5b signal required ongoing protein synthesis and persisted for at least 7 days provided that GH was present in the culture continuously. Increased STAT5b DNA-binding activity was observed in cells treated with the proteasome inhibitor MG132, suggesting that at least one com...
Islam and the West in world history

Rejecting the thesis that Islam and the West are on a collision course, this article examines the nature of their relations over the centuries and concludes that, although convergence between them is not likely, grounds for mutual tolerance and co-existence have always existed and can, in future, exist. Understanding that proprietary liberalism is not the only model for democracy is a necessary first step in the assessment of the long-term prospects for stable relations between Islam and the West. In this article intellectual, social, economic and political trends are examined, the causes of tensions and conflicts between the two sides are analysed, the nature of the contemporary Islamist project is identified, and the possibilities for effective dialogue between mainstream tendencies in both the West and the Muslim world are assessed.
Shear buckling of cylindrical composite panels

Abstract A finite element analysis is carried out on the buckling of composite cylindrical panels under shear loading. Deep panels are considered, thus requiring a higher order shell theory. A comparison is made with a Galerkin technique which incorporated the Donnell shell theory.
Signal communication between molecular switches.

Efficient strategies for the communication of signals between molecules must be identified for the development of molecule-based nanoprocessors. We have demonstrated that photoinduced proton transfer can be exploited to implement intermolecular digital transmission. Light inputs operate a three-state molecular switch inducing the transfer of a proton to or from a two-state molecular switch. The signal transduction protocol of the two communicating molecular switches is equivalent to that of a sequential logic circuit incorporating three logic gates.
Abstract A79: Elucidating the role of E2F2 transcription factor in mediating human breast cancer metastasis

In human breast cancer metastasis, it is not the primary tumor that is the cause of mortality but metastasis to distant sites. Therefore, it is important to elucidate the biological mechanism that underlies the metastatic processes. To address this, we utilized bioinformatic methods in combination with biochemical assays and genetic studies. Specifically, we crossed a MMTV-Myc mouse model with various activator E2Fs mutants and found that the tumor incidence decreased in the MMTV-Myc mice crossed with E2F2 and E2F3 mutant background. Surprisingly, we also found that the loss of E2F2 sharply increased lung metastasis in MMTV-Myc mice. Here, we test whether these observations in mice translate to human breast cancer and identify the genes under the control of E2F2 transcription factor that are responsible for mediating breast cancer metastasis. To achieve these aims, we examined the probability of activation of the E2F2 transcription factors in human breast cancer. We calculated the probability of E2F2 activation and used this data to stratify the human breast cancer samples and their associated metastatic clinical data. We performed hierarchical clustering of human and mouse gene expression datasets and uncovered two clusters of human breast tumors in which E2F2 played distinctly different roles in mediating metastasis. The human breast cancer samples that clustered with our mouse gene expression data exhibited the same role for E2F2 whereby it increased time to distant metastasis. We then examined genes that were differentially regulated within this cluster and found that there was a set of genes that were associated with a difference in human metastasis survival times and with the E2F2 knockout in the mouse model. To further explore the mechanism by which E2F2 mediates human breast cancer metastasis, we have identified four genes asputative E2F2 target genes including KLK1, MYH2, PTPRD and TNNC2. We found that partial knockdown of KLK1 promotes the migratory capacity of MCF7 cell in vitro. In addition, partial knockdown of PTPRD affected cellular morphology, where they were found to grow in discreet clusters while having little effect on the migration capacity in a scratch assay. We are currently exploring the effects of MYH2 and TNNC2 ablation on these cells. Taken together, we have begun to elucidate the roles of E2F2 transcription factor in mediating breast cancer metastasis as well as establishing a mechanism by which E2F2 regulates metastasis. Citation Format: Inez Yuwanita, Danielle Barnes, Eran Andrechek. Elucidating the role of E2F2 transcription factor in mediating human breast cancer metastasis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Tumor Invasion and Metastasis; Jan 20-23, 2013; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(3 Suppl):Abstract nr A79.
Evidence supporting functional rhinoplasty or nasal valve repair: A 25-year systematic review

Objective To systematically review the existing literature supporting the efficacy of modern-day rhinoplasty techniques for treatment of nasal obstruction due to nasal valve compromise. Data Sources PubMed search of the English-language literature from January 1982 to August 2007 combined with manual review of citations within article bibliographies. Review Methods A systematic review of the literature for the targeted objective was conducted. Citations acquired from the targeted search were filtered and primary articles were reviewed to abstract information including interventions and outcome measures. Articles were then assigned level-of-evidence grades as defined by the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine. Results A total of 861 citations were generated and 291 abstracts were identified as potentially relevant articles. Of these abstracts, 82 articles merited full-text review. A total of 44 articles met inclusion criteria. The majority of the studies were classified as level 4 evidence, and only two studies met level 2b criteria. There was considerable variation in the quality of the studies within the level 4 category. All articles generally supported the effectiveness of functional rhinoplasty techniques for treatment of nasal obstruction. Conclusions There is substantial level 4 evidence to support the efficacy of modern-day rhinoplasty techniques for treatment of nasal obstruction due to nasal valve collapse. More recent studies have incorporated validated patient-reported outcome measures, with more rigorous statistical analysis. Future study design improvements include the use of comparison cohorts and incorporating standardized objective outcome measures.
Multisystemic therapy for child non-externalizing psychological and health problems: a preliminary review.

Multisystemic therapy (MST) is effective for decreasing or preventing delinquency and other externalizing behaviors and increasing prosocial or adaptive behaviors. The purpose of this project was to review the literature examining the efficacy of MST for other child psychological and health problems reflecting non-externalizing behaviors, specifically difficulties related to child maltreatment, serious psychiatric illness [Serious psychiatric illness was defined throughout the current review paper as the “presence of symptoms of suicidal ideation, homicidal ideation, psychosis, or threat of harm to self or others due to mental illness severe enough to warrant psychiatric hospitalization based on the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (Level of care placement criteria for psychiatric illness. American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Washington, DC, 1996) level of care placement criteria for psychiatric illness” (Henggeler et al. in J Am Acad Child Psy 38:1331–1345, p. 1332, 1999b). Additionally, youth with “serious emotional disturbance (SED)” defined as internalizing and/or externalizing problems severe enough to qualify for mental health services in public school who were “currently in or at imminent risk of a costly out-of-home placement” (Rowland et al. in J Emot Behav Disord 13:13–23, pp. 13–14, 2005) were also included in the serious psychiatric illness category.], and health problems (i.e., obesity and treatment adherence for diabetes). PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO databases; Clinicaltrials.gov; DARE; Web of Knowledge; and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched; and MST developers were queried to ensure identification of all relevant articles. Of 242 studies identified, 18 met inclusion criteria for review. These were combined in a narrative synthesis and critiqued in the context of review questions. Study quality ratings were all above mean scores reported in prior reviews. Mixed support was found for the efficacy of MST versus other treatments. In many cases, treatment effects for MST or comparison groups were not sustained over time. MST was efficacious for youth with diverse backgrounds. No studies discussed efficacy of MST provided in different treatment settings. Four studies found MST more cost-effective than a comparison treatment, leading to fewer out-of-home placements for youth with serious psychiatric illness or lower treatment costs for youth with poorly controlled diabetes.
Rapid autocorrection using prescan navigator echoes.

Autocorrection is an adaptive motion correction algorithm that does not require an in vivo measurement of the motion record. A novel method for ensuring convergence of this algorithm when motion is severe is presented. A limited number of navigator echoes are acquired before the imaging sequence to obtain a “snapshot” of the object. Phase differences between the navigator and image k-space data are used as an estimate of motion-induced phase shifts in the image, followed by autocorrection. In phantom data a six-fold reduction in computation time compared to autocorrection alone was realized. These results indicate that this navigator/autocorrection combination may be useful for reducing motion artifacts and computation time for MR exams when motion along the image phase encoding axis is severe. Magn Reson Med 43:583–588, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Approaching death: a phenomenologic study of five older adults with advanced cancer.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To explore the lived experience and the associated meaning of approaching death among older adults with advanced cancer. RESEARCH APPROACH A phenomenologic inquiry. SETTING Urban cancer center. PARTICIPANTS 5 individuals diagnosed with advanced cancer who were 65 years or older. METHODOLOGIC APPROACH A series of semistructured interviews were tape-recorded, transcribed verbatim, analyzed, and developed into narrative summations. FINDINGS The study elucidated the experience of approaching death from advanced cancer. The insightful and compelling narratives of five individuals' experiences suggest that genuine caring, compassionate honesty from trusted healthcare professionals, cautious hopefulness maintained by patients and their loved ones, unquestioned faith, an involvement in desired life activities, and positive interactions within the healthcare system and in personal relationships were meaningful to participants. CONCLUSIONS Knowledge developed from dying patients allows for an awareness that moves beyond assumption toward an in-depth understanding that can enable healthcare professionals to design meaningful care for these individuals. INTERPRETATION Knowledge gained directly from patients' experiences of what is meaningful and helpful as death approaches can guide effective interventions to improve palliative care practices and enhance overall quality of life while living with an incurable illness. Nurses have the ability to contribute meaningfully to patients facing death by relating to them with genuine care that acknowledges their humanity, conveying information with a compassionate honesty that recognizes the impact it will hold for patients and their loved ones, supporting patients' faith and cautious hopes, assisting patients in enjoying an active involvement in life within their limitations, and providing a safe and trusting environment in which to receive care.
Helium-atom-scattering study of multiphonon processes on LiF(001) with temperature variation for specular and off-specular angles.

High-resolution inelastic He-atom-scattering experiments, employing a time-of-flight energy resolution technique, have been carried out on LiF(001){l_angle}100{r_angle} for a wide range of temperatures and for several different incident beam angles. A quantum-mechanical multiphonon theory is used to explain the observed inelastic background. Numerical calculations based on the theory produce good agreement with experiment.
On the Spectrum of Cosine Functions

Abstract In this paper we give characterizations of the resolvent set of the generatorAof a strongly continuous cosine functionC(t) in terms of certain solution properties of the differential equationu″(t) = Au(t) + f(t).
Thermally induced micro-domain formation in fatty acid Langmuir–Blodgett films observed by attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy

We have utilized attenuated total reflectance infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy to study the temperature dependence of conformational transitions and micro-domain structure in single- and binary-component Langmuir � /Blodgett (LB) films. The single-component films such as lignoceric (C24), stearic (C18), and perdeuterated stearic (C18-d35) acids, as well as binary-component films of 4:1 H:D C24:C18-d35 and 4:1 H:D C18:C18-d35 were studied. For C24:C18-d35 binary films, changes in the peak wavenumber of the naCH2 band after heating above the main chain melting temperature (Tm) reflect a thermally induced de-mixing and phase separation of the C24 component from C18-d35. For C18:C18-d35 LB film, heating above Tm shows that C18 and C18-d35 components do not phase segregate and retain a degree of conformational flexibility, even at low temperatures. The carbonyl C� /O stretching region between 1800 and 1600 cm � 1 showed that each LB film contained a mixture of cis � /trans ring dimer conformations at all temperatures below Tm. Above Tm, the LB films converted to the higher energy cis isomer, while upon further cooling the more stable trans isomer predominated. The shorter chain length C18:C18-d35 LB film more easily crystallized the trans ring dimer after heating above Tm. The band splitting of the d CH2 vibration at � /1470 cm � 1 was used to monitor micro-domain
Relating environmental modeling to policy issues and decisions

Abstract This paper describes a linear program-based computer model which has been developed to identify the most effective spending patterns for environmental cleanup based on public preferences and spending limitations. The inputs to the model include the costs of removing each residual studied from its various sources. The objective function is the total “value of removal”. The factor added for each residual consists of a value for the residual multiplied by the quantity or fraction removed. Results of the analysis relate to and support current and projected policy decisions by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for air and water programs. In addition, the results of the analysis suggest that EPA undertake a redirection of the Nation's resources among residual control programs.
Erbin suppresses the MAP kinase pathway

We present evidence here that Erbin is a negative regulator of the Ras-Raf-Erk signaling pathway. Expression of Erbin decreases transcription of the AChR e-subunit gene, an event that is mediated by Erk activation. Although it interacts with the ErbB2 C terminus through the PDZ domain, Erbin has no effect on ErbB2 tyrosine phosphorylation or binding to the adaptor proteins Shc and Grb2. In contrast, expression of Erbin greatly impairs activation of Erk, but not Akt, by ligands that activate receptor tyrosine kinases. Moreover, Erbin inhibits the Erk activation by active Ras, while it fails to do so in the presence of active Raf-1. Erbin associates with active Ras, but not inactive Ras nor Raf. Consistently, Erbin interferes with the interaction between Ras and Raf both in vivo and in vitro. Finally, overexpression of Erbin leads to inhibition of NGF-induced neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells, whereas down-regulation of endogenous Erbin by specific siRNA exhibits an opposite effect. Collectively, our study has identified Erbin as a novel suppressor of the Ras signaling by disrupting the Ras-Raf interaction.
Stability of T-cell lineages in autoimmune diseases.

Life is about change and instability – so should we be surprised that our favorite T-cell lineages are not as stable as we desperately hoped they would be? Probably not, and as much as this complicates our scientific lives, we need to understand this and learn to interpret our data accordingly, no matter how little we like it. But let’s start at the beginning.
Content-based tools for editing audio stories

Audio stories are an engaging form of communication that combine speech and music into compelling narratives. Existing audio editing tools force story producers to manipulate speech and music tracks via tedious, low-level waveform editing. In contrast, we present a set of tools that analyze the audio content of the speech and music and thereby allow producers to work at much higher level. Our tools address several challenges in creating audio stories, including (1) navigating and editing speech, (2) selecting appropriate music for the score, and (3) editing the music to complement the speech. Key features include a transcript-based speech editing tool that automatically propagates edits in the transcript text to the corresponding speech track; a music browser that supports searching based on emotion, tempo, key, or timbral similarity to other songs; and music retargeting tools that make it easy to combine sections of music with the speech. We have used our tools to create audio stories from a variety of raw speech sources, including scripted narratives, interviews and political speeches. Informal feedback from first-time users suggests that our tools are easy to learn and greatly facilitate the process of editing raw footage into a final story.
Patient evaluation of the conventional ileostomy

A survey of 322 ileostomates was undertaken to assess the impact of an ileostomy and determine problems that are encountered by patients. Most patients (72 percent) felt they led normal lives with the ileostomy and encountered fewer restrictions in life-style than with their disease. However, only 35 percent of patients felt their ileostomies functioned perfectly. Skin irritation (49 percent), offensive noise and odor (42 percent), detection of the appliance (17 percent), and difficulty in handling the appliance (29 percent) were some of the problems encountered. Psychologic problems were related to poor body image (22 percent) and sterility or impotence (12 percent). All of these problems, however, were less than had been anticipated. Various sources of information were available to the ileostomate. However, about 50 percent of patients felt they received inadeoquate preoperative information or counseling.
Martian crustal dichotomy and Tharsis formation by partial melting coupled to early plume migration

[1] A recently proposed model links the formation and early evolution of the Tharsis volcanic province on Mars to the preexisting hemispheric dichotomy (Zhong, 2009). A key aspect of this model is the assumption of a deep lithospheric root below the thicker crust of the southern highlands. We implemented a parameterization of partial melting into the 3-D spherical shell mantle convection code CitcomS in order to investigate whether the required lithospheric thickness variation can be generated self-consistently by partial melting when stiffening of the melt residue due to devolatilization is considered. The rate of melt production strongly depends on the mantle temperature, and additional strong coupling between the flow and partial melting is introduced through the stiffening effect on the melt residue. We find that it is possible to generate a lithospheric keel by partial melting above a single upwelling that excites a relative rotation between the one-plate lithosphere and the mantle below while producing the amount of melt distributed in a broad region constrained to one hemisphere that is necessary to form the crustal dichotomy. This scenario thus offers an internal mechanism for the Martian dichotomy formation and validates the hypothesis of Zhong (2009).
Paramagnetic-to-antiferromagnetic phase transformation in sputter-deposited Ni-Mn thin films

Sputter-deposited, equiatomic Ni-Mn thin films were observed to possess a metastable, nanocrystalline, chemically disordered, fcc (Al) structure. Grain growth and a phase change to a chemically ordered, antiferromagnetic L1 0 structure were identified by x-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) experiments revealed exothermic signals that correspond to the grain growth and phase transformation reactions. The enthalpy of transformation for the A1 to L1 0 phase change was calculated as -3.5 kJ/mol, which agrees with thermodynamic modeling. An activation energy of 139 kJ/mol was calculated for the phase transformation by the Kissinger method.
Pharmacological stress agents for evaluation of ischemic heart disease

Ischemic heart disease is the leading cause of death in the developed countries for those older than 65 years of age. In patients suspected to have coronary artery disease a stress test should be performed to identify the vulnerability of the myocardium to ischemia. As a rule of thumb, the evaluation of coronary artery disease is best done by exercise stress test. In patients who are not able to exercise adequately, pharmacological stress agents are used. The commonly used agents are the coronary vasodilators, adenosine and dipyridamole and the catecholamines, dobutamine and arbutamine. These agents are combined with imaging techniques to increase the sensitivity and specificity of the test. These agents have been widely used and have an excellent safety profile. Another advantage in using pharmacological stress agents is that they do not affect the image quality, especially with echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging. Ongoing developments hold promise for safer and more reliable pharmacological stress agents in the future.
Autonomy: The importance of a scientific theory in education reform

Abstract The six national goals established by the National Governors' Association for education reform in the 1990s were conceived by people who had the power to decide what outcomes they wanted based on their own values and priorities. Although it is impossible to avoid questions of values, it is necessary in defining goals for education to consider scientific, explanatory theories about how human beings acquire knowledge and moral values. Jean Piaget's conceptualization of autonomy, in his unusual sense of the term, provides an overall aim for the development of individuals as well as of society, both in the intellectual and the moral realms. Autonomy as the aim of education is based on constructivism, a scientific theory, and would obviate the outdated conceptualization and contradictions among the six national goals.
Benzodiazepine receptor increase following repeated pentylenetetrazole injections.

Daily injections of a subconvulsant dose of pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) caused a mild ‘kindling’ response and a significant increase in forebrain benzodiazepine receptor Bmax. No changes in affinity for [3H]diazepam or PTZ in vitro were observed. Mice given equal numbers of injections on a 3/week schedule developed significant ‘kindling’, increased forebrain receptor Bmax and decreased PTZ affinity. Bmax changes were uncorrelated with ‘kindling’ response and may result from PTZ acting directly as an antagonist at benzodiazepine receptors.
Directed Artificial Bat Algorithm (DABA) - A new bio-inspired algorithm

Bio-inspired artificial algorithms topic is a relatively modern part of metaheuristic track in artificial intelligence field. All these algorithms are inspired from natural biological animals' behaviors like ants, bees, and others. The importance of these algorithms is increased by time due to the complex scientific applications, and other optimization problems demand. In this paper, we introduce a new innovative algorithm. It is titled as “Directed Artificial Bat Algorithm” (DABA) which is inspired from bats' echo system and how they use it in prey finding. Previous initial contributions related to bat behaviors are mentioned in this paper, but they are truly abstract trials. That is why the comparisons are done versus artificial bee colony algorithm due to its maturity. According to the comparisons, proposed DABA achieves better results than ABC with efficiency enhancements between 5% and 10%.
Basic considerations of four-wave mixing and dynamic gratings

The basic principles of four-wave mixing are reviewed. Emphasis is on the coupling between light waves and material excitational waves. Only cases where material excitations are excited by optical mixing of input waves are considered. The material excitations appear in the form of a dynamic grating that would coherently scatter the incoming radiation. Probing of the dynamic grating allows the deduction of information about the material excitations.
Wilhelmine nature: natural lifestyle and practical politics in the German Life-reform movement (1890–1914)

The Wilhelmine era saw the proliferation of popular health and hygiene reform movements that called on Germans to ‘get back to nature’ (kehrt zur Natur zuruck), to live the ‘natural lifestyle’ (nat...
Current Design and Performance of Cold Spray Nozzles: Experimental and Numerical Observations on Deposition Efficiency and Particle Velocity

AbstractCoating technologies play a critical role in the worldwide manufacturing industry. The ability to form layers of specific materials onto engineering components to enhance mechanical and physical properties has numerous applications, ranging from corrosion protection, repair, hardfacing, down to purely aesthetic purposes. Cold spray is an innovative technology, which allows for the manufacturing of coatings in a solid state manner; hence, feedstock properties can be fully preserved. Its working principles relies upon the acceleration of powders up to supersonic velocities, and the subsequent generation of high energy impacts on a substrate which triggers the coating formation. This paper presents deposition efficiency (DE) results from four different supersonic nozzles when using titanium as feedstock material. DE is the most critical parameter to assess the performance of cold spray nozzles. A theoretical analysis through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is carried out so to compare numerical re...
Introducing assistive technology to engineering students

This paper describes the experience of the Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering at the University of Toledo and the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Medical College of Ohio during the past six years in introducing engineering students to Assistive Technology. This is done during the conduct of a senior design project where students develop custom designed devices for physically disabled individuals within the Toledo community. The goal of these projects is to assist disabled individuals to enjoy life and to realize their maximum potential. These projects significantly enhance the education of student engineers through the experience of designing and building devices to meet a real need with feedback on how well the device satisfies that need.
THE OPERATOR SHIFT SPACE

We construct and examine an operator space X, isometric to `2, such that every completely bounded map from its subspace Y into X is a compact perturbation of a linear combination of multiples of a shift of given multiplicity, and their adjoints. Moreover, every completely bounded map on X is a HilbertSchmidt perturbation of such a linear combination.
Optic neuritis associated with adalimumab in the treatment of uveitis.

Background: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors such as adalimumab are increasingly used in the treatment of ocular inflammatory disease refractory to standard therapies. There is evidence that TNF inhibitors are associated with demyelinating neurologic events.Objective: The authors report a case of optic neuritis and multiple sclerosis developing in association with the use of adalimumab for the treatment of bilateral chronic granulomatous iridocyclitis and multifocal choroiditis. They also review the available literature on cases of optic neuritis occurring in the setting of TNF inhibition.Results: The authors identified 21 cases of optic neuritis associated with TNF inhibition; 36% of cases with available MRI results had evidence of other demyelinating lesions in the CNS.Conclusions: The strong association between TNF inhibitors and CNS demyelination may represent an adverse effect of these drugs. Ophthalmologists should recognize the relationship between TNF inhibitors and demyelinating disease, as...