cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A finite-element model of mechanosensation by a Pacinian corpuscle cluster in human skin

The Pacinian corpuscle (PC) is the cutaneous mechanoreceptor responsible for sensation of high-frequency (20-1000 Hz) vibrations. PCs lie deep within the skin, often in multicorpuscle clusters with overlapping receptive fields. We developed a finite-element mechanical model of one or two PCs embedded within human skin, coupled to a multiphysics PC model to simulate action potentials elicited by each PC. A vibration was applied to the skin surface, and the resulting mechanical signal was analyzed using two metrics: the deformation amplitude ratio ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and the phase shift of the vibration ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] between the stimulus and the PC. Our results showed that the amplitude attenuation and phase shift at a PC increased with distance from the stimulus to the PC. Differences in amplitude ([Formula: see text] and phase shift ([Formula: see text] between the two PCs in simulated clusters directly affected the interspike interval between the action potentials elicited by each PC ([Formula: see text]. While [Formula: see text] had a linear relationship with [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]'s effect on [Formula: see text] was greater for lower values of [Formula: see text]. In our simulations, the separation between PCs and the distance of each PC from the stimulus location resulted in differences in amplitude and phase shift at each PC that caused [Formula: see text] to vary with PC location. Our results suggest that PCs within a cluster receive different mechanical stimuli which may enhance source localization of vibrotactile stimuli, drawing parallels to sound localization in binaural hearing.
Software-Defined Software: A Perspective of Machine Learning-Based Software Production

As the Moore's Law is ending, and increasingly high demand of software development continues in the human society, we are facing two serious challenges in the computing field. First, the general-purpose computing ecosystem that has been developed for more than 50 years will have to be changed by including many diverse devices for various specialties in high performance. Second, human-based software development is not sustainable to respond the requests from all the fields in the society. We envision that we will enter a time of developing high quality software by machines, and we name this as Software-defined Software (SDS). In this paper, we will elaborate our vision, the goals and its roadmap.
Evaluation of selected ultra-trace minerals in commercially available dry dog foods.

Purpose To evaluate the concentrations of chromium, nickel, molybdenum, silica, and aluminum in several commercially available dry dog foods and compare these with current World Health Organization's (WHO) mean human daily dietary intake. Conversion of dietary intake per megacalorie (Mcal) for both dog foods and human average intake was performed based on the National Research Council recommendation of a 2,900 kcal diet for comparative purposes to average intake and potential toxic exposure. Materials and methods Forty-nine over-the-counter dry foods formulated for maintenance of healthy dogs yet listed as all life stage foods were analyzed. Concentrations of the ultra-trace minerals were measured via inductively coupled plasma atomic emission and represented per Mcal for comparative purposes as it relates to common intake in dogs in comparison with humans. Results Chromium, molybdenum, and aluminum concentrations in all of the dog foods were at levels that would be considered above average human daily consumption on a caloric basis. Nickel and silica calculated intakes per Mcal were comparable with human intake patterns, while both trace minerals displayed outliers exceeding at least twofold of the upper range of human daily intake. Conclusion Overall, ultra-trace minerals found in dog foods were above the expected average daily intake for humans on a caloric basis. There was no evidence of potential chronic toxic exposure based on presumptive intake extrapolated from WHO published toxic intake concentrations for humans or domestic animals. The large range of silica intake from various foods (2.96-83.67 mg/1,000 kcal) may have health implications in dogs prone to silica urolithiasis. Further studies investigating the bioavailability of these ultra-trace minerals and establishing dietary ultra-trace mineral allowance would be ideal; however, based on these findings, consumption of these ultra-trace minerals in over-the-counter dry dog foods appears safe.
BOTULISM: CLINICAL AND ELECTRICAL OBSERVATIONS

ABSTRACT The treatment of botulism requires intensive medical and respiratory care. Guanidine hydrochloride has helped 70 percent of the patients treated with this drug. Corticosteroid treatment has little value.
Vibrational relaxation of 13CO2(ν2) by atomic oxygen

Abstract The rate coefficient for the vibrational relaxation of isotopically-pure 13 CO 2 by ground state oxygen atoms was measured between 239 and 358 K. O 3 was photolyzed in a slow-flowing mixture of 13 CO 2 , O 3 , and Xe to simultaneously create O atoms and stimulate a temperature-jump, shifting population into the first vibrationally-excited state of 13 CO 2 . The population redistribution was monitored via transient diode laser absorption spectroscopy and the rate coefficient was extracted from the dependence of this redistribution on quencher concentration. The results are in good agreement with previous measurements of the 12 CO 2 –O system, but with decreased uncertainty due to experimental improvements.
RSimplex: A Robust Control Architecture for Cyber And Physical Failures

As the complexity of Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) increases, it becomes increasingly challenging to ensure CPS reliability, especially in the presence of software and/or physical failures. The Simplex architecture is shown to be an efficient tool to address software failures in such systems. When physical failures exist, however, Simplex may not function correctly because physical failures could change system dynamics and the original Simplex design may not work for the new faulty system. To address concurrent software and physical failures, this article presents the RSimplex architecture, which integrates Robust Fault-Tolerant Control (RFTC) techniques into the Simplex architecture. It includes the uncertainty monitor, the High-Performance Controller (HPC), the Robust High-Assurance Controller (RHAC), and the decision logic that triggers the switch of the controllers. Based on the output of the uncertainty monitor, we introduce a monitor-based switching rule in the decision logic in addition to the traditional envelope-based rule. The RHAC is designed based on RFTCs. We show that RSimplex can efficiently handle a class of software and physical failures.
Fire blight in Hungary between 1996 and 2003

Shoot blight of pome fruits caused by Erwinia amylovora, i.e. fire blight, is present in numerous countries of Europe. The disease must have entered into Hungary in the middle of the 1990's and it was first noted and, respectively, identified in 1996 (Bacs-Kiskun county). The losses caused by the pathogen appeared — in orchards and scattered sites of production — in four counties, namely Bacs-Kiskun, Baranya, Bekes and Csongrad at the beginning. From June 1996, a process of eliminating infected parts started in the course of a large action performed under the control of the Department of Plant Protection and Agro-Environmental Economy of the Ministry of Agriculture, under the direction of the plant protection inspectors of the then existing Stations of Plant Health and Soil Conservation. The 'operation' against the disease commenced by cutting back out the infected parts of the canopy and, grubbing them out, respectively. As for the spread of the pathogen (1996-1998) it could be observed that the disease entered into Hungary from the south, south-east and then it also spread into the middle part of the country. As a result of adequate official action and efforts as well as of adequate chemical and antibiotic treatments, moreover because of the introduction of more modern technologies of plant cultivation and those of plant protection it can be reported on that the pathogen hardly appears or does not occur at all on the northern, north-western part of the country. The infection also appears mainly on the parts east of the Danube. Cultivars less susceptible or non-susceptible to the disease are planted in recently established orchards what is also a considerable factor in respect of preventing spread of the pathogen.
Technological Innovation: The Pathway to Entrepreneurs’ Economic Advancement

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the meaning of human experiences relating to entrepreneurs in New York City who have not adopted adequate innovative technology. This research was based on Kaplan and Warren’s entrepreneurship management theory. The first research question concerned the experiences and perspectives of entrepreneurs who have not adopted advanced operations technology to gain competitive advantage, and the second question concerned the ways entrepreneurs experience economic challenges using outdated business technology. Data were collected through unstructured face-to-face interviews with 20 entrepreneurs in New York City using snowball and purposive sampling. Data analysis involved developing the participants’ experiences into themes. The findings revealed that 85% of participants did not have adequate and updated technological operations systems. This study may initiate a review of late adopters and promote the importance of technological change by encouraging entrepreneurs to build networks that share technological innovations in the entrepreneurial community.
Combined vEEG and Cerebral Oximetry Results to Determine the Severity of Hypoxic–Ischemic Encephalopathy

The objectives of the study were to evaluate the prognostic utility of bedside monitoring tools for hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) outcome and develop a prognostic predictive model. This retrospective study reviewed neonatal HIE treated with hypothermia between 2013 and 2016. Continuous video electroencephalography (vEEG) recordings scored for background electrocerebral activity, seizure, and sleep–wake cycles, and rSO2 data were stratified by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) severity. The vEEG and rSO2 were combined in a predictive model. The analysis included 38 patients. The rSO2 was significantly higher in the severe group. vEEG showed early and persistent maximal suppression in the severe group. The predictive correlation of the rSO2 improves when combined with the vEEG.
Maternal pre-pregnancy weight status modifies the influence of PUFAs and inflammatory biomarkers in breastmilk on infant growth.

Background Human breastmilk contains pro- and anti-inflammatory compounds and hormones that can influence infant growth. However, little is known about the specific interrelationships between these compounds and whether their effects on infant growth may be influenced by pre-pregnancy weight status. Objective The purpose of this novel, prospective cohort study was to assess the interrelationships between pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6), hormones (insulin, leptin) and PUFAs (n-6, n-3) in blood and breastmilk in early postpartum between women with normal BMI (Group 1, n = 18; 18.5<BMI≤24.9 kg/m2) and with overweight/obesity (Group 2, n = 15; BMI≥25.0 kg/m2) before pregnancy to determine if these components correlated to infant growth measures at age 4–8 weeks. Methods Participants were robustly phenotyped along with their infants at 4–8 weeks postpartum. TNF-α, IL-6, insulin, leptin, and n-3 and n-6 PUFAs measured in blood and breastmilk and compared between pre-pregnancy BMI groups and with infant weight, length, head circumference and % fat mass. Results Group 1 women had higher serum leptin (p<0.01) and breastmilk leptin (p<0.001) compared to Group 2. Other inflammatory markers, hormones, and total n-6, n-3 and n-6/n-3 ratio PUFAs were similar between pre-pregnancy BMI groups. No relationships were observed between whey inflammatory markers, hormones, PUFAs and growth measures in infants born to Group 2 women. However, TNF-α was positively related and, IL-6, leptin, insulin, total n-6, n-3 and n-6/n-3 PUFAs in whey breastmilk were negatively correlated to infant growth measures in infants born to Group 1 women (p<0.01). Conclusions Pro-inflammatory qualities of breastmilk were associated with infant growth measures regardless of maternal pre-pregnancy BMI. However, infants born to women with overweight or obesity demonstrated less responsive growth to breastmilk contents. More studies are needed to assess longitudinal effects of this impact.
Nano-Biopesticides Today and Future Perspectives: edited by Opender Koul, Academic Press; London, United Kingdom; San Diego, CA, USA; Cambridge, MA, USA; Oxford, United Kingdom ISBN # 978-0-12-815829-6, 463 pp, Softcover, $175.00

Elsevier published this book which provides a vastly comprehensive qualitative and quantitative analysis of implementing nanotechnology for the purpose of targeted pest control issues currently pla...
In Vitro Cartilage Explant Injury Models

Mechanical injury resulting from a single impact or repetitive overloads is the major factor for the onset of post-traumatic arthritis. Researchers have used a variety of explant injury models to study the role of biomechanical factors in cartilage injury in vitro. Although these models cannot emulate all of the events occurring in an injured joint, they allow the evaluation of acute cellular responses and specific degradation mechanisms in well-defined explant culture environment using reproducible loading regimens. This chapter reviews the studies that utilize various loading systems to investigate cartilage injury, and to compare the results in terms of cell death and matrix damage in cartilage. In doing so, the reader will obtain a better understanding of the major biomechanical factors in cartilage injury and how they contribute to post-traumatic arthritis.
Improving breast cancer screening for indigent minorities: A county hospital cancer center's experience

17020 Background: Indigent, minority women with breast cancer present with later stage disease, often because of lack of access to affordable screening tests. Breast exam and mammography are effect...
Navigation of Scalar Fronts With Multirobot Clusters in Simulation and Experiment

Environmental fronts are transition regions characterized by a steep gradient in the value of a scalar field. Finding and spatially characterizing these fronts is critical for a variety of scientific applications; however, such work is challenging and usually performed manually, limited to localized characterization, and/or based on assumptions regarding the structure of the front. In this article, we present an automated multirobot control technique to find and spatially characterize general scalar field fronts. This is achieved with a multirobot system that adaptively sizes, orients, and translates based on data sampled by each robot in order to span the width of the front, and to move longitudinally along the front, reversing direction when the end of the front is reached. This span and scan functionality allows the cluster to spatially characterize the front's full extent and to enable comprehensive scientific study of its associated phenomenon. To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive, adaptive multirobot front-following control strategy proposed for general front structures, and initial verification of its capability is provided through both simulation of behavior on a large-scale front and experimentation with a simple, small-scale indoor multirobot testbed.
Chapter 16 – ANALOG NETWORKS

Publisher Summary This chapter presents several examples of analog networks. The analog networks show how the retinal neurons could be wired so as to respond preferentially to some specific aspect of a stimulus. Similar considerations apply to other sensory modalities and to networks at higher centers in the nervous system. Within a retinal receptive field, one can expect to find a number of similar networks grouped together. For example, a contrast-detecting receptive field might consist of a number of units. All the units feed their signals into a ganglion cell through its dendritic field, and the ganglion cell response varies with stimulus position.
Evaluating triage protocols for endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle biopsies of the pancreas

Introduction Pancreatic endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle biopsy (EUS-FNB) acquires both direct smear and small core biopsy specimens. The triage protocols for pancreatic FNBs to cytopathology (CP) or gastrointestinal surgical pathology (GIP) are controversial and vary by institution. Material and methods Pancreatic EUS-FNBs obtained with the SharkCore FNB were reviewed from January 2014 to June 2019. The specimen characteristics and pathology data, including tissue triage, were obtained from the electronic medical records. We assessed the diagnostic yield, defined as malignant, specific neoplastic, or benign, and the operating characteristics at the time of rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) and final diagnosis. Results We reviewed 324 pancreatic FNBs from 313 patients. Of the 324 FNBs, 260 (80%) obtained concurrent direct smear and core biopsy specimens, 30 (12%) of which were divided between CP and GIP. Of the 51 core-only specimens, 47 (92%) were reviewed by CP and 4 (8%) by GIP. ROSE improved the overall diagnostic yield by 10% and accuracy by 9%. When core specimens were reviewed independently, the diagnostic accuracy was 93% for CP (n = 248) and 100% for GIP (n = 33). All false-negative results of the CP-reviewed cores were due to sampling error. Concurrent smear review improved EUS-FNB performance, increasing the negative predictive value by 10% and accuracy by 3% compared with core review alone. Conclusions CP and GIP can accurately interpret pancreatic EUS-FNB specimens. However, triage of concurrent EUS-FNB–acquired smear and core specimens to CP may be most efficient as CPs are trained to assess adequacy at the time of ROSE, as well as interpret all parts of the biopsy, minimizing the risk of discordant pathology reports.
Undermining Credibility: The Limited Influence of Online Comments to Vaccine-related News Stories

State-sponsored disinformation campaigns increasingly use anti-vaccine comments to not only undermine public health but to also reduce confidence and participation in a democratic society. Despite ...
Rational, Unbiased Selection of Reference Genes for Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes.

Reverse transcription, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is a powerful technique to quantify gene expression by transcript abundance. Expression of target genes is normalized to expr...
Molecular determinants of the interaction between E3 ubiquitin ligase Nedd4-2 and ENaC (893.5)

Phenotypic characterization of Nedd4-2 knockout mice demonstrates the critical importance of this E3 ubiquitin ligase to activity of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) in several tissues includin...
Mathematical methods for optical physics and engineering

1. Vector algebra 2. Vector calculus 3. Vector calculus in curvilinear coordinate systems 4. Matrices and linear algebra 5. Advanced matrix techniques and tensors 6. Distributions 7. Infinite series 8. Fourier series 9. Complex analysis 10. Advanced complex analysis 11. Fourier transforms 12. Other integral transforms 13. Discrete transforms 14. Ordinary differential equations 15. Partial differential equations 16. Bessel functions 17. Legendre functions and spherical harmonics 18. Orthogonal functions 19. Green's functions 20. The calculus of variations 21. Asymptotic techniques Appendices References Index.
Servohydraulic Testing Systems For Biomaterials

Biomaterials are being used more frequently in implantable devices, and improved biomaterials are continually being developed. Although many test standards are in place for various implants, standards must be developed for new materials and products. In addition, testing technology (methods and equipment) continues to improve rapidly. This is evident in the area of fatigue testing, with the availability of multi-axial testing systems capable of providing more-accurate simulation of service conditions. The versatility and expandability of testing systems and methods are continually being enhanced to meet requirements arising from the growing use of biomaterials. Materials have been implanted in the human body to help stabilize fractures, reconstruct particular joints, and enhance biological tissues; thus, the biochemical and physical demands placed on implanted materials are severe.
Binding of bile acids by dietary fiber

Binding of bile salts to food residue was studied in vitro and in vivo. In the in vitro experiments, residues of a number of foods were incubated with each of several bile salts at different concentrations and pHs. All food residues tested adsorbed more dihydroxy than trihydroxy bile salts. Bile salt binding increased as bile salt concentration increased and was greater at a low pH. The extent of bile salt adsorption to some food residues could be clinically important. In patients with short ileal resections, we compared the rates of fecal excretion of labelled cholic and chenodeoxycholic acids and of a nonabsorable marker during ingestion of an ordianry diet (approximately 5 g of fiber) and a residue-free liquid diet. Coefficients of bile salt adsorption were calculated. Both bile acids were absorbed more efficiently during the liquid diet. Chenodeoxycholic acid was preferentially bound to the particulate matter of stools of patients eating the fiber-containing diet. It seems possible that dietary fiber could affect the enterohepatic circulation of bile salts in certain patients with ileal resection.
Nonlinear pharmacokinetics of indocyanine green in the rabbit and rat

The pharmacokinetic behavior of indocyanine green (ICG) in the rabbit can be described by a two-compartment open model, allowing for saturable transport of drug to the peripheral compartment and for its first-order elimination from the peripheral compartment. Use of this model led to the prediction of the accumulation of ICG in the plasma of a rabbit following the administration of repeated i.v. injections. Furthermore, studies conducted in the rat were also consistent with this model. One characteristic of the model is that above certain dose levels, the accumulation of ICG in the liver (i.e., the peripheral compartment) should reach a maximum independent of dose during certain time periods. This prediction was confirmed in a series of studies in the rat. The findings presented in this report provide evidence that a single model may be capable of explaining the variety of pharmacokinetic characteristics which have been reported for ICG, at least in the dose range studied.
Confinement effects on electrohydrodynamics of two-dimensional miscible liquid drops

Abstract The effect of domain confinement on the electrohydrodynamics of a two-dimensional miscible drop is investigated analytically, as a prototypical problem to explore confinement effect in two applications; namely, continuous flow electrophoresis and pattern formation in suspension of inhomogeneous colloidal dispersions. It is shown that the domain confinement may strengthen or weaken the electric field and leads to weakening of the flow field and change of the flow structure. A characteristic function is found to determine the sense of drop elongation and it is shown that below a critical domain size, the necessary condition for elongation in the direction normal to the field will be opposite to that for an unbounded domain.
Natural convection from a buried elliptic heat source

Numerical solutions are presented for the natural convection heat transfer from an elliptic heat source buried beneath a semi-infinite, saturated, porous medium. The surface of the medium is assumed to be permeable. The governing equations for Darcy flow are solved using finite differences. The complicated geometry is handled through the use of a body-fitted curvilinear coordinate system. Results are presented for Ra values ranging from 10 to 200 and ellipse aspect ratio values from 1.0 (circular cylinder) to 0.167. Two body orientations have been considered. The slender orientation yields much higher hear transfer rates (especially at low ellipse aspect ratio values) than the blunt orientation. The numerical simulations indicate that the boundary-layer approximations cannot be employed for low ellipse aspect ratios. In addition, the heat loss does not depend on the burial depth.
The role of brain stimulation priming effects in self-deprivation

Choice of brain stimulation reward (BSR) over biologically necessary substances in some self-stimulating animals is referred to as self-deprivation. In several recent papers, it has been argued that this phenomenon is produced by the rewarding aspects of the brain stimulation. This conclusion is partially based on data showing that self-deprivation and brain stimulation reward increase and decrease in a similar manner in response to changes in the brain stimulation parameters. However, the priming aspects of the brain stimulation also fluctuate with changes in stimulation parameters. Therefore, changes in the priming rather than the rewarding aspects of the brain stimulation could be responsible for self-deprivation. To determine whether the priming effects of brain stimulation play an important role in self-deprivation, rats with bipolar stimulating electrodes were given the choice between BSR and food. Time-outs were enforced within each BSR/food competition session. Since priming effects decay over time, increasing time-out length should have decreased self-deprivation due to decay of priming. It was found that time-out length did not affect the degree of self-deprivation. It was concluded that self-deprivation is not mediated by the priming aspects of brain stimulation.
A renewable, modular, and time-responsive DNA circuit

In this article, we introduce a new design for DNA logic gates based on enzymatic restriction of DNA strands. We present a construction for a set of one and two-input logic gates and argue that our construction can be generalized to implement any Boolean operation. A key feature of our design is its time-responsiveness, in the presence of appropriate fuels our circuit can operate continuously and generate a time-dependent output in response to a time-dependent input. Moreover, modulo connectivity information, the strand design and circuit design phases are decoupled.
Engineering a Ubiquitin Ligase Reveals Conformational Flexibility Required for Ubiquitin Transfer

Protein ubiquitination regulates numerous cellular functions in eukaryotes. The prevailing view about the role of RING or U-box ubiquitin ligases (E3) is to provide precise positioning between the attached substrate and the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (E2). However, the mechanism of ubiquitin transfer remains obscure. Using the carboxyl terminus of Hsc70-interacting protein as a model E3, we show herein that although U-box binding is required, it is not sufficient to trigger the transfer of ubiquitin onto target substrates. Furthermore, additional regions of the E3 protein that have no direct contact with E2 play critical roles in mediating ubiquitin transfer from E2 to attached substrates. By combining computational structure modeling and protein engineering approaches, we uncovered a conformational flexibility of E3 that is required for substrate ubiquitination. Using an engineered version of the carboxyl terminus of Hsc70-interacting protein ubiquitin ligase as a research tool, we demonstrate a striking flexibility of ubiquitin conjugation that does not affect substrate specificity. Our results not only reveal conformational changes of E3 during ubiquitin transfer but also provide a promising approach to custom-made E3 for targeted proteolysis.
Studies on the Stromal, Luminal and Cellular Compartments of the Thyroid

The volumes of the stromal (interstitial), luminal and foUicular cell compartments of rat and guinea pig thyroid glands in various experimental conditions have been measured by radioactive indicators and the results have been compared with volumes determined by histological measurements. The volume of distribution of 14C-inulin was found to be the same as that of the stroma as determined by a histological procedure. Thus, inulin is a measure of stromal volume in the thyroid gland. Neither TSH, chronic PTU treatment, nor hypophysectomy altered the inulin space in the thyroid of rats or guinea pigs. In rats the volume of distribution of 38SO4- corresponded with the combined stromal and luminal volumes as determined by inulin and histological measurements, respectively. In guinea pigs the 36SO4- space was less than the sum of the inulin space and the histologically determined luminal volume. The difference is explained by the large amount of negatively charged colloid protein in the lumen of the guinea pig a...
A case study in structure specification: a grid description of Scribe

The author describes a case study in which the grid mechanism was used to describe the structure of Scribe, a document-processing system in widespread use. The structure description is presented and explained in some detail, and the effectiveness of the grid for specifying the important structural features of Scribe is discussed. It is shown that the grid succeeds in its objective of presenting complex structures clearly. A grid specification forms a suitable basis for a narrative explanation of system structure. It is further noted that some detailed improvements would further enhance the expressiveness of the grid, and that environment support is essential for serious use of the grid. >
The Gender Gap and Nuclear Power: Attitudes in a Politicized Environment.

Historically, women have been less likely than men to support nuclear energy. Following this literature, we hypothesize that this gender gap results from concerns over safety factors and/or lower awareness of the issues. We study the differences in perceptions between men and women toward the operation of a local nuclear plant during a wave of public protest. Our analysis suggests that gender differences in safety concerns explains the gender gap in attitudes toward opening the local nuclear plant and provides a partial explanation of the gender gap in the perception of general nuclear power technology. Awareness levels have no significant effect on the gender gap. We suggest that the gender gap can be traced to women's propensity to rationally process negative information about nuclear power.
Examining Parental Alliance for Low-Income Participants Who Attended Relationship Education With or Without a Partner

Couples and relationship education (CRE) programs indicate positive results for low-income couples who attend. However, most studies examined relationship satisfaction or communication patterns, with few addressing the influence of CRE on parental alliance and even fewer examining parental alliances for those who attend couples-level and individual-level programs. Thus, we examined changes in parental alliance for participants who attended CRE individually (n = 182) and with their partner (n = 190). Participants who attended couples level CRE with a partner reported significant parental alliance improvements at post-assessments, while those who attended individual level CRE independently did not.
Effect of the pitch-based carbon anode on the capacity loss of lithium-ion secondary battery

Abstract The total capacity loss of lithium-ion secondary cell is reduced by engineering the pitch-based carbon anode through one or more of the following methods: attaining a high degree of graphitization, minimizing the surface oxygen concentration, attaining a large crystal size Lc, degassing, and use of PVDF in place of teflon as the binder.
Organomercurials. III. Initiation processes in the homolytic cleavage of dialkylmercury. Spontaneous reaction of di-tert-butylmercury in carbon tetrachloride

Abstract Di-tert-butylmercury is spontaneously cleaved in carbon tetrachloride solution without the benefit of added initiator. Trichloromethyl-t-butylmercury is identified as an intermediate which undergoes further homolytic reactions leading to autocatalysis. The short kinetic chain length coupled with the high steady state concentrations of chain-carrying trichloromethyl radicals allude to a facile initiation process from the direct interaction of di-t-butylmercury with carbon tetrachloride. Vertical ionization potentials of a series of dialkylmercury compounds are consistent with a charge transfer interaction between carbon tetrachloride as the rate-limiting step leading to the spontaneous initiation of homolytic processes. Thus di-t-butylmercury is capable of inducing the cleavage of di-n-butylmercury, which otherwise requires peroxide initiation. Di-t-butylmercury is especially susceptible to homolytic displacement, being readily cleaved to trichloromethyl-t-butylmercury by trichloromethyl radicals.
Trade liberalization, agro-food politics and the globalization of agriculture

Abstract This paper examines the role of trade liberalization in advancing processes of globalization in the agricultural and food order. Recent struggles over liberalizing agricultural trade, evident within the GATT Uruguay Round and other forums, reflect broader social, political and economic dynamics of global capitalist restructuring. This paper focuses on the case of the US-Japan beef trade and the series of bilateral negotiations that culminated in the June 1988 US-Japan Beef and Citrus Liberalization Agreement. It explores the historical context of the highly-politicized issue of the US-Japan beef trade, including an investigation of the genesis and renegotiation of Japan's state-sponsored domestic beef sub-sector and the role of US and Japanese farm and meat industry organizations in shaping the nature and rhetoric of the debate. Liberalization represents a general de-nationalization of agriculture both in institutional terms, via the dismantling of state regulatory structures supportive of national farm sectors, and in terms of the relocation of agro-food capital, expressed by greater opportunities for global sourcing and direct foreign investment by agro-food transnationals. Liberalization of the Japanese beef market has intensified the international division of labor in the beef commodity chain. Japanese transnationals, formerly involved in meat import, reacted to liberalization by investing in the US and Australian beef industries. This was followed by direct foreign investment in the Australian meat industry by major US food companies. The relocation of agro-food capital has altered regional agricultures by creating intricate supply pipelines targeted specifically for Japanese and other high-income Asian markets.
Current drug therapy for multiple myeloma

Recent years have witnessed tremendous advances in the molecular pathogenesis and management of multiple myeloma. Standard chemotherapy (melphalan and prednisone; MP) has been the mainstay of treatment of multiple myeloma for about 3 decades. However, it is no longer considered the 'gold standard', particularly for those patients who will subsequently undergo intensive chemotherapy with autologous or allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) or bone marrow transplantation (BMT), or for patients with refractory myeloma. A variety of induction combination chemotherapy regimens have been developed, some of which have demonstrated an improved response rate and duration and a superior 5-year survival rate when compared with standard chemotherapy. The early use of high dose chemotherapy with autologous PBSC support or BMT has significantly increased the complete remission rate, and has prolonged event-free sur vival and overall survival. Allogeneic bone marrow or PBSC transplantation may be a good option for selected patients with poor prognostic features. The role of interferon-alpha in multiple myeloma is still inconclusive despite many years of clinical evaluation. The clinical application of chemosensitising agents that can inhibit P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expression and function, and particularly the development of more potent P-gp modulators such as valspodar (PSC 833) and elacridar (GF120918) has made it possible to reverse multidrug resistance in some refractory patients and to enhance the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents. Immunotherapeutic approaches to purging of autologous bone marrow or PBSC, or as adjuvant therapy for minimal residual disease, show great promise. Finally, a number of new therapies specifically designed to treat many of the complications of multiple myeloma are improving clinical outcomes and quality of life for these patients.
Hybrid and conventional baryons in the flux tube model

Conventional and hybrid light quark baryons are constructed in the non-relativistic flux-tube model of Isgur and Paton, which is motivated by lattice QCD. The motion of the flux tube with the three quark positions fixed, except for center of mass corrections, is discussed. It is shown that the problem can be reduced to the independent motion of the junction and the strings connecting the junction to the quarks. The important role played by quark-exchange symmetry in constraining the flavor structure of (hybrid) baryons is emphasized. The flavor, quark spin S, total spin J, and parity P of the seven low-lying hybrid baryons are found to be N2(1/2)+, N2(3/2)+, Delta4(1/2)+, Delta4(3/2)+, and Delta4(5/2)+, where the notation is flavor[2S+1](J)P, and the N2(1/2)+ and N2(3/2)+ states are doublets. The motion of the three quarks in an adiabatic potential derived from the flux-tube dynamics is considered. A mass of 1870 +/- 100 MeV for the lightest nucleon hybrids is found by employing a variational method.
Free-Ranging Little Brown Myotis ( Myotis lucifugus ) Heal from Wing Damage Associated with White-Nose Syndrome

White-nose syndrome (WNS) is having an unprecedented impact on hibernating bat populations in the eastern United States. While most studies have focused on widespread mortality observed at winter hibernacula, few have examined the consequences of wing damage that has been observed among those bats that survive hibernation. Given that WNS-related wing damage may lead to life-threatening changes in wing function, we tested the hypothesis that reduced abundance of free-ranging little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus) with severe wing damage as the summer progresses is due to healing of wing tissue. Photographs of captured and recaptured adult females were examined for wing damage and healing rates were calculated for each category of wing damage index (WDI = 0-3). We found that free-ranging bats with severe wing damage were able to heal to a lower WDI score within 2 weeks. Bats with the most severe wing damage had faster healing rates than did individuals with less damage. We also found a significant relationship between body condition and WDI for adult females captured in the early weeks of the active season. Our results support the hypothesis that some bats can heal from severe wing damage during the active season, and thus may not experience increased mortality associated with reduced functions of wings. We urge researchers and wildlife managers to use caution when interpreting data on WDI to assess the impact of WNS on bat populations, especially during the later months of the active season.
The promise of solar energy: applications and opportunities for laser processing in the manufacturing of solar cells

Photovoltaics has in the last five years enjoyed unprecedented growth and acceptance as part of the worldwide energy mix. Innovations in both wafered silicon and various thin-film PV technologies anticipated in the next 5-10 years promise to lower the cost of PV power to parity with that supplied by the grid. When that occurs, the growth of the industry will be pulled even more strongly by market demand. A challenge in meeting this growth will be the availability of automated production equipment that can streamline the solar cell manufacturing process. Laser processing offers the potential to provide several facets of that high-volume manufacturing solution. This paper provides an overview of PV technologies, discusses current and emerging laser processes for PV manufacturing, and highlights some of the challenges for laser technology and systems that must be met to fulfill this promise.
The Normal Pattern of Pulmonary Venous Flow on Pulsed Doppler Examination of the Human Fetus

The pattern of pulmonary venous flow was studied in 52 normal fetuses between 16 weeks gestation and term. A characteristic flow profile was defined. This was similar to that described in the child and adult and different from the pattern of flow in the systemic veins described in the fetus. The velocity of flow increased with gestation and was not influenced by heart rate. The velocity-time integral showed that systolic flow was 2.0 +/- 0.3 times the flow in diastole. Pulsed Doppler echocardiography demonstrates a distinctive pattern of pulmonary venous blood flow that reflects left atrial hemodynamics.
Network Hypothesis Testing Using Mixed Kronecker Product Graph Models

The recent interest in networks-social, physical, communication, information, etc.-has fueled a great deal of research on the analysis and modeling of graphs. However, many of the analyses have focused on a single large network (e.g., a sub network sampled from Facebook). Although several studies have compared networks from different domains or samples, they largely focus on empirical exploration of network similarities rather than explicit tests of hypotheses. This is in part due to a lack of statistical methods to determine whether two large networks are likely to have been drawn from the same underlying graph distribution. Research on across-network hypothesis testing methods has been limited by (i) difficulties associated with obtaining a set of networks to reason about the underlying graph distribution, and (ii) limitations of current statistical models of graphs that make it difficult to represent variations across networks. In this paper, we exploit the recent development of mixed-Kronecker Product Graph Models, which accurately capture the natural variation in real world graphs, to develop a model-based approach for hypothesis testing in networks.
Body mass index trajectories from adolescence to midlife: differential effects of parental and respondent education by race/ethnicity and gender.

Objectives. Race/ethnicity and education are among the strongest social determinants of body mass index (BMI) throughout the life course, yet we know relatively little about how these social factors both independently and interactively contribute to the rate at which BMI changes from adolescence to midlife. The purpose of this study is to (1) examine variation in trajectories of BMI from adolescence to midlife by mothers' and respondents' education and (2) determine if the effects of mothers' and respondents' education on BMI trajectories differ by race/ethnicity and gender. Design. We used nationally representative data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. Our sample included White (n=4433), Black (n=2420), and Hispanic (n=1501) respondents. Self-reported height and weight were collected on 16 occasions from 1981 to 2008. We employed two-level linear growth models to specify BMI trajectories. Results. Mothers' education was inversely associated with BMI and BMI change among women. Among men, m...
UREA CYCLE ENZYMES AND OROTIC ACID (OA) IN REYE'S SYNDROME (RS)

Assays of liver from patients with RS reveal omithine transcarbamylaae (OTC) deficiency which nay be isolated, or nay occur in combination with carbamyl phosphate synthetase (CPS) deficiency. The correlation between these activities and clinical features of RS is unclear. Blockage of the urea cycle predominating at the OTC step would result in excessive formation of CA, whereas a co-existing block at the CPS step would tend to limit formation of OA from carbamyl phosphate. OA was determined directly in urine using high pressure liquid chromatograpny. Urine from consecutive 12-hr periods was assayed during acute and recovery phases of RS in a patient with isolated OTC deficiency (A), a patient with combined OTC and CPS deficiency (B), and in normal controls (C). A and B had normal renal functions. OA concentrations in C ware 5 to 10 μM. In A, OA was in excess of 2000 μM (312 mg/L) during the acute stage of illness. OA crystals formed in these specimens. OA in A decreased to normal levels during the 4-day recovery period. In B, CA concentrations during the acute phase were 2 to 3 times normal (23-30 μM), returning to normal within 5 days. These observations indicate that extreme elevations of OA may occur at the onset of RS with isolated OTC deficiency, whereas in RS with combined OTC and CPS deficiency OA elevation may be modest. These data suggest that OTC and CPS measured in vitro may correlate with OA formation during the active stage of RS.
World offshore energy loss statistics

Abstract Offshore operations present a unique set of environmental conditions and adverse exposure not observed in a land environment taking place in a confined space in a hostile environment under the constant danger of catastrophe and loss. It is possible to engineer some risks to a very low threshold of probability, but losses and unforeseen events can never be entirely eliminated because of cost considerations, the human factor, and environmental uncertainty. Risk events occur infrequently but have the potential of generating large losses, as evident by the 2005 hurricane season in the Gulf of Mexico, which was the most destructive and costliest natural disaster in the history of offshore production. The purpose of this paper is to provide a statistical assessment of energy losses in offshore basins using the Willis Energy Loss database. A description of the loss categories and causes of property damage are provided, followed by a statistical assessment of damage and loss broken out by region, cause, and loss category for the time horizon 1970–2004. The impact of the 2004–2005 hurricane season in the Gulf of Mexico is summarized.
In vitro Antimicrobial Activity of the Human Neutrophil Cytosolic S-100 Protein Complex, Calprotectin, Against Capnocytophaga sputigena

Calprotectin is a complex of two anionic proteins found in abundance in the cytosol of neutrophils, certain macrophages, and oral epithelial keratinocytes. Bacteria of the genus Capnocytophaga are pathogens of periodontal origin which can cause systemic infection in neutropenic subjects. Recently, it has been observed that Capnocytophaga may be internalized by neutrophils within the cytosol rather than within a membrane-delimited phagosome. The purpose of this study was to test the in vitro antibacterial effect of the cytosolic complex, calprotectin, against Capnocytophaga sputigena. Calprotectin was purified from the cytosol of human neutrophils by gel filtration and anion exchange FPLC, and it exerted potent in vitro antimicrobial effects against C. sputigena. Net bacteriostatic activity was exerted up to 18 h, after which bactericidal effects were observed. Both net bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity occurred at concentrations above 20 micrograms/mL and exhibited identical dose-response characteristics. Particle counts increased in the presence of calprotectin, despite net bacteriostasis as assessed by changes in colony-forming units (CFU). Dose-response characteristics and direct particle counts suggested that net bacteriostatic effects were the result of balanced cell division and death, rather than suspension of cell division. We conclude that calprotectin can be a significant contributor to host defense against infection by Capnocytophaga.