cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of Coulombic large-energy-transfer collisions in fusion-grade plasmas

The distortion of the background-ion distribution function produced by Coulombic large-energy-transfer collisions with beam-injected ions, and the effects of this distortion in fusion experiments and reactors are examined. A binary collision operator describing the superthermal background-ion Coulombic interaction has been developed which explicitly includes the discrete nature of the large-energy-transfer collisions. The effects neglected by the cold-target assumption and the small-energy-transfer approximation are regained in this analysis. This mechanism is found to 'broaden' the background-ion Maxwellian in energy. This broadening of the Maxwellian can substantially enhance the fusion energy production for a given expenditure of neutral-beam-heating energy during the startup heating phase.
Supramolecules impregnated proton electrolyte membranes

Recent advances on modification of ‘Nafion’ proton electrolyte membrane via impregnation of supramolecules have been reviewed with emphasis on improved performance of proton conductivity at high fuel cell operation temperatures. The incorporation of supramolecules such as hyperbranched (HB) polyester and ‘Noria’ was found not only to improve oxidative thermal, mechanical, and electrochemical stabilities, but also enhance proton conductivity at elevated temperatures. It may be hypothesized that the incorporated ‘Noria’ supramolecules act like solid proton carriers which in turn improve proton conduction of the impregnated Nafion.
Phonological/phonemic awareness and reading: A crosslinguistic perspective

Phonological/phonemic awareness (PA1) concerns “the translation of print into some equivalent of speech” or “the acquisition of letter-sound relations”. It is considered by many to be causally linked to reading ability and believed by some to form a critical foundation for reading instruction. We provide cross-linguistic evidence to argue against such a strong position. Specifically, we argue that (a) PA is not causally linked to reading ability in Chinese, (b) PA is not related to reading Chinese characters, (c) PA is not universal, and (d) PA training is not an effective way to teaching reading.
On Post's Canonical Systems

We assume familiarity with the canonical languages of Post (cf. [1], [2]). A set S of strings is said to be representable in a canonical system ( F ) if there is a string π such that for every string X, X ∈ S if and only if πX is provable in ( F ). Suppose that K is a finite alphabet containing at least 2 symbols, and that W is a set of strings in (the symbols of) K . If W is representable in some canonical system, is it necessarily representable in a canonical system which uses only the symbols of K ? We answer this question affirmatively. Thus, e.g., it is possible to construct a 2-sign universal system over its own alphabet. 2
Equilibrium stability in decentralized design systems

The focus of this paper is on complex systems, and it presents a theoretical study of the design of complex engineering systems. More particularly, this paper studies the stability of equilibria in decentralized design environments. Indeed, the decentralization of decisions is often recommended in the design of complex systems, and the decomposition and coordination of decisions are a great challenge. The mechanisms behind this network of decentralized design decisions create difficult management and coordination issues, However, developing efficient design processes is paramount, especially with market pressures and customer expectations. Standard techniques to modelling and solving decentralized design problems typically fail to understand the underlying dynamics of the decentralized processes and therefore result in sub-optimal solutions. This paper aims to model and understand the mechanisms and dynamics behind a decentralized set of decisions within a complex design process. Complex systems that are multidisciplinary and highly nonlinear in nature are the primary focus of this paper. Therefore, techniques such as response surface approximations and Game Theory are used to discuss and solve the issues related to multidisciplinary optimization. Nonlinear control theory is used in this paper as a new approach to study the stability of equilibrium points of the design space. Illustrations of the results are provided in the form of the study of the decentralized design of a pressure vessel.
Enteropathogenic E. coli disrupts tight junction barrier function and structure in vivo

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) infection disrupts tight junctions (TJs) and perturbs intestinal barrier function in vitro. E. coli secreted protein F (EspF) is, in large part, responsible for these physiological and morphological alterations. We recently reported that the C57BL/6J mouse is a valid in vivo model of EPEC infection as EPEC colonizes the intestinal epithelium and effaces microvilli. Our current aim was to examine the effects of EPEC on TJ structure and barrier function of the mouse intestine and to determine the role of EspF in vivo. C57BL/6J mice were gavaged with ∼2 × 108 EPEC organisms or PBS. At 1 or 5 days postinfection, mice were killed and ileal and colonic tissue was mounted in Ussing chambers to determine barrier function (measured as transepithelial resistance) and short circuit current. TJ structure was analyzed by immunofluorescence microscopy. Wild-type (WT) EPEC significantly diminished the barrier function of ileal and colonic mucosa at 1 and 5 days postinfection. Deficits in barrier function correlated with redistribution of occludin in both tissues. Infection with an EPEC strain deficient of EspF (ΔespF) had no effect on barrier function at 1 day postinfection. Furthermore, ΔespF had no effect on ileal TJ morphology and minor alterations of colonic TJ morphology at 1 day postinfection. In contrast, at 5 days postinfection, WT EPEC and ΔespF had similar effects on barrier function and occludin localization. In both cases this was associated with immune activation, as demonstrated by increased mucosal tumor necrosis factor-α levels 5 days postinfection. In conclusion, these data demonstrate that WT EPEC infection of 6–8-week-old C57BL/6J mice (1) significantly decreases barrier function in the ileum and colon (2) redistributes occludin in the ileum and colon and (3) is dependent upon EspF to induce TJ barrier defects at early, but not late, times postinfection.
Substrate specificity and inhibition of choline and ethanolamine kinases from the fat-body of Phormia regina larvae☆

Abstract Dimethylethylcholine, dimethyl-n-propylcholine, dimethyl-i-propyl choline, and 2-dimethylaminoethanol are substrates for choline kinase, partially purified from the fat-body of Phormia regina larvae by ammonium sulphate fractionation. Choline analogues and related compounds, which have been previously reported to be effective substitutes for dietary choline, are effective competitive inhibitors of choline phosphorylation. Some additional compounds, triethylcholine, diethylcholine, and 3-trimethylamino-1-propanol, are effective inhibitors of choline phosphorylation yet inadequate as substitutes for dietary choline. Further evidence for separate choline and ethanolamine kinases is provided by studies of both competitive and non-competitive inhibitors. The criteria for an effective inhibitor of ethanolamine phosphorylation are the presence of only one N-alkyl group (except dimethylaminoethanol) and a 2-carbon distance between the nitrogen atom and the hydroxyl group. The I50 values for the inhibition of choline and ethanolamine kinases by Cu2+ are 2.2 and 8.0 × 10−3 M respectively.
The effect of metal optical constants on far- and mid-infrared reflection-absorption

Abstract Although mid-infrared reflection—absorption spectroscopy is almost routine in some laboratories, the application of this technique to far-infrared spectroscopy is generally acknowledged as a difficult experiment at best. In this report the effect of increasing optical indices with wavelength for metals is demonstrated to be a root cause of this difficulty. When appropriate, iron is a reasonable substrate because of the comparatively small imaginary component of its refractive index in the far-infrared region. In addition, there is only a modest loss in spectral intensity of the spectrum for a film on iron relative to the use of the more noble metals as substrate.
Tolerating operational faults in cluster-based FPGAs

In recent years the application space of reconfigurable devices has grown to include many platforms with a strong need for fault tolerance. While these systems frequently contain hardware redundancy to allow for continued operation in the presence of operational faults, the need to recover faulty hardware and return it to full functionality quickly and efficiently is great. In addition to providing functional density, FPGAs provide a level of fault tolerance generally not found in mask-programmable devices by including the capability to reconfigure around operational faults in the field. In this paper, incremental CAD techniques are described that allow functional recovery of FPGA design configurations in the presence of single or multiple operational faults. Our preferred approach to fault recovery takes advantage of device routing hierarchy in architectural families such as Xilinx Virtex [2] and Altera Apex [3] to quickly swap unused logic and routing resources in place of faulty ones within logic clusters. These algorithms allow for straight-forward implementation within a local fault-tolerant system without the need to access a remote processing location. If initial recovery attempts through localized swapping fail, an incremental router based on the widely-used PathFinder maze routing algorithm [10] can be applied remotely in an attempt to form connections between newly-allocated logic and interconnect based on the history of the initial design route.
Low-Power Rotary Clock Array Design

Rotary clock is a recently proposed clock distribution technique based on wave propagation in transmission lines. In this paper, we investigate the problem of power minimization of rotary clock designs. Specifically, we have developed a software tool based on the method of partial element equivalent circuit that is capable of extracting the SPICE netlist from the layout specification of a rotary clock design. Using our tool, we have performed extensive analysis that links various design parameters of a rotary clock design to its oscillation frequency and power dissipation. Based on the results of our analysis, we then propose a power minimization algorithm. Our algorithm derives a rotary clock structure that dissipates the minimal power while satisfying the clock dimension requirement and oscillating at the target frequency with the given clock load. Experimental results have demonstrated that, for target operating frequencies ranging from 0.5 to 5 GHz, rotary clock designs can achieve power savings of up to 80% in comparison with conventional clock tree implementations
Tissue cytogenetic studies in chronic ulcerative colitis and carcinoma of the colon

Cytogenetic preparations were obtained by brushing the rectal mucosa during proctoscopy. Of 61 individuals examined, 33 provided reliable material for chromosomal analysis: 10 normal controls, 5 with Crohn’s disease involving the colon, 10 with chronic ulcerative colitis, 4 with ulcerative colitis complicated by cancer of the colon in whom special care was taken to obtain separated samples from both colitic and cancerous tissue, and 4 with cancer of the colon alone. Chromosome count and karyotypes were normal i n all controls and patients with Crohn’s disease. In chronic ulcerative colitis the modal chromosome number remained i n the diploidy range. But aneuploid cells, or possible broken polyploid were seen in 2 patients, and in the inflamed mucosa of 2 other patients with cancer of the colon associated with ulcerative colitis. All these cells were i n the hypotetraploidy range. No chromatid breaks were found in the controls and in patients with Crohn’s disease, but patients with ulcerative colitis and colon cancer demonstrated a variable number of breaks. Profound abnormalities were demonstrated in patients with carcinoma, characterized by aneuploidy, chromatid breaks and marker chromosomes. This study documents significant chromosomal abnormalities i n chronic ulcerative colitis, both in patients with and without colonic cancer. Cancer 34:684-695, 1974.
Evaluation and management of the fat leg syndrome.

Learning Objectives: After studying this article, the participant should be able to: 1. Discuss the initial evaluation of a patient presenting with lower extremity enlargement. 2. Distinguish underlying medical conditions causing lower extremity enlargement, including lymphedema and lipedema. 3. Discuss appropriate management and treatment for patients presenting with these conditions. Background: Given the epidemic of obesity in the United States, many patients will consult the plastic surgeon with complaints of lower extremity enlargement secondary to “fat legs.” In addition to cosmetic disfigurement, some patients may suffer from underlying medical conditions that are responsible for their symptoms. Knowledge of these other causes, including lymphedema and a disorder of abnormal fat deposition known as lipedema, ensures appropriate management and/or surgical treatment for affected patients. Methods: Initial evaluation for lower extremity enlargement should include a discussion of pertinent medical history and a focused physical examination for findings that might indicate a pathologic underlying cause. When indicated, patients should undergo additional testing, including radiologic studies, to confirm their diagnoses. Results: For those patients found to have lymphatic dysfunction, conservative management, such as massage therapy, use of compression garments, and limb elevation, should be initially recommended. Excisional or suction-assisted lipectomy may be considered in patients who fail conservative therapy. More extensive consultation with the plastic surgeon is recommended for patients seeking aesthetic improvement in contour and shape of large legs without a specified underlying abnormality. Conclusions: Patients with lower extremity enlargement may present to the plastic surgeon unsure of the specific cause of their deformity. A broad differential diagnosis exists for their presentation, which can be narrowed by using the common features and unique manifestations of the conditions.
Validity of criteria for DSM-III self-defeating personality disorder.

Abstract Criteria for self-defeating personality disorder were examined using a standard measure in 148 psychiatric outpatients. The best individual criterion was self-defeating B (taken advantage of by others). Self-defeating A (sacrifices needs for others) and K (being hurt is sexually arousing) were of little value. Although some dependent, histrionic, and avoidant criteria were also related to self- defeating personality disorder, the disorders appeared fairly clearly separate. There did appear to be more overlap (although not identity) with borderline personality disorder. It appears possible that in some circumstances self-defeating personality disorder might be diagnosed using two criteria.
Molecular Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Cardiovascular Medicine

The ability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to evaluate cardiovascular pathophysiology at several levels is one of the strengths of the technique. As shown in Figure 1, cardiac phenotype can be assessed at the whole-organ level by cine MRI, at the regional level with strain, perfusion, and viability imaging, and at the metabolic level with spectroscopic techniques.1,2 However, MRI of biological processes at the cellular and subcellular level (molecular MRI) has been studied most extensively in other disease states such as cancer.3,4 Molecular MRI techniques are, however, being increasingly developed for cardiovascular applications and, if fully developed, have the potential to make a significant impact on the practice of cardiovascular medicine. Figure 1. Comprehensive analysis of cardiac phenotype by MRI. A, cine MRI of a mouse heart; B, area of myocardial infarction delineated by delayed enhancement MRI in a mouse heart; C, corresponding triphenyltetrazolium (TTC) image. D, map of myocardial perfusion (ml/g per min) in a mouse heart obtained with a spin labeling technique;1 E, strain rate imaging at the midventricular level in a wild-type mouse;1 F, a phosphocreatine metabolite map in an isolated perfused rat heart fused with the corresponding coronary angiogram.2 Comprehensive imaging of the human heart can be performed with identical techniques. Molecular MRI thus offers the potential for complete anatomic, functional, metabolic, and molecular imaging with a single modality from bench to bedside. The advantages of an MRI-based approach to molecular imaging reflect the general attributes of the technique. MRI is noninvasive, tomographic, nonionizing, and able to generate images with high spatial resolution and excellent soft tissue contrast. In the initial portion of the present review, the technology that underlies molecular MRI agents is reviewed. The application of these agents to the imaging of myocardial disease, atherosclerosis, and stem cell …
Developmentally Sensitive Diagnostic Criteria for Mental Health Disorders in Early Childhood: The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV, the Research Diagnostic Criteria-Preschool Age, and the Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood-Revised.

As the infant mental health field has turned its focus to the presentation, course, and treatment of clinically significant mental health disorders, the need for reliable and valid criteria for identifying and assessing mental health symptoms and disorders in early childhood has become urgent. In this article we offer a critical perspective on diagnostic classification of mental health disorders in young children. We place the issue of early childhood diagnosis within the context of classification of psychopathology at other ages and describe, in some detail, diagnostic classifications that have been developed specifically for young children, including the Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood (DC:0-3R; ZERO TO THREE, 2005), a diagnostic classification for mental health symptoms and disorders in infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. We briefly outline the role of diagnostic classification in clinical assessment and treatment planning. Last, we review the limitations of current approaches to the diagnostic classification of mental health disorders in young children.
Map Edges: Focal Points for Facilitating Text Recall.

In two experiments undergraduate students were shown maps with features located either along an edge or within the interior of the map. Next, participants were asked to read a related text. Thereafter, they were asked to recall as much of the text information as possible and to reconstruct the map. In both experiments, the results consistently showed that students recall significantly more information when features are located along the edges of the maps. These findings will help give teachers and designers of classroom displays a better understanding of how to create maps that will facilitate the recall of related information.
Understanding the population genetic structure of Gleditsia triacanthos L.: the scale and pattern of pollen gene flow

Spatial and temporal patterns of gene flow determine the extent to which populations can differentiate from one another as a result of natural selection or genetic drift. In this study, we investigated pollen-mediated gene flow in two eastern Kansas populations of the subdioecious tree species, Gleditsia triacanthos L. (Leguminosae), or honeylocust. In 2 yr at each site, we used paternity-exclusion analysis to estimate the proportion of seeds sired by immigrant pollen. We also used a single-parent and parent-pair exclusion analysis on naturally established seedlings and saplings to estimate gene flow into one site over a 12-yr period and into the second site over a 22-yr period. Results of both analyses showed high minimum estimates of pollen gene flow into each site (17%-30%). In each population, we found significantly less gene flow in years of high fruit production than in years of low fruit production, but in one population, we observed little variation in gene-flow rates among age classes of seedlings and saplings. The level of pollen gene flow showed weak negative dependence on the relative isolation distances of the maternal trees sampled (140-240 m at one site vs. 85-120 m at the second site), and gene-flow estimates from naturally established juveniles were very similar at the two sites. Within populations, a multiple regression model showed that maximum-likelihood estimates of male fertility were negatively associated with distances between mates and positively associated with male size as measured by stem diameter. In neither population, however, did the regression explain more than 16% of the total variation in male fertilities.
THE METABOLISM OF LEAD (Pb) IN THYROPARATHYROID-ECTOMIZED (TPTX) RATS AFTER INFUSIONS WITH CaNa2EDTA (EDTA) AND PARATHYROID HORMONE (PTH)

Previous data in bone organ culture have demonstrated a mobile compartment of Pb regulated like bone mineral. To test for its existence in vivo, after 7mg/kg of Pb plus 25μCi 203Pb were given IV, TPTX rats were placed in metabolism cages; and 4 days later, EDTA or PTH was infused via a catheterized tall vein for 6 hours. Measurements were made of stable Pb and 203Pb from aliquots of total organs, urinary Pb/creatinine (Pb-U), and blood Pb (Pb-B), μg/dl. 3 days later the rats were sacrificed and the cpm of 203Pb from bone (B), liver (L), and kidney (K) were expressed as the % change vs saline-infused controls. The results (* = p < .01;** = < .001) were: PTH infusion period: Pb-U = 2.29 ± .04*; Pb-B = 34± 2**; PTH 72-H after infusion: Pb-U = .56 ± .10; Pb-B = 9.0 ± 2; EDTA infusion period: Pb-U = 20.28 ± 5.16**; Pb-B = 33 ± 2**; EDTA 72-H after infusion: Pb-U = 1.35 ± .04*; Pb-B = 8 ± 2. In EDTA-treated rats, 203Pb decreased from B, L, K by 22 ± 1**, 46 ± 4**, and 40 ± 6**, respectively. In PTH-treated rats, 203Pb decreased from B.L.K by 11 ± 2*. 29 ± 4** and 30 ± 2**. Similar increases in the urinary excretion of calcium, phosphate and hydroxyproline were produced by both agents. These in vivo data are consistent with previous in vitro observations. Moreover, PTH's dramatic effects on the redistribution of Pb in soft and hard tissues may well modify the toxic activities of Pb and thereby be of considerable clinical importance.
Effect of forskolin on alterations of vascular permeability induced with bradykinin, prostaglandin E1, adenosine, histamine and carrageenin in rats

Abstract The effect of the diterpene forskolin on vascular permeability alone and in combination with bradykinin, prostaglandin E 1 , adenosine or histamine has been investigated in rats. Vascular permeability in rat skin was measured using [ 125 I]-labelled bovine serum albumin ([ 125 I]BSA) as a tracer. In addition, the effect of forskolin on footpad edema induced by the injection of a mixture of 2% carrageenin was determined. Forskolin caused a marked potentiation of the increase in vascular permeability in rat skin elicited by the intradermal injection of histamine or bradykinin. However, forskolin caused a significant suppression of the prostaglandin E 1 -induced vascular permeability response and at a low concentration suppressed the response to adenosine. Forskolin greatly potentiated the footpad edema induced with carrageenin in rats. Intravenous administration of the enzyme bromelain, which reduces plasma kininogen levels, inhibited the footpad edema induced with carrageenia or with a mixture of carrageenin and forskolin. Parenteral administration of a prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor, indomethacin, suppressed the footpad edema induced with carrageenin, but did not inhibit the footpad edema induced with a mixture of carrageenin and forskolin. An antihistamine, cyproheptadine, had no effect on carrageenin-induced footpad edema either in the presence or absence of forskolin. These results suggest that both bradykinin and prostaglandins are essential for the development of carrageenin-induced footpad edema and that bradykinin plays an important role in the potentiative effect of forskolin on footpad edema induced with carrageenin in rats.
Pluripotency Network in Embryonic Stem Cells: Maybe Leibniz Was Right All Along

The transcription factors Tcf3 and Nanog regulate many genes in embryonic stem cells, but according to two reports in this issue of Cell Stem Cell (Festuccia et al., 2012, Martello et al., 2012), only one, Esrrb , encoding an orphan nuclear hormone receptor, truly matters in the maintenance of self-renewal.
A kinetic model of Escherichia coli core metabolism satisfying multiple sets of mutant flux data

In contrast to stoichiometric-based models, the development of large-scale kinetic models of metabolism has been hindered by the challenge of identifying kinetic parameter values and kinetic rate laws applicable to a wide range of environmental and/or genetic perturbations. The recently introduced ensemble modeling (EM) procedure provides a promising remedy to address these challenges by decomposing metabolic reactions into elementary reaction steps and incorporating all phenotypic observations, upon perturbation, in its model parameterization scheme. Here, we present a kinetic model of Escherichia coli core metabolism that satisfies the fluxomic data for wild-type and seven mutant strains by making use of the EM concepts. This model encompasses 138 reactions, 93 metabolites and 60 substrate-level regulatory interactions accounting for glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, pentose phosphate pathway, TCA cycle, major pyruvate metabolism, anaplerotic reactions and a number of reactions in other parts of the metabolism. Parameterization is performed using a formal optimization approach that minimizes the discrepancies between model predictions and flux measurements. The predicted fluxes by the model are within the uncertainty range of experimental flux data for 78% of the reactions (with measured fluxes) for both the wild-type and seven mutant strains. The remaining flux predictions are mostly within three standard deviations of reported ranges. Converting the EM-based parameters into a Michaelis-Menten equivalent formalism revealed that 35% of Km and 77% of kcat parameters are within uncertainty range of the literature-reported values. The predicted metabolite concentrations by the model are also within uncertainty ranges of metabolomic data for 68% of the metabolites. A leave-one-out cross-validation test to evaluate the flux prediction performance of the model showed that metabolic fluxes for the mutants located in the proximity of mutations used for training the model can be predicted more accurately. The constructed model and the parameterization procedure presented in this study pave the way for the construction of larger-scale kinetic models with more narrowly distributed parameter values as new metabolomic/fluxomic data sets are becoming available for E. coli and other organisms.
Lack of effect of atenolol on the pharmacokinetics of theophylline.

The effects of 3 days of pretreatment with cardioselective doses of atenolol on theophylline pharmacokinetics were determined. Nine healthy nonsmoking male volunteers received 6 mg kg-1 i.v. aminophylline under baseline conditions and after both 50 mg day-1 and 100 mg day-1 atenolol. Theophylline clearance, volume of distribution and half-life were not influenced by atenolol pretreatment. These data indicate that cardioselective doses of atenolol do not alter the pharmacokinetics of theophylline.
Carbon-14 dating of ground water in the Palouse Basin of the Columbia river basalts

Summary Delineation of the spatial distribution of ground water that is several thousands of years old can provide an important piece of the puzzle in the evaluation of long-term, ground water resource sustainability under pumping conditions. Ground water for municipal and local water supplies within the Palouse Basin of eastern Washington and northern Idaho are derived almost entirely from two basalt aquifer systems. Decades of continual water level declines in the deeper aquifer system in response to interstate pumping have suggested that this high transmissivity, low storativity aquifer system is being mined. Average water level declines in the deeper aquifer system have been on the order of 0.46 m (1.5 ft) per year for the past 40-plus years. Carbon-isotopic measurements on dissolved inorganic carbon were used to provide information on the relative ages of the ground water pumped from various locations within the basin. Mass balance modeling of hydrochemical reactions together with steep, downward vertical gradients throughout the basin suggest that the ground water being withdrawn currently required several thousand years to traverse spatially variable sequences of loess, fluvial sediments, and basalt flows with associated sedimentary interbeds, that overlie the primary producing zones in the basin. Restrictions to the vertical movement of recharge water such as low permeability, overburden deposits, well-developed fragipans, and thick, low permeability, sedimentary interbeds increase in the eastern portion of the Palouse Basin compared to the western portion. This has resulted in accumulation of the oldest ground water in the topographically highest areas of the basin adjacent to the basin divide.
Abiomed BVS 5000: Experience and potential advantages

Background. The ABIOMED BVS 5000 is a two-chambered extracorporeal pulsatile assist device intended for temporary circulatory support. The Food and Drug Administration granted approval for the device for postcardiotomy palients in 1992. Methods. A worldwide registry is maintained with the BVS 5000. Currently 500 patients have been entered into the registry. The majority of patients were postcardiotomy (53%) and required biventricular assist devices (65%). Results. Postcardiotomy patients have had a 27% discharge rate compared with cardiomyopathy patients with a more than 40% discharge rate. Comparison at Baylor University Medical Center of the ABIOMED BVS 5000 with a nonpulsatile device demonstrated an improved wean rate (60% versus 47%, respectively) as well as discharge rate (27% versus 17%, respectively). Conclusions. A worldwide registry combined with the experience at Baylor University Medical Center demonstrates the capability of the BVS 5000 to support postcardiotomy patients. The device is safe, simple, and effective. In addition, the pulsatile nature of the circulatory support appears to offer advantages over other systems.
Empirical robust estimators for 2D noncausal autoregressive models

Some robust estimators are suggested for two-dimensional (2D) noncausal autoregressive models. These estimators are based on the general theme that robust estimators are characterized by a mechanism that down-weights data which seem extreme relative to the aggregate data. Although there could be many schemes to accomplish this down-weighting, resulting estimates should be consistent and efficient, or nearly so. Two classes of robust estimators are presented. The first class uses robust covariance estimates in place of sample covariance estimates, while the second class embodies the idea that bounding the influence of outlying data produces robustness. Simulation results are included to demonstrate the usefulness of these estimators. >
Agents in neural uncertainty

This paper models neural uncertainty using a concept of the Agent-based Uncertainty Theory (AUT). The AUT is based on complex fusion of crisp (non-fuzzy) conflicting judgments of agents. It provides a uniform representation and an operational empirical interpretation for several uncertainty theories such as rough set theory, fuzzy sets theory, evidence theory, and probability theory. The AUT models conflicting evaluations that are fused in the same evaluation context. This paper shows that the neural fusion at the synapse can be modeled by the AUT. The neuron is modeled as an operator that transforms classical logic expressions into many-valued logic expressions. The new neural network has neurons at two layers. The first-layer agents implement the classical logic operations, but at the second level, neurons or nagents (neuron agents) compute the same logic expression with different results for different agent inputs. The motivation for such neural network is to provide high flexibility and logic adaptation of the neural model.
Composite anyon coding and the initialization of a topological quantum computer

Schemes for topological quantum computation are usually based on the assumption that the system is initially prepared in a specific state. In practice, this state preparation is expected to be challenging as it involves nontopological operations which heavily depend on the experimental realization and are not naturally robust against noise. Here we show that this assumption can be relaxed by using composite anyons: starting from an unknown state with reasonable physical properties, it is possible to efficiently distill suitable initial states for computation purely by braiding, i.e., reversible gates. This is achieved by encoding logical information in a subsystem code with gauge system corresponding to the internal degrees of freedom of composite objects.
Knowledge Acquisition in Medicine: Enforcing Consistency

Some aspects of knowledge base creation can be partially or completely automated, resulting in higher quality and smaller effort. Computer assistance is particularly valuable in ensuring the internal consistency of a knowledge base. The paper describes several techniques for consistency enforcement in QMR-KAT, an interactive knowledge base editor for the INTERNIST-I/QMR medical knowledge base. Two strategies which improve consistency are applicable to a wide range of situations. The first strategy prevents simple (but common) inconsistencies. The second strategy reveals facts that are potentially (but not necessarily) inconsistent with known data, and may require further evaluation. Both strategies use the contents of an existing knowledge base in the evaluation of new facts.
The Uses of Antithesis in Hebrews 8–10

The interaction between early Christianity and the Judaism from which it emerged took many and diverse forms, and Christians’ attitudes toward their Jewish heritage varied considerably. The Epistle to the Hebrews represents a particularly complex case of both the appropriation and the rejection of that heritage. This ambivalent attitude reaches its climax in the central expository section of the text, where the significance of the death of Christ is explored using primarily the analogy of the Yom Kippur sacrifice. This portion of Hebrews is replete with exegetical difficulties which cannot be resolved here. What this essay will attempt is an analysis of the literary techniques through which the model of the Yom Kippur ritual is appropriated.
Blind signal separation in ISDN local loop

To unobtrusively tap into an ISDN line local loop, for eavesdropping or testing purposes, requires the ability to blindly separate and recover the duplex signals in the transmission line. An observer has no access to timing or channel information. The only a priori information is a general pulse shape used for transmission and the format of the digital data. The receiver must combat multiuser interference, intersymbol interference, near and far-end echoes, and additive noise. A subspace algorithm is used in conjunction with the well-known JADE blind-beamforming algorithm followed by iterations of the ILSE algorithm. Symbol error rates for simulated and real data are presented.
Antibacterial Activities of Blueberry and Muscadine Phenolic Extracts

Phenolics are one category of phyto-antimicrobials that refer to the antimicrobial substances extracted from plant sources. This study was undertaken to determine the influence of blueberry and muscadine phenolic extracts on the growths of 2 important foodborne bacterial pathogens, Salmonella Enteritidis and Listeria monocytogenes. Cells of S. Enteritidis (n = 4) or L. monocytogenes (n = 4) strains were inoculated (3 log CFU/mL) into tryptic soy broth (TSB) supplemented with 46.25 ppm of muscadine phenolics and 24 ppm of blueberry phenolics, respectively. The inoculated and un-inoculated broth with or without the supplemented phenolics were incubated at 37 °C for 24 h. Samples were drawn periodically, and cell populations of Salmonella and Listeria were determined on tryptic soy agar (TSA). It was observed that Salmonella was relatively more susceptible than Listeria to the phenolic extracts used in the study. The growth of Salmonella was significantly inhibited in all samples at all sampling points except for the sample that was supplemented with muscadine water extract and drawn at the 24-h sampling point. Blueberry phenolics were relatively more effective than muscadine phenolic extracts in inhibiting the growth of Salmonella. One tested strain of Listeria was more susceptible to ethanol than water phenolic extracts. The study revealed the potentials and limitations of using blueberry and muscadine phenolics to control the growths of selected Salmonella and Listeria strains.
Differential transcript expression between the microfilariae of the filarial nematodes, Brugia malayi and B. pahangi

Background Brugia malayi and B. pahangi are two closely related nematodes that cause filariasis in humans and animals. However, B. pahangi microfilariae are able to develop in and be transmitted by the mosquito, Armigeres subalbatus, whereas most B. malayi are rapidly melanized and destroyed within the mosquito hemocoel. A cross-species microarray analysis employing the B. malayi V2 array was carried out to determine the transcriptional differences between B. malayi and B. pahangi microfilariae with similar age distribution.
The question of knowledge in evidence-based design for healthcare facilities: limitations and suggestions.

This is the author's accepted manuscript. The original published version can be found at http://her.sagepub.com/content/6/4/101.abstract.
Logical Foundations for Similarity-Based Databases

Extensions of relational databases which aim at utilizing various aspects of similarity and imprecision in data processing are widespread in the literature. A need for development of solid foundations for such extensions, sometimes called similarity-based relational databases, has repeatedly been emphasized by leading database experts. This paper argues that, contrary to what may be perceived from the literature, solid foundations for similarity-based databases can be developed in a conceptually simple way. In this paper, we outline such foundations and develop in detail a part of the the facet related to similarity-based queries and relational algebra. The foundations are close in principle to Codd's foundations for relational databases, yet they account for the main aspects of similarity-based data manipulation. A major implication of the paper is that similarity-based data manipulation can be made an integral part of an extended, similarity-based, relational model of data, rather than glued atop the classic relational model in an ad hoc manner.
Frasnian species of the Late Devonian conodont genus Ancyrognathus

Detailed qualitative analysis of the Pa element and multielement analysis emphasizing the associated Pb element have led to the present revision of the Frasnian species of Ancyrognathus. Diagnostic characters of the Pa element, such as the platform outline, carinal pattern, and shape of the pit, as well as salient features of the Pb element, are the basis of this revision. As a consequence, the restriction in the definition of A. triangularis, formerly a heterogeneous concept including several discrete species, has in turn led to the recognition of a substantially increased number of species of Ancyrognathus.The lowest occurrence of Ancyrognathus primus is used here to delimit the base of Zone 6 of the Montagne Noire Frasnian sequence. The exact relationship of the Montagne Noire zonation to the published standard zonation is problematical. For example, the base of the range of A. triangularis is possibly above the zone for which it is the nominal species in the standard zonation. Two new species are named herein, A. coeni and A. seddoni, both of which have been widely illustrated in the literature, and three new species are recognized in open nomenclature.
Induction of Genomic Instability in TK6 Human Lymphoblasts Exposed to 137Cs γ Radiation: Comparison to the Induction by Exposure to Accelerated 56Fe Particles

The induction of genomic instability in TK6 human lymphoblasts by exposure to (137)Cs gamma radiation was investigated by measuring the frequency and characteristics of unstable clones isolated approximately 36 generations after exposure. Clones surviving irradiation and control clones were analyzed for 17 characteristics including chromosomal aberrations, growth defects, alterations in response to a second irradiation, and mutant frequencies at the thymidine kinase and Na(+)/K(+) ATPase loci. Putative unstable clones were defined as those that exhibited a significant alteration in one or more characteristics compared to the controls. The frequency and characteristics of the unstable clones were compared in clones exposed to (137)Cs gamma rays or (56)Fe particles. The majority of the unstable clones isolated after exposure to either gamma rays or (56)Fe particles exhibited chromosomal instability. Alterations in growth characteristics, radiation response and mutant frequencies occurred much less often than cytogenetic alterations in these unstable clones. The frequency and complexity of the unstable clones were greater after exposure to (56)Fe particles than to gamma rays. Unstable clones that survived 36 generations after exposure to gamma rays exhibited increases in the incidence of dicentric chromosomes but not of chromatid breaks, whereas unstable clones that survived 36 generations after exposure to (56)Fe particles exhibited increases in both chromatid and chromosome aberrations.
Language experience and the brain: variability, neuroplasticity, and bilingualism

In the last two decades, we have learned that there is far greater neuroplasticity in adulthood than previously understood. Experiences as varied as driving a taxi cab, playing a musical instrument...
EXAFS and XANES Studies of Fe and Zn in Horse Spleen Ferritin

Ferritin, a hollow, spherical protein encasing a polymeric core of hydrous ferric oxide and ferric oxyphosphate (8:1), stores iron in a soluble, bioavailable form for plants, animals, and some bacteria. The core has some properties in common with geochemical materials, e. g. ferrihydrate and oceanic, volcanogenic ferric oxides, but in ferritin, core formation (nucleation) and utilization appear to be influenced by the protein and by its interactions with iron and other metals such as zinc. Metal environments of solutions of a Zn(II), Fe(III)-protein complex and a model Fe(III)ATP complex (4:1) were examined by XANES and EXAFS to determine the effect of zinc and phosphorous on the iron environment.
Interactive TV in a Digital Era: A Standards Perspective

Interactive television (ITV) has been around for many years, but has been handicapped by the limited capacity of analog delivery. With the transition to digital television broadcasting infrastructures around the world providing increased flexibility and greater downstream data rates to support interactive television content/services, the prospects for growth are high. This paper provides a tutorial on the standards issues involved, including aspects of interactive content carriage in the DTV broadcast, a comparison of declarative versus procedural content, and a review of approaches being considered by the relevant standards bodies.
Persistent bleeding after laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES In our clinical experience, there seemed to be a correlation between cervical stump bleeding and adenomyosis. Therefore, we wanted to conduct a study to determine whether there was an actual correlation and to identify other risk factors for persistent bleeding after a laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy. METHODS The study included women who underwent laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy from January 1, 2003, through December 31, 2012. Data were collected on age, postmenopausal status, body mass index (BMI), uterine weight, indication for hysterectomy, concomitant bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO), presence of endometriosis, surgical ablation of the endocervix, adenomyosis, presence of endocervix in the specimen, and postoperative bleeding. RESULTS The study included 256 patients, of whom 187 had no postoperative bleeding after the operation, 40 had bleeding within 12 weeks, and 29 had bleeding after 12 weeks. The 3 groups were comparable in BMI, postmenopausal status, uterine weight, indication for hysterectomy, BSO, surgical ablation of the endocervix, adenomyosis, and the presence of endocervix. However, patients who had postoperative bleeding at more than 12 weeks were significantly younger (P = .002) and had a higher rate of endometriosis (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS Risks factors for postoperative bleeding from the cervical stump include a younger age at the time of hysterectomy and the presence of endometriosis. Therefore, younger patients and those with endometriosis who desire to have no further vaginal bleeding may benefit from total hysterectomy over supracervical hysterectomy. All patients who are undergoing supracervical hysterectomy should be counseled about the possible alternatives, benefits, and risks, including continued vaginal bleeding from the cervical stump and the possibility of requiring future treatment and procedures.
More on Convergence of Continuous Functions and Topological Convergence of Sets

Let C(X, Y) denote the set of continuous functions from a metric space X to a metric space Y. Viewing elements of C(X, Y) as closed subsets of X × Y, we say {fn } converges topologically to f if Li fn = Lsfn = f. If X is connected, then topological convergence in C(X,R) does not imply pointwise convergence, but if X is locally connected and Y is locally compact, then topological convergence in C(X, Y) is equivalent to uniform convergence on compact subsets of X. Pathological aspects of topological convergence for seemingly nice spaces are also presented, along with a positive Baire category result.