cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Genomic regions that influence plasma levels of inflammatory markers in hypertensive sibships.

We carried out univariate and bivariate linkage analyses to identify genomic regions that may influence plasma levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen and exert pleiotropic effects on both traits. Subjects included African American (AA, n=1310, mean age 62.7±9.4 years) and non-Hispanic white (NHW, n=796, mean age 58.4±9.8 years) belonging to hypertensive sibships. Plasma CRP was measured by an immunoturbidimetric assay and fibrinogen by the Clauss method. Genotyping was performed at 366 microsatellite marker loci spaced ∼10 cM apart across the 22 autosomes. Estimation of heritability and linkage analyses was carried out using a variance components approach. Significant heritability was noted for CRP (0.38 in AA and 0.37 in NHW subjects) and fibrinogen (0.44 in AA and 0.28 in NHW subjects). Significant genetic correlation between CRP and fibrinogen was present in both AA (0.39) and NHW (0.40) subjects. In univariate linkage analysis, the maximum logarithm of odds (LOD) score for CRP was on chromosome 10q22 in NHW (LOD=1.69, 106.75 cM, P=0.0026) and for fibrinogen on chromosome 2 in AA (LOD=2.14, 55.5 cM, P=0.0009) subjects. Bivariate linkage analysis demonstrated suggestive evidence of linkage (defined as LOD score⩾2.87) for both traits on chromosome 12 (LOD=3.44, 152.16 cM, P=0.0003) in AA and on chromosome 21 (LOD=3.03, 13.05 cM, P=0.0008) in NHW subjects. Plasma CRP and fibrinogen levels are heritable and genetically correlated. Linkage analyses identified several chromosomal regions that may harbour genes influencing CRP and fibrinogen levels and exert pleiotropic effects on both traits.
Warfighter Nutrition: Current Opportunities and Advanced Technologies Report From a Department of Defense Workshop

The Uniformed Services University hosted a conference in July 2008 entitled "Warfighter Nutrition: Advanced Technologies and Opportunities" with Health Affairs and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to develop strategic and tactical plans that could enhance Force Health Protection (FHP) by optimizing warfighter nutrition within the Department of Defense (DoD). The conference focused on three aspects of military nutrition: (1) fueling the forces, or garrison feeding; (2) performance optimization or operational feeding during deployment; and (3) nutritional interventions to support health reset and healing. Presentations by speakers addressed practical interventions (i.e., ready for implementation now) and advanced technologies (i.e., approaches meriting prioritized research and development efforts to transition into application). The conference concluded that nutritional optimization represents an integral and proactive approach to prevent illness, injury, and performance degradation throughout all phases of military service. The overarching consensus achieved was that warfighter nutrition, as a cornerstone of FHP, warrants the critical attention of both medical and line leadership to move quickly to support current initiatives and future advanced technologies.
Variable grid finite-difference modeling including surface topography

We have developed two-dimensional viscoelastic finite-difference modeling for highly complex topography. Realistic modeling of seismic wave propagation in near surface is complicated by many factors, such as strong heterogeneity, topographic relief and large attenuation. In order to account for these complications, we focus on implementations in velocity-stress staggered grids and employ 0(2,4) accurate viscoelastic finite-difference scheme including an irregular free surface condition to topography relief and a variable grid technique in the shallow parts of the model. To examine the validity of the method, we carried out several numerical tests. The result of the tests shows that approximately ten grid-points per shortest wavelength is enough for accurate calculation. The method is accurate as well as stable and enable us to handle complex structure in finite-difference modeling.
Wetland Diagenesis and Traces of Early Hominids, Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania

Lateral variations in whole-rock and clay geochemistry of basal Bed II claystones in Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, reflect water quality differences across the Eastern Lacustrine Plain ∼1.75 myr ago. Bulk Ba/Sr and (Na2O+K2O+MgO)/Al2O3 range from 1.4 to 4.2 and from 0.7 to 1.4, respectively, and indicate leaching of lacustrine claystones beneath freshwater wetlands at times following lake retreat. Bulk MgO/Al2O3 (0.3–1.0) and molar Mg/Al (0.5–3.9) ratios of <0.2-μm clays reflect alteration of Mg-rich lacustrine clays. These indicators point to freshest conditions near Locality 43 of Hay (1976; HWK-East; Leakey, 1971), moderate conditions to the east (Locality 40-MCK), and high salinity and alkalinity to the west (Localities 85-VEK, 45-FLK). Clay geochemistry and artifact abundances are well correlated (r=−0.67, p<0.005), suggesting a relationship between paleo-water quality and hominid paleoecology. This pattern is consistent with predictions of greatest artifact discard/loss around freshwater sources where scavanging opportunities were greatest for hominids. This quantifies a relationship between artifact density distribution and a paleoecological proxy over landscape scales for the first time in Early Stone Age archaeology. In contrast, fossil bone abundance is uncorrelated (r=0.14, p=0.6), reflecting more complex taphonomic processes. Quantitative tests of landscape-scale land-use models are important for understanding early hominid behavior and its evolution.
Serum calcium and inorganic phosphate in the newborn infant, and their relation to different feedings

Summary 1. Seventy-nine infants given varied types of feeding were studied in the first few days of life with special reference to serum calcium and serum inorganic phosphate. 2. Higher phosphate values were found for infants on a cow's milk preparation than for infants who were breast fed. 3. The normal phosphate values of the breast-fed infants were very nearly duplicated with an artificial preparation closely approximating the composition of human colostrum. 4. No significant differences in the serum calcium for these infants could be shown. 5. This study confirms the many observations that the serum phosphate of newborn infants varies with the phosphate intake, but that normally high values are compensated for by the normal infant in a few days. This hyperphosphatemia, when it occurred, was not accompanied by a consistent hypocalcemia.
Ionization, recombination, and population of excited levels in hydrogen plasmas.

Abstract Transition rate equations for atomic hydrogen are solved to obtain coefficients for population of excited levels and for ionization and recombination. The results are based upon more accurate transition rates, cover a wider range of plasma parameters, and are obtained by a more general solution of the rate equations than previously available compilations. Diagnostic applications for laboratory plasmas are discussed.
Missing the Boat: Midwest Farm Drainage and Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia

Research addressing Gulf hypoxia has failed to account for agricultural drainage, the major pathway of nitrate loads in Upper Midwest states. Focusing on two Minnesota watersheds, simulation results were combined with a constrained-optimization model to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of nitrogen-abatement policies, with explicit focus on drainage. Results indicate that drained land dominates in nitrogsen abatement, and has substantially lower abatement costs relative to nondrained land. However, policies that remove drainage were not cost-effective. Further, it was found that nutrient management, a policy strongly recommended by prior research, is relatively cost-ineffective as a means of abatement on non-drained land.
Ultra-low loading Ru/γ-Al2O3: A highly active and stable catalyst for low temperature solar thermal reforming of methane

Abstract Converting solar radiation into chemical energy is an attractive method to increase the energy content of methane by driving endothermic upgrading processes, such as methane steam reforming. Although such solar thermochemical conversions would increase natural gas product yields and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, current costs of solar facilities are prohibitively high. Parabolic troughs, which are a mature and relatively inexpensive form of solar concentrator, are limited to temperatures of ca. 400–600 °C. In this regime, commercial methane steam reforming Ni-based catalysts have low activity and rapidly deactivate due to oxidation and coking. Catalysts based on platinum group metals are much more active and stable but their high cost limits their use. Here, we investigate Ru-based catalysts with ultra-low metal loadings for low-temperature methane steam reforming. We show that a Ru/γ-Al2O3 (0.15 wt% loading) catalyst outperforms the commercial (12 wt% Ni) catalyst by two orders of magnitude in terms of methane conversion normalized by metal loading. Systematic evaluation of catalytic performance over a range of Ru loadings and operating conditions shows a pronounced optimum in catalytic activity versus metal loading. Characterization studies reveal a strong correlation between the catalytic activity and the Ru nanoparticle size distribution. The catalyst features excellent stability at industrially relevant conditions and low steam-to-carbon ratios, making it an attractive option for low-temperature solar reforming of methane.
Providing statistical QoS guarantee for voice over IP in the IEEE 802.11 wireless LANs

Recent years have seen greatly increasing interests in voice over IP in wireless LANs, in which the IEEE 802.11 distributed coordination function protocol or enhanced DCF protocol is used. However, since both DCF and EDCF are contention-based medium access control protocols, it is difficult for them to support the strict QoS requirement for VoIP. Therefore, in this article we propose a novel call admission control scheme that runs at the MAC layer to support VoIP services. The call admission control mechanism regulates voice traffic to efficiently coordinate medium contention among voice sources. The rate control mechanism regulates non-voice traffic to control its impact on the performance of voice traffic. Extensive simulations demonstrate that the proposed schemes can well support statistical QoS guarantees for voice traffic and maintain stable high throughput for non-voice traffic at the same time.
Role of HY5 in abscisic acid response in seeds and seedlings.

Seed dormancy offers plants an adaptive advantage that is crucial to their successful colonization of land. The decision to make the transition from a dormant seed to a photoautotrophic seedling is a result of a complex interaction of internal hormonal signals and external stimuli such as water, temperature, and light. We recently showed that HY5, a well-characterized component in the light signaling pathway, also mediates abscisic acid (ABA) response during seed germination, early seedling growth, and root development in Arabidopsis. We proposed that HY5 regulates these ABA responses partly by directly activating the transcription factor gene ABI5. By analyzing the premature germination of hy5 and abi5 single and double mutants, here we demonstrated that HY5 also positively controls seed maturation and dormancy, likely through direct activation of the ABI5 gene. The contrasting role of light regulation of seed development and germination may be important for the adaptation of plants to the environment. A...
Can familial combined hyperlipidemia diagnostic criteria be improved by the use of a nomogram

Can familial combined hyperlipidemia diagnostic criteria be improved by the use of a nomogram?
Is Competition in Industry Ruinous

Introduction, 473. — I. Comparison of railroads and industrial enterprises, 476. — A. Statistical analysis, 478. — Ratio of fixed to variable expenses, 480. — Ratio of interest charges to total expenses, 481. — Ratio of capital investment to annual value of products, 484. — B. Some theoretical considerations bearing on the differences between railroads and industrial enterprises, 488. — Importance of fixed plant, 488. — Specialized character of plant, 490. — Operation of law of increasing returns, 491. — Presence of joint cost, 492. — Number of competitors, 493. — Effect of slight reduction in prices, 494. — Danger of spoiling the market, 494. — II. Study of individual industries, 497. — Iron and steel, 498. — Anthracite coal, 502. — Harvesting machine, 503. — Sugar, 505. — Tobacco, 507. — Whisky, 509. — Cordage, 511. — Wall paper, 511. — Malt, 512. — Bicycle, 512. — Tin can, 513. — Corn starch, 514. — Sole leather, 515. — Salt, 516. — Asphalt, 517. — Conclusion, 518.
Increased Rostral Anterior Cingulate Cortex Volume in Chronic Primary Insomnia.

Background Recent studies document alterations in cortical and subcortical volumes in patients with chronic primary insomnia (PI) in comparison with normal sleepers. We sought to confirm this observation in two previously studied PI cohorts. Methods Two separate and independent groups of unmedicated patients who met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) criteria for PI were compared with two separate, healthy control groups (Study 1: PI = 20, controls = 15; Study 2: PI = 21, controls = 20). Both studies included 2 weeks of sleep diaries supplemented by wrist actigraphy. The 3.0 T MRI-derived rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC) volumes were measured with FreeSurfer image analysis suite (version 5.0) and results normalized to total intracranial volume (ICV). Unpaired t-tests (two-tailed) were used to compare rACC volumes between groups. Post hoc correlations of rACC volumes to insomnia severity measures were performed (uncorrected for multiplicity). Results Both studies demonstrated increases in normalized rACC volume in PI compared with control patients (Study 1: right side P = 0.05, left side P = 0.03; Study 2: right side P = 0.03, left side P = 0.02). In PI patients from Study 1, right rACC volume was correlated with sleep onset latency (SOL) by both diary (r = 0.51, P = 0.02) and actigraphy (r = 0.50, P = 0.03), and with sleep efficiency by actigraphy (r = -0.57, P = 0.01); left rACC volume was correlated with SOL by diary (r = 0.48, P = 0.04), and wake after sleep onset (WASO) (r = 0.49, P = 0.03) and sleep efficiency (r = -0.49, P = 0.03) by actigraphy. In Study 2, right rACC volume was correlated with SOL by diary (r = 0.44, P = 0.05) in PI patients. Conclusions Rostral ACC volumes are larger in patients with PI compared with control patients. Clinical severity measures in PI correlate with rACC volumes. These data may reflect a compensatory brain response to chronic insomnia and may represent a marker of resilience to depressive illness. Citation Winkelman JW; Plante DT; Schoerning L; Benson K; Buxton OM; O'Connor SP; Jensen JE; Renshaw PF; Gonenc A. Increased rostral anterior cingulate cortex volume in chronic primary insomnia. SLEEP 2013;36(7):991-998.
Identification of differentially expressed genes during development of the zebrafish pineal complex using RNA sequencing

We describe a method for isolating RNA suitable for high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) from small numbers of fluorescently labeled cells isolated from live zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos without using costly, commercially available columns. This method ensures high cell viability after dissociation and suspension of cells and gives a very high yield of intact RNA. We demonstrate the utility of our new protocol by isolating RNA from fluorescence activated cell sorted (FAC sorted) pineal complex neurons in wild-type and tbx2b knockdown embryos at 24 hours post-fertilization. Tbx2b is a transcription factor required for pineal complex formation. We describe a bioinformatics pipeline used to analyze differential expression following high-throughput sequencing and demonstrate the validity of our results using in situ hybridization of differentially expressed transcripts. This protocol brings modern transcriptome analysis to the study of small cell populations in zebrafish.
Weak Hamiltonian finite element method for optimal control problems

A temporal finite element method based on a mixed form of the Hamiltonian weak principle is developed for dynamics and optimal control problems. The mixed form of Hamilton's weak principle contains both displacements and momenta as primary variables that are expanded in terms of nodal values and simple polynomial shape functions. Unlike other forms of Hamilton's principle, however, time derivatives of the momenta and displacements do not appear therein; instead, only the virtual momenta and virtual displacements are differentiated with respect to time. Based on the duality that is observed to exist between the mixed form of Hamilton's weak principle and variational principles governing classical optimal control problems, a temporal finite element formulation of the latter can be developed in a rather straightforward manner. Several well-known problems in dynamics and optimal control are illustrated. The example dynamics problem involves a time-marching problem. As optimal control examples, elementary trajectory optimization problems are treated.
Detection and characterization of denitrifying bacteria from a permanently ice-covered Antarctic Lake

Denitrifying bacterial strains were isolated from Lake Bonney, a permanently ice-covered and chemically stratified lake in the McMurdo dry valley region of Antarctica, using complex media at 4 C. Three strains, identified as denitrifiers by their ability to produce nitrous oxide using nitrate or nitrite as a respiratory substrate, were characterized as to their temperature and salinity optima for aerobic growth in batch culture; all three were psychrophilic and moderately halophilic. Maximum growth rates of near 0.024 h 1 were measured for all three strains. Growth rates projected to occur at in situ temperature and salinity imply generation times on the order of 100 h. Species specific polyclonal antisera were prepared against two of the strains, ELB 17 (from the east lobe of the lake at 17 m) and WLB20 (from the west lobe at 20 m). Both strains were subsequently detected and enumerated in the lake using the antisera. ELB17 was present in both lobes below the chemocline, while WLB20 was present in the west lobe below the chemocline but only in surface waters of the east lobe. These distributions are related to the observed chemical distributions which imply the occurrence of denitrification in the west lobe of the lake and not in the east lobe.
VisSim-Based Genetic Algorithm Optimization of Signal Timings

Genetic algorithm optimizations of traffic signal timings have been shown to be effective, continually outperforming traditional optimization tools such as Synchro and TRANSYT-7F. However, their application has been limited to scholarly research and evaluations. Only one tool has matured to a commercial deployment: direct CorSim optimization, a feature of TRANSYT-7F. A genetic algorithm formulation, VisSim-based genetic algorithm optimization of signal timings (VISGAOST), is presented; it builds on the best of the recorded methods by extending their capabilities. It optimizes four basic signal timing parameters with VisSim microsimulation as an evaluation environment. The program brings new optimization features not available in the direct CorSim optimization, such as the optimization of phasing sequences, multiple coordinated systems and uncoordinated intersections, fully actuated isolated intersections, and multiple time periods. The formulation has two features that enhance and reduce computational tim...
Identification of a Mid-anaphase Checkpoint in Budding Yeast

Activation of a facultative, dicentric chromosome provides a unique opportunity to introduce a double strand DNA break into a chromosome at mitosis. Time lapse video enhanced-differential interference contrast analysis of the cellular response upon dicentric activation reveals that the majority of cells initiates anaphase B, characterized by pole–pole separation, and pauses in mid-anaphase for 30–120 min with spindles spanning the neck of the bud before completing spindle elongation and cytokinesis. The length of the spindle at the delay point (3–4 μm) is not dependent on the physical distance between the two centromeres, indicating that the arrest represents surveillance of a dicentric induced aberration. No mid-anaphase delay is observed in the absence of the RAD9 checkpoint gene, which prevents cell cycle progression in the presence of damaged DNA. These observations reveal RAD9- dependent events well past the G2/M boundary and have considerable implications in understanding how chromosome integrity and the position and state of the mitotic spindle are monitored before cytokinesis.
Modulation of Injection Locked Lasers for WDM-PON Applications

The modulation properties of incoherently injection locked Fabry-Perot laser diodes are studied. It is found that the incoherent injection increases the SMSR, but reduces the bandwidth.
Twisting and bending of pretwisted piezoelectric plates

The blades of helicopter rotors and turbine blades can be modeled as pretwisted beams/plates or shells. The angle of pretwist can affect the performance of these turbo-machinery systems. Being able to actively change the angle of pretwist even moderately can enhance or optimize these systems for various modes of operation. To actively change the angle of pretwist, a torque has to be introduced to the pretwist member that will cause it to either increase or decrease the existing pretwist angle of the blade. By building piezoelectric layers into the blade/plate and applying a controlled voltage the shape and or position of the cross- section can be changed. Due to the coupling of both bending modes and the extensional and torsional modes in pretwisted members a piezoelectric materials that can induce extension in the plate can also be used to twist or bend the shape of the plate. In this study a cantilevered pretwisted plates bonded to two piezoelectric layers on the outside is modeled using 3D linear elastic finite element approach with the pretwist built into the formulation. The static response of the pretwisted plate to a uniform voltage applied to the piezoelectric layers is investigated. Twisting and bending of the plate is accomplished through coupling of the bending modes and extensional-torsional coupling. The piezoelectric layer itself is not isotropic and so introduces additional coupling into the system.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Evolution of the Madrean–Tethyan disjunctions and the North and South American amphitropical disjunctions in plants

The present paper reviews advances in the study of two major intercontinental disjunct biogeographic patterns: (i) between Eurasian and western North American deserts with the Mediterranean climate (the Madrean- Tethyan disjunctions); and (ii) between the temperate regions of North and South America (the amphitropical disjunctions). Both disjunct patterns have multiple times of origin. The amphitropical disjunctions have largely resulted from long-distance dispersal, primarily from the Miocene to the Holocene, with available data indicating that most lineages dispersed from North to South America. Results of recent studies on the Mediterranean disjuncts between the deserts of Eurasia and western North America support the multiple modes of origin and are mostly consistent with hypotheses of long-distance dispersal and the North Atlantic migration. Axelrod's Madrean-Tethyan hypothesis, which implies vicariance between the two regions in the early Tertiary, has been favored by a few studies. The Beringian migration corridor for semiarid taxa is also supported in some cases.
Bioprinting Toward Organ Fabrication: Challenges and Future Trends

Tissue engineering has been a promising field of research, offering hope for bridging the gap between organ shortage and transplantation needs. However, building three-dimensional (3-D) vascularized organs remains the main technological barrier to be overcome. Organ printing, which is defined as computer-aided additive biofabrication of 3-D cellular tissue constructs, has shed light on advancing this field into a new era. Organ printing takes advantage of rapid prototyping (RP) technology to print cells, biomaterials, and cell-laden biomaterials individually or in tandem, layer by layer, directly creating 3-D tissue-like structures. Here, we overview RP-based bioprinting approaches and discuss the current challenges and trends toward fabricating living organs for transplant in the near future.
Using Students as Subjects in Research on State Lottery Gambling

This study compared the results of a survey of lottery use administered to a sample of 1009 from the general population with a survey of 288 marketing students at a state university. Contrary to other research on the validity of samples of students, students' attitudes, game preferences, and reasons for play were similar to those of the general population.
The Many Faces of TRAF Molecules in Immune Regulation

When I started postdoctoral work in the laboratory of the late Geoffrey Haughton at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, I began to pursue a fascination with how lymphocytes interact and collaborate in immune regulation that has lasted for decades. I was especially interested in learning
Remnants of an Archean oceanic plateau, Belingwe greenstone belt, Zimbabwe

Stratigraphic and structural data from the Archean Zimbabwe craton suggest that a major detachment surface exists within the Belingwe greenstone belt. The surface separates ultramafic and mafic magmatic rocks of the upper greenstones in the hanging wall from an ancient gneiss complex, older volcanic-sedimentary rocks, and a shallow-water sedimentary sequence in the footwall. Rocks dated at ca. 2.7 Ga above the detachment surface form the proposed Mberengwa allochthon. The regionally extensive upper greenstone succession represents tectonically emplaced allochthonous sheets, not indigenous magmas erupted within autochthonous continental rifts. Magmatic rocks of the Mberengwa allochthon resemble oceanic plateaus preserved in younger mountain belts. Comparison of the Zimbabwe craton with the Proterozoic Birrimian terranes of west Africa leads us to suggest that Precambrian continental growth may have been characterized by intense structural imbrication related to the difficulty of subduction of buoyant oceanic lithosphere.
Cassini Camera Contamination Anomaly: Experiences and Lessons Learned

We discuss the contamination 'Haze' anomaly for the Cassini Narrow Angle Camera (NAC), one of two optical telescopes that comprise the Imaging Science Subsystem (ISS). Cassini is a Saturn Orbiter with a 4-year nominal mission. The incident occurred in 2001, five months after Jupiter encounter during the Cruise phase and ironically at the resumption of planned maintenance decontamination cycles. The degraded optical performance was first identified by the Instrument Operations Team with the first ISS Saturn imaging six weeks later. A distinct haze of varying size from image to image marred the images of Saturn. A photometric star calibration of the Pleiades, 4 days after the incident, showed stars with halos. Analysis showed that while the halo's intensity was only 1 - 2% of the intensity of the central peak of a star, the halo contained 30 - 70% of its integrated flux. This condition would impact science return. In a review of our experiences, we examine the contamination control plan, discuss the analysis of the limited data available and describe the one-year campaign to remove the haze from the camera. After several long conservative heating activities and interim analysis of their results, the contamination problem as measured by the camera's point spread function was essentially back to preanomaly size and at a point where there would be more risk to continue. We stress the importance of the flexibility of operations and instrument design, the need to do early infight instrument calibration and continual monitoring of instrument performance.
Computational Experience with a Software Framework for Parallel Integer Programming

In this paper, we discuss the challenges that arise in parallelizing algorithms for solving generic mixed integer linear programs and introduce a software framework that aims to address these challenges. Although the framework makes few algorithmic assumptions, it was designed specifically with support for implementation of relaxation-based branch-and-bound algorithms in mind. Achieving efficiency for such algorithms is particularly challenging and involves a careful analysis of the trade-offs inherent in the mechanisms for sharing the large amounts of information that can be generated. We present computational results that illustrate the degree to which various sources of parallel overhead affect scalability and discuss why properties of the problem class itself can have a substantial effect on the efficiency of a particular methodology.
Measurements of contraction latencies to mechanical and electrical stimulation of the protozoan, Spirostomum ambiguum

Measurements made on contraction latencies in Spirostomun suggest that mechanical stimulation causes contractions to be initiated by the release of small amounts of calcium from a store tightly coupled to the contractile apparatus. Contraction to electrical stimulation appears to result from the gross electrophoretic mobilization of large amounts of calcium from a loosely coupled store. Contraction latencies to mechanical stimulation were three milliseconds and were independent of stimulus strength, previous stimulation, and contraction probability. For 0.5-millisecond biphasic electrical stimulation the contraction latencies varied widely. Latencies to initial contractions were dependent on stimulus strength: from 1.0 milliseconds for a stimulus that caused a 100% probability of contraction to 2.0 milliseconds for a stimulus that caused a 10% probability of contraction. Latencies of contraction to electrical stimulation were also dependent upon previous stimulation, lengthening to over 300 milliseconds after ten minutes of stimulation. Initial contraction latencies were not affected by previous stimulation to the other (electrical or mechanical) stimulus modality. Repeated electrical stimulation also reduced the animal's resting length and slowed the rate of post contraction re-extension, whereas mechanical stimulation did not have these effects.
Dye Dilution in Canine Heart-Lung Preparations

In a large series of canine heart-lung preparations, system volumes were determined by the T 1824 dye bolus teehnic of Hamilton. Results were compared with volumes independently determined by equilibration of label in a recirculating system. The mean differences of values in the largest group of experiments was 3.9 ml., and was not significantly different from zero. A small but significant mean difference in a second smaller group is discussed relative to the basic postulates of the method.
Altered adrenal gland cholesterol metabolism in the apoE-deficient mouse

Previous studies suggest the hypothesis that apoE produced by adrenocortical cells modulates cellular cholesterol metabolism to enhance the storage of esterified cholesterol (EC) at the expense of cholesterol delivery to the steroidogenic pathway. In the present study, parameters of adrenal cholesterol metabolism and corticosteroid production were examined in wild type and apoE-deficient (apoe(-/-)) mice. Adrenal gland EC content and the EC/free cholesterol (FC) ratio in mice stressed by adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) treatment or saline injection were reduced in apoe(-/-) compared to apoe(+/+) mice. Relative to apoe(+/+) mice, apoE deficiency also resulted in increased levels of plasma corticosterone in the basal state, in response to acute or long-term ACTH treatment, and after a swim-induced neuroendocrine-directed stress test. Measurements of adrenal gland scavenger receptor class B, type I (SR-BI), LDL receptor, and LDL receptor related protein (LRP) levels and the activities of ACAT or HMG-CoA reductase showed no difference between genotypes. Apoe(-/-) and apoe(+/+) mice showed similar quantitative increases in LDL receptors, SR-BI, adrenal weight gain, and ACAT activities in response to ACTH, and both genotypes had similar basal plasma ACTH concentrations. These results suggest that the effects of apoE deficiency reflect events at the level of the adrenal gland and are specific to changes in cholesterol accumulation and corticosterone production. Further, these findings support the hypothesis that apoE acts to enhance adrenocortical EC accumulation and diminish corticosterone production.
Potent antioxidant activity of a dithiocarbamate-related compound from a marine hydroid.

Recently, we discovered a novel class of natural products, named the tridentatols, in a marine hydroid. Close examination of their molecular structures suggested that they may have antioxidant activity. This observation prompted us to evaluate in vitro the capacity of one of these tridentatols, viz. tridentatol A, to inhibit lipid peroxidation using human low density lipoprotein (LDL) as an experimental model. LDL was incubated with 5 microM cupric chloride (Cu2+) in the absence and presence of tridentatol A or a reference antioxidant standard, i.e. vitamin E. The onset of rapid formation of conjugated lipid hydroperoxides was delayed in a concentration-dependent manner by tridentatol A. More specifically, LDL incubated with Cu2+ had a lag-phase time (the elapsed time before the onset of rapid formation of conjugated lipid hydroperoxides) of 150 min. However, when 0.5 microM tridentatol A was present during incubation, the lag phase time was extended to 225 min. With 1 microM tridentatol A, the lag phase time was 300 min. The same concentrations of vitamin E produced noticeably lower lag phase times. Thus, compared with vitamin E, tridentatol A better protected against the formation of conjugated lipid hydroperoxides in LDL. Direct colorimetric measurements of both lipid hydroperoxides and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances confirmed the greater potency of tridentatol A relative to vitamin E. Furthermore, tridentatol A negated the Cu2+-induced increase in electrophoretic mobility of LDL to a greater extent than vitamin E. In conclusion, tridentatol A is a powerful antioxidant against lipid peroxidation of LDL and is significantly more potent than vitamin E in this regard.
Life expectancy among LDS and Non-LDS in Utah

This paper compares life expectancy between members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS or Mormons) and non-LDS in Utah. It examines the extent to which tobacco-related deaths explain variation in life expectancy between LDS and non-LDS. Complete life table estimates were derived using conventional methods and cross-sectional data for white males and females from 1994-1998. Life expectancy was 77.3 for LDS males, 70.0 for non-LDS males, 82.2 for LDS females, and 76.4 for non-LDS females. For those alive at age 80, the remaining years of life expected were 8.2 for LDS males, 6.5 for non-LDS males, 10.3 for LDS females, and 7.1 for non-LDS females. Years of life expected increased more so among non-LDS after we removed deaths associated with tobacco use from the life table. A comparison between LDS and non-LDS of the adjusted life expectancy estimates indicates that although differential tobacco use explains some of the higher life expectancy in LDS, it only accounts for about 1.5 years of the 7.3 year difference for males and 1.2 years of the 5.8 year difference for females. Higher life expectancy experienced among LDS not explained by tobacco-related deaths may be due to factors associated with religious activity in general, such as better physical health, better social support, and healthier lifestyle behaviors. Religious activity may also have an independent protective effect against mortality.
Temporal action language (TAL): a controlled language for consistency checking of natural language temporal requirements

We introduce Temporal Action Language (TAL). We design TAL as a key component of our approach that aims to semi-automate the process of consistency checking of natural language temporal requirements. Analysts can use TAL to express temporal requirements precisely and unambiguously. We describe the syntax and semantics of TAL and illustrate how to use TAL to represent temporal requirements.
Ab Initio MO Calculations of the Thermochemistry of BX, AlX, OBX and OAlX (X = O, F, Cl)

Abstract Bond dissociation energies and heats of formation have been computed for BX, AlX, OBX and OAlX (X = O, F, Cl) at the PMP4/6–31G(d,p), QCISD(T)/6–311G(d,p), G1 and G2 levels of theory. Except for OBCl, OAlF and OAlCl, the G1 and G2 theories give results that are very good agreement with the experimental heats of formation (average absolute deviation of 2.8 kcal/mol). For OBCl, OAlF and OAlCl, the discrepancies are well outside the ±2 kcal/mol average absolute error range found when comparing G1 and G2 calculations with well established experimental values; this suggests that the experimental heats of formation for OBCl, OAlF and OAlCl are in error and need to be re-examined. The G1 and G2 calculations predict ΔH° f 0 = −94 kcal/mol for OBCl, i.e. 18 kcal/mol more stable than experiment; ΔH° f 0 for OAlF and OAlCl are calculated to be −103 and −58 kcal/mol, respectively, i.e. 35 and 25 kcal/mol less stable than previously thought.
Optimization of acquisition and reconstruction parameters of a TOF PET/CT scanner

317 Objectives To optimize the acquisition/reconstruction parameters and evaluate the resultant image quality of a TOF PET/CT scanner for varying phantom sizes, sphere sizes and sphere-to-background ratios (SBRs). Methods Three cubic phantoms (sides=20, 30, 40cm) filled with F18 water and fitted with a NEMA IEC face plate (six spheres 1-3.7cm) were scanned on a GE D-690 TOF PET/CT scanner. In each case, the two largest spheres were filled with water, while 4 small spheres were filled with F18 water. PET data were acquired in LIST mode for 30min for each phantom and SBR to generate 10 realizations of 3min and was repeated for two SBR (2 & 4). Images were reconstructed using: 3D-IR (HD), +TOF, +PSF and +TOFPSF, using 12 subsets and 1-10 iterations (IT) and the mean VOI value for each sphere, copied from CT to PET images, was measured. Optimal IT for each reconstruction and phantom size was determined at convergence of contrast recovery coefficient (CRC) of 10mm sphere & SBR=4. This convergance was defined as the IT that results in 95% CRC compared to the 10th IT. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) using optimal IT was then calculated and compared for the hot and cold spheres. Finally, SNR of 1&2min scans for +TOF, +PSF, +TOFPSF were compared to that of 3min HD. Results Hot (cold) CRC of +TOFPSF > +PSF > +TOF (+TOF > +PSF) > HD. Optimal IT for HD, +TOF, +PSF, +TOFPSF were 7, 5, 9, 8 for the small; and 9, 7, 10, 9 for the large phantom. Using optimal IT, the average improvement in SNR for +TOF, +PSF, +TOFPSF compared to HD for all hot spheres were 26%, 101%, 122% for the small; and 30%, 110%, 130% for the large phantom respectively. 2min TOF had similar SNR (2% higher) to 3min HD. 1min +PSF and +TOFPSF result in 21% and 35% higher SNR respectively compared to 3min HD. Conclusions We derived acquisition and reconstruction parameters to optimize image quality for different phantom sizes, lesion sizes, SBRs and reconstruction algorithms. These results can be used as a guide in clinical studies for TOF PET/CT scanners
Effects of the He 3 D State in the Reaction H 2 ( p , γ ) He 3

Angular distributions of the reaction $^{2}\mathrm{H}(p,\ensuremath{\gamma})^{3}\mathrm{He}$ have been measured for ${E}_{p}$ from 6.5 to 16 MeV. A comparison of the extracted ${a}_{2}$ coefficients with an effective two-body direct calculation indicates a sensitivity to the inclusion of $D$-state components in the $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ wave function. These calculations use $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ bound-state wave functions generated from Faddeev-type equations. The theoretical three-body $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ ground-state wave functions having $D$-state probabilities of 5%-9% (${D}_{2}=\ensuremath{-}0.224 \mathrm{to} \ensuremath{-}0.236$) are consistent with the present data.
Differential Solute Gas Response in Ionic-Liquid-Based QCM Arrays: Elucidating Design Factors Responsible for Discriminative Explosive Gas Sensing

An eight-sensor array coupling a chemoselective room-temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) with quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) transduction is presented in this work in order to demonstrate the power ...
Test of the Influence of Synchronization Performance in Communication System on Relay Protection Terminal

Synchronization is very important to digital signal transmission.From the perspective of communication,relay protection terminal equipment is digital equipment.Communication system synchronization performance can directly influence the transmission properties of relay protection terminal.This paper analyses the test on synchronization performance under the circumstances of the relay protection equipment as the clock source of communication system,free oscillation of the network elements and with applied pressure.Test results show that when the synchronization performance degrades,pointer adjustment will appear in the system.During short time testing,the relay protection terminal shows no error.
Bile pigments in the chicken.

SUMMARY Plasma bile pigments were examined in experimental obstruction of one or both bile ducts (right cystic and left hepato-enteric ducts) in the chicken. A significant elevation in both unconjugated and conjugated bilirubin occurred only when both extra-hepatic bile ducts were ligated. Plasma bilirubin concentrations following obstruction of both bile ducts were, on average, 40 times greater than that observed for plasma hiliverdin. Bile samples freshly collected from the hepato-enteric duct contained 70% as much biliverdin as bilirubin. Avian livers examined 30 days after ligation of both bile ducts were enlarged and fibrotic with a diffuse ductal cell reaction.
Laryngotracheal reconstruction with a prefabricated fasciocutaneous free flap for recurrent papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Background Prefabricated composite free flaps have been described as a technique for reconstruction of laryngotracheal defects. Methods We present a 74-year-old woman with recurrent papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) who was initially treated with thyroidectomy, tracheal resection, and subsequent vocal cord medialization. The patient's recurrent disease was treated with partial laryngectomy and reconstruction using a prefabricated composite free flap. A 2-stage procedure was performed using conchal cartilage to create a prefabricated radial forearm free flap. Results The patient's airway was successfully reconstructed with preservation of speech and swallow function. Conclusion This case provides further evidence supporting the use of prefabricated free flaps in airway reconstruction and the ability to obtain successful outcomes in a patient with multiple prior surgeries in the operative field and requiring adjuvant external beam radiation therapy. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2016
PASTA: Ultra-Large Multiple Sequence Alignment

In this paper, we introduce a new and highly scalable algorithm, PASTA, for large-scale multiple sequence alignment estimation. PASTA uses a new technique to produce an alignment given a guide tree that enables it to be both highly scalable and very accurate. We present a study on biological and simulated data with up to 200,000 sequences, showing that PASTA produces highly accurate alignments, improving on the accuracy of the leading alignment methods on large datasets, and is able to analyze much larger datasets than the current methods. We also show that trees estimated on PASTA alignments are highly accurate --- slightly better than SATe trees, but with substantial improvements relative to other methods. Finally, PASTA is very fast, highly parallelizable, and requires relatively little memory.
Understanding and measuring mobile Facebook use: Who, why, and how?:

Although social media are increasingly used through mobile devices, the differences between mobile and computer-based practices remain unclear. This study attempts to tease out some of these differences through multiple analytical strategies and samples. Drawing on theoretical expectations about the affordances, motivations, and cognition of mobile use, we investigate who uses mobile Facebook, why they use it, and how they use it. To do this, we first compare those who use Facebook only on a PC with those who also use the service on mobile devices. Then, in order to quantify mobile Facebook use, we propose a new set of survey measures to tap into more and less mobile users among the sample of people who access Facebook through multiple modes. These questions serve to validate measures of mobile Facebook use, and allow us to examine how patterns of use relate to user motivations and experiences. Findings revealed important differences between PC-only and mobile users as well as a distinct and reliable meas...
The World of Mayfair

This chapter discusses the setting and methodology of the project, as well as introduces the study participants. Mayfair is a wealthy, highly elite, and predominantly white town in the Northeastern United States which has the unusual feature of giving access to its public high school to non-residents of color via two voluntary racial desegregation programs. The town has partnered with the two programs, one a state-wide commuter program and one a national boarding program, for over 40 years in an effort to decrease racial isolation for all involved. Through in-depth interviews with 37 black and Latina women of relatively more modest means who graduated from the high school as town residents, commuters, and boarders, this study explores how each of the respective groups fared.
Educational Needs of Linguistically and Culturally Underrepresented

This article posits that foreign-born immigrants from some linguistically and culturally underrepresented backgrounds, in this case African-born adolescent immigrants, have not been given sufficient consideration in multicultural education advocacy or in teacher education curricula across the United States. The author identifies the "majority-in-the-minority" paradox as one of the major challenges facing the advocates of a multicultural education philosophy. To illustrate the potential risk that the "majority-in-the-minority" paradox may pose to less visible immigrant minority populations, the author highlights four points that make Africanborn immigrant students in United States schools unique and vulnerable. These include: a demographic increase among African immigrant populations; the social challenges associated with being African-born; the African perception of school literacy as determined by the status of secondary education in Sub-Saharan Africa; a multilayered adjustment process required of African-born youths as they try to integrate into United States urban secondary schools; and the nature of educational programs available for them. In closing, the author provides educational recommendations regarding possible ways to facilitate the integration of foreign-born immigrant youths from ethnically and linguistically underrepresented backgrounds mainstreamed in U. S. public schools.