cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nonlinear Acoustic Waves

When told that a system’s response is quite large, a knowledgeable individual will anticipate that nonlinear effects are important. This certainly is the case in acoustics, as exemplified by an explosion, wherein peak pressures might be well above atmospheric. However, even if the pressure is not large, there is another parameter whose largeness might require consideration of nonlinear effects.
Sustainable Process Design Approach for On-Purpose Propylene Production and Intensification

The advent of shale gas and the increasing spread between the supply and demand curves for propylene present an opportunity for adopting alternative pathways to produce propylene. This study aims t...
Mullā Ṣadrā’s Legacy and Concluding Remarks

Mullā Ṣadrā’s synthetic discourse on knowledge and authority can be interpreted as a discursive springboard for the establishment of the modern discourse of Shīʿī political authority, prominently the guardianship of the jurist (wilāya al-faqīh) in contemporary Iran. The author briefly reviews the discursive legacy of Mullā Ṣadrā in the formation and development of the discourse on the absolute religio-political authority of top jurists. The chapter follows the thread of his narrative of absolute epistemic authority as it relates to the imam and his representatives. The focus will be on the incorporation of philosophical and Sufi discourses into several influential texts from early modern and modern times, a process which culminated in the establishment of the theory of wilāya al-faqih as the dominant religio-political discourse during and after the Islamic Revolution of Iran.
Planning for electric vehicle needs by coupling charging profiles with urban mobility

The rising adoption of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) leads to the temporal alignment of their electricity and mobility demands. However, mobility demand has not yet been considered in electricity planning and management. Here, we present a method to estimate individual mobility of PEV drivers at fine temporal and spatial resolution, by integrating three unique datasets of mobile phone activity of 1.39 million Bay Area residents, census data and the PEV drivers survey data. Through coupling the uncovered patterns of PEV mobility with the charging activity of PEVs in 580,000 session profiles obtained in the same region, we recommend changes in PEV charging times of commuters at their work stations and shave the pronounced peak in power demand. Informed by the tariff of electricity, we calculate the monetary gains to incentivize the adoption of the recommendations. These results open avenues for planning for the future of coupled transportation and electricity needs using personalized data. Planning for transportation and electricity needs is important to balance the power demand. Here, the authors analyse large datasets on urban mobility and energy consumption of electric vehicles and provide a recommendation scheme for the drivers to alleviate the peak load on the power grid.
Quantification of Interfacial pH Variation at Molecular Length Scales Using a Concurrent Non‐Faradaic Reaction

We quantified changes in interfacial pH local to the electrochemical double layer during electrocatalysis by using a concurrent non-faradaic probe reaction. In the absence of electrocatalysis, nanostructured Pt/C surfaces mediate the reaction of H2 with cis-2-butene-1,4-diol to form a mixture of 1,4-butanediol and n-butanol with selectivity that is linearly dependent on the bulk solution pH value. We show that kinetic branching occurs from a common surface-bound intermediate, ensuring that this probe reaction is uniquely sensitive to the interfacial pH value within molecular length scales of the surface. We used the pH-dependent selectivity of this reaction to track changes in interfacial pH during concurrent hydrogen oxidation electrocatalysis and found that the local pH value can vary dramatically (>3 units) relative to the bulk value even at modest current densities in well-buffered electrolytes. This study highlights the key role of interfacial pH variation in modulating inner-sphere electrocatalysis.
Cyberinfrastructure for Digital Libraries and Archives: Integrating Data Management, Analysis, and Publication

Increasingly, digital libraries and archives need to and are using cyberinfrastructure and machine learning to meet curation, data management, and researchers needs. This workshop focuses on facilitating adoption and integration between these spaces. It brings together researchers and practitioners to share visions, questions, latest advances in methodology, application experiences, and best practices.
SOME OBSERVATIONS CONCERNING BLOOD MORPHINE CONCENTRATIONS IN NARCOTIC ADDICTS.

Progress in the development of analytical methods has enabled the forensic toxicologist to detect and quantitate morphine in blood from the deceased narcotic addict. Techniques such as gas chromatography [1,2], radioimmunoassay [3–5], and spectrophotofluorometry [6,7] are adequate in terms of sensitivity and specificity. A comparison of three methods has also appeared [8].
Neonatal Bacterial Infections

The neonate is uniquely susceptible to bacterial infections, which can range from a subtle to a flagrant presentation. Early identification and treatment of bacterial infection in the newborn can prevent major complications and often depend on consideration of risk factors—such as chorioamnionitis and prolonged rupture of the membranes—in combination with careful, repeated physical examinations.
Bisphenol A and 17α-ethinylestradiol-induced transgenerational differences in expression of osmoregulatory genes in the gill of medaka (Oryzias latipes).

Abstract Embryonic bisphenol A (BPA) and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) exposure can have far reaching health effects in fish, including adult onset transgenerational reproductive abnormalities, anxiety, and cardiac disorders. It is unknown whether these two environmental estrogens can induce transgenerational abnormalities in the gill. The present study examined transgenerational effects of BPA or EE2 exposure on genes that are critical for osmoregulation in fish. Medaka (Oryzias latipes) embryos were exposed to either BPA (100 μg/L) or EE2 (0.05 μg/L) for the first 7 days of embryonic development and never thereafter for the remainder of that generation (F0) and in subsequent generations of this study (F1, F2, and F3). Expression of osmoregulatory genes (NKAα1a, NKAα1b, NKAα1c, NKAα3a, NKAα3b, NKCC1a, and CFTR) were examined in gills of the first-generation (F0) adults which were directly exposed as embryo and in the fourth-generation adults (F3), which were never exposed to either of these environmental estrogens. Significant alterations in expression of osmoregulatory genes were observed in both F0 and F3 generations. Within the F0 generation, a sex-specific expression pattern was observed with a downregulation of osmoregulatory genes in males and an upregulation of osmoregulatory genes in females. At the F3 generation, this pattern reversed with the majority of the osmoregulatory genes upregulated in males and downregulated in females, suggesting that exposure to BPA and EE2 during embryonic development induced transgenerational impairment in molecular events associated with osmoregulatory functions in subsequent generations. These adverse outcomes may have impacts on physiological functions related to osmoregulation of fish inhabiting contaminated aquatic environments.
The Future of Peer Support in Digital Psychiatry: Promise, Progress, and Opportunities.

This selective review highlights promising findings and future opportunities relevant to digital peer support services. This review considered literature published in peer-reviewed scholarly journals within the past 36 months. Digital peer support spans multiple technology modalities: peer-delivered and smartphone-supported interventions, peer-supported asynchronous technology, artificial peer support, informal peer-to-peer support via social media, video games, and virtual worlds. Digital peer support is an emerging area of research that shows promise in improving mental health symptoms, medical and psychiatric self-management skill development, social functioning, hope, and empowerment. As the science of peer support in digital psychiatry advances, peer support specialists will likely have an increasingly important role in the mental health workforce—from providing evidence-based, fidelity-adherent interventions to expanding their reach to vulnerable populations and communities.
Crime frames and gender differences in the activation of crime concern and crime responses

Abstract Prior work has reported mixed evidence for the gender gap in crime concern and crime responses, yet very few studies have considered the importance of the framing of a crime in explaining this gap. Crime frames are important because they can raise deep levels of concern that activate a criminal justice system response to the crime. This study draws on the literature on problem framing to examine gender differences in crime concern and crime responses in relation to human trafficking. Human trafficking is a type of crime that has raised public alarm in the U.S and is being framed by the government and the media as a crime to which women are at increased risk. Using data from a national probability sample of approximately 2000 Americans, the findings show that beliefs about the causes of human trafficking, specifically gender discrimination and transnational crime, are associated with gender differences in concern and activation of the criminal justice system. These findings can guide future research on gender differences in crime concern and crime responses and call for research and policies that are sensitive to gendered effects of framing on public opinion about crime and criminal justice issues.
ON INTERVAL AND INSTANT AVAILABILITY OF THE SYSTEM

This article considers the interval availability and instant availability of the k-system. A certain relationship between the two types of availability is established. Some lower and upper bounds to interval availability are derived. It also provides a couple of conditions under which the availability of two systems can be compared. Several examples are given to show the complexity of comparisons of availability.
Efficient learning modules for embedded system

In this paper, we propose an efficient three-module pedagogical system for embedded systems learning, which will provide students effective ways of learning embedded systems through basic concepts,...
4.09 – Taste Receptors

Mammalian sweet and bitter taste transduction has remained elusive for many years. Recent cloning studies now unambiguously demonstrated that sweet and bitter stimuli are transduced by G protein-coupled receptors encoded by genes of the TAS1R and TAS2R family, respectively, that are also referred to as T1Rs and T2Rs. In mammals, sweet taste involves receptor dimers formed of only two TAS1R members, whereas bitter taste depends on ∼30 TAS2Rs. This article discusses the current knowledge about the structural and functional properties of the sweet and bitter taste receptors and the role that these receptors play in taste physiology.
Transforming sustainability science for practice: a social–ecological systems framework for training sustainability professionals

New applied approaches are needed to address urgent, global environmental issues. Practitioners, scholars, and policy makers alike call for increased integration of natural and social sciences to develop new frameworks for better addressing the range of contemporary environmental issues. From a theoretical perspective, social–ecological systems (SES) offers a novel approach for enhancing sustainability science and for improving the practice of environmental management. To translate SES theory into action, education and training programs are needed that focus on the application of SES approaches across the education and professional spectrum, from K-12 to graduate training to agency management. We developed a training framework that serves sustainability practitioners by building their capacity to apply SES approaches to real world problems and decision-making. The framework uses a SES-based environmental management approach based on a systemic worldview, transdisciplinary thinking, co-development of knowledge, stakeholder engagement, and adaptive governance. The social–ecological systems training and education program (SESTEP or “see-step”) framework was designed to provide SES training opportunities as a response to the need expressed by senior directors of US federal land management agencies. The core of the framework is a 12-step SES heuristic that provides a diagnostic tool for practitioners as they work through a SES case-study issue or problem. The curriculum provides adaptable and tailored professional development training for sustainability professionals to enhance sustainability science in practice. The evaluation of the inaugural course indicates achievement of positive course learning outcomes consistent with advancing sustainability science in practice.
Abstract 1085: Interrogating the RAS interactome identifies EFR3A as a novel enhancer of RAS oncogenesis

Activating mutations in one of the three RAS genes (HRAS, NRAS, and KRAS) are detected in as much as a third of all human cancers. As oncogenic RAS mediates it tumorigenic signaling through protein-protein interactions primarily at the plasma membrane, we sought to document the protein networks engaged by each RAS isoform to identify new vulnerabilities for future therapeutic development. To this end, we determined interactomes of oncogenic HRAS, NRAS, and KRAS by BirA-mediated proximity labeling. This analysis identified roughly ** proteins shared among multiple interactomes, as well as a smaller subset unique to a single RAS oncoprotein. To identify those interactome components promoting RAS oncogenesis, we created and screened sgRNA library targeting the interactomes for genes modifying oncogenic HRAS-, NRAS-, or KRAS-mediated transformation. This analysis identified the protein EFR3A as not only a common component of all three RAS interactomes, but when inactivated, uniformly reduced the growth of cells transformed by any of the three RAS isoforms. EFR3A recruits a complex containing the druggable phosphatidylinositol (Ptdlns) 4 kinase alpha (PI4KA) to the plasma membrane to generate the Ptdlns species PI4P. We show that EFR3A sgRNA reduced multiple RAS effector signaling pathways, suggesting that EFR3A acts at the level of the oncoprotein itself. As lipids play a critical role in the membrane localization of RAS, we tested and found that EFR3A sgRNA reduced not only the occupancy of RAS at the plasma membrane, but also the nanoclustering necessary for signaling. Furthermore, the loss of oncogenic RAS signaling induced by EFR3A sgRNA was rescued by targeting PI4K to the plasma membrane. Taken together, these data support a model whereby EFR3A recruits PI4K to oncogenic RAS to promote plasma membrane localization and nonclustering, and in turn, signaling and transformation. To investigate the therapeutic potential of this new RAS enhancer, we show that EFR3A sgRNA reduced oncogenic KRAS signaling and transformed growth in a panel of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cell lines. Encouraged by these results we are exploring whether genetically inactivating the kinase activity of PI4KA inhibits oncogenic signaling and transformation in PDAC cell lines. If true, pharmacologically targeting PI4K may hold promise as a way to enhance the anti-neoplastic activity of drugs targeting oncogenic RAS or its effectors. Citation Format: Hema Adhikari, Walaa Kattan, John F. Hancock, Christopher M. Counter. Interrogating the RAS interactome identifies EFR3A as a novel enhancer of RAS oncogenesis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 1085.
Air Breathing in an Exceptionally Preserved 340-Million-Year-Old Sea Scorpion

Arachnids are the second most successful terrestrial animal group after insects [1] and were one of the first arthropod clades to successfully invade land [2]. Fossil evidence for this transition is limited, with the majority of arachnid clades first appearing in the terrestrial fossil record. Furthermore, molecular clock dating has suggested a Cambrian-Ordovician terrestrialization event for arachnids [3], some 60 Ma before their first fossils in the Silurian, although these estimates assume that arachnids evolved from a fully aquatic ancestor. Eurypterids, the sister clade to terrestrial arachnids [4-6], are known to have undergone major macroecological shifts in transitioning from marine to freshwater environments during the Devonian [7, 8]. Discoveries of apparently subaerial eurypterid trackways [9, 10] have led to the suggestion that eurypterids were even able to venture on land and possibly breathe air [11]. However, modern horseshoe crabs undertake amphibious excursions onto land to reproduce [12], rendering trace fossil evidence alone inconclusive. Here, we present details of the respiratory organs of Adelophthalmus pyrrhae sp. nov. from the Carboniferous of Montagne Noire, France [13], revealed through micro computed tomography (μ-CT) imaging. Pillar-like trabeculae on the dorsal surface of each gill lamella indicate eurypterids were capable of subaerial breathing, suggesting that book gills are the direct precursors to book lungs while vascular ancillary respiratory structures known as Kiemenplatten represent novel air-breathing structures. The discovery of air-breathing structures in eurypterids indicates that characters permitting terrestrialization accrued in the arachnid stem lineage and suggests the Cambrian-Ordovician ancestor of arachnids would also have been semi-terrestrial.
What’s Fair in Child Welfare? Parent Knowledge, Attitudes, and Experiences:

Parents play a critical role in the progression and outcomes of juvenile dependency (child welfare court) cases. Yet, very little is known about these parents' knowledge, attitudes, and experiences. We examined legal understanding and attitudes among 201 parents involved in ongoing dependency cases in California and Florida via semi-structured, in-person interviews. We expected parents' understanding to be low and attitudes to be negative, particularly among parents of color and low SES parents. We expected greater dependency understanding to be related to more positive justice attitudes, and procedural and distributive justice attitudes to be indistinguishable in this population. Findings partially confirmed expectations. Parents' understanding of the system was low, especially among parents of color and less educated parents. Parents felt less than satisfied about the fairness of procedures and decisions. However, procedural and distributive justice attitudes were distinguishable. Finally, and unexpectedly, parents' knowledge and attitudes were negatively related. The consistently low levels of knowledge across CA and FL suggest the critical need to increase parental knowledge. It is also important to promote fair court procedures and decision-making to improve parents' attitudes about procedural and distributive justice, which were found to be distinct and important factors among parents navigating juvenile dependency cases.
Anytime Prediction as a Model of Human Reaction Time.

Neural networks today often recognize objects as well as people do, and thus might serve as models of the human recognition process. However, most such networks provide their answer after a fixed computational effort, whereas human reaction time varies, e.g. from 0.2 to 10 s, depending on the properties of stimulus and task. To model the effect of difficulty on human reaction time, we considered a classification network that uses early-exit classifiers to make anytime predictions. Comparing human and MSDNet accuracy in classifying CIFAR-10 images in added Gaussian noise, we find that the network equivalent input noise SD is 15 times higher than human, and that human efficiency is only 0.6\% that of the network. When appropriate amounts of noise are present to bring the two observers (human and network) into the same accuracy range, they show very similar dependence on duration or FLOPS, i.e. very similar speed-accuracy tradeoff. We conclude that Anytime classification (i.e. early exits) is a promising model for human reaction time in recognition tasks.
Association between aspirin use and cardiovascular outcomes in ALLHAT participants with and without chronic kidney disease: A post hoc analysis.

It is unclear whether aspirin is beneficial for prevention of CVD in patients with CKD. We performed a secondary analysis of the ALLHAT trial to assess the effect of baseline aspirin use on nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI) or fatal coronary heart disease (CHD), all-cause mortality, and stroke. Baseline characteristics of aspirin users and nonusers were used to generate propensity-matched cohorts. Using conditional Cox proportional hazard regression models, we examined the effect of aspirin on the outcomes in the cohort at large and across 3 levels of kidney function (eGFR ≥90, 60-89, and <60). 11 250 ALLHAT participants reported using aspirin at baseline. The propensity-matched dataset included 6894 nonusers matched with replacement to achieve a balanced analysis population (n = 22 500). Risk of fatal CHD or nonfatal MI (HR = 0.94, 95% CI 0.86-1.02) and stroke (HR = 1.01, 95% CI 0.89-1.15) was not significantly different between groups. Aspirin users were at significantly lower risk of all-cause mortality compared to nonusers (HR = 0.82, 95% CI 0.76-0.88). Aspirin use was not associated with incidence of fatal CAD or nonfatal MI in patients with CVD (HR = 0.93, CI 0.84-1.04) or without CVD at baseline (HR = 1.04, CI 0.82-1.32). Results were consistent across strata of GFR (interaction p value NS). In hypertensive patients at high cardiovascular risk, aspirin use is not associated with risk of nonfatal MI, fatal CHD, or stroke; however, aspirin use is associated with lower risk of all-cause mortality. These results are consistent across baseline eGFR.
Resident immune cells of the avascular lens: Mediators of the injury and fibrotic response of the lens

Tissues typically harbor subpopulations of resident immune cells that function as rapid responders to injury and whose activation leads to induction of an adaptive immune response, playing important roles in repair and protection. Since the lens is an avascular tissue, it was presumed that it was absent of resident immune cells. Our studies now show that resident immune cells are a shared feature of the human, mouse, and chicken lens epithelium. These resident immune cells function as immediate responders to injury and rapidly populate the wound edge following mock cataract surgery to function as leader cells. Many of these resident immune cells also express MHCII providing them with antigen presenting ability to engage an adaptive immune response. We provide evidence that during development immune cells migrate on the ciliary zonules and localize among the equatorial epithelial cells of the lens adjacent to where the ciliary zonules associate with the lens capsule. These findings suggest that the vasculature-rich ciliary body is a source of lens resident immune cells. We identified a major role for these cells as rapid responders to wounding, quickly populating each wound were they can function as leaders of lens tissue repair. Our findings also show that lens resident immune cells are progenitors of myofibroblasts, which characteristically appear in response to lens cataract surgery injury, and therefore, are likely agents of lens pathologies to impair vision like fibrosis.
Circadian Sleep Disorders

Circadian rhythm sleep–wake disorders (CRSWDs) are not uncommonly encountered in the pediatric sleep medicine setting, and the diagnostic and treatment concepts related to CRSWDs can be important to consider even in children without these disorders who present with complaints of insomnia and/or hypersomnia.
COVID-19 Peripheral Neuropathy: A Report of Three Cases

This study includes three patients with various peripheral neuropathies after contracting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, treated both conservatively and surgically. While cases of neurological complications have been described, neuropathy associated with COVID-19 is under-reported in orthopaedic literature. These patients presented with ulnar neuropathy, critical care polyneuropathy (CCP) with anterior interosseous nerve (AIN) neuropathy, and lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN) neuropathy. COVID-19 infection may be associated with peripheral neuropathy in addition to various neurological sequelae. Orthopaedic surgeons should screen patients for recent infections and evaluate the severity of the illness to assess for risk of neurological sequelae of COVID-19 infection.
CLAY: a malleable-cell multi-cell transistor matrix approach for CMOS LAYout synthesis

CLAY takes a netlist partitioned down to the transistor level, a technology file with an arbitrary number of metal layers, and constraints on aspect and I/O signal positions to produce mask geometries. CLAY attempts to capture, in software, layout knowledge at the transistor level (allowing variable-shaped cells including heights) and at the floorplan level for VLSI sized examples. CLAY compares well with standard cell and manual approaches. >
Robust Segmentation by Cutting across a Stack of Gamma Transformed Images

Medical image segmentation appears to be governed by the global intensity level and should be robust to local intensity fluctuation. We develop an efficient spectral graph method which seeks the best segmentation on a stack of gamma transformed versions of the original image. Each gamma image produces two types of grouping cues operating at different ranges: Short-range attraction pulls pixels towards region centers, while long-range repulsion pushes pixels away from region boundaries. With rough pixel correspondence between gamma images, we obtain an aligned cue stack for the original image. Our experimental results demonstrate that cutting across the entire gamma stack delivers more accurate segmentations than commonly used watershed algorithms.
Fast and accurate vision-based pattern detection and identification

Fast pattern detection and identification is fundamental problem for many applications of real-time vision systems. The desirable characteristics for a solution are that it requires little computation, localizes a pattern robustly and with high accuracy, and can identify a large number of unique pattern identifiers so that many of these markers can be tracked within a field a view. We will present a system that can accurately track a broad class of patterns both accurately and quickly, when used with a suitable low level vision system that can return calibrated coordinates of regions in an image. Both pattern design and the detection algorithm are considered together to find a solution meeting the above criteria. Along the way, assumptions are verified to make informed choices without relying on guesswork, and allowing similar system to be designed on a solid experimental and statistical basis.
Advances in Personal Emergency Response and Detection Systems

Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS) allow an individual to contact 911 or family members by pushing a button on a pendant which communicates with the PERS console to dial the emergency numbers. While simple to use, traditional PERS devices have limitations, some of which are overcome with more recently introduced home monitoring systems. This paper discusses PERS benefits, barriers to use, options, and alternatives that are currently available or in development.
Effects of Freezing on the Gastric Mucosa of Dogs

Summary Gastric freezing for 1 hour at -20° C. inflow and -12° C. outflow was performed in dogs with gastrostomies. There was no significant reduction in acid secretory response to Histalog, insulin, or peptone after freezing. Studies by light and electron microscopy showed a very transient and patchy damage to the superficial layers of the mucosa with no effect on the glandular layers. Tritiated thymidine studies showed normal cell renewal within 1 week after freezing. After 7 1-hour freezes, the gastric mucosa appeared histologically normal and acid secretion was present. The rationale of the method in the treatment of peptic ulcer is questioned.
The customer's role in the service encounter: The effects of control and fairness

Abstract Two key elements of service satisfaction for customers are the perception that they have at least some control or choice and that the service provider is being fair. That notion was tested in a video-based experiment in which 50 subjects watched either a restaurant-based or hotel-based scenario that depicted an employee's response to the subject's request for a change in the original order or reservation. In half the scenarios the guest's wish was granted and in half; it was not. Whether the request was granted or not, in half the scenarios the employee behaved in a fair fashion (by being considerate, knowledgeable, impartial, and consistent) and in half the employee did not behave fairly. Respondents in the hotel scenarios confirmed the experimental hypothesis by indicating that they would be more satisfied in the scenarios where they had control (that is, ability to make a choice) and even if they did not have a choice, when the employee was fair. In the restaurant scenarios, having some control led to satisfaction, but employee fairness did not counteract a lack of control.
Liquid Vortex Shielding for Fusion Energy Applications

Swirling liquid vortices can be used in fusion chambers to protect their first walls and critical elements from the harmful conditions resulting from fusion reactions. The beam tube structures in heavy ion fusion (HIF) must be shielded from high energy particles, such as neutrons, x-rays and vaporized coolant, that will cause damage. Here an annular wall jet, or vortex tube, is proposed for shielding and is generated by injecting liquid tangent to the inner surface of the tube both azimuthally and axially. Its effectiveness is closely related to the vortex tube flow properties. 3-D particle image velocimetry (PIV) is being conducted to precisely characterize its turbulent structure. The concept of annular vortex flow can be extended to a larger scale to serve as a liquid blanket for other inertial fusion and even magnetic fusion systems. For this purpose a periodic arrangement of injection and suction holes around the chamber circumference are used, generating the layer. Because it is important to match the index of refraction of the fluid with the tube material for optical measurement like PIV, a low viscosity mineral oil was identified and used that can also be employed to do scaled experiments of molten salts at highmore » temperature.« less
Grisel's syndrome: A case report and review of the literature

Grisel's syndrome is non-traumatic atlantoaxial subluxation (AAS) secondary to an inflammatory process in the upper neck. It is a rare condition that occurs almost exclusively in children and has been associated with upper cervical infections and otolaryngologic procedures. A case of AAS secondary to an upper cervical infection is presented. Potential sequelae can be severe; early diagnosis and treatment of Grisel's syndrome can prevent tragic outcome.
Comment on "Quantum nature of the sign preference in ion-induced nucleation".

A Comment on the Letter by Alexey B. Nadykto et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 125701 (2006). The authors of the Letter offer a Reply.
A NEW FORM OF QUANTUM INTERFERENCE RESTORING EXPERIMENT

Abstract I propose a new form of interference restoring experiment using the detection of pairs of neutrons. I argue that the advantage that this has over traditional versions is that it relies less heavily on precise knowledge of the detection mechanism.
Utilization of primary care by veterans with psychiatric illness in the National Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care System.

BACKGROUND Psychiatric illness is associated with increased medical morbidity and mortality. Studies of primary care utilization by patients with psychiatric disorders have been limited by nonrepresentative samples and confounding by medical co-morbidity.
ROLE OF CARBOHYDRATE IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Carbohydrate is an essential fuel for prolonged, strenuous exercise, although the carbohydrate stores of the body are limited. Research studies have provided evidence that carbohydrate depletion is associated with fatigue, decrease in exercise intensity, and even exercise cessation. With the appropriate diet and exercise protocol, however, the carbohydrate stores of the body can be substantially increased and exercise performance improved by carbohydrate supplementation before and during exercise. In this article, the role of carbohydrate supplementation for increasing carbohydrate stores before exercise, maintaining blood glucose during exercise, and the rapid replenishment of the carbohydrate stores after exercise are discussed. Considered in the discussion are the types, amounts and forms of carbohydrate supplements that are most effective, and the most appropriate times for their ingestion.
What Price Accommodation? An Exploration of One Woman's Struggle to Sustain Privilege While Receiving an Old Age Pension

According to recent literature on privilege and oppression, system-wide structures of class, race, and gender inequality are sustained at both the macro- and microlevel of society simultaneously. As an analysis of the microlevel process of how privilege might be sustained, using one case study from archives of the Luella Hannan Memorial Foundation, this article documents how the process of receiving aid might seemingly take privilege away from older, formally privileged women, and how individual aid recipients might resist this lack of power or privilege. Overall, this case highlights the dynamic nature of an individual's privilege, the process by which privilege is pursued and sustained at the microlevel, and the different types of privilege (e.g., economic or social, institutionally sanctioned or personal, macro or micro) that an individual might pursue in varying circumstances.
The lateral approach to acoustic tumors.

The surgical experience of a decade of acoustic tumor surgery is discussed. This series involves 106 operations. A plea is made to use the “lateral” approach to the cerebellopontine angle which combines the trans-labyrinthine and retrosinal routes when necessary. The facial nerve is preserved in 88% of the patients using this approach and the mortality rate is only 1 or 2%. The most common complication is cerebrospinal fluid leakage. The posterior, suboccipital approach in acoustic tumors is condemned. Statistics are presented that make the argument of “hearing preservation” by suboccipital surgery academic. Only 11% of the patients in this series of 106 had “good” hearing preoperatively and all of these had normal hearing in the opposite ear.
Oxidation, reduction, and condensation of alcohols over (MO3)3 (M = Mo, W) nanoclusters

The reactions of deuterated methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 1-butanol, 2-propanol, 2-butanol, and tert-butanol over cyclic (MO3)3 (M = Mo, W) clusters were studied experimentally with temperature-programmed desorption and theoretically with coupled cluster CCSD(T) theory and density functional theory. The reactions of two alcohols per M3O9 cluster are required to provide agreement with experiment for D2O release, dehydrogenation, and dehydration. The reaction begins with the elimination of water by proton transfers and forms an intermediate dialkoxy species that can undergo further reaction. Dehydration proceeds by a β-hydrogen transfer to a terminal M═O. Dehydrogenation takes place via an α-hydrogen transfer to an adjacent MoVI═O atom or a WVI metal center with redox involved for M = Mo and no redox for M = W. The two channels have comparable activation energies. H/D exchange to produce alcohols can take place after olefin is released or via the dialkoxy species, depending on the alcohol and the cluster. ...
DNA REPAIR FUNCTIONS IN HETEROLOGOUS CELLS

Our genetic information is constantly challenged by exposure to endogenous and exogenous DNA-damaging agents, by DNA polymerase errors, and thereby inherent instability of the DNA molecule itself. The integrity of our genetic information is maintained by numerous DNA repair pathways, and the importance of these pathways is underscored by their remarkable structural and functional conservation across the evolutionary spectrum. Because of the highly conserved nature of DNA repair, the enzymes involved in this crucial function are often able to function in heterologous cells; as an example, the E. coli Ada DNA repair methyltransferase functions efficiently in yeast, in cultured rodent and human cells, in transgenic mice, and in ex vivo-modified mouse bone marrow cells. The heterologous expression of DNA repair functions has not only been used as a powerful cloning strategy, but also for the exploration of the biological and biochemical features of numerous enzymes involved in DNA repair pathways. In this review we highlight examples where the expression of DNA repair enzymes in heterologous cells was used to address fundamental questions about DNA repair processes in many different organisms.
Simultaneous BOP selection and controller design for the FCC process

The objective of Backed-off Operating Point (BOP) selection is to determine controller target setpoints that are close to the Optimal Steady-State Operating Point (OSSOP), while being a sufficient distance from constraints, to accommodate the impact of disturbances on plant dynamics. In this work we use the Fluidized Catalytic Cracking (FCC) process to compare two BOP selection methods recently presented in the literature. The general conclusion is that the simultaneous BOP selection and controller design approach reduced profit loss (from the OSSOP) by over 30% compared to a fixed controller strategy.
Surface Evaporation during the Central Equatorial Pacific Experiment: A Climate-Scale Perspective

Abstract This study is directed to evaluating the feedback between evaporation (FL) and sea surface temperature (Ts) in the equatorial Pacific Ocean by looking at the components that control dFL/dTs, the variation of evaporation with Ts. First eddy correlation evaporation estimates obtained during long (∼1000–1500 km), low-level (30 m) traverses of the central equatorial Pacific by research aircraft during the Central Equatorial Pacific Experiment (CEPEX) are analyzed. From this limited dataset, extension to climate space- and timescales is made by comparing the aircraft measurements to bulk aerodynamic estimates of FL, using mean values from both the aircraft and Tropical Atmosphere–Ocean buoys. Variation of surface evaporation with Ts is shown to be affected not only by surface saturation humidity deficit and its dependence on Ts, but also by variations of wind speed with Ts. Depending on the relative importance of the two contributions, surface evaporation can either increase or decrease with Ts. Inter...
Defects in T-cell-mediated immunity to influenza virus in murine Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome are corrected by oncoretroviral vector-mediated gene transfer into repopulating hematopoietic cells.

The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is an X-linked disorder characterized by immune dysfunction, thrombocytopenia, and eczema. We used a murine model created by knockout of the WAS protein gene (WASP) to evaluate the potential of gene therapy for WAS. Lethally irradiated, male WASP— animals that received transplants of mixtures of wild type (WT) and WASP— bone marrow cells demonstrated enrichment of WT cells in the lymphoid and myeloid lineages with a progressive increase in the proportion of WT T-lymphoid and B-lymphoid cells. WASP— mice had a defective secondary T-cell response to influenza virus which was normalized in animals that received transplants of 35% or more WT cells. The WASP gene was inserted into WASP— bone marrow cells with a bicistronic oncoretroviral vector also encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP), followed by transplantation into irradiated male WASP— recipients. There was a selective advantage for gene-corrected cells in multiple lineages. Animals with higher proportions of GFP+ T cells showed normalization of their lymphocyte counts. Gene-corrected, blood T cells exhibited full and partial correction, respectively, of their defective proliferative and cytokine secretory responses to in vitro T-cell–receptor stimulation. The defective secondary T-cell response to influenza virus was also improved in gene-corrected animals.
A constitutive theory for the inelastic behavior of concrete

A general theory for the inelasticity of concrete is proposed, the main constituents being a new, rate independent model of distributed damage for mortar and the application of mixture theories to account for the composite nature of concrete. The proposed theory of damage is capable of accommodating fully anisotropic elastic degradation, both in tension and in compression, in a manner which is ideally suited for computation. Mixture theories, on the other hand, are found to provide a simple yet effective tool for characterizing the values of the phase stresses that act on mortar and aggregate and which drive damage and plastic flow. This uneven distribution of stresses between mortar and aggregate is seen to lie at the foundation of effects such as the characteristic splitting failure modes in uniaxial compression and the unloading hysteretic loops that arise during cyclic loading. Further to furnishing useful insights into the physical mechanisms underlying the inelastic behavior of concrete, the proposed model provides a simple means of quantifying such behavior in a way which can be readily implemented in any standard finite element code. Possible generalizations of the theory are suggested. In particular, it is noted how rate and rheological effects can be incorporated into the proposed framework by extending it into the viscoplastic range and through the use of Eyring's theory of thermal activation.
The drought response of Theobroma cacao (cacao) and the regulation of genes involved in polyamine biosynthesis by drought and other stresses

Abstract Drought can negatively impact pod production despite the fact that cacao production usually occurs in tropical areas having high rainfall. Polyamines (PAs) have been associated with the response of plants to drought in addition to their roles in responses to many other stresses. The constitutive and drought inducible expression patterns of genes encoding enzymes involved in PA biosynthesis were determined: an ornithine decarboxylase ( TcODC ), an arginine decarboxylase ( TcADC ), an S -adenosylmethionine decarboxylase ( TcSAMDC ), a spermidine synthase ( TcSPDS ), and a spermine synthase ( TcSPMS ). Expression analysis using quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR (QPCR) results showed that the PA biosynthesis genes were expressed in all plant tissues examined. Constitutive expression of PA biosynthesis genes was generally highest in mature leaves and open flowers. Expression of TcODC , TcADC , and TcSAMDC was induced with the onset of drought and correlated with changes in stomatal conductance, photosynthesis, photosystem II efficiency, leaf water potential and altered emission of blue-green fluorescence from cacao leaves. Induction of TcSAMDC in leaves was most closely correlated with changes in water potential. The earliest measured responses to drought were enhanced expression of TcADC and TcSAMDC in roots along with decreases in stomatal conductance, photosynthesis, and photosystem II efficiency. Elevated levels of putrescine, spermidine, and spermine were detected in cacao leaves 13 days after the onset of drought. Expression of all five PA associated transcripts was enhanced (1.5–3-fold) in response to treatment with abscisic acid. TcODC and TcADC , were also responsive to mechanical wounding, infection by Phytophthora megakarya (a causal agent of black pod disease in cacao), the necrosis- and ethylene-inducing protein (Nep1) of Fusarium oxysporum , and flower abscission. TcSAMDC expression was responsive to all stresses except flower abscission. TcODC , although constitutively expressed at much lower levels than TcADC , TcSAMDC , TcSPDS , and TcSPMS , was highly inducible by the fungal protein Nep1 (135-fold) and the cacao pathogen Phytophthora megakarya (671-fold). The full length cDNA for ODC was cloned and characterized. Among the genes studied, TcODC , TcADC , and TcSAMDC were most sensitive to induction by drought in addition to other abiotic and biotic stresses. TcODC , TcADC , and TcSAMDC may share signal transduction pathways and/or the stress induced signal induction pathways may converge at these three genes leading to similar although not identical patterns of expression. It is possible altering PA levels in cacao will result in enhanced tolerance to multiple stresses including drought and disease as has been demonstrated in other crops.
Spatial Variability in Fertility in Menoufia, Egypt, Assessed through the Application of Remote-Sensing and GIS Technologies:

Fertility in rural areas such as the Governorate of Menoufia in Egypt may be influenced both by spatial factors (including the diffusion of innovations) and by essentially nonspatial factors (such as the availability of education for women and the percentage of adult women who are currently married). The nonspatial variables are available directly from censuses but the spatial component requires an accurate location of the villages to which the census data refer and then appropriate decomposition of the data into spatial and nonspatial components. We use IRS satellite imagery to classify the built area in a rural governorate in Egypt and then assign village-level census data to the centroids of those polygons and incorporate the data into a GIS. We then employ measures of global and local spatial statistics to conclude that in 1976 the combination of female illiteracy, proportion married, and spatial clustering accounted for 39% of the variation in fertility in Menoufia. In 1986 those same factors explained 51% of the variation in fertility. In 1976 about one third and in 1986 about half of the explained variability was due to the spatial component ('diffusion') and the other half due to a combination of demographic characteristics. Furthermore, between 1976 and 1986there was a clear north-to-south drift of fertility, with lower fertility being clustered in the north and higher fertility clustered in the south.
Responsiveness of isolated tracheal smooth muscle in a canine model of asthma.

Mongrel dogs were exposed to aerosols ofAscaris suum antigen and classified as aerosol antigen reactive or nonreactive on the basis of pulmonary resistance changes. Two weeks later the same dogs were anesthetized and strips of canine trachealis airway smooth muscle were prepared for in vitro studies. Low concentrations of methacholine caused significantly stronger isometric contractions of strips from aerosol reactive animals than of control strips. Contractile responses to maximal concentrations of methacholine were identical in both groups. Strips were precontracted with a half-maximal effective concentration of methacholine. Cumulative isoproterenol concentration-response curves were then run and strips from control dogs relaxed to a significantly greater degree than those from aerosol reactive dogs. The results indicate that the in vitro pharmacological responsiveness of the trachealis muscle can be correlated with the in vivo responsiveness of these animals to Ascaris suum aerosol bronchial provocation.