cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electron-Interface-Phonon Interaction and Magnetopolaronic Impurity Transitions in Quantum Wells

The polaronic effect on the hydrogenic 1s–2p+ transition energy of a donor impurity located at the quantum well center in a double heterostructure is studied theoretically in detail. The electron–optical–phonon interaction Hamiltonian is derived on the basis of eigenmodes of lattice vibrations supported by the double heterostructure. Both the confined and interface phonon modes are included in the electron–phonon coupling. The transition energy is calculated as a function of the applied magnetic field for GaAs/Al1-xGaxAs samples of well -widths d=125 A, 210 A and 450 A by the second-order perturbation. Wide transition gaps are predicted around the two-level and three-level resonances for all three cases. It is found that the transition gap narrows with the increasing well-width but remains larger than the LO and TO phonon frequency difference for d=450 A as is observed. We also perform the same calculation by assuming that the confined electron interacts with three-dimensional and two-dimensional phonon modes. The transition energy spectra from these calculations appear to be similar to those for a bulk sample, the spectrum splits at the resonance with the longitudinal optical phonon frequency only. From comparisons of our results with these calculations as well as with experiments, it is conclusively established that the wide gap of transition energy is solely due to the interface modes.
Exercise as a provocative test in early renal disease in type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes: albuminuric, systemic and renal haemodynamic responses.

The value of exercise as a provocative test for early renal disease in Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes was reevaluated. Three carefully characterized groups of males were studied: 10 non-diabetic controls, 16 diabetic patients (group 1) with normal urinary albumin excretion (< 15 μg/min) and 14 Albustix-negative diabetics (group 2) with increased urinary albumin excretion (15–122 μg/min). Assignment to a study group was made on the basis of three 24-h urine collections, and the groups were well matched for age, weight, height, and serum creatinine concentration. The two diabetic groups were similar with regard to duration of disease (13±6 versus 16±3 years), metabolic control (HbA1c: 8.4±1.4 versus 8.7±1.3%) and degree of diabetic complications (beat-to-beat variation and retinopathy). An exercise protocol of 450 and 600 kpm/min workloads was employed. In the resting state group 2 patients had elevated systolic blood pressure compared with the normal subjects (132±13 versus 119±9 mmHg), and their glomerular filtration rate was significantly reduced compared with group 1 (123±19 versus 138±15ml/min per 1.73m2, p < 0.05). During exercise the urinary albumin excretion rate increased significantly in all three groups (normal subjects: 6±0.7 to 8±1.3 (μg/min); group 1: 6±0.6 to 9±1 μg/min and group 2: 48±10 to 113±23 μg/min), the relative increase being higher in group 2 (p < 0.01). The changes in systemic haemodynamics were similar in all three groups in spite of a reduced maximum working capacity in group 2 (949±249 versus group 1:1163±200 and normal subjects 1267±264 kpm/min (p < 0.05). The renal haemodynamic changes were qualitatively similar for the three groups, but the filtration fraction during exercise increased in groups 1 and 2 to almost identical values and were significantly higher than in normal subjects (group 1 + group 2: 0.29±0.02 versus normal subjects: 0.26±0.03, p < 0.02). These findings suggest that an elevated transcapillary pressure gradient, as obtained during moderate exercise, will not cause an abnormal increase in albumin excretion per se. A functional glomerular lesion, already recognisable at rest (elevated albumin excretion) must also be present.
Decolonizing Britain in the 21st Century?: Chagos Islanders challenge the Crown, House of Lords, 30 June-3 July 2008

This article discusses the anthropological, legal, and political significance of a recent lawsuit before the House of Lords involving the people of the UK-controlled Chagos Archipelago, exiled during creation of the US military base on Diego Garcia. Building on a growing body of anthropological and historical literature about the people and the base, the article reviews the history leading up to the June hearing and describes its proceedings as part of the islander's four-decades-old movement to win a return to their homeland. On the one hand, it represents the closest the Chagossians have come to a return in nearly 40 years. On the other, the case holds implications for the right of return of other displaced peoples, the rights of indigenous peoples more broadly, the limits of government authority, the balance of power in British parliamentary democracy, and the deepening of democracy worldwide. The suit holds significance for anthropologists studying indigenous peoples, displacement and migration, human rights, the law, government officials, and foreign policy.
Graph Clustering-Based Ensemble Method for Handwritten Text Line Segmentation

Handwritten text line segmentation on real-world data presents significant challenges that cannot be overcome by any single technique. Given the diversity of approaches and the recent advances in ensemble-based combination for pattern recognition problems, it is possible to improve the segmentation performance by combining the outputs from different line finding methods. In this paper, we propose a novel graph clustering-based approach to combine the output of an ensemble of text line segmentation algorithms. A weighted undirected graph is constructed with nodes corresponding to connected components and edge connecting pairs of connected components. Text line segmentation is then posed as the problem of minimum cost partitioning of the nodes in the graph such that each cluster corresponds to a unique line in the document image. Experimental results on a challenging Arabic field dataset using the ensemble method shows a relative gain of 18% in the F1 score over the best individual method within the ensemble.
A prospective investigation into the reasons why insured United States patients drop out of in vitro fertilization treatment

Objective To determine the primary reason why insured patients drop out of IVF treatment in the United States and to identify methods to decrease such behavior. Design Prospective patient survey. Setting Private infertility clinic. Patient(s) Women under the age of 40 years, who had insurance coverage for at least three IVF cycles, who did not conceive and who did not return to the clinic for a third treatment cycle. Intervention(s) One hundred thirty-two eligible patients received a study packet of questionnaires in the mail. Main Outcome Measure(s) Subject responses to questionnaire. Result(s) Forty-seven subjects returned the questionnaire. The most common reason for terminating treatment was stress (39%). Subjects reported that the two main causes of stress were the toll that infertility took on the couples' relationship and being too anxious or depressed to continue. The top-rated suggestions for patient support were written information on how to deal with psychological stress and easy and immediate access to a psychologist or social worker. Conclusion(s) Patients undergoing IVF in the United States report similar reasons for terminating treatment as patients in Europe and Australia. However, this is the first study to gather patient suggestions for treating the problem.
All About Demand-Driven Acquisition

This article reports on a talk delivered at the Mississippi State University Libraries eResource & Emerging Technologies Summit. The author introduces the concept of Demand-Driven Acquisition (DDA) for e-books and explains how it works. The author discusses predicting and controlling costs, as well as other implementation decisions. Finally, the author discusses the possibility of removing books from a DDA program and speculates on some of the effects of DDA on libraries and scholarly publishing.
Alterations in Nitric Oxide Production in 8-Week-Old Lambs with Increased Pulmonary Blood Flow

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important mediator of pulmonary vascular reactivity, and decreased NO synthase expression has been demonstrated in children with advanced pulmonary hypertension secondary to congenital heart disease and increased pulmonary blood flow. Using aortopulmonary vascular graft placement in the fetal lamb, we have established a unique animal model of pulmonary hypertension with increased pulmonary blood flow. At 4 wk of age, these lambs display an early, selective impairment in agonist-induced NO responses, but an up-regulation of basal NO activity and gene expression. We hypothesized that further exposure to increased flow and/or pressure results in progressive endothelial dysfunction and a subsequent decrease in basal NO production. The objective of this study was to characterize potential later alterations in agonist-induced NO responses and basal NO activity and gene expression induced by 8 wk of increased pulmonary blood flow and pulmonary hypertension. Twenty-two fetal lambs underwent in utero placement of an aortopulmonary vascular graft (shunt), and were studied 8 wk after delivery. Both in vivo and in isolated pulmonary arteries, the pulmonary vasodilating response to endothelium-dependent agents was attenuated in shunted lambs (p < 0.05), whereas the response to endothelium-independent agents was unchanged. The pulmonary vasoconstricting responses to Nω-nitro-l-arginine, and lung tissue endothelial NO synthase mRNA, endothelial NO synthase protein, NO synthase activity, and NOX levels were all unchanged. These data suggest that the increase in basal NO activity demonstrated after 4 wk of increased pulmonary blood flow is lost by 8 wk of age, whereas the attenuation of agonist-induced responses persists. We speculate that the progressive decrease in basal NO activity participates in the development of pulmonary hypertension secondary to increased pulmonary blood flow.
Relation of Validation Experiments to Applications

Model validation efforts often use a suite of experiments to provide data to test models for predictive use for a targeted application. A question that naturally arises is “Does the experimental suite provide data to adequately test the target application model?” The goal of this article is to develop methodology to partially address this question. The methodology utilizes computational models for the individual test suite experiments and for the target application, to assess coverage. The impact of uncertainties in model parameters on the assessment is addressed. Simple linear and nonlinear heat conduction examples of the methodology are provided.
Magnetization of a random ferromagnet

Abstract The relative magnetization of a random fcc ferromagnetic alloy is calculated as a function of temperature and concentration. Results are in good agreement with published measurements on Ni-Cu alloys.
Relationships between Large-Scale Heat and Moisture Budgets and the Occurrence of Arctic Stratus Clouds

Abstract The occurrence of cloudiness over the Beaufort Sea region of the Arctic Basin during June 1980, is related to the ambient large-scale meteorological conditions. Cloud data are obtained from a hand analysis of the visible and infrared Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) images and from the U.S. Air Force Three-Dimensional Nephanalysis (3DNEPH). A comparison of the two cloud cover datasets showed good agreement for mid- and high-level cloudiness, but low-level cloudiness was significantly underestimated by the 3DNEPH. The study therefore uses a composite data set consisting of the 3DNEPH data at mid- and upper-levels, and the DMSP data at lower levels. Atmospheric data are obtained from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) objective analysis, and large-scale heat and moisture budgets are constructed. The budgets are used to investigate the processes which contribute to relative humidity changes. The budgets are related to the cloud cover for both the monthly cl...
Superconducting state magnetization and critical fields of single- crystal YNi2B2C

Abstract Single crystals of YNi 2 B 2 C have been grown via high-temperature flux growth, using Ni 2 B as a solvent. Magnetization measurements have been carried out over a large portion of the magnetic field-temperature plane on a single crystal of YNi 2 B 2 C for field applied parallel to the c -axis in order to determine the range of thermodynamic reversibility and the critical magnetic fields. The magnetization is thermodynamically reversible within 2% of the magnetization for fields above 0.5 T and temperatures above 3 K. Near T c , the upper critical field has a slope of -0.32 T/K. The zero-temperature Ginzburg-Landau parameter κ is 13≈15, the penetration depth λ ab is about 150 nm, and the coherence distance λ ab is about 10 nm. The irreversibility line H irr ( T ) obeys H irr ( T ) = H irr (0) (1- T / T c ) 1.16 . The magnetization data below T c closely follow a logarithmic dependence on applied field, in the intermediate region, as predicted by the London model. The magnetization versus temperature curves shift uniformly to lower temperature as the field increases. Based on these measurements, YNi 2 B 2 C seems more similar to conventional low- T c superconductors than to high- T c superconductors.
Canister cryogenic system for cooling germanium semiconductor detectors in borehole and marine probes

Abstract High resolution intrinsic and lithium-drifted germanium gamma-ray detectors operate at about 77–90 K. A cryostat for borehole and marine applications has been designed that makes use of prefrozen propane canisters. Uses of such canisters simplifies cryostat construction, and the rapid exchange of canisters greatly reduces the time required to restore the detector to full holding-time capability and enhances the safety of a field operation where high-intensity 252 Cf or other isotopic sources are used. A holding time of 6 h at 86 K was achieved in the laboratory in a simulated borehole probe in which a canister 3.7 cm diameter by 57 cm long was used. Longer holding times can be achieved by larger volume canisters in marine probes.
Strengthening school readiness for Head Start children: Evaluation of a self-regulation intervention

Abstract The present study examined the efficacy of a self-regulation intervention for children experiencing demographic risk. Utilizing a randomized controlled design, analyses examined if children (N = 276 children in 14 Head Start classrooms; M age = 51.69, SD = 6.55) who participated in an 8-week self-regulation intervention demonstrated greater gains in self-regulation and academic achievement over the preschool year compared to children in a control group. In addition, indirect intervention effects on achievement outcomes through self-regulation were explored and differential intervention effects for English language learners within a sample of children from low-income families were tested. Results indicated that children in the intervention group demonstrated stronger levels of self-regulation compared to the control group in the spring of the preschool year. Group comparisons also revealed that the intervention was related to significantly higher math skills for children who were English language learners. In other words, English language learners who participated in the intervention demonstrated stronger levels of math in the spring of preschool in comparison to children in the control group and relative to English speakers who also participated in the intervention. The present study provides support for the efficacy of a school readiness intervention in promoting self-regulation and achievement in young children, especially English language learners.
The syntax of a triangle and some other figures

Abstract An approach suggested by Kirsch is used to construct sets of rules for two-dimensional languages that generate arrangements of symbols that form polygons. The syntactic structure of these languages is analyzed and it is shown that a mathematical group summarizes the structure holding between languages constructed for polygons that are related by proper and improper rotations.
Baseline and follow-up MRI of the internal auditory canal after suboccipital resection of acoustic schwannoma: appearances and clinical correlations

Prospective baseline MRI was obtained on 31 patients who had “total” removal of acoustic schwannoma 6 months to 9 years previously. Follow-up MRI was performed after 1–2 years on patients with questionable abnormalities. We found four patterns (1) internal auditory canals (IAC) with nonenhancing soft-tissue strands, possibly scars or distorted residual nerves (8); (2) IAC with marginal enhancement-reactive dura mater (16); (3) IAC with contrast-enhancing globular tissues suggesting residual or recurrent tumour (5); (4) high-signal intensity in the IAC before contrast medium administration, probably related to graft with fat/fascia/muscle (2). Prospective 1-to 2-year follow-up studies were available in 8, 5, and 1 patients in groups 2, 3, and 4 respectively. In group 2, dural enhancement remained unchanged in 5 patients and decreased in 3. In group 3 follow-up showed 1 tumor recurrence (surgically confirmed) and 4 stable abnormalities. In group 4, follow-up in 1 of the 2 patients was stable. In groups 1 and 2, the MRI features correlate well with complete tumor removal. Whether follow-up in these groups is indicated needs to be determined. In group 3 residual or recurrent tumor cannot be excluded. In group 4, grafts may prevent adequate visualization of the IAC.
Molecular mechanisms of the chromosome condensation and decondensation cycle in mammalian cells.

The chromosomes undergo a condensation-decondensation cycle within the life cycle of mammalian cells. Chromosome condensation is a complex and critical event that is necessary for the equal distribution of genetic material between the two daughter cells. Although chromosome condensation-decondensation and segregation is mechanistically complex, it proceeds with high fidelity during the eukaryotic cell division cycle. Cell fusion studies have indicated the presence of chromosome condensation factors in mammalian cells during mitosis. If extracts from mitotic cells are injected into immature oocytes of Xenopus laevis, they induce meiotic maturation (i.e. germinal vesicle breakdown and chromosome condensation) within 2–3 hours. Recently, we showed that the maturation-promoting activity of the mitotic cell extracts is inactivated by certain protein factors present in cells during the G1 period. The activity of the G1 factors coincides with the process of chromosome decondensation that begins at telophase and continues throughout the G1 period. These studies have revealed that the mitotic factors and the G1 factors play a pivotal role in the regulation of condensation and decondensation of chromosomes. Furthermore, our studies strongly suggest that nonhistone protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation may mediate chromosome condensation and decondensation, respectively.
Spectrophotometric Detection of Trace Copper Levels in Jet Fuel

To sensitively and selectively monitor jet fuel for trace levels of copper, two spirobenzopyran dyes, quinolinospiropyranindoline (QSP) and nitrospiropyranindoline (NQSP), have been investigated for their application in a spectrophotometric method that is amenable to rapid, on-site detection of μg/L levels of copper in jet fuel. Both NQSP and QSP respond sensitively to various metal ions in jet fuel, including copper, nickel, and zinc, with NQSP demonstrating the best performance in terms of selectivity of spectral response and sensitivity. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to the spectral data, and the individual contributions to the absorption spectra by copper, nickel, and zinc in JP-5 fuel can be readily separated using this technique. The effect of metal deactivating additives (MDA) in jet fuel on the sensitivity of NQSP for copper was investigated. Silica-bound diethylenetriamine was investigated as an effective solid-phase extraction agent for defining the baseline absorbance of NQSP i...
The histone deacetylase inhibitor, romidepsin, suppresses cellular immune functions of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma patients†‡

Romidepsin is the second histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) approved for the treatment of advanced stages of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). Recent in vitro data suggest that HDACis suppress immune function although these findings have not been confirmed in patients. Thus, we serially examined the cellular immune function of eight CTCL patients undergoing treatment with three cycles of romidepsin. We measured the patients' natural killer (NK) and dendritic cell (DC) function and performed an in vitro terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay to measure cellular apoptosis. Patients' NK cell cytolytic activity decreased from baseline to the third cycle of treatment (P = 0.018) but stimulation with a toll-like receptor (TLR) agonist increased this activity (P = 0.018). At baseline, a TLR agonist could both activate patients' DC (P = 0.043) and stimulate interleukin-12 protein production (P = 0.043) but both were suppressed after the first cycle of romidepsin. Finally, we observed increased specificity for romidepsin-induced CD4+ tumor cell apoptosis and dose-dependent increases in cellular apoptosis of healthy cells in multiple lineages (P < 0.05). These findings raise concern that HDACis suppress immune function in CTCL patients and they support the concurrent use of multiple immune stimulatory agents to preserve the host immune response. Am. J. Hematol. 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Chemiluminescence From Laser-Heated Solid And Gaseous Tetramethyldioxetane

The suitability of 1,2-dioxetanes, specifically the tetramethylderivative (TMD), as a fuel for a Short Wavelength Chemical Laser is investigated experimentally. Experiments in the pure solid state show that the explosive decomposition of. TMD is accompanied by intense blue emission. Due to the high densities involved, a novel type of chain reaction is operative in the system that has the characteristics of a branched chain. The primary quantum yield for singlet acetone generation has been measured in the gas phase (1.7%) using emission and a lower limit of 12% for the primary triplet acetone yield has been found using transient absorption at 300 nm. Energy transfer experiments involving triplet acetone and IF have been undertaken with the goal of observing emission from IF (B31?(e)).
Using biological criteria and indicators to address forest inventory data at the state level

Abstract The Santiago Declaration identified seven criteria and 67 indicators for assessing the conservation and sustainable management of temperate and boreal forests. Data collected by the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program of the US Department of Agriculture Forest Service can be used to directly address at least 11 biological indicators. The FIA program has conducted periodic inventories of forestland for several decades. These inventories provide statistical estimates of forest area, timber volume, growth, removals, and mortality. Recent legislation has mandated that the Forest Service inventory the forestland of the US on an annual basis measuring the entire set of national sample plots over a 5-year period. This paper identifies which criteria and indicators can be addressed by FIA data; the scale at which it may be appropriate to use these data; and how recent changes will impact the Forest Service’s ability to provide information needed to address these indicators. Data from the two most recent inventories of Iowa (1974 and 1990) and Minnesota (1977 and 1990) are used to show how criteria and indicators relate to trends in forest composition and extent, timber resource utilization, and the population size of native and non-native trees. These two states have distinctly different forest resources, ranging from sparse to dense, and provide a good test of the effectiveness of using forest inventory data to provide criteria and indicator information at the state level. Analysis of the data for the last two inventories of Iowa and Minnesota reveals that the area of timberland has increased by 34 and 8%, respectively, while growing-stock volumes have increased by 47 and 23%. Volumes of most native species increased over the period, especially for pioneer species such as Juniperus virginiana L. [ Little (1979) . Agricultural Handbook No. 541, USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ft. Collins, CO] (eastern red cedar). A notable exception was the 52% decline of Ulmus americana L. (American elm) due to the spread of Dutch elm disease. The number of non-native species also increased. In Iowa, the estimated number of live Ulmus pumila L. (Siberian elm) trees, a non-native species, went from 0 in 1974 to 675×103 in 1990. During the 1990 inventory of Minnesota another non-native species, Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle (tree of heaven), was sampled for the first time.
Inelastic finite element analysis of fibre-reinforced composite laminates with damage

AbstractIn this study, a method of finite element analysis is presented to examine the three-dimensional inelastic behaviour of fibre-reinforced composite laminates with damage. The constitutive model for the characterization of mechanical responses of non-linear composite materials to damage that was proposed recently by the authors is employed. The formulation of the elastic damage stress-strain relationship in incremental form is first developed and then incorporated within the context of the displacement-based finite element procedure. Solution of the non-linear equilibrium equations is obtained with the modified Newton—Raphson iteration technique. Numerical implementation of the stress calculation is discussed in detail. Results predicted using the present finite element program for uniaxial off-axis tensile loading of unidirectional graphite/epoxy composite laminates show satisfactory agreement with those obtained from experiments. Other results describing the development of damage zones, the inelas...
Nonequilibrium electron distributions and energy loss rate inIn x Ga 1-x As 1-y N y studied by picosecond Raman spectroscopy

Non-equilibrium electron distributions and energy loss rate in a MOCVD-grown InxGa1-xAs1-yNy (x equals 0.03 and y equals 0.01) epilayer on GaAs substrate have been studied by picosecond Raman spectroscopy. It is demonstrated that for electron density n approximately equals 1018 cm-3, electron distributions can be described very well by Fermi-Dirac distributions with electron temperatures substantially higher than the lattice temperature. From the measurement of electron temperature as a function of the pulse width of excitation laser, the energy loss rate in InxGa1-xAs1-yNy is estimated to be 64 meV/ps. These experimental results are compared with those of GaAs.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Possible test at Jupiter of the nonsymmetric gravitational theory.

Radiometric data generated during spacecraft flybys of Jupiter have the capability to provide an interesting constraint on the coupling of cosmions in the nonsymmetric gravitational theory (NGT) of Moffat. It is shown that the close flyby of Jupiter by Pioneer 11 could imply a possible limit on the NGT l parameter of the sun of solar l less than 2800 km, a limit which could affect the ability of the NGT to account for the precession of the perihelion of Mercury with a large solar quadrupole moment.
Anion dependence of the valence state detrapping behavior for a fused hydrocarbon bridged binuclear mixed valence iron compound and its di-oxygen sensitivity

Monocationic forms of the symmetric and asymmetric indacene bridged species [(Cp*Fe)2(μ-s-indacene)],I, and [(Cp*Fe)2(μ-as-indacene)],II, are fully detrapped and trapped, respectively, over the entire range from 1.5 K to ambient temperature as their BF4− salts. In contrast to [II+][BF4−], the TCNE.− salt [II+][TCNE.−] exhibits a transition from fully trapped to a largely detrapped valence state behaviour over the increasing temperature range ∼100 to ∼300 K. Mossbauer spectra ofI suggest that while it is relatively insensitive to oxygen as a neat solid, it is strongly oxidized by O2 in dry hexane solution. Similar studies ofII indicate essential insensitivity to O2, both as a solid and in hexane solution.
Porphyrin Architectures Bearing Functionalized Xanthene Spacers

A modular synthetic strategy for the construction of cofacial porphyrin architectures bearing hydrogen-bond synthons on a xanthene platform is presented. The convergent approach is based on a xanthene aldehyde-ester building block that is easily obtainable on a multigram scale with minimal purification. Treatment of this xanthene derivative with a variety of aryl aldehydes and pyrrole under standard Lindsey conditions affords a family of meso-substituted porphyrins bearing a single functionalized xanthene spacer. Direct modification of the hydrogen-bond synthon after macrocyclization proceeds smoothly to furnish porphyrin systems with a variety of cofacial functionalities (e.g., carboxylic acid, ester, amide). Porphyrins bearing two trans-functionalized xanthene spacers are prepared by the MacDonald [2 + 2] condensation of the xanthene aldehyde-ester with readily available 5-aryl-substituted dipyrromethanes such as 5-mesityldipyrromethane to afford the pure alpha,alpha- and alpha,beta-porphyrin atropisomers after chromatographic separation. The versatility of this synthetic method offers intriguing opportunities for the use of these and related templates for the study of proton-coupled activation of small molecules.
Effect of molecular adsorbent recirculating system in hepatitis C virus-related intractable pruritus

Intractable pruritus is more common in cholestatic liver diseases and may be the presenting symptom and/or major complaint of hepatitis C and/or hepatitic C virus-related cirrhosis. From September 2000 to May 2002, three patients affected by intractable pruritus secondary to hepatitis C cirrhosis that failed medical treatment were treated with a molecular adsorbent recirculating system (MARS). MARS is an artificial liver support system that aims to clear the blood of metabolic waste products normally metabolized by the liver. Each patient underwent seven MARS sessions. Liver function tests, the 36-Item Short Form quality-of-life test, visual analog scale for itching, and bile acid measurement in the serum, albumin circuit and ultrafiltrate were performed before and after each MARS session. Moreover, at hospital admission, each patient underwent a psychological workup and abdominal imaging study. Subjective improvement in pruritus and quality of life, along with a decrease in serum bile acid concentration, was observed in every patient; no patient underwent retreatment and/or liver transplantation up to a 9-month follow-up. One patient died 201 days after MARS treatment. Although we observed a decreased level of serum bile acids, one cannot conclude that this was the mechanism of action for the reduction in pruritus intensity in patients in our series. Different toxins and/or a placebo effect might have had a role in this setting.
Excitation of the odd parity quasinormal modes of compact objects

The gravitational radiation generated by a particle in a close unbounded orbit around a neutron star is computed as a means to study the importance of the w modes of the neutron star. For simplicity, attention is restricted to odd parity (``axial'') modes which do not couple to the neutron star's fluid modes. We find that for realistic neutron star models, particles in unbounded orbits only weakly excite the w modes; we conjecture that this is also the case for astrophysically interesting sources of neutron star perturbations. We also find that for cases in which there is significant excitation of quadrupole w modes, there is comparable excitation of higher multipole modes.
Suppression of drinking by naloxone in rats homo- and heterozygous for diabetes insipidus ☆

Abstract The effects of the opiate antagonist, naloxone, alone and in combination with morphine, were examined on drinking induced by water deprivation in homo- and heterozygous Brattleboro rats manifesting an inherited diabetes insipidus. Both naloxone and a structurally-related congener, naltrexone (0.01–10 mg/kg), attenuated water consumption in adose-related fashion of 1 hr water-deprived homozygotes, which exhibit a complete absence of vasopressin. Drinking was also reduced by the two drugs in 24 hr water-deprived heterozygotes, which have detectable levels of vasopressin. Morphine pretreatment enhanced the antidipsogenic effects of naloxone in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The administration of 10 mg/kg of morphine 3 hr before testing, which itself did not affect drinking, maximally potentiated the suppressant effects of naloxone on drinking in homozygotes. This potentiating effect of morphine persisted for at least 48 hr. These results indicate that vasopressin is not essential for the antidipsogenic effects of the narcotic antagonists. The polydipsic Brattleboro rat may provide a convenient animal model for studies of the effects of opiate agonists and antagonists on drinking behavior.
Estimation, principal components and hamiltonian systems

In this paper we show how symplectic geometry can be used to analyse a fundamental problem in estimation theory — the fitting of lines and planes to a data set in n dimensions. Symplectic methods yield information not only on the critical point structure of the Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) function (see Byrnes and Willems [7]), but also on the asymmetries in the distribution of the data points in n-space.
A novel error metric for parametric fitting of point spread functions

Established work in the literature has demonstrated that with accurate knowledge of the corresponding blur kernel (or point spread function, PSF), an unblurred prior image can be reliably estimated from one or more blurred observations. It has also been demonstrated, however, that an incorrect PSF specification leads to inaccurate image restoration. In this paper, we present a novel metric which relates the discrepancy between a known PSF and a choice of approximate PSF, and the resulting effect that this discrepancy will have on the reconstruction of an unblurred image. Such a metric is essential to the accurate development and application of a parameterized PSF model. Several error measures are proposed, which quantify the inaccuracy of image deblurring using a particular incorrect PSF. Using a set of simulation results, it is shown that the desired metric is feasible even without specification of the unblurred prior image or the radiometric response of the camera. It is also shown that the proposed metric accurately and reliably predicts the resulting deblurring error from the use of an approximate PSF in place of an exact PSF.
A balancing act in the United States Drug Industry: pioneer and generic drugs, the Orange Book, marketing protection and the US consumer

Abstract This article reviews the range of laws and requirements that surround the creation, testing and marketing of pharmaceutical materials in the USA. It focuses in particular on the Orange Book––more formally Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations––and its role in the process of providing safe and effective drugs at reasonable cost for the consumer, while ensuring that the corresponding research and development in creating new drug products is rewarded. Specific topics covered include: the history and purpose of the `Orange Book', the legislative background, safety and effectiveness, therapeutic equivalence, Waxman-Hatch legislation, the patent position, various forms of exclusivity of marketing rights––such as orphan, Waxman-Hatch, and pediatric, and patent certification as part of an abbreviated new drug application.
The Competence Assessment for Standing Trial for Defendants with Mental Retardation (Cast-MR): A Validation Study

The purpose of this study was to develop and validate an instrument for the assessment of competence to stand trial in criminal defendants with mental retardation. Three experiments were conducted ...
Surface and volumetric backscattering between 100 GHz and 1.6 THz

Successful development of remote sensing and communication systems in the terahertz band requires a better understanding of the scattering behavior of various structures. Materials that could be considered homogeneous and smooth at microwave frequencies may begin to display surface and volumetric scattering behavior in the terahertz band. The co-polarization backscattering coefficient of several types of metal and dielectric structures were measured in indoor compact radar ranges operating at 100 GHz, 160 GHz, 240 GHz, and 1.55 THz. These structures consisted of roughened aluminum plates, as well as homogeneous and inhomogeneous dielectric surfaces. The roughness and inclusions of the measured samples were tailored in order to systematically investigate various scattering effects. Polarimetric backscattering measurements of these materials were collected at elevation angles from 5 to 75 degrees. Analysis of the backscatter data supports a better understanding of surface and volumetric scattering behavior of materials at terahertz frequencies.
Effects of atrial natriuretic factor on human platelet function.

We examined the hypothesis that atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), a substance with known vasorelaxant activities, shares with other vasodilators the property of inhibiting platelet function. Aggregation of citrated platelet-rich plasma (PRP) from 23 healthy volunteers induced by ADP, adrenaline, arachidonic acid, collagen, γ-thrombin, the endoperoxide analogue U-44069, serotonin, the calcium ionophore A-23187 or platelet aggregating factor was measured after incubation of PRP with ANF for 3 minutes at concentrations of 4 × 10−9, 4 × 10−8 and 4 × 10−7M or vehicle as control. ANF decreased ADP-induced aggregation significantly (P<0.02), but only at the highest concentration used and to a minor extent (control: 73.6±11.2%; after ANF 4 × 10−7M: 60.0±17.1%, mean±S.D., n=39) by a selective inhibitory effect on the secondary wave; neither aggregation by all other agents tested nor thromboxane B2 generation induced by ADP and adrenaline was altered by incubation with ANF. Although ANF thus has detectable effects on ADP-induced platelet aggregation in vitro, these data suggest that ANF is unlikely to be a physiologically significant modulator of platelet function.
Lactic Bulk Culture System Utilizing Whey-based Bacteriophage Inhibitory Medium and pH Control II. Reduction of Phosphate Requirements under pH Control

Abstract Reduction of added phosphates in a bacteriophage inhibitory whey-based medium was possible through the application of pH control. Thirty-five active lactic strains and homologous bacteriophage filtrates were inoculated into whey media containing 0 to 2% added phosphates and continuously neutralized with 20% ammonium hydroxide. At 0% phosphates, all but five strains lysed; however, improved growth of these was evident in the media containing added phosphates. Twenty-one strains were protected by .5%, thirty by .75%, thirty-four by 1%, and all thirty-five by 2% added phosphates. All strains performed better in the whey-based medium than in a commercial bacteriophage inhibitory medium under pH control. Acid production was faster in bacteriophage-challenged cultures with reduced phosphate. Storage of a dehydrated bacteriophage inhibitory medium for 2 yr did not affect propagation characteristics of lactic culture. Examples of individual strain responses to the different phosphate percents are reported. Reduced phosphate enhanced milk clotting time, allowed faster culture development, provided protection against bacteriophage, and reduced phosphate content in finished products.
Biased graphs. VII. Contrabalance and antivoltages

We develop linear representation theory for bicircular matroids, a chief example being a matroid associated with forests of a graph, and bicircular lift matroids, a chief example being a matroid associated with spanning forests. (These are bias and lift matroids of contrabalanced biased graphs.) The theory is expressed largely in terms of antivoltages (edge labellings that defy Kirchhoff's voltage law) with values in the multiplicative or additive group of the scalar field. We emphasize antivoltages with values in cyclic groups and finite vector spaces since they are crucial for representing the matroids over finite fields; and integer-valued antivoltages with bounded breadth since they are crucial in constructions. We find bounds for the existence of antivoltages and we solve some examples. Other results: The number of antivoltages in an abelian group is a polynomial function of the group order, and the number of integral antivoltages with bounded breadth is a polynomial in the breadth bound. We conclude with an application to complex representation. There are many open questions.
A green future for religion

Abstract In recent decades, debates have erupted and intensified about the relationships between religions, cultures, and the earth’s living systems. Some scholars have argued that ritual and religion can play a salutary role in helping humans regulate natural systems in ecologically sustainable ways. Others have blamed one or more religions, or religion in general, for promoting worldviews and cultures that precipitate environmental damage. Religious production in recent years suggests not only that many religions are becoming more environmentally friendly but also that a kind of civic planetary earth religion may be evolving. Examples of such novel, nature-related religious production allow us to ponder whether, and if so in what ways, the future of religion may be green.
The Soudan-2 proton decay experiment

The Soudan 2 proton decay experiment is now 1/4 complete and assembled at the bottom of the Soudan iron mine in northern Minnesota, USA. When completed, it will be an 100 ton, fine grained, iron calorimeter. It is comprised of 256 identical modules. The cavity is 14 /times/ 72 /times/ 11 /times/ m (w /times/ 1 /times/ h) large enough to accommodate a 3300 ton detector of similar design. The detector samples track positions every 15, 10, and 2mm along the three spatial coordinations. Thus, the detector will have excellent tracking capabilities for the low energy charged particles and electromagnetic showers expected from nucleon decay candidates and neutrino background events. In addition, for such events the energy of particles observed is sufficiently low that they will stop inside the detector. The measurement of the ionization deposited as a function of track length allows the determination of track and will yield some information on the particle type. In addition to the dE/dx measurements the Soudan 2 detector has several advantages over previous nucleon decay detectors. The honeycomb geometry has very isotropic detection compared with other tracking detectors. The thin steel and local triggering system produces a low trigger threshold giving excellentmore » efficiency for multiparticle decay nodes or ones with missing energy due to neutrinos. 8 figs.« less
Coarsely embeddable metric spaces without Property A

Abstract We study Guoliang Yu's Property A and construct metric spaces which do not satisfy Property A but embed coarsely into the Hilbert space.
Breath biomarkers networking sessions at PittCon 2010, Orlando, Florida.

Joachim D Pleil National Exposure Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency pleil.joachim@epa.gov The Pittsburgh Conference and Exposition, or ‘PittCon’ (www.pittcon.org/), is one of the largest international conferences for analytical chemistry and instrumentation, typically attracting about 25 000 attendees and 1000 commercial exhibitors. PittCon began in 1950 as a small spectroscopy and analytical chemistry gathering and, as the name implies, originated in Pittsburgh, PA. The conference has outgrown its humble beginnings and is now held in early March every year in the United States’ largest convention centers, rotating among Chicago, IL, Atlanta, GA, Orlando, FL and New Orleans, LA. In addition to the instrumentation exposition, PittCon offers over 2000 technical presentations, thousands of poster presentations, numerous plenary lectures, and specialty workshops for analytical instrumentation. Recently, the organizers have implemented a series of ‘Networking Sessions’ as an extra opportunity for attendees to share expertise and opinions to cope with the technological explosion of innovations in new subspecialties.
Case report: responses to stripe width changes and to complex gratings of a patient with pattern-sensitive epilepsy.

Abstract A pattern-sensitive subject's ability to see faint gratings of several different stripe widths (spatial frequencies) was essentially normal, with the greatest sensitivity occurring for gratings with 2 cycles of light and dark stripes per degree of visual arc (c/deg). Epileptiform discharges, however, occurred maximally at a narrower stripe width, 5 c/deg. The 50% bandwidth of the epileptic response was approximately one octave, which is similar to postulated ‘spatial frequency channels’ in the visual system. Hypothesized inhibitory interactions between the 5 c/deg grating and a 15 c/deg grating were not observed.
High‐spectral resolution simulation of polarization of skylight: Sensitivity to aerosol vertical profile

[1] A vector radiative transfer model was used in conjunction with the line-by-line radiative transfer model and the database of high-resolution transmission (HITRAN) molecular absorption to simulate the degree of linear polarization of skylight in cloud-free conditions. Differences between simulated and measured polarization data in high-spectral resolution are found to be within 1% after aerosol scattering and gas absorptions are carefully considered. Limiting experiments are conducted at wavelengths around 0.760–0.765 μm O2-A absorption band for the same columnar aerosol optical thickness but different aerosol profiles. Results showed that the degree of linear polarization of skylight at surface varies strongly and is sensitive to the vertical change of tropospheric aerosol mass (or extinction) as the wavelengths approach to the edge of O2-A absorption band. However, such sensitivity is minimal at all wavelengths when the aerosol composition or single scattering properties are vertically homogeneous. This study suggests that the polarization data can be used together with radiance data to constrain the simulation of vertical distribution of aerosol composition in chemistry transport models.
Beyond usability in games

Video games are an art form that combines traditional artistic endeavors such as the visual arts, story-telling, and music, with more modern technical and engineering achievements. At the center of this effort is the game designer who drives the creative vision and who decides what needs to be accomplished in the design and creation of the video game. At some level, we, as user researchers, can provide input at nearly every stage of the development process that is useful for design, but in the end, it is not up to us to design a game. Our role is to assist…
Continua outperform dichotomies

Mealey's data do not support her dichotomous model of primary and secondary sociopathy; this data supports the view that there is a continuum of degrees of sociopathy, from zero to the maximal manifestation. There are multitudes of factors that can contribute to sociopathy – from both genetic and environmental sources – and the countless different mixes of them can produce multiple degrees and variations of sociopathic behavior.