cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Landau-Pomeranchuck-Migdal interference and Cherenkov-like gluon bremsstrahlung in dense matter

Gluon bremsstrahlung induced by multiple parton scattering in a finite dense medium has a unique angular distribution with respect to the initial parton direction. A dead-cone structure with an opening angle; theta2{sub 0}; approx 2(1-z)/(zLE) for gluons with fractional energy z arises from the Landau-Pomeran chuck-Migdal (LPM) interference. In a medium where the gluon's dielectric constant is; epsilon>1, the LPM interference pattern is shown to become Cherenkov-like with an increased opening angle determined by the dielectric constant$/cos2/theta{sub c}=z+(1-z)//epsilon$. For a large dielectric constant/epsilon; gg 1+2/z2LE, the corresponding total radiative parton energy loss is about twice that from normal gluon bremsstrahlung. Implications of this Cherenkov-like gluon bremsstrahlung to the jet correlation pattern in high-energy heavy-ion collisions is discussed.
III-V Photodiodes on Silicon for Analog Applications

The talk reviews heterogeneously integrated InGaAs/InP photodiodes on silicon for analog photonics applications. Recent results from photodiodes based on molecular wafer bonding, adhesive die bonding, and direct III-V material growth on Si will be discussed and compared to their Ge-on-Si counterparts.
Photoinduced Mn doping in cesium lead halide perovskite nanocrystals

We report the photoinduced post-synthesis method of Mn doping in colloidal perovskite nanocrystals, which can produce Mn-doped CsPbX3 (X = Cl, Br) nanocrystals with preserved size and anisotropic morphology. Photoinduced Mn doping occurs through cation exchange driven by the facile photoinduced halide exchange in dihalomethane (CH2X2, X = Cl, Br) solvent taking advantage of in situ photogeneration of halide ions from the solvent molecules. In the presence of a small amount of Mn acetate dissolved in solvent at sub-micromolar concentration, photoexcitation of the nanocrystals above the bandgap initiates the simultaneous anion and cation exchange. Under the condition of self-anion exchange, the resulting product is only the cation (Mn) doping in the nanocrystal host without changing halide composition, where the extent of doping can be controlled by excitation light intensity. The mild nature of the photoinduced doping also preserves the anisotropic morphology of the nanocrystals. The photoinduced Mn-doping method could be further expanded to other cations providing a versatile means of creating various cation-doped perovskite nanocrystals that are difficult to produce by other means.
Bilateral external iliac artery thrombosis due to endofibrosis in a 33-year-old female triathlete

Abstract External iliac artery endofibrosis is a rare disease predominantly affecting young, elite male athletes. This case involves a 33-year-old female triathlete who presented initially with lower extremity claudication during training. After completing a triathlon 1 year later, the patient experienced acute-onset pain in both legs. Computed tomography angiography showed abrupt occlusion of the bilateral proximal external iliac arteries. The patient underwent a right and left external iliac artery reconstruction using the ipsilateral great saphenous vein and reported significant improvement of claudication symptoms. The case highlights a rare complication of acute bilateral arterial thrombosis.
A Review of Therapeutic Trials in Multiple Myeloma and Perspectives for Future Trials

Publisher Summary This chapter provides a review of the therapeutic trials employing cytoxic chemotherapy for the treatment of multiple myeloma. Melphalan is the most widely used agent for the initial treatment of multiple myeloma. There is little evidence to support the superiority of any drug schedule. Drug doses producing some myelosuppression may give better results than those not producing myelosuppression. Intravenous melphalan may produce slightly higher response rates and longer survival than the oral form. This may be because of the erratic absorption of oral melphalan, which may be clinically apparent by the lack of myelosuppression. Corticosteroids have little activity when used alone and do not prolong survival. When used in combination with melphalan, they add little, if any, survival advantage when compared to melphalan alone. However, the combination may be beneficial in good risk patients. The limited published data at this time suggests that all the alkylating agents tested have similar activity in myeloma. Adriamycin and vincristine as single agents may have some activity in untreated patients although they have been studied in few patients. Cytoxan and adriamycin with BCNU (1,3-Bis (2 chloroethyl)-l-nitrosourea) are effective second line drugs in myeloma alkylator failures. Hexamethylmelamine, pyrazofurin, and the epipodophyllotoxins are being investigated in alkylator failures and may have activity. Except for pyrazofurin, there is little evidence for activity of any antimetabolites.
Coordinated dispatching strategy of multiple energy sources for wind power consumption

Heat storage systems with multiple heat sources play an important role in consuming extra wind power. A reasonable scheduling strategy for a hybrid system with multiple heat and electric sources could provide greater economic benefits. However, the present scheduling methods primarily focus on extra wind power consumption alone. This paper aims to develop a coordinated dispatching method that targets the maximum extra wind power consumed and highest economic benefit of the hybrid energy system as the optimization objective. A two-step coordinated dispatching method is proposed, where the first step focuses on optimizing the extra wind power consumed by coordinating the consumption quota for different types of energy sources at the system level and distributes the consumption share for every unit within each type of energy source, thereby maximizing fuel savings and economic benefits in the second step. The effectiveness of the approach is demonstrated using simulation results for an electric-heat hybrid system. Compared with two existing dispatching methods, the scheduling strategy presented in this paper could consume more extra wind power and provide higher fuel savings and economic benefits.
Pharmacy faculty and students' perceptions of standardized patients for objective structured clinical examinations

Abstract Background and purpose Objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) are one method of assessing clinical competency and communication in doctor of pharmacy programs. The purpose of this study was to capture student and faculty perceptions regarding the use of standardized patients (SPs) in administering OSCEs. Educational activity and setting Pharmacy students in our program initially participated in OSCEs using internal-SPs (I-SPs) that consisted of faculty and staff acting as patients. One year later, we piloted use of trained actor-based SPs and surveyed students and faculty about the experience. Findings Fifty-four (80.6%) students and 12 (92.3%) faculty members completed the survey. When asked about their interactions with SPs, 42 (77.8%) students either agreed or strongly agreed that SPs portrayed patients more realistically and 41 (75.9%) students perceived SPs created a more comfortable environment for patient communication than I-SPs. Thirty-six (66.7%) students either agreed or strongly agreed to feeling more confident when communicating with patients, and 33 (61.1%) felt more confident making recommendations. Ten (83.3%) faculty members either agreed or strongly agreed that SPs portrayed patient interactions more realistically, and 7 (58.3%) felt SPs were more consistent in their simulated patient portrayal for the duration of the OSCE. Summary Pharmacy students felt more confident in their ability to communicate and interact with the patient during their OSCEs when actor-based SPs were used. Both students and faculty members perceived this SP portrayal of patient interactions as more realistic than I-SPs and recommended the continued use of actor-based SPs for OSCEs.
Physiology of Normal Swallow

Swallowing is a complex and dynamic process, involving coordination between multiple sensorimotor systems. Anatomy relevant to swallowing and changes during typical development is reviewed. Swallowing is separated into four phases: (1) oral preparatory, (2) oral transport, (3) pharyngeal, and (4) esophageal, with both voluntary and reflex control. Finally, coordination between swallowing and respiration is briefly described. The intricate nature of swallowing allows for multiple disease processes and injuries to affect function, thus leading to dysphagia.
God and the Bodhisattva: A Buddhist Reading of Stranger Than Fiction

The recent movie Stranger Than Fiction features a main character that can be seen as an example of a bodhisattva, a type of messiah, or hero, in Mahayana Buddhism. A bodhisattva aims to liberate all sentient beings. The distinctive nature of the film’s plot and characters make it more plausibly read in Buddhist terms than in Christian terms. The main character discovers that he is the main character in a novel. The Author can be seen as God, but certainly not the all-loving God of the Christian Trinity. This God is cruel, repeatedly killing Her novels’ protagonists. But the Hero, by willingly sacrificing himself, brings about a change in the Author, a blossoming of compassion, consistent with the Mahayana Buddhist view that not only Buddhas but also bodhisattvas are more enlightened than Gods. This article is available in Journal of Religion & Film: http://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/jrf/vol13/iss1/3
KineticPy: A tool to calculate long-time kinetics in energy landscapes with broken ergodicity

Abstract Energy landscapes are a powerful tool for describing the kinetics of complex systems at the atomic scale. However, because of the large disparity of time scales of kinetic processes, it can be difficult to calculate the evolution of properties over long (e.g., experimental) time scales. KineticPy is a Python-based program designed to calculate the evolution of occupational probabilities of every basin in an energy landscape (or enthalpy landscape), taking advantage of the disparate time scales of the system to accelerate the calculations utilizing the framework of broken ergodicity. Given the relevant parameters of the energy landscape (i.e., the set of inherent structures, transition points, and corresponding property values) and a desired temperature path, KineticPy calculates the kinetics of the landscape on any arbitrary time scale. KineticPy offers a unified platform for exploring energy landscapes and calculating the evolution of property values for any system of interest. KineticPy is open source and structured in a modular fashion to facilitate future extensions to the code.
Structure of an active human histone pre-mRNA 3′-end processing machinery

The 3'-end processing machinery for metazoan replication-dependent histone precursor messenger RNAs (pre-mRNAs) contains the U7 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein and shares the key cleavage module with the canonical cleavage and polyadenylation machinery. We reconstituted an active human histone pre-mRNA processing machinery using 13 recombinant proteins and two RNAs and determined its structure by cryo-electron microscopy. The overall structure is highly asymmetrical and resembles an amphora with one long handle. We captured the pre-mRNA in the active site of the endonuclease, the 73-kilodalton subunit of the cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor, poised for cleavage. The endonuclease and the entire cleavage module undergo extensive rearrangements for activation, triggered through the recognition of the duplex between the authentic pre-mRNA and U7 small nuclear RNA (snRNA). Our study also has notable implications for understanding canonical and snRNA 3'-end processing.
Long‐Term Outcomes With Teduglutide From a Single Center

Background The aim of this study was to quantify the long-term clinical outcomes for individuals receiving teduglutide for short-bowel syndrome (SBS). Methods A single-center, retrospective study was performed for individuals commencing use of teduglutide between March 2013 and May 2019. Results Eighteen patients were included in the final analysis, among which the median duration of teduglutide administration was 3.2 (range, 0.6-6.2) years. Twelve of 16 (75%) patients at 12 months, 10 of 13 (76.9%) at 24 months, 7 of 10 (70%) at 36 months, and 3 of 3 (100%) at 60 months had a response to teduglutide therapy, defined as a >20% reduction in parenteral support (PS) requirement. Among responders at 12, 24, and 36 months, the presence of a colon-in-continuity, an ileocecal valve, a response at 3 months, the length of small bowel, nor the baseline volume affected response to therapy (P > .05 for all comparisons). Five (28%) patients were able to achieve freedom from PS, among which all had a history of Crohn's disease with loss of the ileocecal valve and among which 3 had a colon-in-continuity. Four of the 5 patients discontinued PS by 6 months of teduglutide therapy. Conclusions In a real-world experience, teduglutide therapy results in rapid and sustained reductions in PS. Larger postmarketing studies will be required to reliably predict response to treatment and the factors associated with enteral autonomy.
Sodium-Calcium Exchange: Calcium Regulation at the Sarcolemma

Regulation of intracellular Ca is of paramount importance in maintaining the contractile, electrophysiological, and metabolic integrity of the myocardium. Myocardial cells regulate cytoplasmic Ca by multiple transport pathways in the sarcolemma and intracellular organelles. The sarcolemma can transport Ca by Na-Ca exchange, an ATP-dependent Ca pump, and a voltage-sensitive Ca channel. In addition, the sarcoplasmic reticulum and the mitochondria both possess Ca uptake and release mechanisms. Because of this complexity, it is often difficult to unequivocably assign to a specific transport pathway a Na or Ca flux or a current measured in intact tissue. In myocardial tissue, Na-Ca exchange is usually studied by introducing large interventions such as altering the external Na or Ca concentration. One must assume that these interventions have no effect on other Na or Ca transport mechanisms. In addition, as internal Na and Ca concentrations adjust in response to the change in the extracellular milieu, cellular metabolic and electrophysiologic properties may change. Thus there is often uncertainty in identifying and quantitating Na-Ca exchange in myocardial tissue.
Machine learning lattice constants for spinel compounds

Abstract Spinels can house a large variety of elements into the crystal structure. As a crystallographic parameter, the lattice constant, a, is highly sought in further investigations into materials properties. Experimental approaches to obtain the lattice constant are resource-intensive, and limit the exploration into non-synthesized spinels. Here, we develop the Gaussian process regression model to shed light on the relationship among ionic radii, electronegativities, and lattice constants. 167 samples with lattice constants between 8.044 A and 11.660 A are investigated. The model provides more accurate predictions than previous studies based on linear regressions, and statistical relationships between descriptors and the target.
Improving scheduling and control of the OHTC controller in wafer fab AMHS systems

Abstract This paper investigates algorithms for controlling the automated material handling system (AMHS) in a wafer fab. In particular, we examine algorithms that route vehicles for both the pick up and delivery of lots, with the goal of improving vehicle flow, cycle time, and avoiding congested edges in the AMHS. We simulate the proposed methods using a stylized simulation model and demonstrate that algorithms designed specifically to anticipate congestion can significantly improve some fab metrics.
The Study of Living Control Systems: A Guide to Doing Research on Purpose

This book is a guide to doing a new kind of psychological research that focuses on the purposes rather than the causes of behavior. The research methods described here are based on a theory of behaviour called Perceptual Control Theory (PCT) that views organisms as purposeful rather than mechanical systems. According to PCT, purposeful behaviour involves acting to control perceptual input variables. Thus, understanding the purposeful behaviour of living organisms is a matter of determining the perceptual variables they are controlling when they are carrying out various behaviors. This book outlines research methods that determine what perceptual variables an organism is controlling, how it controls those variables, and why. It also describes methods for studying how an organism develops the ability to control different perceptions and how consciousness might be involved in this process.
Mad as Hell: Property Taxes and Financial Distress

Taxes on land and property are efficient in theory but uniquely unpopular in practice, and have been curtailed in 46 states. Unlike other taxes, property taxes may create financial distress when rising home values raise property tax bills but not incomes. I find that even modest tax hikes create distress: a $50 monthly tax hike increases mortgage delinquency by 9% and reduces auto consumption by $15. Homeowners report being able but unwilling to draw on housing wealth, and cite debt aversion as a key factor. Distortionary income-based relief reduces property tax animus, which is concentrated in counties that do not limit how much rising home values can raise property taxes. These findings suggest that financial distress makes efficient property taxation politically infeasible.
Terrorism, Organized Crime, and Social Distress

In the aftermath of the bombings of the World Trade Center (WTC) in New York City and the federal building in Oklahoma City, newspapers published maps showing the radius of potential destruction from such blasts. The ballistic results were frightening as were other scenarios concocted about attacks on the vulnerable infrastructure of bridges, subways, buildings, and tunnels.1
Digital libraries for education: a progress report on the national science foundation's (NSF) national science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education digital library (NSDL) program

The decade since the introduction of the World Wide Web has witnessed dramatic advances in the underlying communication capabilities of the Internet. These include greater numbers of access points; increased bandwidth of existing and new networks; growth in the deployment of new transmission technologies (e.g. various versions of DSL, cable modems, and in remote areas, satellite providers); and the emergence of wireless technologies, from Wi-Fi to WiMax (see www.wimaxforum.org). Indeed, the ability for the latter technologies to “untether” the user from the Internet is quickly permitting new and in some cases unforeseen uses of the Internet, posing interesting questions and challenges to our assumptions about user behavior and information needs.
Development of the objectivity ethic in U.S. daily newspapers

Objectivity is discussed as the underlying ethic of news reporting with an exploration of its origins. A content analysis of the general news reports in six selected U.S. daily newspapers found that objectivity was not widely practiced in 1865–1874, was common in 1905–1914, and normative by 1925–1984. Incidence of objective reporting was evidently not influenced by the introduction of the telegraph and wire services, and there is also no apparent difference between news reports of New York City newspapers and those of other cities.
Studies of the mechanism of cytolysis by HIV-1-specific CD4+ human CTL clones induced by candidate AIDS vaccines

Vaccine-induced, virus-specific CTLs may rapidly eliminate the host cells that first become infected after virus exposure, thereby preventing disseminated infection. Thus, there is much interest in the ability of candidate AIDS vaccines to elicit CTLs. All HIV-1 envelope (env) protein-based vaccines tested to date in seronegative humans induce CTLs from the CD4+ subset. Because the mechanism of cytolysis by CD4+ CTLs is controversial, a detailed study of the cytolytic reactions mediated by vaccine-induced, HIV-1-specific human CD4+ CTL clones was conducted. CD4+ CTL clones induced rapid destruction of Ag-pulsed target cells. Lysis was readily detectable within 15 min. Lysis was not a result of syncytium formation between CD4+ effector cells and env-expressing targets. Target cell destruction was not dependent upon de novo RNA or protein synthesis in either the effector or the target cell. Expression of perforin mRNA was detected by Northern blotting and reverse-transcriptase-PCR in CD4+ CTL clones but not in autologous B lymphoblastoid cell lines. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated perforin protein in cytoplasmic granules in CD4+ CTL clones. Lysis by CD4+ CTLs was strictly dependent upon extracellular Ca2+ and was highly specific, with no lysis of innocent bystander cells. DNA fragmentation was detectable in target cells, but did not precede 51Cr release. Taken together, these results provide a dramatically different view of cytolysis by human CD4+ CTLs. Target cells are lysed by a rapid and efficient mechanism that involves a preformed mediator and that is functionally similar to the mechanism used by CD8+ CTLs.
Response to the U.S. Securities and Exchange’s Proposed Rule: Roadmap for the Potential Use of Financial Statements Prepared in Accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards by U.S. Issuers

This paper is a response to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s request for comments on its proposed rule concerning a “Roadmap” for the use of financial statements prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) by U.S. issuers. The paper addresses only a few of the 70 multipart questions contained in the Roadmap. We find that while there are widely divergent opinions, little empirical evidence directly bears on the question of whether U.S. issuers should be required or permitted to adopt IFRS. We conclude that further analysis of the costs and benefits of a mandated transition to IFRS should be done. Notwithstanding the need for further analysis, we question whether it is justified to withhold from U.S. issuers the option to use IFRS for financial reports based on industry membership or size, when all non-U.S. issuers have the option to do so. While IFRS might marginally increase the concentration among audit firms, research suggests that concentration of audit services may be driven primarily by the litigious environment in the U.S. This suggests that concentration would be relatively unaffected by a change in accounting standards.
c-FLIP Protects T Lymphocytes from Apoptosis in the Intrinsic Pathway

Apoptosis can be induced by either death receptors on the plasma membrane (extrinsic pathway) or the damage of the genome and/or cellular organelles (intrinsic pathway). Previous studies suggest that cellular caspase 8 (FLICE)-like inhibitory protein (c-FLIP) promotes cell survival in death receptor-induced apoptosis pathway in T lymphocytes. Independent of death receptor signaling, mitochondria sense apoptotic stimuli and mediate the activation of effector caspases. Whether c-FLIP regulates mitochondrion-dependent apoptotic signals remains unknown. In this study, c-FLIP gene was deleted in mature T lymphocytes in vitro, and the role of c-FLIP protein in intrinsic apoptosis pathway was studied. In resting T cells treated with the intrinsic apoptosis inducer, c-FLIP suppressed cytochrome c release from mitochondria. Bim-deletion rescued the enhanced apoptosis in c-FLIP-deficient T cells, whereas inhibition of caspase 8 did not. Different from activated T cells, there was no necroptosis or increase in reactive oxygen species in c-FLIP-deficient resting T cells. These data suggest that c-FLIP is a negative regulator of intrinsic apoptosis pathway in T lymphocytes.
Studies on hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase in fibroblasts from patients with the Lesch-Nyhan syndrome. Evidence for genetic heterogeneity.

Abstract The Lesch-Nyhan syndrome has been characterized by an apparently complete deficiency in erythrocytes of an enzyme of purine metabolism, hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl-transferase. Recent studies have suggested that low levels of this enzyme may be present in skin fibroblasts cultured from these patients. In the present study, we have confirmed the presence of hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase in these mutant cells. The mean activity in 11 mutant strains ranged from 0.6 to 7% of that observed in normal cells. This low level of activity did not appear to be due to the presence of another enzyme or enzymes with similar activity or to contamination of the cultured cells. Hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase from nine mutant strains was found to exhibit certain distinctive properties. In contrast to the normal enzyme, the enzymes from eight mutant strains were relatively heat-labile and the enzyme from one mutant strain was not responsive to product inhibition by GMP or IMP. These findings provide evidence for substantial heterogeneity of the mutations leading to a deficiency of hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase in the Lesch-Nyhan syndrome. In addition, the finding of functionally altered enzyme in at least 10 of the mutant strains provides evidence that in these cases the genetic alteration responsible for the deficiency of hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase resides in a structural gene coding for the enzyme.
In The Absence of Language: Modeling a Transformative, Short-Term Abroad Experience

This essay explores models for short-term, faculty-led study abroad in cases where language skills cannot be expected of students, focusing on issues of local immersion and relationship-building. It explicates three models undertaken by the author, detailing the strengths and weaknesses of common trip structures and related course outlines, and offers recommendations for successful trip modelling. It further explores the relationship between short-term abroad trips and cultural tourism, focusing on a model that allows students a pedagogical space to reflect critically on anthropological stereotypes.
VOLUNTARY SODIUM CHLORIDE CONSUMPTION BY MICE : DIFFERENCES AMONG FIVE INBRED STRAINS

We examined voluntary NaCl intakes of five mouse strains: NZB/B1NJ, SM/J, 129/J, C57BL/6ByJ, and CBA/J. Using two-bottle tests with water as one choice, the mice were offered series of progressively increasing or progressively decreasing NaCl concentrations (37.5-600 mM NaCl in 48-h tests), then 300 mM NaCl for 6 days and 75 mM NaCl for 8 days. Low concentrations of NaCl were more avidly accepted by mice given the increasing rather than the decreasing series. However, irrespective of the test order, test duration, or how the results were expressed (i.e., as raw intakes, intakes corrected for body weights, or preferences), the NZB/B1NJ mice always had higher NaCl acceptance than did the CBA/J mice. The SM/J, 129/J, and C57BL/6ByJ strains were intermediate between the NZB/B1NJ and the CBA/J strains, but their distributions varied from concentration to concentration. Low ( or = 300 mM) NaCl concentrations were strongly avoided by all mice, except for the NZB/B1NJ strain. It is suggested that separate genes underlie the strain differences in acceptance of dilute and concentrated NaCl solutions.
MMP-9 production by T cells from mammary tumor bearers is upregulated by tumor-derived VEGF

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) has been shown to be important in tumor invasion and metastasis, and may be implicated in lymphoreticular cell extravasation. T cells from D1-DMBA-3 mammary tumor-bearing mice exhibit an overproduction of MMP-9 compared with the levels expressed in T cells from normal mice, both at the transcriptional and translational levels. This upregulation is more pronounced in animals bearing large tumors. We have previously characterized several tumor derived factors in our system using the in vitro DA-3 tumor cells derived from the in vivo D1-DMBA-3 tumors (ie PGE2, GM-CSF and phosphatidyl serine). Treatment of normal T lymphocytes with these factors yielded no increased production of MMP-9. TNF-α and IL-6, although not expressed by the tumor cells themselves, are greatly increased in the tumor bearers' lymphoreticular cells and in their sera. Exposure of normal T cells to these two cytokines also failed to upregulate MMP-9 production. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been shown to be produced by many tumors. Using a VEGF-specific ELISA, we determined that the DA-3 tumor cells, as well as the T lymphocytes from tumor bearers, express high levels of this growth factor. Treatment of normal T cells with VEGF resulted in an overproduction of MMP-9. These results indicate that VEGF may be responsible for the elevated levels of MMP-9 observed in T cells from tumor-bearing mice.
L’éloge de l'ellipse

Oiseaux de Saint-John Perse, un poeme en 13 suites, est une œuvre de poietique comparee. Par le moyen d'une rhetorique subtile, Saint-John Perse montre dans ce poeme que le processus de creation chez Georges Braque est une metamorphose qui aboutit a l’equivalence entre le peintre et sa creation. Il en va de meme pour Saint-John Perse et sa poesie, laquelle met en valeur cette « coincidence » entre le langage et le reel. Par le moyen de l'ellipse (un emploi rhetorique rendu celebre par Longin pour realiser le sublime dans les discours), le poete paracheve cette equivalence. Le trait laconique de Braque fonctionne pareillement dans ses tableaux et ses lithographies. Ainsi la peinture de Braque tout aussi bien que la poesie de Saint-John Perse deviennent plus que de simples œuvres d'art : ce sont autant de recherches spirituelles qui depassent l'immanent pour atteindre le transcendant, ne serait-ce que momentanement.
Raman imaging of human macular pigments

We have expanded our efforts to generate high spatial resolution images showing the distibution of carotenoid macular pigments in the human retina using Raman spectroscopy. A low level of macular pigments is associated with an increased risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of irreversible blindness. Using excised human eyecups and resonant excitation of the pigment molecules with narrow bandwidth blue light from a filtered arc lamp, we record Raman images originating from the carbon-carbon double bond stretch vibrations of lutein and zeaxanthin, the carotenoids comprising human macular pigments. Our Raman images reveal significnt differences among subjects, both in regard to absolute levels ss well as spatial distribution within the macula. Since the light levels used to obtain these images are well below established ssafety limits, this technique holds promise for developing a rapid screening diagnostic in large populations at risk for vision loss from age-realted macular degeneration.
The Berkeleyamides, Amides from the Acid Lake Fungus Penicillum rubrum

We previously reported several novel bioactive hybrid polyketide-terpenoid metabolites from a deep water Penicillium rubrum isolated from Berkeley Pit Lake, Butte, Montana. In this paper we report the structures of four new amides, berkeleyamides A−D (1, 4, 5, 7), isolated from extracts of this fungus. The structures of these compounds were deduced by analysis of NMR data, chemical derivatization, and comparison of their spectroscopic data to those of known compounds.
A 40-Year Climatology of Extratropical Transition in the Eastern North Pacific

AbstractA 42-yr study of eastern North Pacific tropical cyclones (TCs) undergoing extratropical transition (ET) is presented using the Japanese 55-yr Reanalysis dataset. By using cyclone phase space (CPS) to differentiate those TCs that undergo ET from those that do not, it is found that only 9% of eastern North Pacific TCs that developed from 1971 to 2012 complete ET, compared with 40% in the North Atlantic.Using a combination of CPS, empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis, and composite analysis, it is found that the evolution of ET in this basin differs from that observed in the North Atlantic and western North Pacific, possibly as a result of the rapidly decreasing sea surface temperatures north of the main genesis region. The presence of a strong, deep subtropical ridge extending westward from North America into the eastern North Pacific is a major factor inhibiting ET in this basin. Similar to other basins, eastern North Pacific ET generally occurs in conjunction with an approaching midlatitud...
Let the data speak for themselves

No medical discipline has been more shaped, driven, and scrutinized by outcomes data than cardiac surgery. Unlike high-volume operations for acquired heart disease, congenital heart disease is considerably more heterogeneous, many anomalies are rare, and outcomes after surgical correction are highly variable. How, then, can outcome of institutional programs be compared fairly? Growing in popularity among congenital heart surgeons are methods of comparison that rely fundamentally on expert opinion about perceived complexity of treatment. They may be broadly calibrated using administrative or registry outcomes data. This approach, one of two suggested by Aristotle, characterized pre-Newtonian science, in which observed data played a secondary role. This contrasts sharply with the second approach suggested by Aristotle and revived by Newton in the 18th century that places data at its center: "Let the data speak for themselves." The latter is the basis for contemporary methods of risk-adjusted comparisons. The proposed international collection of a uniform set of congenital heart surgery data elements, a well-conceived and internationally accepted ontology of congenital heart disease, accurate understanding of established incremental risk factor concepts and their role in risk adjustment, advent of powerful data analysis techniques that include new types of predictive modeling, and wide understanding of risk-adjusted comparison suggest there is ample motivation and opportunity for letting data speak for themselves. There is no evidence that a data-centric approach, based on Aristotle's and Newton's ideas that liberated 18th century science, has failed and should be abandoned.
The oxidation of polycyclic derivatives of levoglucosenone

Abstract The participation of the carbonyl oxygen atom in the acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of the epoxide group of 4,7-epoxy-1aα,2β,2aβ,4α,7α,7aβ,8β,8aα-octahydro- 2,8-methaneoxireno[ h ][3]benzoxepin-3(4 H )-one (a levoglucosenone derivative) has been investigated, and a mechanism leading to formation of the product is presented. When the carbonyl group was reduced, to eliminate the possibility of its participation in epoxide hydrolysis, rearrangement to form a septanose derivative occurred. Polycyclic-ring formation involving the carbonyl oxygen atom was also observed in the oxidation of 1,4-epoxy-1α,4α,5aβ,6β,7β,8β,9β,9aβ-octahydro-7,8- dihydroxy-6,9-methano-3-benzoxepin-5(4 H )-one with periodic acid.
Transmission of isotropic light across a dielectric surface in two and three dimensions

Average transmittance of polarized diffuse light across a dielectric surface is calculated in both two and three dimensions. The incident light in both cases is confined to an angular range measured from the surface normal. Limiting values in three dimensions correspond to known results for two cases, (1) normal incidence, and (2) diffuse light incident from a 180 deg cone. The two-dimensional formulation is solvable in terms of elliptic functions and incomplete elliptic integrals of the first, second, and third kinds. Results are displayed graphically for values of transmittances in excess of 0.9 associated with relative indices of refraction in the range m = 1.0 to m = 2.6.
The uneasy European: Nietzsche, nationalism and the idea of Europe

Friedrich Nietzsche's later philosophical writings have rarely been examined in the context of the political culture that marks late nineteenth-century Germany. But once we accept the inherently political nature of these writings, a purely philosophical interpretation seems limited. This article explores the way in which Nietzsche's understanding of a possible European identity is embedded in his reaction to the political culture of Imperial Germany. It is against this background that Nietzsche begins to form an idea of Europe as an alternative to the status quo of contemporary political culture, but at the same time his vision of Europe remains too vague to constitute a real political alternative.
Metabolic Depression and Increased Reactive Oxygen Species Production by Isolated Mitochondria at Moderately Lower Temperatures

Temperature (T) reduction increases lifespan, but the mechanisms are not understood. Because reactive oxygen species (ROS) contribute to aging, we hypothesized that lowering T might decrease mitochondrial ROS production. We measured respiratory response and ROS production in isolated mitochondria at 32, 35, and 37 °C. Lowering T decreased the rates of resting (state 4) and phosphorylating (state 3) respiration phases. Surprisingly, this respiratory slowdown was associated with an increase of ROS production and hydrogen peroxide release and with elevation of the mitochondrial membrane potential, ΔΨm. We also found that at lower T mitochondria produced more carbon-centered lipid radicals, a species known to activate uncoupling proteins. These data indicate that reduced mitochondrial ROS production is not one of the mechanisms mediating lifespan extension at lower T. They suggest instead that increased ROS leakage may mediate mitochondrial responses to hypothermia.
Maryland records of the gastropod, Littorina littorea , with a discussion of factors controlling its southern distribution

The common periwinkle,Littorina littorea, is reported from Ocean City, Maryland, and its southern spread is reviewed. A southward flowing longshore current has assisted its southward spread. The southern limit of this species is correlated with water mean isothern of 21°C in the warmest month on both sides of the Atlantic. This limit may be expected to fluctuate with yearly variations in coastal water temperatures.
Effects of the Tissue-Bath Interface on the Induced Transmembrane Potential: A Modeling Study in Cardiac Stimulation.

During the initial stages of cardiac stimulation or defibrillation, the distribution of transmembrane potential generated in the myocardium by the external stimulus is determined by the local interactions between fibrous tissue organization and applied electric field. We hypothesize that the pattern of induced transmembrane potential is different, depending on whether the tissue is in insulator, such as air, or in contact with a low-resistance volume conductor, such as blood or perfuseate. The goal of this study is to evaluate the impact of the volume conductor bordering the myocardium on the pattern of stimulus-induced transmembrane potential. Presented here are computer simulations of the steady-state response of model tissue-bath preparations to extracellular current stimuli. Transmembrane potential distributions for various tissue and bath sizes, as well as locations of the stimulation electrodes, are examined. The results indicate that when the external stimuli are located in close proximity to or at the tissue-bath interface, both the magnitude and the distribution of transmembrane potential are significantly altered, compared with the case of an insulated preparation. Thus, the volume conductor seems to be another possible factor contributing to the pattern of membrane hyper- and depolarization in the myocardium. Its influence is, however, modulated by the promixity of the stimuli sites to the tissue-bath interface.
Comparing reports from hip-fracture patients and their proxies: implications on evaluating sex differences in disability and depressive symptoms.

Objective—This study compared sex differences in disability and depressive symptoms using reports from hip fracture patients and their proxies. Method—Hip fracture patients (49 men, 183 women) aged ≥65 years and proxies were interviewed 1 year postfracture. Outcomes were Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) and number of dependencies in performing activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living. Results—Mean ADL sex differences (men minus women) were 0.40 (p = .37) using proxy reports and 0.70 (p = .08) using patient self-reports. Mean CES-D sex differences were −3.60 (p = .02) using proxy reports and −1.26 (p = .38) using patient self-reports. Discrepancies between patients and proxies were smallest for proxies who have lived with the patient ≥ 1 year.
Educating engineers in the sustainable futures model with a global perspective

The solutions to the world's current and future problems require that engineers and scientists design and construct ecologically and socially just systems within the carrying capacity of nature without compromising future generations. In addition, as governments move towards policies that promote an international marketplace, educators need to prepare students to succeed in the global economy. Young people entering the workforce in the upcoming decades will also have the opportunity to play a critical role in the eradication of poverty and hunger and facilitation of sustainable development, appropriate technology, beneficial infrastructure, and promotion of change that is environmentally and socially just. Many universities espouse the idea that discipline integration is a prerequisite for successful implementation of sustainability in education. However, few engineering curriculum have taken the step to integrate concepts of sustainable development with an international experience. This paper discusses t...
Ultrasound as a Tool for Preoperative Planning, Monitoring, and Interventions in Dialysis Arteriovenous Access

OBJECTIVE. The rising prevalence of end-stage renal disease has resulted in increasing focus on delivery of vascular access care for hemodialysis. Duplex Doppler ultrasound, with its unique ability to reliably evaluate both structural and functional aspects of the peripheral vessels, is the preferred imaging modality for access planning and follow-up. CONCLUSION. This article will review how ultrasound is currently used to evaluate patients pre-, intra-, and postoperatively for vascular access.
The Processing and Interpretation of Verb Phrase Ellipsis Constructions by Children at Normal and Slowed Speech Rates

Purpose To examine children's comprehension of verb phrase (VP) ellipsis constructions in light of their automatic, online structural processing abilities and conscious, metalinguistic reflective s...
Agency is Associated with Decreased Emotional Distress and Suicidal Ideation in Military Personnel

Suicides in the U.S. military continue to rise at a rapid rate. Identification of protective factors that reduce risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors among military personnel are therefore needed. Agency--the sense that one is competent, effective, and in control of one's life--has shown to reduce the effects of hopelessness and emotional distress on suicidal thoughts and attempts in non-military populations. The current study explores the association of agency with suicidal ideation in a sample (n = 273) of active duty Air Force Security Forces personnel. Results of generalized regression modeling suggest that agency is directly associated with decreased emotional distress and severity of suicidal ideation, but does not moderate the effect of emotional distress on suicidal ideation.
Parental attachment, self-esteem, and antisocial behaviors among African American, European American, and Mexican American adolescents.

This study examined the relation of mother and father attachment to self-esteem and self-reported involvement in antisocial behaviors among African American (n = 488), European American (n = 661), and Mexican American (n = 434) high school students. The attachment dimensions of anxiety and avoidance were examined using self-report scales that were developed and validated with participants in the study. Findings indicated that adolescents from the 3 ethnic/racial groups did not differ greatly in their reported attachment to father and mother. Consistent with theoretical formulations, securely attached adolescents from the 3 ethnic groups had a more positive sense of self-esteem and reported less involvement in antisocial behaviors than their less securely attached peers.
Alternative splicing within the ligand binding domain of the human constitutive androstane receptor

The human constitutive androstane receptor (hCAR; NR1I3) is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily. The activity of hCAR is regulated by a variety of xenobiotics including clotrimazole and acetaminophen metabolites. hCAR, in turn, regulates a number of genes responsible for xenobiotic metabolism and transport including several cytochrome P450s (CYP 2B5, 2C9, and 3A4) and the multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (MRP2, ABCC2). Thus, hCAR is believed to be a mediator of drug-drug interactions. We identified two novel hCAR splice variants: hCAR2 encodes a receptor in which alternative splice acceptor sites are utilized resulting in a 4 amino acid insert between exons 6 and 7, and a 5 amino acid insert between 7 and 8, and hCAR3 encodes a receptor with exon 7 completely deleted resulting in a 39 amino acid deletion. Both hCAR2 and hCAR3 mRNAs are expressed in a pattern similar to the initially described MB67 (hCAR1) with some key distinctions. Although the levels of expression vary depending on the tissue examined, hCAR2 and hCAR3 contribute 6-8% of total hCAR mRNA in liver. Analysis of the activity of these variants indicates that both hCAR2 and hCAR3 lose the ability to heterodimerize with RXR and lack transactivation activity in cotransfection experiments where either full-length receptor or GAL4 DNA-binding domain/CAR ligand binding domain chimeras were utilized. Although the role of hCAR2 and hCAR3 is currently unclear, these additional splice variants may provide for increased diversity in terms of responsiveness to xenobiotics.
Sparse Bayesian inference methods for decoding 3D reach and grasp kinematics and joint angles with primary motor cortical ensembles

Sparse Bayesian inference methods are applied to decode three-dimensional (3D) reach to grasp movement based on recordings of primary motor cortical (M1) ensembles from rhesus macaque. For three linear or nonlinear models tested, variational Bayes (VB) inference in combination with automatic relevance determination (ARD) is used for variable selection to avoid overfitting. The sparse Bayesian linear regression model achieved the overall best performance across objects and target locations. We assessed the sensitivity of M1 units in decoding and evaluated the proximal and distal representations of joint angles in population decoding. Our results suggest that the M1 ensembles recorded from the precentral gyrus area carry more proximal than distal information.
Laminated paper-based analytical devices (LPAD): fabrication, characterization, and assays

Paper-based microfluidic devices have recently garnered an increasing interest in the literature. The majority of these devices were produced by patterning hydrophobic zones in hydrophilic paper via photoresist or wax. Others were created by cutting paper using a laser. Here, we present a fabrication method for producing devices by simple craft-cutting and lamination, in a way similar to making an identification (ID) card. The method employs a digital craft cutter and roll laminator to produce laminated paper-based analytical devices (LPAD). Lamination with a plastic backing provides the mechanical strength for a paper device. The approach of using a craft cutter and laminator makes it possible to rapid-prototype LPAD with no more difficulty than producing a typical ID card, at very low cost. Devices constructed using this method have been exploited for simultaneous detection of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and glucose in synthetic urine with colorimetric assays. Both BSA and glucose are detectable at clinically relevant concentrations, with the detection limit at 2.5 μM for BSA and 0.5 mM for glucose.