cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of direct-acting oral anticoagulants and warfarin on postendoscopic GI bleeding and thromboembolic events in patients undergoing elective endoscopy.

Abstract Background and Aims There is an increasing number of patients undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures with active prescriptions for direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). DOACs have been associated with a higher risk of gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) compared with warfarin. Our aims were to compare the risk of postendoscopic gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) and thromboembolic (TE) events among patients on DOACs versus warfarin. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients age 18 years or older in a large integrated healthcare system in Southern California, who had undergone an outpatient gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopic procedure and were taking a DOAC or warfarin between January 1, 2013 and October 1, 2019. We compared bleeding and thrombosis risk in the 30 days after the endoscopic procedure between the warfarin and DOAC groups using multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for covariates. Results Between January 1, 2013 and October 1, 2019, we identified 6765 outpatient GI endoscopic procedures in which patients received pre-procedure prescriptions for either a DOAC (1587) or warfarin (5178). Overall, there was no significant difference in postprocedure GIB (OR, 1.165; 95% CI, 0.88 - 1.55; p = 0.291) or TE (OR, 0.929; 95% CI, 0.64 - 1.35; p = 0.703) between the DOAC and warfarin groups). Subgroup analysis revealed a higher risk of GIB associated with DOAC specifically in esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) procedures (OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.15 - 2.83; p = 0.011). Conclusions There was no significant difference in the overall postendoscopic risk of GIB and TE events among patients with preprocedure use of DOACs compared with patients on warfarin. There may be a higher risk of GIB in patients taking DOAC and undergoing EGD.
Comments on: “Anatomy of a late quaternary carbonate island: Constraints on timing and magnitude of sea-level fluctuations, West Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands, BWI” by Kerans et al. [Quat Sci. Rev. 205 (2019), 193–223]

Abstract We comment on interpretations of the evolution of late Pleistocene geology on West Caicos Island, Caicos Platform, B.W.I. by Kerans et al. (2019), which omits our documentation of the interrelationship of carbonate facies in outcrop and in boreholes (Dravis and Wanless, 2017). We further disagree with their geochronological dating assumptions/results that are the basis for interpreting late Quaternary sea-level fluctuations.
What is the point of fairness

In this information age, knowledge plays a critical role in enhancing the capacity of the farmers to realize higher yields and profit. This is so because in the post WTO agreement era, farmers rely heavily on innovative extension practices to withstand competition in world trade market. With the advent of Information Technology a large number of tools in the form of WWW (World Wide Web), electronic learning (e-learning) authoring tools etc. are available for information dissemination. It is advantageous to send horticultural related information to the farmers through digital means since it is fast, can be interactive and also cost effective. The digital media information is expected to serve not only the farmers but also different entrepreneurs engaged in cultivation horticultural crops. In this paper we will discuss about the use of freely available e-learning authoring tool for development of e-learning modules.
Impact of Stroke Center Certification on Thrombolysis Time Metrics in Telestroke Setting.

Background: Previous studies have shown that primary stroke centers (PSCs) have shorter door to needle (DTN) time than non-PSCs hospitals. We aimed to validate these findings in a high-volume teles...
Ageing and atherosclerosis: vascular intrinsic and extrinsic factors and potential role of IL-6

The number of old people is rising worldwide, and advancing age is a major risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. However, the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain unclear. In this Review, we discuss vascular intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms of how ageing influences the pathology of atherosclerosis. First, we focus on factors that are extrinsic to the vasculature. We discuss how ageing affects the development of myeloid cells leading to the expansion of certain myeloid cell clones and induces changes in myeloid cell functions that promote atherosclerosis via inflammation, including a potential role for IL-6. Next, we describe vascular intrinsic factors by which ageing promotes atherogenesis - in particular, the effects on mitochondrial function. Studies in mice and humans have shown that ageing leads to a decline in vascular mitochondrial function and impaired mitophagy. In mice, ageing is associated with an elevation in the levels of the inflammatory cytokine IL-6 in the aorta, which participates in a positive feedback loop with the impaired vascular mitochondrial function to accelerate atherogenesis. We speculate that vascular and myeloid cell ageing synergize, via IL-6 signalling, to accelerate atherosclerosis. Finally, we propose future avenues of clinical investigation and potential therapeutic approaches to reduce the burden of atherosclerosis in old people.
Consciousness, Religion, and Gurus: Pitfalls of Psychedelic Medicine

This viewpoint identifies pitfalls in the study of psychedelic compounds, including those that pose challenges for the potential use of psychedelics as medicines. They are as follows: (1) Sloppiness regarding use of the term "consciousness". (2) Inappropriate introduction of religious/spiritual beliefs of investigators or clinicians. (3) Clinical boundaries and other ethical challenges associated with psychedelic treatments.
Scalable Approximate Computing Techniques for Latency and Bandwidth Constrained IoT Edge

Machine vision applications at the IoT Edge have bandwdith and latency constraints due to large sizes of video data. In this paper we propose approximate computing, that trades off inference accuracy with video frame size, as a potential solution. We present a number of low compute overhead video frame modifications that can reduce the video frame size, while achieving acceptable levels of inference accuracy. We present, a heuristic based design space pruning, and a Categorical boost based machine learning model as two approaches to achieve scalable performance in determining the appropriate video frame modifications that satisfy design constraints. Experimental results on an object detection application on the Microsoft COCO 2017 data set, indicates that proposed methods were able to reduce the video frame size by upto 71.3% while achieving an inference accuracy of 80.9% of that of the unmodified video frames. The machine learning model has a high training cost, but has a lower inference time, and is scalable and flexible compared to the heuristic design space pruning algorithm.
Incidence of HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa, 2000-2015: The Interplay Between Social Determinants and Behavioral Risk Factors.

HIV incidence in sub-Saharan Africa declined substantially between 2000 and 2015. In this analysis, we consider the relative associations of nine structural and individual determinants with this decline. A linear mixed effects model of logged HIV incidence rates versus determinants was used. The data were from mathematical modelling as part of the 2019 Global Burden of Disease Study in 43 sub-Saharan African countries. We used forwards selection to determine a single final model of HIV incidence rate. The association of economic variables and HIV knowledge with incidence was found to be driven by education, while ART coverage had the largest impact on other determinants’ coefficients. In the final model, education years per capita contributed the most to explaining variation in HIV incidence rates; a 1-year increase in mean education years was associated with a 0.39 (− 0.56; − 0.2, t = − 4.48 p < 0.01) % decline in incidence rate while a unit increase in ART coverage was associated with a 0.81 (− 1.34; − 0.28, t = − 3.01, p < 0.01) % decline in incidence rate.
Welcoming Healthcare Into Our Virtual Meeting Rooms: Perspective and Perseverance in Pediatric Rheumatology

Purpose of review We highlight practice changes adopted to increased use of telemedicine, look at precision, and accuracy in using a virtual visit to evaluate and treat rheumatic disease, and describe our shift in engaging patients and their families in supporting our research aims. Recent findings Telemedicine visits increased substantially with the start of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. With this change came the need for significant advances to our telemedicine practices to allow for quality patient visits and continued research collection. Summary Telemedicine will continue to be an area of increasing importance and has been found to be especially useful for regions like ours which cover many patients in remote areas across Washington, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska. Through the development of new techniques and the use of new technologies, we have been able to improve both the visit quality for patients and our ability to collect research data.
The New Moon: Water, Exploration, and Future Habitation

Preface 1. The importance of the Moon 2. First steps 3. Moon/Mars 4. An international flotilla 5. Moon rise from the ashes 6. Moons past 7. The pull of the far side 8. False seas, real seas 9. Inconstant Moon 10. Moonlighting 11. Lunar living room 12. Lunar power 13. Stepping stone 14. Return to Earth Index.
The predictive value of amniotic fluid spectrophotometry.

Abstract Amniotic fluid spectrophotometry is the most accurate tool available in management of the Rh (D) sensitized pregnancy. The most important findings from our experience with 685 amniocenteses from 367 pregnancies would appear to be: (1) the importance of amniocentesis at low titer and (2) the value of frequent serial examinations. Comparison of certain techniques designed to estimate amniotic fluid bilirubin content reveals the singular superiority of the standard Liley method.
Studying the complexities in distributed object tracking systems

Tracking of moving objects based on multisensor input is a topic that has received considerable attention, and has been the subject of many papers. As Web-type capabilities have emerged, along with ever-improving wireless communications capabilities, coupled with the needs of various applications to include "network-centric warfare" on the part of the military, research on distributed multi-object, multi-sensor tracking has received some attention in recent years. However, the study of these distributed problems at the complete-architecture level, accounting for (among yet other factors) organizational information-sharing protocols, dynamic network topologies, mixes of stationary and moving sensors, complex object dynamics, equipment failure modes, node-specific tracking algorithms and data fusion algorithms, does not seem to have been addressed in any "holistic" way. This paper addresses these issues and describes an integrated testbed being developed at the University at Buffalo's Center for Multisource Information Fusion for the empirical study of these complex architectures involving, in essence, the interconnection of multiple systems.
Proof and the evolution of mathematics

Definissant les mathematiques comme une science proche de la physique dans leur volonte de comprendre la nature, l'A. montre que la verification scientifique et la preuve mathematique different dans leur degre de certitude. Soulevant la question d'un changement des standards generaux et des buts de la physique theorique, l'A. montre que l'idee de preuve mathematique a evolue ces dernieres annees, sous la double impulsion d'une interraction entre les mathematiques et la physique, d'une part, et de l'apparition de nouveaux modes de communication avec internet, d'autre part
A Screen for Dominant Modifiers of the irreC-rst Cell Death Phenotype in the Developing Drosophila Retina

Programmed cell death (PCD) in the Drosophila retina requires activity of the irregular chiasmC-roughest (irreC-rst) gene. Loss-of-function mutations in irreC-rst block PCD during retinal development and lead to a rough eye phenotype in the adult. To identify genes that interact with irreC-rst and may be involved in PCD, we conducted a genetic screen for dominant enhancers and suppressors of the adult rough eye phenotype. We screened 150,000 mutagenized flies and recovered 170 dominant modifiers that localized primarily to the second and third chromosomes. At least two allelic groups correspond to previously identified death regulators, Delta and dRas1. Examination of retinae from homozygous viable mutants indicated two major phenotypic classes. One class exhibited pleiotropic defects while the other class exhibited defects specific to the cell population that normally undergoes PCD.
Axisymmetric deformation and stability of a viscous drop in a steady electric field

We consider a neutrally buoyant and initially uncharged drop in a second liquid subjected to a uniform electric field. Both liquids are taken to be leaky dielectrics. The jump in electrical properties creates an electric stress balanced by hydrodynamic and capillary stresses. Assuming creeping flow conditions and axisymmetry of the problem, the electric and flow fields are solved numerically with boundary integral techniques. The system is characterized by the physical property ratios R (resistivities), Q (permitivities) and λ (dynamic viscosities). Depending on these parameters, the drop deforms into a prolate or an oblate spheroid. The relative importance of the electric stress and of the drop/medium interfacial tension is measured by the dimensionless electric capillary number, CaE .F orλ = 1, we present a survey of the various behaviours obtained for a wide range of R and Q. We delineate regions in the (R, Q)-plane in which the drop either attains a steady shape under any field strength or reaches a fold-point instability past a critical CaE. We identify the latter with linear instability of the steady shape to axisymmetric disturbances. Various break-up modes are identified, as well as more complex behaviours such as bifurcations and transition from unstable to stable solution branches. We also show how the viscosity contrast can stabilize the drop or advance break-up in the different situations encountered for λ =1 .
An integral method for mixing, chemical reactions, and extinction in unsteady strained diffusion layers

Abstract An integral method is presented for determining the evolution of molecular mixing, finite rate chemical reactions, and local extinction in diffusion layers under the effect of an unsteady strain rate. The partial differential equations governing the reactant, product, and temperature profiles are used to derive ordinary differential equations governing the evolution of moments for the product and temperature profiles and for the reactant gradient profiles. The actual profiles enter these equations only through integral moments resulting from the reaction rate terms (referred to as “reaction integrals”). As a consequence, it is possible to accurately track the evolution of the profile moments, and thereby determine global properties of the layer such as burning rates and extinction conditions, using remarkably simple representations for the actual profiles to evaluate the reaction integrals. Here these profile shapes are specified as self-similar families of curves parameterized by just a few degrees of freedom, which then evolve from the moment equations. Results for combustion in isolated strained diffusion layers, as well as for consumption of a burning fuel strip, are generally within a few percent of the results from finite difference solutions of the full equations.
Religion, society, and culture

Morris, Brian. Anthropological Studies of Religion: An Introductory Text. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1987. ix + 369 pp. including chapter notes and references, selected bibliography, and index. $42.50 cloth, $12.95 paper. Webster, Graham. Celtic Religion in Roman Britain. Totowa: Barnes & Noble, 1987. 205 pp. including chapter notes and references, photographs and illustrations, abbreviations, classical sources, selected bibliography, and index. $30.00 cloth. Weller, Robert P. Unities and Diversities in Chinese Religion. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1987. viii + 215 pp. including appendices, notes, references, and index. $22.50 cloth.
Solubilization of corona discharge- and plasma-treated polystyrene

Abstract Polystyrene tissue culture vessels are commercially treated by corona discharge or plasma surface oxidation to provide a hydrophilic surface, with 15–20% surface oxygen. ESCA and FTIR showed that oxidation forms hydroxyl, carbonyl, and carboxyl groups. We have discovered that water washing removes about half the oxidized species. It is believed that reaction with the vinyl polymer backbone to form carboxyl groups results in CC bond scission to form soluble fragments; addition and ring reactions would not yield soluble species. This functional group removal could affect the desired properties, such as the use of these groups as anchors in chemical coupling.
What Do Teachers Need? Practitioners' Perspectives on Early Childhood Professional Development.

Abstract Because of the link between teacher training and higher‐quality classroom practice, early childhood researchers and professional organizations have placed an increasing emphasis on all early childhood teachers—including those in early care and education (ECE) settings—obtaining a minimum of a Bachelor's degree as part of their professional development. Given the differing licensure requirements for ECE teachers, the variety of settings early childhood teachers work in, and the creativity needed to respond to the changing roles teachers play in those settings, however, this paper offers an additional perspective that is sometimes left out of the discussion regarding what teachers need: that of the early childhood practitioner. Using conversations with both a certified, public school teacher and a non‐certified teacher in a private ECE setting in New Jersey, this article reports on these teachers’ professional development experiences, as well as the implications of their experiences for future cons...
Simulation-Based Performance Analysis and Tuning for a Two-Level Directly Connected System

Hardware and software co-design is becoming increasingly important due to complexities in supercomputing architectures. Simulating applications before there is access to the real hardware can assist machine architects in making better design decisions that can optimize application performance. At the same time, the application and runtime can be optimized and tuned beforehand. BigSim is a simulation-based performance prediction framework designed for these purposes. It can be used to perform packet-level network simulations of parallel applications using existing parallel machines. In this paper, we demonstrate the utility of BigSim in analyzing and optimizing parallel application performance for future systems based on the PERCS network. We present simulation studies using benchmarks and real applications expected to run on future supercomputers. Future petascale systems will have more than 100,000 cores, and we present simulations at that scale.
A generalized free-solvent model for the osmotic pressure of multi-component solutions containing protein–protein interactions

The free-solvent model has been shown to have excellent predictability of the osmotic pressure for single and binary non-interactive proteins in aqueous solutions. Here the free-solvent model is extended to be more generalized by including the contributions of intra- and inter-protein interactions to the osmotic pressure of a solution in the form of homo- and hetero-multimers. The solute-solvent interactions are considered to be unique for each homo- and hetero-multimer in solution. The effect of the various generalized free-solvent model parameters on the osmotic pressure are examined for a single protein solution with a homo-dimer, a binary protein solution with no protein-protein interactions, and a binary protein solution with a hetero-dimer. Finally, the limitations associated with the generalized free-solvent model are discussed.
SIMPLE MARKOV CHAIN MODEL OF SMOG PROBABILITY IN THE SOUTH COAST AIR BASIN OF CALIFORNIA

The simple Markov chain model approximates sequences of episode days for those air-monitoring stations with sufficient data for analysis. The conditional probability for episode days shows a distinct regional pattern, with highest values over the inland valleys and decreasing values toward the coast.
Distribution of some trace metals and their fluxes in the Genesee River, NY

Abstract Total and particulate metal concentrations, measured during intensive synoptic studies of the Genesee River, NY, correlated with suspended-sediment concentration and river discharge. Dissolved metal concentrations, on the other hand, showed little systematic variation over the length of the river. Metal and sediment fluxes for two elevated-discharged periods peaked at a midbasin sampling site. For most metals at most sampling sties particulate materials comprised over one-half of the total material. Comparison of particulate material metal concentrations, normalized to the measured suspended-sediment concentrations had with basinwide average values shows that sites having low suspended-sediment concentrations had high particulate material metal contents relative to the basin averages, while sites with high suspended-sediment concentration had low metal contents. These results are consistent with a metal transport mechanism in the Genesee River involving (1) a nearly constant dissolved component, (2) a fine acid-soluble component, and (3) a coarse component that is effectively a neutral diluent in the sediment. Chemical factors, such as sediment organic content, also appear to affect metal transport in the Genesee River.
A Note on Carry Trade and the Related Financial Variables

A recent study, employing structural vector autoregression (SVAR) methodology, finds that the U.S. stock market performance has a positive impact on the direction of the speculative yen carry trade activity using monthly positioning data of non-commercial traders in currency futures. However, I illustrate that this finding is not robust when weekly positioning data is introduced to the same methodology and sample period. Instead, I find that it is the fluctuations in the Japanese yen against the U.S. dollar exchange rate, rather than the U.S. stock market performance, that determines the direction of the yen carry trade. This represents that conclusions drawn from temporally aggregated data should be interpreted cautiously since temporal aggregation loses information about the underlying data processes.
Cytoprotective vs. Cytotoxic effects of nitric oxide in ischemic and inflammatory bowel disease

Summary Nitric oxide is a simple molecule that exerts complex physiologic and pathophysiologic effects in mammalian biologic systems. The biosynthesis of NO is controlled by the availability of the substrate and enzyme, L-arginine and NOS, respectively. Nitric oxide derived from cNOS is principally involved in cytoprotective functions including vasodilatation, inhibition of platelet aggregation and adhesion, inhibition of neutrophil adhesion and emigration, and non vascular smooth muscle relaxation. On the other hand, iNOS-derived NO is involved with cytoxicity via the synthesis of peroxynitrite through the reaction of NO with superoxide. The cNOS-derived NO exerts a predominanty anti-inflammatory effect during acute gastrointestinal tract inflammation such as intestinal I-R injury, whereas iNOS-derived NO serves principally as a pro-inflammatory agent during chronic gastrointestinal tract inflamamtion such as IBD. Administration of NO donors during early stages and selective iNOS inhibitors during later stages of of gastrointestinal inflammation appear to have therapeutic potential.
Bicuspid aortic valve surgery with proactive ascending aorta repair

Objectives Bicuspid aortic valves are associated with aortic catastrophes, particularly dissection. We examined whether proactive repair of associated dilatation would reduce risk of subsequent aortic dissection or reoperation and whether more aggressive resection is needed in patients undergoing bicuspid aortic valve surgery alone. Methods From January 1993 to June 2003, 1989 patients (of our total experience of 4316) underwent bicuspid aortic valve surgery. Long-term outcomes of 1810 were analyzed according to aortic size and whether bicuspid aortic valve surgery was performed alone or with aortic repair. Results In-hospital 30-day survival was similar (98.8% valve alone vs 98.9% with aortic repair), with no penalty incurred for concomitant aortic repair. Bicuspid aortic valve–alone patients had worse late survival (75% vs 85% at 10 years, P = .0001), but in the matched cohort survival was nearly identical (85% vs 86%; P = .7). With this strategy, freedom from late aortic events was high in both groups (99% valve alone vs 97% with aortic repair at 10 years; P [log-rank] = .06) and similar in the matched cohort (95% vs 97%; P = .2). Approximately 95% of patients undergoing valve-alone surgery had aortic diameters smaller than 4.6 cm or cross-sectional area/height ratios less than 9.4 cm 2 /m; 80% undergoing valve surgery plus aortic repair had diameters larger than 4.1 cm or ratios greater than 7.3 cm 2 /m. Only 0.2% of events occurred at an aortic diameter size of less than 4.5 cm. Conclusions Aortic size larger than 4.5 cm or aortic cross-sectional area/height ratio greater than 8 to 10 should be considered triggers for concurrent aortic repair, because there is no added risk, and late survival is better; however, more aggressive resection is unwarranted.
Previously uncharacterized ions observed in the high energy collision-induced dissociation mass spectra of peptides containing S-alkyl cysteine

Abstract The high-energy collision-induced dissociation (CID) spectra of a number of peptides containing S-β-(4-pyridylethyl)-, S-carbamidomethyl- and S-carboxymethylcysteine have been generated and several hitherto undescribed fragmentation pathways identified. For peptides containing pyridylethylcysteine at the n th position, these include x n − 105, a n +1 + 1 − 106, a n +1 + 1 − 138, z n +1 + 1 − 106, z n +1 + 1 − 138, and combined side chain loss ions. The analogous fragment ions were also observed in the spectra of peptides containing other S-alkylcysteines. Also, two fragmentations unique to pyridylethylcysteine-containing peptides, resulting in the formation of b n + ≥ 1 - R C + H and CO + peC ions, were studied. Precursor scanning, exact mass measurement and CID of the appropriate source-generated fragment ions have been employed to identify the origin of these ions and to facilitate the proposal of mechanisms for their formation.
Epithelial rests' function in replantation: Is splinting necessary in replantation?

The problem of resorption during replantation in relationship to the epithelial rests and a lack of splinting was studied. Ten mongrel dogs were used. Two dogs served as control subjects, while eight had their mandibular incisors intentionally replanted and studied histologically. It was observed that where rests of Malassez were present we did not see resorption, and the lack of splinting did not result in resorption or loss of teeth. It appears we can stain epithelial rests of Malassez with immunofluorescent antibodies and use this technique for further study of this tissue.
Regime of validity of a spatially homogenised reaction model for multilayered particles

Numerical investigation of self-propagating reaction fronts in a network of Ni/Al nanolayered particles is conducted using the generalised reduced continuum model developed by Alawieh, Weihs and Knio [Combustion and Flame, Vol. 160, No. 9 (2013), pp. 1857–1869]. However, due to the high dimensionality and the high computational costs associated with simulating such systems, a further reduction of the model is sought through identifying regimes under which spatial homogenisation at the particle level would be valid. The limiting case of a single chain of particles with no porosity is considered, and comparisons between the computational results of the heterogeneous and the homogeneous reduced model descriptions are carried out. These enable us to determine a narrow region where the homogeneous particle approximation is valid, based on a criterion composed of the non-dimensional ratio of the particle's internal thermal resistance to its thermal contact resistance. We demonstrate that the validity of the hom...
Modeling, identifying, and simulating Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP

As HTTP-based streaming video applications have grown to become a major source of Internet traffic, and as the new ISO standard Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH) gains industry acceptance, researchers need the ability to both study real-world viewing data and simulate realistic DASH streams. The first effort is complicated by the fact that network researchers are often restricted to anonymized, header-only traces. The second effort is difficult since researchers are currently limited to three undesirable options for generating DASH traffic: (1) encode and store movies, which is both labor-and storage-intensive, (2) parameterize DASH traffic, which is open to criticism, or (3) stream movies from a service such as Netflix, which is prohibitively expensive if a researcher wants to simulate many simultaneous viewers. In this paper we present our work towards developing a model for DASH traffic and show how the model can be applied to identify DASH streams from anonymized, header-only traces using a combination of Hadoop and Hive. We then describe how the insight gained from our work will be used in a simulator that can recreate the DASH payloads of real movies using a format that requires only a few kilobytes of storage per movie.
A solar infrared photometer for space flight application

A photometer concept which is capable of nearly simultaneous measurements of solar radiation from 1.6 to 200 microns in seven wavelength bands is described. This range of wavelengths can probe the solar photosphere from below the level of unit optical depth in the visible to the temperature minimum, about 500 km above it. An instrument package including a 20-cm Gregorian telescope and a filter wheel photometer utilizing noncryogenic pyroelectric infrared detectors is described. Approaches to the rejection of the visible solar spectrum in the instrument, the availability of optical and mechanical components, and the expected instrumental sensitivity are discussed. For wavelengths below 35 microns, the projected instrumental sensitivity is found to be adequate to detect the intensity signature of solar p-mode oscillations during 5 min of integration. For longer wavelengths, clear detection is expected through Fourier analysis of modest data sets.
Clinical significance of motor disturbances of the enterocolonic segment.

The findings in ocular myopathy as well as in myotonic dystrophy suggest that, in many disorders, involvement which is thought to be restricted to a specific area may be more diffuse but undetectable by previously employed technics. What is needed are more refined and sensitive methods of selective study. It is hoped that the presently described technic is a step in that direction.
Temperature measurements of shock-compressed liquid hydrogen: implications for the interior of Jupiter

Shock temperatures of hydrogen up to 5200 kelvin were measured optically at pressures up to 83 gigapascals (830 kilobars). At highest pressures, the measured temperatures are substantially lower than predicted. These lower temperatures are caused by a continuous dissociative phase transition above 20 gigapascals. Because hydrogen is in thermal equilibrium in shock-compression experiments, the theory derived from the shock data can be applied to Jupiter. The planet's molecular envelope is cooler and has much less temperature variation than previously believed. The continuous dissociative phase transition suggests that there is no sharp boundary between Jupiter's molecular mantle and its metallic core. A possible convectively quiescent boundary layer might induce an additional layer in the molecular region, as has been predicted.
Lessons from Columbine: effective school‐based violence prevention strategies and programmes

On 20 April 1999, at Columbine High School in Colorado, two students, Eric Harris (aged 18) and Dylan Klebold (17), embarked on a massacre, killing 12 students and one teacher. The pair then committed suicide. The event provoked vigorous debate around topics such as the gun culture, bullying, violent video games, goth culture and teenage use of the internet and anti‐depressants. In nearby Boulder is the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, part of the University of Colorado. Del Elliott, a world‐renowned criminologist and sociologist, has been director there since 1993. Columbine was the catalyst for Del and a team of researchers, policy‐makers and practitioners to develop the Blueprints for Violence Prevention database of evidence‐based programmes. On 2 July 2009, Del gave the annual Social Research Unit, Dartington, lecture at the Commonwealth Club in London. This article is based on his talk.
Detecting the techni- rho in technicolor models with scalars.

We consider the detection of the techni-$\ensuremath{\rho}$ in technicolor models that include a weak scalar doublet. In these models, the scalar develops a vacuum expectation value when the technifermions condense, and fermion masses are generated through Yukawa couplings, as in the standard model. Unlike ordinary technicolor models, the technicolor scale is generally smaller than the electroweak scale, and the entire technicolor spectrum is shifted to lower energies. In addition, the technifermions can develop large "current" masses from the scalar's VEV, so that the technicolor spectrum does not necessarily look like a scaled-up version of ordinary QCD. We discuss the collider signatures for the techni-$\ensuremath{\rho}$ in these models in the limit that the techni-$\ensuremath{\rho}$ is light. Although we focus mostly on the production and detection of the techni-$\ensuremath{\rho}$ in hadron colliders, we also discuss a peculiar limit in which the techni-$\ensuremath{\rho}$ may be light enough to be seen at CERN LEP II.
Patient and implanting physician factors associated with mortality and complications after implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implantation, 2002-2005.

Background— Little is known about factors that influence survival and complications after implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation in routine clinical practice. We examined patient and implanting physician factors associated with outcomes of ICD therapy in Medicare beneficiaries from 2002 through 2005. Methods and Results— We limited this analysis to patients aged ≥65 with Medicare fee-for-service coverage who received an ICD between January 2002 and September 2005. The main outcome measures are time to postprocedural complications within 90 days and 1-year mortality. During the study period, 8581 patients had an ICD implanted by 1959 physicians. The number of procedures increased from 1644 in 2002 to 2374 in the first 3 quarters of 2005. The overall complication rate declined from 18.8% in 2002 to 14.2% in 2005 ( P <0.001). Factors independently associated with an increased hazard of complications include chronic lung disease, dementia, renal disease, implantation by a thoracic surgeon, and implantation with removal/replacement. History of congestive heart failure, outpatient implantation, and more recent years of ICD implantation were associated with a lower risk of complications ( P <0.05 for all factors). From 2002 to 2005, we observed a decline in 1-year mortality ( P <0.001). Conclusions— We observed an appreciable increase in the number of ICD implants, which was associated with a significant decrease in the rate of complications and 1-year mortality. We identified factors associated with an increased risk of mortality and postprocedural complications that may support more nuanced treatment decisions than are currently possible. Received March 5, 2008; accepted August 11, 2008.
Influence of ovariectomy on ventricular myocyte contraction in simulated diabetes.

We studied the effect of ovariectomy (OVX) on cardiac contraction in myocytes maintained under a ‘diabetes-simulated high-glucose’ environment. Female rats were ovariectomized or sham operated (SHAM) and kept for 6 weeks. Isolated myocytes were maintained in a diabetes-simulated high [glucose] medium (HG; 25.5 mM) for 24 h before mechanical properties were measured. Contractile indices analyzed included peak shortening (PS), time to PS (TPS), time to 90% relengthening (TR90), maximal velocity of shortening and relengthening (± dL/dt), intracellular Ca2+ fura-2 fluorescence intensity and decay rate (τ). Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity was also evaluated. OVX myocytes displayed a longer TR90, slower ± dL/dt, lower fluorescence intensity and higher τ (slower decay rate) when compared to SHAM myocytes. In the SHAM group, HG exerted diabetes-like contractile dysfunctions, including depressed PS, prolonged TR90, reduced fluorescence intensity, higher τ and enhanced NOS activity when compared to myocytes maintained in low [glucose] medium (5.5 mM). Interestingly, the HG- induced mechanical alterations were significantly exaggerated (TPS, TR90 and τ), reversed (PS and NOS) or lost (± dL/dt and fluorescence intensity) in the OVX group. These data suggest that ovarian hormones play a role in the regulation of cardiac contractile function, and may have potentially protective effects against diabetes-associated cardiac dysfunction.
A Despotism of Law: Crime and Justice in Early Colonial India

Radhika Singha looks at law-making as a cultural enterprise, one in which the colonial authorities were compelled to draw upon normative codes of rank, status, and gender so as to realign them to a new, more exclusive definition of the state's sovereign right.
Modeling of Novolak-based positive photoresist exposed to KrF excimer laser UV radiation at 248 nm

A model is presented for calculating the local exposure and the development rate for a Novolak-resin naphtoquinone-diazide sensitized photoresist exposed to a KrF excimer laser UV radiation at 248 nm. The measured transmission of the pulsed UV radiation through the resist is presented and compared to the simulated one using the model. Classical bleaching characteristics (i.e. the resist transmittance increases with the dose) are observed at low dose exposure with low energy per pulse. When the dose is increased, the photoresist transmittance reaches a maximum and starts to decrease. This behavior is assumed to be due to UV radiation effect on the resin. The model describes a general photoresist with absorbing components, each with two distinctive initial and postexposure states. The model is applied to the case of a Novolak-based photoresist where the two components are the photoactive compound and the resin. >
The BehaviorScope framework for enabling ambient assisted living

The in-house monitoring of elders using intelligent sensors is a very desirable service that has the potential of increasing autonomy and independence while minimizing the risks of living alone. Because of this promise, the efforts of building such systems have been spanning for decades, but there is still a lot of room for improvement. Driven by the recent technology advances in many of the required components, in this article, we present a scalable framework for detailed behavior interpretation. Our framework supports in-house monitoring of elders using an intelligent gateway and a set of cheap commercially available sensors, in addition to more advanced camera-based human localization sensors and a client for GPS-enabled mobile phones that provides monitoring when outdoors. In this article, we report our experiences and present our current progress in three main components: sensors, middleware, and behavior interpretation mechanisms spanning from simple programmable rule-based alerts to algorithms for extracting the temporal routines of individuals.
Vertical cavity lasers on p-doped substrates

Vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) diodes fabricated with inverted polarity, i.e. p-type bottom mirror and n-type top mirror, are reported with lower resistance and diode voltage and comparable output characteristics relative to similar conventional, non-inverted structures.
Case Report: Granuloma-Related Hypercalcemia in Lipoid Pneumonia

ABSTRACT A patient with hypercalcemia, suppressed serum PTH levels, and elevated serum levels of calcitriol was found to have a granulomatous lipoid pneumonia due to chronic aspiration of a “vaporizing ointment.” After the surgical removal of the largest granuloma, the serum calcium and calcitriol levels rapidly returned to normal. This is a new instance of granuloma-induced hypercalcemia, probably mediated by the activation of vitamin D by cells of the granulomatous reaction.
Optimistic crash recovery without rolling back nonfaulty processors

Abstract The problem of recovering from transient processor failures in distributed computing systems using optimistic message logging is considered, and two crash recovery algorithms are presented. Both algorithms have three advantages: 1. (1) no nonfaulty processor is forced to roll back 2. (2) output messages may be committed immediately, and 3. (3) a nonfaulty processor is not disrupted if none of its neighbors is faulty. The first algorithm uses acknowledgments, permits at most two neighboring processors to fail at the same time, and does not block the receiver or the sender of each message. The second algorithm copes with the simultaneous failure of any number of nodes, but it requires that the sender id of each message (not its content) be logged to stable storage before the message is processed. Though the second algorithm blocks the receiver, the blocking time can be substantially reduced. In both cases, the state of a faulty processor immediately before its failure is recreated. Thus, after either of the two crash recovery algorithms is run, the distributed system restarts from a consistent state.
Telomere Shortening Triggers Senescence of Human Cells through a Pathway Involving ATM, p53, and p21CIP1, but Not p16INK4a

Cellular senescence can be triggered by telomere shortening as well as a variety of stresses and signaling imbalances. We used multiparameter single-cell detection methods to investigate upstream signaling pathways and ensuing cell cycle checkpoint responses in human fibroblasts. Telomeric foci containing multiple DNA damage response factors were assembled in a subset of senescent cells and signaled through ATM to p53, upregulating p21 and causing G1 phase arrest. Inhibition of ATM expression or activity resulted in cell cycle reentry, indicating that stable arrest requires continuous signaling. ATR kinase appears to play a minor role in normal cells but in the absence of ATM elicited a delayed G2 phase arrest. These pathways do not affect expression of p16, which was upregulated in a telomere- and DNA damage-independent manner in a subset of cells. Distinct senescence programs can thus progress in parallel, resulting in mosaic cultures as well as individual cells responding to multiple signals.
Transient Receptor Potential Channels Regulate Myogenic Tone of Resistance Arteries

Elevation of intravascular pressure causes depolarization and constriction (myogenic tone) of small arteries and arterioles, and this response is a key element in blood flow regulation. However, the nature of pressure-induced depolarization has remained elusive. In the present study, we provide evidence that a transient receptor potential channel (TRPC6) homologue has a major role in this depolarizing response to pressure. Antisense oligodeoxynucleotides to TRPC6 decreased TRPC6 protein expression and greatly attenuated arterial smooth muscle depolarization and constriction caused by elevated pressure in intact cerebral arteries. Suppressing the expression of this channel protein also reduced the current density of a major cation current in resistance artery smooth muscle cells. We propose that TRPC6 channels play an essential role in regulation of myogenic tone.
Trace element and isotopic evidence for two types of crustal melting beneath a High Cascade volcanic center, Mt. Jefferson, Oregon

Mt. Jefferson is an andesite–dacite composite volcano in the Cascade Range, the locus of andesite and dacite-dominated volcanism for at least 1 million years. A large trace element data set for Mt. Jefferson and its surrounding mafic volcanic platform effectively rules out any fractionation based model (FC or AFC) for the generation of Mt. Jefferson andesites. Several incompatible element (Zr, Nb, Y) concentrations decrease in the range from basalt to andesite, and then increase in the range from andesite to rhyodacite. Others (Ba, Rb, La, Th) remain constant or show a slight increase in the basalt to andesite range, with modest increases from andesite to rhyodacite. Systematic variations in highly incompatible element ratios such as Ba/La and Rb/Th suggest magma mixing dominates the trace element signatures. Rhyodacites are isotopically uniform (87Sr/86Sr=0.70325–0.70343; 206Pb/204Pb=18.75–18.85; ∂18O=6.3±0.3), whereas andesite and dacite are more variable (87Sr/86Sr=0.70291–0.70353; 206Pb/204Pb=18.59–18.86; ∂18O=6.0±0.6). Typical basaltic andesite has 87Sr/86Sr=0.70326–0.70358, 206Pb/204Pb=18.78–18.85, and ∂18O=5.9±0.4. Sr-rich (>1,000 ppm) basaltic andesite is more variable (87Sr/86Sr=0.70300–0.70360; 206Pb/204Pb=18.70–18.89; ∂18O=5.9±0.4). The data define mixing arrays with one end member at 87Sr/86Sr=0.7029; 206Pb/204Pb=18.59, another at rhyodacite, and a third at 87Sr/86Sr=0.7036; 206Pb/204Pb=18.89. The first end member is defined by Sr-rich (800–1,200 ppm) andesite with high Al2O3, and low K2O, Ba, and Rb/Th; the third one by K2O- and very Sr-rich (>2,000 ppm) shoshonite. Isotopic data for basalts in northern Oregon preclude any fractionation relationship between basalt and either rhyodacite or Sr-rich andesite (e.g., the minimum 206Pb/204Pb ratio in basalt is 18.83). Considered in light of geophysical models for the Cascades, these data suggest two types of crustal melting beneath the arc. Rhyodacite may be generated at 25–30 km depth by partial melting of arc basalt-like amphibolite at 850–900 °C. Sr-rich andesite may be formed by partial melting of depleted MORB-like mafic granulite at 35–45 km depth at 1,000–1,100 °C. Experimental and REE evidence supports these interpretations as does the restriction of Sr-rich andesite in the Cascades to the area south of the 100 mW/m2 heat flow contour between Mt. Jefferson and Mt. Hood. Thick crust and high heat flow are necessary to produce such andesite.
Gaseous Ion Recombination Rates. II

An analysis of the mechanics of three‐body ion recombination is given. The relative efficiencies of various gases in promoting ion recombination are calculated and found to be in satisfactory agreement with experiment. The calculations lead to qualitative conclusions about how mass, relative velocity, and the nature of the deactivation criterion affect the magnitude of the recombination rate.