cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The health belief model: evaluation of a diabetes scale.

Scales that make theoretical concepts of health beliefs opera tional must be shown to have acceptable levels of reliability and validity before they can be incor porated into teaching programs. This paper describes the process used to evaluate a Health Belief Model scale. A revised 11-item scale is proposed for use by diabetes educators. Content validity of the initial scale (76 items) and the shorter version was verified. Reliability estimates obtained by factor structure provided evidence of measurement accuracy for the proposed 11-item scale. Analyses of construct and criterion validity provided additional support to suggest the use of the HBM11 scale for clinical practice.
Disruptive Behaviors in the Medical Setting and Borderline Personality

OBJECTIVE: Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterized in the DSM by anger. While previous studies have examined various types of externalized aggression and violence among individuals with BPD, we are aware of no investigations of disruptive behaviors perpetrated by patients with BPD in medical settings-the focus of the present study. METHOD: Using a cross-sectional, consecutive sample of internal medicine outpatients from a resident provider clinic, we surveyed 397 participants regarding 17 disruptive behaviors related to medical personnel and assessed BPD using two self-report measures, the BPD scale of the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire-4 (PDQ-4) and the Self-Harm Inventory (SHI). RESULTS: A statistically significantly greater proportion of respondents who exceeded the clinical cut-off scores for BPD on both the PDQ-4 and SHI endorsed at least one form of disruptive behavior. However, there were no differences between participants with versus without BPD symptomatology regarding the number of different forms of disruptive behaviors after that initial threshold of one such behavior was reached. Several specific disruptive behaviors were reported more often in those with BPD symptomatology (i.e., yelling, screaming, verbally threatening, and refusing to talk with medical staff as well as talking badly about medical staff to the patients' friends and family). CONCLUSIONS: BPD appears to be associated with a greater likelihood of disruptive behaviors in the medical setting, but not physical threat. Language: en
Novel nano-scale Au/α-Fe2O3 catalyst for the preferential oxidation of CO in biofuel reformate gas

Abstract Au/α-Fe 2 O 3 catalyst was synthesized using a modified co-precipitation method to generate an inverse catalyst model. The effects of introducing CO 2 and H 2 O during preferential oxidation (PROX) of CO were investigated. The goal of this work was ⩾99.8% CO conversion at 80 °C. There was an increase in the conversion at all temperatures with the introduction of CO 2 and 100% of the CO was converted at the target temperature of 80 °C for any amount of CO 2 . Furthermore, there was an increase in conversion to 100% for water fractions ranging from 3% to 10%. Finally, for realistic conditions of (bio-)fuel reforming, 24% CO 2 and 10% water, 99.85% conversion was achieved. A long-term test of 200 h showed no significant deactivation of the catalyst at a temperature of 80 °C in presence of 24% CO 2 and 3% water. The mechanism for PROX is not known definitively; however, current literature believes the gold particle size is the key. In contrast, we emphasize the tremendous role of the support particle size.
An investigation of the use of fluorescence to monitor activity in anaerobic treatment systems

Factor F-420, a coenzyme common to and specific for methanogenic bacteria, was monitored in three bench-scale anaerobic fermenters, with different substrates and a range of physiological conditions. F-420 concentrations decreased with increasing solids retention times and also varied among reactors depending on electron donor (substrate).
Vincristine, prednisone, and daunomycin in acute leukemia of childhood. Writing committee

T w o different regimens utilizing daunomycin, vincristine sulfate, and prednisone were administered in combination to treat 64 children with acute leukemia in relapse. All patients had received previous therapy with vincristine, prednisone, and/or daunomycin but none had received the 3 drugs in combination. Seven were known to be resistant to both vincristine and prednisone. The triple combination was effective in inducing remission in 44 of the children, but myelosuppression was severe and the results obtained were not significantly better than the much less toxic combination of vincristine and prednisone.
Behavior of acids in propylene carbonate: a conductance study of certain substituted benzoic acids, 2,4,6,-trinitrophenol, and phenylacetic acid

Abstract Equilibria in solutions of o -fluoro-, o - and p -chloro- and o -iodobenzoic acids, o - and m -toluic acids, 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (picric acid), and phenylacetic acid in propylene carbonate have been studied conductometrically. In addition to simple dissociation (HX agH + +X − ) and homoconjugation (HX+X − agHX 2 − ) existence of dimers (2 HX ag(HX) 2 ) has been invoked in explaining the results of p -chlorobenzoic and phenylacetic acids.
Effects of Cure and Moisture on the Properties of Fiberite 976 Resin

Tests were performed to evaluate the effects of cure and moisture on the moisture ab sorption characteristics and on the mechanical properties of Fiberite 976 resin. The maxi mum moisture content Mm was determined as a function of degree of cure, temperature, and relative humidity. The diffusivity D was determined as a function of degree of cure and temperature. Empirical correlations were established for the maximum moisture con tent and for the diffusivity. The tensile, compressive, and shear strengths and moduli, and the fracture toughness of dry resin were measured at different degrees of cure ranging from 0.6 to 0.95. The tensile, compressive, and shear properties were also measured at dif ferent degrees of cure with resins containing 0 to 4 percent moisture. These data indicate the individual effects of cure as well as the combined effects of cure and moisture on the mechanical properties.
SU-FF-I-77: Diagnostic X-Ray Beam Hardening as a Function of Patient Size

Purpose: To investigate changes in x‐ray energy spectrum as a function of depth in phantoms representing lean and overweight individuals. Methods: Three phantom torsos comprised of tissue equivalent material were modeled as elliptical cylinders using MCNPX. Two x‐ray beams used in planar radiography (80 kVp HVL = 2.42 mm Al; 140 kVp HVL = 5.15 mm Al) and one beam used in CT (140 kVp HVL =9.09 mm Al) irradiated each phantom and normalized photon spectrum was examined at several depths. Separate comparisons were also made with data presented by Birch et al who examined spectral changes as a function of depth but did not include Compton scatteredphotons.Results: Good agreement with data from Birch et al is obtained for the lean phantom when Compton scatteredphotons are not included. These results show substantial beam hardening as evidenced by a shift in the peak beam energy from 32 keV (entrance) to 54 keV (exit) for the 80 kVp beam and 40 keV to 64 keV for the 140 kVp (HVL=5.15 mm Al) beam. However, substantial beam hardening is not observed when Compton scatteredphotons are included in the measurement. For the 80 kVp beam, the average energy of the photons traversing the phantom changes by only 15 % in traversing the lean, 20 cm diameter thick phantom, and by only 18% in traversing the very overweight 45 cm thick phantom. For the hardest beam (140 kVp HVL=9.09 mm Al), average beam energy changes by only 7.4% in traversing through 45 cm tissue.Conclusion: Under conditions of broad beam geometry such as radiography, spectral hardening of the radiography and CT x‐ray beams examined is not substantial, even after traversal through very thick phantoms. However, when narrow beam geometry is approximated, spectral beam hardening is significant.
Realization of oxyfuel combustion for near zero emission power generation

Abstract Oxyfuel combustion is one of the promising carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies for coal-fired boilers. In oxyfuel combustion, combustion gas is oxygen and recirculating flue gas (FGR) and main component of combustion gas is O 2 , CO 2 and H 2 O rather than O 2 , N 2 in air combustion. Fundamental researches showed that flame temperature and flame propagation velocity of pulverized cloud in oxyfuel combustion are lower than that in air with the same O 2 concentration due to higher heat capacity of CO 2 . IHI pilot combustion test showed that stable burner combustion was obtained over 30% O 2 in secondary combustion gas and the same furnace heat transfer as that of air firing at 27% O 2 in overall combustion gas. Compared to emissions in air combustion, NOx emission per unit combustion energy decreased to 1/3 due to reducing NOx in the FGR, and SO x emission was 30% lower. However SO x concentration in the furnace for the oxyfuel mode was three to four times greater than for the air mode due to lower flow rate of exhaust gas. The higher SO 3 concentration results that the sulphuric acid dew point increases 15–20 °C compared to the air combustion. These results confirmed the oxyfuel pulverized coal combustion is reliable and promising technology for coal firing power plant for CCS. In 2008, based on R&D and a feasibility study of commercial plants, the Callide Oxyfuel Project was started in order to demonstrate entire oxyfuel CCS power plant system for the first time in the world. The general scope and progress of the project are introduced here. Finally, challenges for present and next generation oxyfuel combustion power plant technologies are addressed.
Role of transplantation in the treatment of benign solid tumors of the liver: a review of the United Network of Organ Sharing data set.

Importance The role of orthotopic liver transplantation for the treatment of benign solid liver tumors (BSLT) is not well defined. Objective To analyze outcomes in the United Network of Organ Sharing data set of patients with a diagnosis of BSLT who underwent transplantation. Design, Setting, and Participants A retrospective analysis of the United Network of Organ Sharing data set was performed for all (N = 87 280) patients who underwent transplantation for BSLT in the United States from October 1, 1988, through January 31, 2013. Main Outcomes and Measures Demographics, clinicopathological characteristics, distribution of the procedures by region and state, and overall survival rates. Results During the study period, 147 liver transplants (0.17%) were to treat BSLT. Sixty-two patients (42.2%) had adenomas, 29 (19.7%) had focal nodular hyperplasia, 25 (17.0%) had hemangiomas, 11 (7.5%) had hepatic epithelioid hemangioendotheliomas, and 20 (13.6%) were classified as having unknown benign tumors. The overall 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 90.9%, 85.2%, and 81.8%, respectively. Using multivariable analysis, we found that age was the only independent factor associated with patient survival. The overall 5-year survival rate for patients older than 50 years was 88% compared with 91% in younger individuals (95% CI, 148-384; P = .005). Region 3 (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Puerto Rico) contributed the maximum number (33 [22.4%]) of these transplants. Conclusions and Relevance Although liver transplantation cannot be considered a first-line treatment, it is a valid therapeutic option in selected patients who are not amenable to resection. Only 0.17% of the transplants in the United States are performed for this indication, with satisfying long-term results. Age was an independent predictor of patient survival. Further studies are needed to better understand the role of liver transplantation in the treatment of BSLT.
Performance benefits and power/energy savings of 28FOl6XS-based system designs

Abstract This application note discusses the performance and power/energy comparisons between Intel's 28F016XS flash memory and other memory technologies, and the positive impacts on system performance and power consumption.
Whispers in the hyper-space: high-bandwidth and reliable covert channel attacks inside the cloud

Privacy and information security in general are major concerns that impede enterprise adaptation of shared or public cloud computing. Specifically, the concern of virtual machine (VM) physical co-residency stems from the threat that hostile tenants can leverage various forms of side channels (such as cache covert channels) to exfiltrate sensitive information of victims on the same physical system. However, on virtualized x86 systems, covert channel attacks have not yet proven to be practical, and thus the threat is widely considered a "potential risk." In this paper, we present a novel covert channel attack that is capable of high-bandwidth and reliable data transmission in the cloud. We first study the application of existing cache channel techniques in a virtualized environment and uncover their major insufficiency and difficulties. We then overcome these obstacles by: 1) redesigning a pure timing-based data transmission scheme, and 2) exploiting the memory bus as a high-bandwidth covert channel medium. We further design and implement a robust communication protocol and demonstrate realistic covert channel attacks on various virtualized x86 systems. Our experimental results show that covert channels do pose serious threats to information security in the cloud. Finally, we discuss our insights on covert channel mitigation in virtualized environments.
Long-term effects of monaural, binaural and no amplification in subjects with bilateral hearing loss

This study expands upon our earlier work by comparing initial PB scores and audiometric thresholds with results obtained 4–17 years later for subjects with bilateral sensorineural hearing losses who were monaurally aided (n=48), binaurally aided (n=19), or unaided (n=19). Thresholds decreased slightly for all groups, but aided and unaided ears did not differ significantly in this respect, revealing no acoustic trauma effect due to hearing aid use. PB scores decreased significantly only for the unaided ear of the monaurally aided subjects, but not for their aided ear, or for the binaurally aided or unaided groups. These findings suggest an auditory deprivation effect for the unaided ear of those wearing a monaural hearing aid. Changes in PB scores were not correlated with duration between the two test dates. Changes in PB scores were correlated with degree of hearing loss only for the unaided group.
Mud box—filled with stone: the wreck of the scow schooner Dan Hayes

Scow Schooners are an important yet largely unstudied vessel type that operated on the North American Great Lakes. At their zenith in the later 19th century scow schooners worked between the many small harbours and the larger nexus ports such as Chicago, Detroit, and Milwaukee. These vessels are virtually undocumented either historically or archaeologically. A project by East Carolina University's Maritime Studies Program and the State Historical Society of Wisconsin in 2001 documented the wrecked scow schooner Dan Hayes, revealing much information concerning this vessel class and the limestone industry in which it was employed. Although an ordinary scow schooner, its construction techniques are surprising, showing evidence of prefabrication. The bottom of the ship was apparently built inverted and flipped over before sides and bow were added, the first evidence that inverted construction could be accomplished with such large vessels.
Failure of melatonin implants to alter onset of puberty in gilts

Abstract Forty crossbred gilts (Hampshire × Yorkshire × Landrace × Duroc) weighing 55.4 ± 0.5 kg at 4.2 ± 0.1 months of age received either melatonin implants ( N = 20) or served as controls ( N = 20). Gilts were housed in a temperature controlled room (21°C) with a light (L):dark (D) cycle of 10L:14D. Initially, four implants (12 mg melatonin each, Wildlife Pharmaceuticals, Ft. Collins, CO) were placed in one ear subcutaneously. At 2-week intervals, five, six, seven or eight implants were placed in ears of the gilts (one implant per 11.8 kg body weight). Throughout the trial, blood samples were collected twice weekly by jugular venipuncture. All gilts were exposed to mature boars for 15 min on alternate days. Age of puberty was determined from serum concentrations of progesterone and visual observations of estrus. Serum concentrations of melatonin were elevated (5–10 fold) throughout the trial in those gilts that received melatonin implants. Average daily gain ( P = 0.51) and age at puberty ( P = 0.57) were similar between gilts that received melatonin implants or no implants. Even though gilts continued to receive melatonin after they attained puberty, elevated serum concentrations of melatonin did not alter the length of subsequent estrous cycles ( P = 0.90). These data indicate that elevation of serum concentrations of melatonin via implants did not alter the onset of puberty or length of subsequent estrous cycles.
X-Ray Interactions: Photoabsorption, Scattering, Transmission, and Reflection at E = 50-30,000 eV, Z = 1-92

Abstract The primary interactions of low-energy x-rays within condensed matter, viz. photoabsorption and coherent scattering, have been described for photon energies outside the absorption threshold regions by using atomic scattering factors. The atomic scattering factors may be accurately determined from the atomic photoabsorption cross sections using modified Kramers-Kronig dispersion relations. From a synthesis of the currently available experimental data and recent theoretical calculations for photoabsorption, the angle-independent, forward-scattering components of the atomic scattering factors have been thus semiempirically determined and tabulated here for 92 elements and for the region 50-30,000 eV. Atomic scattering factors for all angles of coherent scattering and at the higher photon energies are obtained from these tabulated forward-scattering values by adding a simple angle-dependent form-factor correction. The incoherent scattering contributions that become significant for the light elements at the higher photon energies are similarly determined. The basic x-ray interaction relations that are used in applied x-ray physics are presented here in terms of the atomic scattering factors. The bulk optical constants are also related to the atomic scattering factors. These atomic and optical relations are applied to the detailed calculation of the reflectivity characteristics of a series of practical x-ray mirror, multilayer, and crystal monochromators. Comparisons of the results of this semiempirical, "atomic-like" description of x-ray interactions for the low-energy region with those of experiment and ab initio theory are presented.
A technique for making realistic three-dimensional images of objects

Two 151.8-cm-diam semicircular parabolic mirrors of optical quality are the essential components of an apparatus that creates highly realistic three-dimensional images of objects. The apparatus is being used to explore the relationship between vision and touch in infancy by creating a discrepancy between what is seen (a tangible-looking object) and what is felt. Previous attempts to study intersensory coordination in this manner have failed due to lack of realistic images. Other uses for the apparatus include the creation of illusory surfaces to study the development of expectations about the tangible surface properties of visible objects.
Non-effect of Massachusetts cement kiln dust upon the food intake, body weight, or activity of female rats☆

Abstract The addition of Georgia cement kiln dust to the diet of cattle or weanling male rats has been reported to increase body weight and feed efficiency. We attempted to replicate these effects by adding kiln dust to the Purina laboratory chow of adult female rats. Massachusetts cement kiln dust caused no significant change in food intake, weight gain, or activity. The kiln dust effect appears, therefore, to depend upon (a) ingredients peculiar to Georgia kiln dust, (b) age (juveniles vs. adults), (c) sex and/or (d) deficiencies of the control diet.
Morphological and metrical comparison of San and Central Sotho dentitions from southern Africa.

Comparative morphological and metrical study of San and Central Sotho dentitions indicates that the teeth of the two samples are significantly different from one another. The San dental complex contains traits that add mass to the occlusal surface of microdontic dentitions: moderate low-grade UI1 (13.5%) and UI2 shoveling (24.7), high Bushman canine (43.1%), fairly low UM2 hypocone reduction (23.3%), high UM2 cusp 5 (55.6%), high LM1 cusp 7 (35.2%), LM1 distal trigonid crest (7.1%), LM2 deflecting wrinkle (5.3%), lack of reduction of LM1 and LM2 cusp number, in the presence of very low UM1 Carabelli's trait (6.7%) and high LM2 Y-groove (86.3%). Culturally, males occasionally exhibit filed UI1 and females are missing LI1. Conversely, mesodontic Central Sotho dentitions display a more simplified morphology, with the exception of moderately high incidence of UM1 Carabelli's trait (41.0%) and very high LM1 cusp 7 (71.3%). Discriminant analysis of mesiodistal and buccolingual diameters and tooth crown surface area data for the left maxillary teeth supports classification of San dentitions as microdont and Central Sotho dentitions as mesodont. Additionally, metrical analysis indicates that San teeth are more sexually dimorphic than are those of Central Sotho.
The confrontation between general relativity and experiment: An update☆

Abstract The status of experimental tests of general relativity to the end of 1983 is reviewed. The experimental support for the Einstein equivalence principle is summarized. If this principle is valid, gravitation must be described by a curved space-time, “metric” theory of gravity. General properties of metric theories are described and the parametrized post-Newtonian (PPN) formalism for treating the weak-field, slow-motion limit of such theories is set up. A zoo of selected metric theories of gravity is presented. Experimental tests of metric theories are then described, including the “classical” tests, tests of the strong equivalence principle, and others. The possibility of using gravitational-wave observations to test metric theories is discussed. A review is presented of the binary pulsar, in which the first evidence for gravitational radiation has been found. Finally cosmological tests of alternative theories are briefly described.
Cigarette smoke extract induces select matrix metalloproteinases and integrin expression in periodontal ligament fibroblasts.

Background: The periodontal ligament (PDL) is the connective tissue that anchors the cementum of the teeth to the alveolar bone. PDL fibroblasts are responsible for the production of collagen and remodeling of the PDL. Periodontal disease is increased among smokers in both incidence and severity. This study examines the direct effect of smoking on PDL fibroblasts and their production of various matrix components and remodeling enzymes. Methods: PDL cells were plated for 1 day and then treated with various concentrations of cigarette smoke extract (CSE). Survival of PDL cells was quantified after exposure to CSE, and their ability to contract three-dimensional collagen gels was examined. Changes in transcript expression after CSE treatment was compared using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis for matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), collagens, and integrins. Results: Treatment with CSE-induced cell death at concentrations of ‡5%. PDL-cell-induced collagen gel contraction was reduced at concentrations of 1.5% CSE. Treatment with CSE selectively increased the expression of collagen Va3 and decreased collagen XIa1. CSE increased the expression of MMP1 and MMP3 and, to a lesser extent, MMP2 and MMP8. CSE also increased the expression of integrins a1, a2, and a10 (collagen receptors) and a9 (a tenascin receptor). Conclusions: This study shows that cigarette smoking has local effects on the cells of the PDL. CSE reduced survival of PDL cells and their ability to contract collagen matrices. CSE also altered the expression of molecules known to provide the structural integrity of the ligament by altering collagen synthesis and remodeling as well as cell adhesion. J Periodontol 2012;83:787-796.
DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES OF SINTERED YTTRIUM OXIDE.

Relaxation phenomena were observed in sintered Y2O3 at frequencies from 10−3 to 105 Hz at 150°, 200°, 255°, 306°, and 357°C. The observed dispersion is predicted approximately by a theory requiring exponential decay of the polarization. The theory describing the larger lower-frequency relaxation should be based on an interfacial mechanism with an inter-granular region of higher conductivity. Electrode effects cannot be ruled out, however, on the basis of the present work. The most probable basis for the theory describing the smaller higher-frequency relaxation is defect-dipole polarization.
SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE NIP7P IS REQUIRED FOR EFFICIENT 60S RIBOSOME SUBUNIT BIOGENESIS

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae temperature-sensitive (ts) allele nip7-1 exhibits phenotypes associated with defects in the translation apparatus, including hypersensitivity to paromomycin and accumulation of halfmer polysomes. The cloned NIP7+ gene complemented the nip7-1 ts growth defect, the paromomycin hypersensitivity, and the halfmer defect. NIP7 encodes a 181-amino-acid protein (21 kDa) with homology to predicted products of open reading frames from humans, Caenorhabditis elegans, and Arabidopsis thaliana, indicating that Nip7p function is evolutionarily conserved. Gene disruption analysis demonstrated that NIP7 is essential for growth. A fraction of Nip7p cosedimented through sucrose gradients with free 60S ribosomal subunits but not with 80S monosomes or polysomal ribosomes, indicating that it is not a ribosomal protein. Nip7p was found evenly distributed throughout the cytoplasm and nucleus by indirect immunofluorescence; however, in vivo localization of a Nip7p-green fluorescent protein fusion protein revealed that a significant amount of Nip7p is present inside the nucleus, most probably in the nucleolus. Depletion of Nip7-1p resulted in a decrease in protein synthesis rates, accumulation of halfmers, reduced levels of 60S subunits, and, ultimately, cessation of growth. Nip7-1p-depleted cells showed defective pre-rRNA processing, including accumulation of the 35S rRNA precursor, presence of a 23S aberrant precursor, decreased 20S pre-rRNA levels, and accumulation of 27S pre-rRNA. Delayed processing of 27S pre-rRNA appeared to be the cause of reduced synthesis of 25S rRNA relative to 18S rRNA, which may be responsible for the deficit of 60S subunits in these cells.
MediaBroker: an architecture for pervasive computing

MediaBroker is a distributed framework designed to support pervasive computing applications. Specifically, the architecture consists of a transport engine and peripheral clients and addresses issues in scalability, data sharing, data transformation and platform heterogeneity. Key features of MediaBroker are a type-aware data transport that is capable of dynamically transforming data en route from source to sinks; an extensible system for describing types of streaming data; and the interaction between the transformation engine and the type system. Details of the MediaBroker architecture and implementation are presented in this paper. Through experimental study, we show reasonable performance for selected streaming media-intensive applications. For example, relative to baseline TCP performance, MediaBroker incurs under 11% latency overhead and achieves roughly 80% of the TCP throughput when streaming items larger than 100 KB across our infrastructure.
New Approaches in the Treatment of Hypertension

Hypertension is the most common modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease and death, and lowering blood pressure with antihypertensive drugs reduces target organ damage and prevents cardiovascular disease outcomes. Despite a plethora of available treatment options, a substantial portion of the hypertensive population has uncontrolled blood pressure. The unmet need of controlling blood pressure in this population may be addressed, in part, by developing new drugs and devices/procedures to treat hypertension and its comorbidities. In this Compendium Review, we discuss new drugs and interventional treatments that are undergoing preclinical or clinical testing for hypertension treatment. New drug classes, eg, inhibitors of vasopeptidases, aldosterone synthase and soluble epoxide hydrolase, agonists of natriuretic peptide A and vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor 2, and a novel mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist are in phase II/III of development, while inhibitors of aminopeptidase A, dopamine β-hydroxylase, and the intestinal Na(+)/H(+) exchanger 3, agonists of components of the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2/angiotensin(1-7)/Mas receptor axis and vaccines directed toward angiotensin II and its type 1 receptor are in phase I or preclinical development. The two main interventional approaches, transcatheter renal denervation and baroreflex activation therapy, are used in clinical practice for severe treatment resistant hypertension in some countries. Renal denervation is also being evaluated for treatment of various comorbidities, eg, chronic heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias and chronic renal failure. Novel interventional approaches in early development include carotid body ablation and arteriovenous fistula placement. Importantly, none of these novel drug or device treatments has been shown to prevent cardiovascular disease outcomes or death in hypertensive patients.
Peripheral Resistance to Thyroid Hormone in an Infant

Peripheral resistance to thyroid hormone, a syndrome characterized by elevated serum total and free thyroid hormone levels and abnormal TSH suppression without manifestations of hyperthyroidism, was studied in a clinically euthyroid 6-month-old infant. Initial serum concentrations of T4, T3, and TSH were 22.1 µg/dl, 334 ng/dl, and 7.6 µU/ml, respectively; infusion of synthetic TRH increased the serum TSH to 47.4 µU/ ml, an exaggerated response. Pituitary insensitivity to T3 was investigated by measuring these parameters in response to consecutive 7-day courses of increasing doses of T3. Four times the calculated replacement dose of T3 (40 µg/day) was required to normalize the serum T4 and the serum TSH response to TRH. After administration of 80 µg/day T3, the serum TSH response to TRH was virtually abolished, but no clinical signs of thyroid hormone excess were observed. High doses of T4 blunted the serum TSH response to TRH in a manner similar to T3. Prednisone also decreased the TSH response to TRH but...
Modulation of CFTR gating by permeant ions

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is unique among ion channels in that after its phosphorylation by protein kinase A (PKA), its ATP-dependent gating violates microscopic reversibility caused by the intimate involvement of ATP hydrolysis in controlling channel closure. Recent studies suggest a gating model featuring an energetic coupling between opening and closing of the gate in CFTR’s transmembrane domains and association and dissociation of its two nucleotide-binding domains (NBDs). We found that permeant ions such as nitrate can increase the open probability (Po) of wild-type (WT) CFTR by increasing the opening rate and decreasing the closing rate. Nearly identical effects were seen with a construct in which activity does not require phosphorylation of the regulatory domain, indicating that nitrate primarily affects ATP-dependent gating steps rather than PKA-dependent phosphorylation. Surprisingly, the effects of nitrate on CFTR gating are remarkably similar to those of VX-770 (N-(2,4-Di-tert-butyl-5-hydroxyphenyl)-4-oxo-1,4-dihydroquinoline-3-carboxamide), a potent CFTR potentiator used in clinics. These include effects on single-channel kinetics of WT CFTR, deceleration of the nonhydrolytic closing rate, and potentiation of the Po of the disease-associated mutant G551D. In addition, both VX-770 and nitrate increased the activity of a CFTR construct lacking NBD2 (ΔNBD2), indicating that these gating effects are independent of NBD dimerization. Nonetheless, whereas VX-770 is equally effective when applied from either side of the membrane, nitrate potentiates gating mainly from the cytoplasmic side, implicating a common mechanism for gating modulation mediated through two separate sites of action.
Improving Performance of Internet Services Through Reward-Driven Request Prioritization

Meeting client QoS expectations proves to be a difficult task for the providers of modern Internet services, especially when web servers experience overload conditions (steady or transient), which cause increased response times and request rejections, leading to user frustration, lowered usage of the service and reduced revenues. In this paper, we propose a server-side request scheduling mechanism that addresses these problems. Our Reward-Driven Request Prioritization (RDRP) algorithm gives higher execution priority to client web sessions that are likely to bring more service profit (or any other application-specific reward). The method works by predicting future session structure by comparing its requests seen so far with aggregated information about recent client behavior, and using these predictions to preferentially allocate web server resources. Our experiments using the TPC-W benchmark application and CBMG-based web workloads, with an implementation of the RDRP techniques in the JBoss application server, show that RDRP can significantly boost reward attained by the service, while providing better QoS to clients that bring more reward.
Nonsaturating magnetoresistance and Hall coefficient reversal in a model composite semiconductor

We calculate the transverse magnetoresistance (TMR) and Hall coefficient ${R}_{H}$ of a three-dimensional composite medium with both positive and negative charge carriers, using the effective-medium approximation. The composite is assumed to be composed of two types of small crystallites, in which the charge carriers are either all electrons or all holes. The conductivity tensors of the two components are assumed to be of the standard free-electron form. At all nonzero concentrations, the composite is found to have a large, nonsaturating TMR. For a given magnetic field $h$, the TMR is a maximum at the concentration ${p}^{*}$ where ${R}_{H}$ changes sign; at this concentration, the TMR may be a factor of hundreds or thousands for realistic magnetic field. We discuss the relevance of these results to recent experiments on silver chalcogenide semiconductors, where similar behavior has been reported as a function of pressure.
Differential Space-Time Spreading with Segment Selective Repeat-Based Automatic Repeat Request

In this paper, we first propose differential space- time spreading (DSTS) with multiple transmit antennas. With the assumption of no channel state information at either the transmitter or the receiver, the DSTS signal is differentially encoded and decoded. The proposed method achieves full transmit diversity gains. As compared to the coherent space-time spreading (CSTS) method, the proposed scheme has 3-dB performance degradation, but avoids the demand of perfect channel estimation. We then combine DSTS with segment selective repeat (SSR)-based automatic repeat request (ARQ). By utilizing the estimated channel gain of DSTS at the receiver, only the worse corrupted portion of the data is retransmitted upon error to improve efficiency. It is shown that the proposed DSTS with SSR-based ARQ achieves higher throughput than DSTS with Type-I ARQ while maintaining similar bit error rate (BER).
Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock: Review of the Literature and Emergency Department Management Guidelines

Severe sepsis and septic shock are as common and lethal as other acute life-threatening conditions that emergency physicians routinely confront such as acute myocardial infarction, stroke, and trauma. Recent studies have led to a better understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms and the development of new or newly applied therapies. These therapies place early and aggressive management of severe sepsis and septic shock as integral to improving outcome. This independent review of the literature examines the recent pathogenic, diagnostic, and therapeutic advances in severe sepsis and septic shock for adults, with particular relevance to emergency practice. Recommendations are provided for therapies that have been shown to improve outcomes, including early goal-directed therapy, early and appropriate antimicrobials, source control, recombinant human activated protein C, corticosteroids, and low tidal volume mechanical ventilation.
Solubility parameters of hydrocarbons

Information available in the literature on vapor pressures, saturated vapor and liquid densities, and critical constants, for different hydrocarbons, has permitted the calculation of δ, the solubility parameter advanced by Hildebrand, at temperatures up to and including the critical point. For these hydrocarbons, the residual quantity, δ-δc was found to depend on 1-TR according to the relationship, where k appears to be a constant within different classes of hydrocarbons. Values of δ calculated with this equation were compared with the corresponding values used to develop it, and produced an average deviation of 0.85% for 153 values considered which represented 17 hydrocarbons.
Noise properties of the SET transistor in the co-tunneling regime

Zero-frequency spectral densities of current noise, charge noise, and their cross-correlation are calculated for the SET transistor in the co-tunneling regime. The current noise has a form expected for the uncorrected co-tunneling events. Charge noise is created by the co-tunneling and also by the second-order transitions in a single junction. Calculated spectral densities determine transistor characteristics as quantum detector.
Reply to Buckner

In “Sterilization, Privacy, and the Value of Reproduction” I argued that the capacity to reproduce is not important, and is not protected by any right to privacy, so that if involuntary sterilization is impermissible, it is not because of any “right to procreate.” But I pointed out that sterilization which, given present technology, and perhaps any technology, involves an invasion of the body, does seem to violate the right to privacy in what I distinguished as the third sense of that right. Professor Buckner evidently thinks that interference with procreative capacity is itself a “moral violation.” Since he denies my argument is sound, even though conceding that my logic is valid, he presumably holds either that the capacity to procreate is important or that interference with this capacity is a violation of the right to privacy. I cannot see, however, that he has shown either of these possibilities to be true.
Random-cluster dynamics in Z2

The random-cluster model has been widely studied as a unifying framework for random graphs, spin systems and electrical networks, but its dynamics have so far largely resisted analysis. In this paper we analyze the Glauber dynamics of the random-cluster model in the canonical case where the underlying graph is an n × n box in the Cartesian lattice Z2. Our main result is a O(n2 log n) upper bound for the mixing time at all values of the model parameter p except the critical point p = pc(q), and for all values of the second model parameter q ≥ 1. We also provide a matching lower bound proving that our result is tight. Our analysis takes as its starting point the recent breakthrough by Beffara and Duminil-Copin on the location of the random-cluster phase transition in Z2. It is reminiscent of similar results for spin systems such as the Ising and Potts models, but requires the reworking of several standard tools in the context of the random-cluster model, which is not a spin system in the usual sense.
Exergy Analysis of a Solid-Oxide Fuel Cell, Gas Turbine, Steam Turbine Triple-Cycle Power Plant

In an effort to make higher efficiency power systems, several joint fuel cell / combustion-based cycles have been proposed and modeled. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has recently built such a system with a solid-oxide fuel cell gas turbine plant, and is now working on a variant that includes a bottoming steam cycle. They report their double and triple cycles have LHV efficiencies greater than 52% and 70%, respectively. In order to provide insight into the thermodynamics behind such efficiencies, this study attempts to reverse engineer the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries system from publicly available data. The information learned provides the starting point for a computer model of the triple cycle. An exergy analysis is used to compare the triple cycle to its constituent sub-cycles, in particular the natural gas combined cycle. This analysis provides insights into the benefits of integrating the fuel cell and gas turbine architectures in a manner that improves the overall system performance to previously unseen efficiencies.© 2012 ASME
Ringing the Cosets

(1987). Ringing the Cosets. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 94, No. 8, pp. 721-746.
Rediscovering Pioneering Research in Microbial Ecology

Those who are ignorant of history are condemned to repeat it.” This is one of the many variations of George Santayana’s famous quotation of 1905. It is particularly apt in describing some current and recent research efforts in microbial ecology. Thus, NASA’s publicity machine has seized on “extremophiles,” giving the impression that such microbes have been discovered recently, just in time to bolster faltering hopes that evidence for past or present microbial life on Mars will be forthcoming. The ubiquity of bacteria, well known for over a century, was rediscovered by NASA in 2007 in disconcerting circumstances … reported under a New York Times headline (October 9, 2007): “In NASA’s Sterile Areas, Plenty of Robust Bacteria.... Researchers have found a surprising diversity of hardy bacteria in a seemingly unlikely place—the so-called sterile clean rooms where NASA assembles its spacecraft and prepares them for launching.” The leader of the study (C. Moissi et al., FEMS Microbiol. Ecol. 61:509–521, 2007) is quoted as saying that their findings will advance the search for life on Mars and other worlds “by sparking improved cleaning and sterilization methods.” Thanks, but we already have excellent methods!
Tuberculous enteritis. A report of three patients.

Three patients with tuberculous enteritis, 2 of whom developed free perforation, have been presented. The continued presence of tuberculous enteritis in our western society, especially in emigres to the United States from endemic areas, is emphasized. Awareness of tuberculous enteritis in the differential diagnosis of granulomatous gastrointestinal disease and in perforation of the bowel is stressed. Tuberculous enteritis should be considered in all patients with abdominal masses that present clinically or radiographically, particularly in the presence of pulmonary disease.
Descriptive Epidemiology for Turtles Admitted to the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine Turtle Rescue Team

Abstract The North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine Turtle Rescue Team has been treating and releasing wild turtles since 1996 and has compiled a collection of almost 4,000 medical records, now available for consultation by researchers via the North Carolina State University Libraries Special Collections Research Center. Data available for each case include county where turtle was discovered, patient identification number, admission date, species, sex and reproductive status, physical examination findings, clinical diagnosis, last case-entry date, length of stay, and final disposition. Additional data in the records include a day-by-day description of treatment and husbandry performed for each turtle. This report summarizes 2,613 turtle cases examined between 1996 and 2012 by the Turtle Rescue Team, including 12 native species of turtle from 63 North Carolina counties. The sex distribution of those of known sex were evenly distributed. The most common presenting condition was vehic...
Cultural Foundations of Learning: Implications for the Changing Landscape of Learning

As the natural flux of human history proceeds, the current world is always different from the one just passed, no matter how people may define the current world and past worlds. All signs indicate, however, that the very current world is not only as much in flux as any prior world, but the pace of change is unprecedentally fast. Change is taking place on many fronts, affecting virtually every aspect of human life. No doubt, with the advent of science and technology, particularly communication technology, the world is experiencing accelerated and often unpredictable change. The term that is used to capture this large-scale change is globalization. Political change is seen in the democratization of nations, social change in everyday life within nations, economic change in the cross-nation interdependency, scientific/technological change in the explosion of knowledge and digitization of the world, and, pessimistically, environmental change in the direction of destruction. It is not surprising that many find this kind of change disorienting and dizzying. The fragility and ephemeral nature of life are felt more than ever before. GLOBAL MASSIVE MIGRATION As a result of all these changes, the world is witnessing massive population migration. Two trends of this migration have been observed in recent decades. First is the within-nation migration owing to economic/social/political development. For example, more than 100 million migrant workers in China have been leaving farming to rush to cities to find work, which is visible in all the new construction that has taken place in China over the past thirty years. These migrant workers surely make better wages than they did tilling the land their ancestors have tilled for millennia. Many not only migrate to nearby cities, but travel afar to seek greater economic reward.The second trend, much more massive, is the cross-nation migration and immigration (the former may not seek to settle down in the new culture but the latter may). The motivation for such massive global migration is driven by the same forces as those within nation.
Gibbs/MCMC Sampling for Multiple RNA Interaction with Sub-optimal Solutions

The interaction of two RNA molecules involves a complex interplay between folding and binding that warranted the development of RNA-RNA interaction algorithms. However, these algorithms do not handle more than two RNAs. We note our recent successful formulation for the multiple (more than two) RNA interaction problem based on a combinatorial optimization called Pegs and Rubber Bands. Even then, however, the optimal solution obtained does not necessarily correspond to the actual biological structure. Moreover, a structure produced by interacting RNAs may not be unique to start with. Multiple solutions (thus sub-optimal ones) are needed. Here, a sampling approach that extends our previous formulation for multiple RNA interaction is developed. By clustering the sampled solutions, we are able to reveal representatives that correspond to realistic structures. Specifically, our results on the U2-U6 complex and its introns in the spliceosome of yeast, and the CopA-CopT complex in E. Coli are consistent with published biological structures.