cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Alert insomniacs: Are they really sleep deprived?

Abstract Alert insomnia, the complaint of insomnia in the absence of measurable daytime sleepiness, has presented a theoretical enigma to sleep disorders professionals. Although it has been assumed that insomniacs are chronically sleep deprived, their lack of daytime sleepiness contradicts this assumption. Insomnia patients frequently complain of fatigue and other daytime symptoms that they attribute to poor nocturnal sleep. Yet, compared to noncomplaining controls, insomniacs have demonstrated neither daytime impairment nor a substantial deficit in nocturnal sleep time. In this article, we examine the data pertinent to the question of whether alert insomniacs are in fact sleep deprived, and we consider possible explanations for these findings. We also discuss the implications of these data for clinical management of these patients and for future research on insomnia.
CCR2 Elimination in Mice Results in Larger and Stronger Tibial Bones but Bone Loss is not Attenuated Following Ovariectomy or Muscle Denervation

Bone loss due to age and disuse contributes to osteoporosis and increases fracture risk. It has been hypothesized that such bone loss can be attenuated by modulation of the C-C chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) and/or its ligands. The objectives of this study were to examine the effects of genetic elimination of CCR2 on cortical and trabecular bones in the mouse tibia and how bone loss was impacted following disuse and estrogen loss. Female CCR2 knockout (CCR2(-/-)) and wildtype mice underwent ovariectomy (OVX) or denervation of musculature adjacent to the tibia (DEN) to induce bone loss. Cortical and trabecular structural properties as well as mechanical properties (i.e., strength) of tibial bones were measured. Compared to wildtype mice, CCR2(-/-) mice had tibiae that were up to 9% larger and stronger; these differences could be explained mainly by the 17% greater body mass (P < 0.001) of CCR2(-/-) mice. The majority of the tibia's structural and functional responses to OVX and DEN were similar regardless of the lack or presence of CCR2, indicating that CCR2 is not protective against bone loss per se. These findings indicate that while CCR2(-/-) mice do have larger and stronger bones than do wildtype mice, there is minimal evidence that CCR2 elimination provides protection against bone loss during disuse and estrogen loss.
Components of postgraduate competence: analyses of thirty years of longitudinal data.

CONTEXT The conceptualisation and measurement of competence in patient care are critical to the design of medical education programmes and outcome assessment. OBJECTIVE We aimed to examine the major components and correlates of postgraduate competence in patient care. METHODS A 24-item rating form with additional questions about resident doctors' performance and future residency offers was used. Study participants comprised 4560 subjects who graduated from Jefferson Medical College between 1975 and 2004. They pursued their graduate medical education in 508 hospitals. We used a longitudinal study design in which the rating form was completed by programme directors to evaluate residents at the end of the first postgraduate year. Factor analysis was used to identify the underlying components of postgraduate ratings. Multiple regression, t-test and correlational analyses were used to study the validity of the components that emerged. RESULTS Two major components emerged, which we labelled 'Knowledge and Clinical Capabilities' and 'Professionalism', and which addressed the science and art of medicine, respectively. Performance measures during medical school, scores on medical licensing examinations, and global assessment of Medical Knowledge, Clinical Judgement and Data-gathering Skills showed higher correlations with scores on the Knowledge and Clinical Capabilities component. Global assessments of Professional Attitudes and ratings of Empathic Behaviour showed higher correlations with scores on the Professionalism component. Offers of continued residency and evaluations of desirable qualities were associated with both components. CONCLUSIONS Psychometric support for measuring the components of Knowledge and Clinical Capabilities, and Professionalism provides an instrument to empirically evaluate educational outcomes to medical educators who are in search of such a tool.
Porosity-Induced Electric Field Enhancement and Its Impact on Charge Transport in Porous Inter-Metal Dielectrics

Free volumes or pores in porous ultra-low-k dielectrics enhance the local electric field in the neighborhood. In this paper, this enhanced local electric field is shown to facilitate the transport of charged species such as copper ions, electrons, or holes. This leads to the conclusion that porosity in dielectrics can degrade the insulating property and enhance the dielectric breakdown mechanism.
Whole-animal imaging, gene function, and the Zebrafish Phenome Project

Imaging can potentially make a major contribution to the Zebrafish Phenome Project, which will probe the functions of vertebrate genes through the generation and phenotyping of mutants. Imaging of whole animals at different developmental stages through adulthood will be used to infer biological function. Cell resolutions will be required to identify cellular mechanism and to detect a full range of organ effects. Light-based imaging of live zebrafish embryos is practical only up to ∼2 days of development, owing to increasing pigmentation and diminishing tissue lucency with age. The small size of the zebrafish makes possible whole-animal imaging at cell resolutions by histology and micron-scale tomography (microCT). The histological study of larvae is facilitated by the use of arrays, and histology's standard use in the study of human disease enhances its translational value. Synchrotron microCT with X-rays of moderate energy (10–25 keV) is unimpeded by pigmentation or the tissue thicknesses encountered in zebrafish of larval stages and beyond, and is well-suited to detecting phenotypes that may require 3D modeling. The throughput required for this project will require robotic sample preparation and loading, increases in the dimensions and sensitivity of scintillator and CCD chips, increases in computer power, and the development of new approaches to image processing, segmentation, and quantification.
Anesthesia for office-based facial cosmetic surgery.

An increasing number of procedures, including elective cosmetic surgery, are being performed in independent outpatient surgical centers. Ambulatory surgery in an office setting has several potential advantages over hospital-based care, including greater patient privacy, cost containment, easier scheduling, more efficient staff, and convenience for the doctor and patient. Anesthesia for office-based facial cosmetic surgery can be delivered in a safe and efficient manner. This article provides practical information that assists doctors in making clinical decisions and developing written anesthesia-related protocols for the office. The authors’ recommendations do not guarantee any specific patient outcome; however, they serve as useful guides in creating a safe environment and delivering high-quality patient care.
Mental health and satisfaction with primary health care in female patients

Purpose and objectives Patient satisfaction is an important outcome in patient care and is increasingly being used as an indicator of quality of care within large health systems. This study examined whether consideration of specific mental health factors, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), can improve our understanding of patient satisfaction in primary care settings. Methods Questionnaires were mailed to all women who used the VA San Diego Healthcare System primary care clinic in 1998. Two hundred twenty-one (56%) women who were invited to participate in this study completed questionnaires. Participants provided information about physical and mental health and satisfaction with their primary medical care. Results Age and general mental health were negatively associated and PTSD was positively associated with overall satisfaction with care and satisfaction with the provider. General mental health was significantly related to satisfaction with the clinic. Conclusions These findings support the importance of specific mental health symptoms, and trauma-related symptoms in specific, in determining satisfaction.
Strategic Fit to Political Factors and Subsequent Performance: Evidence From the U.S. Coal Industry, 1986 to 2000

Several scholars have asserted strategic fit to nonmarket factors is positively related to economic performance. Political strategic fit has traditionally been conceptualized as an incremental decision: firms engage in political activities to the extent nonmarket factors suggest firm political actions will improve economic performance. However, the decision to engage in political activity is more of a dichotomous decision (political activity versus free riding). Both incremental and dichotomous political strategic fit are empirically evaluated in the U.S. coal industry from 1986 to 2000. Empirical evidence suggests that political strategic fit should be modeled as a dichotomous decision and that engaging in political activity is positively related to economic performance. Under investing in political activity or pursuing a free riding strategy was negatively related to economic performance.
A (3)he-cooled bolometer for the far infrared.

A germanium bolometer cooled to 0.37 K by liquid 3He is described. This detector has a NEP of about 3×10−14W/Hz12, which is more than three decades greater sensitivity than the Golay cell. The factors that determine the sensitivity of the detector are discussed.
Econometric comparisons of liquid rocket engines for dual-fuel advanced earth-to-orbit shuttles

Econometric analyses of advanced Earth-to-orbit vehicles indicate that there are economic benefits from development of new vehicles beyond the space shuttle as traffic increases. Vehicle studies indicate the advantage of the dual-fuel propulsion in single-stage vehicles. This paper shows the economic effect of incorporating dual-fuel propulsion in advanced vehicles. Several dual-fuel propulsion systems are compared to a baseline hydrogen and oxygen system.
Making Men in Gay Fraternities Resisting and Reproducing Multiple Dimensions of Hegemonic Masculinity

This article examines gay men’s efforts to break into the exclusive traditional fraternity institution by adopting the hegemonic model on their own terms. The authors examined to what extent members of a national gay fraternity, Delta Lambda Phi challenged or modified the entrenched fraternity culture that was hostile to homosexuals and whether they resisted or reproduced hegemonic masculinity in their efforts to redefine the meaning of college fraternities. This research examines gay fraternities in relation to two dimensions of hegemonic masculinity. The authors explore how members of gay fraternities negotiated their stigmatized status among other men—that is, within the internal dimension of hegemonic masculinity. They explore the external dimension of hegemonic masculinity by analyzing how gay brothers, as men, related to all women (gay or straight). The authors further examine the connection between these two hegemonic dimensions and provide evidence showing how these two dimensions are coupled or d...
Multi-channel spectrum analysis of surface waves

Spectrum analysis of surface waves (SASW) is one of the most effective non-invasive methods for soil characterization. Surface waves travel in the medium along a free boundary and can be easily detected by using a transducer placed on the free surface of the boundary. Traditional methods of SASW are two-station methods that use the phase information at two receivers to determine phase velocity as a function of frequency. Multi-station methods have also been developed by using a two-dimensional Fourier transform approach, but these methods exhibit poor resolution. We propose a new method based on vector processing of data obtained from an array of tri-axial sensors to produce a high resolution, multi-modal spectrum of the surface waves. These different modes can be identified and reconstructed in time domain, and then inverted to obtain the shear velocity profile of the subsurface.
Disaster evacuations: tourist-business managers rarely act as customers expect

Abstract This quantitative study may be the first one to compare travelers' reactions to weather-related emergencies (e.g., earthquakes, hurricanes) with the responses of their professional hosts (e.g., hotel GMs, resort operators, campground managers). Telephone interviewers reached 603 people who had experienced such an emergency while traveling, 523 of whom also completed a follow-up questionnaire. Those responses were then compared to an existing data base of 185 managers' reactions to and preparations for public emergencies (including evacuation). For the most part, guests had a substantially different view of the managers' roles and responsibilities related to evacuations when compared to what steps and provisions the managers themselves felt obligated to provide. For example, one survey item asked about managers' disaster-evacuation planning. Almost two out of every three managers believed that preparations were adequate, while only half of the customers thought so. Another item addressed whether managers would call for an evacuation if not directly ordered to do so by local officials. Few customers (17 percent) believed that GMs would wait until forced to evacuate, yet more than a third of the managers agreed that that was their policy. Additional items show similar if less dramatic gaps between travelers' and managers' perceptions of what to do, and when, during an emergency. These include whether the hotel or resort is obligated to provide special services such as assistance for the disabled, road-evacuation directions, and food and water.
Control Oriented Analysis of a Hybrid Solid Oxide Fuel Cell and Gas Turbine System

The goal of this work is to investigate the feasibility of a hybrid solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) and gas turbine (GT) system for mobile power production. A system consisting of a gas turbine, a burner, and an SOFC is examined to gain fundamental understanding of the system dynamics. A control oriented dynamic model is developed to provide the critically needed tool for system feasibility analysis and control strategy design. System optimization and transient analysis are performed based on the system model to determine the desired operating conditions and load following limitations. It is shown that the open loop system will shut down in the case of a large load step. Based on the insights learned from the open loop analysis, a feedback control scheme is proposed. The feedback scheme is based on a reference governor, which modifies the load applied to the generator to guarantee stability and fast tracking during transients.
Role of β-chemokines in mast cell activation and type I hypersensitivity reactions in the conjunctiva: in vivo and in vitro studies

Chemokines have a clearly defined role in mobilizing the recruitment of leukocytes to both healthy and inflamed tissues. This review details work from our and other laboratories, indicating that beta-chemokines may play important roles (i) in driving the terminal differentiation of mast cell precursors in mucosal tissues and (ii) in providing priming or costimulatory signals required for mast cell activation, leading to an antigen-driven inflammatory response. These data stem from in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro studies. Data are also presented that suggest that Fc epsilon RI:chemokine receptor cross talk may involve spatiotemporal dynamics that may control the strength and nature of the complex activating signals controlling mast cell effector function.
A cross-national comparison of the quality of clinical care using vignettes

In studies comparing clinical practice to evidence-based standards, researchers have found that quality of care is inconsistently provided to different segments of the population in both developing and developed countries. To test the hypothesis that quality of care varies widely within different countries, we conducted a prospectively designed evaluation of quality for three common clinical conditions: diarrhoea, tuberculosis and prenatal care. Five countries participated in the study: China, the Philippines, Mexico, El Salvador and India. Within each country, physicians were randomly selected from tertiary care hospitals, district level hospitals, and public and private outpatient clinics. A total of 488 previously validated case vignettes were administered to 300 participating physicians. Vignettes were scored according to evidence and expert based quality criteria. We used a random effects model to estimate the associations between quality scores by case, physician characteristics, study site, and country. We found that average quality of care was low (61.0%), but there exists a wide variation in overall quality (30-93%). While there was little difference in average quality scores between countries (60.2 to 62.6%), variation within countries was broad. The wide variation was consistent across facility type, medical condition and domain of care. We also found that younger, female, tertiary care and specialist physicians performed better than their counterparts. We conclude that some physicians provide exceptional care even in the setting of limited resources. Furthermore, poor quality can be addressed by health policy planners by directing remediation toward the lowest performers.
Combining Elements of the Fraud Triangle and Professional Skepticism in the Valuation of Lost Profits

Forensic accountants are frequently engaged to review business interruption or lost profits claims for insurance matters. Theoretically, the objective of business interruption insurance is to return the claimant to the position that they would have otherwise experienced had a loss not occurred. Generally, insurance policies consider the following methodology in order to quantify a loss; an insured is entitled to net income (loss) plus continuing expenses for the length of the loss period. This concept was derived from an older model where lost profits recovery was based on gross earnings less discontinued expenses. Forensic accountants in general use one or more of the following methodologies for calculating business interruption losses; 1) The Before-and-After Method, 2) The Comparable Method (or yardstick method), 3) The But For Method, 4) The Breach of Contract Method. When applying the methodological considerations in the application of forensic accounting techniques such the calculation of lost profits, a concurrent concern is to additionally include other qualitative variables that may be important to avoid misspecification of the value of the loss; elements of the fraud triangle and professional skepticism. Business interruption insurance is intended to restore the claimant, not reward them with excess reimbursement.
Enhancing the Biological Stability and Functionalities of Quantum Dots via Compact Multifunctional Ligands

Format This is a copy of the slides presented at the meeting but not formally written up for the volume. Abstract We have designed and synthesized a series of modular ligands based on poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) coupled with functional terminal groups to promote biocompatibility of water-soluble quantum dots (QDs). Each hydrophilic ligand is comprised of three modules: a PEG single chain to promote hydrophilicity, dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA) unit connected to one end of the PEG chain for strong anchoring on the QD surface, and potential biological functional groups (biotin, amino, and carboxyl groups) at the other end of the PEG. Water-soluble QDs capped with one type or mixtures of the functional ligands were prepared via cap exchange with the native hydrophobic caps. Homogeneous QD solutions that are stable over extended periods of time and over broad pH range were prepared. Surface binding assay showed that DHLA-PEG-biotin-functionalized QDs strongly interacted with NeutrAvidin-modified surfaces. The new functional surface ligands studied here provide not only stable and highly water-soluble QDs but also simple and easy access to various biological entities.
Alcohol-induced respiratory symptoms are common in patients with aspirin exacerbated respiratory disease.

Background A large percentage of patients with aspirin exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) report the development of alcohol-induced respiratory reactions, but the true prevalence of respiratory reactions caused by alcoholic beverages in these patients was not known. Objective We sought to evaluate the incidence and characteristics of alcohol-induced respiratory reactions in patients with AERD. Methods A questionnaire designed to assess alcohol-induced respiratory symptoms was administered to patients at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Scripps Clinic. At least 50 patients were recruited into each of 4 clinical groups: (1) patients with aspirin challenge–confirmed AERD, (2) patients with aspirin-tolerant asthma (ATA), (3) patients with aspirin tolerance and with chronic rhinosinusitis, and (4) healthy controls. Two-tailed Fisher exact tests with Bonferroni corrections were used to compare the prevalence of respiratory symptoms among AERD and other groups, with P ≤ .017 considered significant. Results The prevalence of alcohol-induced upper (rhinorrhea and/or nasal congestion) respiratory reactions in patients with AERD was 75% compared with 33% with aspirin-tolerant asthma, 30% with chronic rhinosinusitis, and 14% with healthy controls ( P P Conclusion Alcohol ingestion causes respiratory reactions in the majority of patients with AERD, and clinicians should be aware that these alcohol-induced reactions are significantly more common in AERD than in controls who are aspirin tolerant.
Metastatic Infiltrating Syringomatous Adenoma of the Breast

Abstract Infiltrating syringomatous adenoma of the breast is classified as a benign, locally invasive neoplasm. To our knowledge, there have been no reported cases of metastasizing syringomatous adenomas. We used sentinel lymph node mapping to identify metastatic cells, leading to a diagnosis of infiltrating syringomatous adenoma of the breast.
The determination of rhodopsin structure may require alternative approaches

The structure of rhodopsin is a subject of intense interest. Solving the structure by traditional methods has proved exceedingly challenging. It may therefore be useful to confront the problem by a combination of alternate techniques. These include FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) and AFM (atomic force microscopy) on the intact protein. Furthermore, additional insights may be gained through structural investigations of discrete rhodopsin domains.
Success, recruitment, and retention of academically elite women students without STEM backgrounds in US undergraduate engineering education

This longitudinal, cross-institutional, qualitative study of undergraduate women engineering students revealed an under-recognized type of student who succeeds in engineering undergraduate programs. Non-traditional Engineering Organized (NEO) students have excellent overall high school grades and organizational skills but lack a concentrated background in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) areas compared with the familiar Traditional Engineering Discipline (TED) Students with strong STEM backgrounds. In this study, both types of students were able to achieve success academically and in terms of their happiness. This indicates that more attention to NEO students may be warranted in attempting to recruit high school women into engineering. In recruiting these students, social aspects of engineering design should be emphasized, and recruiters should visit all advanced placement classes, not just STEM-oriented ones. In addition, retention programs should be aware of this type of student within ...
Monitoring clay exfoliation during polymer/clay compounding using fluorescence spectroscopy:

A fluorescent probe molecule, Nile blue perchlorate, was used to monitor the compounding of nylon 11 with clay filler. Prior to compounding, Nile blue was incorporated into the gallery region between silicate layers of the clay by an ion-exchange process. While residing in the gallery, fluorescence from Nile blue was quenched because of fluorescence resorption in a high dye concentration environment. However, when clay is compounded with the nylon, clay exfoliation allowed the dye to escape the gallery region and to become dispersed in the resin matrix. During batch mixing, we observed that fluorescence increased with time indicating that dye molecules were migrating from the gallery. Experiments carried out using a twin-screw extruder to compound resin and clay showed that twin-screw compounding was much more efficient in producing clay exfoliation than was the batch mixer.
HMGB1 contributes to the development of acute lung injury after hemorrhage.

High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a novel late mediator of inflammatory responses that contributes to endotoxin-induced acute lung injury and sepsis-associated lethality. Although acute lung inj...
Experiments Testing Multiobject Allocation Mechanisms

This paper reports the results of over 130 auctions conducted under controlled conditions to examine the robustness of several auction mechanisms to allocate multiple objects. The simultaneous discrete auction process used by the Federal Communications Commission to allocate Personal Communications licenses was contrasted with a sequential auction and a combinatorial auction over a variety of demand conditions. In test environments created to check only the minimum competency of the procedures, the simultaneous discrete auction process produces highly efficient allocations, approaching levels similar to those found with a continuous form of the auction, and it outperforms a sequential auction. However, in environments created to stress test the procedures, a combinatorial auction outperforms the simultaneous discrete auction.
Unitization during category learning

Five experiments explored the question of whether new perceptual units can be developed if they are useful for a category learning task, and if so, what the constraints on this unitization process are. During category learning, participants were required to attend either a single component or a conjunction of 5 components. Consistent with unitization, the conjunctive task became much easier with practice; this improvement was not found for the single-component task or for conjunctive tasks in which the components could not be unitized. Influences of component organization (Experiment 1), component contiguity (Experiment 2), component proximity (Experiment 3), and number of components (Experiment 4) on practice effects were found. Deconvolved response times (Experiment 5) showed that prolonged practice yielded faster responses than predicted by an analytic model that integrates evidence from independently perceived components.
Role of aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease.

Aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that inhibit cyclooxygenase-1 participate in unique pseudoallergic reactions, in which biochemical inhibitions rather than immunoglobulin E antibody direct the cascade of mediators and ultimate reactions. The settings in which these reactions occur, the contrasts with true immunoglobulin E reactions to these same drugs, and the manner in which diagnosis and treatment can be undertaken form the basis for this review. A discussion of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors and their inability to participate in these pseudoallergic reactions is also included. Finally, strategies for desensitization to aspirin and the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that inhibit cyclo-oxygenase1 will be detailed.
THE EFFECT OF GAMBLING ACTIVITIES ON HAPPINESS LEVELS OF NURSING HOME RESIDENTS

The current study evaluated the effect of participating in simulated gambling activities on happiness levels of 3 nursing home residents. A 4-component analysis was used to measure objective responses associated with happiness during baseline, varying durations of engagement in simulated gambling activities, and 2 follow-up periods. Results indicated that all residents exhibited a higher percentage of happiness levels while engaged in simulated gambling activities compared with baseline. Follow-up assessment took place 10 min and 30 min following the intervention; no lasting effects were observed.
THEORETICAL CONCEPTS AND EMPIRICAL APPROACHES TO MEASURING INTERACTION STRENGTH

Evaluating the strength of interactions among species is an important step in understanding the structure of natural communities and predicting how they will respond to changes in the biotic environment. Where feasible, accurate characterization of interaction strength can shift the theory of multispecies communities from identifying the vast range of possibilities to isolating the most likely possibilities. To derive generality in our understanding of interaction strengths, however, they must be placed within a unified framework, a framework that can be applied to empirical situations. In this paper we first identify four different theoretical concepts of interaction strength prevalent in the literature (community matrix, Jacobian matrix, inverse Jacobian, and removal matrix), showing how they are related to each other and how they are derived. We also demonstrate that their behavior is not necessarily concordant; hence it is important to identify clearly which concept of interaction strength is being discussed. Then we evaluate several observational and experimental approaches to estimating interaction strength empirically, highlighting their ties to theory, if any, and the limitations and strengths of each approach. Finally, we apply several techniques to a simulated data set, based on an intertidal community, evaluating both accuracy and logistical ease of these approaches. We find that per capita interaction strength is often the most useful index to measure, that caution must be exercised in interpreting empirical estimates of interaction strength because of equilibrium assumptions and the potential confounding effect of indirect effects, and that concentrating on evaluating the relationship between empirically observed rates of change and species abundances may be a profitable way to proceed.
Regulation of Growth of the Mother Cell and Chromosome Replication during Sporulation of Bacillus subtilis

During spore formation, Bacillus subtilis divides asymmetrically, resulting in two cells with different fates. Immediately after division, the transcription factor σF becomes active in the smaller prespore, followed by activation of σE in the larger mother cell. We recently showed that a delay in σE activation resulted in the novel phenotype of two spores (twins) forming within the same mother cell. Mother cells bearing twins are substantially longer than mother cells with single spores. Here we explore the regulation of the growth and DNA replication of the mother cell. We find that length correlates with chromosome number in the mother cell. We show that replication and growth could occur after asymmetric division in mother cells with no active σE. In contrast, when σE was active, replication and growth ceased. In growing mother cells, with no active σE, Spo0A-directed transcription levels remained low. In the presence of active σE, Spo0A-directed gene expression was enhanced in the mother cells. Artificial Spo0A activation blocked mother cell growth in the absence of σE. Spo0A activation blocked growth even in the absence of SirA, the Spo0A-directed inhibitor of the initiation of replication. Together, the results indicate that the burst of Spo0A-directed expression along with the activation of σE provides mechanisms to block the DNA replication and growth of the mother cell.
Chemical transport modeling of potential atmospheric CO2 sinks

Abstract The potential for carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration via engineered chemical sinks is investigated using a three dimensional chemical transport model (CTM). Meteorological and chemical constraints for flat or vertical systems that would absorb CO2 from the atmosphere, as well as an example chemical system of calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) proposed by Elliott et al. [Compensation of atmospheric CO2 buildup through engineered chemical sinkage, Geophys. Res. Lett. 28 (2001) 1235] are reviewed. The CTM examines land based deposition sinks, with 4°×5° latitude/longitude resolution at various locations, and deposition velocities (v). A maximum uptake of ∼20 Gton (1015 g) C yr−1 is attainable with v>5 cm s−1 at a mid-latitude site. The atmospheric increase of CO2 (3 Gton yr−1) can be balanced by an engineered sink with an area of no more than 75,000 km2 at v of 1 cm s−1. By building the sink upwards or splitting this area into narrow elements can reduce the active area by more than an order of magnitude as discussed in Dubey et al. [31].
Odometry and calibration methods for multi-castor vehicles

We are developing a mobile robot capable of emulating general 6-degree-of-freedom spacecraft relative motion. The omni-directional base uses a trio of active split offset castor drive modules to provide smooth, holonomic, precise control of its motion. Encoders measure the rotations of the six wheels and the three castor pivots. We present a generic odometric algorithm using a least squares framework which is applicable to vehicles with two or more castors and apply it to our unique vehicle configuration. As the accuracy of odometry algorithms depends on the accuracy to which the model parameters are known, a method to perform calibration on the physical robot is needed. We present a geometric calibration method based solely on internal sensor measurements. We present a range of simulation results comparing our odometry results to other algorithms under various systematic and non-systematic errors. We evaluate the ability of our calibration method to accurately determine the true values of our system parameters. The odometry algorithm was also implemented and tested in hardware on our robotic platform. The results presented in the paper validate the calibration and odometry algorithms in both simulation and hardware.
Carbohydrate-Dependent Binding of Langerin to SodC, a Cell Wall Glycoprotein of Mycobacterium leprae

Langerhans cells participate in the immune response in leprosy by their ability to activate T cells that recognize the pathogen, Mycobacterium leprae, in a langerin-dependent manner. We hypothesized that langerin, the distinguishing C-type lectin of Langerhans cells, would recognize the highly mannosylated structures in pathogenic Mycobacterium spp. The coding region for the extracellular and neck domain of human langerin was cloned and expressed to produce a recombinant active trimeric form of human langerin (r-langerin). Binding assays performed in microtiter plates, by two-dimensional (2D) Western blotting, and by surface plasmon resonance demonstrated that r-langerin possessed carbohydrate-dependent affinity to glycoproteins in the cell wall of M. leprae. This lectin, however, yielded less binding to mannose-capped lipoarabinomannan (ManLAM) and even lower levels of binding to phosphatidylinositol mannosides. However, the superoxide dismutase C (SodC) protein of the M. leprae cell wall was identified as a langerin-reactive ligand. Tandem mass spectrometry verified the glycosylation of a recombinant form of M. leprae SodC (rSodC) produced in Mycobacterium smegmatis. Analysis of r-langerin affinity by surface plasmon resonance revealed a carbohydrate-dependent affinity of rSodC (equilibrium dissociation constant [KD] = 0.862 μM) that was 20-fold greater than for M. leprae ManLAM (KD = 18.69 μM). These data strongly suggest that a subset of the presumptively mannosylated M. leprae glycoproteins act as ligands for langerin and may facilitate the interaction of M. leprae with Langerhans cells.
The prevalence and significance of elevated dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels in anovulatory women

One hundred nineteen euprolactinemic anovulatory infertility patients who were being evaluated for induction of ovulation with clomiphene citrate were studied to determine the prevalence of increased adrenal androgen (AA) secretion in this group. Fifty percent of these patients exhibited increased AA secretion, as evidenced by an elevated serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) level. Seventy-seven percent of these women with elevated levels of DHEA-S were nonhirsute. Twenty-six patients with elevated serum DHEA-S levels underwent adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation tests in order to determine a possible mechanism(s) for the increase in DHEA-S. Plasma ACTH, as well as total, low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were also measured. These levels were normal and did not correlate with the elevated levels of DHEA-S. Seven of 16 patients (34%) had exaggerated responses of serum DHEA-S and of 17-OH pregnenolone to ACTH stimulation. In six of these seven patients, our data suggested the occurrence of a mild deficiency of 3 β -ol dehydrogenase-isomerase. All of these six patients were considered to have polycystic ovary syndrome. While these data do not explain the increased AA secretion in the majority of patients with elevated levels of DHEA-S, we suggest that serum DHEA-S is frequently elevated in anovulatory infertile patients.
Prognosis of children with transposition of the great arteries, treated in a regional heart centre between 1967 and 1979.

In an attempt to assess the changing prognosis of babies with transposition of the great arteries, the clinical data of 121 children diagnosed between January 1967 and December 1979 were reviewed. One hundred and four patients initially had balloon atrial septostomy; in 34 infants palliative operations (resection of ductus or coarctation, banding of the pulmonary artery or aortic-pulmonary anastomosis) were needed. Corrective surgery was performed according to the techniques of Mustard (43 patients), Senning (seven patients), Rastelli (five patients), or as an anatomic correction (two patients). While 80% of the infants survived the first month of life, 25% died between then and corrective surgery. The mortality of the intra-atrial operations decreased from 28% before 1976 to 12% subsequently. Postoperative cardiac rhythm disturbances occurred in 39.4% of the children after Mustard's operation, hemodynamic complications in 24.2%. Neurological complications developed more frequently in children with simple transposition (27.3%) than in children with complex transposition (18.2%). As a result of improvement in therapeutic and surgical regimens, the two-year survival rate showed a clear trend of increase from 48.5% between 1967–70 to 62.5% between 1977–79.
Role of de Vries in the rediscovery of Mendel's paper II. Did de Vries really understand Mendel's paper?

In this paper, we discuss briefly three of the several lines of evidence that we believe demonstrate de Vries's lack of understanding of Mendel's paper. In our view, at least part of de Vries's failure of understanding derives from the fact that he appears to have viewed Mendel's paper as being mainly about the inheritance of characters that was his own interest. Therefore, he looked at it to see whether Mendel had found any laws of inheritance. Mendel had done his research for another purpose, to find the laws describing the formation of hybrids and the development of their offspring. Thus, de Vries started his examination of Mendel's paper with a very fundamental misunderstanding of what it was about.
A Regent and Her Court: Towards a Study of Maria Maddalena d'Austria's Patronage (FLORENCE 1621–28):

This essay outlines a longer research into cultural production during the Florentine regency of Maria Maddalena d'Austria and Cristina of Lorraine (1621–1628). It challenges widely held beliefs on patronage and on the climate prevailing at court in this period. Specifically it analyzes a stage fragment and two short poems by Ottavio Rinuccini in order to provide an indicative case study of the project at large.
Twelve-Year Review of Recurrent Native-Valve Infective Endocarditis: A Disease of the Modern Antibiotic Era

Recurrent cases of native-valve endocarditis have been seen for only the past four decades. In a review of the English-language literature over the past 12 years, 281 cases of recurrent infective endocarditis were found. Males were more than three times more commonly identified than females. Intravenous drug use was a designated risk factor for endocarditis in 43% of patients. Compared with patients with other risk factors for endocarditis, patients with intravenous drug use were significantly more likely (P less than .005) to suffer a recurrent bout of native-valve endocarditis within 12 months after the primary (or previous) episode. A greater variety of organisms were isolated from patients with recurrent endocarditis than from those with primary endocarditis. Valvular involvement was evenly distributed among the aortic, mitral, and tricuspid valves for both primary and recurrent episodes of infection. While complications of recurrent native-valve endocarditis were relatively common, the mortality rate associated with the recurrences was less than 30%.
The Eect of Orifice Size and Lip Shape on the Formation of a Synthetic Jet

The eects of orifice lip shape and size were investigated experimentally for a round synthetic jet actuator. The actuator was a piston-cylinder apparatus with the jet issuing from an orifice in the end plate of the cylinder. Three orifice lip shapes and two orifice sizes were investigated. The lip shapes were straight, beveled, and round. For each orifice shape, PIV measurements were obtained in the jet flow-field as the jet stroke, L /D , and jet Reynolds number, ReU , were independently varied. Distinctly dierent phase-averaged and time-averaged flow-fields were observed for the dierent lip shapes. The orifice lip shape was found to aect the location and convection speed of the vortex ring that is formed at the orifice during each cycle of the actuator. There is spatial non-uniformity in the velocity profile at the orifice exit for each lip shape, and the profile resembles a top-hat only late in the expulsion portion of the actuator cycle. The mean flow shows clearly where the flow-field undergoes the transition from a train of vortex rings to a turbulent jet. The beveled orifice undergoes this transition farthest from the orifice, and exhibits the highest momentum and narrowest width of the three orifices.
Factors influencing the plate method for determining abundance of bacteria in sea water.

SummaryThe nutritional requirements of marine bacteria are so varied that no one nutrient medium can suffice for the growth of all. The influence of composition of the nutrient medium and plating procedure on the plate method for determining the number of bacteria in sea water was investigated. Seven media were tested. Maximum and reproducible plate counts were obtained with a medium containing 0.5% peptone, 0.01% yeast extract, 0.01% FePO4, and 1.5% agar in 80% sea water. The number of colonies that developed on pour plates was 30–40% greater than the number that developed on surface inoculated plates.
Erythropoietic Stimulating Effects of Plasma Extracts from Anemic Human Subjects

SummaryBoiled filtrates of acidified plasma obtained from 7 patients with Cooley's anemia and one of 2 patients with sickle cell anemia stimulated erythropoiesis in intact rats. A similarly prepared extract of urine from one of the Cooley's subjects was also active. Plasma filtrates from normal subjects and one patient with chronic hypoplastic anemia were inactive. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Treatment of early-stage breast cancer in the elderly: a health-outcome-based approach.

Purpose. To evaluate the post-lumpectomy treatment of a nonpalpable, stage I, T1b tumor, mammographically detected, in a 74-year-old woman without comorbidities. Methods. A Markov process, through 120 monthly cycles, was used to model patient progression through a treatment program, employing literature data and a health-outcome utility. Treatments considered were: observation; radiation totaling 5,000 cGy over six weeks; tamoxifen, 20 mg/day, for five years; simple mastectomy; and radiation therapy plus tamoxifen. Health states included absence of disease (NED), loco-regional recurrence, distant metastasis, age-sex-race (ASR)-adjusted death, cancer mortality, treatment complications, and post-mastectomy death. Transition probabilities were established from the literature. Health-state utilities were determined from the responses of health care professionals to a basic reference gamble. Results. Quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were determined to be 8.19 for radiation plus tamoxifen, decreasing to 8.04...
Qualification for PowerInsight accuracy of power measurements.

Accuracy of component based power measuring devices forms a necessary basis for research in the area of power-e cient and power-aware computing. The accuracy of these devices must be quanti ed within a reasonable tolerance. This study focuses on PowerInsight, an out- of-band embedded measuring device which takes readings of power rails on compute nodes within a HPC system in realtime. We quantify how well the device performs in comparison to a digital oscilloscope as well as PowerMon2. We show that the accuracy is within a 6% deviation on measurements under reasonable load.
Influence of Tensile Strain at Failure on Flexural Properties of a Cementitiously Stabilized Subgrade Soil

AbstractFlexural properties of subgrade soils play an important role in the overall performance of pavements. In this study, a series of laboratory tests and finite-element analysis were conducted to evaluate the effect of the stress-strain behavior of cementitiously stabilized soil (CSS) on its flexural fatigue life. Three different amounts of cement kiln dust (CKD), namely 5, 10, and 15% (by weight), were mixed with soil, and beam specimens were prepared using these three mixes. Modulus of rupture (MoR) tests were conducted on the prepared specimens to measure flexural strength and tensile strain at failure. Four-point bending beam fatigue tests were conducted on CSS specimens to evaluate their flexural modulus and fatigue life of each mix. Also, finite-element models of the MoR tests were developed using a concrete damage plasticity model for the CSS material. The MoR test results showed that the flexural strength increases with an increase in the amount of CKD. However, the failure strain was not foun...
“Upon God Knows What Ground”: African American Slavery in Western Pennsylvania

Between 1790 and 1820 western Pennsylvania changed from a struggling backcountry to a burgeoning industrial power at the epicenter of trade and commerce—one in which the “invisible hands” of African American laborers were the principal driving force. The process by which they negotiated the complex, always ambiguous, legal terrain between slavery and freedom is readily visible in recently unearthed slave manuscripts from the Allegheny County Recorder of Deeds Office. Aged, brittle, yet as vivid as the day they were initially penned, these documents are now in the hands of Samuel Black, curator of African American col-lections at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh.