cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of blood collection method on first-trimester dried blood free Beta hCG and PAPP-A.

BackgroundAnalysis of dried blood specimens has been an integral part of laboratory medicine dating back to the early 1960s when they were introduced as part of neonatal screening programs. More re...
The decreased cellular expression of neuropeptide Y protein in rat brain structures during ethanol withdrawal after chronic ethanol exposure.

Background: Neuropeptide Y (NPY) has been implicated in the alcohol-drinking behaviors of rodents. This study investigated the possible involvement of NPY in the neuroadaptational mechanisms to chronic ethanol exposure and its withdrawal. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated either with Lieber-DeCarli ethanol diet or control diet for 15 days, and ethanol-fed rats were withdrawn for 0 and 24 hr. The protein expression of NPY was determined in cortical, hippocampal, amygdaloid, striatal, and hypothalamic structures by using the gold-immunolabeling histochemical procedure. Results: It was found that ethanol withdrawal, but not ethanol treatment, produced significant reductions in NPY protein levels in (1) layers IV and V of the frontal and parietal cortex, (2) layer II of the piriform cortex, (3) the central and medial nuclei of the amygdala, and (4) the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus in rat brain. Chronic ethanol exposure and its withdrawal had no effect on the NPY protein levels in layers II, III, and VI of the frontal and parietal cortex or cingulate gyrus, in hippocampal (CA1, CA2, CA3, and dentate gyrus) and striatal (caudate putamen and globus pallidus) structures, or in the ventro-medial hypothalamus and basolateral amygdala. However, chronic ethanol exposure and its withdrawal produced significant reductions in NPY protein levels in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus and in layers IV and V of the cingulate gyrus. Conclusions: These results suggest that the decreased protein levels of NPY in the central and medial nuclei of the amygdala, as well as in the cortical and hypothalamic structures, during ethanol withdrawal may play an important role in the neuromechanisms of some ethanol withdrawal symptoms.
Modal models: energy-based implicit functions

Previously, we have describe modal analysis, an efficient, physically-based solution for recovering, tracking, and recognizing solid models from 2-D and 3-D sensor data. The underlying representation consists of two levels: modal deformations, which describe the overall shape of a solid, and displacement maps, which provide local and fine surface detail. In this paper, we give details about the mathematics behind implicit function and displacement map calculations. In addition, we describe an extension which can be used to incorporate measurement uncertainty in the recovered modal deformation parameters. The result is an energy-based implicit function; as a consequence, collision detection, path planning, dynamic simulation, and model comparisons can frequently be performed in closed-form--even for complex shapes.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Fiber-Optic biosensor for urea based on sensing of ammonia gas

Abstract A fiber-optic biosensor for urea is described. This biosensor is based on the immobilization of urease at the sensing tip of a fluorescence-based ammonia gas-sensing fiber-optic chemical sensor. Urease is immobilized on a Teflon membrane by the well known bovine serum albumin (BSA)/glutaraldehyde cross-linking method. The indicator solution for this biosensor is composed of 0.145 M sodium chloride, 5.00 mM ammonium chloride, 9.4 μM 2′,7′-bis(carboxyethyl)-5 (and 6)-carboxyfluorescein and 0.9 μM 5 (and 6)-carboxyfluorescein. The steady-state and dynamic response properties of the sensor have been established. Results show that the urease/BSA protein layer has a significant effect on sensor response and recovery times. Also, the fluorescence-based sensor has been found to be faster than a conventional potentiometric ammonia gas-sensing electrode. In addition, the fluorescence sensor responds significantly quicker than a similar absorbance-based fiber-optic urea biosensor. The utility of the resulting urea biosensor for the determination of urea in diluted serum samples is demonstrated.
Computational optimization of finite difference methods on the CM5

Abstract Techniques used to optimize a finite-difference program on a Thinking Machines' CM5 parallel processing system are presented. These techniques are discussed within several categories: vector unit optimization, separation of communications and computations, and optimal data partitioning. A simplified model is employed to illustrate these concepts. The results of applying these techniques to a more complicated finite-difference calculation are also reported.
Comparison of DXA and CT in the assessment of body composition in premenopausal women with obesity and anorexia nervosa.

Accurate methods for assessing body composition in subjects with obesity and anorexia nervosa (AN) are important for determination of metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors and to monitor therapeutic interventions. The purpose of our study was to assess the accuracy of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for measuring abdominal and thigh fat, and thigh muscle mass in premenopausal women with obesity, AN, and normal weight compared to computed tomography (CT). In addition, we wanted to assess the impact of hydration on DXA-derived measures of body composition by using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). We studied a total of 91 premenopausal women (34 obese, 39 with AN, and 18 lean controls). Our results demonstrate strong correlations between DXA- and CT-derived body composition measurements in AN, obese, and lean controls (r = 0.77–0.95, P < 0.0001). After controlling for total body water (TBW), the correlation coefficients were comparable. DXA trunk fat correlated with CT visceral fat (r = 0.51–0.70, P < 0.0001). DXA underestimated trunk and thigh fat and overestimated thigh muscle mass and this error increased with increasing weight. Our study showed that DXA is a useful method for assessing body composition in premenopausal women within the phenotypic spectrum ranging from obesity to AN. However, it is important to recognize that DXA may not accurately assess body composition in markedly obese women. The level of hydration does not significantly affect most DXA body composition measurements, with the exceptions of thigh fat.
Species Classification and Rotational Energy Level Patterns of Non-Linear Triatomic Molecules

With the object of making existing knowledge more readily available, the quantized energy levels of symmetrical and asymmetrical tops are discussed from the viewpoint of their classification into species defined by symmetry operations; and simple species nomenclatures are proposed. These are then applied in a discussion of the rotational levels of symmetrical non-linear triatomic molecules A${\mathrm{B}}_{2}$. With S${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ as an example, the pattern of rotational levels is studied as a function of the apex angle $2\ensuremath{\alpha}$ (near-prolate-symmetrical case for large $\ensuremath{\alpha}$, oblate or near-oblate case for intermediate $\ensuremath{\alpha}$, second near-prolate case for small $\ensuremath{\alpha}$). The classification of the over-all wave functions with respect to behavior for exchange of equal nuclei and for inversion is then considered. This gives rise to level patterns like those of diatomic and linear molecules in the first near-prolate case, but of interesting unfamiliar types (expected also in molecules such as B${\mathrm{Cl}}_{3}$ or N${\mathrm{H}}_{3}$) in the oblate case, and of relatively unfamiliar types (known for the molecule ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$CO) in the second near-prolate case. Rotational-vibrational and rotational-electronic perturbations are discussed in relation to the species classifications. The concept of gyrovibronic species, and a corresponding nomenclature, are introduced. Top selection rules are discussed, using a convenient tabular formulation. Tables are given, for the case of symmetry ${C}_{2\ensuremath{\nu}}$, showing what types of transitions are allowed by the vibronic selection rules for every type of electronic transition, allowed or forbidden; the use of these tables is illustrated by application to the near-ultraviolet absorption spectrum of formaldehyde. Finally, non-linear ABC molecules are considered.
Quantitative relationships between collective action and prisoners' dilemma

Quantitative relationships are established between the production function of collective action and the payoff functions of the n-person Prisoners' Dilemma game. It is shown that the latter have more degrees of freedom than the former; therefore, it is desirable to investigate collective actions in terms of the Prisoners' Dilemma game. The special cases of S-shaped, decelerating (concave), accelerating (convex), and linear production functions are investigated. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The TEL/PDGFβR fusion in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia signals through STAT5-dependent and STAT5-independent pathways

The TEL/PDGFβR gene, which encodes a fusion protein containing the ETS-family member TEL fused to the protein-tyrosine kinase domain of the platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β (PDGFβR), confers interleukin 3 (IL-3)–independent growth on Ba/F3 hematopoietic cells. TEL/PDGFβR mutants have been generated that contain tyrosine-to-phenylalanine (Tyr→Phe) substitutions at phosphorylation sites present in the native PDGFβR to assess the role of these sites in cell transformation by TEL/PDGFβR. Similar to previous findings in a murine bone marrow transplantation model, full transformation of Ba/F3 cells to IL-3–independent survival and proliferation required the TEL/PDGFβR juxtamembrane and carboxy terminal phosphorylation sites. In contrast to previous reports concerning comparable mutants in the native PDGFβR, each of the TEL/PDGFβR mutants is fully active as a protein-tyrosine kinase. Expression of the TEL/PDGFβR fusion protein causes hyperphosphorylation and activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT5), and this activation of STAT5 requires the juxtamembrane Tyr579 and Tyr581 in the TEL/PDGFβR fusion. Hyperphosphosphorylation of phospholipase Cγ (PLCγ) and the p85 subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) requires the carboxy terminal tyrosine residues of TEL/PDGFβR. Thus, full transformation of Ba/F3 cells by TEL/PDGFβR requires engagement of PI3K and PLCγ and activation of STAT5. Taken together with the growth properties of cells transformed by the TEL/PDGFβR variants, these findings indicate that a minimal combination of these signaling intermediates contributes to hematopoietic transformation by the wild-type TEL/PDGFβR fusion.
An axisymmetric model for thread forming in polycarbonate and polypropylene screw and boss fasteners

Plastic boss and screw fasteners are an economical means of securing automotive components, such as instrument or body panels. However, new materials and/or suboptimal design present challenges to the boss/screw effectiveness. Failure of a boss/screw can result is loss of functional performance or increased squeak and rattle. Failure is often controlled by what occurs during the initial thread-forming process. Thus, the goal of this paper is to develop an FEA model to elucidate the thread-forming process so that we can facilitate subsequent design and/or process optimization, and understand potential failure modes. The FEA must accommodate nonlinear couplings, such as large strain and heat transfer. Heat generation is present in the forms of interfacial shear heating and plastic work associated with the large deformation of the interface between the boss and screw. Strain rate-dependent materials are included using the Eyring theory for plastic flow of polymeric materials. Results of the model are presented and compared to experimentally determined torque curves and temperatures. Polym. Eng. Sci. 44:1498–1508, 2004. © 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers.
Wintertime factors affecting contaminant distribution in a swine farrowing room.

An estimated 200,000 to 500,000 U.S. workers in concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) are at risk of adverse respiratory outcomes from exposures to indoor contaminants. In the wintertime, general ventilation is minimized in the Midwest due to high heating costs required to maintain indoor temperatures optimal for animal production. Pit fans typically operate to exhaust under-floor manure pits, but little other fresh air intake exists. Many operators believe that these systems are sufficient to reduce contaminant concentrations within the building during winter. Investigating whether these pit fans provide sufficient protection against classic CAFO contaminants during minimal wintertime ventilation was warranted. Direct-reading instruments were used to measure and record concentrations of multiple contaminants using both fixed-area and mobile contaminant mapping in a farrowing room during a Midwest winter. With the exception of CO, concentrations were significantly (p < 0.001) higher with the pit ...
Deletion mutational analysis of BMRP, a pro-apoptotic protein that binds to Bcl-2.

Bcl-2 is an anti-apoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family of proteins that protects cells from apoptosis induced by a large variety of stimuli. The protein BMRP (MRPL41) was identified as a Bcl-2 binding partner and shown to have pro-apoptotic activity. We have performed deletion mutational analyses to identify the domain(s) of Bcl-2 and BMRP that are involved in the Bcl-2/BMRP interaction, and the region(s) of BMRP that mediate its pro-apoptotic activity. The results of these studies indicate that both the BH4 domain of Bcl-2 and its central region encompassing its BH1, BH2, and BH3 domains are required for its interaction with BMRP. The loop region and the transmembrane domain of Bcl-2 were found to be dispensable for this interaction. The Bcl-2 deletion mutants that do not interact with BMRP were previously shown to be functionally inactive. Deletion analyses of the BMRP protein delimited the region of BMRP needed for its interaction with Bcl-2 to the amino-terminal two-thirds of the protein (amino acid residues 1–92). Further deletions at either end of the BMRP(1–92) truncated protein resulted in lack of binding to Bcl-2. Functional studies performed with BMRP deletion mutants suggest that the cell death-inducing domains of the protein reside mainly within its amino-terminal two-thirds. The region of BMRP required for the interaction with Bcl-2 is very relevant for the cell death-inducing activity of the protein, suggesting that one possible mechanism by which BMRP induces cell death is by binding to and blocking the anti-apoptotic activity of Bcl-2.
Thermal decomposition of the 1:1 bismuth molybdate and its implications for catalytic oxidation

Abstract To study the stability of the 1:1 bismuth molybdate, thin films (300–500 A) have been prepared by thermal evaporation of the powder samples followed by heating in air or oxygen. Electron diffraction revealed that in an oxidizing atmosphere and at temperatures higher than 400°C or in vacuum and at temperatures higher than about 350°C the 1:1 compound decomposes into the 2:1 bismuth molybdate and MoO 2 . These results suggest that during catalytic oxidation and (at least) for temperatures greater than 400°C the 2:1 compound forms near the surface of the 1:1 phase, being responsible for the selective catalytic oxidation.
Inhibitors of fatty acid synthesis as antimicrobial chemotherapeutics

Fatty acid biosynthesis is an emerging target for the development of novel antibacterial chemotherapeutics. The dissociated bacterial system is substantially different from the large, multifunctional protein of mammals, and many possibilities exist for type-selective drugs. Several compounds, both synthetic and natural, target bacterial fatty acid synthesis. Three compounds target the FabI enoyl-ACP reductase step; isoniazid, a clinically used antituberculosis drug, triclosan, a widely used consumer antimicrobial, and diazaborines. In addition, cerulenin and thiolactomycin, two fungal products, inhibit the FabH, FabB and FabF condensation enzymes. Finally, the synthetic reaction intermediates BP1 and decynoyl-N-acetyl cysteamine inhibit the acetyl-CoA carboxylase and dehydratase isomerase steps, respectively. The mechanisms of action of these compounds, as well as the potential development of new drugs targeted against this pathway, are discussed.
Living bimetallic initiators for the preparation of triblock copolymers

The compound [(η-C3H5)Ni(OC(O)CF3)]2 (I), which has been used extensively as a butadiene polymerization catalyst and more recently as an isocyanide polymerization catalyst, has been successfully used in the preparation of polyisocyanide - polybutadiene block copolymers. Since both monomer polymerizations are living, this block copolymer synthesis is highly versatile with respect to polymer segment chain lengths and the types of monomers used. Because non-reciprocal end-group activities prevent the preparation of triblock copolymers of the type polyisocyanide-butadiene-polyisocyanide, bimetallic initiators possessing two allylnickel moieties linked through a central core have been prepared and used to synthesize these desirable triblock copolymers. These materials have been characterized by using gel-permeation chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, 13C NMR and scanning electron microscopy.
Decision-Based Design Using Time-Varying Preferences Represented by Stochastic Processes

Soliciting and expressing the preferences of a decision maker in engineering design is critical. In general, the preferences vary through time, complicating the design of engineering systems. In this article, we propose that if parameterized utility functions are used to model the preferences, the time-varying characteristics of the parameters can provide valuable information on the likely decisions the decision maker can make at a future time. To model the time-dependent uncertainty in preferences, we use parameterized utility functions with the parameters characterized by stochastic processes and demonstrate how the design process is affected by stationarity properties of the random parameters. We work in the normative utility theoretic domain and show a property of the multiplicative utility function that allows us to use the common Black-Scholes-Merton options pricing model from finance, to account for variability in preferences with time. Finally, we discuss how to modify the design process so that optimal products are ready when there is a future need for them. The applicability of our approach is demonstrated using a cell phone example.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
D1- and D2-receptor mediation of motoric behavior in rats depleted of DA as neonates : effects of age and size of depletion

Abstract The D 1 /D 2 mediation of motor behavior in rats is qualitatively altered following large forebrain dopamine (DA) depletions on postnatal day 3. These animals are markedly subsensitive , relative to controls or animals depleted of DA as adults, to the motoric deficits produced by individual D 1 - or D 2 -like antagonists but are impaired following combined D 1 + D 2 antagonists. In order to determine the extent of DA depletion necessary to produce this subsensitivity to individual antagonists, we compared the motoric effects of D 1 and D 2 antagonists in adult animals sustaining a wide range of DA depletions on day 3. Only animals with striatal depletions of ≥95% demonstrated this subsensitivity to individual antagonists. Moreover, since important changes in DA receptor ontogeny occur during the first postnatal week, we compared the ability of the D 1 -like antagonist, SCH 23390 (0.2 mg/kg), or the D 2 -like antagonists, clebopride (10.0 mg/kg) and haloperidol (1.0 mg/kg), to induce akinesia or catalepsy in adults depleted of DA on either day 1 or on day 3. Rats depleted of striatal DA (>95%) at either age exhibited similar subsensitivity to D 1 or D 2 antagonists. These findings suggest that large DA depletions are necessary to alter the roles of D 1 and D 2 receptors in the expression of motor behavior and that this plasticity is comparable in animals depleted on day 1 or day 3.
Atomistic basis for the plastic yield criterion of metallic glass.

Because of their disordered atomic structure, amorphous metals (termed metallic glasses) have fundamentally different deformation mechanisms compared with polycrystalline metals. These different mechanisms give metallic glasses high strength, but the extent to which they affect other macroscopic deformation properties is uncertain. For example, the nature of the plastic-yield criterion is a point of contention, with some studies reporting yield behaviour roughly in line with that of polycrystalline metals, and others indicating strong fundamental differences. In particular, it is unclear whether pressure- or normal stress-dependence needs to be included in the plastic-yield criterion of metallic glasses, and how such a dependence could arise from their disordered structure1,2,3,4. In this work we provide an atomic-level explanation for pressure-dependent yield in amorphous metals, based on an elementary unit of deformation. This simple model compares favourably with new atomistic simulations of metallic glasses, as well as existing experimental data.
The Panum Proxy Algorithm for Dense Stereo Matching over a Volume of Interest

Stereo matching algorithms conventionally match over a range of disparities sufficient to encompass all visible 3D scene points. Human vision however does not do this. It works over a narrow band of disparities - Panums fusional band - whose typical range may be as little as 1/20 of the full range of disparities for visible points. Points inside the band are fused visually and the remainder of points are seen as "diplopic" - that is with double vision. The Panum band restriction is important also in machine vision, both with active (pan/tilt) cameras, and with high resolution cameras and digital pan/tilt.
Anesthesia for combined cardiac surgery and liver transplant.

Objective To describe aspects of anesthesia for combined cardiac surgery and orthotopic liver transplant (OLT). Design Retrospective case series. Setting Hospital with cardiac surgery and liver transplant programs. Participants Nine patients between September 1998 and July 2006. Intervention Combined cardiac surgery and OLT. Measurement and Main Results Demographic and outcome data were recorded for each patient. Multiple intraoperative parameters were collected at baseline, after induction of anesthesia, after cardiac surgery, and after OLT. Five patients underwent combined OLT and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Four patients underwent combined OLT and aortic valve replacement (AVR) to relieve aortic stenosis. One of these 4 patients also had a saphenous vein graft to the left anterior descending artery. The CABG/OLT patients had hypertension, diabetes, or both, and multiple coronary arteries were affected although ejection fraction was preserved. The 1 death in this group was unrelated to a coronary event. The AVR/OLT patients had aortic stenosis that met American Heart Association guidelines for AVR. One death, within 24 hours of surgery, was associated with severe pulmonary artery hypertension. The median transfusion volumes were 12 units of packed red blood cells, 22 units of fresh frozen plasma, and 30 units of platelets. Three of the 9 patients required renal replacement therapy postoperatively. The median duration of intubation was 2 days, and length of stay in the intensive care unit was 5.5 days. Conclusion Combined cardiac and OLT surgery is complex and serious morbidity occurs, but successful outcomes are attainable.
Formation of the outer layer of the Dictyostelium spore coat depends on the inner-layer protein SP85/PsB.

The Dictyostelium spore is surrounded by a 220 μm thick trilaminar coat that consists of inner and outer electron-dense layers surrounding a central region of cellulose microfibrils. In previous studies, a mutant strain (TL56) lacking three proteins associated with the outer layer exhibited increased permeability to macromolecular tracers, suggesting that this layer contributes to the coat permeability barrier. Electron microscopy now shows that the outer layer is incomplete in the coats of this mutant and consists of a residual regular array of punctate electron densities. The outer layer is also incomplete in a mutant lacking a cellulose-binding protein associated with the inner layer, and these coats are deficient in an outer-layer protein and another coat protein. To examine the mechanism by which this inner-layer protein, SP85, contributes to outer-layer formation, various domain fragments were overexpressed in forming spores. Most of these exert dominant negative effects similar to the deletion of outer-layer proteins, but one construct, consisting of a fusion of the N-terminal and Cys-rich C1 domain, induces a dense mat of novel filaments at the surface of the outer layer. Biochemical studies show that the C1 domain binds cellulose, and a combination of site-directed mutations that inhibits its cellulose-binding activity suppresses outer-layer filament induction. The results suggest that, in addition to a previously described early role in regulating cellulose synthesis, SP85 subsequently contributes a cross-bridging function between cellulose and other coat proteins to organize previously unrecognized structural elements in the outer layer of the coat.
On optimal resampling for OFDM signaling in doubly-selective underwater acoustic channels

Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) is under strong consideration as a modulation for underwater acoustic channels. Underwater acoustic channels are wideband in nature due to the fact that the signal transmission bandwidth is comparable to the carrier frequency. Furthermore, these channels are characterized by long delay spreads, sparsity and time variation. The time-variation challenges the use of OFDM - destroying carrier orthogonality and introducing significant inter carrier interference. Much of the current work on time varying channels assumes a single common Doppler shift for each path. As such, resampling is optimal preprocessing in such cases. The current work examines the choice of resampling factor for the case of distinct Doppler shift on each path. The optimal resampling factor is selected to maximize the Fisher information for the transmitted data; Fisher information is also used to evaluate the information loss due to resampling. The findings suggest that the optimal resampling factor is near that associated with the Doppler shift of the strongest path. It is also observed that the information loss is modest in many cases using this practical preprocessing.
Medications during resuscitation - What is the evidence?

Medication use during neonatal resuscitation is uncommon. The infrequent use of resuscitation medications has impeded rigorous investigations to determine the most effective agents and/or dosing regimens. The medications most commonly used during delivery room resuscitation include epinephrine, sodium bicarbonate, naloxone hydrochloride and volume expanders. The available evidence for each of these medications is reviewed in this article.
Hemopoietic inductive environment necessary for an early stage in differentiation of thymic immune cells: Effect of antilymphocytic serum

Treatment of adult mice with rabbit anti-mouse thymocyte serum decreased the number and frequency of alloantigen-sensitive units responsible for graft-versus-host reactions and prolonged the survival of skin allografts. Whereas alloantigen-sensitive units were suppressed directly in vitro, they were not apparently suppressed directly in vivo since the fall-off of their numbers and/or function did not occur during the first day after serum injection. Treatment of prospective recipients of thymus cell grafts impaired the production of alloantigen-sensitive units by transplanted primitive progenitors. Differentiation with proliferation of alloantigen-sensitive units was less affected. Similarly, treatment of prospective recipients of thymus cell grafts with antilymphocytic serum impaired the production of specific inducer cells responsive to sheep erythrocytes by transplanted more primitive cells, presumably antigenreactive cells. Production of new precursors of anti-sheep erythrocyte hemolytic plaque-forming cells by transplanted bone marrow was not affected. Thus, antilymphocytic serum impairs the generation of immunocompetent cells of thymic origin by altering a hemopoietic inductive environment necessary for an early stage in differentiation.
Polarization Effects in Galvanic Corrosion

Abstract Galvanic corrosion in couples of AISI 304 stainless steel (SS), Ferralium Alloy 255, Hastelloy Alloys B-2 and G-3, grade 2 titanium, and graphite was examined in boiling 10% sulfuric and ambient-temperature hydrochloric acids. The galvanic corrosion rates were determined by measurement of the galvanic current using (1) a zero resistance ammeter technique and (2) weight loss measurements. Prediction of galvanic corrosion was attempted by determining the potentiodynamic polarization curves of the individual alloys and combining these with an iterative numerical solution for the zero potential difference between the alloys. In some cases, a reasonably good correlation was obtained between the predicted and measured galvanic corrosion rates. No correlation was found between the measured open circuit potentials (OCPs) (galvanic series) and galvanic corrosion rates. The effect of changing the area ratios was also examined.
The Leverage of Labor: Managing the Cortés Haciendas in Tehuantepec, 1588–1688

This work is an ethnohistorical investigation of the social and economic structure of the vast estates granted to the Cortes family in southern Mexico. Lolita Gutierrez Brockington deals with landholding patterns, agricultural production, and the social organization and use of native Indian and African slave labor on these estates, thereby shedding a great deal of light on this little-known early colonial period.
Revamping signal processing for adaptive, real time, bi-directional Brain Machine Interface systems

Brain machine interfaces (BMIs) have recently received significant attention from the neuroscience and engineering communities as a result of striking advances in monitoring, processing, and modeling brain function at multiple temporal and spatial resolutions. These advances, however, have also raised significant challenges to both communities that are becoming the focus of numerous ongoing research efforts. Broadly categorized based on their level of invasiveness, BMIs relying on implantable microelectrode arrays (MEAs) have received the most attention. This paper briefly reviews some fundamental concepts underlying the operation of MEA-based BMIs and highlights in particular the signal processing challenges faced by these systems in light of their resource-constrained operation. Finally, we summarize some of our recent progress in this area and suggest some open questions for future research.
HUNTING GWENDOLEN: ANIMETAPHOR IN DANIEL DERONDA

In George Eliot'sDanielDeronda, animal vitality figures prominently in shaping the human shell, to use an opening animal metaphor. Approaching the significance of the animal leads to a reading of Gwendolen Grandcourt's character as a responsible creature. Gwendolen is Eliot's heroine, one half of the pair of protagonists around whom the novel revolves. Eliot's fantastic character takes shape in three movements, each punctuated by its own animal metaphor: Gwendolen morphs from Lamia to mastered-animal to white doe. Animal imagery appears at the edge of the human, the point at which humanity gains and loses subjectivity, and Gwendolen's novel is fundamentally one of finding her place in the world, her singularity, her responsibility. Images of animals stand in the linguistic gaps – in the places words fail – to figure the subject.1 Animals appear at the end of the ability of language to mean. Nevertheless, this analysis is not intended to encompass the complex range of animal representations in George's Eliot's oeuvre, or even to catalog every example in Daniel Deronda. Instead, it suggests the possibility of using animal metaphor as a map for reading a Victorian heroine.
Regulatory T Cells in AKI

Human AKI is manifested by inflammation, and an early feature in the pathogenesis is the accumulation of immune cells in the kidney. To understand the pathophysiology of AKI, results from animal models have shown a causal relation between the leukocyte activation and infiltration to the kidney after kidney ischemia-reperfusion. Blocking the activation or trafficking of proinflammatory leukocytes into the kidney preserves renal function and histologic integrity. In contrast, the anti-inflammatory lymphocytes called regulatory T cells have an intrinsic renal-protective function and may represent a novel therapeutic approach and/or target for pharmacological manipulation to ameliorate AKI. This review will highlight the recent insight gained into the role and mechanisms of regulatory T cells in AKI.
Changes in gene expression of pial vessels of the blood brain barrier during murine neurocysticercosis.

In murine neurocysticercosis (NCC), caused by infection with the parasite Mesocestoides corti, the breakdown of the Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) and associated leukocyte infiltration into the CNS is dependent on the anatomical location and type of vascular bed. Prior studies of NCC show that the BBB comprised of pial vessels are most affected in comparison to the BBB associated with the vasculature of other compartments, particularly parenchymal vessels. Herein, we describe a comprehensive study to characterize infection-induced changes in the genome wide gene expression of pial vessels using laser capture microdissection microscopy (LCM) combined with microarray analyses. Of the 380 genes that were found to be affected, 285 were upregulated and 95 were downregulated. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) software was then used to assess the biological significance of differentially expressed genes. The most significantly affected networks of genes were “inflammatory response, cell-to-cell signaling and interaction, cellular movement”, “cellular movement, hematological system development and function, immune cell trafficking, and “antimicrobial response, cell-to-cell signaling and interaction embryonic development”. RT-PCR analyses validated the pattern of gene expression obtained from microarray analysis. In addition, chemokines CCL5 and CCL9 were confirmed at the protein level by immunofluorescence (IF) microscopy. Our data show altered gene expression related to immune and physiological functions and collectively provide insight into changes in BBB disruption and associated leukocyte infiltration during murine NCC.
On the Performance of Tagged Translation Lookaside Buffers: A Simulation-Driven Analysis

Recent virtualization-driven CPU architectural extensions involve tagging the hardware-managed Translation Look aside Buffer (TLB) entries to avoid TLB flushes during context switches, thereby sharing the TLB among multiple address spaces. While tagged TLBs are expected to improve the performance of virtualized workloads, a systematic evaluation of this improvement, its dependence on TLB and workload related factors and the performance implications of the contention arising from TLB sharing are yet to be investigated. This paper undertakes these investigations using a simulation-driven approach. We develop a simulation model for the tagged TLB and integrate it into a full-system simulation framework. Using this model, we show that the performance impact of using tagged TLBs ranges from 1% to 25% and is highly dependent on the size of the TLB, the TLB miss penalty and the nature of the workload and the type of tag used. The performance of consolidated workloads is also simulated and the observations from these simulations are used to highlight the performance variation due to resource contention in the shared TLB. Isolating the TLB behavior of one application in a consolidated workload from these variations due to the TLB contention by means of a static TLB usage control scheme is also explored. Furthermore, we show that the performance improvement due to tagged TLBs can be further increased by 1.4X for selected high-priority applications, by restricting the TLB usage of other low-priority workloads, in a consolidated workload scenario.
Early results with split-cuff nipple ureteral reimplants in urinary diversion.

AbstractPurpose: A split-cuff nipple technique was developed for ureteral reimplantation in urinary diversion.Materials and Methods: Ureteroenteric anastomosis was performed with a uniform split-cuff nipple technique in 46 ureters of 24 adult patients undergoing various forms of conduit or continent urinary diversion. The outcome of 42 reimplants in 22 patients (mean followup 22.5 months, minimum 10) was analyzed. The technique is described in detail.Results: Reflux was prevented in 97.6 percent and 95 percent of cases at initial and 2-year followup, respectively. Neither anastomotic leakage nor obstruction occurred. There were 2 episodes of pyelonephritis in the early postoperative period. Results are compared with those in the literature of ureteroenteric anastomoses in general and of various split-cuff nipple techniques.Conclusions: The technique is easy to perform. Favorable early results warrant continued use of the procedure. Long-term followup in a larger number of patients is indicated.
Benefit optimization of centralized and decentralized power systems in a multi-utility environment

The objective is to examine the theoretical bases for benefit optimization in centralized and decentralized electric power systems. In a centralized (single control) power system, cost, revenue, and profit are used as system performance criteria for benefit optimization, and the conditions are compared. The results show that conventional cost minimization is not necessarily equivalent to benefit optimization based on other criteria. In a decentralized (multi-utility) power system, benefit optimization and its allocation are investigated at the unconstrained economic optimum, economic optimum with constraints, and conditions under which the solution is an economic suboptimum. The data from the EPRI Regional Systems are used to show practical examples of the benefit allocation with wheeling transactions. Although some rules are better for society than others, there still is not one right answer to determine the rules for benefit optimization. >
Robust design of nonlinearly tapered waveguide and photodetector

This paper presents a strategy for the robust design of an optoelectronic communication system consisting of non-linearly tapered waveguide and a photodetector. The inductive design exploration method (IDEM) is implemented to reduce the potential uncertainties existing when simulation models are combined in a design process. This method assists us in looking for robust solutions rather than an optimal solution for this problem. A robust ranged set of design solutions could perform better under uncertainty than optimal single solutions which may deteriorate significantly when uncertainties make conditions or assumptions change. In this paper, the emphasis is on the method.
Evaluating top-k queries over Web-accessible databases

A query to a Web search engine usually consists of a list of keywords, to which the search engine responds with the best or "top" k pages for the query. This top-k query model is prevalent over multimedia collections in general, but also over plain relational data for certain applications. For example, consider a relation with information on available restaurants, including their location, price range for one diner, and overall food rating. A user who queries such a relation might simply specify the user's location and target price range, and expect in return the best 10 restaurants in terms of some combination-of proximity to the user, closeness of match to the target price range, and overall food rating. Processing such top-k queries efficiently is challenging for a number of reasons. One critical such reason is that, in many Web applications, the relation attributes might not be available other than through external Web-accessible form interfaces, which we will have to query repeatedly for a potentially large set of candidate objects. In this paper, we study how to process top-k queries efficiently in this setting, where the attributes for which users specify target values might be handled by external, autonomous sources with a variety of access interfaces. We present several algorithms for processing such queries, and evaluate them thoroughly using both synthetic and real Web-accessible data.
Modeling electrodeposition of charged nanoparticles onto fuel cell coolant flow channel walls

To cool down the stack system in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs), a coolant is needed that must be electrically nonconductive. In the specialized coolant that is modeled by us, charged nanoparticles are added into the flow to neutralize the ion contamination that otherwise gradually degrades the coolant until shunt currents become significant. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) physicochemical model of the multiphase coolant flow with charged nanoparticles has been formulated and coded using COMSOL Multiphysics and MEMS. Electrochemistry, fluid mechanics, steric stabilization, and heat transfer are coupled in this model. For nanoparticles in the fluid, electrokinetic force, electrical double layer (EDL) force, hydrodynamic force, and buoyancy force have been taken into account for the prediction of the electrodeposition rate onto channel walls. The overall goal of the model is to provide a fundamental first principles-based design tool for a specialized coolant to enable operations in a fuel cell stack for 2-3 years without the need for frequent replacement or filtering of the coolant.
Mechanisms of postabsorptive hyperglycemia in streptozotocin diabetic rats

Postabsorptive hepatic glucose output (HGO) was estimated in normal (n = 9) and streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats after a 6-h [3-3H]glucose infusion. In diabetic rats, HGO was estimated at ambient...
Philosophy v. Rhetoric in Legal Education: Understanding the Schism Between Doctrinal and Legal Writing Faculty

If we legal writing faculty know one thing for sure, it is that what we teach is absolutely essential to our students' success, yet it continues to be grossly, even embarrassingly, undervalued in legal education. Doctrinal legal faculty perpetuate the view that legal education is a philosophical endeavor that focuses on the truth about the nature of law and, in the twenty-first century, on the law's ability to serve justice in a multicultural America. Because of their political power, however, doctrinal faculty are able to preserve the task of truth finding for themselves. Since the nature of truth is independent of its practical application, those of us who teach legal writing are simply not part of the academy's intellectual enterprise. At best, we teach a process for conveying truth, and at worst, we teach students how to engage in the process of manipulation and domination. I do not presume to have all the answers on how to achieve the goals of recognition for legal writing faculty and necessary preparation for law students. However, first and foremost, we need to say it like it is. We teach a complex and sophisticated art form that combines the acquisition of knowledge - the law itself - and its application - persuasive technique. In sum, we teach legal reasoning as much as doctrinal faculty do, and as twentieth century legal scholarship demonstrates, that process not only seeks knowledge, it generates knowledge. Second, instead of settling for composition and grammar, we must reclaim the substance of rhetoric and teach it. Our scholarship, too, should explore the substantive aspects of rhetoric, and the rich world of modern rhetorical theory is our oyster.
Carrier-mediated mechanism for biotin transport in rabbit intestine: studies with brush-border membrane vesicles.

Simple diffusion has been reported as the mechanism of biotin transport in rabbit intestine. In this study, we reevaluated this concept by examining biotin transport in rabbit intestine using optim...
Automatic external defibrillator-only resuscitation in cardiac arrest? The approach may be shocking!

Cardiac arrest, as a primary event or secondary to some other etiology, is a common mode of death. If ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation causes cardiac arrest, prompt and effective defibrillation can correct the rhythm and can be associated with long-term survival as long as there are no extenuating circumstances. Time, however, is of the essence and defibrillation late into the course of a ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest will not save lives. Of course, cardiac arrest due to electromechanical dissociation or asystole will not respond to most resuscitation measures, including defibrillation. In the hospital and during other monitored settings (eg, the electrophysiology laboratory, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapy), the efficacy of prompt electrical defibrillation to treat ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, without any chest compression, is indisputable. For patients with ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation found in the “field,” however, most commonly, the “ritual” of the “pumping on the chest,” that is, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), precedes defibrillation attempts. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is advocated strongly, yet, its success, with or without respirations or with a fancy “plunger,” has not been associated with healthy long-term survival in almost all reports. Any benefit of CPR has been judged by using the widely quoted Utstein Criteria as the benchmark to determine outcomes success. Admission to the hospital, return of spontaneous circulation, and hospital discharge are considered benchmarks of success even if the patient ultimately dies a few months later in a nursing home...or worse. These criteria provide little solace for loved ones of a cardiac arrest survivor who is institutionalized for hypoxic encephalopathy. Fixation on the Utstein Criteria provides little real support for CPR judged on outcomes that are essentially meaningless. Functionally intact long-term survival with complete return of cognitive processes is a reasonable outcome measure for cardiac arrest survivors.
A Marketing Mix for the 21st Century

As the global marketplace has become a reality, the need to expand the traditional marketing concept has become apparent.A supporting infrastructure, the marketing support system, broadens the basi...
Identification of Antagonistic Bacterial Strain B-77 and Its Control Effect against Rice Bakanae

Antagonistic bacterial strain B-77 was isolated from vegetable soil, and was identified as Bacillus subtilis.Soaking rice seeds in the fermented solution of B-77 could effectively control rice bakanae caused by Fusarium moniliforme. Results of pot culture and plot tests showed that the control effect of B-77(10～100 times fermented solution) reached to 72.56%～78.53%, and was not significantly different from that of the check(25% Xian'an 4500 times). In addition, B-77 didn't inhibit seed germination and seedling growth of rice.
Study on Rural Poor University Students in the Rural Social Security System

With the development of the higher education charge system,the problem of countryside extremely poor university students accepting the higher education has been more and more prominent.This article studies the necessity and feasibility of the inclusion of countryside extremely poor university students in the rural social security system and gives an innovative research in the origin and operation pattern of the fund,which will construct "the safety net" for countryside extremely poor university students.All these can lay foundation for the construction and development of new socialism countryside and the entire society.