cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Selective source location by exploitation of spectral coherence

A new approach to time-difference-of-arrival (TDOA) estimation for modulated signals is proposed. Unlike most previous approaches based on the auto- and cross-correlation functions or auto- and cross-spectra for the signals from a pair of sensors, the new approach is based on the cyclic auto- and cross-correlation functions or cyclic auto- and cross-spectra. The proposed approach exploits the spectral coherence property exhibited by modulated signals by virtue of their cyclostationarity. That is, cyclostationary processes are correlated with certain frequency-shifted as well as time-shifted versions of themselves. >
A user-to-user relationship-based access control model for online social networks

Users and resources in online social networks (OSNs) are interconnected via various types of relationships. In particular, user-to-user relationships form the basis of the OSN structure, and play a significant role in specifying and enforcing access control. Individual users and the OSN provider should be allowed to specify which access can be granted in terms of existing relationships. We propose a novel user-to-user relationship-based access control (UURAC) model for OSN systems that utilizes regular expression notation for such policy specification. We develop a path checking algorithm to determine whether the required relationship path between users for a given access request exists, and provide proofs of correctness and complexity analysis for this algorithm.
Emission and Long-Range Transport of Gaseous Mercury from a Large-Scale Canadian Boreal Forest Fire

Field observations made at Harvard Forest [Petersham, MA, U.S.A. (42°54‘ N, 72°18‘ W)] during early July 2002 show clear evidence of long-range transport of gaseous mercury (Hg) in a smoke plume from a series of boreal forest fires in northern Quebec. These measurements indicated significant and highly correlated increases in Hg and CO during the plume event. The Hg:CO emissions ratio determined from the data (8.61 × 10-8 mol mol-1) was combined with previously published information on CO emissions and biomass burned to determine a mean area-based Hg emission flux density for boreal forest fires (1.5 g Hg ha-1), annual Hg emissions from Canadian forest fires (3.5 tonnes), and annual global Hg emissions from boreal forest fires (22.5 tonnes). Annual Hg emissions from boreal fires in Canada may equal 30% of annual Canadian anthropogenic emissions in an average fire year and could be as high as 100% during years of intense burning. The Hg:CO emissions ratio of this study was much lower than those reported fo...
Diabetic cardiac autonomic neuropathy: insights from animal models

Cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) is a relatively common and often devastating complication of diabetes. The major clinical signs are tachycardia, exercise intolerance, and orthostatic hypotension, but the most severe aspects of this complication are high rates of cardiac events and mortality. One of the earliest manifestations of CAN is reduced heart rate variability, and detection of this, along with abnormal results in postural blood pressure testing and/or the Valsalva maneuver, are central to diagnosis of the disease. The treatment options for CAN, beyond glycemic control, are extremely limited and lack evidence of efficacy. The underlying molecular mechanisms are also poorly understood. Thus, CAN is associated with a poor prognosis and there is a compelling need for research to understand, prevent, and reverse CAN. In this review of the literature we examine the use and usefulness of animal models of CAN in diabetes. Compared to other diabetic complications, the number of animal studies of CAN is very low. The published studies range across a variety of species, methods of inducing diabetes, and timescales examined, leading to high variability in study outcomes. The lack of well-characterized animal models makes it difficult to judge the relevance of these models to the human disease. One major advantage of animal studies is the ability to probe underlying molecular mechanisms, and the limited numbers of mechanistic studies conducted to date are outlined. Thus, while animal models of CAN in diabetes are crucial to better understanding and development of therapies, they are currently under-used.
Adaptive error diffusion

Error diffusion is a procedure for generating high quality bi-level images from continuous tone images so that both the continuous and halftone images appear similarly when observed from a distance. It is well known that certain objectionable patterning artifacts can occur in error diffused images. Previous approaches for improving the quality of error diffused images include the application of non-standard scanning strategies (e.g., serpentine or Peano scanning), dithering the filter coefficients in error diffusion, dithering the quantizer threshold, incorporating feedback to control the average distance between dots, and designing an optimum error diffusion filter according to some distortion criterion. Here we consider a method for adjusting the error diffusion filter concurrently with the error diffusion process so that an error criterion is minimized. The minimization is performed using the LMS algorithm in adaptive signal processing. Such an algorithm produces better halftone image quality compared to traditional error diffusion with a fixed filter.
Direct spinal pathways to the limbic system for nociceptive information

The hypothalamus is believed to play important roles in several aspects of nociception. Previously, nociceptive information was thought to reach hypothalamic neurons through indirect, multisynaptic pathways. However, we have found that thousands of neurons throughout the length of the spinal cord in rats send axons directly into the hypothalamus, and many of these axons carry nociceptive information. The axons often follow a complex course, ascending through the contralateral spinal cord, brainstem, thalamus and hypothalamus. They then cross the midline and enter the ipsilateral hypothalamus, turn posteriorly, and continue into the ipsilateral thalamus. These axons might provide nociceptive information to a variety of nuclei in the thalamus and hypothalamus bilaterally.
Primary auditory evoked potentials after section of brachium of the inferior colliculus.

Abstract The primary auditory evoked potentials (PAEPs) were studied in acute and chronic experiments before and after section of the brachia of the inferior colliculus (BIC) under Nembutal and alpha-chloralose anesthesia, without anesthesia and during electrical stimulation of inferior colliculi (IC). Out of twenty cats, five were chosen for detailed presentation. The section of BIC resulted in disappearance of PAEPs recorded from auditory cortex A1, regardless of the type of anesthesia and in cats without anesthetics, during auditory and electrical stimulation of IC. This effect lasted for several months. The results are discussed from the point of view of relative specificity of the pathways in reticular formation which would transmit the auditory impulses to levels above section of BIC.
Single session recovery from a hemodialysis phobia: A case study

Abstract Treatment of a young renal patient with a phobia for hemodialysis is described. The phobia was quickly and successfully resolved by the combined use of systematic desensitization, fading of stimulus control, and social reinforcement. Desensitization was accomplished in a single session. Implications of behavioral technology in the prevention of this type of problem are briefly discussed.
Probability inequalities for quadratic forms

Jensen [SIAM J. of Appl. Math., 1982, 297-301] has obtained Chebyshev inequalities for joint distributions of k quadratic forms. In this paper Jensen's bounds are sharpened under α-unimodality assumptions to yield Gauss-type inequalities. Jensen's applications In ballistics, statistical quality control, and analysis of variance arereconsidered.
Echocardiographic Assessment of Left Ventricular Remodeling: Are Left Ventricular Diameters Suitable Tools?

Objectives. We sought to analyze the value of echocardiographic left ventricular (LV) diameters in assessing LV remodeling. Background. LV diameters are easily measured and commonly used as a substitute for volumetric analysis to evaluate LV remodeling caused by ventricular overload or dysfunction. However, the impact of these measurements on outcome is disputed, suggesting that they may not adequately assess LV remodeling. Methods. M-mode echocardiographically measured LV dimensions and the derived LV ejection fraction and end-systolic wall stress were compared with LV volumes and the derived LV ejection fraction and wall stress using the biplane Simpson rule. These measurements were made prospectively and simultaneously in 463 patients (289 men, 174 women; mean [6SD] age 62 6 15 years), including 46 normal subjects, 52 with aortic regurgitation, 253 with mitral regurgitation and 112 with LV dysfunction. Results. The correlation between diameter and volume was good at end-systole (r 5 0.91, p < 0.0001) and end-diastole (r 5 0.86, p < 0.0001). However, the relation was exponential, and the 95% confidence interval increased with increasing diameter. The calculated LV ejection fraction and wall stress using LV diameter and volume correlated linearly with a limited range of error (r 5 0.96, SEE 5 5%, p < 0.0001 and r 5 0.95, SEE 5 20 g/cm2 ,p< 0.0001, respectively). Conclusions. For assessing LV remodeling, LV diameters measured by M-mode echocardiography allow acceptable estimation of LV ejection fraction and wall stress and correlate significantly with LV volumes but are hindered by a wide range of error for assessment of LV size, especially for enlarged ventricles, suggesting that measurement of LV volume should be the preferred method of echocardiographically assessing LV remodeling. (J Am Coll Cardiol 1997;30:1534 ‐ 41) ©1997 by the American College of Cardiology
Clinical trial of ilidar; a new dibenzazepine adrenergic blocking drug, in the treatment of peripheral vascular diseases and miscellaneous complaints.

Ilidar, a new adrenergic blocking drug, has been administered to 116 patients; follow-up was adequate on 86. The drug was highly effective in patients with predominantly vasospastic disorders and in patients with postphlebetic syndrome, and moderately effective in patients with thromboangiitis and arteriosclerosis. Most patients could tolerate 50 to 75 mg. three to four times a day. Side effects were principally those to be expected from the moderate postural hypotension associated with effective sympathetic blockade, namely, weakness, dizziness, nausea.
An investigation of novel techniques for sensing Earth stress and strain

An important problem is to distinguish elastic strain, accompanied by stress in the crust, from anelastic strain or creep. Simultaneous observations of both stress and strain are required. A number of methods of measuring various aspects of strain are more or less well developed in several laboratories, but the recognition of crustal stress is more difficult, and for routine observations resort must be made to secondary effects of stress. Two such effects are being investigated: the seismomagnetic effect and the stress-dependence of acoustic velocity. The magnetic experiment has been set up on two New Zealand volcanoes where local field variations up to 10 γ occurred in a period a few hours before a recent eruption and reverted to normal afterward. As in the case of seismomagnetic effect, the piezomagnetic effect offers the most plausible explanation. Preliminary measurements of ultrasonic phase velocity have been made by a method that gives a precision to 1 part in 106; stress effects observed so far appear to be dominated by cracks, even in rocks that appear superficially to be quite solid.
Design of a generalized n-solute mixing-chamber gradient generator.

Abstract The theory of the design of a mixing-chamber gradient generator is developed and generalized to match a prescribed composition pattern for several components. The conditions for feasibility of the resulting design are discussed. The theory is applied to the problem of generating a three-component concentration gradient that is piecewise linear in radius for a zonal centrifuge.
A method to dynamically balance intensity modulated radiotherapy dose between organs-at-risk

The IMRT treatment planning process typically follows a path that is based on the manner in which the planner interactively adjusts the target and organ-at-risk (OAR) constraints and priorities. The time-intensive nature of this process restricts the planner from fully understanding the dose tradeoff between structures, making it unlikely that the resulting plan fully exploits the extent to which dose can be redistributed between anatomical structures. Multiobjective Pareto optimization has been used in the past to enable the planner to more thoroughly explore alternatives in dose trade-off by combining pre-generated Pareto optimal solutions in real time, thereby potentially tailoring a plan more exactly to requirements. However, generating the Pareto optimal solutions can be nonintuitive and computationally time intensive. The author presents an intuitive and fast non-Pareto approach for generating optimization sequences (prior to planning), which can then be rapidly combined by the planner in real time to yield a satisfactory plan. Each optimization sequence incrementally reduces dose to one OAR at a time, starting from the optimization solution where dose to all OARs are reduced with equal priority, until user-specified target coverage limits are violated. The sequences are computationally efficient to generate, since the optimization at each position along a sequence is initiated from the end result of the previous position in the sequence. The pre-generated optimization sequences require no user interaction. In real time, a planner can more or less instantaneously visualize a treatment plan by combining the dose distributions corresponding to user-selected positions along each of the optimization sequences (target coverage is intrinsically maintained in the combination). Interactively varying the selected positions along each of the sequences enables the planner to rapidly understand the nature of dose trade-off between structures and, thereby, arrive at a suitable plan in a short time. This methodology is demonstrated on a prostate cancer case and olfactory neuroblastoma case.
Simplified Coherent Detection Scheme for FM chirped Laser Radar

A simplified optical homodyne detection scheme for FM chirped lidar is proposed where dechirping is performed within the photodetector. The concept is validated by experiment and a comparison between coherent and direct detection is presented.
Short-term soil mixing quantified with fallout radionuclides

Soil mixing plays a significant role in contaminant transport, carbon sequestration, and landscape evolution, yet the rates and driving mechanisms are poorly constrained. Here we use depth profiles and advection-diffusion modeling of fallout nuclides to quantify differences in short-term ( 7 Be and weapons-derived isotopes, and quantify mixing with a steady-state model of vertical 210 Pb transport. On a forested landscape in the Bega Valley in southeastern Australia and on grasslands in Marin County, California, where bioturbation is documented as the dominant sediment transport mechanism, we calculate diffusion-like mixing coefficients of 1–2 cm 2 yr −1 . In montane forest soils of northern New England, we observe little field evidence of short-term mixing, and find that the traditional advection-diffusion model fails to describe 210 Pb profiles. Because nuclide profiles here can be described with a simple model of litterfall, organic matter decay, and radioactive decay, we argue that diffusion-like processes are barely active on short time scales, and that the advection-diffusion model overestimates diffusion-like transport. While animal bioturbation and soil freezing cycles have little effect on the fate of elements in New England, physical soil mixing drives transport at Bega Valley and Marin County. We suggest that the absence of soil stirring that we quantify in New England forests may explain the slow physical erosion here (∼0.2 cm/k.y.) relative to the actively bioturbated soils of Bega Valley and Marin County (5–10 cm/k.y.).
Multispectral Thermal Imager optical assembly performance and integration of the flight focal plane assembly

The Multispectral Thermal Imager Optical Assembly (OA) has been fabricated, assembled, successfully performance tested, and integrated into the flight payload structure with the flight Focal Plane Assembly (FPA) integrated and aligned to it. This represents a major milestone achieved towards completion of this earth observing E-O imaging sensor that is to be operated in low earth orbit. The OA consists of an off- axis three mirror anastigmatic (TMA) telescope with a 36 cm unobscured clear aperture, a wide-field-of-view (WFOV) of 1.82 degrees along the direction of spacecraft motion and 1.38 degree across the direction of spacecraft motion. It also contains a comprehensive on-board radiometric calibration system. The OA is part of a multispectral pushbroom imaging sensor which employs a single mechanically cooled focal plane with 15 spectral bands covering a wavelength range from 0.45 to 10.7 micrometer. The OA achieves near diffraction-limited performance from visible to the long-wave infrared (LWIR) wavelengths. The two major design drivers for the OA are 80% enpixeled energy in the visible bands and radiometric stability. Enpixeled energy in the visible bands also drove the alignment of the FPA detectors to the OA image plane to a requirement of less than plus or minus 20 micrometer over the entire visible detector field of view (FOV). Radiometric stability requirements mandated a cold Lyot stop for stray light rejection and thermal background reduction. The Lyot stop is part of the FPA assembly and acts as the aperture stop for the imaging system. The alignment of the Lyot stop to the OA drove the centering and to some extent the tilt alignment requirements of the FPA to the OA.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Optimizing non-Pb radiation shielding materials using bilayers.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to demonstrate that the weight of non-Pb radiation shieldingmaterials can be minimized by structuring the material as a bilayer composed of different metal-powder-embedded elastomer layers. Methods: Measurements and Monte Carlo(MC) calculations were performed to study the attenuation properties of several non-Pb metal bilayers over the x-ray energy range 30–150 keV. Metals for the layers were chosen on the basis of low cost, nontoxicity, and complementary photoelectric absorption characteristics. The EGSnrc user code cavity.cpp was used to calculate the resultant x-ray fluence spectra after attenuation by these metal layers. Air kerma attenuation was measured using commercially manufactured metal/elastomer test layers. These layers were irradiated using the primary standard calibration beams at the Institute for National Measurement Standards in Ottawa, Canada utilizing the six x-ray beam qualities recommended in the German Standard DIN 6857. Both the measurements and the calculations were designed to approximate surface irradiation as well as penetrating radiation at 10 mm depth in soft tissue. The MC modeling point and the position of the measurement detector for surface irradiation were both directly against the downstream face of the attenuating material, as recommended in DIN 6857. Results: The low-Z upstream/high-Z downstream ordering of the metal bilayers provided substantially more attenuation than the reverse order. Optimal percentages of each metal in each bilayer were determined for each x-rayradiation beam quality. Conclusions: Depending on the x-ray quality, appropriate choices of two complementary metal-embedded elastomer layers can decrease the weight of radiation shielding garments by up to 25% compared to Pb-based elastomer garments while providing equivalent attenuation.
Juxtaposing Longino’s “Equality of Intellectual Authority” with Her “Shared Standards”

Helen Longino has proposed four criteria that can objectively criticize the background beliefs and assumptions in the development of scientific theories. She deduces that the criteria ‘recognized avenues for criticism,’ ‘shared standards,’ ‘community response’ and ‘equality of intellectual authority’ are mutually dependent. Using the assumption that the acceptance of more than one scientific approach is possible only if an individual is educated in a non-standard background, and is given intellectual authority which, in turn, refutes the idea of standardization in science, I argue that her assertion is contradictory. One of her criterion ‘shared standards’ implicitly nullifies the attempt to embrace points of view from various other perspectives, based on the difference of cultures and intellectual backgrounds ‘equality of intellectual authority’ in the scientific community.
A review of consensus test methods for established medical imaging modalities and their implications for optical coherence tomography

In recent years there has been increasing interest in development of consensus, tissue-phantom-based approaches for assessment of biophotonic imaging systems, with the primary goal of facilitating clinical translation of novel optical technologies. Well-characterized test methods based on tissue phantoms can provide useful tools for performance assessment, thus enabling standardization and device inter-comparison during preclinical development as well as quality assurance and re-calibration in the clinical setting. In this review, we study the role of phantom-based test methods as described in consensus documents such as international standards for established imaging modalities including X-ray CT, MRI and ultrasound. Specifically, we focus on three image quality characteristics - spatial resolution, spatial measurement accuracy and image uniformity - and summarize the terminology, metrics, phantom design/construction approaches and measurement/analysis procedures used to assess these characteristics. Phantom approaches described are those in routine clinical use and tend to have simplified morphology and biologically-relevant physical parameters. Finally, we discuss the potential for applying knowledge gained from existing consensus documents in the development of standardized, phantom-based test methods for optical coherence tomography.
Blueberry fruit response to postharvest application of ultraviolet radiation

Abstract Blueberries ( Vaccinium corymbosum , cvs. Collins, Bluecrop) were exposed to ultraviolet light-C (UV-C) radiation treatments from 0 to 4 kJ/m 2 prior to 7 days storage at 5 °C plus 2 days at 20 °C, 90% RH. Weight loss and firmness were not affected by light treatment. Decay incidence from ripe rot ( Colletotrichum acutatum , syn. C. gloeosporioides ) on fruit was decreased by 10% with 1–4 kJ/m 2 UV-C light treatments. Antioxidants as measured by total anthocyanin, total phenolics, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were higher in ‘Collins’ fruit given 0 or 1 kJ/m 2 UV-C compared to unstored fruit. In ‘Bluecrop’, total anthocyanin content and FRAP values increased with treatment intensity, with highest values seen in fruit given 2 or 4 kJ/m 2 UV-C, but no clear treatment effects were seen in total phenolic content. These results indicate that postharvest application of UV-C radiation can decrease decay caused by ripe rot in blueberries and may enhance antioxidant levels.
Making inter-domain routing power-aware?

Current network infrastructures exhibit low power efficiency, running network devices at full capacity all the time regardless of traffic demand. Power-aware traffic engineering schemes such as GreenTE improve network energy efficiency by adapting routing paths to traffic demand: when the demand is low, traffic is merged onto fewer links so that idle links can go to sleep, and when the demand is high, more links are being used to satisfy the demand. The effectiveness of this approach, however, depends on path diversity in the network. Existing research work considers only intra-domain part of routing paths, where both ingress point and egress point are fixed. It is unclear whether considering inter-domain path diversity would bring any additional power saving and by how much. In this paper we extend GreenTE to consider inter-domain path and quantify gains in power saving. By making egress point a variable in GreenTE, we are able to utilize more path diversity and get more power saving. Using network topologies from several wide-area networks, our evaluation shows that power saving increases when inter-domain paths are considered, but the amount of additional saving is modest, and depends on various factors.
Evaluation of a Local Improvement-Oriented Project for Citizenship Education

AbstractThis article reports the evaluation of a four-year ESEA Title IV political/citizenship education improvement project conducted in elementary and secondary schools of a large, southern metropolitan school system. The project designed and tested an educational improvement model which conceptualized the school as a system with interrelated components which influence student learning. The model focused on classroom teachers as change agents and provided them with five types of support channeled through other parts of the system. The model was first found effective for secondary grades and later for elementary grades. Both process and product were monitored to provide research data on the model. The results, implications and limitations are discussed.
NMR Spectroscopy for Clinical Medicine Animal Models and Clinical Examplesa

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy is able to measure noninvasively a variety of important metabolites involved in cell energetics. These include phosphocreatine, ATP, inorganic phosphate, pH, and lactate. Anoxia, ischemia, and infarction produce rapid loss of high-energy phosphates and accumulation of hydrolysis products. Many animal studies have shown that MRS monitors metabolic changes in various models of human disease. The availability of large, high field magnets and the development of noninvasive localization techniques permits MRS to be performed on selected volumes within the body. It is now clear that MRS in humans will be immediately useful in several areas including studies of malignancy, ischemia, and infarction of various organs and metabolic disorders. It is expected that human MRS will be increasingly used for clinical investigation and eventually for medical diagnosis.
Two siblings with biotin-resistant 3-methylcrotonyl-coenzyme A carboxylase deficiency.

Dans les 2 cas decrits chez un garcon de 3 ans 1/2 et sa sœur de 2 ans, le traitement par restriction proteinique moderee et apport de carnitine a permis la disparition de l'acidose et du deficit secondaire grave en carnitine. Les effets sur la prevention de l'hyperammoniemie et des affections intercurrentes restent a determiner, ainsi que sur le pronostic a long terme
Detecting rare structural variation in evolving microbial populations from new sequence junctions using breseq

New mutations leading to structural variation (SV) in genomes — in the form of mobile element insertions, large deletions, gene duplications, and other chromosomal rearrangements — can play a key role in microbial evolution. Yet, SV is considerably more difficult to predict from short-read genome resequencing data than single-nucleotide substitutions and indels (SN), so it is not yet routinely identified in studies that profile population-level genetic diversity over time in evolution experiments. We implemented an algorithm for detecting polymorphic SV as part of the breseq computational pipeline. This procedure examines split-read alignments, in which the two ends of a single sequencing read match disjoint locations in the reference genome, in order to detect structural variants and estimate their frequencies within a sample. We tested our algorithm using simulated Escherichia coli data and then applied it to 500- and 1000-generation population samples from the Lenski E. coli long-term evolution experiment (LTEE). Knowledge of genes that are targets of selection in the LTEE and mutations present in previously analyzed clonal isolates allowed us to evaluate the accuracy of our procedure. Overall, SV accounted for ~25% of the genetic diversity found in these samples. By profiling rare SV, we were able to identify many cases where alternative mutations in key genes transiently competed within a single population. We also found, unexpectedly, that mutations in two genes that rose to prominence at these early time points always went extinct in the long term. Because it is not limited by the base-calling error rate of the sequencing technology, our approach for identifying rare SV in whole-population samples may have a lower detection limit than similar predictions of SNs in these data sets. We anticipate that this functionality of breseq will be useful for providing a more complete picture of genome dynamics during evolution experiments with haploid microorganisms.
What Constitutes a Strong Start for Babies

Children’s opportunities are influenced by the circumstances of their parents prior to conception, during pregnancy, and at birth. Accordingly, an indicators system that assesses child well-being would benefit from monitoring factors measured at birth that are related to children’s opportunities for a healthy, successful, and fulfilling life. The goal of this paper is to identify a small set of critical family and parent-level factors measured at or shortly after birth that are related to the later prospects of U.S. children. To identify a limited set of variables that could comprise an index of a “strong start,” we identified a set of candidate variables and created measures using data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study—Birth Cohort. Those variables that were related to better developmental outcomes, over and above other variables included in the model and judged to be malleable, to have face validity, and to be well-measured and widely available, were identified as potential components of an index. An array of preliminary indices were examined to assess whether they predicted children’s development at 24, 48 and 60 months. Based on these analyses, a recommended Index of a Strong Start was developed. It includes: mother’s education; mother’s age at first birth; family income; and parent’s union status at birth.
HOW TO DESIGN VALUE‐CONTRIBUTING EXECUTIVE INCENTIVES

Executive compensation plans have come under increasing criticism. A new approach—value performance plans—offers a promising way to motivate executives to make decisions consistent with the long‐term interests of their companies.
Spinoza and mental health

With the proviso that Spinoza's concerns were philosophical, not medical, we examine the Ethics with a view to bringing out those aspects of it which are of import for mental health. We find that the Ethics surrounds the idea that man can be egoless in the Buddhist sense of that term. This concept provides a criterion of mental health. Further, according to Spinoza's theory of the Affections, those which are passive include some which are based on pain. These he ‘enumerates among the diseases’. And for them he provides, in Part V, specific ‘remedies’. This in turn leads him to equate ‘Mental Freedom or beatitude’ with a ‘healthy Mind’. We thus have in Part V additional possible criteria of mental health. Finally, there is the suggestion that philosophy for Spinoza was a kind of therapy.’ There is not a philosophical method, though there are indeed methods, like different therapies. — The philosopher's treatment of a question is like the treatment of an illness. — A main cause of philosophical disease — a ...
Microelectronics in the “More than Moore” era

In the fifty years since integrated circuits made their debut, we have witnessed amazing progress in the ability to perform electronic functions. Progress in microprocessors, memory, and data conversion has revolutionized data processing, control, communications, and the way we live. The number of transistors/ chip has increased by a factor of a billion and performance has improved at least a million-fold, with corresponding decreases in cost. For forty years, this progress has been driven by scaling and “Moore's Law”; however, fabrication facility cost has now increased to the point where it now exceeds the GNP of many countries, forcing many companies to go fabless. It also appears that the scaling paradigm is coming to an end, at least using devices as we know them. As a result, intense efforts on chip-stacking, through-silicon vias (TSVs), and new materials such as graphene are underway [1].
Larger Left Atrial Appendage Is an Independent Predictor of Stroke in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

Background: Left atrial appendage (LAA) is an important source of thromboembolism in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). This study evaluated the features of LAA associated with stroke in patients with AF.Methods: We compared the size of LAA using computed tomography (CT) between 224 AF patients with non-hemorrhagic stroke (Group 1, 71 women, age 67±10 years) and 365 AF patients without stroke (Group 2, 77 women, age 56±11 years).Results: Group 1 included more female patients (31.7% vs. 21.1%, p=0.004), and was older than group 2 (p<0.001). There was no difference in the type of AF between two groups. CHADS2 score (3.2±0.8, vs. 0.6±0.7, p<0.001) and LA dimension (4.76±0.82 vs. 4.12±0.59 cm, p<0.001) were significantly lager in group 1 than group 2. The orifice size (3.85±1.66 vs. 2.57±0.93 cm2, p<0.001) and depth of LAA (3.18±0.67 vs. 2.67±0.57 cm, p<0.001) were significantly larger in group 1 than group 2. In multivariate analysis, age (OR 2.08 per decade increase, 95% CI 1.59–2.71, p<0.001), LA size (OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.29–2.76, p=0.001), the orifice size (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.26–1.99, p<0.001) and the depth of LAA (OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.24–2.95, p=0.004) were independent predictors of stroke.Conclusion: In patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation, the larger orifice size and depth of LAA were independent predictors of stroke with advanced age and LA enlargement.
Differential effects of cyclosporine A after acute antigen challenge in sensitized cats in vivo and ex vivo.

1 We determined the effect of cyclosporine A (CsA) treatment on mast cell degranulation and lung resistance (RL) in vivo, and tracheal smooth muscle (TSM) contraction ex vivo after antigen challenge in sensitized cats. We also determined the direct effects of addition of CsA to the tissue bath on antigen-induced responses of TSM in vitro. 2 Cats (n=10) were sensitized by i.m. injection of Ascaris suum antigen (AA); 5 cats (CsA+) received CsA twice daily for 2 weeks before acute antigen challenge in doses sufficient to suppress interleukin-2 secretion from feline peripheral blood mononuclear cells ex vivo. 3 Lung resistance increased comparably within 10 min of exposure to AA (P<0.03). Histamine content in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from both groups increased comparably within 30 min of antigen challenge, from undetectable levels to 542±74 pg ml−1 post AA for CsA+ and from 74±19 pg ml−1 at baseline, to 970±180 pg ml−1 post AA CsA− (P<0.05; P=NS vs CsA+). 4 In excised TSM, active tension elicited by exposure to AA in vitro was 107±38% KCl in the CsA+ group vs 144±56% KCl in the CsA− group (P=NS). However, contraction of TSM (n=4) harvested from both groups was abolished or greatly diminished after AA challenge when tissues were pre-incubated with 1 μM CsA in vitro (8±8% KCl, P<0.05 vs CsA+ and CsA−). This was associated with inhibited release of 5-hydroxytryptamine into the organ bath fluid of tissues treated with CsA in vitro only. 5 We demonstrated that CsA treatment in vivo does not inhibit the early phase asthmatic response or mast cell degranulation following antigen challenge in sensitized cats. Additionally, the effects of CsA on mast cell function ex vivo do not reflect lack of effects of CsA on mast cell function in vivo in this animal model of atopic asthma. British Journal of Pharmacology (1998) 123, 1198–1204; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0701716
A Delphi Study to Determine Defining Characteristics of Interdependence and Dysfunctional Independence as Potential Nursing Diagnoses

Nurses deal with human behavior and are often responsible, not only for their own interpersonal behavior but also for assessment, analysis, and interventions relative to the behavior of clients. This exploratory study was designed to elicit responses from certified psychiatric-mental health clinical nurse specialists relative to the defining characteristics of interdependence and dysfunctional independence. A Delphi methodology was used to obtain a total of 10 defining characteristics for interdependence and 13 defining characteristics for dysfunctional independence. Three operational definitions were obtained for each of the characteristics from the ratings of nurses who contributed information based on the behaviors of their own clients. These characteristics are the basis for future studies relating to dependence, independence, and interdependence.
Hydrogen desorption kinetics and band bending for 6H–SiC(0 0 0 1) surfaces

Abstract The desorption kinetics of hydrogen from polished 6H–SiC(0 0 0 1) surfaces exposed to various sources of hydrogen have been determined using temperature programmed desorption (TPD). For (3 × 3) 6H–SiC(0 0 0 1) surfaces prepared via annealing and cooling in SiH4, desorption of 0.2 ± 0.05 monolayer of molecular hydrogen was observed to occur at ≈590 °C. This β1 H2 desorption peak exhibited second order kinetics with an activation energy of 2.4 ± 0.2 eV. For (3 × 3) 6H–SiC surfaces exposed to atomic hydrogen generated via either a hot rhenium filament or remote hydrogen plasma, low energy electron diffraction patterns showed an eventual conversion back to (1 × 1) symmetry. Spectra acquired using Auger electron and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies revealed that the atomic hydrogen exposure removed the excess Si. Photoelectron spectroscopy results also showed a 0.5 eV increase in binding energy for the Si2p and C1s core levels after removal of the Si–Si bilayer that is indicative of a decrease in band bending at the SiC surface. TPD from the (3 × 3) 6H–SiC(0 0 0 1) surfaces exposed to atomic hydrogen showed substantially more molecular hydrogen desorption (1–2 ML) through the appearance of a new desorption peak (β2,3) that started at ≈200 °C. The β2,3 peak exhibited second order desorption kinetics and a much lower activation energy of 0.6 ± 0.2 eV. A third smaller hydrogen desorption state was also detected in the 650–850 °C range. This last feature could be resolved into two separate desorption peaks (α1 and α2) both of which exhibited second order kinetics with activation energies of 4.15 ± 0.15 and 4.3 ± 0.15 eV, respectively. Based on comparisons to hydrogen desorption from Si and diamond surfaces, the β and α desorption peaks were assigned to hydrogen desorption from Si and C sites, respectively.
Scattering of low- to intermediate-energy positrons from molecular hydrogen

Using a complex model potential, we have calculated the total, integrated elastic, momentum transfer, absorption, and differential cross sections for positrons scattered from molecular hydrogen. The widely available software package GAUSSIAN is used to generate the radial electronic charge density of the molecule which is used to produce the interaction potentials. The quasifree absorption potential, previously developed and used for positron-atom scattering, is extended to positron scattering from molecular targets. It is shown that this model potential approach produces accurate results even into the low-energy regime.
Functional Characterization of Canine Connexin45

Three gap junctional proteins have been identified in canine ventricular myocytes: connexin 43 (Cx43), connexin 45 (Cx45), and connexin 40 (Cx40). We have characterized the functional properties of canine Cx45 and examined how Cx45 functionally interacts with Cx43 in Xenopus oocyte pairs. Homotypic pairs expressing Cx45 were well coupled. Heterotypic pairs composed of Cx45 paired with either Cx43 or Cx38 also developed high levels of conductance. Junctional currents in the heterotypic pairs displayed a highly asymmetrical voltage dependence. The kinetics and steady-state voltage dependence of the heterotypic channels more closely resembled those of the Cx45 channels when the Cx45 cRNA-injected cell was relatively negative suggesting that the Cx45 connexon closes for relative negativity at the cytoplasmic end of the channel. We also show that homotypic and heterotypic channels composed of Cx45 and Cx43 exhibit differences in pH i sensitivity.
Using Tangent Lines to Define Means

We found these results to be quite intriguing and wondered if other means could be generated in this way by using different functions. As it turns out, this idea can be applied to a wide class of functions and the locations of the corresponding points c exhibit a surprising degree of simplicity and elegance. We will provide the details in this paper under the assumption that the reader has only a limited knowledge of the vast field of means. At the end of the paper, we will relate the means defined here to other types of means that have been considered in the literature. Given two distinct real numbers a and b, a mean M(a, b) is a number that lies between a and b. A mean is symmetric if M(a, b) = M(b, a) for all a and b. In this paper, we will only consider symmetric means defined for positive numbers. The most familiar example of a mean is the arithmetic mean (or average) of two numbers, but there are many more examples. For instance, the geometric mean of two positive numbers a and b is /a-b. This number is the side length of a square whose area is equal to that of a rectangle with lengths a and b. The value between a and b, often called c, whose existence is asserted by the Mean Value Theorem from differential calculus, also provides a way to define a mean of two numbers. As with the point of intersection of the tangent lines, a mean defined in this way depends on the function f. We will mention a connection between these two types of means.
An unusual sterol from house flies

Abstract Sterols of whole adult house flies, Musca domestica L., and their pupal exuviae have been studied. The major sterol in both was very similar to cholesterol but probably differed in the position of substituents within the saturated side chain. Many characteristics of this sterol are reported, but the structure has not been established. Sterols similar to Δ 7 -cholestenol and 7-dehydrocholesterol were also demonstrated in the flies and exuviae, and a sterol similar to methostenol (4-α-methyl-Δ 7 -cholestenol) was found in the exuviae. The origin of these sterols in flies reared by the CSMA procedure is not known.
Molecular Structure, Stereochemistry and Interactions of Steffimycin B, and DNA Binding Anthracycline Antibiotic

Abstract The crystal and molecular structure of anthracycline antibiotic steffimycin B(C29H320O13) has been determined by X-ray diffraction and the stereochemistry revealed. The orthorhombic crystals belong to space group P212121, with the dimensions; a = 8.253 (2), b = 8.198 (2), c = 40.850 (8) A and Z = 4. Intensity data were collected for 2518 independent reflections. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined to an R value of 0.066 for 1410 reflections. The configuration in ring A is TR,8S,9S. Ring A adopts half chair conformation, while the sugar ring has the regular chair conformation. The molecule most probably binds to double helical DNA through intercalation and hydrogen bonding.
Low-Density Lipoprotein Stimulated Peroxide Production and Endocytosis in Cultured Human Endothelial Cells: Mechanisms of Action

The effects of arachidonic acid metabolism and NADPH oxidase inhibitors on the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) generation and endocytotic activity of cultured human endothelial cells (EC) exposed to atherogenic low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels have been investigated. EC were incubated with 240 mg/dl LDL cholesterol and cellular H2O2 production and endocytotic activity measured in the presence and absence of the arachidonic acid metabolism inhibitors, indomethacin, nordihydroguaiaretic acid, and SKF525A, and NADPH oxidase inhibitor, apocynin. All inhibitors, with the exception of indomethacin, markedly reduced high LDL-induced increases in EC H2O2 generation and endocytotic activity. EC exposed to exogenously applied arachidonic acid had cellular functional changes similar to those induced by high LDL concentrations. EC incubated with 1–25 uM arachidonic acid had increased H2O2 production and heightened endocytotic activity. Likewise, EC pre-loaded with [3H]arachidonic acid when exposed to increasing LDL leve...
Making Asset Management Work: Innovative Components for Successful Implementation by Local Agencies in Michigan

Although the concepts of transportation asset management are generic in nature, the adoption of asset management by local agencies (counties, county road commissions, cities, villages, towns, and t...
Dietary supplementation of ω-3 fatty acid-containing fish oil suppresses F2-isoprostanes but enhances inflammatory cytokine response in a mouse model of ovalbumin-induced allergic lung inflammation

Epidemiological and clinical evidence has suggested that increased dietary intake of fish oil containing omega-3 fatty acids including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may be associated with a reduced risk of asthma. However, interventional studies on these effects have been equivocal and controversial. Free radical oxidation products of lipids and cyclooxygenases-derived prostaglandins are believed to play an important role in asthma, and fish oil supplementation may modulate the levels of these critical lipid mediators. We employed a murine model of allergic inflammation produced by sensitization to ovalbumin (OVA) to study the effects of fish oil supplementation on airway inflammation. Our studies demonstrated that omega-3 fatty acids were dose dependently incorporated into mouse lung tissue after dietary supplementation. We examined the oxidative stress status by measuring the levels of isoprostanes (IsoPs), the gold standard for oxidative stress in vivo. OVA challenge caused significant increase of F(2)-IsoPs in mouse lung, suggesting an elevated level of oxidative stress. Compared to the control group, fish oil supplementation led to a significant reduction of F(2)-IsoP (from arachidonic acid) with a concomitant increase of F(3)-IsoPs (from EPA) and F(4)-IsoPs (from DHA). Surprisingly, however, fish oil supplementation enhanced production of proinflammatory cytokine IL-5 and IL-13. Furthermore, fish oil supplementation suppressed the production of pulmonary protective PGE(2) in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) while the level of urinary metabolites of the PGE(2) was increased. Our data suggest that augmented lung inflammation after fish oil supplementation may be due to the reduction of PGE(2) production in the lung and these dichotomous results bring into question the role of fish oil supplementation in the treatment of asthma.
Migration and mainstreaming: matching health services to immigrants’ needs in Australia

The provision of special services for people of non-English speaking background in Australia emerged in the context of the development of policies of multiculturalism. This article documents the trends in state and federal policy development and service provision in the 1990s, as influenced by the sometimes-competing forces of political will, financial resources and community demand. The sustainability of various programmes is examined in the context of the continuing need to provide for people whose access to mainstream health services remains problematic.