cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identification of Medically Relevant Nocardia Species with an Abbreviated Battery of Tests

Identification of Nocardia to the species level is useful for predicting antimicrobial susceptibility patterns and defining the pathogenicity and geographic distribution of these organisms. We sought to develop an identification method which was accurate, timely, and employed tests which would be readily available in most clinical laboratories. We evaluated the API 20C AUX yeast identification system as well as several biochemical tests and Kirby-Bauer susceptibility patterns for the identification of 75 isolates encompassing the 8 medically relevant Nocardia species. There were few biochemical reactions that were sufficiently unique for species identification; of note, N. nova were positive for arylsulfatase, N. farcinica were positive for opacification of Middlebrook 7H11 agar, and N. brasiliensis and N. pseudobrasiliensis were the only species capable of liquefying gelatin. API 20C sugar assimilation patterns were unique for N. transvalensis, N. asteroides IV, and N. brevicatena. There was overlap among the assimilation patterns for the other species. Species-specific patterns of susceptibility to gentamicin, tobramycin, amikacin, and erythromycin were obtained for N. nova, N. farcinica, and N. brevicatena, while there was overlap among the susceptibility patterns for the other isolates. No single method could identify all Nocardia isolates to the species level; therefore, a combination of methods was necessary. An algorithm utilizing antibiotic susceptibility patterns, citrate utilization, acetamide utilization, and assimilation of inositol and adonitol accurately identified all isolates. The algorithm was expanded to include infrequent drug susceptibility patterns which have been reported in the literature but which were not seen in this study.
Intrinsic and Acquired Resistance to Methotrexate in Acute Leukemia

Methotrexate, a folic acid antagonist, is used extensively not only for the treatment of cancer but also for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and autoimmune disease and for the prevention of graft-versus-host disease after transplantation. The drug is also used as an abortifacient.1,2 Other folate antagonists are used to treat bacterial infections (trimethoprim), malaria (pyrimethamine), and Pneumocystis carinii infection (trimetrexate with leucovorin).3,4 As with other drugs used to treat infectious diseases or cancers, the development of resistance limits the effectiveness of these folate antagonists. An understanding of the mechanisms of resistance to this class of drugs is . . .
Effects of Silt on Three-Dimensional Stress–Strain Behavior of Loose Sand

An experimental study on the effects of nonplastic silt on the 3-D drained behavior of loose sand was performed employing a true triaxial testing apparatus. Lab experiments were performed on clean sand and on sand containing 20% nonplastic silt. Results indicate the failure stress levels and the overall trends of the stress--strain behavior were similar for both sands. However, the volume change behavior is significantly influenced by presence of silt. The silty sand exhibited higher degrees of volumetric contraction during shearing than the clean sand. Relative density was used as the basis of comparison. The development of a shear band appears to have caused failure in all true triaxial testing performed, except in triaxial compression. This form of instability appears to increase its influence on the experimental results as the participation of intermediate principal stress increases. The formation of shear bands also appears to coincide with the cessation of contractive volumetric strain.
Ultrastructure of meristematic cells of dormant and released buds in Tradescantia paludosa.

Abstract The lateral bud meristems of Tradescantia paludosa show a characteristic cytohistological zonation during dormancy. The cells comprising this so called ‘zone of inhibition’, which is located at the extreme tip of the bud apex, rarely synthesize nuclear DNA or undergo mitotic division. These nuclei are as large as prophase nuclei, yet contain only telophase (2C) amounts of DNA and significantly lower amounts of histone as compared to the 2C nuclei of the actively dividing cells. Ultrastructural observations of the nuclei in the ‘zone of inhibition’ show that a large proportion of the chromatin is organized as less condensed, diffuse, euchromatin fibrils; however, the chromatin of the actively dividing nuclei of the cells outside the ‘zone of inhibition’ or in the released bud meristems is organized to a greater extent as condensed clumps of heterochromatin. When the dormancy is released, the nuclei in the ‘zone of inhibition’ synthesize DNA and histone and undergo cell division in approx. 4 days. Striking changes in the organization of chromatin fibrils take place during this transition period. The diffuse chromatin fibrils of the nuclei in the ‘zone of inhibition’ progressively become more and more condensed as the cell prepares to undergo the first mitotic division after the release of dormancy. This change which is coupled with the synthesis of histones in the nuclei of the ‘zone of inhibition’ suggests a prominent structural role of these basic proteins in the organization of the chromatin. The large volume of 2C nuclei of the ‘zone of inhibition’ seems, therefore, to result not from a great nuclear mass, but probably from a relatively small degree of condensation of chromatin.
Laser-Fabricated Electro-Optic Modulators in GaAs

High-speed external modulators are necessary components for impressing signals onto lightwave carriers used in optical fibers for various transmission applications in telecommunications. III-V semiconductor waveguide electro-optic modulators offer the advantage of monolithic integration, which gives them an edge over lithium niobate modulators. We have used novel laser direct-writing techniques to masklessly define waveguide and electrode structures, and have fabricated an electro-optic polarization modulator in GaAs/AlGaAs. Our modulator exhibits a high extinction ratio and low value of Vπ.
Jordan-Wigner transformation for quantum-spin systems in two dimensions and fractional statistics.

I construct a Jordan-Wigner transformation for spin-one-half quantum systems on two-dimensional lattices. I show that the spin-one-half XY (i.e., a hard-core Bose system) is equivalent (on any two-dimensional Bravais lattice) to a system of spinless fermions and gauge fields satisfying the constraint that the gauge flux on a plaquette must be proportional to the spin (particle) density on site. The constraint is enforced by the addition of a Chern-Simons term of strength \ensuremath{\theta} to the Lagrangian of the theory. For the particular value \ensuremath{\theta}=1/2\ensuremath{\pi}, the resulting particles are fermions. In general they are anyons. The implications of these results for quantum spin liquids are briefly discussed.
Immunolocalization of vascularization factors in normal, tibial dyschondroplasia and rachitic cartilage

Tibial dyschondroplasia is a skeletal abnormality characterized by an avascular plug of cartilage in the metaphysis of the long bones of rapidly growing birds. An avascular, thickened growth plate also occurs in vitamin D/calcium-deficient rickets. This research was conducted to evaluate tibial dyschondroplasia and rachitic tissue for factors shown to be important in normal growth plate vascularization. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated the presence of vascular endothelial growth factor, its receptor Flk-1, and matrix metalloproteinases MMP-9 and MMP-13 to be present in all tissues examined. In most cases, immunostaining was intracellular, except near blood vessels where the matrix was also stained. The results suggest that, for the four proteins examined, disruption of their expression is not a key factor in the development of these avascular cartilage lesions in avians. The relationship of these observations to the pathology of tibial dyschondroplasia is discussed.
Low-data-rate coherent optical link demonstration using frequency-stabilized solid-state lasers

A low data rate laboratory heterodyne link demonstration operating at 1.06 micron using frequency stabilized Nd:YAG lasers was implemented. The data was modulated onto the optical carrier at 100 kbps using binary pulse position modulation. Phase coherent reception was achieved by closing the receiver phase tracking loop around the piezo-electric and temperature-tuned local oscillator laser. Initial frequency acquisition was accomplished by linearly scanning the LO frequency over the uncertainty range while a combined frequency and phase tracking loop searches for a lock indicator signal. The link performance was experimentally evaluated and compared to the theoretical predictions.
Urban Environment, Genetics, and Crime

Gene-environment interactions are important for the development of much human behavior. We examined the possibility that a genetic propensity to criminal behavior interacts with the type of environment in which an individual is raised. Using a cohort of adoptees, we found evidence for independent contributions of biological parent criminality (genetic influence) and urban environment rearing to prediction of adoptee criminality, but no evidence for a gene-environment interaction involving these factors.
Storage rings for spin-polarized hydrogen

A strong-focusing storage ring is proposed for the long-term magnetic confinement of a collisional gas of neutral spin-polarized hydrogen atoms in the |a〉 and |b〉 hyperfine states. The trap uses the interaction of the magnetic moments of the gas atoms with a static magnetic field. Laser cooling and evaporative cooling can be utilized to enhance the confinement and to offset the influence of viscous heating. An important application of the trap is to the attainment of Bose–Einstein condensation.
Non-human to human organ transplantation: its biologic basis and a potential role for radiation therapy.

There is an inadequate supply of human donor organs for transplantation. Xenotransplantation, the transplantation of organs from non-human animals to humans, is one of the potential solutions to this problem. The pig appears to be the preferred donor. For xenotransplantation to be successful, researchers must deal with three fundamental problems: (1) Hyperacute rejection of porcine organs, related to binding of xenoreactive natural antibodies of the recipient to antigens on the graft's endothelial cells, must be overcome. (2) Transmission of animal pathogens to humans must be prevented. Concern about zoonosis is not only directed to the transplant recipient but also concerns the risk that an infectious agent will be transferred from the recipient to the general population. (3) The xenografted organ must be physiologically compatible with the recipient. The physiological function of a pig organ in a human and its ability to sustain a human are problematic. Total lymphoid irradiation (TLI) and thoraco-abdominal irradiation (TAI) as immunosuppressive modalities have been investigated in rodent-to-rodent, large mammals and non-human primates-to-primates, and pig-to-primate models. In certain clinical situations, TLI and TAI may prove to be important components for the preparation of the xenotransplant recipient. Progress in genetic engineering and cloning may soon lead to clinical trials in xenotransplantation.
HUMAN WELL-BEING EFFECTS OF INSTITUTIONS AND SOCIAL CAPITAL

We examine the effects of income, institutions, and social capital—proxied by the level of corruption and ethnic tensions—on literacy and life expectancy in Africa. Random effects estimates show that income has a robust positive influence. GMM estimates indicate that corruption reduces the effectiveness of institutions in promoting literacy. However, this effect is not monotonic; improvements in the corruption index within the high corruption range reduce the effectiveness of institutions, while continuous improvement within the low corruption range enhances the effectiveness of institutions. Similarly, ethnic tensions reduce the effectiveness of institutions. Based on these findings, we conclude that social capital and institutions can complement each other. (JEL O11, O17, Z13) I. INTRODUCTION Studying the determinants of human wellbeing (HWB) at the macro level is a very important endeavor. Unfortunately, it is at best an extremely complicated task. Thus, most scholars focus on some aspects of HWB. In this article, we attempt to assess the effects of income, institutions, and social capital on HWB in Africa using panel data, with particular emphasis on the role of social capital. We use two indicators of HWB: a measure of access to knowledge represented by adult literacy and a measure of health represented by life expectancy. Following Sen’s (1990) Capability Approach, we view HWB in terms of the capabilities an individual achieves. Capabilities are considered ends, while the means to these ends may, for example, include income, democracy, property rights, and social capital (derived mainly from social networks, trust, societal norms, and values). Putnam (1993) views social capital as ‘‘those features of social organization, such as networks of individuals or households, and the associated norms and values that create externalities for the community as a whole.’’ Coleman (1990) provides a definition of social capital that emphasizes the function of social capital and describes it as ‘‘some aspect of social structure that enables the achievement of certain ends that would not be attainable in its absence.’’ 1 Viewed in this light, social capital is akin to Sen’s ‘‘functionings,’’ while the term ends is similar to ‘‘capabilities.’’ It is in this sense that our research perceives social capital and its effect on well-being. We view social capital as a means that would enable a capability, such as being healthy or being educated. While one may argue that part of being healthy and educated ensures getting a job, for example, and hence education and health could be viewed as functionings, we follow Sen (1990) and BaliamouneLutz (2006) and posit that for the major part, being healthy and literate constitutes an end or a capability in its own right.
Special Issue Dedication to Stephen H. Schneider

It is with both pleasure and sadness that we dedicate this special climate change issue of Portal to the late Dr. Stephen H. Schneider. Steve, as he was known to his friends and colleagues, was as rare a bird as any he sought out in his passion as a birdwatcher. A brilliant climate scientist, author of countless books and papers, path breaking inter-disciplinarian, eminent public communicator, mentor to dozens of young scholars; the list of roles and adulatory adjectives could fill an IPCC special report. Steve would have appreciated this special issue, with its multidisciplinary approach, and its quest for solutions based on analytical scholarship. He understood better than most the inseparability of normative and descriptive concerns, the need for academics and scientists of all kinds to be involved with public processes of communication, policy design and deliberation. While his last book was called “Science as a Contact Sport,” the unspoken title of his career might have been “Science as a Public Service.” He was endlessly testifying, consulting and giving interviews, and encouraged others to learn to do the same. Notwithstanding a battle with lymphoma in the last decade (chronicled in the wonderful book The Patient from Hell), Steve maintained a frenetic level of activity and was still going strong when he was felled by a pulmonary embolism in July of 2010 at age 65. He leaves behind a legacy embodied in his publications, institutions like the IPCC and the journal Climatic Change, and in the hearts and minds of the countless persons he interacted with, mentored, and loved. Exuberant, passionate, full of warmth and good humor, Steve was a mensch among mensches. He will be sorely missed. Paul Baer, with the assistance of Terry Root and Ian McGregor.
Generalized Poisson-Boltzmann calculation of the distribution of electrolyte ions around the B- and Z-conformers of DNA.

A solution to the three-dimensional Poisson-Boltzmann equation, generalized to include the finite size of the ions, is presented for the environment of DNA in the B- and Z-conformations. The results clearly indicate that despite the lower linear charge density of the left-handed Z-conformer, there is a higher concentration of Na+ at the immediate surface of the Z-from than at the surface of the B-form. The average concentration of counterions within a 12-A radius of the DNA is, nonetheless, higher for the B- than for the Z-form. Calculations of the electrostatic interactions of these conformers with an environment of 0.01M monovalent salt show that the salt exerts a greater stabilizing effect on the left-handed conformer than on the right-handed form.
Population pharmacokinetics as a method to detect variable risperidone exposure in patients suffering from dementia with behavioral disturbances.

Abstract Objective: This study was intended to compare the consistency of risperidone exposure in patients who have dementia and behavioral disturbances treated in a psychiatric hospital versus a community care setting. Methods: Population pharmacokinetic modeling was used to assess the consistency of risperidone exposure in Alzheimer's disease patients with agitation. The ratio of predicted to observed drug concentrations (C pred /C obs ) derived from this model was used to compare exposure in the inpatient versus long-term/home care settings using both the mean and the variance of this term across groups. Results: The modeled C pred /C obs ratios had a much higher within-subject variance in the inpatients than in the community care patients (117.03% vs 72.35%; P pred /C obs ratios across the 2 groups were not significantly different. Conclusions: Exposure to risperidone was more variable in a psychiatric hospital than in a community care setting. Future research may help to identify the specific contributors to the increased variance observed in this pilot study.
Characterization of Eucalyptus and Chemically Related Exudates by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Exudates from six species of the genus Eucalyptus and one of the genus Corymbia (formerly Eucalyptus), from the family Myrtaceae, have been characterized by solid-state 13C and solution 1H NMR spectroscopy for the first time. Although these eucalypt kinos, as these exudates often are called, resemble resin (terpenoid) and gum (carbohydrate) exudates in physical appearance, their NMR spectra are dramatically different. In addition to lacking the characteristic terpene saturated resonances, they exhibit strong unsaturated resonances, which are weak for resins and absent for gums. We additionally report that exudates from genera of several other families of flowering plants (Amyris, Centrolobium, Guaiacum, Liquidambar, and Prosopis) also exhibit part or all of this kino spectroscopic signature.
Changes in vernal pool edaphic settings through mitigation at the project and landscape scale

Vernal pool mitigation is a highly controversial process that has been frequently criticized for its inability to adequately replicate the ecosystem functions of the original intact wetlands. We analyzed past mitigation practices in two rapidly growing counties in California's Great Central Valley to determine if mitigation procedures are re-arranging the vernal pool landscape by substituting more common or less ecologically significant pool types (as defined by soil type and geomorphology) for rarer or ecologically richer pool types. Results indicate that most development projects impacting vernal pools conduct at least a portion of their mitigation requirements at a site with similar edaphic settings. However, when examined at a landscape-scale across all development projects, the more common edaphic settings such as Northern Hardpan and Low Terrace pools are increasing while more rare types such as Northern Claypan and Volcanic Mudflow pools are decreasing. Results also show that Drainageway pools, a less-specialized pool type with generally lower species richness, are becoming more common through mitigation. These results are confirmed by an analysis of landscape diversity, which showed that overall landscape diversity was lower at mitigation sites than at project sites. Despite these results, the ecological significance of vernal pool mitigation practices remains unclear for several reasons. The lack of maps showing exact locations of vernal pools at project sites make it difficult to precisely determine vernal pool acreage and distribution among edaphic settings. Additionally, more research is needed to determine precise relationships between edaphic settings and species distributions and the effects of mitigation area management practices on species distribution and persistence.
Reliability assessment of flip chip on organic board using power cycling techniques

During the reliability assessment of a flip chip on board assembly (FCOB) by environmental stress tests, the physical characteristics of the field operating conditions are not sufficiently addressed. The failure mechanisms active at the environmental stress test conditions may not be dominant at the service operating conditions. The magnitude and intensity of thermomechanical stresses experienced by a FCOB at service conditions are different from those in the environmental stress tests, which result in discrepancies between dominant failure modes in the field operating conditions and accelerated life test conditions. Driven by the non-field failure modes, design modifications and process improvements during the prototyping stage may be misled. A "service field-oriented reliability assessment" methodology is introduced in this paper to address this issue by using a power cycling technique. The associated experimental power cycling system for FCOBs field reliability assessment is developed in this research. The test vehicles are assembled using fine pitch flip chips and high-density interconnect (HDI) substrates. The in-situ continuities of individual Kelvin solder bumps and daisy chains of the FCOB assemblies are investigated during the power cycling tests. The physical failure modes are revealed by acoustic microscopy, cross sectioning and scanning electron microscopy. "Design for field reliability" is then achievable by the effective design modifications and manufacturing process improvements at the prototyping stage.
Brand Dilution: When Do New Brands Hurt Existing Brands?

Abstract Potential for trademark dilution occurs when a new brand introduces itself with an identical or substantially similar mark to that of an existing brand. Currently, there is neither a clear standard for legal proof of dilution nor widely accepted measures for managerial use. Using a shared-brand-network model, the authors use three different but conceptually related measurement methodologies (response latency, aided recall, and simulated choice) across five experiments to examine “blurring” dilution effects. The results suggest that when junior brands operate in similar categories and position on similar attributes, there is no immediate threat of blurring dilution. However, if the junior brand chooses to position on dissimilar attributes in a similar category, dilution of attribute associations is likely. When the junior brand operates in dissimilar categories, there is a threat of blurring dilution for both category and attribute associations. The final two studies demonstrate that dilution of j...
Automatic generation of global optimizers

This research has developed an optimizer generator that automatically produces optimizers from specifications. Code optimizations are expressed using a specification language designed for both traditional and parallelizing optimization, which require global dependence conditions. Numerous optimizers have been produced from a prototype implementation of the generator. The quality of code produced using the generated optimizers compares favorably with that produced by hand coded optimizers. The generator can be used as a phase in a compiler or as an experimental tool to determine the effects of various optimization and to tailor optimization. Experiments indicate that optimization interact in practice and that different orderings of optimization are needed for different code segments of the same program. Experiments found that the cost-benefit ratio of some optimizations is quite large and in some cases can be reduced by careful specifications of the optimizations or different implementations.
Daily ingestion of a nutritional probiotic supplement enhances innate immune function in healthy adults

In this pilot study (n = 10), we investigated whether daily ingestion of a delayed release 4-species probiotic supplement over an 8-week period would enhance innate immune function in a nonelderly adult population. The parameters of innate immunity assessed were natural killer cell activity, phagocytic activity, and salivary secretory immunoglobulin A. A 1-arm intervention trial was performed in which 10 volunteers served as their own controls. Immune parameters were measured at baseline and during treatment at 3, 5, and 8 weeks. A statistically significant increase in the percentage of phagocytic monocytes (P = .0005) and neutrophils (P = .0122) occurred over the 8-week treatment period. No statistically significant increases of natural killer cell activity or salivary immunoglobulin A levels were observed. In conclusion, nutritional supplementation with probiotics has the potential to improve innate immune function in healthy adults.
The role of information fusion in providing analytical rigor for intelligence analysis

In all applications, intelligence analysts and decision makers have available to them much more data and information than can be processed, understood and disseminated. This ever increasing data load for analysts has resulted in less rigorous analysis of these data. Information fusion capabilities have the ability to aid analysts not only perform their jobs efficiently and effectively, they can also be used to increase the amount of analytical rigor incorporated into the analysis process.
Implantation of the Ossified Cochlea

Cochlear ossification was once considered a contraindication to cochlear implantation. It was assumed that even if the implant could be safely placed, any surviving neural elements would be too severely affected for adequate electrical stimulation. It is now known that patients with ossified cochleas benefit from implantation and, in cases of partial ossification, many perform as well as patients with patent cochleas. Newer and effective techniques are available to allow for implantation of even obliterated cochleas.
Type 2 immunity is controlled by IL-4/IL-13 expression in hematopoietic non-eosinophil cells of the innate immune system

Nippostrongylus brasiliensis infection and ovalbumin-induced allergic lung pathology are highly interleukin (IL)-4/IL-13 dependent, but the contributions of IL-4/IL-13 from adaptive (T helper [Th]2 cells) and innate (eosinophil, basophils, and mast cells) immune cells remain unknown. Although required for immunoglobulin (Ig)E induction, IL-4/IL-13 from Th2 cells was not required for worm expulsion, tissue inflammation, or airway hyperreactivity. In contrast, innate hematopoietic cell–derived IL-4/IL-13 was dispensable for Th2 cell differentiation in lymph nodes but required for effector cell recruitment and tissue responses. Eosinophils were not required for primary immune responses. Thus, components of type 2 immunity mediated by IL-4/IL-13 are partitioned between T cell–dependent IgE and an innate non-eosinophil tissue component, suggesting new strategies for interventions in allergic immunity.
Controlled release of ethanehydroxy diphosphonate from polyurethane reservoirs to inhibit calcification of bovine pericardium used in bioprosthetic heart valves

Calcification (CALC) of bioprosthetic heart valves (BHVs) fabricated from either glutaraldehyde-pretreated bovine pericardial tissue or porcine aortic valves is the most frequent cause of clinical failure of these devices. Previous studies have demonstrated that calcification is inhibited by diphosphonate compounds released into the vicinity of bioprosthetic tissue implanted subcutaneously in rats. Controlled release of the anticalcification agent ethanehydroxy diphosphonate (EHDP), as a 1:l mixture of Na,EHDP and CaEHDP from cylindrical polyurethane (PU) reservoirs (o.d. = 0.36 cm, id. = 0.33 cm, length = 4 cm) fabricated by solvent casting was assessed in vitro and in viva. The diffusivity (D), determined independently using standard diffusion cells, for ionic EHDP diffusion across the PU membrane was 1.2 X 10mio cm’/s. Volume influx of buffer into the reservoirs in vitro was observed experimentally to reach a maximum at 7.8 days (288 + 44 ~1) with a biexponential decline to 147 f 6 ~1 at 70 days. The cumulative EHDP released in vitro after 70 days was 4.2 + 0.6% (4.8 k 0.7 mg) compared to 15.7 i 3.2% (18.1 +_ 3.7 mg) in vivo (subcutaneously in 3 week-old, male, CD rats) over 21 days. The release rate of EHDP from the reservoirs was not a zero-order process. Reservoir administration of EHDP effectively inhibited pericardial BHV-CALC in 21-day subdermal explants (Ca*+ = 4.5 + 1.4 ng Ca’ +/mg tissue; control, Ca*+ = 120 + 13 pg Ca*+/mg tissue) without diphosphonate-related untoward effects at a dose of approx. 3 mg/kg _
The People, the Economy, and the Issues: A Participant Reports on National “Town Hall” Meetings on the Deficit

On June 26, 2010, the organization “AmericaSpeaks” sponsored “town hall meetings” in various cities around the United States, built around the theme “Our Budget, Our Economy.” The sessions purported to aim at determining the degree of support from citizens for various ways to reduce the country's budget deficit. Editor Max J. Skidmore applied to attend one of these meetings, and was accepted. He reports on his experiences as a participant, and also examines the validity of the overall activity, one that its organizers describe as an objective effort to assess public opinion. He concludes that such efforts are no substitute for scientific polling, that they are more effective as public relations exercises than opinion assessment, and that activities such as “Our Budget, Our Economy,” if effective, could potentially affect poverty adversely.
Dharmakīrti's Dualism: Critical Reflections on a Buddhist Proof of Rebirth

Dharmak?rti, elaborating one of the Buddhist tradition's most complete defenses of rebirth, advanced some of this tradition's most explicitly formulated arguments for mind-body dualism. At the same time, Dharmak?rti himself may turn out to be vulnerable to some of the same kinds of arguments pressed against physicalists. It is revealing, then, that in arguing against physicalism himself, Dharmak?rti does not have available to him what some would judge to be more promising arguments for dualism (arguments, in particular, following Kant's 2nd Critique) – and indeed, that these arguments actually cut against Dharmak?rti's own position. After elaborating and characterizing Dharmak?rti's case for rebirth, then, this article briefly considers an argument that Dharmak?rti cannot himself enlist for this purpose.
Subtypes of disordered gamblers: results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions.

Aims To derive empirical subtypes of problem gamblers based on etiological and clinical characteristics described in the Pathways Model, using data from a nationally representative survey of US adults. Design & measurement Data were collected from structured diagnostic face-to-face interviews using the Alcohol Use Disorder and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule DSM-IV version IV (AUDADIS-IV). Setting The study utilized data from US National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC). Participants All disordered gambling participants(n = 581)fromanationallyrepresentativecross-sectionalsampleof civiliannon-institutionalizedadultsaged18 years or older. Findings Latent class analyses indicated that the best-fitting model was a three-class solution. Those inthelargestclass(class1:50.76%,n = 295)reportedthelowestoveralllevelsof psychopathologyincludinggambling problem severity and mood disorders. In contrast, respondents in class 2 (20.06%, n = 117) had a high probability of endorsingpast-yearsubstanceusedisorders,moderateprobabilitiesof havingparentswithalcohol/drugproblemsand of having a personality disorder, and the highest probability for past-year mood disorders. Respondents in class 3 (29.18%, n = 169) had the highest probabilities of personality and prior-to-past year mood disorders, substance use disorders, separation/divorce, drinking-related physical fights and parents with alcohol/drug problems and/or a history of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). Conclusions Three subtypes of disordered gamblers can be identified, roughly corresponding to the subtypes of the Pathways Model, ranging from a subgroup with low levels of gambling severity and psychopathology to one with high levels of gambling problem severity and comorbid psychiatric disorders.
Keypoint Descriptors for Matching Across Multiple Image Modalities and Non-linear Intensity Variations

In this paper, we investigate the effect of substantial inter-image intensity changes and changes in modality on the performance of keypoint detection, description, and matching algorithms in the context of image registration. In doing so, we modify widely-used keypoint descriptors such as SIFT and shape contexts, attempting to capture the insight that some structural information is indeed preserved between images despite dramatic appearance changes. These extensions include (a) pairing opposite-direction gradients in the formation of orientation histograms and (b) focusing on edge structures only. We also compare the stability of MSER, Laplacian-of-Gaussian, and Harris corner keypoint location detection and the impact of detection errors on matching results. Our experiments on multimodal image pairs and on image pairs with significant intensity differences show that indexing based on our modified descriptors produces more correct matches on difficult pairs than current techniques at the cost of a small decrease in performance on easier pairs. This extends the applicability of image registration algorithms such as the Dual-Bootstrap which rely on correctly matching only a small number of keypoints.
Modulating cell surface immunoreactivity by metabolic induction of unnatural carbohydrate antigens

Abstract Background: Sialic acid is a component of many tumor-associated oligosaccharide antigens. The repertoire of sialic acids presented by cells can be expanded to include unnatural variants by intercepting the sialic acid biosynthetic pathway with unnatural precursors. We explored whether unnatural cell surface sialosides produced by metabolism can act as neo-antigens and modulate the immunogenicity of cells. Results: Immunization of rabbits with synthetic conjugates of an unnatural sialic acid bound to keyhole limpet hemocyanin produced significant titers of antibodies that were specific for the structurally altered sialic acid. The antibodies recognized cells that were fed the unnatural biosynthetic precursor, and were capable of directing complement-mediated lysis. Conclusions: Structural alteration of sialic acids replaces a tolerized self-antigen with an antigenic determinant. Incorporation of unnatural sialosides into cell surface glycoconjugates through biosynthetic means can alter the immunoreactivity of cells, providing new possibilities for tumor immunotherapy.
Active Control of Power Sharing in a Battery/Ultracapacitor Hybrid Source

A regulator was built and evaluated to actively control the power sharing between a battery bank and a ultracapacitor bank. The ultracapacitor output is controlled using a boost converter to supply additional current demanded by the load beyond the desired battery current limit. The output port of the boost converter is connected to a 36V battery bank and a regulated buck converter to maintain output voltage. The current out of battery is sensed and is used to control the current of the boost converter. The system designed was able to maintain the battery current to a reference level while supplying the current needed by the load using ultracapacitor and has output power capacity of 350W.
Nanosecond pulsed platelet‐rich plasma (nsPRP) improves mechanical and electrical cardiac function following myocardial reperfusion injury

Ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) of the heart is associated with biochemical and ionic changes that result in cardiac contractile and electrical dysfunction. In rabbits, platelet‐rich plasma activated using nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPRP) has been shown to improve left ventricular pumping. Here, we demonstrate that nsPRP causes a similar improvement in mouse left ventricular function. We also show that nsPRP injection recovers electrical activity even before reperfusion begins. To uncover the mechanism of nsPRP action, we studied whether the enhanced left ventricular function in nsPRP rabbit and mouse hearts was associated with increased expression of heat‐shock proteins and altered mitochondrial function under conditions of oxidative stress. Mouse hearts underwent 30 min of global ischemia and 1 h of reperfusion in situ. Rabbit hearts underwent 30 min of ischemia in vivo and were reperfused for 14 days. Hearts treated with nsPRP expressed significantly higher levels of Hsp27 and Hsp70 compared to hearts treated with vehicle. Also, pretreatment of cultured H9c2 cells with nsPRP significantly enhanced the “spare respiratory capacity (SRC)” also referred to as “respiratory reserve capacity” and ATP production in response to the uncoupler FCCP. These results suggest a cardioprotective effect of nsPRP on the ischemic heart during reperfusion.
Exact Formulas for the Lateral Electromagnetic Pulses Generated by Vertical Dipoles

Instead of exciting a dipole near the plane boundary between two electrically different half-spaces with a continuous wave source at an angular frequency u; so that its electric moment is $$ I(t){h_e} = {\rm Re} I(0){h_e}{e^{{ - i\omega t}}} $$ (13.1.1) a single pulse (or sequence of such pulses) can be applied. If the pulse is a δ-function, the electric moment is $$ I(t){h_e} = I(0){h_e}\delta (t) $$ (13.1.2) where the δ-function can be expressed in terms of the Fourier integral as follows: $$ \delta (t) = \frac{1}{{2\pi }}\int_{{ - \infty }}^{\infty } {{e^{{ - i\omega t}}}d\omega } $$ (13.1.3)
An adaptation method to improve secret key rates of time-frequency QKD in atmospheric turbulence channels

Free-space optical (FSO) channels can be characterized by random power fluctuations due to atmospheric turbulence, which is known as scintillation. Weak coherent source based FSO quantum key distribution (QKD) systems suffer from the scintillation effect because during the deep channel fading the expected detection rate drops, which then gives an eavesdropper opportunity to get additional information about protocol by performing photon number splitting (PNS) attack and blocking single-photon pulses without changing QBER. To overcome this problem, in this paper, we study a large-alphabet QKD protocol, which is achieved by using pulse-position modulation (PPM)-like approach that utilizes the time-frequency uncertainty relation of the weak coherent photon state, called here TF-PPM-QKD protocol. We first complete finite size analysis for TF-PPM-QKD protocol to give practical bounds against non-negligible statistical fluctuation due to finite resources in practical implementations. The impact of scintillation under strong atmospheric turbulence regime is studied then. To overcome the secure key rate performance degradation of TF-PPM-QKD caused by scintillation, we propose an adaptation method for compensating the scintillation impact. By changing source intensity according to the channel state information (CSI), obtained by classical channel, the adaptation method improves the performance of QKD system with respect to the secret key rate. The CSI of a time-varying channel can be predicted using stochastic models, such as autoregressive (AR) models. Based on the channel state predictions, we change the source intensity to the optimal value to achieve a higher secret key rate. We demonstrate that the improvement of the adaptation method is dependent on the prediction accuracy.
Mass Concrete for the Finnish Nuclear Power Plant Olkiluoto 3

Concrete? What is supposed to be interesting about concrete?Concrete has been known since more than 2000 years and used as a building material.Concrete in Finland? Is there anything special about it?Of course, mass concrete is always challenging. But in the cold, northern part of Europe it is for sure a smaller problem than in the warm southThe following article should show that the special conditions in Finland, considering the material as well as the climate, provide interesting problems which require measures that exceed the normal standards by far. Ignoring these problems can cause far-reaching consequences concerning the quality as well as the costs of the concrete constructions.
Optimal locations of on-line and off-line rework stations in a serial production system

The production rate and product quality are two vital concerns for any manufacturing industry. Number of defective items reduces production rate and increases unit production cost. Moreover, if nonconforming items reach to the customers then manufacturer’s goodwill may drastically go down. Thus, quality inspection is treated as an inherent part of manufacturing. In this research, an N-stage serial production line with an inspection station at the end of it is considered to make decisions concerning this issue. On detecting a defective item at the end of the line it is scrapped or repaired at regular workstation or is sent to an off-line rework station for repair. Assuming each workstation produces a single type of defect a unit cost function is developed for alternative decisions on each type of defect. In order to minimise the unit cost of production and determine an appropriate decision for individual defect types, a fractional mixed integer nonlinear programming is formulated. After transformation to a...
Experimental study on the hemolytic,anaphylaxis and allergic effect of compound mannitol injection

Objective To investigate whether the compound mannitol injection has hemolytic,anaphylaxis or allergic effect.Methods The hemolytic test in vitro by ovine erythrocytes,allergic test in guinea pigs and vascular irritation test in rabbit were undertaken.Results No obvious allergic reaction was observed in guinea pigs.Vascular irritation in rabbit was negative.No evidence of hemolyzation and aggregation in ovine erythrocyte in vitro was found.Conclusions The compound mannitol injection was safe in this experimental study.
Study on City Fire Risk Evaluation Method

Taking a city for example,by a comprehensive analysis of main fire risk factors existing in the city,the thesis puts forward several working recommendations and countermeasures,such as the evaluation of fire risk in urban areas,reinforcing urban fire infrastructure,integrating resources and improving construction of both fire fighting and emergency rescue system,and so on.
Further evidence for a deficient storage pool of adenine nucleotides in platelets from some patients with thrombocytopathia--"storage pool disease".

The metalobism of adenine nucleotides in platelets was studied in one patient with thrombasthenia and in six patients whose bleeding disorder has been attributed to a defect in collagen-induced platelet aggregation associated with impaired release of platelet ADP (thrombocytopathia). In two of these patients no specific abnormality was found that might account for the defect in the release reaction (thrombocytopathia B). In the other four patients (thrombocytopathia A), significantly decreased amounts of platelet ATP and ADP and an increase in the ATP/ADP ratio were obtained. The specific radioactivity of both ATP and, more strikingly, ADP that was found after incubating their platelets with 3H-adenine was significantly greater than normal. This indicated that the patients’ platelets lacked the nonmetabolic pool of adenine nucleotides present in specialized intracellular granules and that are specifically extruded from the platelet during the release reaction. Low platelet serotonin values were found in three of these patients, indicating that their platelets may lack the entire content of substances normally found in these granules. In all four of the patients with thrombocytopathia A, for which the name "storage pool disease" is proposed, platelet adenine uptake was normal, but increased hypoxanthine formation by resting cells was found in the three patients with low serotonin values. The breakdown of the ATP to inosine monophopshate and hypoxanthine during the release reaction was normal in all patients studied. Platelets from the patient with thrombasthenia were normal in all respects studied.
Dietary Fibers and Intestinal Absorption of Lipids

Based on extensive epidemiological, clinical, and experimental trials, there is accumulating evidence that dietary fibers may influence one or more risk factors in coronary disease (including plasma lipids and lipoproteins), diabetes, and obesity. Considering the physicochemical complexity of intact dietary fibers and the diverse nature of the disorders contributing to risk, it has not been reasonable to develop a unified hypothesis for the mechanism of action for the dietary fibers in general, nor for specific fiber isolates. Some fiber materials, notably the mucilaginous and gelling fibers, demonstrate acute influences on plasma lipid levels and on fecal steroid excretion, while the effect of the particulate fibers tends to be less pronounced, even in prolonged studies (Spiller and Amen, 1976; Kelsay, 1978; Kay and Strasberg, 1978; Inglett and Falkehag, 1979; Zilversmit, 1979; Kay and Truswell, 1980; Kritchevsky et al., 1980; Kay, 1982).
Late Second Trimester Diagnosis of Sirenomelia

Sirenomelia is an uncommon complex congenital anomaly associated with fusion of the lower limbs and abnormalities of the urinary and gastrointestinal tract. Most cases of sirenomelia are not diagno...
Polarized Light Microscopy Study on the Reentrant Phase Transition in a (Ba1 – xKx)Fe2As2 Single Crystal with x = 0.24

A sequence of structural/magnetic transitions on cooling is reported in the literature for hole-doped iron-based superconductor (Ba1 − xKx)Fe2As2 with x = 0.24. By using polarized light microscopy, we directly observe the formation of orthorhombic domains in (Ba1 − xKx)Fe2As2 (x = 0.24) single crystal below a temperature of simultaneous structural/magnetic transition TN ~ 80 K. The structural domains vanish below ~30 K, but reappear below T = 15 K. Our results are consistent with reentrance transformation sequence from high-temperature tetragonal (HTT) to low temperature orthorhombic (LTO1) structure at TN ~ 80 K, LTO1 to low temperature tetragonal (LTT) structure at Tc ~ 25 K, and LTT to low temperature orthorhombic (LTO2) structure at T ~ 15 K.
Forecasted Affect Towards Automated and Warning Safety Features

Driver perception of automated and warning safety features influence if, and how, drivers will use them. Affective forecasting from participants showed that there is higher predicted negative affect towards automated safety features, such as automated lane keeping, than towards warning safety features such as lane departure warnings. Additionally, driver confidence and technology experience were correlated with affective forecasting results. Future behavioral studies will determine if the affective forecasting results are accurate or more extreme than emotions felt at the time of rating.