cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Virtual velocity: Connecting the concepts of Kinematics and Virtual Work

Abstract Two simple examples are presented to show that Kinematics vectorial expressions typically used in Dynamics problems can also be used in the method of Virtual Work as an alternative to express the geometric constraints of Statics problems. The approach can help engineering students learn two subjects that may otherwise appear disconnected.
Invisibility and Ownership of Language: Problems of Representation in Russian Language Textbooks

Using the 2 theoretical lenses of representation (Barthes, 1977) and ownership of language (Higgins, 2003), this article offers a critical analysis of representations of Russian speakers in 9 widely used Russian language textbooks aimed at university-level learners. Particular attention is paid to representations of Russian speakers other than white Orthodox Christian ethnic Russians. Findings indicate that there are virtually no representations of such 'other' speakers in the materials under investigation. This absence is framed as an erasure (hooks, 1992), a violent removal that significantly misrepresents the actual diversity of speakers of Russian and restricts putative ownership of the Russian language. The authors argue that not only is this inaccurate portrayal pedagogically problematic; it is also politically so, as it coincides with a rising tide of ethnic Russian nationalism in the Russian Federation. The article ends with a call for more accurate portrayals of the actual diversity of users of Russian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Examining the Effect of Wireless Sensor Network Synchronization on Base Station Anonymity

In recent years, Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) have become valuable assets to both the commercial and military communities with applications ranging from industrial control on a factory floor to reconnaissance of a hostile border. A typical WSN topology that applies to most applications allows sensors to act as data sources that forward their measurements to a central sink or base station (BS). The unique role of the BS makes it a natural target for an adversary that desires to achieve the most impactful attack possible against a WSN. An adversary may employ traffic analysis techniques such as evidence theory to identify the BS based on network traffic flow even when the WSN implements conventional security mechanisms. This motivates a need for WSN operators to achieve improved BS anonymity to protect the identity, role, and location of the BS. Many traffic analysis countermeasures have been proposed in literature, but are typically evaluated based on data traffic only, without considering the effects of network synchronization on anonymity performance. In this paper we use evidence theory analysis to examine the effects of WSN synchronization on BS anonymity by studying two commonly used protocols, Reference Broadcast Synchronization (RBS) and Timing-synch Protocol for Sensor Networks (TPSN).
A Fast, Time-Sliced, Multiple Data Bus Structure for Overlapping I/O and CPU Operations

A specialized computer system, MIDAS, designed for fast interactive processing of event structured data, is being developed in the Nuclear Science Division of LBL. The system will minimize analysis time by overlapping data transfers among various components of the system with the calculations and transformations performed by several classes of processors operating asynchronously and in parallel. A multiple data bus structure and its associated connecting logic enable blocks of memory to be rapidly switched, in a programmed manner, among various classes of intelligent processors. These interconnections include a phased, time-slice scheme which allocates a 13 nanosecond window to multiple processors connected to a memory block. Multiple parallel data busses allow 'concurrent' data transfers between the memory and various independent processors.
TRANSSEPTAL LEFT HEART DYNAMICS IN THIRTY-TWO NORMAL SUBJECTS.

SUMMARY The results of right heart catheterization and transseptal left heart catheterization in 32 normal subjects have been outlined. These data will serve as a baseline for comparison with left heart data in patients with various types of heart disease. The normal levels of left atrial and left ventricular pressure and the normal levels of cardiac index as well as the normal true pulmonary blood volume hâve been given as part of this study.
Comparative Study of Integrated Pest Management and Baiting for German Cockroach Management in Public Housing

This study assessed the cost and effectiveness of a building-wide cockroach integrated pest management (IPM) program compared with bait alone treatment in public housing. In total, 12 buildings (66 apartments) were treated and monitored for cockroach infestations over 7 mo. The buildings were divided into two groups: bait treatment and IPM. Apartments in the bait alone group were treated with Maxforce FC Select (0.01% Þpronil) during the Þrst 12 wk and Maxforce Roach Killer Bait Gel (2.15% hydramethylnon) from 16 wk when necessary. For the IPM group, cockroaches were sushed and vacuumed at the beginning of the study; sticky traps were placed in all apartments to monitor and reduce cockroach numbers; educational materials were delivered to the residents; and Maxforce FC Select and Maxforce Roach Killer Bait Gel were applied to kill cockroaches. Two seminars were presented to the manger, and Community Service Program staff of the Gary Housing Authority to help gain tenant cooperation in the program. Effects of the treatments were monitored using sticky traps (six per apartment) at 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 29 wk after treatment. More treatments were applied during each monitoring visit when necessary. Those apartments with high levels of infestations (12 cockroaches in six traps) before treatment were used to compare the IPM and bait only treatments. IPM resulted in signiÞcantly greater trap catch reduction than the bait treatment. The IPM (n 12) and bait only treatment (n 11) resulted in 100.0 and 94.6%, respectively, reduction in trap catch after 16 wk. At 29 wk, only one apartment in the IPM group had a high level (12 cockroaches) of cockroach infestation. In contrast, Þve apartments in the bait treatment group had high level infestations at 29 wk based on overnight trapping counts; thus, IPM is a more sustainable method of population reduction. Sanitation levels in the IPM group signiÞcantly improved at 29 wk (n 11) compared with that at the beginning of the study. The sanitation levels in the bait treatment group remained similar throughout the experiment (n 9). The cumulative cost of IPM was signiÞcantly higher than that of the bait treatment. The median costs per apartment during 29 wk were $64.8 and $35.0 for the IPM and bait treatment, respectively. The median amount of bait used per apartment in the IPM and bait treatment was 45.0 and 50.0 g, respectively. The cost of the IPM group for the 29 wk service was similar to that of the bait treatment group. We expect that IPM will provide better control at similar cost compared with bait treatment beyond 29 wk.
Dimension reduction and coefficient estimation in multivariate linear regression

Summary. We introduce a general formulation for dimension reduction and coefficient estimation in the multivariate linear model. We argue that many of the existing methods that are commonly used in practice can be formulated in this framework and have various restrictions. We continue to propose a new method that is more flexible and more generally applicable. The method proposed can be formulated as a novel penalized least squares estimate. The penalty that we employ is the coefficient matrix’s Ky Fan norm. Such a penalty encourages the sparsity among singular values and at the same time gives shrinkage coefficient estimates and thus conducts dimension reduction and coefficient estimation simultaneously in the multivariate linear model.We also propose a generalized cross-validation type of criterion for the selection of the tuning parameter in the penalized least squares. Simulations and an application in financial econometrics demonstrate competitive performance of the new method. An extension to the non-parametric factor model is also discussed.
Ion channelopathies: a tapped-out mine?

the study of ion channels shifted paradigms when Keating and colleagues ([3][1]) struck silver in the Utah hills. In the early days of the molecular biological era, they were able to describe a genetic linkage between the long QT syndrome, a form of inherited sudden death associated with a
Sexual Values and Risky Sexual Behaviors Among Latino Youths

CONTEXT Understanding Latino youths’ sexual values is key to informing HIV prevention efforts. Few studies have examined associations between culturally based sexual values and behaviors among Latinos.
Opposition Party Strategy and Spatial Competition in Dominant Party Regimes: A Theory and the Case of Mexico

This article provides a non-formal modification of the standard spatial model of party competition to make it more applicable to the study of opposition parties in dominant party systems in transition. Dominant parties' virtual monopoly over resources forces challengers to rely on activist-based strategies. Challengers then face the problem of balancing programmatically radical activists against the moderate preference of the median voter. The article shows that opposition parties' programmatic locations depend on the number of competing parties. Contrary to standard expectations, it finds that two-party competition between the incumbent and one challenger produces a center-fleeing strategy by the challenger, whereas three-party competition between the incumbent and two challengers yields center-seeking strategies by both challengers. The second half of the article applies this modified model to the case of Mexico. Data come from in-depth interviews, electoral returns, public opinion polls, and original s...
OVERLEARNING AND REVERSAL OF A SPATIAL DISCRIMINATION BY RATS.

Rats were trained to criterion on a position discrimination and then given reversal training with or without 150 trials of overlearning (N = 14). Initial reversal performance was significantly reta...
The Challenge of Climate Change Adaptation: Learning from National Planning Efforts in Britain, China, and the United States

This paper surveys projected climate impacts and national planning efforts in three major countries. The three countries are in varying stages of planning for climate adaptation. Planning frameworks in all three countries suffer from a lack of specificity and urgency. To address this situation, the paper recommends the use of scenario planning, including consideration of high-impact scenarios, to address the downside risks of climate change, and identifying and prioritizing impacts on vulnerable populations such as the elderly, the poor, and coastal communities.
Controlling depth of anesthesia using PID tuning: a comparative model-based study

The control of depth of anesthesia presents a challenging and realistic problem that calls for fast and adaptable control techniques. However, patient-to-patient variability in model parameters poses the question of which control strategy can generate best results. We studied three different patient models, i.e., the slate model, the isoflurane unconsciousness model, and the isoflurane to muscle relaxation interaction model. Due to the simplicity of the PID control and easy implementation, a discrete PID controller with actuator saturation is considered in this study to supports these three pharmacokinetic models. The models being tested can give us an understanding of the effects of disposition of drug in the body by measuring the mean arterial pressure (MAP). The system characteristics are such that the PID controller should regulate the error signal of the gases sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and isoflurane using MAP readings from the patient. The system responses under the discrete PID control are presented and the results show acceptable performance.
Study of an ergodicity pitfall in multitrajectory simulation

Multitrajectory Simulation allows random events in a simulation to generate multiple trajectories. Management techniques have been developed to manage the choices of trajectories to be continued as combinatorial explosion and limited resources prevents continuing all of them. One of the seemingly most promising methods used trajectory probability as a criterion, so that higher probability trajectories were preferentially continued, resulting in a more even distribution of (surviving) trajectory probabilities, and better than stochastic approximation to a reference outcome. It was also found that this management technique introduced a failed ergodicity assumption. The higher and lower probability trajectories behave differently to a significant extent. The effect is to limit the number of trajectories which can usefully be applied to tile problem, such that additional runs would fail to converge further toward the definitive reference outcome set. This may be a useful model for understanding other simulation modeling limitations.
Chemotaxis in Eukaryotic Cells: A Focus on Leukocytes and Dictyostelium

OVERVIEW 649 FEATURES OF CHEMOTACTIC BEHAVIOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 650 HOW DO CELLS ACCOMPLISH CHEMOTAXIS? 652 Critical Questions . 652 Hypothetical Schemes for Chemotaxis 652 RESPONSES INDUCED BY ADDITION OF CHEMOATTRACTANTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....... . . . . . . . 656 Physiological Responses 656 Underlying Biochemistry .659 CHEMOATTRACTANT-INDUCED DESENSITIZATION ......... 669 Receptor Alterations 669 Additional Desensitization Mechanisms 670 CURRENT VIEW OF EUKARYOTIC CHEMOTAXIS . . . . . . . . . . ......... . . . . . . . . . .. ...... . ........ . . . . . . ...... . . . . . . . . 672 Biochemical Events Essential for Chemotaxis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 672 Working Modelfor Chemotaxis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 672
Outcomes and complications after 532 nm laser prostatectomy in anticoagulated patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia

Purpose: Patients on anticoagulation are at high risk for bleeding after electrocautery transurethral resection of the prostate or open prostatectomy and they are often denied surgery for symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia. Using photoselective vaporization of the prostate, patients at high risk may safely undergo surgery. We explored outcomes and complications after photoselective vaporization of the prostate in an anticoagulated, high risk cohort.Materials and Methods: Between 2002 and 2008, 162 men on systemic anticoagulation underwent photoselective vaporization of the prostate. Data were collected on demographics, comorbidities, complications, serum sodium, hematocrit, maximum flow rate, post-void residual urine, International Prostate Symptom Score and complications.Results: Mean ± SD age was 72 ± 8 years, mean baseline prostate volume was 91 ± 49 gm and mean prostate specific antigen was 4.1 ± 5 ng/ml. Of the patients 31 (19%) were on warfarin, 101 (62%) were on acetylsalicylic acid, 19 (12%)...
Sex-specific impact of aldosterone receptor antagonism on ventricular remodeling and gene expression after myocardial infarction

Aldosterone receptor antagonism reduces mortality and improves post-myocardial infarction (MI) remodeling. Because aldosterone and estrogen signaling pathways interact, we hypothesized that aldosterone blockade is sex-specific. Therefore, we investigated the impact of eplerenone on left ventricular (LV) remodeling and gene expression of male infarcted rats versus female infarcted rats. MI and Sham animals were randomized to receive eplerenone (100 mg/kg/day) or placebo 3 days post-surgery for 4 weeks and assessed by echocardiography. In the MI placebo group, left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD) increased from 7.3 +/- 0.4 mm to 10.2 +/- 1.0 mm (p < 0.05) and ejection fraction (EF) decreased from 82.3 +/- 4% to 45.5 +/- 11% (p < 0.05) in both sexes (p = NS between groups). Eplerenone attenuated LVEDD enlargement more effectively in females (8.8 +/- 0.2 mm, p < 0.05 vs. placebo) than in males (9.7 +/- 0.2 mm, p = NS vs. placebo) and improved EF in females (56.7 +/- 3%, p < 0.05 vs. placebo) but not in males (50.6 +/- 3%, p = NS vs. placebo). Transcriptomic analysis using Rat_230-2.0 microarrays (Affymetrix) revealed that in females 19% of downregulated genes and 44% of upregulated genes post-MI were restored to normal by eplerenone. In contrast, eplerenone only restored 4% of overexpressed genes in males. Together, these data suggest that aldosterone blockade reduces MI-induced cardiac remodeling and phenotypic alterations of gene expression preferentially in females than in males. The use of transcriptomic signatures to detect greater benefit of eplerenone in females has potential implications for personalized medicine.
Asymptotic Behavior of Infinity Harmonic Functions Near an Isolated Singularity

In this paper, we prove that if n ≥ 2a ndx0 is an isolated singularity of a non-negative infinity harmonic function u, then either x0 is a removable singularity of u or u(x) = u(x0) + c|x − x0 |+ o(|x − x0|) near x0 for some fixed constant c � 0. In particular, if x0 is nonremovable, then u has a local maximum or a local minimum at x0 .W e also prove a Bernstein-type theorem, which asserts that if u is a uniformly Lipschitz continuous, one-side bounded infinity harmonic function in R n \{0}, then it must be a cone function with center at 0.
An Evaluation of Substance Abuse Treatment Outcomes for Youthful Parolees

In 1990, the California Youth Authority's Parole Services Branch implemented two postparole substance abuse treatment programs for relapse-prone parolees. In an effort to reduce parole revocations for technical violations relating to substance abuse, these short-term programs offer the parolee an alternative to revocation through voluntary relapse intervention. This study is an assessment of one of these programs, the Southern California Drug Treatment Program at El Centro. A total of 154 parolees who successfully completed the 3-month program were evaluated on a number of characteristics to assess their treatment success. During the 15-month evaluation period, 83 individuals (53.9%) were unsuccessful, 58 (69.9%) of them during the first 6 months of reparole. Substance abuse ratings by parole agents indicate that 83% of the removals and 37.7% of those still on parole were current habitual substance abusers. Although these findings are not encouraging, certain elements of the program were favorable. Recomm...
Strategies of remembrance in pre‐unification West Germany

By examining instances of dramatically rejected speech, critics can identify codes of the unsayable in a culture/situation, and by identifying what cannot be said publicly are better equipped to distinguish between types of national identity. In the years leading to German reunification, West German national identity was based upon various strategies of remembrance that are identified through a comparison of two speeches: Richard von Weizsacker's celebrated 1985 parliamentary address commemorating the end of the Second World War in Europe and Philipp Jenninger's dramatically rejected parliamentary address in 1988 commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the Kristallnacht.
Endogenous Cardioprotection by Ischaemic Postconditioning and Remote Conditioning

Persistent myocardial ischaemia causes cell death if not rescued by early reperfusion. Millions of years in nature's laboratory have evolved protective responses that ‘condition’ the heart (and other tissues) to adapt to stressors, and these responses are applicable to the relatively new societal stress of myocardial ischaemia and reperfusion injury. Conditioning can be applied before (preconditioning), during (perconditioning), or after (postconditioning) the ischaemic stressor by imposing short periods of non-lethal ischaemia separated by brief periods of reperfusion. This conditioning protects multiple cell types and induces or rebalances a number of physiological and molecular pathways that ultimately attenuate necrosis and apoptosis. The seemingly disparate pathways may converge directly or indirectly on the mitochondria as a final effector, but other pathways not affecting mitochondria broaden the mechanisms of cardioprotection. The potential downsides of imposing even brief ischaemia directly on the heart somewhat tempered the enthusiasm for applying conditioning stimuli to the heart, but this hurdle was surmounted by applying ischaemia to remote organs and tissues in pre-, per-, and postconditioning. Although the clinical translation of remote per- and postconditioning has been rapid compared with classical preconditioning, there are numerous basic questions that require further investigation, and wider adoption awaits large-scale randomized clinical trials. Pharmacological mimetics may provide another important therapeutic approach by which to treat evolving myocardial infarction.
Using a simulated patient to assess referral for abortion services in the USA

Background Women seeking abortion services need to access services in a timely fashion. Quick and appropriate referrals to abortion providers are critical to this process. Methods The objective of this study was to determine the quality and quantity of referrals for abortion services from reproductive health care facilities that do not provide abortion services. USA states were ranked by restrictiveness of abortion, and a simulated patient made calls to the five most and six least restrictive states. Referrals were considered direct if the name or telephone number of a facility that provided abortion services was given; indirect when Planned Parenthood was suggested without additional details; and inappropriate if the referral did not provide abortion services. Results Of 142 calls, 77 (52.4%) were made to least restrictive states and 62 (45.8%) were made to most restrictive states. Among all calls, even after prompting staff members for a referral, 45.8% resulted in a direct referral, 19.0% resulted in an indirect referral, 8.5% resulted in an inappropriate referral and 26.8% resulted in no referral. Facilities in least restrictive states were significantly more likely to provide unprompted direct referrals ( p =0.006) and significantly less likely to provide no referral ( p Conclusions A simulated patient received a direct referral for abortion services less than half the time, even after prompting a staff member to provide one. All facilities providing women9s health care should have appropriate referrals readily available for patients seeking abortion services.
Identification of Pseudomonas species from a variety of hosts in the Salinas Valley of California.

Bacterial diseases have occurred on crucifers in the Salinas Valley since 1999, particularly on arugula (Eruca vesicaria ssp. sativa), kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) and Brussels sprouts (Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera). Also, bacterial diseases have occurred on members of the Chenopodiaceae namely Swiss chard and table beet (both Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris). Isolates from arugula, Brussels sprouts, kale, table beet, and Swiss chard were Gram negative, and positive for levan production and the hypersensitive response on tobacco. Furthermore, they were negative for oxidase production, potato rot, and arginine dehydrolyase activity. The arugula, Brussels sprouts, and kale isolates were fluorescent on KMB, but the table beet, and Swiss chard isolates were not fluorescent. The pathotype strain of Pseudomonas syringae pv. aptata was not fluorescent in our laboratory. Isolates from all hosts were consistently identified as strains of P. syringae by fatty acid analysis. Strains of P. syringae from all hosts have been evaluated by BOX-PCR and banding patterns were compared to several pathotypes of P. syringae. BOX-PCR analysis indicated that the pathogen from Swiss chard and table beet were identical to P. s. pv. aptata. The isolates from arugula were similar to P. s.pv. alisalensis and the strains from Brussels sprouts and kale were very similar to P. s. pv. maculicola. Complete phenotypic and host range testing needs to be conducted to conclusively identify these strains.
GENDER AND TASK IN THE DETERMINATION OF SPATIAL COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE

A variety of sex differences in spatial cognitive performance have been documented. However, factors other than those specifically related to gender and cognition per se, such as the perceived spatial character of given tasks, may contribute to such differences. In the present experiments, spatial memory and mental image rotation tasks were presented to female and male adults. The task formats or instructions were varied to emphasize or deemphasize the spatial character of the tasks. Highly “spatial” instructions or format significantly depressed performance on spatial tasks for women but not for men. “Nonspatial” instructions or format, within which the spatial character of the task was not explicit, resulted in no significant differences between the performances of women and men on either type of task. These findings indicate that instructional or format effects relating to the purported “spatial” character of a given task may significantly influence the relative performance of women and men.
The Instructional Leadership Team: A New Role for the Department Head.

In an effort to examine the changing role of the principal with respect to instructional leadership, and the extent to which those responsibilities are shared and with whom, a series of studies has been conducted at Vir ginia Tech University in Blacksburg, Va. Several of those studies are reviewed here.
InAs Quantum Dots in AlAs/GaAs Short Period Superlattices: Structure, Optical Characteristics and Laser Diodes

The influence of two monolayer - thick AlAs under- and overlayers on the formation and properties of self-assembled InAs quantum dots (QDs) has been studied using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and photoluminescence (PL). Single sheets of InAs QDs were grown inside a 2ML/8ML AlAs/GaAs short-period superlattice with various combinations of under- and overlayers. It was found that 2.4ML InAs QDs with GaAs underlayer and 2ML AlAs overlayer exhibited the lowest QD surface density of 4.2×1010 cm-2 and the largest QD lateral size of about 19 nm as compared to the other combinations of cladding layers. This InAs QD ensemble has also shown the highest room temperature PL intensity with a peak at 1210 nm and the narrowest linewidth, 34 meV. Fabricated edge-emitting lasers using triple layers of InAs QDs with AlAs overlayer demonstrated 120 A/cm2 threshold current density and 1230 nm emission wavelength at room temperature. Excited state QD lasers have shown high thermal stability of threshold current up to 130°C.
A domain-specific approach to heterogeneous parallelism

Exploiting heterogeneous parallel hardware currently requires mapping application code to multiple disparate programming models. Unfortunately, general-purpose programming models available today can yield high performance but are too low-level to be accessible to the average programmer. We propose leveraging domain-specific languages (DSLs) to map high-level application code to heterogeneous devices. To demonstrate the potential of this approach we present OptiML, a DSL for machine learning. OptiML programs are implicitly parallel and can achieve high performance on heterogeneous hardware with no modification required to the source code. For such a DSL-based approach to be tractable at large scales, better tools are required for DSL authors to simplify language creation and parallelization. To address this concern, we introduce Delite, a system designed specifically for DSLs that is both a framework for creating an implicitly parallel DSL as well as a dynamic runtime providing automated targeting to heterogeneous parallel hardware. We show that OptiML running on Delite achieves single-threaded, parallel, and GPU performance superior to explicitly parallelized MATLAB code in nearly all cases.
Sensitivity and specificity of whole chromosome paint (WCP) probes are correlated with size of translocated segment

Wiley et al. reported on a de novo {open_quotes}non-reciprocal translocation 1;8{close_quotes} as {open_quotes}confirmed{close_quotes} by whole chromosome paints (WCP). The assumption in this and similar papers is that WCP for one chromosome would light the ends of a derivative chromosome if the derivative chromosome carries such material and that the signal would be missing from donor chromosome. However, it has been our experience that WCP do not rule out reciprocal translocations involving small segments. Our lab has had three recent relevant examples: Case 1: A t(4;5)(p16.3;p15.3)mat. The initial discovery by G-banding was of a small piece of extra material on 4p in mother and child. Initial trials using a paint 4 probe on the mother`s metaphases, both in our laboratory and in another laboratory, failed to show signal on any other chromosome. The reciprocal 4;5 nature was demonstrated later using a cosmid to 4p. Painting with a chromosome 5 probe on metaphases from the mother with the rcp(4;5) showed apparently complete painting of both chromosome 5s in all cells. The signal from the WCP 5 probe on the derivative 4 was seen as a very small signal in only 30% of the cells. 4 refs.
Effects of Age and Sedentary Lifestyle on Skeletal Muscle NF-κB Signaling in Men

Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) is a critical signaling molecule of disuse-induced skeletal muscle atrophy. However, few studies have carefully investigated whether similar pathways are modulated with physical activity and age. The present study examined lean mass, maximal force production, and skeletal muscle NF-κB signaling in 41 men categorized as sedentary (OS, N = 13, 63.85 ± 6.59 year), physically active (OA, N = 14, 60.71 ± 5.54 year), or young and sedentary (YS, N = 14, 21.35 ± 3.84 year). Muscle tissue from the vastus lateralis was assayed for messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of the β subunit of IkB kinase (IKKβ), cytosolic protein content of phosphorylated inhibitor of kappa B alpha (pIKBα), and nuclear content of NF-κB subunits p50 and p65. When compared with YS, OS demonstrated age-related muscle atrophy and reduced isokinetic knee extension torque. Physical activity in older individuals preserved maximal isokinetic knee extension torque. OS muscle contained 50% more pIKBα than OA and 61% more pIKBα than YS. Furthermore, nuclear p65 was significantly elevated in OS compared with YS. OS muscle did not differ from either of the other two groups for nuclear p50 or for mRNA expression of IKKβ. These results indicate that skeletal muscle content of nuclear-bound p65 is elevated by age in humans. The elevation in nuclear-bound p65 appears to be at least partially due to significant increases in pIKBα. A sedentary lifestyle appears to play some role in increased IKBα; however, further research is needed to identify downstream effects of this increase.
Vena contracta suppression in dilute polymer solutions

Very small amounts of high molecular weight polymers were found to eliminate vena contracta formation in flow through a circular orifice. This effect was reflected in the decreased efflux time for drainage between two fixed levels in a tank, reductions up to 30% being obtained. Aqueous solutions of seven commercially available polymers were studied, consisting of a poly(acrylic acid), two polyacrylamides of different degrees of hydrolysis, and four poly(ethylene oxides) of widely differing molecular weights. The poly(acrylic acid) and two highest molecular weight poly(ethylene oxides) each caused a sudden drop in efflux time at a “critical concentration”, which was 2, 50, and 90 wppm, respectively, for these three polymers. An explanation of this phenomenon in terms of the high Deborah number flow field existing near the orifice edge is advanced. In the case of the polyacrylamide solutions, a very gradual reduction in efflux time with increasing polymer concentration was observed, beginning at about 3 wppm. Coincident with this was the formation of a wine-glass stem or converging flow field upstream of the orifice. Such a flow field was not observed for the other solutions. It is suggested that vena contracta inhibition with polyacrylamide is simply a manifestation of solution die swell. The reason for the differing efflux time behavior between the various polymers is not known and represents a challenging problem for further study.
Lake-Effect Snowstorms in Northern Utah and Western New York with and without Lightning

Abstract Lake-effect snowstorms in northern Utah and western New York with and without lightning/thunder are examined. Lake-effect snowstorms with lightning have significantly higher temperatures and dewpoints in the lower troposphere and significantly lower lifted indices than lake-effect snowstorms without lightning. In contrast, there is little difference in dewpoint depressions between events with and without lightning. Surface-to-700-hPa temperature differences (a surrogate for lower-tropospheric lapse rate) for events with and without lightning differ significantly for events in northern Utah, but not for those in western New York. Nearly all events have no convective available potential energy, regardless of the presence of lightning. These results are discussed in the context of current models of storm electrification.
The Chemistry of Ia Antigens

The I region of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) contains genes which determine or regulate the ability of an animal to respond immunologically to an antigenic challenge (McDevitt and Benacerraf, 1969; Benacerraf and Mc Devitt, 1972). Owing to the potential significance of the genetic control of the immune response by these Ir genes, an intensive effort has been made to identify the gene products encoded for by the I region and to characterize the mechanism by which Ir-gene products influence or mediate immune responsiveness. In the course of these studies, it was demonstrated that lymphocytes express a cell surface molecule which bears antigenic determinants encoded for by genes in the I region (David et al., 1973; Gotze et al., 1973; Haupfeld et al., 1973; Sachs and Cone, l973;Hammerling et al., 1974), and these molecules have now been termed I-region-associated, or Ia, antigens.
The Exercise Ankle-Brachial Index: A Leap Forward in Noninvasive Diagnosis and Prognosis.

Atherosclerosis is a systemic process with clinical manifestations primarily determined by the vascular territory involved. The 3 most common territories include coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral artery disease (PAD), with less common clinical sequelae due to
Video Content Pre-Processing

Shot, defined as“the smallest addressable unit having the finest level of descriptive granularity”, is a cinematic term, which“consists of one or more frames generated and recorded contiguously”. Thus, a shot“represents a continuous action in time and space” [Davenport et al., 1991]. Generally speaking, a shot has a clearly defined physical scope and is solely associated with visual information. Based on the content change style, there are two basic types of shots, namely, the camera break and the gradual transition as discussed in Chapter 2.
Abstract T P289: Long-term Outcome Analysis in Patients With Malignant Middle Cerebral Artery Stroke Who Underwent Decompressive Hemicraniectomy

Background and Purpose: Decompressive hemicraniectomy (DHC) reduces mortality and improves physical outcome in selected patients with malignant middle cerebral artery (mMCA) stroke. In this study, we performed comprehensive functional evaluation in mMCA stroke patients who underwent DHC, and attempted to identify the pre-surgical factors that correlated with long-term physical outcome. Methods: We identified mMCA stroke patients treated with DHC in our institution between January 2007 and April 2013. Functional outcome was assessed in survivors through clinic visit or telephone interview using modified Rankin Scale (mRS), Barthel Index, Geriatric Depression Scale, Stroke Impact Scale, Satisfaction of Life Scale, and retrospective consent. In addition, all patients including survivors and deceased were classified into acceptable outcome (mRS 4) groups. Pre-surgical factors including age, gender, stroke risk factors, time to surgery, cerebral vessel involvement, cause of stroke, use of intravenous tPA or endovascular intervention were compared between two groups. Results: 37 patients were identified meeting our study criteria. 11 out of 16 survivors were enrolled for functional assessment (mean age 54.7 years, 73% male, 27% left hemisphere stroke, and mean time after stroke 3.4 years). Psychosocial aspect scored much higher than physical outcome in comprehensive functional evaluation. The majority of participants were satisfied with life and agreed for the retrospective consent. Comparing two groups with acceptable (n=9) and bad (n=23) outcomes, pre-surgical characteristics including age>60, anterior cerebral artery involvement, hemorrhagic transformation, history of diabetes and coronary artery diseases were potentially associated with worse long-term outcome. Conclusions: A better psychological recovery suggests that appropriate mMCA stroke patients should not be deprived a DHC only based on a presumed unfavorable physical outcome. Some pre-surgical factors may be predictive for a worse outcome, which will assist physicians and families making critical decisions.
Introduction and Overview: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Related Diseases in Combat Veterans

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is now a major topic in scientific literature and media, especially after the many years of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Approximately 2.7 million service members have served in the conflicts since the planes dived into the Twin Towers and the Pentagon on 9/11/2001. Estimates of the numbers of service members who have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan and have PTSD range from 15 to 25 %. This introductory chapter begins by covering some critical administrative and cultural competency issues. It briefly outlines the basics of prevalence, diagnostic criteria, evidence-based, and innovative therapy.
Imaging of targeted fluorescence signal for tumor detectionusing dual-interfering-source excitation

Fluorescent field re-radiated from an object embedded in a highly scattering medium illuminated by dual-interfering-source possesses some unique features, i.e., amplitude null and 180° phase transition when the object is crossing the mid-plane between those two sources. This allows us to accurately localize the fluorescent object inside the turbid media. Using this method, we can image the location of an 8 mm mouse tumor labeled with fluorescent dye embedded 3 cm deep in the scattering media.
Functional importance of Ψ38 and Ψ39 in distinct tRNAs, amplified for tRNAGln(UUG) by unexpected temperature sensitivity of the s2U modification in yeast

The numerous modifications of tRNA play central roles in controlling tRNA structure and translation. Modifications in and around the anticodon loop often have critical roles in decoding mRNA and in maintaining its reading frame. Residues U38 and U39 in the anticodon stem-loop are frequently modified to pseudouridine (Ψ) by members of the widely conserved TruA/Pus3 family of pseudouridylases. We investigate here the cause of the temperature sensitivity of pus3Δ mutants of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and find that, although Ψ38 or Ψ39 is found on at least 19 characterized cytoplasmic tRNA species, the temperature sensitivity is primarily due to poor function of tRNA(Gln(UUG)), which normally has Ψ38. Further investigation reveals that at elevated temperatures there are substantially reduced levels of the s(2)U moiety of mcm(5)s(2)U34 of tRNA(Gln(UUG)) and the other two cytoplasmic species with mcm(5)s(2)U34, that the reduced s(2)U levels occur in the parent strain BY4741 and in the widely used strain W303, and that reduced levels of the s(2)U moiety are detectable in BY4741 at temperatures as low as 33°C. Additional examination of the role of Ψ38,39 provides evidence that Ψ38 is important for function of tRNA(Gln(UUG)) at permissive temperature, and indicates that Ψ39 is important for the function of tRNA(Trp(CCA)) in trm10Δ pus3Δ mutants and of tRNA(Leu(CAA)) as a UAG nonsense suppressor. These results provide evidence for important roles of both Ψ38 and Ψ39 in specific tRNAs, and establish that modification of the wobble position is subject to change under relatively mild growth conditions.
An Innovative Approach to Partnership in Asthma Care A Shared Medical Appointment for Children With Asthma and Their Caregivers

Control of asthma symptoms is fundamental to asthma management. New asthma guidelines suggest that asthma control, for most patients, can be achieved through education aimed at improving management...
Fast All Optical NAND Gate Using Coherent Control of the Linear Susceptibility of Five Level Atoms

We present a 5-level atomic configuration functioning as an optical NAND logic gate with the linear absorption of a probe laser as the gate output. Implementation in alkali atomic vapors and optical fibers is discussed.
MODELING COASTAL CURRENTS AND SEDIMENT TRANSPORT

An efficient three-dimensional model of coastal currents and sediment transport has been developed. Simulations of tide- and wind-driven currents and sediment transport in the Mississippi Sound are presented. Results of a laboratory study on settling, resuspension, and deposition of sediment are briefly described. Wave effect on sediment resuspension is also addressed.
The challenges of partially automated driving

Car automation promises to free our hands from the steering wheel but might demand more from our minds.
Salience Network Connectivity in Autism Is Related to Brain and Behavioral Markers of Sensory Overresponsivity

Objective The salience network, an intrinsic brain network thought to modulate attention to internal versus external stimuli, has been consistently found to be atypical in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). However, little is known about how this altered resting-state connectivity relates to brain activity during information processing, which has important implications for understanding sensory overresponsivity (SOR), a common and impairing condition in ASD related to difficulty downregulating brain responses to sensory stimuli. This study examined how SOR in youth with ASD relates to atypical salience network connectivity and whether these atypicalities are associated with abnormal brain response to basic sensory information. Method Functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to examine how parent-rated SOR symptoms related to salience network connectivity in 61 youth (aged 8−17 years; 28 with ASD and 33 IQ-matched typically developing youth). Correlations between resting-state salience network connectivity and brain response to mildly aversive tactile and auditory stimuli were examined. Results SOR in youth with ASD was related to increased resting-state functional connectivity between salience network nodes and brain regions implicated in primary sensory processing and attention. Furthermore, the strength of this connectivity at rest was related to the extent of brain activity in response to auditory and tactile stimuli. Conclusion Results support an association between intrinsic brain connectivity and specific atypical brain responses during information processing. In addition, findings suggest that basic sensory information is overly salient to individuals with SOR, leading to overattribution of attention to this information. Implications for intervention include incorporating sensory coping strategies into social interventions for individuals with SOR.
Mobile Device Keyboard Customization for a Newly Constructed Orthography of a Rural West African Language

In this note the author describes an initiative to create a keyboard for Android mobile devices that can type characters for a West African language called Kaansa, spoken by perhaps 10,000 Kaan people in Burkina Faso. The Kaan community has only recently established a written orthography and begun formal literacy training for adults and youths. This note examines certain currently available mobile technologies to allow texting in Kaansa and considers future efforts to measure the impact of such technologies on the literacy rate among several demographics.
Contactless measurement of equilibrium electron concentrations in n-type InAs/InAs1−xSbx type-II superlattices

Measurements of the equilibrium majority carrier electron concentration (n0) in narrow-bandgap n-type InAs/InAs1−xSbx type-II superlattices are made using contactless time-resolved microwave reflectance (TMR). By calibrating TMR decays to the number of optically injected electron-hole pairs, direct conversion to carrier lifetimes as a function of excited carrier density is made and allowing for accurate measurement of n0. The temperature dependence of both n0 and the intrinsic carrier density (ni) are measured using this method, where n0 = 1 × 1015 cm−3 and ni = 1.74 × 1011 cm−3 at 100 K. These results provide non-destructive insight into critical parameters that directly determine infrared photodetector dark diffusion current.
Sickness and Death in the Twenty-First Century: A Transformation toward Health?

Two visions of the future emerge from this review of the past, and the two seem at first glance to be at odds. According to one, both aggregate and age-specific morbidity rates will increase when the death rate declines. The death rate has declined during the past century, and further decline can be forecast. Therefore, the future would seem to promise more sickness. According to the other, the amount of sickness and the timing of death are influenced from four directions: genetic traits and propensities, exogenous hazards, endogenized hazards or insult accumulation, and age. During the last century, certain kinds of exogenous insults, usually infectious dis-eases, have been avoided or have had diminished effects on the health of some age groups, especially infants and children. Fewer ill-health episodes mean a slower rate of insult accumulation and arrival at advanced ages with better health histories. From this perspective, the future should promise less sickness.
11 – Electrospun elastin and collagen nanofibers and their application as biomaterials

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the efforts in the development of novel structural protein materials, fabrication of nanofiber networks using electrospinning technology, and applications of subsequent structures in biomedicine. Current pursuits in the discipline of biomedicine, including artificial organs and engineered living tissues, are dependent on the ability to generate novel materials, fabricate or assemble materials into appropriate 2-D or 3-D structures, and precisely tailor material-related properties in order to achieve a desired clinical response. To that end, of profound importance is the development of artificial Extracellular Matrices (ECM). These structures are integral to the fashioning of microenvironments that are engineered for ideal mechanical and biological performance. It is likely this design would require the mimicry of many, if not all, morphological or physiologic features of native tissues. Decades of research have indeed demonstrated that as our ability to control the physical and biological properties of scaffolding materials improves, the quality of the tissues thus formed is enhanced.
Class II RFLP Analysis Using β Domain Specific Probes

The human class II antigens are encoded by a series of linked α and β genes at the DP, DQ, and DR loci, present in the HLA-D region, which is located on the short arm of chromosome 6. Although sequence analysis of these highly polymorphic genes is the most detailed way to determine the genetic basis of these polymorphisms, restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis is an easier but still very informative approach. In particular, this technique has been very useful for studying DQ-α and -β gene polymorphisms, leading to the elucidation of DQ patterns that had been inadequately explained by serology (1).