cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rationale and Experience in Treating Suspected Hospital‐Based Mixed Infections

Ochsner Foundation Hospital of the Ochsner Medical Institutions (OMI), a 532-bed tertiary care facility in New Orleans, uses a formulary review process common to many institutions. Considered in the selection of antimicrobial therapy are efficacy, safety, and cost. At OMI, ticarcillin-clavulanate plus gentamicin are the standard broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents for initial treatment of suspected mixed infections. The pharmacy department provides an aminoglycoside-monitoring program and convenient dosing guidelines. The regimen has resulted in good therapeutic outcomes and few adverse effects. Bacterial resistance has not been detected. Future plans include a large-scale concurrent review of patient outcomes, resistance patterns, and rates of fungal overgrowth associated with these agents.
Mechanism of Degradation of Duplex DNA by the DNase Induced by Herpes Simplex Virus

Abstract Reaction intermediates formed during the degradation of linear PM2, T5, and λ DNA by herpes simplex virus (HSV) DNase have been examined by agarose gel electrophoresis. Digestion of T5 DNA by HSV type 2 (HSV-2) DNase in the presence of Mn2+ (endonuclease only) gave rise to 6 major and 12 minor fragments. Some of the fragments produced correspond to those observed after cleavage of T5 DNA by the single-strand-specific S1 nuclease, indicating that the HSV DNase rapidly cleaves opposite a nick or gap in a duplex DNA molecule. In contrast, HSV DNase did not produce distinct fragments upon digestion of linear PM2 or λ DNA, which do not contain nicks. In the presence of Mg2+, when both endonuclease and exonuclease activities of the HSV DNase occur, most of the same distinct fragments from digestion of T5 DNA were observed. However, these fragments were then further degraded preferentially from the ends, presumably by the action of the exonuclease activity. Unit-length λ DNA, EcoRI restriction fragments of λ DNA, and linear PM2 DNA were also degraded from the ends by HSV DNase in the same manner. Previous studies have suggested that the HSV exonuclease degrades in the 3′ → 5′ direction. If this is correct, and since only 5′-monophosphate nucleosides are produced, then HSV DNase should “activate” DNA for DNA polymerase. However, unlike pancreatic DNase I, neither HSV-1 nor HSV-2 DNase, in the presence of Mg2+ or Mn2+, activated calf thymus DNA for HSV DNA polymerase. This suggests that HSV DNase degrades both strands of a linear double-stranded DNA molecule from the same end at about the same rate. That is, HSV DNase is apparently capable of degrading DNA strands in the 3′ → 5′ direction as well as in the 5′ → 3′ direction, yielding progressively smaller double-stranded molecules with flush ends. Except with minor differences, HSV-1 and HSV-2 DNases act in a similar manner.
Associations among androgens, estrogens, and natriuretic peptides in young women: observations from the Dallas Heart Study.

Associations Among Androgens, Estrogens, and Natriuretic Peptides in Young Women: Observations From the Dallas Heart StudyAlice Y. Chang, Shuaib M. Abdullah, Tulika Jain, Harold G. Stanek, Sandeep ...
Statistical Approaches to Determining Sample Sizes

Researchers who plan to draw inferences about the population from a random sample, must first determine how many members of the population should be sampled. To determine this, the researcher must specify the desired precision of the sample estimate, and confidence level associated with this estimate. If the purpose of the random sample is to test a hypothesis, the researcher must specify the desired statistical power for the test, as well as the acceptable risk of rejecting the null hypothesis when it is true (type I error). This essay explains how to determine the sample size for these two types of study. Keywords: sampling error; confidence; level; statistical power; sample size for different sampling techniques; sample size for hypothesis testing
Language Independent Transliteration Mining System Using Finite State Automata Framework

We propose a Named Entities transliteration mining system using Finite State Automata (FSA). We compare the proposed approach with a baseline system that utilizes the Editex technique to measure the length-normalized phonetic based edit distance between the two words. We submitted three standard runs in NEWS2010 shared task and ranked first for English to Arabic (WM-EnAr) and obtained an F-measure of 0.915, 0.903, and 0.874 respectively.
Differences in acute hypoxic pulmonary vasoresponsiveness between rat strains: role of endothelium.

Intact Madison (M) rats have greater pulmonary pressor responses to acute hypoxia than Hilltop (H) rats. We tested the hypothesis that the difference in pressor response is intrinsic to pulmonary a...
Artificial food dyes and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common behavioral disorders in children. Symptoms of ADHD include hyperactivity, low frustration tolerance, impulsivity, and inattention. While the biological pathways leading to ADHD are not clearly delineated, a number of genetic and environmental risk factors for the disorder are recognized. In the early 1970s, research conducted by Dr. Benjamin Feingold found that when hyperactive children were given a diet free of artificial food additives and dyes, symptoms of hyperactivity were reduced. While some clinical studies supported these findings, more rigorous empirical studies conducted over the next 20 years were less positive. As a result, research on the role of food additives in contributing to ADHD waned. In recent years, however, interest in this area has revived. In response to more recent research and public petitions, in December 2009 the British government requested that food manufacturers remove most artificial food dyes from their products. While these strictures could have positive effects on behavior, the removal of food dyes is not a panacea for ADHD, which is a multifaceted disorder with both biological and environmental underpinnings.
Holographically corrected telescope with temporal update

Next generation optical space telescopes with apertures > 10 m for imaging, lidar, communications and directed energy focusing will be unable to use conventional technologies which are impractical or too costly. Our resolution is to construct a telescope from a lightweight, membrane primary, which is holographically corrected for surface distortions, in situ. In order to design a practical space telescope, a scheme by which temporal variations in the mirror surface, caused by thermal and gravitational stresses must be found. We present evidence that a primary static hologram combined with a secondary adaptive optics system may be the least expensive and simplest approach.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
One for Nine: The Shared Cataloging Program of the California Digital Library

In 1999, the California Digital Library (CDL) began a new cooperative venture, the Shared Cataloging Program, to improve access to its growing collection of electronic resources. Now known within the University of California (UC) as the SCP, the Shared Cataloging Program, based at UC San Diego, distributes ready-to-use cataloging records for all electronic titles licensed by the CDL to each of the other eight (soon to be nine) physical UC campuses. The SCP is the result of an intensive systemwide planning process fostered by a desire for an innovative approach to providing traditional bibliographic access to large numbers of electronic resources. It was launched out of pragmatic necessity along with an institutional commitment to the cooperative ideals of labor-savings, experimentation, and the search for “best practices.” This article will describe its genesis, current operation, one library's use of the records, and issues for future development. Serials Review 2002; 28:4–12.
A solid state contactor for use in 60 Hz, 3 ϕ service

A solid-state step-start contactor using back-to-back thyristors has been developed at NAL. The unit described here employs water-cooled thyristors designed to switch 3 phase 500A rms at 480V, 60 Hz. The thyristors are turned on by a rectified 50 kHz carrier signal transmitted to the thyristor gate circuit via a specially developed high-isolation transformer that prevents the impulse noise on the 480V line from affecting the logic-level control circuits. A 3-phase current sensor and a solid-state interlock and status-monitor display unit form an integral part of the contactor. DTL compatible logic-level signals are used to control the contactor from local or remote positions and to display and monitor the status of the interlocked variables. These principles appear to be quite applicable to contactors designed for lower or higher power levels.
Glutathione and tissue amino acid responses to light-exposed parenteral nutrients.

Abstract Effects of infusion of light-exposed (+L) or light-protected (−L) total parenteral nutrition solutions were investigated in rats. The parenteral infusions were carried out for 7 days through jugular cannulas in freely moving rats in metabolic cages. Plasma tyrosine and citrulline, hepatic methionine, valine, isoleucine, leucine and tyrosine, and biliary cystathionine were significantly greater in the −L than +L rats, whereas biliary arginine was significantly lower in the −L compared to +L rats. Bile flow, biliary inorganic phosphate and glucose were significantly lower, whereas biliary total glutathione (GSH+GSSG) was significantly greater in the — L compared to +L animals. These data suggest adverse effects on hepatobiliary function due to light exposure of parenteral nutrients. The endogenous markers used suggest that tight junction permeability, bile acid-independent flow, glutathione and amino acid homeostasis are altered by light exposure and that these changes can be minimized by light protection. The mechanisms involved in the induction of these changes need to be elucidated. The role of light exposure of parenteral nutrients during routine clinical use in the induction of hepatic dysfunction, a common metabolic complication of parenteral nutrition, needs to be considered.
Next Generation Advanced Video Guidance Sensor

The first autonomous rendezvous and docking in the history of the U.S. Space Program was successfully accomplished by Orbital Express (OE) in May of 2007, using the advanced video guidance sensor (AVGS) as the primary docking sensor. The United States now has a mature and flight proven sensor technology for supporting crew exploration vehicles (CEV) and commercial orbital transportation services (COTS) automated rendezvous and docking (AR&D).
The Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophies

A collection of more than 30 genetic muscle diseases that share certain key features, limb-girdle muscular dystrophies are characterized by progressive weakness and muscle atrophy of the hips, shoulders, and proximal extremity muscles with postnatal onset. This article discusses clinical, laboratory, and histologic features of the 6 most prevalent limb-girdle dystrophies. In this large group of disorders, certain distinctive features often can guide clinicians to a correct diagnosis.
Social Insurance Claims as Morbidity Estimates: Sickness or Absence?

Historians have closely examined sickness claims by members of British friendly societies. Hoping that insurance records may offer insight into past health conditions, they have generally found that sickness rates increased as mortality rates declined. Aggregated fund level data from a variety of continental sickness insurance programmes from 1885 to 1908 cast doubt on this research strategy. Mortality rates fell among all funds with available data, but absenteeism trended in both directions in different groups of sick funds. Among funds that took in workers who were required to buy sickness insurance, absenteeism rose over time. Among funds in which membership was voluntary, absenteeism fell. To explain these differing trends, I note that voluntary funds attracted older and sicker workers and that the resulting financial problems made it difficult for them to pay out benefits. Social insurance claim records are so heavily influenced by governmental requirements and financial concerns that they may be better understood as records of worker absence rather than of morbidity.
Accelerators for biologically-inspired attention and recognition

Video and image content has begun to play a growing role in many applications, ranging from video games to autonomous self-driving vehicles. In this paper, we present accelerators for gist-based scene recognition, saliency-based attention, and HMAX-based object recognition that have multiple uses and are based on the current understanding of the vision systems found in the visual cortex of the mammalian brain. By integrating them into a two-level hierarchical system, we improve recognition accuracy and reduce computational time. Results of our accelerator prototype on a multi-FPGA system show real-time performance and high recognition accuracy with large speedups over existing CPU, GPU and FPGA implementations.
Computer-automated program for calibration of optical tweezers

An optical tweezers (OT) system uses focused laser light to contain and manipulate nano-scale to micro-scale particles. Trap stiffness is the quantitative measurement of the ability to trap a particle. For some techniques, this measurement depends on an accurate knowledge of the particle's position in time. A position sensing detector (PSD) is used to track particle motion by detecting laser light from the trapping region. The PSD outputs voltages corresponding to the x- and y-coordinates of particle motion, providing a means of knowing the location of the particle in time. An OT system requires a calibration to convert the measured voltages into accurate distances. This process is time-consuming and frequently needs to be repeated, however, with the growing availability of computer-aided data acquisition and control, the complete process can now be automated, reducing time spent by researchers and increasing level of accuracy of future measurements. We have developed a program written in LabVIEW that will, after initialization, 1) via image processing, calibrate the pixel size of the camera, 2) calibrate the optical tweezer position detector by controlling a motorized mirror to move a trapped bead through a detection laser with simultaneous position detector signal measurements, 3) re-align the trap beam and the detection beam by motorized mirror control, 4) measure position data for the same trapped particle being illuminated by the detection beam, and 5) analyze the position signal via the power spectrum method and equipartition method to give two trap stiffness values for comparison. Previous automated calibration methods require additional and sometimes costly equipment as well as some precalibration of stage motion or pixel size. Here, the user only needs to input the known size of the bead (provided by the manufacturer) into the program, insert their prepared slide into their microscope, input some parameters and make selections, and click "start" in order to achieve experimental values of the camera and position detector calibrations, as well as trap stiffness. We intend to implement many other calibration techniques that require additional equipment, but have designed this initial system for use in a standard position-detection-capable OT setup as long as it has a digital camera and motorized mirror that can be controlled with LabVIEW.
Spectroellipsometry Studies of Znl-x.cdxSe: From Optical Functions to Heterostructure Characterization

The dielectric functions of 0.5–1.5 μm Znl-xCdxSe (0≤x≤0.34) epilayers on GaAs have been determined over the photon energy range 1.5≤E≤5.3 eV. These spectra have been parameterized using the Sellmeier approximation for energies less than the fundamental gap at E0 and using a sum of Lorentz oscillators above the gap region. As an example of the usefulness of the approach, expressions are provided that yield the index of refraction of Znl-xCdxSe (0≤x≤ 0.34) for 1.5 eV≤E<E0- As a second example, we have determined the composition and thickness of a Znl-xCdxSe quantum well between ZnSe barrier layers.
Fabrication and Characterization of CZTS Thin Films Prepared by the Sulfurization of RF-Sputtered Stacked Metal Precursors

In this work, Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin films were prepared by the sulfurization of metal precursors deposited sequentially via radio frequency magnetron sputtering on Mo-coated soda-lime glass. The stack order of the precursors was Mo/Zn/Sn/Cu. Sputtered precursors were annealed in sulfur atmosphere with nine different conditions to study the impact of sulfurization time and substrate temperature on the structural, morphological, and optical properties of the final CZTS films. X-ray fluorescence was used to determine the elemental composition ratio of the metal precursors. Final CZTS films were characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). XRD and EDS were combined to investigate the films’ structure and to identify the presence of secondary phases. XRD analysis indicated an improvement in film crystallinity with an increase of the substrate temperature and annealing times. Also indicated was the minimization and/or elimination of secondary phases when the films experienced longer annealing time. EDS revealed slight Sn loss in films sulfurized at 550°C; however, an increase of the sulfurization temperature to 600°C did not confirm these results. SEM study showed that films treated with higher temperatures exhibited dense morphology, indicating the completion of the sulfurization process. The estimated absorption coefficient was on the order of 104 cm−1 for all CZTS films, and the values obtained for the optical bandgap energy of the films were between 1.33 eV and 1.52 eV.
Effects of hexachlorocyclohexane isomers on the mitogenic response of bovine lymphocytes

Abstract The α-, β-, γ- and δ-isomers of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) were evaluated as modifiers of the mitogenic response in cultured bovine lymphocytes. None of the four isomers were mitogenic alone; however, the concurrent administration of αHCH and phytohemagglutinin-P (PHA) stimulated DNA synthesis in lymphocyte cultures 2.2-fold over that obtained with PHA alone. βHCH was inactive in the test system whereas both γ- and δHCH severely inhibited the PHA response. Treatment of lymphocytes with the microsomal enzyme inhibitor SKF-525A blocked the co-mitogenic activity of αHCH without affecting the basal PHA response. The role of hexachlorocyclohexane-sensitive metabolic systems in the regulation of mitogenesis in lymphocytes is discussed.
Ray tracing: Strengths and opportunities

With the surge of interest in ray tracing for interactive rendering, it is worth reviewing what benefits this algorithm has to offer, and what challenges lay ahead. Some characteristics of ray tracing fit well with modern computer architectures, others become more difficult to use as processors evolve, and a few ray tracing “features” are probably distractions. The evolution of various computational elements—processing power, cache, bandwidth, latency, I/O—affect ray tracing differently than they do rasterization. At the same time, the boundaries between these two rendering methods is blurring as algorithmic elements from ray tracing become implemented in GPU shader code. This presentation explores how ray tracing contrasts with Z-buffering in its current form, and makes some predictions about possible futures.
Deformation of amorphous silicon nanostructures subjected to monotonic and cyclic loading

An atomic force microscope (AFM) was used to characterize the deformation behavior of amorphous Si (a-Si) nanostructures subjected to monotonic and cyclic loading. The sample geometry was specially designed (in the form of elbow) using finite element modeling for the purpose of these tests, and the samples were grown by glancing angle deposition. When deformed monotonically at room temperature, the a-Si specimens exhibited a nonlinear force–displacement response at forces larger than a critical force, a phenomenon not observed in bulk silicon. A fatigue testing methodology based on the use of the AFM was established. The fatigue life of the a-Si specimens was observed to increase by five orders of magnitude with a 50% reduction in the applied force amplitude. It was verified that this delayed failure is caused by progressive damage accumulation during cyclic loading. These results are compared with literature data obtained from micron-size specimens.
Measuring the surface energies of spherical cellulose beads by inverse gas chromatography

The effect of the chemical composition of regenerated cellulose solids on surface energy was studied by inverse gas chromatography (IGC). This was to probe a possible relationship between the ability of the cellulose surface to interact with other phases through van der Waals forces and its bonding potential. A model consisting of amorphous cellulose spheres (beads) was used to eliminate all effects of morphology and geometry. The surface of the beads was modified by chemical reaction of the hydroxyl groups of cellulose. A thin layer of cellulose derivative, such as cellulose trifluoroethoxyacetate (CW-TFEA), cellulose laurate (CW-LA), or directly fluorinated cellulose (CW-F), was produced on the bead surface. The surface properties of the cellulose beads were fully characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and nitrogen adsorption. IGC was performed using the adsorption of two kinds of probes : alkanes to measure the dispersive component of the surface energy (γ S d ), and acid/base probes to quantify the specific adsorption enthalpy (ΔH Sp ). The dispersive component of the surface energy of cellulose was found to depend mostly on the presence and concentration of free hydroxyl groups on the surface. At low degrees of substitution (DS < 1), how these OH groups were replaced by modification, whether by fatty acid type substituents or by fluorine-containing groups, was essentially irrelevant for surface energies. The dispersive component of the surface energy (γ S d ) declined with DS almost irrespective of substituent type. The surface of cellulose was found to be highly acidic, and this was attributed mainly to the presence of hydroxyl groups.
On a Theory of Fiber Dynamic Mechanical Properties

Theory for the dynamic mechanical properties (DMP) of melt-spun fibers based on the structure model that a fiber is functionally a series arrangement of undeformable regions, e.g. crystals and their associated ‘fringes’, connected together by non-crystalline chain segments, has been worked out and tested experimentally. The chain segments are assumed to be of the Kuhn and Gruen type. So that expressions for fiber modulus G′ and tan δ developed for this fiber model could be tested, new experimental methods containing two key controls were developed. First, the measurements are made with the average stress maintained independent of temperature, and, secondly, the tests are equilibrated for 25 minutes at each temperature to remove transient effects, which also are not dealt with by the theory. The theory semiquantitatively predicted the behaviour of fibers in these tests, although there are important quantitative discrepancies, some of which are ascribed to the Kuhn and Gruen theory and some to lack of knowl...
Cellular and metabolic specificity in the interaction of adhesion proteins with collagen and with cells.

Fibronectin mediates the adhesion of fibroblasts to collagen substrates, binding first to the collagen and then to the cells. We report here that the interaction of the cells with the fibronectin-collagen complex is blocked by specific gangliosides, GD1 a and GT1, and that the sugar moieties of these gangliosides contain the inhibitory activity. The gangliosides act by binding to fibronectin, suggesting that they may be the cell surface receptor for fibronectin. Evidence is presented that other adhesion proteins or mechanisms of attachment exist for chondrocytes, epidermal cells, and transformed tumorigenic cells, since adhesion of these cells is not stimulated by fibronectin. Chondrocytes adhere via a serum factor that is more temperature-sensitive and less basic than fibronectin. Unlike that of fibroblasts chondrocyte adhesion is stimulated by low levels of gangliosides. Epidermal cells adhere preferentially to type IV (basement membrane) collagen but at a much slower rate than fibroblasts or chondrocytes. This suggests that these epidermal cells synthesize their own specific adhesion factor. Metastatic cells cultured from the T241 fibrosarcoma adhere rapidly to type IV collagen in the absence of fibronectin and do not synthesize significant amounts of collagen or fibronectin. Their growth, in contrast to that of normal fibroblasts, is unaffected by a specific inhibitor of collagen synthesis. These data indicate the importance of specific collagens and adhesion proteins in the adhesion of certain cells and suggest that a reduction in the synthesis of collagen and of fibronectin is related to some of the abnormalities observed in transformed cells.
Slot coupling of coplanar waveguide to patch antennas suitable for MMIC applications

A new design for coupling coplanar waveguide (CPW) to microstrip antennas has been developed. The coupling method consists of direct aperture coupling from the coplanar waveguide feed to the microstrip antenna. The advantage of this method is the use of a single substrate for the entire CPW and antenna circuit as opposed to previous methods of coupling in which multilayer substrates were used.
Nucleation processes in the growth of hcp titanium.

Six distinct orientations of hcp titanium have been grown as high-quality single crystals by molecular-beam epitaxy. The substrates were freshly grown bcc metals on sapphire. We identify four different nucleation mechanisms that compete to select the eventual crystal orientation. In one novel case, the growth of tilted Ti(1012) is identified with nucleation at step edges rather than on terraces of the stepped Ta(211) substrate
The role of socio‐cultural, political‐legal, economic, and educational dimensions in quality management

Quality management practices have recently flourished across the globe. In this research we review and integrate the literature by identifying and organizing significant research findings, and develop a conceptual model of the relationships between international environmental conditions (e.g. socio‐cultural, political‐legal, economic, and educational factors) and dimensions of quality management (e.g. strategic quality planning, customer focus and satisfaction, human resource development and management, information and analysis, management of process quality, and quality and operational results). The model developed here helps us move beyond examining the differences in quality practices across countries to an understanding of why such differences occur, and helps practitioners gain a better perspective on how quality management techniques can be adopted in different regions around the world.
Bioinformatics and computing curricula 2001: why computer science is well positioned in a post-genomic world

In this paper, we argue that computer science as a discipline is well-positioned to produce significant players in the growing interdisciplinary field of bioinformatics. We estimate that our own recent research in genomics with undergraduates intersected with 10 of the 14 Knowledge Focus Groups (KFG) and used content from 45% of the core topics found in the new computing curriculum standards (CC2001). The strong mapping between the needs of the bioinformatics community and the core topics in computer science serves as an open invitation for faculty to develop bioinformatics-related course materials for their own courses and areas of expertise.
Investigation of quantum well and tunnel barrier growth by resonant tunneling

We present the first known systematic mapping of quantum well and tunnel barrier thicknesses in a resonant tunneling structure by transport measurements. The technique derives a 1 A averaged resolution for quantum well and barrier thicknesses, independently for the quantum well and adjacent tunnel barriers. Contour maps of the structure reveal an asymmetric shallow ring growth structure for one of the epilayers. Current-voltage characteristics and temperature dependence of the resonant tunneling structures will also be discussed.
Cancer: A ringleader identified

The childhood cancer neuroblastoma can either run in families or occur sporadically. Several studies find that the gene ALK is a chief offender in this disease, because its germline mutations mediate both forms.
A day in the life of the spliceosome

One of the most amazing findings in molecular biology was the discovery that eukaryotic genes are discontinuous, with coding DNA being interrupted by stretches of non-coding sequence. The subsequent realization that the intervening regions are removed from pre-mRNA transcripts via the activity of a common set of small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs), which assemble together with associated proteins into a complex known as the spliceosome, was equally surprising. How do cells coordinate the assembly of this molecular machine? And how does the spliceosome accurately recognize exons and introns to carry out the splicing reaction? Insights into these questions have been gained by studying the life cycle of spliceosomal snRNAs from their transcription, nuclear export and re-import to their dynamic assembly into the spliceosome. This assembly process can also affect the regulation of alternative splicing and has implications for human disease.
When Districts Encounter Teacher Shortages: The Challenges of Recruiting and Retaining Mathematics Teachers in Urban Districts

Administrators in six urban districts were interviewed to understand the nature and extent of their problems with recruiting and retaining high quality mathematics teachers. Findings suggest that the math staffing challenge is quite complex, and administrators have had to make difficult compromises because of deficiencies in the quantity and quality of candidates. In these districts, supply is tight, demand is high, and competition with other districts is fierce. Three additional sets of factors further exacerbate the staffing challenge: policy factors, organizational factors, and administrators' own views about the qualities necessary to teach successfully in urban schools.
The influence of pool length on local turbulence production and energy slope: a flume experiment

The inﬂuence of pool length on the strength of turbulence generated by vortex shedding was investigated in a 6 m long recirculating ﬂume. The experiment utilized a 38% constriction of ﬂow and an average channel-bed slope of 0·007. The base geometry for the intermediate-length pool experiment originated from a highly simpliﬁed, 0·10 scale model of a forced pool from North Saint Vrain Creek, Colorado. Discharge in the ﬂume was 31·6 l/s, which corresponds to a discharge in the prototype channel of 10 m3/s. Three shorter and four longer pool lengths also were created with a ﬁxed bed to determine changes in turbulence intensities and energy slope with pool elongation. Three-dimensional velocities were measured with an acoustic Doppler velocimeter at 31–40 different 0·6-depth and near-bed locations downstream of the rectangular constriction. The average velocity and root mean square (RMS) of the absolute magnitude of velocity at both depths are signiﬁcantly related to the distance from the constriction in most pool locations downstream of the constriction. In many locations, pool elongation results in a non-linear change in turbulence intensities and average velocity. Based on the overall ﬂow pattern, the strongest turbulence occurs in the center of the pool along the shear zone between the jet and recirculating eddy. The lateral location of this shear zone is sensitive to changes in pool length. Energy slope also was sensitive to pool length due to a combination of greater length of the pool and greater head loss with shorter pools. The results indicate some form of hydraulic optimization is possible with pools adjusting their length to adjust the location and strength of turbulent intensities in the center of pools, and lower their rate of energy dissipation. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
2,5-dipicryl-1,3,4-oxadiazole: a shock-sensitive explosive with high thermal stability (thermally-stable substitute for petn)

Abstract The preparation and properties of 2,5-dipicryl-1,3,4-oxadiazole (DPO), a thermally stable substitute for PEIN, are discussed. Results of short pulse shock tests on DPO are also given. (b) Standard exploding foil test parameters were used (0.051 mm thick mylar flyer). 12. The m.p. of high purity DPO after crystallization from acetone-methanol is 335°C.
Equilibrium studies: Substituent effects on methoxypyridine-1-methylpyridone equilibria

Abstract The effects of 6-chloro, 5,6-benzo, 3,4-benzo, 4-methoxy-6-methyl, 6-methyl-4-one, 5,6-benzo-4-methoxy, and 5,6-benzo-4-one substitution on 2-methoxypyridine-1-methyl-2-pyridone equilibria have been determined by measurement of the heat evolved on equilibration of substituted isomer pairs at 130–150° or by determination of the equilibrium constant at 115, 125 and 140°. In all cases the 2-one isomer is more stable in the liquid phase. Estimates of differences in gas phase enthalpies and in chemical binding energies are made for these isomer pairs. The results provide a quantitative estimate of the stability difference between isomeric 1-methyl 2- and 4-pyridones and show that of the substituents investigated only 6-chloro substitution has a significant enthalpy effect. It is suggested that for substituted compounds in this series extrapolation of enthalpy differences from the parent system will be valid in most cases and that the 1-methyl-2-one isomer will usually be the more stable. Comparison of alkylomeric and protomeric equilibria is considered and it is suggested that, for a single equilibrium, reactions corrected for intermolecular and solvent effects and for kinetic and zero-point energy differences provided the least ambiguous test of approximate quantum mechanical methods. Syntheses of 2-methoxy-1,6-dimethyl-4-pyridone and 2-methoxy-1-methyl-4-quinolone which involve the use of a trimethylsilyl blocking group provide a procedure which should be adaptable to the production of the less available alkylomeric isomers of many isomer pairs.
Trace Formulas for Some Operators Related To Quadrature Domains in Riemann Surfaces

This note studies the trace formula of a class of pure operators A with finite rank self-commutators satisfying the condition that there is a finite dimensional subspace containing the image of the self-commutator and invariant with respect to A *. Besides, in this class, the spectrum of the operator A is covered by the projection of a union of quadrature domains in some Riemann surfaces.
Snowpack Changes in the Hindu Kush–Karakoram–Himalaya from CMIP5 Global Climate Models

AbstractThe Hindu Kush, Karakoram, and Himalaya (HKKH) mountain ranges feed the most important Asian river systems, providing water to about 1.5 billion people. As a consequence, changes in snow dynamics in this area could severely impact water availability for downstream populations. Despite their importance, the amount, spatial distribution, and seasonality of snow in the HKKH region are still poorly known, owing to the limited availability of surface observations in this remote and high-elevation area. This work considers global climate models (GCM) participating in phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) and analyzes how they represent current and future snowpack in the HKKH region in terms of snow depth and snow water equivalent. It is found that models with high spatial resolution (up to 1.25°) simulate a spatial pattern of the winter snowpack in greater agreement with each other, with observations, with reanalysis datasets, and with the orographic features of the region, compar...
Induction of G protein-coupled receptor kinases 2 and 3 contributes to the cross-talk between μ and ORL1 receptors following prolonged agonist exposure

Abstract The molecular mechanism(s) underlying cross-tolerance between μ and opioid receptor-like 1 (ORL1) receptor agonists were investigated using two human neuroblastoma cell lines endogenously expressing these receptors and G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs). Prolonged (24 h) activation of the μ receptor desensitized both μ and ORL1 receptor-mediated inhibition of forskolin-stimulated cAMP accumulation and upregulated GRK2 levels in SH-SY5Y and BE(2)-C cells. Prolonged ORL1 activation increased GRK2 levels and desensitized both receptors in SH-SY5Y cells. Upregulation of GRK2 correlated with increases in levels of transcription factors Sp1 or AP-2. PD98059, an upstream inhibitor of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2), reversed all these events. Pretreatment with orphanin FQ/nociceptin (OFQ/N) also upregulated GRK3 levels in both cell lines, and desensitized both receptors in BE(2)-C cells. Protein kinase C (PKC), but not ERK1/2, inhibition blocked OFQ/N-mediated GRK3 induction and μ and ORL1 receptor desensitization in BE(2)-C cells. Antisense DNA treatment confirmed the involvement of GRK2/3 in μ and ORL1 desensitization. Here, we demonstrate for the first time a role for ERK1/2-mediated GRK2 induction in the development of tolerance to μ agonists, as well as cross-tolerance to OFQ/N. We also demonstrate that chronic OFQ/N-mediated desensitization of ORL1 and μ receptors occurs via cell-specific pathways, involving ERK1/2-dependent GRK2, or PKC-dependent and ERK1/2-independent GRK3 induction.
Desorption/ionization on porous silicon mass spectrometry studies on pentose-borate complexes.

Desorption/ionization on porous silicon mass spectrometry (DIOS-MS) was used to investigate the binding affinities between aldopentose isomers and boron. Boron has been recognized for its importance in pentose synthesis and stabilization in prebiotic conditions. Boron may also account for the fact that ribose, among other aldopentoses, is the favored building block in RNA synthesis. This research started with the detection of aldopentoses in the positive mode through cationization and the aldopentose−borate complexes in the negative mode. Then two competition schemes, one using a pentose structure analogue and the other using 13C-labeled ribose, were designed to compare the relative binding affinities of four aldopentoses (xylose, lyxose, arabinose, and ribose) to boron. Both approaches determined the binding preference to be ribose > lyxose > arabinose > xylose. This work illustrates the potential of DIOS-MS in the analyses of nonvolatile, small molecules in delicate chemical equilibria. Without external...
Unawareness of social interaction and emotional control deficits in alzheimer's disease

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine unawareness of deficit in Alzheimer's disease (AD) in a previously unexplored functional domain: social interaction and emotional control competency. Impairment of awareness was measured by calculating the degree to which patients and their caregivers disagreed on ratings of patient functioning. to assess potential underlying mechanisms or associated features of social/emotional unawareness, a regression equation examining disease and demographic correlates was created. In addition, to provide a basis of comparison for the social/emotional domain, unawareness of deficit was also assessed in two previously examined domains of functioning (i.e., cognitive and self-care competency). Results revealed that, as compared to caregivers, AD-diagnosed patients overestimated their social/emotional competency but to a lesser extent than they overestimated cognitive and self-care competencies. Regression analysis suggested that impaired awareness of social interaction ...
Trends in failure survival techniques for avionic systems

Electronic equipment installed in aircraft has to satisfy extremely demanding requirements to achieve the requisite levels of safety and reliability, while operating in a physical environment at variance with the desirable conditions for long life of electronic components. The techniques in present use are reviewed, in particular the use of digital control systems, and likely future developments are surveyed.
Troubling catergoriesi can’t think without: reflections on women in the holocaust

The discussion of women and the Holocaust is situated in the context of two early projects: an experimental course sponsored by San Francisco Hiliel and Lehrhaus Judaica in 1984 and a dialogue on the topic initiated by feminist artist Judy Chicago in 1988. Two questions are examined: Who are the women in the Holocaust? and who are the researchers/ scholars framing inquiry into the topic? My reading of these projects suggests that Holocaust scholars should pay careful attention to how we set the boundaries of inquiry by defining certain historical and cutural subjects as epicentral while regarding others as peripheral, and cautions against construing gender in universalizing and “natural” terms. My title is borrowed from Lather (1995). The fall sentence from which I have quoted reads, “I trouble the very categories I can’t think without” (1995: 13)
Trend-outflow method for understanding interactions of surface water with groundwater and atmospheric water for eight reaches of the Upper Rio Grande

Summary Atmospheric water, surface water, and groundwater interact very actively through hydrologic processes such as precipitation, infiltration, seepage, irrigation, drainage, evaporation, and evapotranspiration in the Upper Rio Grande Basin. A trend-outflow method has been developed in this paper to gain a better understanding of the interactions based on cumulated inflow and outflow data for any river reaches of interest. A general trend-outflow equation was derived by associating the net interaction of surface water with atmospheric water as a polynomial of inflow and the net interaction of surface water with groundwater as a constant based on surface water budget. Linear and quadratic relations are probably two common trend-outflow types in the real world. It was found that trend-outflows of the Upper Rio Grande reaches, Espanola, Albuquerque, Socorro–Engle, Palomas, and Rincon are linear with inflow, while those of reaches, Belen, Mesilla and Hueco are quadratic. Reaches Belen, Mesilla and Hueco are found as water deficit reaches mainly for irrigated agriculture in extreme drought years.
Emotional and Behavior Problems in an Urban Pediatric Primary Care Setting

We sought to identify needs for behavioral health care in a large, urban pediatric primary care (PPC) clinic serving a population covered by Medicaid. Specifically, children (N = 197; 120 girls; 91 % African American) ages 8–17 years and their caregivers completed measures of internalizing and externalizing symptoms (RCADS, RCADS-P, MASC, and SDQ). Clinical elevations on all but one domain of the SDQ were significantly higher than expected. However, self-reported anxiety and depression symptoms were consistent with expectations. These findings suggest urban, low-income, primarily African American youth presenting at a PPC clinic demonstrate significant levels of behavioral and emotional symptoms. Implications of the findings include the need to ask both parents and children about child behavioral health problems and the possible influence of screening tool selection on detection.
The Day-to-Day Coordination of IGY Observations

The IGY World Days and Communications program has four facets: 1) an IGY Calendar of selected days for experiments which cannot be carried on continuously; 2) a scheme for specifying periods when phenomena of unusual interest are anticipated a few hours in advance; 3) the prompt and wide distribution of summary observations of outstanding solar and geophysical events; and 4) the use of the world-wide scientific communications network for processing information of temporal interest. This is a cooperative effort including all the countries participating in the IGY. The paper describes the plan and its execution, including the arrangements for rapid communications.
Incremental force and moment coefficients for a parallel blade-vortex interaction

Blade-vortex interactions occur in helicopter rotors when a rotor blade passes close to or through a tip vortex trailing from the same or another blade. An unsteady, parallel blade-vortex interaction model was developed using a discrete free-vortex method and classical potential flow theory. The tip vortex was modeled by a simple vortex and, for a close encounter, by a cluster of vortices.
Studies of the predominant cultivable micro-organisms from the human tongue.

Abstract The most numerous cultivable bacteria present on the dorsum of the tongues of six individuals were isolated and partially characterized. On the basis of 409 isolates examined, the tongue was found to contain a relatively constant microflora which was composed of the following microbial groups: facultative streptococci, 38.3 per cent; Veillonella, 14.5 per cent; facultative and anaerobic diphtheroids, 13.0 per cent and 7.4 per cent respectively; micrococci-staphylococci, 6.5 per cent; Bacteroides, 5.3 per cent; Peptostreptococcus-Peptococcus, 4.2 per cent; Neisseria, 2.3 per cent; vibrios, 2.1 per cent; Fusobacterium, 0.8 per cent; unidentified gram negative rods and cocci, 3.2 per cent and 2.6 per cent respectively. The recovery of total facultative streptococci, other than Streptococcus salivarius, was favoured by anaerobic incubation. The recovery of S. salivarius was either indifferent or slightly favoured by aerobic incubation.
The evolutionary landscape of antifolate resistance in Plasmodium falciparum

Resistance to antifolates in Plasmodium falciparum is well described and has been observed in clinical settings for decades. At the molecular level, point mutations in the dhfr gene that lead to resistance have been identified, and the crystal structure of the wildtype and mutant dihydrofolate reductase enzymes have been solved in complex with native substrate and drugs. However, we are only beginning to understand the complexities of the evolutionary pressures that lead to the evolution of drug resistance in this system. Microbial systems that allow heterologous expression of malarial proteins provide a tractable way to investigate patterns of evolution that can inform our eventual understanding of the more complex factors that influence the evolution of drug resistance in clinical settings. In this paper we will review work in Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae expression systems that explore the fitness landscape of mutations implicated in drug resistance and show that (i) a limited number of evolutionary pathways to resistance are followed with high probability; (ii) fitness costs associated with the maintenance of high levels of resistance are modest; and (iii) different antifolates may exert opposing selective forces.
Effects of lactate on cross-spectral analysis of heart rate, blood pressure, and lung volume in normal volunteers

Baroreceptor reflex sensitivity, coherence functions, and transfer functions between respiration and heart rate, and between respiration and blood pressure, were studied in nine normal volunteers before and after intravenous sodium lactate infusions. Cross-spectral analysis was used to examine heart rate, finger blood pressure, and respiration obtained with the subjects in a supine posture during spontaneous breathing. Sodium lactate produced a significant decrease of the modulus between respiration and heart rate (beats/min/l). There was no such change for the placebo infusions. The absence of a significant difference in the modulus between systolic blood pressure and heart rate for placebo or lactate indicated that there were no significant changes in the baroreceptor sensitivity index. These findings suggest that lactate infusions are associated with a decrease in cardiac vagal function.