cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modeling the interaction between the atmospheric and oceanic boundary layers, including a surface wave layer

Abstract The interaction between the atmospheric and oceanic boundary layers is simulated by solving a closed system of equations including equations of motion, turbulent kinetic energy (TKE), turbulent exchange coefficient (TEC), expressions for air and sea stratification, and processess of air-sea interaction that account for the wave layer. The wave layer is characterized by discontinuities of velocity,.TKE, and mean wind energy across the interface. The mechanism of energy transferred across the interface is taken into account by the method of bulk aerodynamic parameterization. Influences of wave effects on the vertical structure of air-sea turbulence and dynamics are studied numerically by variations of the surface wave state, and by variations of atmospheric stability. The results demonstrate that diffusion plays an important part in the TKE budget, at least near the interface, and the wave layer acts as an additional source of TKE for the lower/upper parts of atmosphere/sea. The computational resul...
Lack of Improvement: A National Assessment of Readmission Rates After Pediatric Bladder Reconstruction

Background: Bladder reconstruction in the pediatric population is challenging for many reasons, including perioperative complications and readmissions. Objectives: On a national scale, determine readmission rates at 30, 60 and 90 days after bladder reconstruction in a pediatric population over a 7-year period, evaluating the influence of hospital and patient-specific variables. Patients and Methods: Using the Pediatric Health Information System database, we identified patients 0-17 years of age, from 2004-2010, undergoing bladder reconstruction using ICD-9 procedure codes. Descriptive statistics characterized demographics, prevalence of surgeries, and readmission rates. Surgery prevalence over time was examined using linear regression. Readmission rates were compared using the Chi2 test. Regression was used to evaluate the influence of variables on readmission risk. Results: We identified 1,985 patients for inclusion, of which 52.7% were female. Median age was 9 years. There has been no change in the prevalence of bladder reconstruction surgeries (P = 0.327). There was no change in 30-day (P = 0.272), 60-day (P = 0.788) or 90-day readmission rates (P = 0.924). Despite surgical volume adjustment, 90-day readmission rates did not significantly vary among the majority of hospitals. Initial LOS > 7 days (P < 0.001) and complex chronic condition males (P < 0.001) were significantly associated with 90-day readmission. Conclusions: No improvement in readmission rates after pediatric bladder reconstruction was observed during the study period. Nearly all centers have a similar readmission rate despite volume adjustment.
Studies of the spinal cord of Galago senegalensis, Compared to that in man

The material for this study of the spinal cord of Galago consisted of five specimens, and, for comparison, all the segments of a human spinal cord. The spinal cord of Galago is very similar to that of the human fetus, which is not as well defined as in the adult. The lumbar enlargement is as great as the cervical one. The examination of cross-sections reveals a significant reduction in the area of the funiculus posterior, which places this animal between rabbit and bear in this regard. However, its relative percentage graphs are very close to those of the rhesus monkey. A cytoarchitectonic study of Galago shows that its neurons are relatively larger than those in man. Topographic cell distribution in this species is very similar to that of man. The areas of the limbs seem to have no correspondence to other regions of the spinal cord. On the whole, in spite of the specialization of movements of the head and hindquarters, the spinal cord of Galago shows a lesser degree of differentiation.
Rethinking the Origins of Federalism: Puzzle, Theory, and Evidence from Nineteenth-Century Europe

This article examines the paradox of how federal political institutions are created: how can a state-building core be unyielding enough to forge a union but accommodating enough to grant federal concessions to subunits? A comparison of the trajectories of national unification in nineteenth-century Germany and Italy indicates that the formation of federations does not come about exclusively through voluntary “contract”; instead, coercion and cooperation go hand in hand in the formation of all states, including federations. Whether the outcome is federal or unitary depends on the level of subunit infrastructural capacity at the moment of founding.The article finds that where the constituents of a potential federation are parliamentary and well governed, they can deliver the benefits of state formation, assuring their continued existence in a federation. Where such subunits are patrimonial and poorly governed, they are absorbed within a unitary model of governance. This institutional explanation supplements accounts emphasizing the cultural sources of federalism and revises arguments that only militarily weak founding cores make federal concessions to their constituents.
The reduction and hydrolysis of some 7,7‐diethylpyrazolo[1,2‐a]‐pyridazine‐6,8(7H)dione derivatives

The chemistry of several of the Diels-Alder adducts formed by the reaction of 4,4-diethylpyrazoline-3,5-dione (1) with conjugated dienes was studied with respect to reduction (hydride and catalytic) and reaction with base. Reaction of the 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene adduct with lithium aluminum hydride followed by hydrogenation gave 1,3,5,6,7,8-hexahydro-cis-endo-6,7-dimethyl-2,2-diethylpyrazolo[1,2-a]pyridazine (11). Attempted conversion of this compound to 3,3-diethyl-cis-7,8-dimethyl-1,5-diazacyclononane (12) gave instead a compound which has been tentatively identified as N-(2,3-dimethyl-4-aminobutyl)-2-ethyl-2-methylbutanaldimine (14). Lithium aluminum hydride reduction of 4,4-diethylpyrazolidine-3,5-dione (22) or the adducts formed from 1 and cyclopentadiene or 1,3-cyclohexadiene gave good yields of 4,4-diethylpyrazolidine (21). This later reduction gave a new and efficient synthetic route to the pyrazolidine ring system. Lithium aluminum hydride reduction of 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,8-ethano-2,2-diethylpyrazolo[1,2-a]pyridazine-1,3(2H)dione (26) followed by hydrogenolysis led to a high yield of 4,4-diethyl-2,6-diazabicyclo[5.2.2]undecane (28) which is the first reported example of this ring system. Reaction of several of the adducts with ethanolic potassium hydroxide resulted in the opening of the five-membered ring.
Identification of the N-linked glycosylation sites on the high density lipoprotein (HDL) receptor SR-BI and assessment of their effects on HDL binding and selective lipid uptake.

The murine class B, type I scavenger receptor mSR-BI, a high density lipoprotein (HDL) receptor that mediates selective uptake of HDL lipids, contains 11 potentialN-linked glycosylation sites and unknown numbers of both endoglycosidase H-sensitive and -resistant oligosaccharides. We have examined the consequences of mutating each of these sites (Asn → Gln or Thr → Ala) on post-translational processing of mSR-BI, cell surface expression, and HDL binding and lipid transport activities. All 11 sites were glycosylated; however, disruption of only two (Asn-108 and Asn-173) substantially altered expression and function. There was very little detectable post-translational processing of these two mutants to endoglycosidase H resistance and very low cell surface expression, suggesting that oligosaccharide modification at these sites apparently plays an important role in endoplasmic reticulum folding and/or intracellular transport. Strikingly, although the low levels of the 108 and 173 mutants that were expressed on the cell surface exhibited a marked reduction in their ability to transfer lipids from HDL to cells, they nevertheless bound nearly normal amounts of HDL. Indeed, the affinity of 125I-HDL binding to the 173 mutant was similar to that of the wild-type receptor. Thus,N-linked glycosylation can influence both the intracellular transport and lipid-transporter activity of SR-BI. The ability to uncouple the HDL binding and lipid transport activities of mSR-BI byin vitro mutagenesis should provide a powerful tool for further analysis of the mechanism of SR-BI-mediated selective lipid uptake.
A Review of Cloud Modeling in Weather Modification

The numerical modeling of clouds has a history almost as long as the modern-day concepts of the seeding of clouds. The various models and theoretical developments emerging from the model results are reviewed in this paper. Significant advances have been made in understanding cloud-seeding effects, which bodes well for the continued application of this form of weather modification in the future.
Non-local density functional theory for the electronic and structural properties of semiconductors

Abstract Calculations have been carried out within the density functional formalism using an exchange-correlation functional with explicit nonlocal dependence on the charge density. The functional includes the effects of the qualitatively different screening in a semiconductor due to the gap in the spectrum. For the test cases of Si and Ge, substantial improvement is found for the minimum gap. The structural properties are in excellent agreement with experiment.
The effects of ryanodine, acetylcholine and epinephrine on electrical and mechanical activity in an insect heart

Abstract 1. 1. Ryanodine, an alkaloid used as an insecticide, has been shown to depress contraction while leaving excitation unaffected in mammalian hearts, an effect presumed to result from uncoupling of the transverse tubular system (TTS) from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). 2. 2. The heart of the adult moth Hyalophora cecropia , a tissue known to have septate junctions between the TTS and SR and a Ca 2+ -spike generating sarcolemma was used to further test this hypothesis. 3. 3. We first report the basic characteristics of the contractile response and demonstrate a negative force-frequency effect, a diminished calcium current ( I Ca 2+ ) in the presence of acetylcholine and an enhanced I Ca 2+ with epinephrine. 4. 4. Ryanodine 10 −8 M added to this preparation slowed the inherent rhythm (interval 0.6–4 sec), depolarized the cells by 10–14 mV, reduced action-potential amplitude (from 66 to 52 mV), prolonged the plateau (from 80 to 280 msec), and decreased d V /d t from 4 to 2.8 V/sec. 5. 5. The magnitude of peak tension was not affected, but the time to peak tension was increased from 160 to 200 msec and the relaxation time was prolonged from 200 to 480 msec. 6. 6. The refractory period was increased, thereby preventing the heart from following increased rates of pacing by externally applied stimuli. 7. 7. We conclude that ryanodine interferes first with the sarcolemmal Ca 2+ -delivery system and then the SR calcium-sequestration system.
Supercritical fluids in medical radioisotope processing and chemistry, Part II: Applications – real and demonstrated

In Part I of this review series, an overview was presented on what the basic properties of supercritical fluids are and how they can, and are being used in many of today's industries as solvents for extraction, chromatography and reaction. A good part of this overview detailed the kinds of equipment needed, and techniques on how to use them for optimal performance. Part II of this series will delve into specific applications of supercritical fluid technology as it relates to aspects of medical isotope processing. The reader will note that very few applications of this technology to Nuclear Medicine have been published. Many potential applications cited within the context of this review derive from preliminary studies carried out in the author's laboratory. These examples are presented to spark interest in future developments of this nature. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The insulin receptor of the turkey erythrocyte. Characterization of the membrane-bound receptor.

Summary The insulin receptor of the turkey erythrocyte has previously been shown to be very similar to that of the mammalian insulin receptors. As a first step in the isolation of this receptor a highly purified plasma membrane fraction has been prepared. The binding characteristics of the purified membrane-bound receptor were identical to those found with intact erythrocytes, but the membrane preparation had very little insulin-degrading activity. Isolation of the membrane by the methods described gave a 100-fold purification of the insulin receptor with 67% yield.
CONTROL OF PORPHYRIN SYNTHESIS IN RHODOPSEUMOMONAS SPHEROIDES.

Abstract 1. 1. Photosynthetic cultures of Rhodopseudomonas spheroides strain Ga, deprived of sulphur do not form bacteriochlorophyll, but do excrete porphyrins. The same is true of cultures of strain M-17 which requires methionine, when deprived of this amino acid. 2. 2. Cultures of strain Ga starved for sulphur and cultures of strain M-17 starved for methionine excrete porphyrins despite increase in light intensity, prevention of protein synthesis, or certain low oxygen tensions, all of which are known to inhibit bacteriochlorophyll synthesis without causing porphyrin excretion. 3. 3. Step-up in light intensity, inhibition of protein synthesis, or certain oxygen tensions which inhibit bacteriochlorophyll synthesis do not prevent strain Ga from converting δ-aminolevulinic acid to porphyrins, even in the presence of methionine and sulphur. These results are interpreted as indicating that control over porphyrin synthesis occurs by a “feed-back” inhibition of δ-aminolevulinic acid synthesis. We suggest that the inhibitor is a precursor of bacteriochlorophyll, that its synthesis requires methionine, and that its conversion to bacteriochlorophyll is prevented by inhibition of protein synthesis, by increase in light intensity, or by oxygen. 4. 4. High oxygen tensions, unlike increase in light intensity or inhibitor of protein synthesis, bring about an inhibition of the conversion of δ-aminolevulinic acid to porphyrins. This suggests that there is an additional control of porphyrin synthesis besides the proposed feedback regulation of δ-aminolevulinic acid formation. 5. 5. Chloromycetin was found to inhibit formation of porphyrins from δ-aminolevulinic acid; this is not due to inhibition of protein synthesis.
Flame radiation and acoustic intensity measurements in acoustically excited diffusion flames

This article describes results of an investigation of the mechanisms responsible for the driving of axial instabilities in solid propellant rocket motors. Specifically, the results of two different experimental methods for measuring the driving of axial acoustic fields by sidewall stabilized diffusion flames are compared. These methods utilize laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV) and CH flame radiation measurements, respectively. The results reveal that the interaction between the acoustic field and the flame produces a space-dependent, oscillatory normal velocity component in the flame region, and oscillatory reaction-and heat-release rates, which depend upon the excited acoustic field. The results suggest that the flame either drives or damps the acoustic fields, depending upon the amplitude and frequency of the excited acoustic wave. In addition, these studies show that the flame driving processes vary within the flame region. The results obtained from the flame radiation measurements are in excellent agreement with those obtained using the velocity measurements.
Improved Preparation of Poly(A) Sepharose and the Isolation of OLIGO(U) Containing Heterogeneous Nuclear RNA from Friend Erythroleukemic Cells

Abstract When poly(A) sepharose (prepared according to previously published procedures) was stored in aqueous buffer at 4°C for 5 days or longer, it bound nonspecifically a high percentage of the input RNA which could not be eluted with formamide. We have found that treatment with ethanolamine, followed by dehydration with ethanol yielded poly(A) sepharose which was stable for many months and possessed a low degree of nonspecific binding. Chromatography on poly(A) sepharose permitted the specific isolation of that fraction of Friend erythroleukemic cell heterogeneous nuclear RNA (hnRNA) which contained oligo(U) sequences. Approximately 10% of the hnRNA which contained a poly(A) sequence [poly(A+)] also contained an oligo(U) sequence. Interestingly, prior HCHO denaturation of the hnRNA enhanced binding of the poly(A+) oligo(U+) hnRNA to poly(A) sepharose by tenfold. This suggested that the oligo(U) sequence may be in a region with secondary structure, possibly an intramolecular duplex with the 3′ poly(A). ...
Fission and the ion-ion interaction

A fission theory based on a preformation probability and the decay of the daughter pair through their associated ion-ion potential is presented. The preformation probability is estimated to be 10−5. The nuclear component of ion-ion potential is determined in a sudden approximation by superposing the ground state densities of the daughter pair and is found to be 60–70 MeV deep. Using observed kinetic energies, absolute lifetimes are calculated for both symmetric and asymmetric fission of U234, Pu240, Cm244, and Cf248 with good results. In addition, the absolute lifetimes associated with the decay of Pu240 into a series of other modes are presented. The relevance of this theory to the isotopic dependence of lifetimes, prompt neutron fission, and subthreshold fission is discussed in qualitative terms. Thus the nuclear fission seems to be a sudden process.
Health literacy and contraception: A readability evaluation of contraceptive instructions for condoms, spermicides and emergency contraception in the USA

Objective To assess readability of over-the-counter (OTC) contraceptive product instructions currently available, compare the results with previous studies from a decade ago, and review the implications for health care providers, in particular pharmacists counseling on OTC contraceptives.Methods A sample of contraceptive instructions was submitted to a readability analysis using four standard readability formulas. Products included condoms, spermicides, and emergency contraception instruction pamphlets.Results Reading grade levels for condoms ranged from 6th to 12th grade. The average reading levels for the spermicides were 9th–10th grade and for the emergency contraceptives 10th–12th grade. These results were consistent with those of similar studies performed a decade ago.Conclusions Consumers need to have at least a high school reading level in order to comprehend current product instructions. Very little has changed in the past decade regarding readability of OTC contraceptive patient instructions, des...
Replicated Data Management for Mobile Computing

Managing data in a mobile computing environment invariably involves caching or replication. In many cases, a mobile device has access only to data that is stored locally, and much of that data arrives via replication from other devices, PCs, and services. Given portable devices with limited resources, weak or intermittent connectivity, and security vulnerabilities, data replication serves to increase availability, reduce communication costs, foster sharing, and enhance survivability of critical information. Mobile systems have employed a variety of distributed architectures from client–server caching to peer-to-peer replication. Such systems generally provide weak consistency models in which read and update operations can be performed at any replica without coordination with other devices. The design of a replication protocol then centers on issues of how to record, propagate, order, and filter updates. Some protocols utilize operation logs, whereas others replicate state. Sys ems might provide best-effort delivery, using gossip protocols or multicast, or guarantee eventual consistency for arbitrary communication patterns, using recently developed pairwise, knowledge-driven protocols. Additionally, systems must detect and resolve the conflicts that arise from concurrent updates using techniques ranging from version vectors to read–write dependency checks. This lecture explores the choices faced in designing a replication protocol, with particular emphasis on meeting the needs of mobile applications. It presents the inherent trade-offs and implicit assumptions in alternative designs. The discussion is grounded by including case studies of research and commercial systems including Coda, Ficus, Bayou, Sybase’s iAnywhere, and Microsoft’s Sync Framework. Table of Contents: Introduction / System Models / Data Consistency / Replicated Data Protocols / Partial Replication / Conflict Management / Case Studies / Conclusions / Bibliography
Is There Hope for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Patient-reported Outcomes in Support of Clinical Decisions?

Imagine if there were reliable, patient-reported assessments of disease activity that could be reported remotely to the physician, who could then make therapy decisions without needing to see the patient in person. While such a tool could greatly facilitate patient care, it is still just a fantasy. In a study reported in this issue of The Journal , Dijkstra, et al 1 sought to replicate previous work with patient-reported outcomes (PRO) using a new format of the assessment tool. In particular they sought to validate a pictorial assessment aid for patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) to perform their own joint counts in the context of typical clinical care; and while the purpose was ostensibly to validate an instrument, they also report their results. Patients at ages of those in this study (12–21 yrs) should be sufficiently mature to read and follow instructions and give answers at a level similar to adults. The patient assessments included a self-administered joint count based on a printed definition … Address correspondence to R.J. Burchette, 100 S. Los Robles Ave., 2nd Floor, Pasadena, California 91101, USA. E-mail: Raoul.J.Burchette{at}kp.org
Searching for genes underlying normal variation in human adiposity

A primary challenge in biomedical research today is the elucidation of the underlying genetic architecture of complex conditions such as obesity. In contrast to simple Mendelian disorders that result from a mutation in a single gene, complex phenotypes are the product of the action (as well as interaction) of multiple genes and environmental factors. The genetic configuration of these genes can range from effectively polygenic (i.e., many genes each with a relatively small contribution) to oligogenic (i.e., a few genes with relatively large measurable effects often expressed on a residual additive genetic background). While the task at hand is complicated, it is not intractable; however, it does require consideration of the nature of the disease and definition of its associated phenotypes in selecting the most appropriate study design. Here we will discuss the characteristics of obesity and its related phenotypes, which must be considered in designing analyses to identify the genes involved as well as reviewing what these approaches have provided in the search for genes influencing adiposity in humans
Amino acid requirements and biological value of proteins for sheep.

An intragastric infusion model was used to determine the biological value of three protein sources for sheep. Biological value was calculated from the regression of urinary nitrogen on nitrogen intake. A caseinâ€"amino acid mixture corre sponding to previously determined metabolic amino acid requirements as well as casein alone and gelatin was studied. The biological values determined were 1.00 for enriched casein, 0.87 for casein and 0.07 for gelatin. The intercept values, which correspond to the endogenous losses, were approximately 245 mg N/kg075 body weight and did not differ significantly between protein sources or experiments. The data support the proposed metabolic amino acid requirements for sheep for maintenance and wool growth. J. Nutr. 117: 1207-1211, 1987.
Overview of the Late Cretaceous, early Paleocene, and early Eocene megafloras of the Denver Basin, Colorado

Late Cretaceous and Paleogene plant fossils collected at 149 localities in the Denver Basin, Colorado, are placed into a stratigraphic framework based on palynostratigraphy, magnetostratigraphy, vertebrate paleontology, geochronology, sequence stratigraphy, electric well logs, and two cored wells. Between 69 and 54 Ma, the Denver Basin accumulated sedimentary rocks that recorded the withdrawal of a seaway, the uplift of a mountain range, and evidence of the Cretaceous-Tertiary and Paleocene-Eocene boundary events. Fossil floras deposited in the Denver Basin record these events as variations of floral composition, species diversity, and leaf margin and size (used to estimate mean annual temperature and precipitation, respectively). Attention to these details and to the position of the floras relative to the basin margins and sedimentary facies allows for the recognition of six megafloral associations (K-L, K-D1, P-D1-West, P-D1-Central, P-D1-East, and E-D2). Preliminary comparison of these assemblages documents: floral change at the K-T boundary; a strong paleoenvironmental gradient probably associated with increased topographic relief along the basin margin in the early Paleocene; and a warmer, drier Eocene vegetation.
Detection of Antibodies to Pasteurella multocida by capture enzyme immunoassay using a monoclonal antibody against P37 antigen

As infection with Pasteurella multocida is common in rabbits, an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was developed for its detection. A murine immunoglobulin G monoclonal antibody was used to capture a 37-kDa polypeptide of P. multocida serotype A:12 in an EIA to detect antibodies to P. multocida. The 37-kDa antigen was selected since it was previously shown to be a major immunogen during P. multocida infection in rabbits. The sensitivity of the P37 EIA, determined with sera from 56 rabbits infected with P. multocida, was 98%. Specificity, evaluated with sera from 62 rabbits from colonies free of P. multocida, was 92%. Titration curves of sera from rabbits immunized with P. multocida serotype A:3 or A:12 coincided, indicating that the P37 EIA was equally efficient in detecting antibodies to the two major serotypes of the organism. Comparison of the P37 EIA with the current serodiagnostic test, a bacterial lysate EIA, revealed relatively good correlation (r = 0.68). However, specificity was greatly improved, as 34% of uninfected rabbits were falsely positive by the lysate EIA whereas only 3% of uninfected rabbits were falsely positive by the P37 EIA. The coefficient of variation for same-day tests was 10%, and that for interday tests was 15%, indicating good reproducibility. The greater sensitivity and specificity of the P37 EIA should significantly enhance diagnostic capability to identify rabbits infected with P. multocida.
Authentic Engagement: Practice with African American Males

This article describes the influence of environment as it relates to the plight of African American males in American society. Person in the environment (PIE) is a theoretical construct used to explain the relationship between one’s environment and life experience. This paper uses PIE as the overarching framework for outlining a strategy for human service practice with the African American male. The authors contend that African American males are particularly challenged as they face institutionalized racism and lack of awareness from practitioners whose task is to assist yet lack the understanding to intervene in an effective manner. Additionally, the authors discuss what is referred to as authentic engagement and propose it as a method useful for all human service practitioners in working with African American males. This article challenges those who work with African American males to broaden their understanding and increase practice effectiveness through the process of authentic engagement.
Internal model generation for evolutionary acceleration of automated robotic assembly optimization

While machine learning algorithms have been successfully applied to a myriad of task configurations for parameter optimization, without the benefit of a virtual representation to permit offline training, the learning process can be costly in terms of time being spent and components being worn or broken. Parameter spaces for which the model is not known or are too complex to simulate stand to benefit from the generation of model approximations to reduce the evaluation overhead. In this paper, we describe a computational learning approach for dynamically generating internal models for Genetic Algorithms (GA) performance optimization. Through the process of exploring the parameter gene pool, a stochastic search method can effectively build a virtual model of the task space and improve the performance of the learning process. Experiments demonstrate that, in the presence of noise, neural network abstractions of the mappings of sequence parameters to their resulting performances can effectively enhance the performance of stochastic parameter optimization techniques. And results are presented that illustrate the benefits of internal model building as it pertains to simulated experiments of complex problems and to physical trials in robot assembly utilizing an industrial robotic arm to put together an aluminum puzzle.
Using Role-Play to Foster Transformational and Social Action Multiculturalism in the ESL Classroom.

This article discusses the use of role-play as an effective strategy for enhancing the quality of multicultural curricula in the English as a second language (ESL) classroom. The author critiques the use of the simplistic additive approach to multicultural instruction and furthers the work of those theorists who advocate the use of the more substantive paradigms: namely, transformational, social action, and reconstructionist multicultural curricula (Banks, 1991, 2006; Epstein, 2010; Pinet, 2006; Sleeter & Grant, 2003). The article discusses evidence, obtained through action research, that contextualizing language teaching through role-play enables teachers to render ESL multicultural instructional objectives more significant and classroom activities more meaningful and engaging. It provides an overview of oral and literacy activities as well as literacy scaffolds and assessment tools developed in conjunction with multicultural role-play units. Included with the text are some instructional materials used in two elementary and secondary level units: Exploring Aztec Roots of Mexican Culture and Amending the U.S. Constitution.
Integrated Redox Proteomics and Metabolomics of Mitochondria to Identify Mechanisms of Cd Toxicity

Cadmium (Cd) exposure contributes to human diseases affecting liver, kidney, lung, and other organ systems, but mechanisms underlying the pleotropic nature of these toxicities are poorly understood. Cd accumulates in humans from dietary, environmental (including cigarette smoke), and occupational sources, and has a twenty-year biologic half-life. Our previous mouse and cell studies showed that environmental low-dose Cd exposure altered protein redox states resulting in stimulation of inflammatory signaling and disruption of the actin cytoskeleton system, suggesting that Cd could impact multiple mechanisms of disease. In the current study, we investigated the effects of acute Cd exposure on the redox proteome and metabolome of mouse liver mitochondria to gain insight into associated toxicological mechanisms and functions. We analyzed redox states of liver mitochondrial proteins by redox proteomics using isotope coded affinity tag (ICAT) combined mass spectrometry. Redox ICAT identified 2687 cysteine-containing peptides (peptidyl Cys) of which 1667 peptidyl Cys (657 proteins) were detected in both control and Cd-exposed samples. Of these, 46% (1247 peptidyl Cys, 547 proteins) were oxidized by Cd more than 1.5-fold relative to controls. Bioinformatics analysis using MetaCore software showed that Cd affected 86 pathways, including 24 Cys in proteins functioning in branched chain amino acid (BCAA) and 14 Cys in proteins functioning in fatty acid (acylcarnitine/carnitine) metabolism. Consistently, high-resolution metabolomics data showed that Cd treatment altered levels of BCAA and carnitine metabolites. Together, these results show that mitochondrial protein redox and metabolites are targets in Cd-induced hepatotoxicity. The results further indicate that redox proteomics and metabolomics can be used in an integrated systems approach to investigate complex disease mechanisms.
SOLVENT EFFECT ON ELECTROPHILIC AND RADICAL SUBSTITUTION OF TOLUENE MONONITRATION REACTIONS

Two kinds of nitrating reagents, a nitronium cation and a nitro radical (·NO2), were used in the gaseous phase toluene mononitration reaction. The closed shell calculation for electrophilic substitution and open shell calculation for radical substitution were both performed in solventless, H2O-solvated, and CH3OH-solvated molecular reaction systems. In the series of electrophilic toluene nitration reactions, both ortho-nitro toluene (o-MNT) and para-nitro toluene (p-MNT) are more abundant products than meta-nitro toluene (m-MNT), no matter what solvent is used in the reaction system. The reaction energy barrier for obtaining each kind of mononitro toluene follows a stepwise decreasing trend when the reaction is carried out in the solventless, H2O-solvated, and CH3OH-solvated systems. In all radical toluene nitration reactions, solventless or solvated, m-MNT is the most abundant product. The energy barrier data also show that the nitration reaction is more feasible in a solvated than in a solventless system. H2O has a more obvious solvent effect than CH3OH in the ·NO2 radical substitution reaction, and the H2O-solvated system provides a lower activation energy reaction path.
Design and testing of a bioabsorbable fixation device

This paper documents the results of a research project to design, fabricate and test bioabsorbable fixation plates and screws that maintain the proper level of stiffness and strength throughout the fracture healing process. The composite implants were fabricated from poly(hydroxy acids), resins and absorbable suture fibers. Mechanical properties used in the finite element analysis were obtained from specimen tests of candidate materials. The finite element models of the fracture fixation site included the fixation implants, bone and callus, and predicted the amount of micro motion at the fracture site. Unfortunately, the bioabsorbable material did not exhibit a high enough initial stiffness to prevent unacceptable micro motion of the fracture site.
Statistical Approach to the Theory of Sintering

Most of our knowledge of the elementary processes occurring during sintering originated from model experiments. However, the study of systems with well defined and uniform geometry cannot furnish sufficient information to describe in some detail the behavior of the whole particle assembly such as a powder compact. Even the kinetics of the first stage of sintering cannot be simply treated by the rates of formation of interfaces between adjacent particles.1, 2, 3 The intermediate stage of sintering which is essentially the shrinkage of a continuous pore phase and the final stage dealing with a discrete pore phase, cannot be represented by simple models, because the Ostwald ripening of the pores is an essential part of the densification process. For this reason the well known Coble4 theory for the intermediate stage of sintering, most recently refined by Beere5, is unsatisfactory. Coble replaced the complex geometry of the compact’s interior by a system of uniform cylindrical pores situated on the edges of polyhedra of uniform size. The grain growth observed during sintering was interpreted as an increase of the length of the polyhedron’s edge with time and the empirical relation for the grain growth was introduced into a differential equation for cylindrical pore shrinkage. In this manner the system of non uniform pores and grains was replaced by one of well defined geometry which reduced the problem to one of the kinetics of shrinkage of an average cylindrical pore in an average geometrical environment. Coble has realized that pore shrinkage and simultaneous increase of their average size, as well as that of the crystalline grains, are mutually interdependent, but within his model he could not formalize these relations.
On the Automatic Parallelization of Sparse and Irregular Fortran Programs

Automatic parallelization is usually believed to be less effective at exploiting implicit paralleism in sparse/irregular programs than in their dense/regular counterparts. However, not much is really known because there have been few research reports on this topic. In this work, we have studied the possibility of using an automatic parallelizing compiler to detect the parallelism in sparse/irregular programs. The study with a collection of sparse/irregular programs led us to some common loop patterns. Based on these patterns three new techniques were derived that produced good speedups when manually applied to our benchmark codes. More importantly, these parallelization methode can be implemented in a parallelizing compiler and can be applied automatically.
Iterative control approach to compensate for the hysteresis and the vibrational dynamics effects of piezo actuators

In this article, an inversion-based iterative control (IIC) approach is used to compensate for both the hysteresis and the vibrational dynamics effects of piezo actuators during high-speed, large-range tracking. We use the Hammerstein model to capture the piezo's input-output behavior and to show the convergence of the iterative control algorithm. The IIC approach is illustrated by applying it to a piezo scanner on a atomic force microscope, and experimental results are presented to demonstrate the efficacy of the IIC technique in accounting for both the hysteresis and vibrational dynamics effects in high-speed, large-range tracking.
Athena — an advanced Nd: glass laser driver for ICF

The design for an advanced, flash-lamp-pumped Nd: glass laser for inertial confinement fusion (ICF) research and applications is summarized. The laser consists of multiple beam lines, each of which delivers 145-kJ, O.35-μm, 8-ns laser pulses, with pulse shape and bandwidth capabilities consistent with requirements for driving ICF capsules to high gain.
An approach to path-splitting in multipath networks

It is proposed that a single connection at the transport layer be implemented as multiple source routes in the network layer, resulting in a balanced loading of network resources. The paths are not necessarily of equal length. The problem of traffic bifurcation at the source, which achieves path splitting, is solved by computing the flows on all the links in the network to minimize a given objective function, such as average delay or packet loss probability. The use of the Join-Biased Queue (JBQ) rule to effect the required traffic splitting is proposed. The superiority of the JBQ rule over other schemes is demonstrated. It is shown that the values obtained for the flows depend on the objective function being optimized. A bound on the size of the destination resequencing buffer, necessary for packets that are received out of order, is computed. >
A Cloud-based Multimodality Case File for Mobile Devices

A cloud database and a Web-based application for radiologic images are described to bolster awareness and development of techniques for editing, storing, and presenting cloud-based radiologic images, particularly for mobile devices, and the advantages and disadvantages of such technology are discussed.
Management of Asymptomatic Bacteriuria in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

OBJECTIVETo review the literature regarding the management of asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) in patients with diabetes mellitus.DATA SOURCESA MEDLINE (1967–June 2003) and bibliographic search of the English-language literature was conducted using the search terms diabetes mellitus, asymptomatic, bacteriuria, and urinary tract infection.DATA SYNTHESISASB occurs in diabetic women more commonly than in non-diabetics and is associated with an increased risk of symptomatic urinary tract infection (UTI) among patients with type 2 diabetes. Symptomatic UTIs tend to follow a more complicated course in diabetics. Despite these independent observations, antimicrobial therapy has not been shown to reduce symptomatic UTIs, pyelonephritis, or hospitalization for UTI.CONCLUSIONAvailable evidence does not support antimicrobial treatment of ASB among patients with diabetes mellitus.
Demodulation of a direct sequence spread-spectrum signal using an optimal time-dependent receiver

The OTDR (optimal time-dependent receiver) is shown to be capable of adaptively despreading, downconverting, and rejecting interference. Only the spreading sequence length and a training sequence consisting of symbols are required for the OTDR to despread the signal. The OTDR does not require prior knowledge of the actual spreading sequence or the carrier frequency. The OTDR is also capable of exploiting the processing gain to enhance the detectability of the spread-spectrum signal. The only prior knowledge required is the spreading sequence length. Computer simulations are presented to demonstrate the principle of the OTDR for despreading and enhancing the detectability of a direct-sequence spread-spectrum signal corrupted by noise and interference. >
Effects of morphine and ketorolac on thermal allodynia induced by prostaglandin E2 and bradykinin in rhesus monkeys.

When administered s.c. in the tail, both prostaglandin E2 (PGE2; 1.58-158.0 micrograms) and bradykinin (BK; 0.01-1.0 microgram) produced a dose-dependent allodynia in a warm-water tail-withdrawal assay in rhesus monkeys. PGE2 (A50 = 5.3 +/- 0.15 microgram) was 143-fold less potent than BK (A50 = 0.037 +/- 0.012 microgram) in producing allodynia at 42 degrees C. However, PGE2 (15.8 micrograms) was longer acting than an equieffective dose of BK (0.1 microgram), and the highest dose of PGE2 (158.0 micrograms) was the only treatment to produce allodynia when 38 degrees C water was used as the thermal stimulus, suggesting that PGE2 was a more efficacious allodynic agent than BK. Morphine (0.1-3.2 mg/kg) administered s.c. in the back completely blocked the allodynic effects of both BK (0.1 microgram) and PGE2 (15.8 micrograms), although morphine was more than twice as potent against BK (A50 = 0.26 +/- 0.085 mg/kg) than against PGE2 (A50 = 0.65 +/- 0.14 mg/kg). The effects of morphine were antagonized by the opioid antagonist quadazocine (0.1 mg/kg), indicating that morphine's effects were mediated by opioid receptors. The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug ketorolac (0.32-10.0 mg/kg) administered s.c. in the back completely blocked the allodynic effects of BK (A50 = 0.60 +/- 0.095 mg/kg) but did not alter allodynia induced by PGE2. The antiallodynic effects of ketorolac against BK were not antagonized by quadazocine (1.0 mg/kg), indicating that these effects were not mediated by mu or kappa opioid receptors. Furthermore, relative to morphine, ketorolac displayed a slower onset and a longer duration of action. These findings suggest that the allodynic effects of BK in this procedure were mediated entirely by cyclooxygenase products of arachidonic acid metabolism, such as PGE2.
The real puzzle of the self-torturer: uncovering a new dimension of instrumental rationality

The puzzle of the self-torturer raises intriguing questions concerning rationality, cyclic preferences, and resoluteness. Interestingly, what makes the case puzzling has not been clearly pinpointed. The puzzle, it seems, is that a series of rational choices foreseeably leads the self-torturer to an option that serves his preferences worse than the one with which he started. But this is a very misleading way of casting the puzzle. I pinpoint the real puzzle of the self-torturer and, in the process, reveal a neglected but crucial dimension of instrumental rationality.
Relative Mean Transit Time Predicts Subsequent Stroke in Symptomatic Carotid Occlusion

Background Mean transit time (MTT) measurements to assess cerebral hemodynamics are easily obtained by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. We reviewed hemodynamic and clinical outcome data from the St. Louis Carotid Occlusion Study to determine if increased MTT was associated with an increased risk of stroke in patients with symptomatic complete carotid artery occlusion. Methods Positron emission tomography (PET) studies of cerebral blood volume-to-cerebral blood flow ratios were used to calculate MTTs. Mean ipsilateral (side of the occluded internal carotid artery)-to-contralateral ratios of MTTs in the middle cerebral artery territories were determined. MTT was tested as a predictor of stroke risk using Cox regression analysis. Receiver operating characteristic curves for stroke risk prediction were generated by varying the mean ispilateral-to-contralateral MTT ratio to identify an optimal cutpoint. Results Increased MTT ratio was associated with an increased risk of ipsilateral stroke ( P P Conclusions PET relative MTT ratio identified patients with symptomatic complete internal artery occlusion who were at high risk for subsequent ipsilateral stroke. Confirmation using measurements of relative MTT from other imaging modalities in a patient cohort receiving contemporary medical management is needed.
Abstract 1526: Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) is associated with non-transporter resistance to taxanes in human ovarian cancer cell

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Taxanes are important drugs in the treatment of ovarian cancers, but their efficacy is limited by intrinsic and acquired drug resistance. Over-expression of the MDR1 gene and its product, P-glycoprotein, is a well-characterized resistance mechanism to taxanes, but non-MDR1 taxane resistance mechanisms are not well elucidated. To study the mechanisms of non-MDR1 multidrug resistance related to taxanes, we established multiple MDR1-negative and MDR1-positive taxane resistant variants from four ovarian cancer cell lines (A2780/1A9, ES-2, MES-OV and OVCAR-3) by continuous exposure of the cells to either paclitaxel or docetaxel with or without the P-glycoprotein inhibitor PSC-833 (Valspodar). We profiled gene expression and gene copy number alterations in these cell lines using cDNA microarrays, and identified a transcriptomic signature that predicts in vitro non-MDR1 resistance, a portion of which was imprinted by gene dosage changes. Functional network analyses for genes associated with the taxane resistance signature revealed two highly significant networks built around FN1 and CDKN1A which are associated with cell adhesion, cell-to-cell signaling and cell cycle regulation. We also identified epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) marker genes which are significantly associated with non-MDR1 resistance. Migration potential in wound-scratch-assay was markedly enhanced in non-MDR1 resistant variants compared to parental cells. Our results suggest that ECM-interacting genes, EMT-like changes and cell cycle regulatory elements may play important roles in resistance to taxanes. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1526.