cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Strain rate dependence of inelastic strain recovery in ultrafine-grained Al films with different textures

We investigated the tensile load–unload response and inelastic strain recovery in freestanding ultrafine-grained aluminum films with highly dissimilar texture at strain rates ranging from ~ 10–6/s to 10–3/s. For (110) textured bicrystalline films, the flow stress was nearly insensitive to strain rate and inelastic strain recovery both during and after unloading was small, leading to fairly low stress–strain hysteresis. In contrast, there was a substantial increase in flow stress for non-textured films with increasing strain rate. Furthermore, there was significant inelastic strain recovery both during and after unloading, resulting in a large stress–strain hysteresis. Interestingly, while the proportion of inelastic strain recovered during and after unloading varied with strain rate, the total strain recovery remained nearly constant. These observations underscore the influence of crystallographic texture and strain rate on the deformation mechanisms as well as the macroscopic behavior of ultrafine-grained metal films.
Geo-FARM: Geodesic Factor Regression Model for Misaligned Pre-shape Responses in Statistical Shape Analysis

The problem of using covariates to predict shapes of objects in a regression setting is important in many fields. A formal statistical approach, termed Geodesic regression model, is commonly used for modeling and analyzing relationships between Euclidean predictors and shape responses. Despite its popularity, this model faces several key challenges, including (i) misalignment of shapes due to pre-processing steps, (ii) difficulties in shape alignment due to imaging heterogeneity, and (iii) lack of spatial correlation in shape structures. This paper proposes a comprehensive geodesic factor regression model that addresses all these challenges. Instead of using shapes as extracted from pre-registered data, it takes a more fundamental approach, incorporating alignment step within the proposed regression model and learns them using both pre-shape and covariate data. Additionally, it specifies spatial correlation structures using low-dimensional representations, including latent factors on the tangent space and isotropic error terms. The proposed framework results in substantial improvements in regression performance, as demonstrated through simulation studies and a real data analysis on Corpus Callosum contour data obtained from the ADNI study.
HER2 Activation and Endocrine Treatment Resistance in HER2-negative Breast Cancer

The lethality of estrogen receptor alpha positive (ER+) breast cancer, which is often considered to have better prognosis than other subtypes, is defined by resistance to the standard of care endocrine treatment. Relapse and metastasis are inevitable in almost every patient whose cancer is resistant to endocrine treatment. Therefore, understanding the underlying causes of treatment resistance remains an important biological and clinical focus of research in this area. Growth factor receptor pathway activation, specifically HER2 activation, has been identified as one mechanism of endocrine treatment resistance across a range of experimental model systems. However, clinical trials conducted to test whether targeting HER2 benefits patients with endocrine treatment resistant ER+ breast cancer have consistently and disappointingly shown mixed results. One reason for the failure of these clinical trials could be the complexity of crosstalk between ER, HER2 and other growth factor receptors and the fluidity of HER2 activation in these cells, which makes it challenging to identify stratifiers for this targeted intervention. In the absence of stratifiers that can be assayed at diagnosis to allow prospective tailoring of HER2 inhibition to the right patients, clinical trials will continue to disappoint. To understand stratifiers, it is important that the field invests in key understudied areas of research including characterization of the tumor secretome and receptor activation in response to endocrine treatment, and mapping the ER-HER2-growth factor network in the normal and developing mammary gland. Understanding these mechanisms further is critical to improving outcomes for the hard-to-treat endocrine treatment resistant ER+ breast cancer cohort.
A cross-sectional study of student pharmacists' attitudes and self-awareness towards obesity and weight

Abstract Introduction Neutral attitudes towards people with obesity is a necessity among student pharmacists entering the workforce and caring for this patient population. The purpose of the study was to investigate the perception towards people with obesity among student pharmacists. Methods A cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire was sent to 237 student pharmacists. The questionnaire consisted of four demographic questions, the 14-item Fat Phobia Scale (FPS), and the 20-item Attitudes Towards Obese Persons Scale (ATOPS). Statistical analysis was completed to determine any differences between gender, age, and current status in pharmacy school. Results Eighty-four student pharmacists completed the questionnaire (35.4% response rate). Most participants were female (84.5%) and > 25 years of age (61.9%). Scores indicated an average level of fat phobia with no difference between males and females (mean score 2.8 ± 0.23 and 2.8 ± 0.29, respectively; P = .92). For attitude, the mean scores were − 0.93 ± 0.42 for males and − 0.75 ± 0.59 for females, indicating a neutral attitude towards obesity and no difference between groups (P = .35). There was no difference in age (younger vs. ≥ 25 years of age) in the FPS (P = .06) or ATOPS (P = .36). There was no difference in mean scores of FPS and ATOPS based on current year in pharmacy school (P = .69 and P = .97, respectively). Conclusions Student pharmacists had an average level of fat phobia and neutral attitude towards people with obesity regardless of gender, age, and year in pharmacy school.
Evidence-Based Development Approach for Safe, Sustainable and Secure Mobile Medical App

According to industry surveys, by 2018, more than 1.7 billion smartphone and tablet users will have downloaded at least one mobile medical app (MMA) [40]. Such widespread adoption of smartphone based medical apps is opening new avenues for innovation, bringing MMAs to the forefront of low cost healthcare delivery. These apps often control human physiology and work on sensitive health data, thus it is necessary to have evidences of their trustworthiness before actual marketing. The key challenges in ensuring trustworthiness of MMAs are maintaining privacy of health data, long term operation of wearable sensors and ensuring no physical harm to the user. Traditionally, clinical studies are used to generate evidences of trustworthiness of medical systems. However, they can take a long time and could potentially harm the user during studies. Thus it is essential to establish trustworthiness of MMAs before their actual use. One way to generate such evidences can be using simulations and mathematical analysis. These methods involve estimating the MMA interactions with human physiology. However, the nonlinear nature of human physiology makes the estimation challenging.
Alexia with agraphia as a rare presentation of migraine (P1.309)

OBJECTIVE: To describe a case of migraine manifested as alexia with agraphia BACKGROUND: Alexia with agraphia, which localizes to dysfunction of the dominant-side inferior parietal lobule is well described within the setting of destructive lesions (e.g., tumor, stroke) but has never been reported as a paroxysmal migraine aura. Migraine aura represents spells of reversible and focal neurologic dysfunction, explained by the theory of cortical spreading depression. DESIGN/METHODS: Case report of a patient seen in OU Edmond Neurology clinic for spells of alexia with agraphia RESULTS: A 39-year-old right-handed-woman with a history of migraine with aura presented with 6 closely occurring stereotypical spells of alexia with agraphia all in the setting of migraine attacks. 5 were manifested as difficulty reading numbers/letters on a computer screen followed by a severe migraine attack. A 6th attack was described as an inability to complete a bank deposit slip or to dial a number in her cell phone as the letter/numbers appeared foreign followed by a severe migraine attack. During each of these 6 attacks she was able to ask for help and carry on conversation with witnesses indicating preserved comprehension and expression via verbal language. A 1.5 T MRI of the brain w/wo contrast with FSPGR thin coronal sequences was structurally normal. She was treated by starting a migraine prophylactic (topiramate) and rescue therapy (naproxen) without recurrence for the past 1.5 years while on treatment. The classic nature of her migraine attacks and a normal MRI without risk factors for adult onset partial epilepsy justify a diagnosis of alexia with agraphia presenting as migraine auras. CONCLUSIONS: This represents the first-ever case report of alexia with agraphia presenting as migraine aura. The pathophysiology of cortical spreading depression within migraine auras easily supports cortical dysfunction of the angular gyrus preceding or during a migraine attack. Disclosure: Dr. Suhaib has nothing to disclose. Dr. Vaughn has received personal compensation for activities with various multiple sclerosis surveys.
The theory of tensile peeling from a visco-elastic interlayer

Under the dynamic elongation conditions that exist when a visco-elastic liquid is strained by the application of a tensile stress, as in the peeling proces, the energy requirement is made up of a portion that is conserved as elastic potential energy, and a portion that is dissipated as viscous flow. Failure by distortion would occur when the limit of conserved elastic energy is reached, providing the stresses were not relieved by cavitation beforehand. The relative amounts of energy conserved and dissipated are related to the timescale of the experiment. The theoretical energy requirement for film splitting is derived in this paper, and is shown to be equal to the theoretical work of stripping, although in practice this equivalence is not obtainable, due to the introduction of stress concentration at the rupture line, and filament formation following it.
Restoration of Tropical Forests

+ . Moreover, there is a pressing need to restore forests to reduce erosion into nearby waterways and to conserve the high diversity of tropi-cal forest organisms. In certain areas of the tropics, agricultural land is being abandoned and undergoing secondary succession due to changes in commodity prices and urr al – urban migartion (Mar i n - Spiotta
An Approach to Composition Motivated by wp

We consider the question of composition in system design, a fundamental issue in engineering. More precisely, we are interested in deducing system properties from components properties and vice-versa. This requires system and component specifications to be "compositional" in some sense. Depending on what systems are and how they are composed, this problem is satisfactorily solved (e.g., sequential composition of terminating programs) or remains a hot research topic (e.g., concurrent composition of reactive systems). In this paper, we aim at providing a logical framework in which composition issues can be reasoned about independently from the kind of systems and the laws of composition under consideration. We show that many composition related statements can be expressed in terms of predicate transformers in a way that presents interesting similarities with program semantics descriptions based on weakest precondition calculus.
Secure and efficient distributed linear programming

In today's networked world, resource providers and consumers are distributed globally and locally, especially under current cloud computing environment. However, with resource constraints, optimization is necessary to ensure the best possible usage of such scarce resources. Distributed linear programming DisLP problems allow collaborative agents to jointly maximize profits or minimize costs with a linear objective function while conforming to several shared as well as local linear constraints. Since each agent's share of the global constraints and the local constraints generally refer to its private limitations or capacities, serious privacy problems may arise if such information is revealed. While there have been some solutions raised that allow secure computation of such problems, they typically rely on inefficient protocols with enormous computation and communication cost.In this paper, we study the DisLP problems where constraints are arbitrarily partitioned and every agent privately holds a set of variables, and propose secure and extremely efficient approach based on mathematical transformation in two adversary models --semi-honest and malicious model. Specifically, we first present a secure column generation SCG protocol that securely solves the above DisLP problem amongst two or more agents without any private information disclosure, assuming semi-honest behavior all agents properly follow the protocol but may be curious to derive private information from other agents. Furthermore, we discuss potential selfish actions and colluding issues in malicious model distributed agents may corrupt the protocol to gain extra benefit and propose an incentive compatible protocol to resolve such malicious behavior. To address the effectiveness of our protocols, we present security analysis for both adversary models as well as the communication/computation cost analysis. Finally, our experimental results validate the efficiency of our approach and demonstrate its scalability.
On Norms and Agency: Conversations about Gender Equality with Women and Men in 20 Countries

This report provides tremendous insight on gender norms an area that has been resistant to change, and that constrains achievement of gender equality across many diverse cultures. The report synthesizes data collected from more than 4,000 women and men in 97 communities across 20 countries. It is the largest dataset ever collected on the topic of gender and development, providing an unprecedented opportunity to examine potential patterns across communities on social norms and gender roles, pathways of empowerment, and factors that drive acute inequalities. The analysis raises the profile of persistent social norms and their impact on agency, and catalyzes discourse on the many pathways that create opportunities for women and men to negotiate transformative change. The report is underpinned by the fact that arguably the single most important contribution to development is to unleash the full power of half the people on the planet women. It underscores how crucial making investments in learning, supporting innovations that reduce the time costs of womens mobility, and developing a critical mass of women and men pushing the boundaries of entrenched social norms are in enhancing womens agency and capacity to aspire.
Gastrointestinal involvement complicating Stevens-Johnson syndrome

Three cases of Stevens-Johnson syndrome with intestinal involvement are described. Two patients had esophageal involvement, the severity of which paralleled skin lesions and, in 1 case, probably contributed to death. Dysphagia and bleeding were manifestations. The third patient was unique and had gastric, small and large bowel involvement with sparing of other mucosae. Cramps, severe exudative diarrhea, and bleeding were major clinical features. Unusual histologic features included sloughing of cells into the gland lumina of intestinal mucosa.
Explaining Gang Rape in a “Rough Town”: Diverse Voices in Gender Violence News Online†

This study examines online news about the gang rape of a teenage girl after she left her homecoming dance in Richmond, CA. I analyze news framing in the 49 relevant stories that appeared on SFGate.com from 2009 to 2011, when 7 suspects were ordered to stand trial individually. My goals were to determine the dominant meanings in online news about gang rape and to illuminate how coverage invoked identity discourse. Findings suggest that frames debated the crime's causes, with a variety of sources offering competing explanations, many of which invoked identity discourses tying intersections of gender, race, and class with place. In contrast to previous research, some framing implicated social structures by referencing gender socialization as a cause of rape. Language: en
Cryopreservation of Allogeneic Stem Cell Products

Donor stem cells for allogeneic transplant are traditionally collected and transfused “fresh” into the recipient on the day of transplant. Alternatively, donor stem cells can be collected in advance and cryopreserved until needed. Due to historical momentum and concerns that the cryopreservation and thawing process may damage the graft and worsen clinical outcomes, most institutions favor the former approach. The use of cryopreserved grafts has, therefore, traditionally been reserved for extreme circumstances of questionable donor reliability or availability. This trend is, however, slowly changing as some individual centers are favoring the use of frozen grafts in their related donor transplants due to increased ease of transplant coordination. Similarly, The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP), which authorizes the collection of all cryopreserved unrelated grafts, has noticed an increasing trend in the use of frozen stem cell products. The total of cryopreserved stem cell grafts, however, still represents less than 2% of all unrelated products (R King; NMDP, personal communication).
Structural and Mechanistic Insights into LEOPARD Syndrome-Associated SHP2 Mutations.

SHP2 is an allosteric phosphatase essential for growth factor-mediated Ras activation. Germ-line mutations in SHP2 cause clinically similar LEOPARD and Noonan syndromes, two of several autosomal-dominant conditions characterized by gain-of-function mutations in the Ras pathway. Interestingly, Noonan syndrome SHP2 mutants are constitutively active, whereas LEOPARD syndrome SHP2 mutants exhibit reduced phosphatase activity. How do catalytically impaired LEOPARD syndrome mutants engender gain-of-function phenotypes? Our study reveals that LEOPARD syndrome mutations weaken the intramolecular interaction between the N-SH2 and phosphatase domains, leading to a change in SHP2 molecular switching mechanism. Consequently, LEOPARD syndrome SHP2 mutants bind upstream activators preferentially and are hypersensitive to growth factor stimulation. They also stay longer with scaffolding adapters, thus prolonging substrate turnover, which compensates for the reduced phosphatase activity. The study provides a solid framework for understanding how individual SHP2 mutations cause diseases.
A statistical model for sliding wear of metals in metal/composite systems

Abstract The wear of a nominally harder single-phase metal sliding against a nominally softer metal-matrix composite containing a dispersion of hard second-phase reinforcement is described by a statistical wear model which considers the effects of local variations in hardness and microstructure on asperity interactions. It was shown theoretically that the wear rate of the unreinforced component varies exponentially with nominal reinforcement volume fraction. Model experiments performed on a SiCw-2124 Al composite/17-4 PH steel system confirmed the validity of the theory.
Charge-defect equilibrium description of metastable defect concentrations

A thermodynamic equilibrium framework in which charge carriers are in equilibrium with charged and uncharged dangling bonds (DB) is developed. Thermal and light DB creation are related. DB formation is an exothermic reaction with negative entropy and free energy changes. Thus, the lowest energy state is with the weak bonds split into DB!
An improved technique for characterizing the fracture toughness via scratch test experiments

Abstract The scratch test consists in pushing a tool across the surface of a weaker material at a given penetration depth; and it has several applications in Science and Engineering including strength testing of rocks and ceramics, damage of polymers and metals and quality control of thin films and coatings. Despite numerous attempts in the scientific literature, the application of scratch tests to the characterization of fracture properties remains a challenge and a heavily controversial topic. Therefore, this investigation aims at articulating a rigorous theoretical and experimental framework in order to assess the fracture toughness at both the macroscopic and the microscopic length scales, using scratch tests. First, we apply optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy to investigate the physical evidence of crack initiation, crack propagation and material removal mechanisms during scratch tests. Then, we employ Finite Element simulations of crack growth during macroscopic scratch tests to assess the influence of the blade back-rake angle, the friction coefficient between the blade and the material and the wear flat of the blade on the scratching forces, thus testing the robustness of our Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics scratch model. Finally, at the microscopic scale, a meticulous scratch probe calibration procedure is described to improve the accuracy of the fracture properties determination by addressing important issues such as moisture content, specimen surface cleanliness and choice of reference material. In summary, we bring forward a robust, convenient and accurate method that is applied to polymers, ceramics and metals and can be further applied to the multi-scale study of fracture processes in complex and challenging materials such as gas shale, cement paste and cortical bone.
A Fully Implicit, Compact Finite Difference Method for the Numerical Solution of Unsteady Laminar Flames

Forced laminar diffusion flames form an important class of problems that can help to bridge the significant gap between steady laminar flames in simple burner configurations and the turbulent flames found in many practical combustors. Such flames offer a much wider range of interactions between convection, diffusion, and chemical reaction than can be examined under steady-state conditions, and yet detailed simulations of them should be feasible without having to resort to “modeling” any of the relevant physics, above all without having prematurely to reduce the large kinetic mechanisms typical of hydrocarbon fuels. Nevertheless, the computation of time-dependent laminar diffusion flames with conventional numerical methods is hindered by technical challenges that, while not new, are more troublesome to surmount than in the calculation of otherwise similar, unforced flames. First, the intricate spatiotemporal coupling between fluid dynamics and combustion thermochemistry ensures that spurious numerical diffusion or spatial under-resolution of the mixing process at any stage of the computation can lead to inaccurate prediction of flame characteristics for the remainder thereof. Second, relatively long simulated flow times and extremely short chemical time scales make many standard time integration algorithms impractical on all but the largest parallel computer clusters. This paper introduces a new numerical approach for time-varying laminar flames that addresses these challenges through the use of high order compact finite difference schemes within a robust, fully implicit solver based on a Jacobian-free Newton–Krylov method. The capabilities of this implicit-compact solver are demonstrated on a periodically forced axisymmetric laminar jet diffusion flame with one-step Arrhenius chemistry, and the results are compared to those of a conventional low order finite difference solver.
Activation Energy Spectra for Relaxation in Amorphous Materials. I. Volume Relaxation in Polystyrene and Polyvinyl Acetate

A modification of the Primak analysis for activation energy distributions is presented and compared with the well‐known analysis for relaxation time distributions. Mathematical and physical interrelationships between the two analyses are discussed. Activation energy spectra are derived from the data of Kovacs for volume relaxation in polystyrene and polyvinyl acetate. The energy spectra are bell shaped and cover the range from 5 to 20 kcal/mole. The concept of a shift factor is introduced to account for changing structure in the glass transition region. The shapes and locations of the spectra are discussed and compared with previous interpretations of volume relaxation data.
The Effects of Neutron Energy and High-Z Materials on Single Event Upsets and Multiple Cell Upsets

Neutron-induced charge collection data and computer simulations presented here show that the presence of high-Z materials, like tungsten, can increase the single event upset (SEU) and multiple cell upset (MCU)cross sections of high critical charge (Qcrit) devices exposed to the terrestrial neutron environment because of interactions with high energy ( >; 100 MeV) neutrons. Time-of-flight data and computer simulations presented here demonstrate that 14 MeV neutrons do not produce highly ionizing secondary particles. Thus, 14 MeV neutrons can only simulate the SEU response of 65 nm SRAM devices in the terrestrial neutron environment for devices with a Qcrit <; 27fC, and can simulate the 2-bit MCU response to within a factor of two only for very low Qcrit devices, <; 1.2 fC.Additionally, it is shown that 14 MeV neutrons cannot adequately simulate the 3 or more bit MCU response for typical 65 nm SRAM devices.
Climate Change: A Demonstration with a Teaching Moment

Experience from audience reactions indicates that most people cannot name the three most abundant gases in dry air. As this is relevant for an understanding of climate change, a demonstration involving mass determinations of equal volumes of four gases is provided to help the public understand that human activity is capable of increasing the carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere.
Measurements and prediction of contention in multiprocessor operating systems with scientific application workloads

This paper examines the effect of contention for a single shared semaphore protecting critical regions in a multiprocessor operating system on system performance as the number of processors increases. A simple queueing model is used to make predictions as a function of the expected demand for the semaphore by each processor. Measurements are then presented for 2 and 4 processor configurations of the CRAY X-MP running an experimental version of UNICOS. The measurements indicate that demand is highly dependent on the workload, and that contention can be somewhat higher than predicted by the model due to process scheduling effects and request interdependencies. One interesting point which is revealed in the measurement results, is that the UNIX scheduler gives preferential treatment to jobs that make frequent requests for the semaphore.
Iterative design with deflection constraints

Abstract A procedure is developed for extending simple iterative design techniques for trusses to the case in which deflection constraints are present. For statically determinate trusses, this procedure involves modifying both the stiffness matrix and the joint load matrix in the analysis/redesign cycle; for statically indeterminate trusses, the allowable stress must also be modified.
Diameter stabilization of Czochralski-grown Sr0.61Ba0.39Nb2O6 (SBN) crystals using real-time computer control

Single-crystal Sr0.61Ba0.39Nb2O6 (SBN:61) is a very attractive candidate for a number of optical and acoustical applications. Boules grown by the Czochralski (CZ) method can provide crystals of the required size and quality. The main difficulty in applying the CZ growth technique to SBN stems from an instability of the crystal diameter that is primarily attributed to faceted radial growth. The instability is a principal limiting factor in obtaining large, constant diameter boules. However, this problem can be overcome by weighing the crystal in real time and using a computer to provide temperature-based automatic diameter control (ADC). In this paper a number of important issues concerning unstable growth and its control are addressed. First, the radial growth process is analyzed for the purpose of modeling the corresponding weight signal. In doing so, the standard equations governing the meniscus dynamics (neglecting heat balance) have been modified to accommodate a situation of rapidly-varying diameter. Next, a digital ADC algorithm is presented along with a discussion of noise sources and filtering techniques. Finally, typical results for growth of SBN are given.
Shuffled antibody libraries created by in vivo homologous recombination and yeast surface display

Homologous recombination in yeast can be exploited to reliably generate libraries of >107 transformants from a pool of PCR products and a linearized plasmid vector. Homology in the PCR insertion products drives shuffling of these genes in vivo by yeast homologous recombination. Two scFvs that share 89.8% homology were shuffled in vivo by homologous recombination, and chimeric genes were generated regardless of whether or not one of the scFv PCR products lacked 5′ homology to the cut vector and the second scFv PCR product lacked 3′ homology to the cut vector, or both PCR products had both 5′ and 3′ homology to the cut vector. A majority of the chimeras had single crossovers; however, double and triple crossovers were isolated. Crossover points were evenly distributed in the hybrids created and homology of as little as two nucleotides was able to produce a chimeric clone. The numbers of clones isolated with a given number of crossovers was approximated well by a Poisson distribution. Transformation efficiencies for the chimeric libraries were of the order of 104–105 transformants per microgram of insert, which is the same order of magnitude as when a single PCR product is inserted alone into the display vector by homologous recombination. This method eliminates ligation and Escherichia coli transformation steps of previous methods for generating yeast-displayed libraries, requires fewer PCR cycles than in vitro DNA shuffling and, unlike site-specific recombination methods, allows for recombination anywhere that homology exists between the genes to be recombined. This simple technique should prove useful for protein engineering in general and antibody engineering, specifically in yeast.
Mode II Cyclic Delamination Growth

The end notched flexure (ENF) specimen is employed in an investigation of the inter laminar fracture of unidirectional graphite/epoxy, graphite/polyimide, and graphite/PEEK composites subjected to Mode II fatigue loading. Fatigue crack growth rates are deter mined for the stable delamination growth observed under fully reversed cyclic loading. Within the crack driving force range studied, cyclic crack growth data obeyed a power law dependency on the cyclic strain energy release rate. The response of the various material systems is compared to crack growth under static loading. The importance of the data re duction scheme for the crack growth resistance is discussed. Friction is examined as a potential energy absorbing mechanism in the test by finite element analysis. Suggestions for appropriate experimental geometries minimizing frictional effects are presented. Finally, fatigue fracture surfaces are analyzed with scanning electron microscopy to identify crack growth mechanisms.
Central neurons are depressed by iontophoretic and micropressure application of ethanol and tetrahydropapaveroline

In an attempt to circumvent the complexities of systemically administered ethanol and tetrahydroisoquinolines (TIQs), iontophoresis and micropressure application were used to test these agents in single rat neurons. Alcohol applied by either method depressed cerebellar Purkinje cells in a concentration-dependent, non-specific, local anesthetic-like manner. Tests of tetrahydropapaveroline.HCl (THP) on neurons from three brain areas also showed depression of spontaneous discharge, although, in contrast to ethanol, little or no local anesthetic-like action was observed, and at equivalent ejection currents or pressures, the THP depressions appeared to be more pronounced. The underlying mechanisms for these responses are unknown.
Recent Advances in Late-Life Mood Disorders

Late-life mood disorders are prevalent and can also have a major impact on an individual’s physical health, family and society as a whole. Many symptoms commonly seen in depressive disorders are similar to the symptoms seen with medical illnesses. Numerous elements make up a complete geriatric mental health work-up. The major treatment options are psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy and neuromodulation. These approaches are evaluated to aid the clinician in making recommendations for evaluation and treatment.
Cell proliferation in fibrocystic disease and postmenopausal breast ducts measured by thymidine labeling

The thymidine labeling indice (TLI) of normal and abnormal epithelium in the human breast was measured in 108 surgical specimens. The mean values for various histologic entities were: normal lobule (0.91%; normal postlobular duct 0.71%; lobular hyperplasia 0.82%; ductal hyperplasia, lobular cell type 0.74%; intraductal hyperplasia 0.79%; papillary intraductal hyperplasia 1.02%; blunt duct adenosis 0.68%; cyst 0.56%; infiltrating carcinoma 6.82%; carcinoma in situ 5.53%. The TLI of the normal lobule declined significantly with increasing age, but that of the normal postlobular duct did not. Before the menopause, the mean TLI of the normal lobule was 1.01%, and that of the normal postlobular duct was 0.75%. After the menopause the values had declined to 0.26% and 0.41%, respectively. These findings indicated that the lobules are more sensitive to stimulation by sex steroids than the postlobular ducts. The TLIs of the various benign proliferative entities were not significantly correlated with age, and like the normal lobule and postlobular duct were near the low end of the range of TLI of breast carcinoma. Benign proliferative entities with TLIs in the high part of the breast carcinoma range were not encountered.
Closed loop control for autonomous approach and placement of science instruments by planetary rovers

The underlying motive of "follow the water" in the search for evidence of past or present life on Mars has led NASA to deploy increasingly sophisticated robotic missions to the planetary surface. Opportunity and Spirit, the current pair of MER (Mars Exploration Rovers) on Mars for over a year, have both discovered evidence of past surface water. Optimal use of mission resources, such as ground planning time and surface operation duration, for increased science data return becomes critical with each advancement in the capabilities of the onboard instrument suites. This paper presents a novel, end-to-end, fully integrated system being developed at JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) that is called SCAIP (Single Command Approach and Instrument Placement). SCAIP enables a rover to autonomously travel to a designated science target from an extended distance away, and precisely place an instrument on that target with a single command without additional human interaction. The results of some experimental studies with a rover in terrestrial settings and using imagery returned from MER are also described.
A Convoluted Path

In the first part of this paper, I described the events that led me from psychology into economics, and how the Association for Social Economics provided the ideal setting for someone attracted to economics but who disagreed with the normative conclusions of the mainstream. In the second part, I suggest three areas that will be of increasing importance in the near future—addictive behaviors, rising inequality, and global warming—each of which social economists are particularly well-suited to tackle.
In situ monitoring of pH level with fiber optic evanescent field spectroscopy

Fiber optic evanescent field spectroscopy for in situ monitoring of pH levels is presented. Cladding of plastic clad silica fiber is replaced with polymethyl methacrylate doped with pH sensitive chromoionophores. The chromoionophores include methyl red, thymol blue, and thymolphtalein for pH in acidic, neutral and basic environments, respectively. The evanescent wave is used to selectively excite the indicator molecules within the fiber cladding for sampling aqueous media surrounding the fiber.
CONFIDENCE LIMITS FOR STRESS STRENGTH RELIABILITY INVOLVING WEIBULL MODELS

Abstract The problem of interval estimation of the stress–strength reliability involving two independent Weibull distributions is considered. An interval estimation procedure based on the generalized variable (GV) approach is given when the shape parameters are unknown and arbitrary. The coverage probabilities of the GV approach are evaluated by Monte Carlo simulation. Simulation studies show that the proposed generalized variable approach is very satisfactory even for small samples. For the case of equal shape parameter, it is shown that the generalized confidence limits are exact. Some available asymptotic methods for the case of equal shape parameter are described and their coverage probabilities are evaluated using Monte Carlo simulation. Simulation studies indicate that no asymptotic approach based on the likelihood method is satisfactory even for large samples. Applicability of the GV approach for censored samples is also discussed. The results are illustrated using an example.
A large terrestrial source of methyl iodide

[1] We have identified terrestrial sources of methyl iodide (CH3I) and assessed their importance in its atmospheric budget using a synthesis of field observations. Measurements include those from NASA DC-8 research flights over the United States and the North Atlantic, the AIRMAP long-term ground-observing network in New England, and a field campaign at Duke Forest, North Carolina. We found an average CH3I flux of ∼2,700 ng m−2 d−1 to the atmosphere from midlatitude vegetation and soils, a value similar in magnitude to previous estimates of the oceanic source strength. The large-scale aircraft measurements of vertical profiles over the continental U.S. showed CH3I-mixing ratios comparable to and greater than those observed over the North Atlantic. Overall, midlatitude terrestrial biomes appear to contribute 33 Gg yr−1 to the CH3I global budget.
Pseudoseizures and dissociative disorders: a common mechanism involving traumatic experiences

Patients with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (pseudoseizures) have been diagnosed as having conversion disorder or dissociative disorder. Pseudoseizure patients frequently report a history of physical and sexual abuse, and traumatic experience is considered part of the mechanism for producing dissociation. Pseudoseizures may be a manifestation of dissociative disorder, especially when a history of sexual or physical abuse is documented. A common mechanism involving traumatic experience may be present in both pseudoseizures and dissociative disorders. A complete neurodiagnostic evaluation along with an awareness of this relationship is needed to provide appropriate care for this patient population.
Selective glucocorticoid control of Rho kinase isoforms regulate cell-cell interactions

The two Rho kinase isoforms ROCK1 and ROCK2 are downstream effectors of the small GTPase RhoA, although relatively little is known about potential isoform specific functions or the selective control of their cellular activities. Using Con8 rat mammary epithelial cells, we show that the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone strongly stimulates the level of ROCK2 protein, which accounts for the increase in total cellular ROCK2 activity, whereas, steroid treatment down-regulated ROCK1 specific kinase activity without altering ROCK1 protein levels. In Con8 cells, the glucocorticoid induced formation of tight junctions requires the steroid-mediated down-regulation RhoA and function of the RhoA antagonist Rnd3. Treatment with the ROCK inhibitor Y-27632 ablated both the glucocorticoid-induced and Rnd3-mediated stimulation in tight junction sealing. Taken together, our results demonstrate that the expression and activity of ROCK1 and ROCK2 can be uncoupled in a signal-dependent manner, and further implicate a new function for ROCK2 in the steroid control of tight junction dynamics.
Facilitating Lean Learning and Behaviors in Hospitals During the Early Stages of Lean Implementation

Abstract:Recently, a number of healthcare organizations have successfully used lean to help solve their quality and cost related problems; however, there is increasing evidence that success in achieving sustainable improvements is at least partially attributable to learning and behaviors associated with lean improvement efforts. This research examines the implementation process of the lean methodology designed to drive continuous improvement in three rural hospitals, focusing on healthcare professionals involved in the effort as lean participants. Quantitative and qualitative data are collected from intervention and control groups, and factor analysis is used to assess the learning and behavioral changes of hospital frontline professionals. As a result, insights and recommendations for facilitating lean thinking and behaviors during the first years of lean program implementation are provided.
New developments in Hückel theory

An aromaticity index, called the topological resonance energy, TRE, which is a nonparametric, Dewar-like resonance energy, is discussed, TRE is defined as the difference between the total Huckel energy calculated for a given conjugated molecule and that calculated from the corresponding acyclic polynomial. The graph-theoretical rules for computing the acyclic polynomial are given. TRE index is free of the limitations present in other resonance energy indices and may be straightforwardly applied to conjugated molecules, their ions and radicals, homoaromatic systems, etc.
Inhibition of primary clinical isolates of human parainfluenza virus by DAS181 in cell culture and in a cotton rat model

Abstract DAS181 is a novel drug in development for the treatment of influenza as well as human parainfluenza viruses (hPIVs). Previous studies demonstrated that DAS181 inhibited laboratory strains of hPIV, but no tests were conducted with primary clinical isolates of hPIV. To fill this gap, we studied six primary isolates including hPIV-2 and hPIV-3. First tests showed that the amplification of all viruses in vitro was reproducibly inhibited with DAS181 drug concentrations ranging between 0.1 and 1 nM. An hPIV-3 primary clinical isolate was then tested in a cotton rat model for sensitivity to 0.3–1 mg/kg drug treatments. Results showed that virus amplification in the lower respiratory tract was significantly and reproducibly inhibited by drug. Together, experiments demonstrated that DAS181 inhibited primary clinical isolates of hPIV in vitro and in vivo at doses similar to those previously described for inhibition of laboratory hPIV and influenza virus isolates.
Design of molecules with high π-orbital degeneracies

Abstract New multiply degenerate conjugated systems are explored and a proof is proposed to explain the occurrence of the multiple degeneracies.
Electron transfer at crystallographically known long distances (25 Å) in [ZnII, FeIII] hybrid hemoglobin

Abstract In [Zn, Fe] hybrid hemoglobins, a zinc protoporphyrin (ZnP) and heme are held rigidly at known orientation, with ZnFe distance of 25 A in the functional α1-β2 electron transfer entity. Room temperature electron transfer from flash photolytically generated 3ZnP to the partner aquoferriheme occurs with rate, kt = 60 ± 25 s−1. Oxidation of ferroheme by the partner (ZnP)+ π-cation radical occurs with rate ke = 3.3(±0.7) × 103 s−1.
Cation-dependent nutrient transport in shrimp digestive tract

Purified epithelial brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) were produced from the hepatopancreas of the Atlantic White shrimp, Litopeneaus setiferus, using standard methods originally developed for mammalian tissues and previously applied to other crustacean and echinoderm epithelia. These vesicles were used to study the cation dependency of sugar and amino acid transport across luminal membranes of hepatopancreatic epithelial cells. 3H-d-glucose uptake by BBMV against transient sugar concentration gradients occurred when either transmembrane sodium or potassium gradients were the only driving forces for sugar accumulation, suggesting the presence of a possible coupled transport system capable of using either cation. 3H-l-histidine transport was only stimulated by a transmembrane potassium gradient, while 3H-l-leucine uptake was enhanced by either a sodium or potassium gradient. These responses suggest the possible presence of a potassium-dependent transporter that accommodates either amino acid and a sodium-dependent system restricted only to l-leucine. Uptake of 3H-l-leucine was significantly stimulated (P < 0.05) by several metallic cations (e.g., Zn2+, Cu2+, Mn2+, Cd2+, or Co2+) at external pH values of 7.0 or 5.0 (internal pH 7.0), suggesting a potential synergistic role of the cations in the transmembrane transfer of amino acids. 3H-l-histidine influxes (15 suptakes) were hyperbolic functions of external [zinc] or [manganese], following Michaelis–Menten kinetics. The apparent affinity constant (e.g., K m) for manganese was an order of magnitude smaller (K m = 0.22 μM Mn) than that for zinc (K m = 1.80 μM Zn), while no significant difference (P > 0.05) occurred between their maximal transport velocities (e.g., J max). These results suggest that a number of cation-dependent nutrient transport systems occur on the shrimp brush border membrane and aid in the absorption of these important dietary elements.
Boundary slip and wetting properties of interfaces: correlation of the contact angle with the slip length

Correlations between contact angle, a measure of the wetting of surfaces, and slip length are developed using nonequilibrium molecular dynamics for a Lennard-Jones fluid in Couette flow between graphitelike hexagonal-lattice walls. The fluid-wall interaction is varied by modulating the interfacial energy parameter epsilonr=epsilonsfepsilonff and the size parameter sigmar=sigmasfsigmaff, (s=solid, f=fluid) to achieve hydrophobicity (solvophobicity) or hydrophilicity (solvophilicity). The effects of surface chemistry, as well as the effects of temperature and shear rate on the slip length are determined. The contact angle increases from 25 degrees to 147 degrees on highly hydrophobic surfaces (as epsilonr decreases from 0.5 to 0.1), as expected. The slip length is functionally dependent on the affinity strength parameters epsilonr and sigmar: increasing logarithmically with decreasing surface energy epsilonr (i.e., more hydrophobic), while decreasing with power law with decreasing size sigmar. The mechanism for the latter is different from the energetic case. While weak wall forces (small epsilonr) produce hydrophobicity, larger sigmar smoothes out the surface roughness. Both tend to increase the slip. The slip length grows rapidly with a high shear rate, as wall velocity increases three decades from 100 to 10(5) ms. We demonstrate that fluid-solid interfaces with low epsilonr and high sigmar should be chosen to increase slip and are prime candidates for drag reduction.