cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Three dimensional structures of the thermal shock waves around a rapidly moving heat source

This paper investigates the thermal shock formation in a three-dimensional solid due to energy accumulation in preferential direction around a rapidly moving heat source. An analytical method is employed to yield closed form solutions for the temperature field which not only provides an exact means for studying the shock wave structures but also suitable forms readily extendable for the study of the resulting thermal stresses. The temperature field is characterized by a thermal Mach number (M) defined as the ratio of the speed of the moving heat source (ν) to the finite speed of heat propagation (C) in the solid. Mathematically, M = ν/C. In the subsonic range with M < 1, a detailed comparison with the classical diffusion theory is made to reveal the importance of considering the wave nature when the response time is short. At the transonic and in the supersonic range with M ≥ 1, the emphasis is placed on the physical mechanism of the thermal shock formation. All the special features in the two-dimensional theory for the thermal shock formation are preserved in the present three-dimensional analysis. The temperature level, additionally, is found to increase with the distance away from the heat source in the direction perpendicular to the plane containing the moving heat source.
Coulomb Control of Nonequilibrium Fixed Shape Triangular Three-Vehicle Cluster

This paper studies a three-body Coulomb virtual structure control problem. For a formation of three spacecraft flying freely in deep space, actively controlled Coulomb forces are used to stabilize the formation to a shape-fixed triangular configuration. The control problem is challenging because the system is nonlinear and nonaffine, while the direct control of all three sides at the same time is often not implementable using only real charges. Firstly, a two-side switched control strategy is developed to control the two sides with the worst shape errors such that the implementable charge control solution is guaranteed. However, analytical and practical stability issues arise due to the discrete control time steps. Using the multiple Lyapunov functions analysis tool, a stable switched control strategy is set up in a manner such that the activated error function is decreasing rapidly enough to compensate for a potentially increased amount during the last uncontrolled control cycle. Thus all the error functions are made Lyapunov-like and the global stability of the switched control strategy is guaranteed. Perfect convergence to desired triangular shape is not physically achievable with Coulomb forces alone because the general triangular shape is not a natural equilibrium solution. Numerical simulations illustrate the effectiveness of the stable switched control strategy.
A preliminary study of white matter in adolescent depression: relationships with illness severity, anhedonia, and irritability.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) during adolescence is a common and disabling psychiatric condition; yet, little is known about its neurobiological underpinning. Evidence indicates that MDD in adults involves alterations in white and gray matter; however, sparse research has focused on adolescent MDD. Similarly, little research has accounted for the wide variability of symptom severity among depressed teens. Here we aimed to investigate white matter (WM) microstructure between seventeen adolescents with MDD compared to sixteen matched healthy controls (HC) using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). We further assessed within the MDD group relationships between WM integrity and depression severity, as well as anhedonia and irritability—two core symptoms of adolescent MDD. As expected, adolescents with MDD manifested decreased WM integrity compared to HC in the anterior cingulum and anterior corona radiata. Within the MDD group, greater depression severity was correlated with reduced WM integrity in the genu of corpus callosum, anterior thalamic radiation, anterior cingulum, and sagittal stratum. However, anhedonia and irritability were associated with alterations in distinct WM tracts. Specifically, anhedonia was associated with disturbances in tracts related to reward processing, including the anterior limb of the internal capsule and projection fibers to the orbitofrontal cortex. Irritability was associated with decreased integrity in the sagittal stratum, anterior corona radiata, and tracts leading to prefrontal and temporal cortices. Overall, these preliminary findings provide further support for the hypotheses that there is a disconnect between prefrontal and limbic emotional regions in depression, and that specific clinical symptoms involve distinct alterations in WM tracts.
Analgesic requirements and postoperative recovery after scheduled compared to unplanned cesarean delivery: a retrospective chart review.

Abstract Background Studies examining the effects of various analgesics and anesthetics on postoperative pain following cesarean delivery conventionally use the scheduled cesarean population. This study compares postoperative analgesic requirements and recovery profiles in women undergoing scheduled cesarean compared to unplanned cesarean delivery following labor. We postulated that unplanned cesarean deliveries may increase postoperative analgesic requirements. Methods We conducted a retrospective chart review of 200 cesarean deliveries at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, California. We examined the records of 100 patients who underwent scheduled cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia (hyperbaric bupivacaine 12 mg with intrathecal fentanyl 10 μg and morphine 200 μg) and 100 patients that following a trail of labor required unplanned cesarean under epidural anesthesia (10–25 mL 2% lidocaine top-up with epidural morphine 4 mg after clamping of the umbilical cord). We recorded pain scores, analgesic consumption, time to first analgesic request, side effects, and length of hospital stay. Results We found no differences in postoperative pain scores and analgesic consumption between scheduled and unplanned cesarean deliveries for up to five days postoperatively. There were no differences in treatment of side effects such as nausea, vomiting, or pruritus (P > 0.05). Conclusion The results indicate that women experience similar pain and analgesic requirements after scheduled compared to unplanned cesarean delivery. This suggests that the non-scheduled cesarean population may be a suitable pain model to study pain management strategies; and that alterations in pain management are not necessary for the unplanned cesarean delivery population.
Effect of short-term exercise training on leptin and insulin action.

The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of short-term exercise training (7 consecutive days for 60 min/d at 75% maximal oxygen consumption [VO2 max]), which did not change body mass on fasting plasma leptin concentration and insulin action. Young, lean subjects (n = 16; age, 21.9 +/- 0.6 years; body fat, 17.5% +/- 1.5%) and older subjects with relatively more adipose tissue (n = 14; age, 58.6 +/- 1.4 years; body fat, 28.3% +/- 1.3%) were studied (mean +/- SE). Fasting plasma leptin was significantly (P < .05) related to adiposity (fat mass, r = .58; % body fat, r = .76) in this population. Body mass did not change (P < .05) in any of the groups with training (71.8 +/- 2.5 v 71.9 +/- 2.5 kg). The insulin sensitivity index (SI determined from an intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) improved significantly (P < .05) in both the young group (4.8 +/- 0.6 v6.9 +/- 0.8 x 10(-4)/ min (microU/mL) and the older group (3.2 +/- 0.6 v 5.9 +/- 1.0 x 10(-4)/min (microU/mL)). Fasting leptin did not change with training in either group (10.4 +/- 1.6 v 9.2 +/- 1.0 ng/mL). These findings suggest that exercise does not independently affect the fasting plasma leptin concentration and the improvement in insulin action with exercise is not associated with an alteration in fasting leptin in healthy sedentary lean and relatively lean subjects.
Biological evaluation of penetration domain and killing domain peptides.

Background Cancer gene therapy must impact the majority of cells to be effective. Current gene delivery systems are unable to achieve sufficient transfer efficiency to the tumor cells. Cell killing can be dramatically increased through a bystander effect. Modeling the gene product with synthetic peptides can identify key elements for creating cell killing through a bystander effect. Methods Fluorescent labeled peptides were used for uptake kinetic studies and determination of intracellular localization in human glioblastoma cell lines, rat glioma cells lines and pressurized rat cerebral arteries. The degree of cell killing was assayed using propidium iodide coupled with fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis. Results Peptides derived from HIV Tat and Drosophila antennapedia homeodomain were taken up by all tumor and primary cells. Attachment of an Mdm-2-binding domain derived from P14ARF resulted in cell killing and was independent of domain orientation. Uptake kinetics showed rapid uptake for both tumor and primary cells equilibrating with the external media within 10 min. Intraluminal or extraluminal administration of peptides into pressurized cerebral arteries showed a lack of extravasation across the subbasement lamina. Assay of biological activity following intraluminal administration showed selective suppression of response to vasodilation with no effect on response by smooth muscle cells. Conclusions The results from these studies identified: (1) a cell trafficking domain and a cytotoxic domain for killing brain tumor cells; (2) that cell killing was independent of the domain orientations with regard to the cell trafficking domain being at the C-terminus or N-terminus; and (3) that the dual domain peptide can also be taken up by endothelial cells as shown by the cerebral artery studies. Hence, localized expression of the cytotoxic gene has the potential to not only kill brain tumor cells, but also tumor endothelium, thus further increasing the effectiveness of the therapy. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
ON TWO-DIMENSIONAL DYNAMICAL SYSTEMS ASSOCIATED WITH MEMBRANE KINETICS UNDERLYING CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIAS

We study the orbits, stability and coexistence of orbits in the two-dimensional dynamical system introduced by Kline and Baker to model cardiac rhythmic response to periodic stimulation — as a function of (a) kinetic parameters (two amplitudes, two rate constants) and (b) stimulus period. The original paper focused mostly on the one-dimensional version of this model (one amplitude, one rate constant), whose orbits, stability properties, and bifurcations were analyzed via the theory of skew-tent (hence unimodal) maps; the principal family of orbits were so-called "n-escalators", with n a positive integer. The two-dimensional analog (motivated by experimental results) has led to the current study of continuous, piecewise smooth maps of a polygonal planar region into itself, whose dynamical behavior includes the coexistence of stable orbits. Our principal results show (1) how the amplitude parameters control which escalators can come into existence, (2) escalator bifurcation behavior as the stimulus period is lowered — leading to a "1/n bifurcation law", and (3) the existence of basins of attraction via the coexistence of three orbits (two of them stable, one unstable) at the first (largest stimulus period) bifurcation. We consider the latter result our most important, as it is conjectured to be connected with arrhythmia.
Human seminal plasma fosters CD4(+) regulatory T-cell phenotype and transforming growth factor-β1 expression.

PROBLEM Semen mediates expansion of CD4(+) regulatory T cells (Treg) in the murine female reproductive tract. The impact of semen on Treg in humans, however, remains unclear. METHOD OF STUDY Using seminal plasma (SP) from 20 healthy donors, we investigated the impact of human semen on CD4(+) T-cell expression of CD127 and CD49d as well as CD4(+) CD127(low) CD49d(low) Treg proliferation, apoptosis, and intracellular expression of FoxP3, TGF-β1, and IL-10. RESULTS SP reduced CD4(+) T-cell expression of CD127 and CD49d and increased the proportion of CD127(low) CD49d(low) Treg. This increase was non-proliferative, mediated in part via the conversion of CD4(+) helper T cells into FoxP3(-) but not FoxP3(+) Treg. Additionally, SP induced an increase in intracellular expression of the immunosuppressive cytokine TGF-β1 by the FoxP3(-) but not FoxP3(+) Treg. SP had no impact on Treg intracellular expression of IL-10. CONCLUSION Human seminal plasma fosters the non-proliferative increase in the proportion and immunoregulatory activity of FoxP3(-) Treg.
The Stony Brook Superconducting Heavy-Ion Booster Project

A superconducting LINAC to be injected with heavy-ion beams from the Stony Brook FN tandem is described. The basic LINAC elements are lead-plated copper splitloop resonators operated at a frequency of 150 MHz and a temperature of 4.2 K. With the anticipated effective accelerating gradient of 3.0 MV/m, the booster will provide an energy gain of 20 MeV per charge for (Q=19) 58Ni ions, and have a useful mass range of A=16 to about A=100. The linac structure consists of compact independent cryostat modules separated by room temperature quadrupole doublets, each module containing four (s=0.055) or three (s=0.10) independently phased resonators. The tandem beam is bunched at the 16th subharmonic (pulse spacing 107 nsec) to facilitate lifetime and flight time measurements. A post-tandem rebuncher system compresses these bunches into less than ±6° around the -20° mean phase of the LINAC. Existing room geometry dictates charge selection after the first as well as the second stripping. A s=0.055 prototype cavity has already been operated with beam and successfully stabilized to ±0.1° in phase with a computer-controlled RF feedback system. A prototype module of 4 such cavities in a common cryostat is presently under construction.
Neutral points in 138 protanopes and deuteranopes.

Neutral points have been found by means of a rotary mixer and Munsell papers, minimizing any dispersion of individual values by individual ocular pigmentations. Determined thus, the Illuminant C values for 39 new (post-Walls-Mathews) protanopes covered a range of 3.7 mμ with the mean at 492.3 mμ, those for 38 new deuteranopes a range of 5.8 mμ with the mean at 498.4 mμ.Illuminant D values for 13 additional protanopes covered a range of only 3.3 mμ with the mean at 490.3 mμ, those for 15 recent deuteranopes a range of only 5.1 mμ with the mean at 496.2 mμ. The intergroup gap, observed earlier by Walls and Mathews and also here with “C” values, is clearly genuine so that it is possible to diagnose protanopia and deuteranopia differentially from the neutral-point measurement alone (contrary to universal belief).Evidence is presented that Illuminant D is certainly not “too blue” to be considered a physiological white standard, and that by comparison Illuminant C is really yellowish, so that Illuminant D is the better of the two to use in physiological investigations. This supports the earlier conclusion of Walls and Mathews based on color-normal subjects.
On the limitations of bubble functions

Abstract We present two examples that demonstrate no advantage in enriching a finite element subspace with bubble functions.
Identification of a new family of protein phosphatase 2A regulatory subunits.

Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is a major intracellular protein phosphatase that regulates multiple aspects of cell growth and metabolism. The ability of this widely distributed heterotrimeric enzyme to act on a diverse array of substrates is largely controlled by the nature of its regulatory B subunit. Only two gene families encoding endogenous B subunits have been cloned to date, although the existence of several additional regulatory subunits is likely. We have identified by two-hybrid interaction a new human gene family encoding PP2A B subunits. This family, denoted B56, contains three distinct genes, one of which is differentially spliced. B56 polypeptides co-immunoprecipitate with PP2A A and C subunits and with an okadaic acid-inhibitable, heparin-stimulated phosphatase activity. The three B56 family members are 70% identical to each other but share no obvious homology with previously identified B subunits. These phosphatase regulators are differentially expressed, with B56α and B56g highly expressed in heart and skeletal muscle and B56β highly expressed in brain. The identification of this novel phosphatase regulator gene family will facilitate future studies on the control of protein dephosphorylation and the role of PP2A in cellular function.
Analytic solutions to a family of Lotka–Volterra related differential equations

An initial formal analysis of the analytic solution (C.M. Evans and G.L. Findley, J. Math. Chem. 25 (1999) 105–110.) to the Lotka–Volterra (LV) dynamical system is presented. A family of first‐order autonomous ordinary differential equations related to the LV system is derived, and the analytic solutions to these systems are given. Invariants for the latter systems are introduced, and a simple transformation which allows these systems to be reduced to Hamiltonian form is provided.
Dynamics of vortex rings

Abstract It is shown that vortex rings with constant circulation can be described by an energy such that the velocity and impulse of the rings are connected by the usual relation v = ∂E/∂p. This means that in superfluid helium a vortex ring may be regarded as a quasi-particle excitation.
Hepatitis B Virus Genotype B Is Associated With Earlier HBeAg Seroconversion Compared With Hepatitis B Virus Genotype C

Abstract Background & Aims: Recent studies suggest that hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype B is associated with less active liver disease than HBV genotype C. The aim of our study was to determine if HBV genotype B is associated with higher rates of spontaneous hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion compared with genotype C. Methods: A retrospective study using stored sera from 332 Chinese patients with chronic HBV infection followed for a mean of 48 months (range, 12–98) were tested for HBV genotype using a line-probe assay. Results: HBV DNA was detected in 273 patients, 122 had HBV genotype B and 147 genotype C. Patients with genotype B had a significantly lower prevalence of HBeAg at presentation and significantly higher rates of spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion during follow-up. HBV genotype B patients who were HBeAg positive were significantly younger, and spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion occurred approximately 1 decade earlier compared with HBV genotype C patients. Multivariate analyses identified high alanine aminotransferase (baseline and follow-up), age >30 years, and genotype B as independent factors associated with spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion. Conclusions: HBV genotype B is associated with earlier HBeAg seroconversion than genotype C. This finding may explain the less active/progressive liver disease in patients with genotype B. GASTROENTEROLOGY 2002;122:1756-1762
Pocket calculator program to compute normal values for echocardiographic measurements in children

Abstract We have developed a pocket calculator program which computes the upper and lower limits of normal for six cardiac dimensions and two systolic time intervals frequently measured from M-mode echocardiograms. The parameters include the diameter of the left ventricle, left atrium, aorta, and right ventricle, the thickness of the septum and left ventricular posterior wall, and the preejection period and ejection time. The normal ranges are calculated from previously published regression equations relating the various parameters to a function of body weight or to heart rate. Use of the program eliminates the necessity for plotting measured values onto graphs of normals, and should increase the speed and accuracy of interpretation of these paremeters, especially in pediatric echocardiography.
Diverse roles of neurotrophic factors in health and disease

Abstract Neurotrophic factors constitute a class of molecules that are now considered critical for the development, maintenance and regeneration of the nervous system. Much of the conceptual framework surrounding the suspected function of neurotrophic factors has emerged from studies of the prototypical neurotrophic factor—nerve growth factor (NGF). In this review we will compare established properties of NGF with recent studies on the biology of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), an NGF-related neurotrophin, and an unrelated factor, ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), not only in the context of the diverse roles of these factors in nervous system development and maintenance but also in terms of the therapeutic potential of neurotrophic factors.
Specific mitochondrial DNA deletions in canine myocardial ischemia

The effect of myocardial ischemia on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) structure and the presence of specific mtDNA deletions was determined using the model of Ameroid constriction of canine coronary arteries. The incidence of specific deletions was high in both the endocardial and epicardial tissues perfused by the occluded vessel as compared to myocardial tissues perfused by the unconstricted vessels. Our results show that specific mtDNA deletions similar to the 5 kb and 7.4 kb human mtDNA deletions occur following canine myocardial ischemia. However the presence of these deletions did not correlate with specific mitochondrial enzyme defects.
Logical specification of regular relations for NLP

This paper describes how the use of monadic second-order logic for specifying regular languages can be extended for specifying regular relations, providing a declarative description language for finite state transductions of the sort used in NLP. We discuss issues arising in the integration into an automaton toolkit of an implementation of the conversion from logic formulas to automata. The utility of the logic of regular relations is demonstrated by showing how it can be used to define the family of replacement operators in a way that lends itself to straightforward proofs of correctness.
Dispersion comparison for DSI- and tensor-based nonorthogonal FDTD

An explicit formulation of the finite-difference time-domain-discrete surface integral (FDTD-DSI) technique has allowed a rigorous study of numerical dispersion for the method. The study shows that the DSI- and tensor-based FDTD methods do not have the same numerical dispersion relation. It also clarifies the recently-reported discrepancies in the dispersion relation between the two approaches. This study also shows that the tensor-based FDTD algorithm exhibits better dispersion properties for a two-dimensional uniformly skewed mesh.
An aid to understanding differential interference contrast microscopy: computer simulation

SUMMARY Differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy has been widely used for many years. However, many biologists employ DIC inefficiently and frequently misinterpret the resulting images. In an effort to improve the standard of use, a method of simulating DIC microscopy on the cathode-ray tube (CRT) and x–y plotter of a computer was therefore developed. This paper describes the program and gives examples of its application, emphasizing some common errors of operation of the DIC microscope and interpretation of the image. Simulations are made for objects of negligible thickness, and in one azimuth of the microscope at a time. The method shows clearly the profiles of the phases and amplitudes of the interfering waves obtained for a variety of objects and demonstrates unequivocally the kinds of images obtained. It is possible to show very quickly how the image changes as instrumental parameters, such as phase-bias, amplitude-ratio, extinction factor, and beam-splitter shear are altered. Simulation was found useful as a tool to learn DICM and as an aid to the interpretation of complicated images obtained with real objects. Examples of common errors in adjusting the microscope and interpreting images are given in this paper. The simulation program was developed for the computer of the Denver Universal Microspectroradiometer (David & Galbraith, 1975; Galbraith et al., 1975), but it can be used on a number of compatible computing systems. The program construction is explained to enable comparable programs to be written for different computers.
A longitudinal examination of childhood maltreatment and adolescent obesity: Results from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (AddHealth) Study

Sought to explore the association between childhood maltreatment (e.g., neglect, physical and sexual abuse) and longitudinal growth trajectories of body mass index (BMI) from adolescence to young adulthood.
Association of Genotypes for Rate of Feathering in Broilers with Production and Carcass Composition Traits.Effect of Genotypes, Sex, and Diet on Growth and Feed Conversion

Abstract Five genotypes for rate of feathering in broilers (K/K,K/k+, and k+/k+ in males and K/W, k+/W in females) were produced from matings of grandparent stocks of a common genetic background. Genotypes were compared for differences in growth and feed conversion. Means among the male genotypic groups differed significantly (P
Evolutionary navigator for a mobile robot

An Evolutionary Navigator (EN) is presented for mobile robot navigation through an environment with unknown obstacles. Based on the concept of genetic algorithms, the EN can search paths of different user-defined levels of near-optimization in the entire, continuous free space using only a simple data structure. It unifies off-line and online planning processes and provides the flexibility to solve the conflict between efficiency and optimality. It also provides high safety measures without requiring complete information about the obstacles sensed. >
Impact of potato planting time on incidence of potato zebra chip disease in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas.

Abstract. Zebra chip, a new and economically important disease of potato, Solanum tuberosum L., in the United States, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and New Zealand has caused millions of dollars in loss to the potato industry. The disease is associated with the bacterium “Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum” transmitted to potato by the potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli (Sulc). Since its initial U.S. appearance in southern Texas in 2000, zebra chip has caused serious damage to potato production in the state, often leading to abandonment of entire fields. A study at Weslaco assessed the impact of potato planting time on incidence of zebra chip in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Non-treated experimental potato plots were planted in mid-December to midFebruary for 4 years, and incidence of zebra chip was estimated at harvest each potato-growing season. Results showed that, in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, potatoes planted early were more affected by zebra chip than were those planted lat...
Questions of Method: Fundamental Problems Reading Dialectical Methodologies

Marx admittedly could have been more helpful in making clear and precise his methodological foundations. Leaving key issues scattered over his works has forced a slow reconstruction of Marxist epis...
Beyond the cell cycle : A new role for Cdk6 in differentiation

Over 10 years ago, cdk6 was identified as a new member in a family of vertebrate cdc-2 related kinases. This novel kinase was found to partner with the D-type cyclins and to possess pRb kinase activity in vitro and has since been understood to function solely as a pRb kinase in the regulation of the G1 phase of the cell cycle. In the past 2 years, several independent studies in multiple cell types have indicated a novel role for cdk6 in differentiation. For example, cdk6 expression must be reduced to allow proper osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation, forced cdk6 expression blocked differentiation of mouse erythroid leukemia cells and cdk6 expression in primary astrocytes favors the expression of progenitor cell markers. Since exit from the cell cycle is a necessary step in terminal differentiation, down-regulation of a mitogenic factor may be expected in this process, however it is surprising that this association has not been previously uncovered and that it is apparently not shared with cdk4, long understood to be a functional homolog of cdk6. The mechanism of cdk6 function in differentiation is not understood, but it may extend beyond the established role of cdk6 as a pRb kinase. As this story unfolds it will be important to discover if the function of cdk6 in differentiation is pRb-dependent or pRb-independent, since pRb has long been established as a key factor in initiating and maintaining cell cycle exit during differentiation. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Nonviolent Action and Human Rights

N onviolent action campaigns have been a part of political life for millennia. History records many instances of groups rising to challenge abuses by authorities, demand social reforms, and protest militarism and discrimination. In recent years, however, the number of such movements has increased, as has their success in advancing the cause of human rights and toppling or dramatically reforming repressive regimes. In the twentieth century, nonviolence became more of a deliberate tool for social change, moving from being largely an ad hoc strategy growing naturally out of religious or ethical principles to a reflective and, in many ways, institutionalized method of struggle. Campaigns to reform discriminatory laws through nonviolent action-such as the civil rights movements in the United States-are one example of how human rights have been advanced through the use of nonviolent action. More significant, however, has been the remarkable upsurge in nonviolent insurrections
Zinc complexes of TtzR,Me with O and S donors reveal differences between Tp and Ttz ligands: acid stability and binding to H or an additional metal (TtzR,Me = tris(3-R-5-methyl-1,2,4-triazolyl)borate; R = Ph, tBu)

Alkylzinc complexes, (TtzR,Me)ZnR′ (R = tBu, Ph; R′ = Me, Et), show interesting reactivity with acids, bases and water. With acids (e.g. fluorinated alcohols, phenols, thiophenol, acetylacetone, acetic acid, HCl and triflic acid) zinc complexes of the conjugate base (CB), (TtzR,Me)ZnCB, are generated. Thus the B–N bonds in Ttz ligands are acid stable. (TtzR,Me)ZnCB complexes were characterized by 1H, 13C-NMR, IR, MS, elemental analysis, and, in most cases, single crystal X-ray diffraction. The four coordinate crystal structures included (TtzR,Me)Zn(CB) [where R = Ph, CB (conjugate base) = OCH2CF3 (2), OPh (6), SPh (8), p-OC6H4(NO2) (10); R = tBu, CB = OCH(CF3)2 (3), OPh (5), SPh (7)*, p-OC6H4(NO2) (9) (* indicates a rearranged Ttz ligand)]. The use of bidentate ligands resulted in structures [(TtzPh,Me)Zn(CB) (CB = acac (12), OAc (14))] in which the coordination geometries are five, and intermediate between four and five, respectively. Interestingly, three forms of (TtzPh,Me)Zn(p-OC6H4(NO2)) (10) were analyzed crystallographically including a Zn coordinated water molecule in 10H2O, a coordination polymer in 10CP, and a p-nitrophenol molecule hydrogen bonded to a triazole ring in 10Nit. Ttz ligands are flexible since they are capable of providing κ3 or κ2metal binding and intermolecular interactions with either a metal center or H through the four position nitrogen (e.g. in 10CP and HTtztBu,Me·H2O, respectively). Preliminary kinetic studies on the protonolysis of LZnEt (L = TtztBu,Me, TptBu,Me) with p-nitrophenol in toluene at 95 °C show that these reactions are zero order in acid and first order in the LZnEt.
The Most Inconvenient Truth

In the spring of 1902, Mont Pelee on Martinique stirred to life and the citizens of Saint-Pierre began to worry about their restless neighbor only 10 km away. However, municipal leaders refused to act; the island was in the midst of general elections with socialists poised to take control from right-wing politicians. Because Saint-Pierre was the main center of conservative voters, the governor – anxious to keep his cronies in power – put off evacuation until after polling on May 11. On May 2, Mont Pelee erupted, sending an incandescent pyroclastic flow directly towards Saint-Pierre.
Effects of Tuning Fluorophore Density, Identity, and Spacing on Reconstructed Images in Super-Resolution Imaging of Fluorophore-Labeled Gold Nanorods

A triplet-state mediated super-resolution imaging technique is used to optically investigate the locations of single fluorescently labeled double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) ligands bound to gold nanorods (AuNRs). Previous work on this system has shown significant apparent heterogeneity in dsDNA ligand binding across the AuNR surface, but the reconstructed images have yielded dimensions that are smaller than the underlying AuNR substrate. Here, we tune the fluorophore density and identity to determine if the properties of the fluorophore impact the reconstructed images. While lowering the fluorophore density on the AuNR surface reduces the probability of simultaneous emission events and fluorophore self-quenching, we do not observe an improvement in the reconstructed image size and ultimately suffer from under-sampling of the surface. As alternative strategies, the identity of the fluorescent label, and thus the photophysics of the system, was also changed and again, the size of the reconstructed images remained...
Plumage redness and pigment symmetry in the House Finch

The redness of carotenoid pigmentation has been shown to be an indicator of individual condition. I tested whether the asymmetry of carotenoid pigmentation of male House Finches Carpodacus mexicanus, an indicator of developmental stability, decreases with plumage redness. Consistent with predictions, I found a significant relationship between the symmetry of carotenoid-based crown pigmentation and the redness of body plumage redder plumage was more symmetrical. There was no significant relationship between the symmetry of the outer rectrices and either crown symmetry or plumage redness. The energetic cost of having asymmetrical carotenoid pigmentation is no greater for males with elaborate ornamentation (red plumage) than for males with less elaborate ornamentation (orange or yellow plumage). These observations are consistent with the idea that the magnitude of fluctuating asymmetry of an ornamental trait reflects the phenotypic or genotypic condition of the individual.
Abstract B40: Genetic variations in PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway and bladder cancer risk

Abstracts: Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research 2008 B40 Bladder cancer is a complex disease involving multiple genes interacting with each other and/or with environment factors in the tumorigenesis process. We examined 245 SNPs of 22 genes of PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway which is an essential cellular pathway controlling cell growth, proliferation and survival. We used a case-control design with 803 cases and 803 controls systematically evaluate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in this pathway as predicators of bladder cancer risk, in close interaction with environmental factors. In individual SNP analysis, increased bladder cancer risk was significantly associated with 20 SNPs (AKT3: rs12045585, RHEB: rs1920978, RPS6KA5: rs8018757, IRS2: rs9515120, TSC2: rs2073636 and rs8063461, and Raptor: rs11653499, rs9890502, rs8071015, rs7211818, rs9915378, rs9674559, rs7208536, rs7219896, rs4969444, rs2672890, rs7212142, rs9897968, rs2271608, and rs1062935) adjusting by age, gender and smoking status using logistic regression. We grouped the unfavorable SNPs into four categories based on the distribution of the control. Compared to the reference group, the second, third and fourth category showed 1.01 (95%CI: 0.76-1.34), 1.16 (95%CI: 0.89-1.50), and significantly 1.53 (95%CI: 1.14-2.07, P=0.005) fold increased risk of bladder cancer respectively (P for the trend: <0.0001). Classification and regression tree (CART) analysis was performed to explore the high order gene-gene and gene-environment interaction. Further stratification, haplotype and diplotype analysis are still ongoing. This is the first study to address the role of germline genetic variation in this pathway as cancer susceptibility factors. The identification of novel genetic susceptibility markers for bladder cancer etiology will not only help understand the biology of bladder carcinogenesis, but also help identify high risk individuals for bladder cancer. These findings warrant further replication in independent populations. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2008;1(7 Suppl):B40.
Investigation on the Exposure Levels of Extremely Low Frequency Magnetic Fields,Anxiety and Depression Status of Welders in Baoshan District,Shanghai

[Objective]To evaluate the exposure levels of extremely low frequency magnetic fields(ELFMF),anxiety and depression status of welders in Baoshan District.[Methods]A total of 81 welders from 4 factories in Baoshan District were chosen.Their data of 8 h exposure to ELFMF being collected by EMDEX-LITE personal samplers.Personal information and activities being collected by the questionnaires.Self-rating anxiety scale(SAS) and self-rating depression scale(SDS) were adopted to evaluate the anxiety and depression status of welders.[Results]The subjects under study were composed of 67 males and 14 females,aged from 19 to 53.The median and interquartile range(IQR) of cumulative exposure levels over 8h were 15.49μT/h and 23.01μT/h,respectively.Portion of 35.8%welders investigated had a median transient exposure level higher than 0.4μT.The average cumulative exposure levels of the welders were significantly higher than those in the control population of college students.The peak exposure of all welders was found during welding.There was no significant difference in total SDS standard scores in welders compared with national norms while total SAS standard scores in welders were significantly higher;however,neither of them had reached the criteria for cognition of anxiety(depression).The total SDS standard scores showed a positive correlation with age (r=0.256,P0.05).[Conclusion]The results of investigation show that welding work is closely associated with the exposure of ELFMF,and there is no sufficient indication shown this exposure is correlated significantly to the increase of the incidence of anxiety or depression among welders.
The Analysis of Healthy Père David's Deer's Free Radical Level

The Pere David's deer's free radical metabolite,such as superoxide dismutase(SOD) and malondialchehyche(MDA) could eliminate excessive body free radicals,adjust the dynamic balance of free radical's generate and eliminate.Their contents level is significant to health monitoring.From December 2009 to August 2010,adjacent pyrogallol improved method and thibabituric acid method was used to determine 79 healthy Pere David's deer's SOD and MDA contents under different age and sex.The result showed that:activities of SOD in male were higher in some extent than female among all age groups by 3.14% increase for young,0.37% for youth,20.96% for adult and 7.67% for old,respectively.Average of MDA in male is higher than in females by 2.37% increased.After significant difference analysis on free radical metabolism,SOD was found significantly different between male and female,but MDA was not.
Analysis and Forecast to Water Depth Changes of Xi'an in Recent Years

Based on analysis to the geomorphic units of diving water and confined water in in Xi'an area,using different models,examined the prediction in the changes of depths in water level.At the same time,based on analysis of precipitation and hydro-geological,it puts forward the relationship on taking care each other in precipitation and the situation of reducing groundwater recharged quantity,may bring some impact on water depth.The results predict the average depths to the water of different physiognomic units in the Xi'an area will be more than 16.9m in the year of 2010.The depth of confined water level may reach 94.1m,90.2m separately in 2006 and 2008.After the above discussion,think that the continuing decline in water level may lead to serious consequences in Xi'an.It will take a Long-term research and efforts to solve the water depth of the problems.
Variational Principles in Stability Analysis of Composite Structures

Abstract Variational principles as important parts of the theory of elasticity have been extensively used in stability analysis of structures made of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites. In this chapter, variational principles in buckling analysis of FRP composite structures are presented. A survey of variational principles in stability analysis of composite structures is first given, followed by a brief introduction of the theoretical background of variational principles in elasticity. A variational formulation of the Ritz method is used to establish an eigenvalue problem, and by using different buckling deformation functions, the solutions of buckling of FRP structures are obtained. As application examples, the local and global buckling of FRP thin-walled composite structural shapes is analyzed using the variational principles of total potential. For the local buckling of FRP composite shapes (e.g. I or box sections), the flange or web of the beams is considered as a discrete anisotropic laminated plate subjected to rotational restraints at the flange–web connections, and by enforcing the equilibrium condition to the first variation of the total potential energy, the explicit solutions for local buckling of the plates with various unloaded edge-boundary conditions are developed. For the global buckling of FRP composite beams, the second variation of the total potential energy based on nonlinear plate theory is applied, and the formulation includes the shear effect and beam bending–twisting coupling. In summary, the application of variational principles as a viable tool in buckling analysis of FRP thin-walled composite structures is illustrated, and the present explicit formulations using the variational principles of the Ritz method can be applied to determine buckling capacities of composite structures and facilitate the buckling analysis, design, and optimization of FRP structural profiles.
Dispersions and adjusted frequencies in corpora: further explorations

In order to adjust observed frequencies of occurrence, previous studies have suggested a variety of measures of dispersion and adjusted frequencies. In a previous study, I reviewed many of these measures and suggested an alternative measure, DP (for ‘deviation of proportions’), which I argued to be conceptually simpler and more versatile than many competing measures. However, despite the relevance of dispersion for virtually all corpus-linguistic work, it is still a very much under-researched topic: to the best of my knowledge, there is not a single study investigating how different measures compare to each other when applied to large datasets, nor is there any work that attempts to determine how different measures match up with the kind of psycholinguistic data that dispersions and adjusted frequencies are supposed to represent. This article takes exploratory steps in both of these directions.
Nanoparticle-based biosensing using interfacial electrokinetic transduction

Abstract We present a novel label-free electrokinetic method for detecting biomolecular binding on nanoparticles suspended in the vicinity of a laminar microfluidic interface. The sensor is based on the deflection of the liquid interface in an external AC electric field. Biomolecular binding on particles is shown to increase the interfacial electrical conductivity of the suspending electrolyte, which is sensitively transduced as a change in electrokinetic interfacial deflection. Using this approach, we detect the binding of biotin on streptavidin-functionalized nanoparticles at concentrations as low as 500 aM and perform detection of human IgG at clinically relevant concentrations (1.25–12 mg/mL) without labels. The interface response is only influenced by specific binding on nanoparticle binding sites and decreases when the particle concentration of reactive particles is reduced. Furthermore, we show that control experiments with both non-reactive particles and lack of a specific target analyte do not produce interfacial deflection. This work provides a promising method for quantifying bead-based binding kinetics for sensitive and specific biosensing in solution without labels.
Failed Primary Bladder Exstrophy Closure with Osteotomy: Multivariable Analysis of a 25-Year Experience

Purpose: Successful primary bladder exstrophy closure provides the best opportunity for patients to achieve a functional closure and urinary continence regardless of the method of repair. Use of osteotomy during initial closure has significantly improved success rates. However, failures can still occur. We identify factors that contribute to a failed primary exstrophy closure with osteotomy.Materials and Methods: We reviewed a prospectively maintained institutional database for classic bladder exstrophy cases primarily closed with osteotomy at our institution or referred after primary closure between 1990 and 2015. Data were collected regarding patient gender, closure, osteotomy, immobilization, orthopedics and perioperative pain control. Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed to determine predictors of failure.Results: A total of 156 patients met inclusion criteria. Overall failure rate was 30% (13% from our institution and 87% from referrals). On multivariable analysis use of Buck traction...
TCT-104 Relative Efficacy and Safety of oral P2Y12 inhibitors in Acute coronary syndrome: An Updated Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials

A Class 1 indication for patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is dual antiplatelet inhibitors therapy (DAPT) including aspirin and a P2Y12 inhibitor. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have shown prasugrel and ticagrelor are superior to clopidogrel, but no RCT has directly compared these
Trust Decanting: A Critical Perspective

Until recently, a party seeking modification of an irrevocable trust needed approval from all interested parties, or from a court. The last decade, however, has brought a flood of state legislation authorizing trust decanting – a process by which a trustee “decants” trust assets from one vessel (the original irrevocable trust) into a second vessel (a new trust with terms designed to reflect the settlor’s supposed intent). Most recently, the Uniform Law Commissioners have, in 2015, promulgated the Uniform Trust Decanting Act.Decanting enable trustees and trust beneficiaries to avoid the cost associated with judicial modification in cases where the irrevocable trust instrument included drafting errors or failed to account for unforeseen circumstances. But the proponents of decanting have largely ignored two significant issues raised by the decanting movement. First, the trustee, who may have been selected for reasons other than intimate knowledge of the settlor’s wishes, is not always in an optimal position to assess that settlor’s intent. In some cases, agency costs (the trustee’s own interest in continuing to receive fees) may cloud the trustee’s judgment about the wisdom of decanting.Second, decanting increases the potential for trusts to impose external costs on taxpayers and creditors. A number of recent innovations in trust law have expanded asset protection opportunities and enabled creation of perpetual trusts – innovations that enable trust settlors to avoid taxes and creditor claims. Trusts created before these doctrinal changes could not take advantage of these opportunities to impose external costs. Decanting, however, empowers trustees to obtain tax benefits and avoid creditors even when the settlor was willing to create the trust without the inducements provided by modern doctrinal “reform.” Decanting to impose externalities generates social cost without any offsetting social benefit.