cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
What Is in the Neuromuscular Junction Literature

This update begins with myasthenia gravis and the roles of anti-agrin and cortactin antibodies. Regarding diagnosis, a report on repeated ice pack testing is highlighted as are several reports on the close correlation of electrodiagnostic testing with clinical features and the response to treatment. The incidence of head drop and associated clinical and ventilatory features are gleaned from a retrospective study. We also discuss a study that assessed the predominantly symmetric and conjugate ocular findings in MuSK-myasthenia gravis. Other topics that are covered include quality of life and preoperative risk. We then summarize the positive treatment trials of subcutaneous immunoglobulin and eculizumab. Turning to Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome, we report on an epidemiologic study performed on the veteran affairs population, the results of the DAPPER study of 3, 4 diaminopyridine, and look to the future for other treatment options involving calcium gating modifiers.
SUPERIOR SINUS VENOSUS DEFECT AND PERSISTENT LEFT-SIDED SUPERIOR VENA CAVA WITH RIGHT HEART ENLARGEMENT IN AN ASYMPTOMATIC MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN

Sinus venosus defects are the third most common type of atrial septal defects (ASD) but often go unrecognized on transthoracic imaging. Using clinical clues may lead to increased suspicion for this anomaly. A 67-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with chest pain. An
Perceptions and attitudes of swine exhibitors towards recommendations for reducing zoonotic transmission of influenza A viruses.

Since 2011, there have been 468 cases of variant influenza A virus (IAV) reported in the United States, many of which were associated with youth swine exhibition. In an effort to mitigate risk associated with exposure to IAV in swine, the "Measures to Minimize Influenza Transmission at Swine Exhibitions" (MtM) was developed for show organizers, volunteers and exhibitors. These recommendations are updated annually; however, it is not clear if youth swine exhibitors are aware of the recommendations; support the recommendations; and would be willing to practise recommended behaviours. Therefore, a cross-sectional survey method was used to assess swine exhibitor perceptions and their adoption of swine production practices aimed at reducing the transmission of IAV at the human-animal interface. In addition, the survey asked participants their state of residence and the number of shows they would attend in 2017. In all, 155 participants who showed swine on a regular basis (x = 11 shows per year), from at least 18 states within the US, completed the survey. At least, 67% of participants believed each statement was a good recommendation, with 6 of 11 recommendations being supported by >90% of participants. When asked if recommendations could be implemented, 65%-94% of respondents agreed, and 21%-89% of participants had already implemented each recommendation, respectively. Although significant efforts have been made to increase signage at swine exhibitions (warning of risks associated with eating/drinking in animal areas), a majority of respondents report eating/drinking in the barn and are unwilling to change their behaviours. This study provides evidence that developing and disseminating static recommendations to reduce zoonotic disease transmission is not enough to change human behaviour to prevent future variant IAV infections associated with swine exhibitions.
An agent-based model of insect resistance management and mitigation for Bt maize: A social science perspective

Managing and mitigating agricultural pest resistance to control technologies is a complex system in which biological and social factors spatially and dynamically interact. We build a spatially explicit population genetics model for the evolution of pest resistance to Bt toxins by the insect Ostrinia nubilalis and an agent-based model of Bt maize adoption, emphasizing the importance of social factors. The farmer adoption model for Bt maize weighed both individual profitability and adoption decisions of neighboring farmers to mimic the effects of economic incentives and social networks. The model was calibrated using aggregate adoption data for Wisconsin. Simulation experiments with the model provide insights into mitigation policies for a high-dose Bt maize technology once resistance emerges in a pest population. Mitigation policies evaluated include increased refuge requirements for all farms, localized bans on Bt maize where resistance develops, areawide applications of insecticidal sprays on resistant populations, and taxes on Bt maize seed for all farms. Evaluation metrics include resistance allele frequency, pest population density, farmer adoption of Bt maize and economic surplus generated by Bt maize. Based on economic surplus, the results suggest that refuge requirements should remain the foundation of resistance management and mitigation for high-dose Bt maize technologies. For shorter planning horizons (
DOSIMETRY AND DIAGNOSTIC ACCURACY OF INTRAORAL AND EXTRAORAL BITEWINGS IN DETECTING APPROXIMAL CARIES

Background Traditionally, interproximal caries has been diagnosed radiographically by intraoral bitewing radiographs. Although this has been the conventional practice, the challenge of accommodating the film/ image receptor in the mouth, especially in patients with a gag reflex, has affected image acquisition and quality. A new method of acquiring bitewings with an extraoral approach has been recently introduced but the quality and diagnostic efficacy along with the radiation dosage of these techniques have not been well studied. Objective(s) The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of intraoral and extraoral bitewings (IOBs and EOBs) in their ability to detect proximal caries and to compare the effective doses from both techniques. Study Design Human teeth with or without proximal caries were used in this study. Carious lesions were created with different degrees of decalcification on 60 teeth (120 surfaces). These teeth were then placed into sockets of dry human skulls. Intraoral bitewings were acquired using a Kavo LM/CM109 wall-mounted X-ray tube with exposure parameters of 70 KVp, 7 mA, and 0.125 second. Extraoral bitewings were acquired with a Planmeca Promax at 74 kVp,7 mA, and 7.5 seconds. Two radiologists and a general dentist scored the radiographs using standardized software (MiPACS) and display monitors. Dose measurements were done on an anthropometric RANDO phantom. OSLdot dosimeters were used at 24 sites for radiation dose measurements. Fifteen exposures were performed for each dosimeter, and absorbed dose was calculated as an average of the15 exposures using the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP, 2007) tissue weighting factors. Results For the diagnosis of interproximal caries, extraoral bitewings showed a sensitivity of 92.3% and specificity of 93.4%, whereas intraoral bitewings showed sensitivity of 94.5% and specificity of 96.8%, Interim dosimetry analysis showed that the doses for IOBs and EOBs were comparable but were slightly different for intraoral membranes. Discussion/Conclusions EOBs showed comparable results to IOBs in the detection of approximal caries and had similar effective doses.
Cerebral Small Vessel Diseases and Sleep Related Strokes.

Abstract Background and Purpose: Sleep related Stroke (SRS) is common and has been associated with cerebral small vessel diseases (SVD) in ischemic strokes (ISs). We tested the hypothesis that SRS is associated with SVD in both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Methods: Prospectively collected data from patients consecutively enrolled after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) related to SVD or after IS were analyzed. Symptom onset was recorded as SRS versus awake. Each ICH was grouped according to lobar and deep locations. The IS cohort was etiologically characterized based on the Causative Classification of Stroke system. Frequencies of SRS within and between ICH and IS cohorts as well as its associations (etiology, risk factors) were analyzed. Results: We analyzed 1812 IS (mean age 67.9 years ± 15.9 years, 46.4% female) and 1038 ICH patients (mean age 72.5 years ± 13.0 years, 45.4% female). SRS was significantly more common among SVD-related ICH patients (n = 276, 26.6%) when compared to all IS (n = 363, 20.0%, P
Tarascan Pottery Production in Michoacán, Mexico: by Eduardo Williams, Oxford, England, Archaeopress, 2017, 182 pp., US $56 (paperback), ISBN 978-1-78491-673-2 (paperback), ISBN 978-1-78491-674-9 (digital)

The monograph, Tarascan Pottery Production in Michoacan, Mexico by Eduardo Williams offers a synthesis of fieldwork among “traditional” potters practicing their craft in Tarascan (Purepecha) commun...
Incorporating shared decision making into communication with older adults with cancer and their caregivers: Development and evaluation of a geriatric shared decision-making communication skills training module.

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate a Communication Skills Training (CST) module for health care providers (HCPs) applying a shared decision-making approach to a meeting with an older adult with cancer and his/her family. Methods Ninety-nine HCPs from community-based centers, cancer centers, and hospitals in the Northeastern U.S. who worked primarily with older adult patients participated in a CST module entitled Geriatric Shared Decision Making. Participants completed pre- and post-training Standardized Patient Assessments (SPAs) and a survey on their confidence in and intent to utilize skills taught. Results Results indicated high HCP satisfaction with the module, with over 95 % of participants reporting high endorsement to all five evaluation items. HCPs’ self-efficacy in utilizing communication skills related to geriatric shared decision making significantly increased pre- to post-training. In standardized patient assessments among a subset of providers (n = 30), HCPs demonstrated improvements in three shared decision-making skills: declare agenda, invite agenda, and check preference. Conclusion A geriatric shared decision-making CST workshop for HCPs showed feasibility, acceptability, and improvement in self-efficacy as well as skill uptake. Practice implications This Geriatric Shared Decision-Making CST module provides an intervention for improving provider-patient-family member communication in the context of cancer care for older adults.
Early life adversity and appetite hormones: The effects of smoking status, nicotine withdrawal, and relapse on ghrelin and peptide YY during smoking cessation.

Abstract There is evidence suggesting that ghrelin and peptide YY (PYY) modulate stress responses and the rewarding effects of drugs, although no research has examined the impact of exposure to early life stress on these hormones in smokers nor during smoking cessation. This study examined the relationships between early life adversity (ELA) and circulating ghrelin and PYY during ad libitum smoking and early withdrawal in tobacco smokers (N = 98) who were interested in cessation. We also included a comparison group of nonsmokers (N = 36). We prospectively compared levels of hormones between smokers who were successful in quitting within a 2-week period, smokers who relapsed during that period, and nonsmokers. Results showed that ELA was positively associated with elevated ghrelin in nonsmokers. Among those reporting no ELA, successful quitters had higher ghrelin levels than nonsmokers during ad libitum smoking, while relapsers had higher ghrelin levels than nonsmokers during withdrawal. In addition, having no ELA was associated with a decline in ghrelin from the ad libitum to abstinence sessions in successful quitters; this withdrawal-related decline was not found in relapsers. Although effects of ELA, smoking group, and time on PYY were not significant, greater PYY was associated with reduced urges to smoke during withdrawal. These findings suggest the importance of considering changes in appetite-related hormones in individuals who are dependent on tobacco. This research provides additional indications for effects of ELA on appetite-stimulating hormones.
Cost-effectiveness of opicapone and entacapone in reducing OFF-time in Parkinson's disease patients treated with levodopa/carbidopa.

To assess from a US payer perspective the relative cost-effectiveness of the catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitors opicapone and entacapone when used adjunctively to levodopa/carbidopa (LD/CD) in...
Solid-State Circuit Breaker Component Simulation

The landscape of direct current (DC) solid-state circuit breakers (SSCBs) is growing and so too is the choice of primary components. There now exists a wide range of devices capable of withstanding voltage levels conducive to electrical transmission; though steady state efficiency of these devices remains a concern. Choosing primary components out of the growing selection pool can be cumbersome and prone to biased decision-making. The purpose of using a multifaceted mathematical approach to decision-making is to reduce these complications. The contribution of this paper will reduce biased decision-making when choosing primary components of SSCBs. This methodology consists of developing accurate and consistent simulation comparisons of steady-state efficiency, thermal performance, and cost of a variety of SSCB types, topologies, and solidstate device materials. The results contained within this paper demonstrate an achievable holistic approach to SSCB primary component choice.
Reframing strategic, managed retreat for transformative climate adaptation

Human societies will transform to address climate change and other stressors. How they choose to transform will depend on what societal values they prioritize. Managed retreat can play a powerful role in expanding the range of possible futures that transformation could achieve and in articulating the values that shape those futures. Consideration of retreat raises tensions about what losses are unacceptable and what aspects of societies are maintained, purposefully altered, or allowed to change unaided. Here we integrate research on retreat, transformational adaptation, climate damages and losses, and design and decision support to chart a roadmap for strategic, managed retreat. At its core, this roadmap requires a fundamental reconceptualization of what it means for retreat to be strategic and managed. The questions raised are relevant to adaptation science and societies far beyond the remit of retreat.
A Deep Ensemble Method for Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning: A Case Study on Air Traffic Control

Reinforcement learning (RL), a promising framework for data-driven decision making in an uncertain environment, has successfully been applied in many real-world operation and control problems. However, the application of RL in a large-scale decentralized multi-agent environment remains a challenging problem due to the partial observability and limited communications between agents. In this paper, we develop a model-based kernel RL approach and a model-free deep RL approach for learning a decentralized, shared policy among homogeneous agents. By leveraging the strengths of both these methods, we further propose a novel deep ensemble multi-agent reinforcement learning (MARL) method that efficiently learns to arbitrate between the decisions of the local kernel-based RL model and the wider-reaching deep RL model. We validate the proposed deep ensemble method on a highly challenging real-world air traffic control problem, where the goal is to provide effective guidance to aircraft to avoid air traffic congestion, conflicting situations, and to improve arrival timeliness, by dynamically recommending adjustments of aircraft speeds in real-time. Extensive empirical results from an open-source air traffic management simulation model, developed by Eurocontrol and built on a real-world data set including thousands of aircrafts, demonstrate that our proposed deep ensemble MARL method significantly outperforms three state-of-the-art benchmark approaches.
Is the Bank of Japan's Financial Structure an Obstacle to Policy?

Central bank capital and accounting measures of capital adequacy potentially constrain central bank policy outcomes. Historical and institutional factors explain why central banks are organized as public corporations; however, capital structure design provides little predictive insight into policy outcomes. In fact, focusing on accounting measures of capital adequacy and similar performance indicators potentially interferes with monetary policy, especially in extraordinary economic circumstances such as deflation. The Bank of Japan, like the Federal Reserve in the 1930s, has overemphasized accounting measures of central bank performance at the cost of nonoptimal policy outcomes.
A Review of “Cultivating Food Justice: Race, Class, and Sustainability”

The commitment to cultivating food justice emerges from an acknowledgment of how imperialism, colonialism, and racism have shaped and continue to shape food systems in the United States. Food justi...
Modernism and the Celtic revival

Acknowledgements List of abbreviations 1. The Celtic muse: anthropology, modernism and the Celtic Revival 2. 'Fair equivalents': Yeats, Revivalism and the redemption of culture 3. 'Synge-On-Aran': The Aran Islands and the subject of Revivalist ethnography 4. Staging ethnography: Synge's The Playboy of the Western World 5. 'A renegade in the ranks': Joyce's critique of Revivalism in the early fiction 6. Joyce's modernism: anthropological fictions in Ulysses Conclusion. After the Revival: 'Not even Main Street is safe' Notes Bibliography Index.
Increased expression of the NG2 chondroitin-sulfate proteoglycan after brain injury.

Injury to the adult mammalian CNS results in reactive changes among the glial cells surrounding the site of damage. Recently, an unusual class of glial cells has been identified within the intact adult rat cerebellum on the basis of the expression of the NG2 chondroitin- sulfate proteoglycan (Levine and Card, 1987). To determine whether the cells that express the NG2 proteoglycan show reactive changes after injury, small puncture lesions were made into the cerebelli of adult rats, and changes among astrocytes, microglia and NG2-positive cells were examined using immunohistochemical staining with cell type- specific marker antibodies. Beginning at 24 hr after lesion, NG2- positive cells immediately adjacent to the lesion site bound the anti- NG2 antibodies more heavily than cells within the undamaged areas of the cerebellum. This increase in anti-NG2 immunoreactivity was transient, reaching a maximum at 7 d postlesion and declining slowly thereafter. The increase in anti-NG2 immunoreactivity was accompanied by an increase in the levels of mRNA encoding the NG2 core protein as demonstrated by in situ hybridization. NG2-positive cells adjacent to the lesion site incorporated 3H-thymidine into their nuclei beginning at 24 hr postlesion and increased in number. Concurrent with these changes, microglia became activated and increased in number, monocytes invaded the damaged tissue, and an astrocytic scar formed. These observations demonstrate that the cells that express the NG2 proteoglycan are a reactive cell type that responds to brain injury. The increased expression of the NG2 chondroitin-sulfate proteoglycan may contribute to the failure of damaged CNS axons to regenerate successfully.
Bladder growth and development after complete primary repair of bladder exstrophy in the newborn with comparison to staged approach.

ABSTRACT Purpose: We assessed bladder growth and dynamics following complete primary repair of bladder exstrophy (CPRE) compared to the staged approach. Materials and Methods: We reviewed the records of 16 boys and 7 girls who underwent CPRE within 3 days of life from 1996 to 2004 and compared them to the records of 8 boys and 6 girls treated with a staged repair from 1979 to 1996. Screening methods included voiding cystourethrogram, radionuclide cystogram and urodynamic study. We estimated growth curves for bladder capacity following repair in each group, and compared percent predicted bladder capacity (PPBC), compliance and detrusor overactivity between the CPRE and staged repair groups following bladder neck reconstruction. Results: Bladder capacity in the staged repair group was 69.8 ml (95% CI 46.7–104.4) immediately after bladder neck reconstruction and increased by 15.0% per year thereafter (95% CI 6.2–24.5, p = 0.002). In the CPRE group bladder capacity was 29.0 ml (95% CI 21.3–39.5) initially and increased by 28.9% per year thereafter (95% CI 17.4–41.5, p Conclusions: Within the CPRE group bladder stability was universal, and sphincter electromyography was normal suggesting no neuromuscular compromise of the pelvic floor. At early followup, our results suggest that PPBC is equivalent irrespective of gender or management. Further objective evaluation is needed in both groups.
The Foundations of Modern Democracy: Reflections on Jürgen Habermas

Jurgen Habermas is one of the very few indisputably great moral and social thinkers of our time. We must situate our own thought with respect to his in order to know what it is we truly think, even when we then find that we must disagree. Over a number of years, Habermas has been working out a new conception of moral philosophy that he calls “discourse ethics” ( Diskursethik ). To some extent, this line of thought has developed at a very abstract level. Perhaps its most prominent feature has been the attempt to find the source of morality in a general principle of universalization that any agent must assume just by virtue of being a competent speaker with an understanding of the concept of reasons for action. It cannot be said that this attempt has met with evident success. Like all efforts to draw some fundamental set of moral obligations from the notion of practical rationality as such, Habermas's reflections at this level seem caught in a well-known but inescapable dilemma: either the idea Habermas proposes of practical rationality (or “communicative reason,” as he terms it) proves too weak to deliver any moral principles, or it is made to yield the desired conclusions only by virtue of moral content having been built into it from the outset (see Chapter 2). These exercises in “first philosophy” have been, however, only one part, and doubtlessly not the most deeply felt, of Habermas's project of a “discourse ethics.”
Coupling 3D Quantitative Interrogation of Weld Microstructure with 3D Models of Mechanical Response

Porosity resulting from linear autogenous laser-welds of 304L stainless steel are non-destructively examined and digitally reproduced by means of micro-computed tomography. These digitized microstructures are then imported into a finite element framework in which the pores are surrounded by an idealized, homogenized geometry, and exposed to a plastic strain-inducing failure load. Variations in equivalent plastic strain, strain at peak load and load-to-failure were all found to bear some correlation with the digitized microstructure’s local and global porosity content in simulation. Furthermore, experimental results show agreements in deformation trends predicted by simulation but reveal simulations underestimate both peak load and strain-to-failure.
Antigen-induced suppression of mitogen responses and resistance to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Abstract Random-bred Hartley and inbred Strain 2 and Strain 13 guinea pigs were inoculated for acute experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Sixty-six percent ( 69 103 ) of the Hartleys developed signs of EAE while the remaining 34% ( 34 103 ) were resistant. No Strain 2 and all Strain 13 guinea pigs developed EAE. Histologic examination of nervous tissue revealed that susceptible Hartleys and Strain 13 and Strain 2 animals had lesions characteristic of EAE. Tissue from resistant Hartleys showed fewer and less severe changes. Lymphocyte-transformation assays with EAE-inducing and noninducing antigens and T-cell mitogens revealed three different sets of responses in vitro : (i) lymphocytes from all animals responded to mitogens; (ii) lymphocytes from susceptible animals responded to EAE-inducing antigens; and (iii) lymphocytes from resistant Hartleys were suppressed from responding to the mitogens solely by EAE-inducing antigens. Plasmas from all EAE-sensitized animals had equivalent anti-myelin basic proteins (MBP) antibody titers and skin tests of EAE-inoculated Hartleys were all positive for MBP sensitization. Therefore, resistance and reduced histologic changes characteristic of EAE correlated with a disease-specific antigen-induced suppression of lymphocyte responses to T-cell mitogens. This suggests that clinical resistance to EAE in Hartley guinea pigs is mediated by an immunologic suppressor mechanism.
Hemodynamics of Elastase-Induced Aneurysms in Rabbit: A New High Flow Bifurcation Model

An intracranial aneurysm (IA) is a pathological condition of cerebral arteries characterized by local enlargements of the arterial wall, typically into a saccular shape. Rupture of the aneurysm sac can result in devastating cerebral hemorrhage. Hemodynamic factors are believed to play an important role in initiation, development and rupture of IAs [1–3]. However, the coupling between hemodynamics and aneurysm pathophysiology is complex and remains poorly understood. Patient specific diagnostics regarding risk of rupture can be substantially advanced by improving our understanding of the in-vivo response of the aneurysm wall to intra-saccular hemodynamic stresses. A mechanism for fundamental studies of the impact of chronically altered WSS on the intact vascular wall is provided by animal models. However, cerebral aneurysms have not been shown to occur naturally in animals. Thus, a number of animal models have been created for studying aneurysm pathogenesis including those in mice, rats, rabbits, canines, swine and primates. To make meaningful use of these models, it is important to evaluate their relevance to human biomechanics and pathophysiology.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Wetting Behavior and Drainage of Water Droplets on Microgrooved Brass Surface

In the present study, we report the contact angle hysteresis and drainage behavior of water drops on a number of brass surfaces with parallel microgrooves and compare them to the flat baseline surfaces. Parallel micro-grooves with different groove dimensions are fabricated by micro end-milling process without any modification of the surface chemistry. Advancing and receding contact angles in both parallel and perpendicular direction of the grooves and also the drainage behavior of water droplets on the microgrooved surfaces is found to be considerably affected by change in groove geometry parameters. Very high hysteresis is observed for both low ( 0.7) of grooves and also for surfaces with lower groove spacing due to the droplets being in a Wenzel state. For intermediate aspect ratio (0.25–0.70) and larger spacing of the grooves, droplets remain in a Cassie state and the hysteresis is lower in both directions than that on the flat surfaces. Variation of critical sliding angle (angle at the point of incipient sliding of water droplets due to gravity) with groove geometry is investigated for a range of water droplet volume of 15 to 75 μl. Droplets of all volumes are found to slide much more readily on grooved surfaces than when placed on the flat baseline surfaces. Height and spacing of the grooves are also found to have significant influence on the sliding of the water droplets, as critical inclination angle decreased with groove height and increased with groove spacing. The results from this study may be useful in a broad range of applications where water retention plays an important role.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Functional and molecular characterization of I-Aβk mutants is consistent with the predicted three dimensional structure of class II MHC molecules☆

Abstract Class II MHC (Ia) molecules have been shown to be critical as restriction elements in the T helper/inducer cell recognition of antigen. Efforts to determine the role of allelic variation in MHC restricted antigen presentation have included the use of serologically selected mutants to correlate structural variations in Class II molecules with changes in the antigen presenting function of Ia bearing cells. Such studies have revealed that serologically selected mutations tend to occur in a single immunodominant region and that even a single amino acid substitution can alter T cell recognition of Ia molecules. We report here the characterization of two more serologically selected Class II A β chain mutations. Each is due to a single base change which alters a single amino acid. One of these mutations is in the third hypervariable region (amino acid 64—glutamine to arginine) and alters the antigen presenting function. The second mutation at amino acid 48, though a relatively non-conservative change (arginine to cysteine), has no effect on APC phenotype. Such a result would be predicted based on comparisons made with the proposed three dimensional crystallographic structure of Class I molecules and models proposed for Class II molecules based on Class I structure. The amino acid change at position 48 is in a portion of the molecule that is most likely unavailable to bind antigen or interact with T cell receptor whereas the mutation at amino acid 64 is on an exposed face of the alpha helix, a region which could affect interaction with either antigen and/or the T cell receptor.
On the concept of temperature

The role of temperature as an independent parameter, whose presence is necessary to ensure symmetry properties of a multi-particle system in thermostatic equilibrium, is examined. It is shown to possess all the usual characteristics for a large closed system in contact with a heat reservoir. For a small closed system, however, neither temperatures nor entropy may possess any physical significance. The question of temperature fluctuations is briefly considered.
Aberration-limited coupling efficiency from a plano-convex lens into an optical fiber.

Ray-tracing calculations of the coupling efficiency from a plano-convex lens of relatively low f/number (∼2.35) into highly multimode step-index optical fibers have been performed for both orientations of the lens. The results of the calculations yield surprising discontinuities and asymmetries in the slope of the coupling efficiency versus longitudinal displacement. These features are explained in terms of the multiplicity of roots in the mapping of incident-ray heights onto the fiber core radius. In addition, it is found that the paraxial coupling efficiency result is in marked qualitative and quantitative disagreement with exact theoretical results, except at coupling efficiencies of less than a few percent. The relationship of these features to longitudinal spherical aberration, paraxial coupling, and the ray caustic is discussed.
The Role of Synoptic-Scale Flow during Tropical Cyclogenesis over the North Atlantic Ocean

Abstract The synoptic-scale flow during tropical cyclogenesis and cyclolysis over the North Atlantic Ocean is investigated using compositing methods. Genesis and lysis are defined using the National Hurricane Center (NHC, now known as the Tropical Prediction Center) best-track data. Genesis (lysis) occurs when NHC first (last) identifies and tracks a tropical depression in the final best track dataset. Storm-centered composites are created with the Analysis of the Tropical Oceanic Lower Level (ATOLL; ∼900 hPa) and 200-hPa winds for June–November produced by NHC for the years 1975–93. Results show that significant regional differences exist in 200-hPa flow during genesis across the Atlantic basin. Composites of genesis in the western part of the basin show a 200-hPa trough (ridge) located to the west (east) of the ATOLL disturbance. In the eastern half of the basin composites of genesis show a sprawling 200-hPa ridge centered northeast of the ATOLL disturbance. The major axis of this elliptically shaped 20...
Associations of Perceived Social and Physical Environmental Supports With Physical Activity and Walking Behavior

We evaluated perceived social and environmental supports for physical activity and walking using multivariable modeling. Perceptions were obtained on a sample of households in a southeastern county. Respondents were classified according to physical activity levels and walking behaviors. Respondents who had good street lighting; trusted their neighbors; and used private recreational facilities, parks, playgrounds, and sports fields were more likely to be regularly active. Perceiving neighbors as being active, having access to sidewalks, and using malls were associated with regular walking.
Azithromycin and MGD: Is it possible to turn an off-label treatment into an on-label therapy?

Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is the primary cause of dry eye disease (DED), which afflicts hundreds of millions of people, predominantly women, and is a leading cause of patient visits to eye care practitioners. The impact of moderate to severe DED is comparable to conditions such as dialysis and severe angina, and is associated with significant pain, role limitations, low vitality and poor general health. There is no cure for MGD. The most frequent pharmaceutical treatment in the United States for the management of MGD is the off-label use of topical azithromycin. This antibiotic is presumed to be effective because of its anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial actions, which may suppress the MGD-associated posterior blepharitis and growth of lid bacteria. We hypothesize that azithromycin can act directly on human meibomian gland epithelial cells to stimulate their differentiation, enhance the quality and quantity of their lipid production, promote their holocrine secretion and ameliorate MGD pathophysiology. Our results support our hypotheses and may help lead to the approval of topical azithromycin as a safe and effective therapy for human MGD and thereby improve the quality of life of countless people throughout the world. Commercial interest
Specific Heat Capacity at Constant Volume for R125 and R410a at Temperatures from (300 to 400) K and Pressures to 20 MPa

Specific heat capacities at constant volume (Cv) were measured with an adiabatic calorimeter for pure pentafluoroethane (R125) and an azeotrope-like mixture of R32 and R125 (R410A) with a mole fraction composition of 0.6975 difluoromethane + 0.3025 pentafluoroethane. Temperatures ranged from 300 K to 400 K, and pressures ranged from 3 MPa to 20 MPa. Measurements were conducted on single-phase liquid and compressed gaseous samples along isochores. Density was reported during each calorimetric experiment. The R410A mixture was gravimetrically prepared from high-purity substances. The principal sources of uncertainty are the temperature-rise measurement and the change-of-volume work adjustment. The expanded relative uncertainty (with a coverage factor k = 2 and thus a 2 SD estimate) for CV is estimated to be 2 % for liquid-phase results, increasing to 4 % for gas results (below critical density). The expanded relative uncertainty for density is 0.2 %.
Factors Affecting the Fertility of Frozen Bovine Spermatozoa

Summary Three separate studies were conducted in an attempt to determine the most suitable extender, the spermatozoan concentration necessary, and the method of filling and sealing glass ampules, to obtain optimal nonreturn rates with frozen bovine spermatozoa. In the first experiment, a total of 934 first-service cows were bred with semen extended and frozen in yolk-citrate extender, 945 cows with milk, 928 cows with yolk-glucose-glycine, and 902 cows with skimmilk. The 75-day nonreturn rates were 64.7, 66.2, 41.3, and 65.3%, respectively. Yolk-citrate, milk, and skimmilk, on the basis of this experiment, were acceptable semen extenders for frozen semen, whereas yolk-glucose-glycine was not suitable. For the second experiment, 469 first-service cows were bred with frozen semen containing 10 million live spermatoza per insemination at time of initial dilution, 479 cows with frozen semen containing 20 million spermatozoa, and 472 cows with semen containing 30 million spermatozoa per insemination. The 75-day nonreturn rates for the respective levels were 63.1, 68.9, and 72.7%. The difference between the 10- and 30- million level was highly significant (P In the third experiment, 294 first-service cows were inseminated with frozen semen for which the glass ampule had been gravity-filled-tip-sealed, 275 cows inseminated with frozen semen in ampules that had been gravity-filled-cut, pull-sealed; 313 cows inseminated with frozen semen in ampules that had been forced-filled-tip-sealed, and 254 cows inseminated with frozen semen in ampules that had been force-filled-cut, pull-sealed. The 75-day nonreturn rates for the respective methods of filling and sealing were 69.0, 73.8, 63.9, and 70.5%. None of the differences was significant. However, a significant difference existed between tip-sealed and pull-sealed, irrespective of method of filling. The difference between gravity-filled and force-filled, irrespective of method of sealing, was not significant.
Subtraction of background fluorescence in multiharmonic frequency-domain fluorimetry.

Background fluorescence is a major concern in time-resolved microfluorimetry studies of biological samples. A general method for subtraction of an arbitrary background signal in measurements of lifetime and anisotropy decay by multiharmonic Fourier transform spectroscopy is presented. Multifrequency phase and modulation values are measured in parallel by transformation of digitized time-domain waveforms into the frequency domain. For subtraction of background, time-domain waveforms are acquired for emission and reference photomultipliers for sample (e.g., cell containing fluorophore) and blank (e.g., unlabeled cell). Time-domain waveforms obtained in a series of measurements (e.g., sample and blank for parallel and perpendicular orientations of an emission polarizer) are time-justified by least-squares fitting of reference channel waveforms or by phase comparison of the first Fourier harmonics of the reference channel. Background is then subtracted directly in the time domain, and the subtracted waveform is Fourier transformed to the frequency domain for analysis of lifetime or anisotropy decay. This approach yielded excellent background correction over a wide range of background intensities and decay profiles. The method was tested in cuvette fluorimetry with fluorescein and acridine orange and in fluorescence microscopy with living MDCK cells loaded with the pH indicator BCECF. Sample life-times and rotational parameters could be recovered accurately with >50% of the signal arising from background. These results establish a direct and practical approach to subtraction of background in complex biological and chemical samples studied by frequency-domain fluorimetry.
Can Suicide Be Ethical? A Utilitarian Perspective on the Appropriateness of Choosing to Die.

In his article in the current issue of Death Studies, "Can Suicide be a Good Death?" David Lester argues that each person should determine whether suicide is appropriate for him or her in relative isolation from the opinions of others. In the present article, I use a utilitarian ethical perspective to critique this assertion. According to utilitarianism, the "goodness" of an action is judged by its impact not only on the individual, but also upon others. As such, I review research demonstrating that suicide has harmful emotional, interpersonal, and economic effects upon individuals and society. Ultimately, the rightness or wrongness of choosing to commit suicide cannot be determined in isolation from the broader consequences of this choice.
Scalar concentration measurements in liquid-phase flows with pulsed lasers

he suitability of pulsed lasers for laser-induced-fluorescence (LIF) measurements of the local concentration of scalars in liquid-phase flows is investigated. Experiments were performed to measure the fluorescence intensity of aqueous solutions of rhodamine-6G chloride excited by a Q-switched, frequency-doubled, Nd:YAG laser. The fluorescence intensity is found to be linear with dye concentration, but not with illumination power density. The fluorescence intensity saturates at laser power densities easily exceeded by short-pulse-duration lasers. A procedure for calibrating and normalizing the raw image data is discussed which relies only on weak absorption and the linearity of fluorescence intensity with concentration. This procedure enables quantitative concentration measurement with pulsed-laser-induced fluorescence.
Thermal conductivity in alkali and noble metals

Abstract The coefficient of thermal conductivity in pure single-crystal monovalent metals is calculated in a quasi-classical kinetic-theory analysis employing the quantum Boltzmann equation, which includes electron–phonon scattering matrix elements. The analysis gives rise to an expression for the coefficient of thermal conductivity, κ ( T ), which has the generic form of experimentally observed curves. That is, κ ( T ) has a linear temperature dependence in the temperature domain T ⪡ Θ D , for which d κ /d T scales as Z 5/6 n ( M / m 5 ) 1/2 and goes through a maximum at T ≅ Θ D /5. In the domain T ⪢ Θ D , κ ( T ) is asymptotic to a constant which scales as ( Z / M ) n 4/3 / m 3 . In these expressions, Θ D is the Debye temperature, ( n , m ) are electron number density and mass, respectively, and ( M , Z ) are ion mass and valence number, respectively. Two appendices are included. In the first, it is shown that the derived expression for κ ( T ) agrees with asymptotic values of observed properties of this parameter. In the second, it is shown that the decay of an electron in a metal with emission of an acoustic phonon persists at 0 K.
Improving The Management Of Care For High-Cost Medicaid Patients

Increased policy attention is being focused on the management of high-cost cases in Medicaid. In this paper we present an algorithm that identifies patients at high risk of future hospitalizations and offer a business-case analysis with a range of assumptions about the rate of reduction in future hospitalization and the cost of the intervention. The characteristics of the patients identified by the algorithm are described, and the implications of these findings for policymakers, payers, and providers interested in responding more effectively to the needs of these patients are discussed, including the challenges likely to be encountered in implementing an intervention initiative.
Aluminum CVD for Interconnect Thin Films

Aluminum thin films were deposited by chemical vapor deposition on SiO2 substrates using trimethylamine alane (TMAA) in a standard low pressure CVD reactor system, with argon as a carrier gas. Film quality and morphology were found to be a sensitive function of reactor flow dynamics. High purity films were obtained with resistivities of ∼5.0 /fuΩ-cm and grain sizes of 1-2 fum in diameter, but many of these films also exhibited aluminum whiskers, which caused VLSI processing problems. The CVD aluminum films exhibited conformal deposition over 0.5fum topographies, and also demonstrated electromigration lifetimes comparable to those of sputtered aluminum films. Aluminum films deposited using TMAA were also found to be selective at 90°C for titanium oxide.
An isolated perfused model for the study of colonic metabolism and transport

The murine colonic perfusion model allows for the examination of absorption, metabolism, and portal transfer by the colon under physiologic conditions. This model was characterized by the use of four radiolabeled compounds: estradiol and Vitamin D3, both physiologically active circulating steroid compounds, and benzo[a]pyrene and N-acetylaminofluorene, xenobiotic carcinogens of the aromatic hydrocarbon and aromatic amide classes, respectively. Hemodynamic parameters and oxygen consumption of the preparation were stable throughout perfusion. Estradiol and N-acetylaminofluorene entered the portal vein at a rate of 2% of the lumenal dose per hour. Benzo[a]pyrene crossed at 0.4% of the lumenal dose per hour. The rate of transfer of Vitamin D3 was negligible. Analysis of the lumenal label revealed only substrate. In all experiments less than 0.02% of the applied substrate remained in the tissue compartment. Analysis of the vascular perfusate demonstrated evidence for sulfates of estradiol and N-acetylaminofluorene. Three conjugate classes were found associated with benzo[a]pyrene, constituting 42% of the portal label. Hydrolysis data suggests the presence of double conjugates of benzo[a]pyrene involving glutathione. In the case of aromatic hydrocarbons, conjugation, particularly thioether formation, implies hydroxylation and epoxide formation. For sulfation an N-acetylamino-fluorene ring or N-hydroxylation is required. The latter process could allow for the delivery of highly carcinogenic N-O sulfates to the liver.
The Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

With a worldwide pandemic of type 2 diabetes upon us, it is imperative that effective and practical preventive strategies be developed for this disease which, once established, carries with it excess morbidity and mortality. This article reviews recently published data on the prevention of type 2 diabetes and compares the demonstrated effectiveness of each strategy, including lifestyle modification and several pharmacologic agents. Although much new information is available, many translational questions remain that chiefly concern the generalizability and applicability of these programs to clinical practice. Recent diabetes prevention guidelines are discussed, and a practical framework for their implementation is presented.
Functions not first-return integrable

Abstract Benedetto Bongiorno constructed a certain class of improperly Riemann integrable functions on [ 0 , 1 ] which are not first-return integrable. He asked if all improper Riemann integrable functions which are not Lebesgue integrable are not first-return integrable. Recently David Fremlin provided a clever example to show that this is not the case. It remains open as to which functions are first-return integrable. We prove two general theorems which imply the existence of a large class of improperly Riemann integrable functions which are not first-return integrable. As a corollary we obtain that there is an improperly Riemann integrable function which is C ∞ on ( 0 , 1 ] yet fails to be first-return integrable.
Free Radical-Induced Redox Chemistry of Nedaplatin and Satraplatin under Physiological Conditions

Abstract Temperature-dependent kinetics for the reactions of hydroxyl radicals and hydrated electrons with the anti-cancer drug nedaplatin have been determined using a combination of electron pulse radiolysis and absorption spectroscopy. Under physiological pH and chloride concentrations, the kinetics was well described by the equations and corresponding to Arrhenius activation energies of 15.88 ± 1.16 and 14.14 ± 1.41 kJ mol−1 for hydroxyl radical oxidation and hydrated electron reduction, respectively. Through a comparison of spectral and kinetic literature it is believed that the oxidation reaction gives predominantly an intermediate Pt(III) species, whereas reduction gives a Pt(I) moiety. Analogous hydrated electron measurements for the Pt(IV) drug satraplatin showed multiple-component decays at higher temperatures (>20°C), indicating that significant thermal degradation of this chemical occurs. From double-exponential curve fitting, the satraplatin reduction kinetics was found to be well described by...
The synthesis of system designs: I. Elementary decomposition theory

A system synthesis principle is proposed from which processes can be composed to perform an assigned task. Synthesis is performed by the sequential decomposition of the design problem into subproblems which eventually reach the level of available technology.