cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pathways of the Maillard Reaction In Vitro and In Vivo

Summary Oxygen is a catalyst of the Maillard reaction In vitro and a fixative of damage resulting from glycation of proteins in vivo. Oxidative pathways of the Maillard reaction are initiated both by autoxidative glycosylation and by oxidative fragmentation of Schiff base or Amadori adducts to protein, followed by continued reaction of sugar-derived oxidation products with protein. Work in our laboratory suggests that autoxidative glycosylation is the initial step in the Maillard reaction In vitro at physiological pH and temperature, and that the major dicarbonyl product formed in this reaction is glyoxal, rather than glucosone. At later stages in the reaction, rearrangement, hydrolysis and both oxidative and non-oxidative fragmentation reactions of Amadori adducts yield deoxyglucosones, pentoses, tetroses and smaller sugars which propagate the Maillard reaction. The kinetics of formation of glycoxidation and advanced glycosylation end-products in tissue proteins in diabetic animals suggests that autoxidation of glucose or other carbohydrates also contributes to the Maillard reaction in vivo.
Statistical Properties of Warm Dark Matter Haloes

The identity of dark matter, the dominant matter component of the Universe, has long been a subject of great interest in cosmology. In the last three decades, the model of non-relativistic dark matter consisting of heavy weakly-interacting particles with negligible thermal velocities at early times, the Cold Dark Matter (CDM) model, has become the cornerstone of the standard cosmological paradigm.
Electrodynamic machine-learning-enhanced fault-tolerance of robotic free-form printing of complex mixtures

Rapid free-form printing of particle-functionalized materials is an integral component of 3D printing and additive manufacturing. Such processes consist of attaching a dispenser to a robot arm which then releases droplets of specialized mixtures in free-space that are deposited onto a substrate. These approaches are popular because they utilize widely-available, highly-programmable, robots. However, often the release of a complex mixture in free-space is somewhat imprecise, thus electrodynamic field control has been proposed as a possible remedy to enhance the precision of such processes. Specifically, electrodynamic control of the material is achieved by electrifying the released material in the presence of a prescribed ambient electrical field generated from the substrate, in order to guide it to the desired position. There are many components that comprise such a system, thus motivating the construction of a simulation tool framework assembling submodels of the: The modular system structure allows for easy replacement of submodels within the overall framework. Numerical simulations are undertaken to illustrate the overall system model, which is comprised of an assembly of submodels. Afterwards, a Machine Learning Algorithm (MLA) is developed to identify and optimize the proper system parameters which deliver a desired printed pattern. Specifically, an MLA is developed to ascertain the appropriate combination of robotic motion and electrical fields needed to create structures which would be difficult or impossible by purely mechanical means alone. Afterwards, extensions involving more detailed models are then provided, based on the Discrete Element Method.
Pulsed-Laser-Induced Modification of Gold Nanorods: Damage Thresholds and Impact on Photoacoustic Imaging in Turbid Media

Nanorod reshaping during photoacoustic imaging (PAI) may severely impact performance. Nanorod damage thresholds were studied with electron microscopy and spectrophotometry, and the effect of laser exposure on PAI was studied in a turbid phantom.
THE PERFORMANCE OF A DETERGENT-SANITIZER FOR MILK UTENSIL SANITATION IN UNSUPERVISED FIELD TESTS1 2

In a field study covering 15–16 months and which involved 155 Grade A milk producers in three widely separated areas, a detergent-sanitizer was compared with customary methods of milk utensil sanit...
Enabling Transmission Through Reentry Plasmas: Simulation of Plasma-SRR Layered Materials

As a spacecraft enters a planetary atmosphere, severe attenuation of communication signals can occur due to the formation of a plasma sheath around its airframe. The resulting communications blackout has known negative consequences. Early studies have shown that such plasma can be modeled as a negative permittivity material. This feature suggests that a solution may be found in the realm of metamaterials, notably a negative permeability material. In particular, a double negative (DNG) material (i.e., a material with both negative permittivity and permeability) will accommodate travelling waves. We demonstrate that it is possible to introduce a negative permeability metamaterial into the presence of the plasma to form an artificial composite DNG material in order to ameliorate the communication blackout.
Characteristics of the Population with Consumer-Driven and High-Deductible Health Plans, 2005-2012

This paper examines the population with a consumer-driven health plan (CDHP) and how it differs from the population with traditional health coverage. Data from the 2005-2007 EBRI/Commonwealth Fund Consumerism in Health Care Survey and the 2008-2012 EBRI/MGA Consumer Engagement in Health Care Survey are used for the analysis. Differences between the population with traditional coverage and high-deductible health plan (HDHP) enrollees are also examined. Generally, the population of adults within both high-deductible (HDHP) and traditional health plans have been split 50-50 between men and women. In contrast, differences in gender have been found between CDHP enrollees and those with traditional coverage. In most years, CDHP enrollees were less likely than those with traditional coverage to be between the ages of 21 and 34, and the CDHP population was more likely than traditional-plan enrollees to be in households with $150,000 or more in income in every year except 2009 and 2010. CDHP enrollees were roughly twice as likely as individuals with traditional coverage to have college or post-graduate educations in nearly all years of the survey. CDHP enrollees have consistently reported better health status than traditional-plan enrollees, exhibiting better health behavior than traditional-plan enrollees with respect to smoking and (except for 2010 and 2011), exercise, and sometimes obesity rates. In the earlier years of the survey (2005-2009), the CDHP population was more likely than the population with traditional coverage to have that coverage through small employers (between two and 49 employees). More recently (2010-2012), there were no statistically significant differences by employer size between the CDHP population and that of the population with traditional coverage. When comparing HDHP enrollees with traditional-plan enrollees, it was found that, in all years of the survey except 2007, HDHP enrollees were less likely than traditional-plan enrollees to be with large employers (500 or more employees). They were more likely to be from small employers in all years of the survey except for 2010. The PDF for the above title, published in the April 2013 issue of EBRI Notes, also contains the fulltext of another April 2013 EBRI Notes article abstracted on SSRN: “Retirement Plan Participation and Asset Allocation, 2010.”
Cardiorespiratory Fitness as a Mediator of the Association between Physical Activity and Overweight and Obesity in Adolescent Girls.

Abstract Background: Overweight and obesity (OW/OB) continue to be prominent health issues among adolescent girls. However, little is known about the interrelationships between physical activity (P...
Liberalizing, State Building, and Getting to Denmark: Analyzing Twenty-First Century Institutional Change

This paper undertakes a descriptive analysis of changes in economic institutions across countries from 2000-2016, using Economic Freedom of the World and the “State Economic Modernity” index. This latter index is a recent creation, similar conceptually to state capacity, measuring what can variously be thought of as state building, effectiveness, and economic power. State Economic Modernity can also be thought of as the economic institutions associated with social democracy. These two indexes are used in concert with one another to classify countries into eight directions of institutional change. Despite recent pessimism, countries besides those at the top income bracket have continued to liberalize, while wealthy countries have merely stagnated. At the high level aggregates, there is little movement in “State Economic Modernity” over this period, although there is considerably heterogeneity among individual countries. Rwanda is the single country to make the greatest movement towards the development benchmark of “Getting to Denmark,” while, directionally, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Benin, Guinea-Bissau, and Indonesia have made significant positive movements as well.
Managing Catastrophic Risks Through Redesigned Insurance: Challenges and Opportunities

Catastrophic risks associated with natural disasters have been increasing in many countries including the United States because more individuals and firms have located in harm’s way while not taking appropriate protective measures. This chapter addresses ways to reduce future losses by first focusing on behavioral biases that lead homeowners and decision-makers not to invest in adequate protection. It then turns to developing proposals for risk management strategies that involve private–public partnerships. These include multiyear insurance contracts with risk-based premiums coupled with mitigation loans and insurance vouchers to address affordability concerns for low-income homeowners, tax incentives, well-enforced building codes and land-use regulations.
187 Cervical dysplasia and carcinoma after quadravalent vaccination against the human papillomavirus

Objectives Though highly effective, the vaccine against the human papillomavirus (HPV) does not completely eradicate the risk of cervical dysplasia and subsequent malignancy. Methods We present a case series of patients treated between 2007- 2017 for cervical dysplasia or invasive carcinoma after immunization with at least 2 doses of the quadrivalent HPV vaccine. Demographic and clinicopathologic data were collected and descriptive statistics were used. Results Thirty-five patients were identified. Median age was 21.0 years(range, 13–30)at diagnosis and 27.8years (range, 18.2–36.1)at completion of HPV vaccination. Median follow-up was 17.1 months. Three doses were administered in 22 patients (62.9%). Fifteen patients (42.9%) had cervical dysplasia and 20 (57.1%) had invasive carcinoma. Squamous histology was present in 18 cases (51.4%) and adenocarcinoma in 17 cases (48.6%). All patients with invasive carcinoma had stage I disease while 10 (50%) had lymphovascular space invasion. Thirty patients (85.7%) had fertility-sparing surgery and 32 (91.4%) were treated with surgery alone. At the time of last follow-up, 32 patients (91.4%) had no evidence of disease, 2 had persistent HPV infection and 1 had recurrence carcinoma treated with pelvic exenteration. Conclusions Cervical dysplasia and malignancy after HPV vaccination can occur, and a majority of cases are HPV associated, suggesting incomplete coverage of the vaccine or vaccination after HPV exposure. In our series, all vaccinations occurred after the CDC recommended age of 11–12 years old, which highlights the need to complete vaccination prior to HPV exposure, in addition to continued screening for cervical cancer per guidelines.
An audit of Pediatrics Inpatients in General Pediatrics Department of Tertiary Care Children’s Hospital

Introduction: In Nepal currently there are very few reports about disease spectrum in pediatric inpatients. This study was conducted to determine the pattern of morbidity among pediatric inpatients aiming that the result thus obtained will help in proposing strategies for future healthcare planning and resource allocation. Methods: This was a descriptive cross sectional study conducted at Kanti Children’s Hospital from January 2017 to December 2017, after taking ethical approval from Institutional Review Committee (Ref. no:14/075-076) of the hospital. Data on age, sex, diagnosis, date of admission and discharge was extracted from hospital record of 5,128 admitted children. Data were entered into MS Excel and analyzed using SPSS 16. The results were expressed as number, proportion and median. Results: Out of 5,128 admitted patients 3,240 (63.18%) were male and 1,888 (36.81%) female. Children between 1 to 60 months were 3,225 (62.89%) of which infant constitute 1617 (50.13%). The leading causes of hospitalization were pneumonia, sepsis, enteric fever, bronchiolitis, congenital heart diseases and nephrotic syndrome constituting 898 (17.51%), 658 (12.83%), 274 (5.34%), 268 (5.22%), 227 (4.42%) and 221 (4.30%) of total admission respectively. System-wise, respiratory tract infection 1,308 (25.50%) was most common followed by ‘Other infectious diseases’ 1069 (20.85%), nephrology 607 (11.83%), gastro-intestinal tract 592 (11.54%), neurology 487 (9.49%), hematology 281 (5.47%) and cardiac system 278 (5.42%). Conclusions: Majority of the children affected were under-five, residing outside the capital city. Respiratory infection and other infectious diseases were major cause of childhood morbidity. Programs like Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illness (IMNCI) needs to be strengthened, in resource poor country like ours. Keywords: Inpatients; morbidity; neonate.
Reactive Power Measurement in Three-Phase Unbalanced Circuits Using Two Wattmeters:

A procedure to measure reactive power in three-phase unbalanced circuits using two wattmeters is presented. The total reactive power is obtained as an algebraic sum of two wattmeter readings. The v...
Seismic Repair of Circular Reinforced Concrete Bridge Columns by Plastic Hinge Relocation with Grouted Annular Ring

Modern seismic design practice for bridge structures involves the implementation of capacity design principles which localize plastic hinges in columns, while protecting against other modes of fail...
Design and Application of the Mobile Operation Interaction Equipment in Electric Energy Metering

In view of the present situation and function demand of the on-site operation technology of electric energy metering, an interactive technology architecture based on intelligent terminal is proposed. The mobile operation interaction equipment is also designed based on this architecture, which consists of an interactive communication module and data acquisition modules. The mobile operation interaction equipment uses modular design concept to realize the cooperative operation between the intelligent terminal and the mobile operation interaction equipment. The intelligent terminal software and the task management platform had been developed, which achieves the whole process management of the task operation. It provides technical support for the intelligent level of the on-site operation of electric energy metering and the improvement of operation efficiency.
A role for neonatal bacteremia in deaths due to intestinal perforation: spontaneous intestinal perforation compared with perforated necrotizing enterocolitis.

To examine the relationship between intestinal perforations (caused by either spontaneous perforation (SIP) or necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC)) and the outcome “death due to intestinal perforation”. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to compare infants <28 weeks’ gestation with SIP (n = 32) and perforated-NEC (n = 45) for the outcome perforation-related death. In univariate analyses the incidence of death due to perforation was higher among infants with perforated-NEC (36%) than infants with SIP (13%). However, infants with perforated-NEC were more likely to be older than 10 days and have bacteremia/fungemia with non-coagulase-negative staphylococci (non-CONS) organisms than infants with SIP. After adjusting for confounding the only variable that was significantly associated with mortality due to perforation was the presence of non-CONS bacteremia/fungemia at the onset of perforation. The apparent association between death and perforated-NEC could be explained by the higher incidence of non-CONS bacteremia/fungemia among infants with perforated-NEC.
Effect of interstitial oxygen and nitrogen on incipient plasticity of NbTiZrHf high-entropy alloys

Abstract In this work, instrumented nanoindentation was employed to investigate the effect of interstitial oxygen or nitrogen addition on the incipient plasticity and dislocation nucleation in a body-centered cubic NbTiZrHf high-entropy alloy (HEA) at loading rates of 10–1000 µN/s. We conducted quantitative statistical analysis and density functional theory (DFT) calculations to identify the role of interstitial oxygen/nitrogen during the onset of plasticity. Synchrotron X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy were also performed to confirm that the oxygen/nitrogen atoms were indeed present as interstitial solutes. These interstitial solutes could increase the critical shear stress required to initiate plasticity, and nitrogen yielded a larger hardening effect than oxygen. The activation volumes were evaluated to be about 2–3 atomic volumes, indicating cooperative migration of multiple atoms during the dislocation nucleation, and neither oxygen nor nitrogen appeared to significantly affect this activation process. Hardness tests were also carried out and the result demonstrated that the enhancement of the critical shear stress for incipient plasticity was not caused by the traditional solid-solution strengthening mechanism. DFT calculations revealed that oxygen/nitrogen interstitials induced local charge transfer and improved the lattice cohesion, which was probably responsible for the enhanced pop-in load/stress in the current interstitially alloyed HEAs.
Changes in Drug List Prices and Amounts Paid by Patients and Insurers.

Importance High out-of-pocket drug costs can cause patients to skip treatment and worsen outcomes, and high insurer drug payments could increase premiums. Drug wholesale list prices have doubled in recent years. However, because of manufacturer discounts and rebates, the extent to which increases in wholesale list prices are associated with amounts paid by patients and insurers is poorly characterized. Objective To determine whether increases in wholesale list prices are associated with increases in amounts paid by patients and insurers for branded medications. Design, Setting, and Participants Cross-sectional retrospective study analyzing pharmacy claims for patients younger than 65 years in the IBM MarketScan Commercial Database and pricing data from SSR Health, LLC, between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2016. Pharmacy claims analyzed represent claims of employees and dependents participating in employer health benefit programs belonging to large employers. Rebate data were estimated from sales data from publicly traded companies. Analysis focused on the top 5 patent-protected specialty and 9 traditional brand-name medications with the highest total drug expenditures by commercial insurers nationwide in 2014. Data were analyzed from July 2017 to July 2020. Exposures Calendar year. Main Outcomes and Measures Changes in inflation-adjusted amounts paid by patients and insurers for branded medications. Results In this analysis of 14.4 million pharmacy claims made by 1.8 million patients from 2010-2016, median drug wholesale list price increased by 129% (interquartile range [IQR], 78%-133%), while median insurance payments increased by 64% (IQR, 28%-120%) and out-of-pocket costs increased by 53% (IQR, 42%-82%). The mean percentage of wholesale list price accounted for by discounts increased from 17% in 2010 to 21% in 2016, and the mean percentage of wholesale list price accounted for by rebates increased from 22% in 2010 to 24% in 2016. For specialty medications, median patient out-of-pocket costs increased by 85% (IQR, 73%-88%) from 2010 to 2016 after adjustment for inflation and 42% (IQR, 25%-53%) for nonspecialty medications. During that same period, insurer payments increased by 116% for specialty medications (IQR, 100%-127%) and 28% for nonspecialty medications (IQR, 5%-34%). Conclusions and Relevance This study’s findings suggest that drug list prices more than doubled over a 7-year study period. Despite rising manufacturer discounts and rebates, these price increases were associated with large increases in patient out-of-pocket costs and insurer payments.
Prenatal care experiences among pregnant women with obesity in Wisconsin, United States: a qualitative quality improvement assessment.

Stigma and bias experienced during prenatal care can affect quality of care and, ultimately, the health of pregnant women with obesity and their infants. We sought to 1) better understand the bias and stigma that women with BMIs ≥40 kg/m2 experience while receiving prenatal care, 2) gauge women’s interest in group prenatal education for women with obesity, and 3) gather feedback about their preferred weight-related terminology. We conducted and thematically content-analyzed 30 semi-structured interviews of women with BMIs ≥40 kg/m2 who received prenatal care at a university-affiliated teaching hospital in the Midwest region of the United States. All women recalled positive experiences during their perinatal care during which they felt listened to and respected by providers. However, many also described a fear of weight-related bias or recalled weight-based discrimination. Women reacted favorably to a proposed group prenatal care option for pregnant women with obesity that focused on nutrition, physical activity, and weight management. Women rated “weight” and “BMI” as the most desirable terms for describing weight, while “large size” and “obesity” were rated least desirable. Many pregnant women with BMIs ≥40 kg/m2 experience bias in the prenatal care setting. Potential steps to mitigate bias towards weight include improving provider awareness of the experiences and perspectives of this population, expanding prenatal care options targeted towards women with high BMIs, including group care, and using patient-preferred weight-related terminology. Through the remainder of this manuscript, wherever possible, the term “high BMI” will be used in place of the term “obesity” to describe women with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 in order to respect the preferred terminology of the women we interviewed.
Millennial and generation Z digital marketing communication and advertising effectiveness: A qualitative exploration

Millennials are among the largest age cohorts in United States commanding the strong buying power. They are digital natives perplexing the marketing world to develop effective digital advertising s...
An Improved Height Difference Based Model of Height Profile for Drop-on-Demand 3D Printing With UV Curable Ink

This paper proposes an improved height profile model for drop-on-demand 3D printing with UV curable ink. It is extended from a previously validated model and computes height profile indirectly from volume and area propagation to ensure volume conservation. To accommodate multi-layer printing of 2D patterns, volume change and area change within a region of interest are modeled as piecewise functions of height differences before and after drop deposition. Model coefficients are experimentally obtained and validated with bootstrapping of experimental samples. Six different drop patterns are experimentally validated. The RMS height profile errors for multi-layer 2D patterns from the proposed model are consistently smaller than existing models from literature and are on the same level as multi-layer 1D patterns reported in our previous publication.
Improved composite open-hole compression strength and trade-off with manufacturability controlled by stacking sequence effect and non-standard ply angles

Abstract The design of composite laminates requires consideration of part strength and manufacturability, both of which are controlled by ply angle and stacking sequence. This paper studies the open-hole compression strength and forming compatibility of laminates designed with standard angle (SA) and non-standard ply angle (NSA) layups using four different stacking sequence patterns. When increasing interply ply angle differences to provide greater interply lock-up, experimental test results show that dispersed stacking sequences improve failure strength of NSA laminates by up to 36%. Dispersed stacking patterns allow NSA laminates to consistently outperform reference SA laminates with increased failure strengths of up to 17%, indicating that this alternative design may produce stronger structural components. Results for stacking sequences of NSA laminates also reflect an inverse relationship between failure strength and formability. This implies an underlying trade-off between structural strength and manufacturing compatibility, which is worth considering when designing laminates for complex geometries.
Analysis of Suture Manipulation Forces for Teleoperation with Force Feedback

Despite many successes with teleoperated robotic surgical systems, some surgeons feel that the lack of haptic (force or tactile) feedback is detrimental in applications requiring fine suture manipulation. In this paper, we study the difference between applied suture forces in three knot tying exercises: hand ties, instrument ties (using needle drivers), and robot ties (using the da Vinci? Surgical System from Intuitive Surgical, Inc.). Both instrument and robot-assisted ties differ from hand ties in accuracy of applied force. However, only the robot ties differ from hand ties in repeatability of applied force. Furthermore, comparison between attendings and residents revealed statistically significant differences in the forces used during hand ties, although attendings and residents perform similarly when comparing instrument and robot ties to hand ties. These results indicate that resolved force feedback would improve robot-assisted performance during complex surgical tasks such as knot tying with fine suture.
A Receiver-Driven Transport Protocol for the Web

In this paper, we present a receiver-oriented, request/response protocol for the Web that is compatible with the dynamics of TCP's congestion control algorithm. The protocol, called WebTP, is designed to be completely receiver-based in terms of transport initiation, flow-control and congestion-control. We propose a dual window-cum-rate based congestion control mechanism that is compatible with parallel TCP flows, and in fact interacts better with a congested network state. In support of our receiver-driven design, we developed a novel retransmission scheme that is robust to delay variations. The resulting flows achieve efficient network utilization and are qualitatively fair in their interaction amongst themselves and even with competing TCP flows. The paper also provides detailed simulation results to support the protocol design.
Rapid evolution of the visual system: a cellular assay of the retina and dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the Spanish wildcat and the domestic cat

The large Spanish wildcat, Felis silvestris tartessia, has retained features of the Pleistocene ancestor of the modern domestic cat, F. catus. To gauge the direction and magnitude of short-term evolutionary change in this lineage, we have compared the retina, the optic nerve, and the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) of Spanish wildcats and their domestic relatives. Retinas of the two species have the same area. However, densities of cone photoreceptors are higher in wildcat-- over 100% higher in the area centralis--whereas rod densities are as high, or higher, in the domestic lineage. Densities of retinal ganglion cells are typically 20–100% higher across the wildcat retina, and the total ganglion cell population is nearly 70% higher than in the domestic cat. These differences are confined to the populations of beta and gamma retinal ganglion cells. In contrast, the population of alpha cells is almost precisely the same in both species. The wildcat LGN is much larger than that of the domestic cat and contains approximately 50% more neurons. However, cell size does not differ appreciably in either the retina or LGN of these species. The differences in total numbers of ganglion cells and LGN neurons correspond neatly to the overall decline in brain size in the domestic lineage and to allometric predictions based on average species differences in body size. We suggest that an increase in the severity of naturally occurring cell death is the most plausible mechanism that can account for the rapid evolutionary reduction in cell populations in this feline lineage.
Universal Behavior of $D$-dimensional Superstring Models

We derive the asymptotic form ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}a}$${e}^{\mathrm{bm}}$ of the density of states for general D-dimensional models of open and closed (super)strings. We find the leading behavior to be essentially model independent. It depends only on the (super)reparametrization properties of the world sheet and the value of the string mass scale (the Regge slope). We investigate the thermodynamic behavior of an ``ideal string gas'' implied by this density of states. Such a system is stable for all open strings as well as for closed strings with D\ensuremath{\le}3. In this case the Hagedorn temperature ${T}_{H}$=1/b is the maximum temperature of the system. An ideal gas of closed strings with Dg3 exhibits critical behavior at T=${T}_{H}$ with the space-time dimension D determining the system's critical-point exponents. The possibility that T=${T}_{H}$ is a multicritical point is also examined.
CFD Model of a Planar Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell: Base Case and Variations

A three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model has been created to model high-temperature steam electrolysis in a planar solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC). The model represents a single cell, as it would exist in an electrolysis stack. Details of the model geometry are specific to a stack that was fabricated by Ceramatec, Inc. and tested at the Idaho National Laboratory. Mass, momentum, energy, and species conservation and transport are provided via the core features of the commercial CFD code FLUENT. A solid-oxide fuel cell (SOFC) module adds the electrochemical reactions and loss mechanisms and computation of the electric field throughout the cell. The FLUENT SOFC user-defined subroutine was modified for this work to allow for operation in the SOEC mode. Model results provide detailed profiles of temperature, Nernst potential, operating potential, activation over-potential, anode-side gas composition, cathode-side gas composition, current density and hydrogen production over a range of stack operating conditions. Mean model results are shown to compare favorably with experimental results obtained from an actual ten-cell stack tested at INL. Mean per-cell area-specific-resistance (ASR) values decrease with increasing current density, consistent with experimental data. Predicted mean outlet hydrogen and steam concentrations vary linearly with current density, as expected. Effects of variations in operating temperature, gas flow rate, cathode and anode exchange current density, and contact resistance from the base case are presented. Discussion of thermal neutral voltage, enthalpy of reaction, hydrogen production, cell thermal efficiency, cell electrical efficiency, and Gibbs free energy are discussed and reported herein.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Cell Traction Forces Direct Fibronectin Matrix Assembly

Interactions between cells and the surrounding matrix are critical to the development and engineering of tissues. We have investigated the role of cell-derived traction forces in the assembly of extracellular matrix using what we believe is a novel assay that allows for simultaneous measurement of traction forces and fibronectin fibril growth at discrete cell-matrix attachment sites. NIH3T3 cells were plated onto arrays of deformable cantilever posts for 2-24 h. Data indicate that developing fibril orientation is guided by the direction of the traction force applied to that fibril. In addition, cells initially establish a spatial distribution of traction forces that is largest at the cell edge and decreases toward the cell center. This distribution progressively shifts from a predominantly peripheral pattern to a more uniform pattern as compressive strain at the cell perimeter decreases with time. The impact of these changes on fibrillogenesis was tested by treating cells with blebbistatin or calyculin A to tonically block or augment, respectively, myosin II activity. Both treatments blocked the inward translation of traction forces, the dissipation of compressive strain, and fibronectin fibrillogenesis over time. These data indicate that dynamic spatial and temporal changes in traction force and local strain may contribute to successful matrix assembly.
Effect of iontophoresis of vasopressin on lateral septal neurons.

Abstract In rats, arginine-vasopressin (AVP) iontophoretically applied to lateral septal neurons activated by fimbria stimulation produced a decrease in the amplitude of the fimbria-evoked field response and a decrease in the frequency of fimbria-evoked action potentials. A second group of rats, treated with α-methyl-p-tyrosine, showed a significantly smaller decrease in responses after AVP iontophoresis, suggesting an interaction between catecholamines and AVP at the synaptic level.
Transient Cardiac Effects in a Child with Acute Cholinergic Syndrome Due to Rivastigmine Poisoning

Abstract Background We report a case of rivastigmine poisoning resulting in a full cholinergic syndrome with nicotinic, muscarinic, and central effects requiring supportive or intensive care in a pediatric patient. Case Report A 3-year-old girl was admitted to the Emergency Department suspected of having ingested one or two pills of rivastigmine. The child was hyporeactive, with symptoms of altered mental status, sialorrhea, sweating, and diarrhea. Subsequently, she started showing signs of respiratory failure, severe tracheobronchial involvement, and gastric and abdominal distension. An electrocardiogram recorded frequent monomorphic ventricular ectopic beats with bigeminy and trigeminy. Long-term follow-up showed a transient dysrhythmia. Conclusion Poisoning with rivastigmine can be a life-threatening condition. Timely identification and appropriate management of the toxic effects of this drug are essential and often life-saving. This is particularly true in cases of cholinergic syndrome subsequent to drug poisoning. Patients with cholinergic syndrome should also be assessed for possible cardiac complications such as dysrhythmias. The main factors predisposing to the development of such complications are autonomic disorder, hypoxemia, acidosis, and electrolyte imbalance.
xdProf: a tool for the capture and analysis of stack traces in a distributed Java system

We describe the design and implementation of xdProf: a tool that captures and analyzes stack traces sent at a fixed interval from Java Virtual Machines in a distributed system. The xdProf client uses the Java Virtual Machine Profiling Interface and works with any compliant implementation; no access to application source code is necessary, no library modifications are needed, and there is no run-time instrumentation of Java byte code. Configuration options given at virtual machine startup specify the interval for stack trace transmission and the remote xdProf server. The xdProf server collects information from multiple xdProf clients and provides an extensible interface for analysis. Current tools include a graphical user interface for viewing the most recent stack traces from multiple virtual machines and the generation of control flow graphs for each virtual machine. The performance impact of the xdProf client sending data over a local area network is minimal: less than a 8% increase in total elapsed time for a set of standard benchmarks. Future plans include real-time visualization, reliability estimation, trace capture, and performance analysis.
ω-N-methylarginine in histones

Abstract The amount of ω-N-methylarginine in various proteins was determined.All the histones isolated from rat liver nuclei contained the amino acid. On the other hand, histones from calf thymus contained only a neglegible amount. Among the histones from rat liver, slightly lysine-rich histone had the highest amount. The cytosol fraction of rat liver appeared to be lacking this amino acid.
On the Penetrator Nose Drag Measurements

In the current study, a rigid body penetrator nose shape that is optimized for minimum penetration drag [1] has been tested to determine the aerodynamic drag of such a penetrator in comparison to three additional nose shapes. Other nose shapes tested were an ogive cylinder, a 3/4 power series nose, and a standard cone. Fineness ratio for the studied nose geometries was chosen as l/d = 1 to maximize variation of the aerodynamic drag forces acting on the nose shapes. This paper discusses the measurements carried out in the University of Alabama’s 6″ × 6″ supersonic wind tunnel, using a 4 component force balance system. In separate experiments, drop tests were made in a viscous fluid to determine the skin-friction effects on these nose shapes. Supersonic wind-tunnel experiments were performed on each of the nose shapes at nine different Mach numbers ranging from 2 to 3.65. Results show that the nose shape optimized for penetration has the lowest drag coefficient of all the shapes at each Mach number within an uncertainty of 5.75%. In the viscous flow drop-test experiments, each nose shape was dropped from rest through water and then separately through viscous fluid (Nu-Calgon vacuum pump oil) under freefall conditions. Each drop was recorded via videotape, and the video was then analyzed to find the terminal velocity of each individual nose shape. Using classical dynamics equations, the weight, buoyant force, and experimentally determined terminal velocity are used to determine the drag force applied to each nose cone shape. Results indicate that while the optimal shape has a lesser drag coefficient than tangent ogive and the cone, the 3/4 power series shape is observed to have the least drag coefficient. In addition to the experiments performed, results on further investigation of the optimal nose shape for penetration are presented. The nose shape has been split into a series of line segments, and a program written has been utilized to search through numerical space for the combination of line segment slopes that produces the nose geometry with the lowest nose shape factor. The results of the numerical analysis in this study point to a different nose shape than the “optimal nose” shape tested in the current study.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Incomplete contracts, renegotiation, and the choice between bank loans and public debt issues

In a two-period model where an investment project is funded with standard debt, the probability distribution of final cash flow is determined, at the interim date, by an unverifiable state of nature together with a choice by the controlling party (entrepreneur or creditor). With a control allocation contingent on a noisy default signal, renegotiation may improve efficiency in two ways: (i) reduce excessive risk-taking – due to the entrepreneur's moral hazard – through debt forgiveness; (ii) avoid the costs of financial distress associated with excessive liquidation or underinvestment by debt-holders, by letting them receive an equity stake in the firm. Such efficiency gain is an advantage of bank loans over publicly traded debt, given that the former are more easily renegotiated than the latter. The difference between the two types of debt is increasing in the degree of contractual incompleteness (noise present in the default signal) and in the portion of project value accounted for by future discretionar...
Modeling and Analysis of 1-3 Piezoelectric Composites

Theoretical results of the material properties of piezoelectric composites are generally limited to the transversely isotropic composites and are usually given in the form of upper and lower bounds. In most of these analyses all the material constants cannot be determined. However, the method of effective field has been used on a transversely isotropic piezoelectric composite to theoretically calculate all the ten material properties. In this work an alternative method to determine all the elastic, dielectric and piezoelectric coupling constants of 1-3 piezoelectric composite with periodic arrangement of fibers are investigated by using finite element analysis on a unit cell model. FEA of unit cell models for hexagonal, square with diagonal and square with edge orientation topologies are performed. Different mechanical and electrical loading patterns and their corresponding boundary conditions are formulated and simulated to get data necessary for deriving the various anisotropic material constants. FEA results are compared with those of the theoretical work. Effect of different parameters e.g. volume fraction, topology and electrical boundary conditions on the different material constants are discussed.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Strategies for the Implementation of Federal Education Policies: Compliance and Incentives.

The effective exercise of governmental authority in a democratic society cannot be based solely on hierarchical commands. Compliance with law, regulation, and directives is achieved only when those who are asked to comply accept the legitimacy of authoritative requests. The possibilities for evasion are too great in a polity with as many political, judicial, and organizational courts of appeal as are provided by the structure of American government. However, it does not follow that law is lacking in force or that administrative hierarchies which enforce laws are totally dependent upon good will for their effectiveness. Coercion in behalf of law is a necessary ingredient of governmental authority. The difficult question is to determine the appropriate mix of coercion and persuasion for particular sets of problems. Administrators must devise rules for compliance which satisfy key political actors, and this is a very different task from that of devising a mix of implementation strategies which are calculated to be effective. The question of appropriate strategies is thus a fertile one for policy analysis. If one can develop reliable knowledge about such questions, which is drawn from concrete historical experience, it may be useful to policymakers, who borrow ideas rather than develop them. One point of departure is the recognition that the Federal Government relies on both command and persuasion, sometimes separately and often in combination. I will use the terms compliance and incentives to describe these two strategies. Webster defines compliance as "a complying, or
Psychiatric diagnosis in clinical practice: Is comorbidity being missed?

The recognition of comorbidity has important clinical significance. Comorbidity predicts a poorer outcome for patients with depressive and anxiety disorders, and the presence of multiple psychiatric disorders is associated with greater psychosocial impairment. In routine clinical settings, an unstructured interview is typically used to assess patients. However, unstructured interviews may result in missed diagnoses, with potential negative clinical consequences. The goal of the present study was to examine whether diagnostic comorbidity is less frequently identified during a routine clinical evaluation versus a semistructured diagnostic interview. Axis I diagnoses derived from structured and unstructured clinical interviews were compared in two groups of psychiatric outpatients in the same practice setting. Five hundred individuals presenting for an intake appointment to a general adult psychiatric practice underwent a routine unstructured clinical interview. Subsequent to completion of the first study, the method of conducting diagnostic evaluations was changed and 500 individuals were interviewed with the Structural Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID). The two groups had similar demographic characteristics and scored similarly on symptom questionnaires. Individuals interviewed with the SCID were assigned significantly more axis I diagnoses than individuals assessed with an unstructured interview. More than one third of the patients interviewed with the SCID were diagnosed with three or more disorders, in contrast to fewer than 10% of the patients assessed with an unstructured interview. Fifteen disorders were more frequently diagnosed in the SCID sample, and these differences occurred across mood, anxiety, eating, somatoform, and impulse-control disorder categories. The results suggest that in routine clinical practice, clinicians underrecognize diagnostic comorbidity. Anxiety, somatoform, and not otherwise specified (NOS) disorders were the most frequently underdetected disorders. The implications of underdiagnosis for the treatment outcome are discussed.
Radiobiological properties of human hematopoietic and stromal marrow cells

Effective hematopoiesis requires the presence of normal hematopoietic progenitors and a supporting microenvironment. Impairment of one of these marrow compartments will result in marrow failure. Total body irradiation (TBI) followed by bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is becoming an established modality in the treatment of malignant hematopoietic disorders. The objectives of irradiation are to ablate host marrow and immunocompetent cells as well as to eradicate neoplastic cells. Although leukemic cells are thought to have the same radiobiological characteristics as their normal counterparts, it has been proposed recently that some leukemic cells may possess a substantial capacity to repair sublethal radiation damage. Thus, radiation administered at different dose rates or fractions might differ in its ability to ablate malignant cells and consequently affect the relapse rate in the post-transplant period. Different modes of irradiation can also affect the proliferative capacity and the hematopoietic supportive function of the marrow microenvironment. Bone marrow ablation must be accomplished with the least possible damage to other tissues. Impairment of the proliferative capacity of the marrow microenvironment or its hematopoietic supportive function can result in graft failure in the post-transplant period. In this review, we discuss the radiobiological characteristics of normal hematopoietic, leukemic and stromal cells and their relevance to bone marrow transplantation.
Acute leukemia in adults: novel allogeneic transplant strategies.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common indication for hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Significant improvements in histocompatibility testing have resulted in identifying better alternative donors to provide grafts; coupled with expanding use of reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) regimens, patient outcomes have improved. Most AML patients in complete remission now can undergo allogeneic HCT procedures with an anticipated result that approaches that obtained with sibling donors and myeloablative conditioning (MAC). Treatment-related mortality (TRM), relapse, GVHD and, for umbilical cord blood (UCB) grafts, slow engraftment/engraftment failures, however, continue to plague HCT. Newer strategies include the use of double unit UCB HCT and ex vivo expansion of UCB units using: multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs); polyamine copper chelator tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA); and Notch ligand. Haploidentical bone marrow and blood HCT are increasing in numbers given the improved outcome wi...