cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Occupational asthma in cleaners: a challenging black box

An abiding feature of current occupational epidemiology has been the observation—in Europe and North America—of high rates of asthma-like symptoms in professional cleaners.1 In comparison with ‘referent’ occupational groups such as office workers, risk estimates of around 1.5 have repeatedly been reported.2 Since there are very large numbers of people who work as cleaners one might expect these to be reflected in the experience of clinicians who see patients with asthma and in particular those with a special interest in work-related disease. This does not, however, appear to be the case. In the past decade, for example, fewer than 200 cases of occupational asthma (OA) in cleaners, most of them female, were reported to the UK national surveillance scheme for occupational respiratory diseases (SWORD). In this context ‘OA’ refers to disease that is believed to have been induced de novo by an exposure encountered at work; it is distinguished from ‘work-exacerbated’ asthma, a term used to describe pre-existing or coincident disease that is provoked by one or more exposures in the workplace. OA usually reflects an immune response to an airborne sensitising agent and a small number of cleaning materials—notably so-called quaternary ammonium compounds—are recognised to be respiratory sensitisers. However, the clinical pattern of asthma among cleaners appears to deviate from the traditional picture of immune-mediated OA: there is a low prevalence of atopy, scarce bronchial reversibility and no evidence of eosinophilic airaway …
DUAL ACTION OF ETHYLURETHANE ON BODY TEMPERATURE AND GAS METABOLISM OF THE RATS UNDER NORMAL AND ADRENAL ECTOMIZED CONDITION

Recently we (1) have reported the withstanding action of subnarcotic doses of ethylurethane (U) to severe acute anoxia in rats without the concomitance of the suppression of respiratory movements. In the course of studies on mechanism of the U-action, it was observed that the administration of a subnarcotic dose of U produced a rise in body temperature and in gas metabolism of rats.Up to about 1930, many of reports had appeared in the literature on the effects of large dose of U on metabolisms in various tissues or cells, but some few on the gas metabolism in mammals, almost all of which were undertaken to elucidate narcotic phenomena. As the latters, it was reported that there was a decrease in the O2-consumption in narcotized rats with U (2, 3) and a similar effect in the O2-uptake and CO2-output in like urethanized rabbits (3, 4). On the contrary, Aub et al. (5, 6) had reported that in spite of a reduction of body temperature, there was an increased gas metabolism in the cats under U anaesthesia being converted into a prompt and progressive fall of the metabolism after removal of adrenal glands, probably owing to the increased secretion of adrenin. In the connection with this problem, it was also reported that U-administration brought about an increased liberation of epinephrine from adrenal glands in cats and dogs (7, 8). On the one hand, it had been evidenced that the O2-comsumption in the fasting rat without narcotica was increased approximately 30% by the injection of epinephrine (9).In view of the literatures and our observations above mentioned, the present study was initiated to determine effects of the narcotic and subnarcotic dose of U on metabolism of rats and to determine whether U-effects are related to adrenal function or not.
Generalized 3P0 and 3S1 annihilation potentials for pp decay into two mesons based on a simple quark model

Within the quark model a generalization is proposed of the commonly used annihilation potential to describe antiproton- proton annihilation into two mesons, the so-called 3P0 and 3S1 mechanisms. This generalized potential treats the two mechanisms in a more symmetric way, has additional angular dependence, and results in an expanded set of selection rules.
Colonial 'Reformation' in The Highlands of Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, 1892–1995

Colonial 'Reformation' in the Highlands of Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, 1892–1995. Albert Schrauwers. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2000. ix. 279 pp., tables, photographs, notes, bibliography, index.
A Global Analysis of the Effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas in Preventing Coral Loss

Background A variety of human activities have led to the recent global decline of reef-building corals [1], [2]. The ecological, social, and economic value of coral reefs has made them an international conservation priority [2], [3]. The success of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in restoring fish populations [4] has led to optimism that they could also benefit corals by indirectly reducing threats like overfishing, which cause coral degradation and mortality [2], [5]. However, the general efficacy of MPAs in increasing coral reef resilience has never been tested. Methodology/Principal Findings We compiled a global database of 8534 live coral cover surveys from 1969–2006 to compare annual changes in coral cover inside 310 MPAs to unprotected areas. We found that on average, coral cover within MPAs remained constant, while coral cover on unprotected reefs declined. Although the short-term differences between unprotected and protected reefs are modest, they could be significant over the long-term if the effects are temporally consistent. Our results also suggest that older MPAs were generally more effective in preventing coral loss. Initially, coral cover continued to decrease after MPA establishment. Several years later, however, rates of coral cover decline slowed and then stabilized so that further losses stopped. Conclusions/Significance These findings suggest that MPAs can be a useful tool not only for fisheries management, but also for maintaining coral cover. Furthermore, the benefits of MPAs appear to increase with the number of years since MPA establishment. Given the time needed to maximize MPA benefits, there should be increased emphasis on implementing new MPAs and strengthening the enforcement of existing MPAs.
Genetic and Agronomic Evaluation of wp-m in Soybean

Transposable element systems have been proposed to explain instability in floral pigmentation of several plant species, including soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. Soybean lines with chimeric (purple and pink sectored) flowers are hypothesized to contain wp-m, an active transposable element that is able to excise from the wp locus during morphological development. The objectives of this research were (i) to determine the inheritance of the chimeric flower phenotype when crossed to stable pink or purple flowered revertant lines and (ii) to determine the effect of wp on agronomic traits in stable flowered lines derived from wp-m. Chimeric flowers crossed to pink flowered revertant (wp * ) lines produced four F 2 populations with unusual segregation ratios of 52 pink, three purple, and two chimeric flowered plants. Crossing chimeric flowers to revertant purple flowered (Wp * ) lines resulted in F 2 populations that did not have the chimeric flower phenotype evident. In the agronomic evaluations, stable wp * lines were later in maturity and averaged 4 g kg -1 higher in protein content and 3 g kg -1 lower in oil content than Wp * lines. The data suggest wp acts in a pleiotropic manner to influence protein synthesis, as purple flowered revertant lines from a pink flower source had lower protein content than sister lines with wp * . Pink flowered lines derived from a purple flower source had higher levels of protein than sister lines with Wp * . The influence of wp on the anthocyanin pathway, plant morphology, and protein accumulation is a unique phenomenon that has not been reported in other plant species.
Conditions for renormalizability of quantum flavor dynamics

The presence of a new anomaly, in addition to the Adler-Bell-Jackiw (ABJ) anomaly, is hinted at for gauge theories with ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{5}$ couplings. The ABJ anomaly is discussed first by translation of variables of a linearly divergent integral, then by dimensional regularization. Using the second method, the general non-Abelian case is considered in the presence of an overlapping divergence. A new anomaly is suggested which is not, in general, canceled by the usual restrictions because fermion masses are involved. Assuming no cancellation between different Feynman diagrams and current-algebra quark masses then leads to the conclusion that the standard model of quantum flavor dynamics (i.e., that of Glashow, Salam, and Weinberg) might be nonrenormalizable. Imposition of renormalizability would then imply that new dynamical constraints be met. Hence, only that part of the quark mass corresponding to the lepton mass in the same quark-lepton generation is generated by the electroweak interactions. The remaining mass comes presumably from the strong interaction for which the dynamical theory must therefore have at least some flavor dependence.
Size-Dependent Spectroscopy of MoS2 Nanoclusters

The synthesis and characterization of 3.5, 4.5, and 8 nm diameter MoS2 nanoclusters are described. Each size is characterized by TEM images, electron diffraction, and optical spectroscopy. These nanoclusters can be synthesized directly or may be synthesized from samples of polydisperse nanoclusters. Obtaining larger or smaller discrete sizes from polydisperse samples indicates that these nanocluster sizes are thermodynamically favored, that is, these sizes correspond to free-energy minima. Electron diffraction and static spectroscopic results indicate that the particles are three atoms thick, specifically, single S−Mo−S trilayer disks. Static and time-resolved absorption and emission spectroscopy were used to determine the polarizations of the lowest energy allowed transitions in each case. We find that the 8 nm particles have a lowest energy absorption maximum at 473 nm that has mixed x − y and z polarizations, 4.5 nm particles have absorption maxima at 400 and 440 nm that are x − y and z polarized, resp...
What guides a reader's eye movements?

Abstract Five categories of models of eye guidance in reading are described. Eye movement data from 10 college-age readers were analysed. Correlations between the lengths of successive saccades, between the durations of successive fixations, and between successive fixation durations and saccade lengths were very low. The number of fixations centering on a letter was related to the length of the word it was in. It is argued that eye movements in reading are under momentary, non-random control. Models attempting to account for eye movement data on a random basis, or by simple gain controls or visual buffer monitoring are not found acceptable.
Evaluation of the effects of terminating the diet in phenylketonuria

Seven children with phenylketonuria were evaluated before and after termination of diet therapy. The results obtained in this group suggest that termination of the diet after the age of 6 years is safe and seems to produce improvement in behavior school performance, and in the emotional climate of the family. The dangers of the diet are emphasized and its effect on parental attitudes discussed. The PKU patient should be treated as a “total” child and not simply as a “serum phenylalanine level” that must be kept under rigid control.
Non-propagating, recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus vectors encoding respiratory syncytial virus proteins generate potent humoral and cellular immunity against RSV and are protective in mice

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of severe lower respiratory tract illness in infants, the elderly, and other high-risk individuals. Despite years of research in this field, there is no effective licensed vaccine to prevent RSV infection. We have generated candidate RSV vaccines using a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSV) replicon in which the attachment and fusion domains of the VSV glycoprotein (G) have been deleted (rVSV-Gstem), rendering the virus propagation-defective except in the presence of complementing VSV G provided in trans. A form of this vector encoding the RSV fusion protein (F) gene expressed high levels of F in vitro and elicited durable neutralizing antibody responses as well as complete protection against RSV challenge in vivo. Mice vaccinated with rVSV-Gstem-RSV-F replicons also developed robust cellular responses characterized by both primary and memory Th1-biased CD8+ and CD4+ T cells. Furthermore, a single high dose of the Gstem-RSV-F replicon was effective against challenge with both RSV A and B subgroup viruses. Finally, addition of an RSV glycoprotein (G)-expressing Gstem vector significantly improved the incomplete protection achieved with a single low dose of Gstem-RSV-F vector alone.
Computation of stress in Bridgman crystals

Abstract Finite element analysis has been used to calculate the stress distribution in crystals growing by the Bridgman method. It has been found that the temperature distribution, and particularly changes in temperature gradient, are the main factors governing the maximum thermally induced stress. The solid-liquid interface shape is a secondary factor but a concave interface is associated with the highest stress in a uniform temperature gradient. The application of an external stress during growth is also discussed.
The morphology and folding patterns of buckling-driven thin-film blisters

Abstract T hin films and coatings in a state of residual compression can, under appropriate conditions, decohere and buckle away from the substrate to form blisters. These blisters are often observed to adopt intricate shapes and to fold into complex patterns. In this paper, such shapes and patterns are given an energetic interpretation, i.e. they follow as energy minimizers. We formulate the energy of the film by recourse to von Karman theory of moderate deflections of a plate. The energy functional has the following key properties : it contains two terms, namely, the membrane and bending energies, the latter being a singular perturbation of the former; and the membrane energy functional is nonconvex and, consequently, its infimum is generally not attained. In keeping with the conventional mathematical treatment of these problems, we construct solutions by a matched asymptotic expansion. The outer solution follows by membrane energy minimization and determines the essential folding pattern of the film. The inner solution is obtained by fitting boundary layers at sharp edges in the membrane solution. The film deflections thus constructed are found to match, in surprising detail, the observed complex folding patterns adopted by delaminated films. In addition, the boundary layer analysis permits one to accord a well-defined line tension to sharp edges in the membrane solution, and, in particular, to the boundary of the blister. This provides a simple device for assessing the configurational stability of some blister morphologies. In particular, the analysis predicts the transition from straight-sided to telephone-cord morphologies at a critical mismatch strain.
Effects of Pharmacist Outpatient Interventions on Adults with Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review

As an integral part of the United States health care delivery system, pharmacists are ideally positioned to provide diabetes mellitus management. In this systematic review, we assessed the effectiveness of diabetes quality improvement strategies delivered by pharmacists in outpatient settings. Five electronic databases were searched for articles published through August 2007. Only randomized controlled trials, controlled clinical trials, or cohort studies with a control group were eligible for inclusion. All interventions targeted adults with type 1 or 2 diabetes and measured diabetes-related complications and/or surrogate outcomes of hemoglobin A1c (A1C), blood pressure, or lipid profiles. Study data were abstracted by one author and checked by a second author following a standardized template. Results were synthesized narratively, and study-specific effect measures were calculated for the outcomes of interest. Twenty-one articles met the inclusion criteria: nine randomized controlled trials, one controlled clinical trial, and 11 cohort studies. All interventions involved additional visits by pharmacists with expanded roles to care for adult patients with diabetes. The A1C was the primary outcome of interest for all but two studies. Results of this review revealed overall improvement in A1C for patients in a diverse group of settings and across multiple study designs. Studies with smaller numbers of participants and those performed in the United States generally showed greater improvements in intervention group measures of A1C. A greater effect was also noted when pharmacists were afforded prescriptive authority. Only a few studies examined health care resource use; their results suggested that pharmacist interventions can reduce long-term costs by improving glycemic control and thus diminishing future diabetes complications. Findings from this review are limited by flaws in the study designs, including the high potential for selection bias in the study populations. However, due to the clinical significance of reported improvements in A1C, further trials with pharmacist case managers are warranted. Prospective assessments of the comparable efficacy of pharmacists to improve diabetes outcomes through self-management education and pharmacologic management are recommended.
The Patient-Centered Medical Home Is Not a Pill: Implications for Evaluating Primary Care Reforms

18. Asinof R. Chronic care initiative to expand. Providence Business Journal. June 4, 2012. http: //www.pbn.com/Chronic-care-initiative-to -expand,67965. 19. Gifford D. The RI Chronic Care Sustainability Initiative: Update on Rhode Island’s Multi-Payer Patient-Centered Medical Home Initiative. http://www.ohic.ri.gov/documents/Committees /HealthInsuranceAdvisoryCouncil/2010 %20October%20affordability%20Materials%20/2 _HIAC%20Rhode%20Island%20Chronic%20Care %20Sustainability%20Initiative.pdf.
Novel modulation formats for high-spectral efficiency optical transmission (Invited Paper)

We present two novel modulation formats, namely, optical differential 8-level phase-shift keying (OD8PSK) and differential polarization-phase-shift keying (DPolPSK) for high-spectral efficiency optical transmission. Both formats are constant-amplitude, tolerant to fiber nonlinearities, especially cross-phase modulation (XPM). Both formats use direct detection without the use of either active polarization control or phase locking at the receiver. DPolPSK also addresses practical use of polarization.
One-Dimensional Center Manifolds are C∞

It is well known that center manifolds of analytic differential equations are not of class C∞ in general. In this paper it is shown that they are indeed C∞ if they are one-dimensional.
Interpersonal Dependency Correlates and Locus of Control Orientation Among Obese Adults in Outpatient Treatment for Obesity

Interpersonal dependency and locus of control orientation were studied in obese and nonobese samples. The Interpersonal Dependency Inventory (Hirschfeld, Klerman, Gough, Barrett, & Korchin, 1977) and the I-E Scale (Rotter, 1966) were administered to 106 obese adults in outpatient treatment for obesity. The I-E Scale was also administered to 97 nonobese control subjects. As predicted, the obese subjects were significantly more internally oriented than has been previously identified in obese populations. These findings challenge currently held assumptions about locus of control in obese groups. Although the obese and nonobese subjects maintained similar overall dependency scores, the obese subjects were more likely to show low levels of autonomy in comparison with the nonobese subjects. Interpersonal dependency and locus of control dimensions associated with obese conditions may serve as useful predictor variables influencing obesity treatment approaches and outcome.
Do Reactive Post-Resection ￡$Injury￡$ Spikes Exist?

Summary: Purpose: New post-resection spikes on electrocorticography (ECoG) after lesionectomy in patients with seizures may represent residual epileptogenic tissue or presumed reactive injury spikes. We investigated the existence of post-resection injury spikes by eliminating the possibility of residual epileptogenic tissue. Methods: Preresection and post-resection ECoG was performed on seven patients with an intra-axial neocortical tumor (glioblastoma multiforme or metastasis) and no history of seizures. All tumors were gross-totally resected. Results: The mean age of the patients was 59 years. The tumor location was frontal in four patients, parietal in two, and temporal in one. Two patients had preresection spikes with an average rate of 68 spikes/min that disappeared after surgery. Two different patients had new post-resection spikes, with an average firing rate of 4 spikes/min, despite normal preresection ECoG. In one of these patients, the new spikes were superimposed over a burst suppression pattern. Neither patient developed seizures after surgery. Conclusions: Surgical irritation of the neocortex is sufficient to produce reactive post-resection epileptogenic discharges surrounding an intra-axial neocortical tumor even in the absence of preoperative seizures and spikes. Injury spikes fire at a slow rate and are not predictive of clinical seizures.
Effects of Bending and Bending Angular Momentum on Reaction of NO2 + with C2H2 :A Quasi-Classical Trajectory Study †

A large set of quasi-classical trajectories were calculated at the PBE1PBE/6-311G** level of theory, in an attempt to understand the mechanistic origins of the large, mode-specific enhancement of the O-transfer reaction by NO2+ bending vibration and the surprisingly large suppressing effect of bending angular momentum. The trajectories reproduce the magnitude of the absolute reaction cross section, and also get the dependence of reactivity on NO2+ vibrational state, and the vibrational state dependent scattering behavior qualitatively correct. Analysis of the trajectories shows that the bending effect is not simply a consequence of enhanced reactivity in bent geometries but, rather, that excitation of bending motion allows reaction in a wider range of orientation angles, even if the NO2+ is not bent at the onset of the collisional interaction. There is a strong interplay between NO2+ bending and transient charge transfer during the collisions. Such charge transfer enhances reactivity, but only if the reactants are oriented correctly.
DIAGNOSIS OF COMMON CONGENITAL HEART ANOMALIES IN THE DOG USING SURVEY AND NONSELECTIVE CONTRAST RADIOGRAPHY

The most common canine congenital heart anomalies include patient ductus arteriosus, ventricular septal defects, tetralogy of Fallot, pulmonic stenosis, and aortic stenosis. Survey radiography and nonselective (venous) angiography can allow the practicing veterinarian to confirm the diagnosis in many of these patients. Typical radiographic findings using these diagnostic procedures are reviewed. Nonselective angiocardiography is a relatively easy, rapid, and noninvasive procedure which can be performed using conventional equipment. The major disadvantage of this special procedure is that the superimposition of opacified structures can make the identification of some left-to-right shunts difficult. Dilution of contrast medium can occur if a rapid bolus injection is not made.
International Connections: Transition From Hospital to Home: Post–Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Discharge: A Global Perspective

Abstract Our world is shrinking due to computerized linkages and the mobility of society. Information is shared rapidly around the world. Issues surrounding newborn and infant nursing are global. In efforts to acknowledge the international community, each Newborn and Infant Nursing Review issue will feature a column that highlights care-related issues from a featured country or region of the world. To review issues occurring in different areas of the world, a different area of the global will be featured that addresses the Newborn and Infant Nursing Review's theme-oriented topic. This month the column presents a global view including the United States on the topic of transition from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to home and the postdischarge needs of the infant and family. Our guest author is Ms Marina Boykova, PhD(c), MSc, RN, doctoral student from the University of Oklahoma College of Nursing, Oklahoma City, OK, and a neonatal nurse from Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Bias phenomenon and compensation for PDA/JPDA algorithms

Probabilistic Data Association (PDA) and Joint PDA (JPDA) algorithms are approaches for target tracking which have received considerable attention. It has been observed for some years that they both yield biased tracks in a multitarget environment. However, most work assumes no false alarms and the rejection phenomenon of the JPDA algorithm has not been reported. In this paper, the general procedure of multitarget tracking and the PDA/JPDA algorithms are first described. Their bias phenomenon is simulated and investigated. It is observed that(1)the JPDA algorithm has less bias than the PDA algorithm in a clean environment. Both of them yield coalescence (2)the JPDA algorithm has coalescence and rejection bias phenomenon while the PDA algorithm has only coalescence phenomenon in a clutter environment. Bias compensated algorithms are then presented using the polynomial regression method. Simulations are carried out to select the order of polynomial regression. Monte Carlo simulations also demonstrate the effectiveness of the compensated PDA/JPDA algorithms.
Primary care perceptions of otolaryngology

Abstract Objective To identify diseases of the head and neck for which primary care physicians may underappreciate the role of the otolaryngologist. Study Design Cross-sectional analysis. Setting With increasing subspecialization in the world of medicine, there is the potential for confusion about the scope of practice for different specialties by primary care physicians. These clinicians are often faced with patients who have disease processes in which otolaryngologist are trained but may end up referring patients to other specialists. Subjects and Methods A brief, web-based survey was administered via e-mail to resident physicians of family medicine, pediatrics, and internal medicine programs in the United States. The survey asked responders which specialist they believed was an expert for particular clinical entities: allergies, oral cancer, restoring a youthful face, sleep apnea, thyroid surgery, and tracheostomy. Respondents could choose from a dermatologist, general surgeon, ophthalmologist, oral maxillofacial surgeon, orthopedic surgeon, otolaryngologist, and plastic surgeon. The responder was able to choose more than one specialist for each question. Results A total of 1064 completed surveys were analyzed. The percentage of primary care residents who picked otolaryngologists as experts was 13.8 percent for allergies, 73.6 percent for oral cancer, 2.7 percent for restoring a youthful face, 32.4 percent for sleep apnea, 47.2 percent for thyroid surgery, and 72.5 percent for tracheostomy. Conclusion This study demonstrates that many primary care residents are not aware of the scope of expertise that an otolaryngologist may offer. Increased exposure to otolaryngology during primary care residency training may increase understanding of the specialty among primary care physicians.
Fault Accommodation in Control of Flexible Systems

New synthesis techniques for the design of fault accommodating controllers for flexible systems are developed. Three robust control design strategies, static dissipative, dynamic dissipative and mu-synthesis, are used in the approach. The approach provides techniques for designing controllers that maximize, in some sense, the tolerance of the closed-loop system against faults in actuators and sensors, while guaranteeing performance robustness at a specified performance level, measured in terms of the proximity of the closed-loop poles to the imaginary axis (the degree of stability). For dissipative control designs, nonlinear programming is employed to synthesize the controllers, whereas in mu-synthesis, the traditional D-K iteration is used. To demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed techniques, they are applied to the control design of a structural model of a flexible laboratory test structure.
A novel trace sampling technique

Trace-driven simulation has been widely used by designers and performance analyst to study and evaluate performance of computer systems. The increasing complexity benchmarks combined with the relatively slow rate of detailed performance analysis has resulted in a widening gap between the size of workloads and the speed of analysis. This has necessitated the use of reduced traces that represent the original workloads. Unfortunately, the existing methods of generating and validating reduced traces does not provide any guarantees regarding the representativeness of such traces. Trace-driven simulations based on unrepresentative reduced/sampled traces may, therefore, produce erroneous timer/simulator results. In this paper, we have presented a new methodology for generating and validating a reduced trace. Experimental results show effectiveness and usefulness of the proposed technique.
Enzymatic activities of cortisol hydroxylation at C-2a and C-6 beta in liver, adrenal and spleen homogenates of L2C-NB leukemia-bearing guinea pigs.

The enzymatic hydroxylation of cortisol at C-2α and C-6β by adrenal, liver and spleen homogenates has been studied in L2C/NB leukemia-bearing strain 2 guinea pigs and compared with normal controls, starved controls, and animals treated with ACTH. Adrenal homogenates from leukemic animals exhibited a statistically significant, approximately 50%, lower 2α- and 6β-hydroxylation activity (on a unit tissue weight basis) as compared to control animals; the hepatic activities of the leukemic animals were 42% lower. The enzymatic liver and adrenal activities of starved animals were not significantly different from those of normal controls. ACTH treatment caused a highly significant drop in the adrenal activity to a level 25 % of that of controls with no significant change in the hepatic hydroxylation. The results indicate the possibility that the lower activity in the adrenals of the leukemic animals may have been caused by a higher level of circulating ACTH and (or) by infiltration of leukemic cells. No signific...
Self-organization in photorefractive crystals in the presence of transmittsion and refletion gratings

Pattern formation and self phase conjugation are observed simultaneously in photorefractive potassium niobate. The effects have been modelled assuming the presence of reflection gratings. In this paper, we further the theoretical analysis by incorporating the effects of both reflection and transmission gratings. Also, we state image processing applications of self phase conjugation such as edge enhancement and contrast reversal.
Using teams to build a campus communications portal

To support our mission to develop principled, well-educated leaders, in spite of budget cuts and an unpredictable economic climate, The Citadel concentrated efforts to achieve success by optimizing our very best resources - our people.In conjunction with the contract to upgrade our Enterprise Information System (EIS), the college purchased portal software with a directive to establish a Unified Digital Campus (UDC). By using teams to build an organized interface with Single-Sign-On (SSO) to many systems, we successfully developed an easy-to-use digital working environment that facilitates interactivity, improves productivity, and eliminates obstacles that had formerly deterred us from utilizing resources to maximum potential.The successful launch or opening of our virtual gateway not only paves a pathway to improve campus communications and productivity as a result of organizing tools and resources; it also prompted college-wide collaboration. Having a common frame of reference to features creates unity and empowers cadets, students, faculty, and staff alike to participate proactively in campus life, thus building a greater sense of Citadel community.Connecting multiple independent systems and migrating data forced us to reexamine current business practices, initiate development of efficient workflow procedures, and create guidelines such as data standards that have an enormous positive impact on college operations overall.The purpose of this paper is to describe challenges we faced with this project, share what did or did not work for our teams, explain methodology we found useful, and discuss plans moving forward.
The Monetary Transmission Mechanism in Egypt

This paper examines the monetary transmission mechanism in Egypt against the background of the central bank's intention to shift to inflation targeting. It first describes the changing transmission channels over the last decade. Second, the channels are evaluated in a VAR model. The exchange rate channel plays a strong role in propagating monetary shocks to output and prices. Most other channels (bank lending, asset price) are rather weak. The interest rate channel is underdeveloped but appears to be strengthening since the introduction of the interest corridor in 2005, which bodes well for adopting inflation targeting over the medium term.
Fuel saving and ridesharing in the US: Motivations, limitations, and opportunities

Ridesharing can reduce the fuel consumed in noncommercial passenger highway vehicles by grouping individuals into fewer vehicles and reducing the number of miles that vehicles must travel. We estimate the potential fuel savings that could result from an increase in ridesharing in the US. If no additional travel is required to pick up passengers, adding one additional passenger for every 100 vehicles would reduce annual fuel consumption by 0.80-0.82 billion gallons of gasoline per year; if one passenger were added in every 10 vehicles, the potential savings would be 7.54-7.74 billion gallons per year. However, ridesharing may require extra travel to pick up additional passengers, which can reduce and possibly eliminate potential fuel savings. The tradeoff between saving fuel and spending time to pick up additional passengers is investigated, finding that, on average, ridesharing may not be attractive to travelers, but can be made more attractive by increasing per-vehicle-trip costs such as parking and tolls.
Effects of heat stress on goat production

Abstract Goats with production demands are susceptible to heat stress in spite of heat resistant characteristics. Depression of feed intake and reduction in production are commonly observed in heat-stressed goats. Upper critical temperatures for goats in maintenance are 25° to 30°C, but this has not been fully established for growing and lactating goats. Effects of heat stress on intake, digestibility and rate of passage in goats are discussed. Guidelines for nutritional manipulation attempting to alleviate heat stress in goats remain to be established. Balancing rations according to reduced level of production, reducing dietary forage to grain ratio, feeding fat, supplementing sodium bicarbonate and other minerals, and maximizing cold water intake may be beneficial for heat-stressed goats. However, validity of these approaches needs to be verified by further research.
Women's health in HMOs: What we know and what we need to find out

M anaged care, in general, and health maintenance organizations (HMOs), in particular, are growing rapidly and are now common mechanisms of health care delivery and financing in the United States. In 1994,51.1 million Americans were HMO members.’ Women in their childbearing years (age 15 through 44 years) are more likely to be HMO members than women of this age group in the general population.* Overall, the majority of HMO members are female. It is therefore critical that we understand how women receive health care in HMOs. In most HMOs, women choose their providers of reproductiverelated services. Alternatively, they may need referrals to different types of practitioners. HMOs provide varying levels of benefits, have different costsharing provisions, and offer different types of case-management. This paper examines what we know about how women who are HMO members receive their medical care and when possible compares their care with that of women enrolled in other types of insurance plans.
No significant effects of ethyl-eicosapentanoic acid on histologic features of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in a phase 2 trial.

Background & Aims n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids reduce insulin resistance, lipogenesis, and inflammation, which are features of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Ethyl-eicosapentanoic acid (EPA-E) is a synthetic polyunsaturated fatty acid that reduces hypertriglyceridemia. We report the final results of a phase 2b multicenter, prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of EPA-E for NASH. Methods Our study, performed at 37 sites in North America, included subjects with NASH and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) activity scores ≥4, with minimum scores of 1 for steatosis and inflammation, along with either ballooning or at least stage 1a fibrosis. A total of 243 subjects were randomly assigned to groups given placebo (n = 75), low-dosage EPA-E (1800 mg/d; n = 82), or high-dosage EPA-E (2700 mg/d; n = 86) for 12 months. Subjects were examined at 4-week intervals for 3 months, 6-week intervals for the next 3 months, and every 3 months thereafter, until 1 month after the last dose was taken. Liver biopsies were collected 2 weeks after the last dose of EPA-E or placebo. The primary efficacy end point was NAFLD activity score ≤3, without worsening of fibrosis; or a decrease in NAFLD activity score by ≥2 with contribution from >1 parameter, without worsening of fibrosis, 1 year after the last dose of EPA-E or placebo was given. Results Similar proportions of subjects in each group met the primary end point (40%, 37%, and 35.9% for placebo, low-dosage, and high-dosage EPA-E, respectively). EPA-E had no significant effects on steatosis, inflammation, ballooning, or fibrosis scores. There were no significant effects on levels of liver enzymes, insulin resistance, adiponectin, keratin 18, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, or hyaluronic acid. High-dosage EPA-E reduced levels of triglyceride (−6.5 mg/dL vs an increase of 12 mg/dL in the placebo group; P = .03). There were no treatment-related serious adverse events. Conclusions In a phase 2 trial, EPA-E had no significant effect on the histologic features of NASH. EPA-E reduced subjects' levels of triglyceride compared with placebo, without any increase in serious adverse events. Clinicaltrials.gov Number: 01154985.
Soil degradation: I. Basic processes

This paper examines soil and land degradation. It describes basic processes and factors responsible for degradation, illustrates the cause-effect relationships and differentiates between natural and man-induced regressive effects. The ‘critical limit’ concept is described in terms of properties beyond which the soil will not support an economically-viable agriculture. This paper is not an exhaustive literature review but emphasizes the scientific principles involved and highlights natural against man-induced processes. Important natural processes are: laterization, hard-setting, fragipan and clay pan formation, and geologic erosion. In comparison, man-induced processes consist of: soil compaction, accelerated erosion, desertification, salt accumulation and leaching and acidification. One of the principal constraints is the problem of data reliability. A reliable database and precise criteria are definitely lacking and hinder the assessment of the extent, type and degree of soil degradation and establishing the cause-effect scenario. Improving our database is, therefore, of a high priority if we are to adopt land use policy for sustainable soil management and long-range resource management. Also outlined, are vital research and development strategies. Judicious resource management policy should emphasize managing prime agricultural land to produce to its maximum potential so that there is no need to cultivate marginal and easily-degraded fragile ecosystems. A strict code of conduct is needed for utilizing marginal/fragile lands. Methods of restoring the productivity of degraded lands must be researched so as to minimize the need to clear and develop new lands.
The influence of rigid cyclic phosphine ligands in cis-Rh(COD)-(phosphine)2+ on inner coordination shell dynamics and catalyzed olefin hydrogenation/isomerization

Abstract Conformational barriers in cis -phosphine-rhodium(I) complexes with two pairs of isomeric ligands (Rh(COD)(L) 2 + , L = anti - or syn -9-phenylphosphabicyclo[4.2.1]nona-2,4,7-triene ( 1 or 2 ) or L = anti - or syn -9-phenylphosphatricyclo[4.2.1.0 2,5 ]nona-7-ene ( 3 or 4 )) were studied by variable temperature 13 C, 31 P and 1 H NMR spectroscopy. Conformational barriers result from interligand steric interactions encountered during RhP bond rotations. These barriers are quite sensitive to individual ligand structure, with L = 1 or 3 exhibiting no conformational preference and L = 2 or 4 exhibiting a significant conformational preference within the temperature range studied. A correlation between phosphine diastereomeric meso form, RhP rotational barrier and catalytic activity/selectivity has been found. The hydrogenation and isomerization of 1-hexene homogeneously catalyzed by Rh(COD)L 2 + (L = PPh 3 , 3, 4 ) were investigated in acetone solvent in order to assess the influence of inner coordination shell steric crowding on catalytic reactivity and selectivity. The relative initial rates of catalyzed 1-hexene hydrogenation are 1/7.5/13 for L = PPh 3 , 3 , and 4 , respectively. The rate of isomerization of 1-hexene is faster for a Rh(COD)( 3 ) 2 + catalyzed reaction than for a Rh(COD)( 4 ) 2 + catalyzed reaction. The difference in hydrogenation and isomerization rates for Rh(COD)( 3 ) 2 + and Rh(COD)( 4 ) 2 + catalyzed reactions are discussed in conjunction with the variable temperature NMR data and found to be due to the greater steric crowding imposed by 4 on the inner coordination shell of the catalyst.
Periodontal disease among adult, new-immigrant, Chinese Americans in Boston with and without diabetes -- a brief communication.

Objectives: We compared the periodontal disease levels in a population of low socioeconomic status (SES), urban, adult, Chinese American immigrants with and without type 2 diabetes. Methods: Dental records of 51 diabetic adults were compared with 102 nondiabetic controls from South Cove Community Health Center, Boston, MA, cross-matched by age and gender. Results: Our results showed that the proportion of sites with bone loss greater than 5 mm in the mesial areas of teeth was significantly correlated with higher glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (r = 0.35, P-value = 0.01). The number of teeth with mesial bone loss of greater than 5 mm was correlated to increasing HbA1c (r = 0.37, P-value = 0.01). Conclusions: Our preliminary data showed that mesial bone loss greater than 5 mm was correlated with inadequate control of diabetes. The implications and recommendations for the dental care of immigrant Chinese Americans with diabetes were discussed.
Mental development in the child and the race

In his classic analysis of fundamental mechanisms of biopsychological development, James Baldwin argued for the interplay of habit and accommodation as expressed through the circular reaction. This view came to exert a significant influence on modern developmental psychology.
Thermal-hysteresis-factors in overwintering insects

Abstract The haemolymph of 9 species of insects found overwintering under the bark of dead trees in northern Indiana contained factors which produced a thermal hysteresis (a difference between the freezing and melting points) of several degrees. These thermal-hysteresis-factors were common in overwintering beetles, but rare in non-Coleoptera, and are similar to the macromolecular antifreezes of polar marine teleost fishes. The factors were found in both freeze-susceptible and freeze-tolerant species, and their function in freeze-susceptible insects appears to be to depress the supercooling points and therefore the lower lethal temperatures of the insects. However, the function of the factors in freeze-tolerant species is not clear. Possible functions are discussed.
Enhancement of anti-tumor immunity by photodynamic therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an FDA-approved modality that rapidly eliminates local tumors, resulting in cure of early disease and palliation of advanced disease. PDT was originally considered to be a local treatment; however, both pre-clinical and clinical studies have shown that local PDT treatment of tumors can enhance systemic anti-tumor immunity. The current state of investigations into the ability of PDT to enhance anti-tumor immunity, the mechanisms behind this enhancement and the future of PDT as an immunotherapy are addressed in this review.
Deep crustal earthquakes associated with continental rifts

Abstract Deep (> 20 km) crustal earthquakes have occurred within or along the margins of at least four continental rift zones. The largest of these deep crustal earthquakes (M ⩾ 5.0) have strike-slip or oblique-slip mechanisms with T-axes oriented similarly to those associated with shallow normal faulting within the rift zones. The majority of deep crustal earthquakes occur along the rift margins in regions that have cooler, thicker crust. Several deep crustal events, however, occur in regions of high heat flow. These regions also appear to be regions of high strain, a factor that could account for the observed depths. We believe the deep crustal earthquakes represent either the relative motion of rift zones with respect to adjacent stable regions or the propagation of rifting into stable regions.
Comparison of the effects of ventral medullary lesions on systemic and microinjection morphine analgesia.

Abstract The effects of electrolytic lesions of the nucleus raphe magnus (NRM), nucleus reticularis paragigantocellularis (PGC) and nucleus raphe alatus (NRA) on analgesia elicited in the rat from systemic morphine and morphine microinjection into the periaqueductal gray (PAG) were evaluated using the tail flick test. No consistent change in baseline pain sensitivity was observed following lesions of the NRM, PGC or NRA. To determine the effect of ventral medullary lesions on systemic porphine analgesia, pain sensitivity was assessed prior to and 40 min after 6 mg/kg morphine administration (i.p.) at 2 days preceding lesioning and 5, 12 and 19 days post-lesion. NRM and PGC lesions produced only slight reductions in analgesia at 5 days after surgery. It was observed that large NRM, large PGC, and NRA lesions significantly attenuated analgesia evaluated at 12 days post-lesion. Smaller lesions confined within the NRM or PGC were reliably less effective than the larger lesions in reducing analgesia. In a subsequent study, 5 μg morphine in 0.5 μl saline was microinjected into the ventral PAG at the level of the dorsal raphe. Identical testing procedures were used and the analgesia was assessed at 2 days before lesioning and 5 and 12 days post-lesion. In contrast to the previous study, large NRM lesions abolished analgesia as early as 5 days following lesioning. Small NRM lesions were less effective and PGC lesions were generally ineffective in attenuating analgesia induced by morphine microinjection. We conclude that the NRA may act as a functional unit in the mediation of systemic morphine analgesia. In contrast, analgesia elicited from intracerebral (PAG) morphine microinjection is mediated via the NRM.