cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nonlinear Dynamics of a Spar Platform

Spar floating platforms have been largely used for deep water drilling, oil and natural gas production and storage of these fluids. In extreme weather conditions such structures may exhibit a highly nonlinear dynamic behavior. In this paper a 2-DOF model is used to study the heave and pitch coupled response in free and forced vibration. Special attention is given to the determination of the nonlinear vibration modes (NNMs). Non-similar and similar NNMs are obtained analytically by direct application of asymptotic methods and the results show important NNM features such as instability and multiplicity of modes. The NNMs are used to generate reduced order models that consist of 1-DOF nonlinear oscillators. It facilitates the parametric analysis and the derivation of important features of the system such as the frequency-amplitude relation associated to each nonlinear mode and resonance curves. The stability is analyzed by the Floquet theory. Bifurcation diagrams and Mathieu charts are used to identify the unstable regions in the force parameter space. The analytical results show good agreement with the numerical solution obtained by direct integration of the equation of motion.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
The Livermore Regional Air Quality Model: II. Verification and Sample Application in the San Francisco Bay Area

Abstract Topographic, meteorological, source emission and atmospheric pollutant concentration data have been assembled for use in verifying the LIRAQ-1 and LIRAQ-2 regional air quality models in the San Francisco Bay Area. These data, collected primarily during the high-pollution period of 26–27 July 1973, indicate that the temporal and spatial phasing for concentrations of carbon monoxide, ozone and nitrogen oxides can be adequately represented by the models. Sensitivity studies indicate that initial and horizontal boundary conditions as well as grid size and subgrid-scale effects, while very significant in predicting air quality on the local scale, are less important in dealing with regional concentrations of pollutants than are emissions, meteorological conditions and vertical boundary conditions.
Lengthening the foreshortened nose.

The surgically shortened nose is an infrequent but distressing problem that is difficult to repair. This article describes a simple technique to lengthen the nasal profile with a triple-stacked tip graft placed caudal to the medial crura. Fifteen patients have been operated on, and most were undergoing face lifts. The skin in-elasticity in older patients allows easy skin redraping over the larger tip volume.
The verbal helping skills of trained and untrained human service paraprofessionals

The verbal helping skills of human service paraprofessionals in a youth service agency were studied. Workers who had previously completed a 10-week systematic training program in basic helping skills were compared to untrained volunteer staff. Using simulated helping interviews, it was found that training made a significant impact on trainees' verbal helping responses. Skill level was maintained at a 2-month follow-up for certain responses whereas others returned to pretraining levels. Trainees were found to use significantly more "helpful" responses than volunteers. The need for training even carefully selected paraprofessionals is discussed.
On the relations computable by a class of concurrent automata

We consider monotone input/output automata, which model a usefully large class of dataflow networks of indeterminate (or nonfunctional) processes. We obtain a characterization of the relations computable by these automata, which states that a relation R : X → 2Y (viewed as a “nondeterministic function”) is the input/output relation of an automaton iff there exists a certain kind of Scott domain D, a continuous function F : X → [D → Y] and a continuous function G : X → P(D), such that R(ae) = F(ae)†(G(ae)) for all inputs ae e X. Here P denotes a certain powerdomain operator, and † denotes the pointwise extension to the powerdomain of a function on the underlying domain. An attractive feature of this result is that it specializes to two subclasses of automata, determinate automata, for which G is single-valued, and semi-determinate automata, for which G is a constant function. A corollary of the latter result is the impossibility of implementing “angelic merge” by a network of determinate processes and “infinity-fair merge” processes.
The yin and yang of vascular smooth muscle tone

Abstract Introduction: HSP27 and HSP20, small heat shock proteins, have been implicated in the regulation of vascular smooth muscle (VSM) tone. Stress induced hypertension leads to increased expression of HSP27 in VSM. Transduction of VSM with HSP20 leads to vasorelaxation. Phosphorylated HSP27 (pHSP27) inhibits the activation of HSP20. We hypothesize that expression of HSP27 is greater in VSM refractory to cyclic nucleotide vasorelaxation. Methods: Sodium nitroprusside (SNP 10-7M) induced relaxation of VSM was measured using segments of pig coronary artery (PCA) and human saphenous vein (HSV) in a muscle bath. The levels of PKG, HSP20, phosphorylated HPS20 (pHSP20), HSP27 and pHSP27 in tissue extracts were determined by one- and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and western blotting. Band intensity was estimated by densitometry. Results: PCA completely relaxed with SNP (100%), however, HSV did not (60%). Both tissue types had similar levels of expression of PKG and HSP20. The levels of HSP27 were 5 fold higher in the HSV (6.62 + 0.15 vs. 30.14 + 0.80) and pHSP27 was undetectable in PCA (0 vs.2.25 + 0.1). The levels of pHSP20 were undetectable in HSV. Conclusions: HSV segments refractory to relaxation with SNP had similar levels of expression of PKG and HSP20 as PCA segments demonstrating that the mediators of cyclic nucleotide vasorelaxation were present in both tissues. Increased levels of pHSP27 inhibit the phosphorylation of HSP20, and therefore, vasorelaxation of the HSV segments. Intracellular pHSP20 may be necessary and sufficient for VSM relaxation.
Correlating the scattered intensities of P3HT and PCBM to the current densities of polymer solar cells

Grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction and rocking scans have quantified the structure of poly(3-hexylthiophene) and [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester in the active layers of organic solar cells. Our study reveals that the device JSC correlates with the local structural development of pure PCBM and, to second order, the extent of out-of-plane P3HT π-stacking.
A theory of localization of damage in creep

Abstract We construct a three-dimensional theory of a material in which damage may occur in creep. In the one-dimensional case the differential equations are simple enough so that they may be studied exactly, but complicated enough to exhibit a variety of interesting phenomena. Solutions are found to be homogeneous damage fields, coexistent homogeneous damage fields separated by singular surfaces, an homogeneous undamaged body with a smooth transition into a damaged region in the interior, which may be interpreted as a shear band, and periodic solutions with transitions between damaged and undamaged regions.
Use of newer anticoagulants in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Purpose. The current indications, dosing, and practical considerations for use of newer anticoagulants in patients with various degrees of renal impairment who do not require dialysis are reviewed. Summary. Kidney function should generally be evaluated in all patients commencing anticoagulant therapy. As in the general population, hospitalized patients with impaired renal function most often have impairment that is mild to moderate in severity. Drug dosing in patients with chronic kidney disease may require that adjustment be made to the usual loading or maintenance dose of a drug. Newer anticoagulants with labeling approved by the Food and Drug Administration for venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis, treatment, or both include the low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWHs) and the factor Xa inhibitor fondaparinux. Some LMWHs are also indicated for the management of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). All of the newer anticoagulants currently available for the management of VTE and ACS have approved labeling for use in patients with mild-to-moderate renal impairment. Currently available LMWHs, factor Xa inhibitors, and direct thrombin inhibitors (excluding argatroban) are eliminated primarily by the kidneys, so dosing in patients with severe renal impairment may require cautious dosage reduction or increased monitoring for bleeding and thromboembolic complications or both. Unfractionated heparin is the preferred anticoagulant for use in most of these patients. Conclusion. Newer anticoagulants should be used with caution in patients with mild-to-moderate renal impairment. Unfractionated heparin remains the preferred anticoagulant in most patients with severe renal impairment even though its use is associated with increased bleeding in this population. Dosing of newer anticoagulants, except argatroban, requires cautious dosage reduction and increased monitoring for complications.
Acquisition of Institutional Capital by Niche Agricultural Producers

Abstract This study examines the relationship between niche agricultural producers’ information about and acquisition of capital from government or private agencies. Communities and governments need policies that facilitate the flow of capital, especially during periods of economic weakness. Niche agricultural producers may be skilled in production but weak in terms of developing successful financial acquisition strategies, which limits their access to capital. Using survey data from a sample 169 niche agricultural producers in the USA, we find that a positive relationship exists between niche agricultural producers’ familiarity with and acquisition of capital from government or private agencies, as does an association between capital acquisition and the receipt of advice from agencies. However, in contrast with the conventional wisdom, local commercial banks do not represent information hubs for securing funding or providing technical assistance. This study suggests that producers must fully explore info...
Free View Reconstruction of Three-Dimensional Integral Imaging Using Tilted Reconstruction Planes With Locally Nonuniform Magnification

In this paper, we present a method for three-dimensional (3D) free view computational volumetric reconstruction of integral imaging (II) on a tilted reconstruction plane with a locally nonuniform magnification ratio. The reconstruction plane of conventional free view II is parallel to the pickup device. Thus only the part of object parallel to the pickup device can be observed. To overcome this problem, the reconstruction plane could be tilted according to the viewing point by the ldquoOne Point Perspective Technique.rdquo A reconstructed 3D image, using tilted reconstruction planes, can have more in-focus surfaces of the 3D object compared to using parallel reconstruction planes. To verify the proposed method, we generate the elemental images of the 3D object, reconstruct 3D images on both parallel and tilted reconstruction planes, and compare the results.
Design and microarchitecture of the IBM system z10 microprocessor

The IBM System z10™ microprocessor is currently the fastest running 64-bit CISC (complex instruction set computer) microprocessor. This microprocessor operates at 4.4 GHz and provides up to two times performance improvement compared with its predecessor, the System z9® microprocessor. In addition to its ultrahigh-frequency pipeline, the z10™ microprocessor offers such performance enhancements as a sophisticated branch-prediction structure, a large second-level private cache, a data-prefetch engine, and a hardwired decimal floating-point arithmetic unit. The z10 microprocessor also implements new architectural features that allow better software optimization across compiled applications. These features include new instructions that help shorten the code path lengths and new facilities for software-directed cache management and the use of 1-MB virtual pages. The innovative microarchitecture of the z10 microprocessor and notable differences from its predecessors and the IBM POWER6™ microprocessor are discussed.
Oscillating kissing stem–loop interactions mediate 5′ scanning-dependent translation by a viral 3′-cap-independent translation element

The 39-untranslated regions (UTRs) of a group of novel uncapped viral RNAs allow efficient translation initiation at the 59proximal AUG. A well-characterized model is the Barley yellow dwarf virus class of cap-independent translation elements (BTE). It facilitates translation by forming kissing stem–loops between the BTE in the 39-UTR and a BTE-complementary loop in the 59-UTR. Here we investigate the mechanisms of the long-distance interaction and ribosome entry on the RNA. Upstream AUGs or 59-extensions of the 59-UTR inhibit translation, indicating that, unlike internal ribosome entry sites in many viral RNAs, the BTE relies on 59-end-dependent ribosome scanning. Cap-independent translation occurs when the kissing sites are moved to different regions in either UTR, including outside of the BTE. The BTE can even confer cap-independent translation when fused to the 39-UTR of a reporter RNA harboring dengue virus sequences that cause base-pairing between the 39 and 59 ends. Thus, the BTE serves as a functional sensor to detect sequences capable of long-distance base-pairing. We propose that the kissing interaction is repeatedly disrupted by the scanning ribosome and re-formed in an oscillating process that regulates ribosome entry on the RNA.
Do African Governments Favor Defense in Budgeting

This article uses a methodology developed by Hicks and Kubisch and data from a sample of forty countries to investigate the dynamics of defense budgeting in Subsaharan Africa during the 1967-87 period. We find that African countries discriminate against defense in budgeting when budget resources are increasing. On the other hand, they favor defense in budgeting during periods of austerity. This pattern of budgeting increases the defense burden and budget shares in African countries at times when the general population is least able to shoulder such a burden, and hence the need to reallocate defense spending is greatest. We also find that African governments consistently favor defense in the allocation of foreign exchange. The pattern of defense budget allocation in Subsaharan Africa neither varies among the four geographical regions of Subsaharan Africa - West, East, Central and Southern - nor among the oil exporters and the foreign exchange constrained oil importers. This inability to decrease defense spending during periods of austerity implies that those interested in changing budgetary priorities should have to rethink the concept of defense and hence redefine defense in African societies. African defense forces may have to be redirected to be used for development purposes rather than as a fighting organization. This will decrease the conflict between the fiscal needs to decrease defense spending and the reality of inability to do so. Such a reorientation of the military will also reduce the conflict between high defense spending and long-term development in Subsaharan Africa.
Location caching in the mobile middleware platform

The location of a mobile user is fundamental to all location-based services. To enable these services the mobile middleware platform needs to access the user's location. A a number of vendors such as Ericsson and Nokia provide mobile positioning services (MPS) that can be used to locate the user's mobile device. Push services, triggered by the user's location, also put heavy demands on the MPS. GPS technology and network based positioning has been researched in detail. Great strides are being made in improving the performance and accuracy of determining the position of a mobile device. This paper looks at performance and scalability issues in accessing positioning information from the middleware platform. We discuss an implementation where we allow the application to specify the accuracy of positioning and then use the user's current location and velocity to determine the location caching policy.
Relative herbivory tolerance and competitive ability in two dominant : subordinate pairs of perennial grasses in a native grassland

We evaluated herbivory tolerance and competitive ability within twodominant : subordinate pairs of C4, perennial grasses at each of twosites to determine the contribution of these processes to herbivore-inducedspecies replacement. Herbivory tolerance was assessed by cumulative regrowthfrom defoliated plants of each species and competitive ability was evaluated byrelative uptake of a 15N isotope placed into the soil between pairedspecies in the field. Herbivory tolerance was similar for the dominant andsubordinate species in both plant pairs and defoliation intensity had a greaterinfluence on herbivory tolerance than did defoliation pattern. Both specieswithin the Sorghastrum nutans : Schizachyriumscoparium pairs exhibited comparable nitrogen acquisition from a15N enriched pulse with or without defoliation. In contrast,S. scoparium acquired more 15N than did itssubordinate neighbor, Bothriochloa laguroides when thisspecies pair was undefoliated. Uniform defoliation of this species pair at adefoliation intensity removing 70% of the shoot mass accentuated this responsefurther demonstrating the greater competitive ability of the dominant comparedto the subordinate species. Although the 90% defoliation intensity reducednitrogen acquisition by the dominant relative to the subordinate species,B. laguroides, it did not reduce nitrogen acquisition bythe dominant below that of the subordinate neighbor. The occurrence of similarherbivory tolerance among dominant and subordinate species indicates thatselective herbivory suppressed the greater competitive ability, rather than thegreater herbivory tolerance, of the dominant grasses in this experimentaldesign. These data suggest that interspecific competitive ability may be ofequal or greater importance than herbivory tolerance in mediatingherbivore-induced species replacement in mesic grasslands and savannas.
Photorefractive keratectomy for myopic astigmatism: Phase IIA of the Federal Drug Administration study (12 to 18 months follow-up)

Excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy was performed on eight eyes to investigate toric ablation of naturally occurring compound myopic astigmatism. Follow-up ranged from 12 to 18 months. In each surgical case, the spherical component was reduced. The cylindrical component was reduced or eliminated in seven of eight eyes and remained unchanged in one eye. However, six of eight eyes had some residual astigmatism and three had 0.75 diopters of cylinder or more. In six of eight eyes the change in axis in the postoperative cylinder varied between 5 and 10 degrees of the preoperative cylinder axis. In one eye with an eccentric ablation, the axis changed by 40 degrees. In two eyes with loss of best corrected visual acuity of one line each, from 20/20 to 20/25, irregular astigmatism and subepithelial haze persisted 18 months after treatment. One eye gained a line of best corrected visual acuity from 20/20 to 20/15. Two eyes were overcorrected. Twenty-five percent of patients achieved 20/20 or better uncorrected visual acuity, 62.5% achieved 20/40 or better uncorrected acuity, and 100% achieved 20/50 or better uncorrected acuity. These preliminary results of excimer laser photoastigmatic keratectomy compare favorably with reports of photorefractive keratectomy for myopia alone. There were no adverse reactions to treatment. The procedure was effective although some residual astigmatism was found in most patients.
Supplemental oxygen controls cellular proliferation and anastomotic intimal hyperplasia at a vascular graft-to-artery anastomosis in the rabbit.

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the administration of 40% supplemental oxygen (O 2 ) will decrease cellular proliferation and intimal hyperplasia (IH) at a prosthetic vascular graft (PVG)–to-artery anastomosis. Methods: Twenty New Zealand white rabbits underwent placement of a 3-mm polytetrafluoroethylene graft in their infrarenal aorta. Four groups of five rabbits were placed either in a normoxic (21%) environment or in a 40% supplemental O 2 environment for 7 or 42 days. Twenty-four hours before the rabbits were humanely killed for aortic graft harvest, BrDU (5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine) was injected into the rabbits intraperitoneally. Image analysis (Bioquant) morphometrics were used to measure cells with BrDU staining and intimal areas at the distal anastomosis. Cellular proliferation is defined as positively staining BrDU cells divided by all cells in the artery wall. IH is reported as a ratio between the intimal area and the medial area to standardize the varying aortic size and degree of aortic fixation among rabbits. The Student t test was used to compare cellular proliferation and IH between control and O 2 -treated rabbits. Results: Cellular proliferation in the intima at 7 days was significantly reduced in the O 2 -treated animals (1.7% ± 1%) versus the control animals (28.6% ± 3%) ( P =.0001). The cellular proliferation in the intima at 42 days returned to preoperative levels in the O 2 -treated group (0.15%) and in the control group (0.11%) ( P = not significant). IH at 7 days was minimal, and no difference between the O 2 -treated group (0.017 ±.006) and the control group (0.009 ±.03) ( P = not significant) was found. IH was significantly reduced at 42 days in the O 2 -treated animals (0.031 ±.012) when compared with the control animals (0.193 ±.043) ( P =.006). Conclusions: Supplemental O 2 (40%) significantly reduces cellular proliferation and IH at the distal anastomosis of a PVG-to-artery anastomosis in the rabbit model. (J Vasc Surg 2001;33:608-13.)
Oxidation Transitions for SiC Part I. Active‐to‐Passive Transitions

Oxidation of SiC can occur in a passive mode where a protective film is generated or in an active mode where a volatile suboxide is generated and can lead to rapid material consumption. The transition between these two modes of oxidation is a critical issue. Evidence indicates that this transition occurs via a different mechanism for the active-to-passive transition as compared with that of the passive-to-active transition. In Part I of this article, the former (active-to-passive mode) is explored. Three different types of SiC are examined: Si-rich SiC, stoichiometric SiC, and C-rich SiC. Evidence suggests that the SiO2/SiC equilibrium requirements as well as formation of SiO(g) at the SiC surface and subsequent oxidation to SiO2(s) are critical issues in the active-to-passive transition.
Species-Specific Survival and Relative Habitat Use in an Urban Landscape During the Postfledging Period

ABSTRACT. In an urban landscape, population viability may require successful movement of recently fledged birds between habitat patches, yet postfledging movements are rarely studied. We used radiotelemetry to track 26 American Robin (Turdus migratorius), 15 Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus), 46 Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus), and 35 Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) fledglings across the urban gradient of the Seattle metropolis, to document the relative use of specific features of the built and forested environment and to correlate land-cover metrics with survival during the postfledging period. Survival of postfledging birds, other than American Robins, was high, and the effects of land cover on survival were limited. Across species, we observed lower survival in forested areas than in the suburban lands around them, but this may have been a function of fledgling age. Once juvenile birds became independent, they often moved into suburbs without increased risk of death. We found little consistency...
Supporting evidence from the New York drumlin field that elongate subglacial bedforms indicate fast ice flow

Although drumlins and other subglacial bedforms are well-studied features, controls on their formation and morphometry have remained elusive. Of current interest is the hypothesis that elongate bedforms (length:width ratios≥ 10) indicate fast ice flow, and perhaps the location of past ice streams. This hypothesis is explored by analysing drumlins from the New York State drumlin field. A subset of 548 drumlins between Oneida Lake and Lake Ontario was digitized using 10-m grid cell digital elevation data. Because bedform elongation is greatest along the axis of a reconstructed lobe and increases down flowline, elongate bedforms are best explained by fast ice flow. The swath of elongate bedforms between lakes Ontario and Oneida, the boundaries of which do not coincide with topography, may signify the location of an ice stream during deglaciation.
Phase behavior, crystallization, and morphology of poly(ether ether ketone)/polyarylate blends

The phase behavior, crystallization, and morphology of blends based on poly (ether ether ketone) [PEEK] and bisphenol-A polyarylate [PAr] are described. This system is partially miscible in the melt. Upon quenching to an amorphous glass the system displays two glass transitions corresponding to a nearly pure PEEK phase (T g1 ) and a PAr-rich mixed phase (T g2 ). The presence of the PAr has a strong retarding influence on the rate of crystallization of PEEK in the blends. Cold crystallization from the amorphous glass occurs in two stages with increasing temperature, corresponding to the mobilization of the PEEK-rich and PAr-rich phases, respectively. At lower cold-crystallization temperatures (below T g2 ), the immobile PAr-rich phase constrains crystallization of the PEEK-rich phase, as manifested in both a decreased rate of crystallization and decreased bulk crystallinity. Dynamic relaxation studies of the crystallized blends reveal two glass-rubber relaxations originating from interlamellar amorphous populations in the PEEK-rich and PAr-rich phases. In the PAr-rich phase, there is no evidence of large-scale PAr exclusion to interfibrillar or interspherulitic regions.
Ethiopia: Famine, Food Production, and Changes in the Legal Order

In 1970, drought and famine began to afflict Ethiopia (Shepherd, 1975: ix; U.S.Depart. of State, 1974: 41; Wiseburg, 1975: 299). By 1974, almost 8 percent of Ethiopia's people had experienced starvation (Shepherd, 1975: 39) and more than two hundred thousand Ethiopians had perished in the famine's wake. The famine captured an exceptionally high level of public and media attention throughout the world. Considerable public concern arose within Ethiopia and abroad over the vast dimensions of human suffering involved and in reaction to the government's callous attempt to conceal rather than alleviate the consequences of the disaster. Eventually, the famine and unmasking of the moral bankruptcy of the government's response to it became important precipitating factors in the deposition of Emperor Haile Selassie I and termination of monarchical rule by military coup d'etat in 1974. The central purposes of this article are to show how the pre-coup legal order created conditions which left Ethiopian peasants vulnerable to famine, to describe pertinent changes in the legal order introduced by the Provisional Military Administrative Council (PMAC), and to explore the short- and long-term impact of such changes on food production and famine prospects in Ethiopia.
Compliance with federal and state legislation by indoor tanning facilities in San Diego

Abstract Background: The prevalence rates of both skin cancers and indoor tanning among the US population are high and have increased substantially in recent years. Low compliance by indoor tanning facilities with safety regulations may place consumers at greater risk of skin and ocular damage. Objective: This study quantified the level of compliance by indoor tanning facilities with selected federal and state regulations and recommendations. Methods: Tanning facilities (N = 54) in San Diego County, California, were visited by a confederate posing as a prospective customer. Compliance with 13 regulations/recommendations were assessed by either direct query or observation of the presence/absence of signs and warning labels. Operators' responses to 5 risk-based questions also were noted. Results: No facility complied with all 13 regulations/recommendations. Compliance with 3 protective eyewear regulations was high (89%-100%). In contrast, compliance with maximum tanning frequency recommendations (approximately 6%) and parental consent regulations (approximately 43%) was disturbingly low. Conclusion: The investigators recommend instituting mandatory, comprehensive training for operators, as well as systematic compliance monitoring with enforcement of penalties for noncompliance. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2001;44:53-60.)
NFAT is required for spontaneous pulmonary hypertension in superoxide dismutase 1 knockout mice

Elevated reactive oxygen species are implicated in pulmonary hypertension (PH). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) limits superoxide bioavailability, and decreased SOD activity is associated with PH. A decrease in SOD activity is expected to increase superoxide and reduce hydrogen peroxide levels. Such an imbalance of superoxide/hydrogen peroxide has been implicated as a mediator of nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) activation in epidermal cells. We have shown that NFATc3 is required for chronic hypoxia-induced PH. However, it is unknown whether NFATc3 is activated in the pulmonary circulation in a mouse model of decreased SOD1 activity and whether this leads to PH. Therefore, we hypothesized that an elevated pulmonary arterial superoxide/hydrogen peroxide ratio activates NFATc3, leading to PH. We found that SOD1 knockout (KO) mice have elevated pulmonary arterial wall superoxide and decreased hydrogen peroxide levels compared with wild-type (WT) littermates. Right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) was elevated in SOD1 KO and was associated with pulmonary arterial remodeling. Vasoreactivity to endothelin-1 was also greater in SOD1 KO vs. WT mice. NFAT activity and NFATc3 nuclear localization were increased in pulmonary arteries from SOD1 KO vs. WT mice. Administration of A-285222 (selective NFAT inhibitor) decreased RVSP, arterial wall thickness, vasoreactivity, and NFAT activity in SOD1 KO mice to WT levels. The SOD mimetic, tempol, also reduced NFAT activity, NFATc3 nuclear localization, and RVSP to WT levels. These findings suggest that an elevated superoxide/hydrogen peroxide ratio activates NFAT in pulmonary arteries, which induces vascular remodeling and increases vascular reactivity leading to PH.
Phosphorylation and modulation of hyperpolarization-activated HCN4 channels by protein kinase A in the mouse sinoatrial node

The sympathetic nervous system increases heart rate by activating β adrenergic receptors and increasing cAMP levels in myocytes in the sinoatrial node. The molecular basis for this response is not well understood; however, the cardiac funny current (If) is thought to be among the end effectors for cAMP signaling in sinoatrial myocytes. If is produced by hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide–sensitive (HCN4) channels, which can be potentiated by direct binding of cAMP to a conserved cyclic nucleotide binding domain in the C terminus of the channels. β adrenergic regulation of If in the sinoatrial node is thought to occur via this direct binding mechanism, independent of phosphorylation. Here, we have investigated whether the cAMP-activated protein kinase (PKA) can also regulate sinoatrial HCN4 channels. We found that inhibition of PKA significantly reduced the ability of β adrenergic agonists to shift the voltage dependence of If in isolated sinoatrial myocytes from mice. PKA also shifted the voltage dependence of activation to more positive potentials for heterologously expressed HCN4 channels. In vitro phosphorylation assays and mass spectrometry revealed that PKA can directly phosphorylate at least 13 sites on HCN4, including at least three residues in the N terminus and at least 10 in the C terminus. Functional analysis of truncated and alanine-substituted HCN4 channels identified a PKA regulatory site in the distal C terminus of HCN4, which is required for PKA modulation of If. Collectively, these data show that native and expressed HCN4 channels can be regulated by PKA, and raise the possibility that this mechanism could contribute to sympathetic regulation of heart rate.
LITE aerosol retrievals

The Lidar In-space Technology Experiment (LITE) shuttle mission demonstrated that spaceborne lidar offers an effective means for detecting the spatial features of significant regional aerosol concentrations resulting, for example, from Saharan dust, African and South American biomass burning and anthropogenic sources. To obtain quantitative estimates from the LITE data of radiatively important aerosol optical properties such as optical depths and extinction profiles requires supplemental information about the aerosols, supplied either by modeling or from auxiliary measurements. This paper outlines techniques for retrieving these aerosol optical parameters, and presents example retrievals obtained from the LITE observations.
Getting worse: the stigmatization of obese children.

LATNER, JANET D. AND ALBERT J. STUNKARD. Getting worse: the stigmatization of obese children. Obes Res. 2003;11:452-456. Objective: The prevalence of childhood obesity more than doubled in the period from 1961 to 2001. We replicated a 1961 study of stigma in childhood obesity to see what effect this increased prevalence has had on this stigma. Research Methods and Procedures: Participants included 458 5th- and 6th-grade children attending upper-middle and lower-middle income U.S. public schools. Children ranked six drawings of same-sex children with obesity, various disabilities, or no disability (“healthy”), in order of how well they liked each child. Results: Children in both the present and the 1961 study liked the drawing of the obese child least. The obese child was liked significantly less in the present study than in 1961 [Kruskal-Wallis H(1) 130.53, p 0.001]. Girls liked the obese child less than boys did [H(1) 5.23, p 0.02]. Children ranked the healthy child highest and significantly higher than in 1961 [H(1) 245.40, p 0.001]. The difference in liking between the healthy and obese child was currently 40.8% greater than in 1961. Discussion: Stigmatization of obesity by children appears to have increased over the last 40 years.
Use of the wire-guided endobronchial blocker for one-lung anesthesia in patients with airway abnormalities.

ONE-LUNG VENTILATION (OLV) in the thoracic surgical patient can be achieved with the use of a double-lumen endotracheal tube (DLT) or bronchial blockade with a Univent tube (Vitaid LTD, Lewiston, NY), a Fogarty occlusion catheter (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA), or a wire-guided endobronchial blocker (Arndt blocker; Cook Critical Care, Bloomington, IN).1,2 OLV techniques may be complicated in these patients because of the uncommon occurrence of carcinoma of the pharynx, tongue, or epiglottis, which makes intubation difficult. In addition, some of these patients have received prior neck radiation therapy and extensive neck/tracheal surgery. All of these problems make the airway management more complex and challenging. The authors report 4 cases in which the upper and/or lower airway anatomy have been previously distorted because of surgery or radiation; in all cases successful OLV was achieved with the use of the Arndt blocker.
Block ownership and firm-specific information.

This study examines the impact of block ownership on the firm’s information environment. Previous research shows that stock price efficiency depends on the cost of acquiring private information, as well as on the precision of this information. Blockholders have a clear advantage over diffuse, atomistic shareholders in terms of the precision and acquisition cost of their private information. We hypothesize that this informational advantage will manifest itself primarily in the firm-specific component of stock returns. Our empirical findings confirm that blockholders increase the probability of informed trading and idiosyncratic volatility, and decrease the firm’s stock return synchronicity. These results hold for both inside and outside blockholders, but are insignificant for blocks controlled by employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs). Overall, our findings support the contention that ownership structure plays a significant role in shaping the firm’s information environment.
Cognition, Evolution of

Cognition is the product of brain mechanisms that have been shaped by the evolutionary process. Understanding the form and function these mechanisms take, how they develop, and how they are distributed across species requires situating these mechanisms in an evolutionary context, and studying them using the diversity of methods available to the evolutionary sciences. Here we review how the mechanisms underlying cognition can be studied from an evolutionary point of view.
Host grooming efficiency for regulation of cat flea (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) populations.

Grooming efficiency was studied by infesting domestic short-hair cats, Felis catus L., with known numbers of cat fleas, Ctenocephalides felis felis Bouche, then collecting the cat feces and extracting the fleas to determine how many had been groomed off, varying the infestation level. Some hosts were found to be significantly more efficient at grooming fleas than others, with the best groomer removing 17.6% of its flea burden daily, compared with only 4.1% removed by the poorest groomer. Cats were more efficient at grooming fleas at infestations of 150 fleas. Mean on-host flea longevity was 7.8 d.
Au/SBA-15-Based Robust and Convenient-to-Use Nanopowder Material for Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

Powdered nanocomposite materials composed of SBA-15 mesoporous silica and different types of Au nanoparticles within the mesoporous channel pores (Au/SBA-15) are shown to serve as robust and efficient substrates for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Using the Au/SBA-15 samples as SERS substrates and 4-mercaptopyridine (4-Mpy) as SERS reporter molecule, SERS enhancement factors as high as ∼105 are obtained. The degree of SERS enhancement is found to depend on the size of the Au nanoparticles as well as the synthetic procedures employed to synthesize the Au/SBA-15 materials. The high SERS enhancement given by the Au/SBA-15 as compared to any other powered SERS substrates appears to be the result of the formation of SERS “hot spots” due to the side-by-side alignment of Au nanoparticles within the cylindrical channel pores of the SBA-15 mesoporous silica host. Because of their powdered forms, longevity, simple sample preparation procedures, easily tunable surface, and high SERS enhancement factors, ...
Polar-fluoropolymer blends for high energy density low loss capacitor applications

Besides energy density, the electric loss at high electric fields is another major concern for many capacitor applications. This paper presents recent works in developing high energy density low loss polymer capacitors. In order to reduce the dielectric loss while maintaining high energy density in poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene) P(VDF-HFP) and P(VDF-CTFE) (CTFE: Chlorotrifluoroethylene) based polymers, a polymer blend approach was investigated. We show that by blending P(VDF-CTFE) with a proper low loss polymer such as poly(ethylene- chlorotrifluoroethylene) (ECTFE) can lead to marked improvement in the loss of dielectric films. In this study, P(VDF-CTFE) blends films with different wt% of ECTFE have been examined to find a balance between dielectric constant and the loss. In addition, crosslink in the blends has been employed to further improve the dielectric performance of the blends. The results indicate that these blends exhibit an excellent performance: relatively high dielectric constant (~ 6~7) and low loss (~ 0.01) at 1 kHz. For the crosslink blend films, the high field loss is reduced to below 5% with a discharged energy density 4.3 J/cm3 under a field of 300 MV/m.
Burn wound care.

Article de synthese sur le traitement local des brulures: greffe de peau, excision, application de topiques, et sur les surinfections possibles survenant lors de ces traitements
Regulation of aortic CuZn-superoxide dismutase with copper. Caeruloplasmin and albumin re-activate and transfer copper to the enzyme in culture

Caeruloplasmin and albumin were compared as potential donors of copper to Cu2Zn2-superoxide dismutase (CuZn-SOD) in culture. Aortas from 15-day copper-deficient chicks were suspended in oxygenated, serum-free, Waymouth medium (752/1) for 24 h. SOD activity was restored when the medium was supplemented with CuCl2, a copper-albumin complex or caeruloplasmin, all present at a level equivalent to 5 microM-copper. Activation did not occur at 4 degrees C or with Cu-EDTA as the supplement. Mn2+ and Zn2+, alone or in combination, did not activate nor enhance the activation achieved by CuCl2. The activation with CuCl2 was not inhibited by cycloheximide or cordycepin. [67Cu]Caeruloplasmin and albumin when added to the medium transferred radioactive copper to at least three cytosolic protein fractions, one of which was determined by immunoprecipitation to be CuZn-SOD. The transfer of 67Cu from caeruloplasmin was inhibited by increasing amounts of unlabelled caeruloplasmin; disodium EDTA (1.0 mM) had no effect on the transfer of copper from caeruloplasmin. These data show that aortic SOD activity, suppressed in copper deficiency, can be restored by incubating the aortas in culture medium supplemented with copper salts. In this system, caeruloplasmin and Cu-albumin appear equally capable of activating aortic CuZn-SOD. Moreover, the transfer of copper into the enzyme structure appears to be the primary event restoring catalytic activity to the enzyme.
Role of SNPs and Haplotypes in Human Disease and Drug Development

In recent years it has become clear that genetic factors play a major role in every human disease except trauma. In many Mendelian or monogenic disorders, disease genes are identified by linkage and positional cloning methods using pedigrees and simple tandem repeat markers (di-, tri- or tetra-nucleotides). However, linkage based methods have limited power and are not readily applicable for complex disorders such as cardiovascular, osteoporosis, neuropsychiatric disorders, diabetes, asthma and cancer. This is because multiple loci are involved in these disorders and each locus contributes a small effect to disease etiology. The above complex disorders unfortunately, also occur in higher frequency and are a major social burden.
Safety of intrathecal autologous adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells in patients with ALS

Objective: To determine the safety of intrathecal autologous adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cell treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Methods: Participants with ALS were enrolled and treated in this phase I dose-escalation safety trial, ranging from 1 × 10 7 (single dose) to 1 × 10 8 cells (2 monthly doses). After intrathecal treatments, participants underwent standardized follow-up, which included clinical examinations, revised ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R) questionnaire, blood and CSF sampling, and MRI of the neuroaxis. Results: Twenty-seven patients with ALS were enrolled and treated in this study. The safety profile was positive, with the most common side effects reported being temporary low back and radicular leg pain at the highest dose level. These clinical findings were associated with elevated CSF protein and nucleated cells with MRI of thickened lumbosacral nerve roots. Autopsies from 4 treated patients did not show evidence of tumor formation. Longitudinal ALSFRS-R questionnaires confirmed continued progression of disease in all treated patients. Conclusions: Intrathecal treatment of autologous adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells appears safe at the tested doses in ALS. These results warrant further exploration of efficacy in phase II trials. Classification of evidence: This phase I study provides Class IV evidence that in patient with ALS, intrathecal autologous adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cell therapy is safe.
Certified Security by Design for the Internet of Things

Incorporating security into the design of components used in the Internet of Things (IoT) is essential for securing the operations of the IoT and the cyber‐physical infrastructure upon which society depends. To learn and draw inspiration from the past, this chapter looks at the 1970s and 1980s when the challenges of designing and implementing very large‐scale integrated (VLSI) circuits were encountered and overcome. The chapter defines the syntax, semantics, and inference rules for an access‐control logic used to reason about command and control (C2). Cryptographic operations are an integral part of protecting integrity and confidentiality. The chapter also provides algebraic models in higher‐order logic (HOL) theorem of idealized cryptographic operations. The chapter describes the objectives of certified security by design (CSBD), provides a simple motivating application as context, and states the critical requirements that must be satisfied to make CSBD a reality.
Validation of OncoPanel: A Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing Assay for the Detection of Somatic Variants in Cancer.

Context.— The analysis of somatic mutations across multiple genes in cancer specimens may be used to aid clinical decision making. The analytical validation of targeted next-generation sequencing p...
Compressive hyperspectral time-resolved wide-field fluorescence lifetime imaging.

Spectrally resolved fluorescence lifetime imaging1-3 and spatial multiplexing1,4,5 have offered information content and collection-efficiency boosts in microscopy, but efficient implementations for macroscopic applications are still lacking. An imaging platform based on time-resolved structured light and hyperspectral single-pixel detection has been developed to perform quantitative macroscopic fluorescence lifetime imaging (MFLI) over a large field of view (FOV) and multiple spectral bands simultaneously. The system makes use of three digital micromirror device (DMD)-based spatial light modulators (SLMs) to generate spatial optical bases and reconstruct N by N images over 16 spectral channels with a time-resolved capability (~40 ps temporal resolution) using fewer than N2 optical measurements. We demonstrate the potential of this new imaging platform by quantitatively imaging near-infrared (NIR) Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) both in vitro and in vivo. The technique is well suited for quantitative hyperspectral lifetime imaging with a high sensitivity and paves the way for many important biomedical applications.