cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Design, Development, and Validation of a Self-Aligning Mechanism for High-Torque Powered Knee Exoskeletons

Powered knee exoskeletons aim to assist individuals with lower limb impairments by providing power and torque at the joint level. However, if the anatomical and exoskeleton joints are not perfectly aligned, the exoskeleton assistance may result in spurious forces and torques transferred to the user’s limb. These spurious forces and torques can then generate undesired loads on the user’s joint and shear stress on the user’s skin, causing pain and ultimately undermining the exoskeleton assistance. To address this issue, we propose a novel powered knee exoskeleton with a self-aligning mechanism using a prismatic-revolute-revolute (PRR) configuration. The proposed self-aligning mechanism weighs 190 g (i.e., 5.3% of the total exoskeleton weight) and can transmit up to 120 Nm of torque at the knee joint (i.e., biological peak torque for a 50th percentile male climbing stairs). Our experiments show that during assisted sit-to-stand transfers the peaks of the spurious torques and forces are below 0.5 Nm and 5 N, respectively, even if misalignments are intentionally added between the user and the exoskeleton. This study supports the use of self-aligning mechanisms in powered exoskeletons.
Is academic diligence domain-specific or domain-general? An investigation of the math, verbal, and spatial academic diligence tasks with middle schoolers

Abstract We tested the domain-specificity or domain-generality of academic diligence in middle-school students using the Academic Diligence Task (ADT), a performance task that assesses effort on tedious problems in the face of digital distractions. Students in 8th grade (N = 439) were randomly assigned to individually complete a math, verbal, or spatial ADT or to a combination of all three. Confirmatory factor analyses suggested domain-generality, as did the fact that ADT scores in a given domain did not differentially predict academic achievement in that domain. Results indicated that all three ADTs had adequate external and predictive validity, but convergent validity varied. Whereas both math and verbal ADT scores correlated with teacher-reports of grit and self-control, only math scores consistently correlated with self-reports of the same constructs; these measures did not correlate with spatial ADT scores. Thus, the math ADT is the best performance measure of diligence, followed by the verbal ADT.
Gas-phase diagnostic studies of H2 and CH4 inductively coupled plasmas

Determination of molecular temperatures within low-temperature plasmas is critical to understanding the reactions that drive the chemistry of these systems and the mechanisms involved in plasma-surface interactions. Optical emission spectroscopy was employed to investigate gas-phase processes in H2 and CH4 inductively coupled plasma systems. Specifically, rotational temperatures (TR) have been determined for H2 d 3 Π u → a 3 Σ g + and CH A 2 Δ → X 2 Π under a variety of plasma parameter conditions. In 100% H2 plasmas, TR(H2) values are ∼500–550 K, whereas generally higher TR(H2) values (∼500–700 K) are reported for 100% CH4 plasmas. Disparities in the rotational temperature values and trends of H2 ( d 3 Π u ) between H2 and CH4 plasmas highlight the differences in H2 excitation pathways occurring in each of these two plasma systems as TR can be affected by the mechanism for molecule formation and excitation within plasma systems. As such, mixed gas CH4/H2 plasma systems were also explored to gain further insight into these mechanistic details. These results emphasize the connections between fundamental plasma properties and plasma parameters, a key component to understanding and optimizing plasma conditions for the future development of a host of plasma technologies.
E-cigarette Use (Vaping) Causes Seizures on EEG detected by Responsive Neurstimulation : Evidence from Electrocorticography (1809)

Objective: This retrospective case series reviews clinico-pathologic findings of two patients with seizures provoked by e-cigarette use. Background: The health consequences of e-cigarette use (vaping) have recently garnered significant media attention, most notably for numerous reports of severe pulmonary pathology. There are scattered case reports of vape-induced seizures, but thus far there have been little objective data supporting this association. Design/Methods: A retrospective case series of two patients at an urban Level IV Epilepsy Center were reviewed. Demographics and relevant clinco-pathologic data including invasive electroencephalography (EEG) data from an implanted RNS are noted Results: The first case is of an 18 year-old female with no significant medical history presented with three isolated incidents of reported generalized seizures, all occurring within hours of vaping. Comprehensive examination, laboratory data, neuroimaging, and EEG data revealed no identifiable cause other than e-cigarette use, and seizures abated following cessation of e-cigarette use. The second case is of a 32 year-old male with intractable bitemporal epilepsy since age 9 on multiple anti-seizure medications, status post RNS placement, in whom RNS alerted clinicians to increased frequency of seizures. Although there are other confounders, this paper reviews the details on how seizure counts changed while monitored on RNS during the extended period of months when vaping continued and was subsequently discontinued. Conclusions: Our case series identifies two patients in whom seizures were triggered by vaping. This work supports the association with objective EEG/electrocorticographic data from an implanted RNS(Responsive NeuroStimulator). Further research is needed into the health consequences of e-cigarette use since vaping poses a major health crisis in the US and the comprehensive pathology induced or involved remains unknown at present. Disclosure: Dr. Oster has received research support from Eisai, Biogen. Dr. Tatum has nothing to disclose. Dr. Monigan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kryzanski has nothing to disclose.
Working Style Assessment (WSA): Instrument Adjustment for the Thai Context

This research aimed at assessing the cross-cultural reliability and validation of the Thai version of the Working Style Assessment (WSA). The original scales were translated into the Thai language and back translated and approved by PAR (Psychological Assessment Resources), Inc. Questionnaires were collected from 896 Thai participants (388 males and 508 females) who were employed in the workforce aged between 18 and 60 years. The Thai version has acceptable reliability and validity. Analysis of invariances and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) revealed that the US original and the Thai WSA model forms were “partially invariant”. To broaden the knowledge, the approach used in this study could be adopted as guidelines for developing a WSA in countries where localized versions are unavailable.
Leveraging Hydraulic Cyber-Monitoring Data to Support Primitive Condition Assessment of Water Mains

AbstractBuried water pipelines deteriorate in response to several variables such as pressure transients, corrosion, and pipeline material degradation, among others, that are dynamic processes, and ...
Awareness of Diabetic Retinopathy: Insight From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Introduction This study determines the prevalence and associated correlates of people unaware of their diabetic retinopathy diagnosis in the U.S. Methods Participants unaware of diabetic retinopathy from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2005 to 2008 were identified. The prevalence of those unaware of their diabetic retinopathy diagnosis was determined. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to determine correlates associated with being unaware of one's diabetic retinopathy diagnosis (completed in 2018‒2020). Results Among 5,563 participants aged ≥40 years who underwent fundus photography, the prevalence of those unaware of their diabetic retinopathy diagnosis was 10.6% (9.8 million). This included 23.1% of those with self-reported diabetes (2.9 million) and 6.8% of those who reported not having diabetes (6.9 million). Among participants reporting diabetes with photographic evidence of retinopathy, 70.1% were unaware. Among individuals with self-reported diabetes, correlates of being unaware of one's diabetic retinopathy diagnosis included diabetes diaganosis for ≥10 years (OR=3.15, 95% CI=1.78, 5.56), HbA1c ≥6.5% (OR=2.92, 95% CI=1.65, 5.18), and treatment with insulin only (OR=4.04, 95% CI=1.43, 11.39). Self-reported hypertension was associated with decreased odds of undiagnosed diabetic retinopathy (OR=0.48, 95% CI=0.28, 0.82). Among those without self-reported diabetes, correlates of being unaware of diabetic retinopathy included older age (OR=1.02, 95% CI=1.01, 1.04), male sex (OR=1.83, 95% CI=1.31, 2.56), Black race (OR=1.81, 95% CI=1.12, 2.92), Hispanic race/ethnicity (OR=1.60, 95% CI=1.14, 2.25), elevated blood pressure (OR=1.54, 95% CI=1.23, 1.93), current smoking (OR=1.74, 95% CI=1.21, 2.51), and history of stroke (OR=2.20, 95% CI=1.06, 4.58). Conclusions A substantial proportion of individuals with diabetic retinopathy are unaware of the diagnosis. These data provide a path toward refining efforts to diagnose and treat diabetic retinopathy to decrease the burden of preventable blindness.
Improving safe sanitation practices using groundwater transport modelling and water quality monitoring data

In many developing countries, poorly constructed pit latrines are the primary source of groundwater contamination. Approaches are needed to identify site-specific separation distances between domestic wells and pit latrines. In this study, tracer transport simulations are combined with water quality monitoring data to identify separation distances in peri-urban Dar es Salaam. Bivariate correlation and linear regression models were used to find the relationships between (1) simulated tracer and distances from the wells to the nearest pit latrines (2) simulated tracer and observed contaminants (nitrate, E. coli, and total dissolved solids). The results showed a strong correlation between tracer with nitrate and E. coli, with Pearson coefficient (r) values of 0.80 and 0.79, but a weak correlation with total dissolved solids (TDS) (r = 0.23). A strong correlation between tracer and distance for shallow and deep wells (r = -0.96, -0.76) was found. Based on the soil type and aquifer properties in the area, wells must be placed at least 34 m from a pit latrine to minimize contamination. With recent advances in sensor technologies and the availability of low-cost sensors, linking simulated tracer with observed contaminant levels may provide an alternative first approach to quickly assess human health risks associated with groundwater contamination.
Roe as Potemkin Village: Fallacies, Facades, and Stare Decisis

The abortion debate has escalated once again, taking on a new urgency in the wake of the Supreme Court’s granting certiorari in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization and denying emergency relief in Whole Woman’s Health v. Jackson. In Dobbs, the Court agreed to reconsider Roe’s “essential holding,” determining whether pre-viability bans on abortion remain unconstitutional. In Whole Woman’s Health, a majority of the Court declined the request to enjoin a Texas statute banning abortions at roughly six weeks, thereby permitting the law to go into effect. Supporters of abortion rights understandably worry that Whole Woman’s Health indicates that in Dobbs a majority of the Court will overturn or severely limit Roe. In defense of Roe and its progeny, these individuals frequently invoke Casey and stare decisis to justify retaining Roe’s viability standard, which has held sway for almost half a century. What these supporters do not do is adopt Roe’s constitutional analysis—and for good reason. As this article explains, Roe’s argument in support of viability rests on seven informal fallacies and at least one formal fallacy. While commentators on both sides of the abortion debate have highlighted problems with Roe’s reasoning, none has undertaken this type of detailed argument reconstruction. A careful review of Roe’s reasoning reveals that Casey’s use of stare decisis to preserve Roe is a Potemkin village—a tribute to a longstanding precedent that, when scrutinized, is seen to lack a constitutional foundation. That Roe’s constitutional argument is severely wanting bears directly on the stare decisis analysis in Dobbs in two important ways. First, a key factor for the Court when determining whether to overrule a prior decision is the quality of the reasoning in the earlier case. Regardless of one’s views on abortion, Roe was poorly reasoned. Its viability standard is not predicated on the Constitution’s text, original meaning, or general purposes. As this article explains, it is grounded in a series of fallacies that do not support its holding. Thus, if the Respondents in Dobbs parrot Roe’s argument, they are apt to lose before the current Court. Second, if those defending Roe advance new arguments to supplement its reasoning, they should worry that the Court may not apply stare decisis at all. As Chief Justice Roberts explained in Citizens United, stare decisis is “a doctrine of preservation, not transformation.” If those defending Roe present novel arguments, the Court need not (and perhaps should not) defer to those arguments because the Court would be considering them for the first time.
Fast Shower Simulation in the Forward Calorimeter

The physics programs of the experiments at the LHC heavily rely on detailed simulations that predict the response of the complex detectors and make the comparison between experimental results and theoretical predictions possible. The simulation process in ATLAS is controlled by Athena [1], a software framework which takes care of the particle interaction and propagation in the detector, as well as the physics object reconstruction, described in Chap. 5. Athena uses the Geant4 [2] simulation toolkit to propagate particles. The simulation chain can be divided into fundamental steps: the event generation, the detector simulation, the digitisation of the energy deposited in the sensitive material of the detector and finally the reconstruction of the physics objects [3]. The flow of the ATLAS simulation chain is sketched in Fig. 6.1, which reports the main stages (in boxes) and the data objects produced (arrows), and is briefly outlined below.
Making global institutions work

Part I Framework, 1. Achieving global justice: Why failures matter more than ideals, David Wiens Part II Bretton Woods Institutions 2. Justice for the UN: A quiet revolution, Geoffrey Robertson 3. Humanitarian innovation and refugee protection, Alexander Betts, Louise Bloom, and Naohiko Omata, 4. The World Bank and social accountability, Kate Brennan Part III State power, corporate power and global institutions 5. The power and accountability of private military and security companies, Hannah Tonkin 6. Global health and the new bottom billion: what do shifts in global poverty and the global disease burden mean for GAVI and the Global Fund? Amanda Glassman, Denizhan Duran, and Andy Sumner 7. Global health philanthropy and institutional relationships: How should conflicts of interest be addressed? David Stuckler, Sanjay Basu, and Martin McKee 8. The pharmaceutical industry as a global institution: the tension between private mandate and public function, Anne Roemer-Mahler 9. The Unbearable Trust of the Internet, Betsy Masiello
A Microfinance Program Targeting People Living with HIV in Uganda: Client Characteristics and Program Impact.

HIV has disproportionately affected economically vulnerable populations. HIV medical care, including antiretroviral therapy, successfully restores physical health but can be insufficient to achieve...
Dependence and Autonomy in Old Age: Long-term care: myth and reality

Discussion of autonomy in long-term care is complicated because assumptions about the nature of caregiving relationships provide inaccurate, inadequate, and misleading models for long-term care. Long-term care is often assumed to be institutional care in which elders live without familial or other social supports. The ethical problem is seen in this institutional context as involving conflicts over basic rights as the long-term care total institution (Goffman 1960, 1961) strips elders of self-control and self-respect. The empirical evidence, however, presents a more complicated picture that seems to belie the values of independence and the right of noninterference that are at the core of the bioethical response. Survey data demonstrate that over 70 percent of home care is delivered by family and friends, not paid providers (Rabin and Stockton 1987: 151), a percentage that parallels the 67 percent of older noninstitutionalized persons who lived in a family setting in 1998 (Administration on Aging 2000). Families contributed financially to the institutional care of older relatives and 13 percent of older persons (7 percent of men and 17 percent of women) were living with children, siblings, or relatives other than a spouse (Administration on Aging 2000). Instead of the picture of isolated, vulnerable old people needing the protection from an impersonal institution, a picture emerges in which the majority of dependent old people maintain various kinds of integrated lives, often in proximity to family and friends.
Building Findable Websites: Web Standards, SEO, and Beyond: Walter, Aarron. Berkeley, CA: New Riders, 2008, 248 pp., $39.99, ISBN-13: 978-0-321-52628-1.

The preface of this book begins by asking “Is this the right book for you?” The answer is “Yes, this book is useful for everyone designing, developing, or writing for the web.” Building Findable We...
John Bingham and the Story of American Liberty: The Lost Cause Meets the 'Lost Clause'

For many years, the nation ignored how slavery and the Southern racial caste system undermined the nation's ideals of equality, liberty, and democracy. We celebrated the Framers of the original Constitution and of the Bill of Rights, but largely ignored our second group of framers who gave the nation the new birth of freedom in the post Civil War amendments. Most of us have never heard of the old time Republicans who framed the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments, people like John A. Bingham of Ohio. To the extent that it told the story of Reconstruction at all, the dominant view until the 1950s tended to be critical of the Republicans in Congress from 1866-1873 and critical of the Republican Southern state governments established during Reconstruction. The Southern story had a pervasive effect and reconsideration of it was slow to penetrate the law. Raoul Berger's attack on the Warren Court's incorporation decisions show the lingering effects of repressing the story of the clash between slavery on one side and liberty and democracy on the other. Berger's book shows how most Americans had long forgotten a crucial part of their history - that slavery (and the caste system that replaced it) threatened Bill of Rights liberties such as free speech, free press, free exercise of religion, freedom from unreasonable searches, and freedom from cruel and unusual punishments. I will discuss John A. Bingham's understanding of liberty under the Constitution. I start with two speeches Bingham made in the House of Representatives in 1856. Both grew out of the controversy in Kansas. I then discuss his speeches on liberty during the Civil War, and how his views on liberty influenced his work on the Reconstruction Amendments.
LOSS ESTIMATE FOR ITER ECH TRANSMISSION LINE INCLUDING MULTIMODE PROPAGATION

The ITER electron cyclotron heating (ECH) transmission lines (TLs) are 63.5-mm-diam corrugated waveguides that will each carry 1 MW of power at 170 GHz. The TL is defined here as the corrugated wav...
RESISTIVITY MONITORING AT CERRO PRIETO

Abstract In 1978 Lawrence Berkeley, Laboratory, in cooperation with Comision Federal de Electricidad, began a program of dipole - dipole resistivity monitoring at the Cerro Prieto geothermal field. Dipole - Dipole measurements were first made in 1978, then repeated in 1979: (a) to determine whether the field boundaries could be defined by surface resistivity measurements; and (b) to determine if changes in reservoir conditions due to production may be monitored by surface measurements. In 1979 data accuracy was improved to where estimated measurement errors were less than 3 per cent. In addition, data coverage on a line over the field was expanded by 40 per cent for greater depth of investigation and more information on the newer, eastern part of the field. Resistivity modeling of the expanded 1979 profile indicates that the resistive body associated with the zone of production (Wilt et al., 1980) dips steeply eastward, and may underlie the eastern part of the field. The model also shows a thin steeply dipping conductor adjacent to the resistive body that may be associated with faulting and fluid movement. Model perturbation studies have shown that small changes associated with cold-water influx, fault zone migrations, and formation of a steam zone would all be detectable with precision dipole - dipole measurements. Telluric profile measurements taken along line E E′ were found to yield a significant amount of reconnaissance information but are unsuitable for monitoring purposes.
Scalable test data generation from multidimensional models

Multidimensional data models form the core of modern decision support software. The need for this kind of software is significant, and it continues to grow with the size and variety of datasets being collected today. Yet real multidimensional instances are often unavailable for testing and benchmarking, and existing data generators can only produce a limited class of such structures. In this paper, we present a new framework for scalable generation of test data from a rich class of multidimensional models. The framework provides a small, expressive language for specifying such models, and a novel solver for generating sample data from them. While the satisfiability problem for the language is NP-hard, we identify a polynomially solvable fragment that captures most practical modeling patterns. Given a model and, optionally, a statistical specification of the desired test dataset, the solver detects and instantiates a maximal subset of the model within this fragment, generating data that exhibits the desired statistical properties. We use our framework to generate a variety of high-quality test datasets from real industrial models, which cannot be correctly instantiated by existing data generators, or as effectively solved by general-purpose constraint solvers.
A Serverless Instant Messaging Protocol for Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

In this paper, the problems facing designers of peer-to-peer instant messaging protocols, specifically those intended to run over mobile ad-hoc networks, are discussed. In particular, the challenges of identity management and presence dissemination are addressed, with an efficient and user-friendly protocol described that solves them. As a side effect, a form of social network mining is offered that allows users of the protocol to be introduced to unfamiliar members of their social network. Finally, a method of grafting a sort of multicast chat room functionality onto the protocol is discussed.
Effect of chloride channel blockers on the cardiac CFTR chloride and L-type calcium currents

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of Cl− channel blockers on the cardiac cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) Cl− current ( I Cl) and the protein kinase A-regulated L-type calcium current (PKA- I Ca). Methods: Whole-cell I Cl and Z Ca were recorded from isolated guinea pig ventricular myocytes using the patch clamp technique during stimulation of PKA by forskolin (1 or 2 μM). Results: The inhibitory effects of clofibric acid, p -chlorophenoxy propionic acid, gemfibrozil, diphenylamine-2-carboxylate (DPC), anthracene-9-carboxylate, 4,4′dinitrostilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid and indanyloxyacetic acid 94 were examined on the two currents. Clofibric acid (1 mM), p -chlorophenoxy propionic acid (1 mM) and gemfibrozil (250 μM) produced an approximate 50% decrease in I Cl, but had no effect on the PKA- I Ca. Surprisingly, application of DPC (500 μM and 1 mM) and anthracene-9-carboxylate (500 μM) strongly reduced both currents. However, inhibition of the Ca2+ and Cl− channels by DPC could be differentiated in two important ways. First, increasing the pH of the external solution from 7.4 to 10.0 prevented the block of I Cl by DPC, but did not attenuate the reduction in the PKA- I Ca. Second, DPC inhibited the PKA- I Ca in mouse atrial myocytes which lacked I Cl. Neither 4,4′dinitrostilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid (100 μM) nor indanyloxyacetic acid 94 (50 μM) caused any change in either of the guinea pig ventricular currents. Conclusions: Drugs such as DPC and anthracene-9-carboxylate which block the cardiac CFTR Cl− channel also inhibit the regulation of the L-type I Ca. During β-adrenergic stimulation, changes produced by these drugs on the cardiac action potential duration will be attributable to inhibition of both the Cl− and Ca2+ currents. Analogues of clofibric acid may serve as selective blockers of the CFTR Cl− channel that can be used to determine the physiological function of I Cl in cardiac excitation.
Regional myocardial dysfunction during coronary angioplasty: Evaluation by two-dimensional echocardiography and 12 lead electrocardiography

Balloon inflation performed during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty causes transient total occlusion of the coronary artery and thus provides a model for evaluation of the regional myocardial responses to transient ischemia. Twenty patients with normal left ventricular function undergoing angioplasty of isolated stenosis of the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery were studied. In group A (14 patients) analysis of one inflation-deflation sequence per patient was performed. Group B (six patients) had multiple (>5) inflations; the first and last sequences were analyzed. Assessment included continuous two-dimensional echocardiography with computerized quantitative analysis of regional left ventricular wall motion, and continuous 12 lead electrocardiographic recordings. The mean duration of inflation in group A was 62 ± 6 seconds (mean ± SD). The onset of regional left ventricular dysfunction was 12 ± 5 seconds after inflation. Profound dysfunction was noted in all patients. After 60 seconds of balloon occlusion of the coronary artery, 29% of patients had severe hypokinesia of the ischemic region and 71 % had akinesia or dyskinesia. With deflation there was prompt recovery of regional function, with full recovery at 43 ± 17 seconds. Comparison of data from first and last inflations in group B revealed no significant differences in time to onset of dysfunction, magnitude of dysfunction or time to complete recovery of function. The onset of ischemic electrocardiographic changes lagged behind the onset of wall motion abnormalities, with only 64 % of patients showing evidence of ischemia on 12 lead electrocardiograms at 20 seconds of inflation. After 60 seconds, 86% had ischemia detectable by electrocardiography. Thus, balloon inflation during coronary angioplasty leads to profound but reversible regional left ventricular dysfunction. Repeated occlusions of the coronary artery during angioplasty do not have a cumulative ischemic effect. It may be hazardous to apply these findings to patients who have underlying major left ventricular dysfunction and in whom the reversibility of dysfunction and lack of cumulative ischemic effect may not be assured.
A Mathematical Setting for Fuzzy Logics

The setup of a mathematical propositional logic is given in algebraic terms, describing exactly when two choices of truth value algebras give the same logic. The propositional logic obtained when the algebra of truth values is the real numbers in the unit interval equipped with minimum, maximum and -x=1-x for conjunction, disjunction and negation, respectively, is the standard propositional fuzzy logic. This is shown to be the same as three-valued logic. The propositional logic obtained when the algebra of truth values is the set {(a, b)|a≤ b and a,b∈[0,1]} of subintervals of the unit interval with component-wise operations, is propositional interval-valued fuzzy logic. This is shown to be the same as the logic given by a certain four element lattice of truth values. Since both of these logics are equivalent to ones given by finite algebras, it follows that there are finite algorithms for determining when two statements are logically equivalent within either of these logics. On this topic, normal forms are discussed for both of these logics.
Stability of acetylcholine chloride solution in autonomic testing

Acetylcholine (ACh) is the neurotransmitter used as an agent to evoke a sudomotor axon reflex response in autonomic testing. Adequate stimulus of postganglionic axons requires ACh solutions to be stable, but its stability in the clinical laboratory is uncertain. We evaluated the stability of standard (0.55 M) ACh solutions stored at temperatures of -20 degrees C, 4 degrees C, 25 degrees C, and 50 degrees C for 10 time points between 0 and 84 days. ACh and choline (Ch) were measured by reverse-phase HPLC with electrochemical detection using an Acetylcholine/Choline Assay Kit. Linear regressions of ACh and Ch standards were used to calculate the levels in the stored samples. The inherent levels of Ch were used as the internal standard. Regression analyses were used to examine the effects of length of storage and temperature. The samples of ACh stored at -20 degrees C and 4 degrees C showed an extremely small breakdown over the 84-day period and had no evidence to show the regression lines differed. ACh solution stored at 25 degrees C was stable for about 28 days, after such time, modest breakdown occurs. At a temperature of 50 degrees C, ACh showed a rapid breakdown after 1 day. We conclude ACh solution should not be stored at room temperature for more than 28 days and should not be exposed to higher temperatures to assure an adequate axon stimulus.
Modulation of reconstituted cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase by phosphatase and protein kinase

Cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase activity was completely inhibited by incubation with alkaline phosphatase in a reconstituted enzyme system containing a cytochrome P-450, NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase and phospholipid. On the other hand, cAMP-dependent protein kinase stimulated cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase activity by 2.5-fold. The modulation of cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase activity was dependent on the amount of phosphatase or kinase added. The phosphatase inhibited enzyme activity was partially reversed by the treatment with protein kinase. These experiments indicate that the reconstituted cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase activity is reversably regulated by phosphorylation/dephosphorylation mechanism.
Toward a positive theory of privatization—lessons from soviet-type economies

Abstract Many accounts of privatization in democratic, market-oriented countries stress the role played by mechanisms of political accountability. These processes, the story goes, induce political decisionmakers intermittently to take public-regarding steps, and in many cases the transfer of property and functions from the state to the private sector benefits the general welfare rather than specific interest groups [Cass (1988); Donahue (1989); Vickers and Yarrow, (1988)]. But then what explains privatization in Soviet-type economies? Does the surrender of state control over the economy in those countries stem primarily from a conversion to a new faith about how to attain a good and just society? If so, what brought about this conversion? In particular, were elites in Soviet-type societies more public-regarding than their counterparts in the West, even though they did not face electoral discipline? If not, then to what extent does the privatization process in these countries reflect rent seeking by discrete groups, and how does such rent seeking affect the privatization process? What aspects of this process are distinctive to Soviet-type economies? This paper addresses these questions.
Book Review of Sattler and Ryan, Assessment With the WAIS–IV

Sattler, J., & Ryan, J. (2009). Assessment with the WAIS–IV. LaMesa, CA: Jerome Sattler, Publisher, Inc. (xii + 321 pp.). Jerome Sattler and Joseph Ryan have published a fresh approach on the Wechs...
Spatial complexity of soil organic matter forms at nanometre scales

At nanometre scales, organic matter forms in soil are spatially, rather than chemically, complex, according to X-ray spectromicroscopy studies of thin sections of entire and intact free microaggregates. Organic matter forms detected at this spatial scale have no similarity to organic carbon forms of total soil. Organic matter in soil has been suggested to be composed of a complex mixture of identifiable biopolymers1 rather than a chemically complex humic material2. Despite the importance of the spatial arrangement of organic matter forms in soil3, its characterization has been hampered by the lack of a method for analysis at fine scales. X-ray spectromicroscopy has enabled the identification of spatial variability of organic matter forms, but was limited to extracted soil particles4 and individual micropores within aggregates5,6. Here, we use synchrotron-based near-edge X-ray spectromicroscopy7 of thin sections of entire and intact free microaggregates6 to demonstrate that on spatial scales below 50 nm resolution, highly variable yet identifiable organic matter forms, such as plant or microbial biopolymers, can be found in soils at distinct locations of the mineral assemblage. Organic carbon forms detected at this spatial scale had no similarity to organic carbon forms of total soil. In contrast, we find that organic carbon forms of total soil were remarkably similar between soils from several temperate and tropical forests with very distinct vegetation composition and soil mineralogy. Spatial information on soil organic matter forms at the scale provided here could help to identify processes of organic matter cycling in soil, such as carbon stability or sequestration and responses to a changing climate.
Source gas kinetic temperatures in an ICP-MS determined by measurements of the gas velocities in the first vacuum stage

Gas kinetic temperatures in the inductively coupled plasma ion source of a plasma-source mass spectrometer were determined for a range of instrument conditions by diode laser spectroscopy. Centerline velocities of argon atoms in the supersonic expansion in the mass spectrometer’s first vacuum stage were calculated from Doppler shifts in the excitation spectra of the probe atoms. Source stagnation temperatures were in turn calculated from the atom velocities. Among the conditions studied were a set typical of “cold” plasmas, with a measured temperature of 5080 ± 40 K, and conditions typical of “hot” plasmas, with a measured temperature of 7380 ± 30 K. Addition of 100 mg L−1 of lithium lowered the temperature in the plasma significantly, while increasing the water load delivered to the plasma raised the temperature.
Virtual resection of gliomas: Effect of extent of resection on recurrence

Gliomas are diffuse and invasive neoplasms of the brain with the ability to recur despite extensive treatment. We have developed a mathematical model to describe the growth and invasion of glioma cells throughout an anatomically accurate virtual human brain as well as the effects of operation on these lesions. The model predicts behavior similar to that observed clinically and presents itself as a possible tool for future clinical application.
The interaction of CF3 radicals and CF3 radical precursors with SiO2 surfaces

Abstract The interaction between thermally grown SiO 2 surfaces and hexafluoroazomethane was studied by means of soft X-ray photoemission. No interactions were observed for dark exposures, however, large exposures with simultaneous UV irradiation produced a surface layer consisting largely of trifluoromethyl radicals, the primary photolysis products of hexafluoroazomethane. The evolution of the surface as a function of annealing temperature is also discussed.
Investigation of 3D microscopy using intensity diffraction tomography

Diffraction tomography (DT) is an established imaging technique for reconstructing the complex-valued refractive index distribution of a weakly scattering 3D sample. Due to experimental difficulties associated with the direct measurement of the phase of an optical wavefield, the effectiveness of DT for optical imaging applications has been limited. A theory of intensity diffraction tomography (I-DT) has been proposed to circumvent this phase retrieval problem. In this work, we review the features of I-DT reconstruction theory that are relevant to optical microscopy. Computer-simulation studies are conducted to investigate the performance of reconstruction algorithms for a proposed I-DT microscope. The effects of data noise are assessed, and statistically optimal reconstruction strategies that employ multiple detector planes are proposed.
Premalignant cells in tumorigenesis induced by plastic film.

PLASTIC material inserted under the skin of mice and certain other laboratory animals frequently leads to the formation of sarcomatous transplantable tumours1,2. This finding deserves consideration in view of the use of plastics in human surgery. It also attracts theoretical interest as an example of “physical” carcinogenesis. (The role of chemical cofactors is still under dispute although evidence is mounting against it3.)
A type-independent iterative method for systems of nonlinear partial differential equations: Application to the problem of transonic flow

Abstract A type-independent finite difference method is given. An application is made to a transonic flow problem. A FORTRAN code listing is included.
Future of e-beam metrology: obstacles and opportunities

Electron-beam tools have been an important part of the semiconductor industry since its beginnings especially in the area of metrology and are a major contributor towards the goals of process control and yield enhancement. However, in order to stay on the Moore's Law curve instrument performance must be improved by a factor of two every two or three years and with the proximity of fundamental physical limits such major improvements in performance become increasingly difficult to obtain. This paper examines the opportunities that exist for continued improvement, and considers what other options are available for tools to replace the CD-SEM and its associates.
Hydrogel-templated growth of large gold nanoparticles : Synthesis of thermally responsive hydrogel-nanoparticle composites

In this paper, we describe a unique strategy for preparing discrete composite nanoparticles consisting of a large gold core (60-150 nm in diameter) surrounded by a thermally responsive nontoxic hydrogel polymer derived from the polymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) or a mixture of NIPAM and acrylic acid. We synthesize these composite nanoparticles at room temperature by inducing the growth of gold nanoparticles in the presence of preformed spherical hydrogel particles. This new method allows precise control of the size of the encapsulated gold cores (tunable between 60 and 150 nm) and affords composite nanoparticles possessing diameters ranging from as small as 200 nm to as large as 550 nm. Variable-temperature studies show that the hydrodynamic diameter of these composite nanoparticles shrinks dramatically when the temperature is increased above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST); correspondingly, when the temperature is lowered below the LCST, the hydrodynamic diameter expands to its original size. These composite nanoparticles are being targeted for use as optically modulated drug-delivery vehicles that undergo volume changes upon exposure to light absorbed by the gold nanoparticle core.
Acoustic sensors in the helmet detect voice and physiology

The Army Research Laboratory has developed body-contacting acoustic sensors that detect diverse physiological sounds such as heartbeats and breaths, high quality speech, and activity. These sensors use an acoustic impedance-matching gel contained in a soft, compliant pad to enhance the body borne sounds, yet significantly repel airborne noises due to an acoustic impedance mismatch. The signals from such a sensor can be used as a microphone with embedded physiology, or a dedicated digital signal processor can process packetized data to separate physiological parameters from voice, and log parameter trends for performance surveillance. Acoustic sensors were placed inside soldier helmets to monitor voice, physiology, activity, and situational awareness clues such as bullet shockwaves from sniper activity and explosions. The sensors were also incorporated into firefighter breathing masks, neck and wrist straps, and other protective equipment. Heart rate, breath rate, blood pressure, voice and activity can be derived from these sensors (reports at www.arl.army.mil/acoustics). Having numerous sensors at various locations provides a means for array processing to reduce motion artifacts, calculate pulse transit time for passive blood pressure measurement, and the origin of blunt/penetrating traumas such as ballistic wounding. These types of sensors give us the ability to monitor soldiers and civilian emergency first-responders in demanding environments, and provide vital signs information to assess their health status and how that person is interacting with the environment and mission at hand. The Objective Force Warrior, Scorpion, Land Warrior, Warrior Medic, and other military and civilian programs can potentially benefit from these sensors.
Substrate selectivity and stereochemistry of enzymatic epoxide hydration in the soluble fraction of mouse liver

Abstract The relative rates and geometry of hydration of several substrates and other properties of a 100,000g soluble subcellular fraction epoxide hydrase(s) from mouse liver were examined. Mono-, di-, tri-, and tetrasubstituted alkyl epoxides which are insect juvenile hormone mimics are rapidly hydrated in the soluble fraction. For the trisubstituted epoxides the rate of hydration decreases as one of the alkyl chains is lengthened while the opposite trend is observed with most disubstituted epoxides. For the compounds examined the initial rate of hydration of alkyl-substituted epoxides by the soluble fraction is cis-di- ≷ mono- ≥ trans-di- > tri- > tetrasubstituted. Two trisubstituted, a disubstituted, and a monosubstituted epoxide are rapidly hydrated by a single peak of enzyme activity from a gel filtration column. cis-Disubstituted epoxides are hydrated stereospecifically to their threo-diols and trans-epoxides to their erythro-diols, indicating trans-opening of the oxirane ring. Trisubstituted epoxides inhibit the hydration of di- and monosubstituted epoxides and trans- disubstituted epoxides inhibit the hydration of cis-disubstituted epoxides. The apparent Km and Vmax for one trisubstituted epoxide compare favorably with those reported for a number of substrates hydrated by the microsomal epoxide hydrase(s). Epoxide hydrase activity in the soluble and other subcellular fractions should thus be considered when examining the role of mammalian epoxide hydrases.
ACTIVITY OF THE ANTIBODY-COMPLEMENT SYSTEM AND LYSOZYME AGAINST ROUGH GRAM NEGATIVE ORGANISMS.

Discussion and summaryThe experimental results have confirmed previous observations that lysozyme, generally without effect itself in the killing or lysing of gram negative bacteria, enhances the bactericidal action of the antibody-complement system against these organisms(10). Both so-called normal and immune systems were affected. In addition, previous observations have indicated that cells killed by the antibody-complement system may be lysed or, in stabilizing media, converted to spheroplasts by lysozyme(2).The extreme susceptibility of rough variants to the bactericidal and bacteriolytic action of normal sera has led naturally to the postulate that specific substances or antibody may not be required for such action. The activity of precolostral calf and of newborn piglet sera against these organisms has provided some experimental basis for this concept, but further analysis of these situations is required.Partial loss of the bacteriolytic activity of normal serum against a rough organism by absorptio...
Causality in the Systems Era of Pediatric Ophthalmology: The Buddha's Smile

Purpose To identify the inherent complexities in assigning causation in the evolving systems era of pediatric ophthalmology. Design Philosophical analysis of causality as it pertains to understanding the pathogenesis of pediatric strabismus and nystagmus. Methods Review of general philosophical problems and profession-related differences in assigning causality as they apply to current controversies in pediatric ophthalmology. Results Medicine is evolving into a systems era based on a complex network of interacting components including internal systems, gene expression, behavioral factors, and environmental factors. In this context, any definition of cause (epidemiologic, mechanical, physiologic, environmental, genetic, epigenetic, etc.) becomes a function of one's reference point. Thus, as medical science becomes more precise, causality seems to recede. Most current controversies in pediatric ophthalmology are reducible to simple questions of cause and effect. Strabismus and nystagmus often develop without apparent cause, providing a formidable challenge to deciphering disease pathogenesis and assigning causality. In these conditions, assigning causation is impeded by a tendency to confuse links and correlations with cause and effect, an inherent tendency to conflate form and function, the use of terminology that transposes cause and effect, and by our tendency to think linearly about problems that are fundamentally circular. Conclusions Our tendency to think linearly creates a self-referential system that influences our understanding of cause and effect. Neural activity is characterized by feedback loops and bidirectionality. Understanding neurodevelopmental strabismus and nystagmus requires a dynamic, circular view of causality.
Mucosal parainfluenza virus-vectored vaccine against Ebola virus replicates in the respiratory tract of vector-immune monkeys and is immunogenic

We previously used human parainfluenza virus type 3 (HPIV3) as a vector to express the Ebola virus (EBOV) GP glycoprotein. The resulting HPIV3/EboGP vaccine was immunogenic and protective against EBOV challenge in a non-human primate model. However, it remained unclear whether the vaccine would be effective in adults due to preexisting immunity to HPIV3. Here, the immunogenicity of HPIV3/EboGP was compared in HPIV3-naive and HPIV3-immune Rhesus monkeys. After a single dose of HPIV3/EboGP, the titers of EBOV-specific serum ELISA or neutralization antibodies were substantially less in HPIV3-immune animals compared to HPIV3-naive animals. However, after two doses, which were previously determined to be required for complete protection against EBOV challenge, the antibody titers were indistinguishable between the two groups. The vaccine virus appeared to replicate, at a reduced level, in the respiratory tract despite the preexisting immunity. This may reflect the known ability of HPIV3 to re-infect and may also reflect the presence of EBOV GP in the vector virion, which confers resistance to neutralization in vitro by HPIV3-specific antibodies. These data suggest that HPIV3/EboGP will be immunogenic in adults as well as children.