cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The eutrophication of Cayuga Lake: a historical analysis of the phytoplankton's response to phosphate detergents

SUMMARY. Phytoplankton surveys of Cayuga Lake over the past 60 years indicate that summer algal crops have doubled and spring algal crops have increased 20-fold. The pattern of algal seasonal succession has changed from a summer maximum comprised of a mixture of diatoms, greens and blue-greens to a spring maximum comprised of diatoms followed by diminished summer levels with dominance by greens and blue-greens. Summer algal standing crop and the shift to a spring pulse are shown to be related phenomena resulting from the pattern of phosphorus loading to the lake. The combination of data on algal biomass, chlorophyll and Secchi disc transparency serve to describe the long-term trend in the lake's trophic state and demonstrate a large increase in algal standing crop in the period roughly coincidental with the advent of phosphorus-based detergents. The increase in algal standing crop from pre-1940 levels to present levels closely corresponds with that predicted by the Oglesby—Schaffner regression model from the increase in phosphorus loading due to phosphorus-based detergents.
Experiments on hypersonic ramjet propulsion cycles using a ram accelerator

Work on hypersonic propulsion research using a ram accelerator is presented. Several different ram accelerator propulsive cycles have been experimentally demonstrated over the Mach number range of 3 to 8.5. The subsonic, thermally choked combustion mode has accelerated projectiles to near the Chapman-Jouguet (C-J) detonation velocity within many different propellant mixtures. In the transdetonative velocity regime (85 to 115 percent of C-J speed), projectiles have established a propulsive cycle which allows them to transition smoothly from subdetonative to superdetonative velocities. Luminosity data indicate that the combustion process moves forward onto the projectile body as it approaches the C-J speed. In the superdetonative velocity range, the projectiles accelerate while always traveling faster than the C-J velocity. Ram accelerator projectiles operating continuously through these velocity regimes generate distinctive hypersonic phenomena which can be studied very effectively in the laboratory. These results would be very useful for validating sophisticated CFD computer codes and in collecting engineering data for potential airbreathing hypersonic propulsive systems.
Rapid cloning of HLA class I cDNAs by locus specific PCR

The human major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I loci, human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A, -B, -C, encode highly polymorphic molecules that mediate immune recognition of infectious pathogens and can initiate the rapid rejection of transplanted tissue. Cloning of HLA class I alleles is complicated by polymorphism as well as interlocus homology. Here, HLA class I cDNAs are amplified by PCR using one common primer with one of three locus specific primers whose 3' ends map to conserved, locus specific nucleotides. Using these primers, HLA-A, -B, and -C alleles were cloned from a number of cell lines and two different HLA-B alleles were cloned from a single, heterozygous cell line. The amplified products encode the entire extracellular portion of the class I molecules. An amplified HLA-A allele was cloned into an expression vector and the protein product was detected on the surface of a transfected cell. A premature termination codon was engineered into the HLA-A allele by site directed mutagenesis and the soluble protein product was detected in the culture medium of transfected cells. Therefore, these primers can be used to rapidly clone, alter, and express HLA class I molecules. This method may expedite the generation of reagents for testing the antigen specificity of antibodies, natural killer cells, or T cells.
Measurement of polymer melt rheology using ultrasonics-based in-line rheometry

In-line rheological measurements of a polymer melt were investigated in steady tube flow using a combination of velocity and pressure drop measurements. In tube flow, the fluid experiences shear rates that theoretically range from zero at the centre to a maximum at the wall. For complex fluids, this implies that the fluid will exhibit a wide range of viscosities that vary across the tube. Hence, from a single velocity profile in a fully developed tube flow and a simultaneous pressure drop measurement, the shear viscosity as a function of shear rate can be calculated. This point-wise rheometrical technique was pioneered in our laboratory using magnetic resonance imaging to measure the velocity profiles. In the present study, ultrasonic velocimetry is used to measure the velocity profiles. Experimental results with a polydimethylsiloxane melt showed that the shear viscosity can be measured over nearly one and one-half decades of shear rate, 1.6–17 s−1, from a single velocity profile. Over this range of shear rates, the shear viscosity decreased from 113 Pa s to 102.6 Pa s. These are the first measurements of shear viscosity of a polymer melt by this technique. The shear viscosity as measured with a cone and plate rheometer compared favourably with the viscosities determined using point-wise rheometry in the same shear rate range.
Design, synthesis and evaluation of new RDP inhibitors

Abstract Aminophosphinic acid derivatives were synthesized as potential inhibitors of renal dipeptidase, an enzyme overexpressed in benign and malignant colon tumors. Several compounds showed potent enzyme-inhibitory activity.
A woods-saxon and double-folding optical-model description of 14N elastic and inelastic scattering from 24Mg, 27Al and 28Si☆

Abstract Angular distributions of the elastic and inelastic scattering of 14 N from 24 Mg, 27 Al and 28 Si have been measured at energies near 53 MeV. The elastic data were fitted using both a Woods-Saxon and a G -matrix double-folding optical model. The potentials determined from these analyses were used in DWBA calculations of the cross sections for the 1.37 MeV 24 Mg and 1.78 MeV 28 Si levels. For the double-folding model calculations, matter and transition densities for the targets and projectile were taken from electron scattering and a “realistic” nucleon-nucleon interaction was used. A good description of the elastic scattering data was obtained by both models. The normalization of the real double-folded potential was close to unity and the inelastic scattering data were well reproduced with transition densities close to those obtained from electron scattering.
Observations Related to the Rotational Dynamics of the 20 May 1977 Tornadic Storms

Abstract Observations of the 20 May 1977 tornadic storms are used to evaluate recent theories on the initiation of rotation at mid-and low levels and to verify recent thermodynamic retrieval results. Using the lengthy data record from a variety of sensors available for this day, it appears that the mechanism that initiates low-level rotation is different from that at midlevels. Attempts to identify the source of the low-level rotation as vertical tilting baroclinically generated horizontal vorticity were inconclusive. The recent thermodynamic retrieval results of Hane and Ray and of Brandes for these storms are in good agreement with independent measurements where available. However, verification is hindered by the sparseness of these measurements. Noticeable differences in the region of the rear-flank downdraft suggest that there is room for improvement in the retrieval methods. Investigation of the cyclic generation of rotation along gust fronts indicates that the source of low-level rotation is not der...
Time series circulation data for collection development or: You can't intuit that

Abstract This paper provides a preliminary examination of a brief series of circulation and patron time series data that can be used for guiding purchasing from a collection management perspective.
IDENTIFYING THE POOR: POVERTY MEASUREMENT FOR THE U.S. FROM 1996 TO 2005

The poverty measure presented compares spending needs to resources available to meet those needs. The analysis is for the U.S.; however, lessons from other countries regarding desirable properties of a poverty measure are considered. A primary focus is internal consistency between thresholds and resources. This study is among the first for the U.S. to describe an internally consistent poverty measure, drawing from recommendations of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences (NAS). Thresholds reflect spending needs as “outflows.” Resources measure “inflows” available to meet spending needs. The U.S. Consumer Expenditure Survey is used for thresholds, and the Current Population Survey is the basis for resources. Trends are reported with comparisons to the official and a relative measure. An important finding is that increases in expenditures for shelter, captured in the NAS thresholds, suggest a greater increase in the number of families not able to meet basic needs than is reflected by official poverty statistics over this time period.
Practical Synthesis and Molecular Structure of a Potent Broad-Spectrum Antibacterial Isothiazoloquinolone

We report the synthesis of the new 2-sulfonylquinolone ethyl 1-cyclopropyl-6,7-difluoro-2-methanesulfonyl-8-methoxy-4-oxo-1,4-dihydroquinoline-3-carboxylate (5). Sulfone 5 is a key intermediate used in the optimized synthesis of the isothiazoloquinolone 9-cyclopropyl-6-fluoro-8-methoxy-7-(2-methylpyridin-4-yl)-9H-isothiazolo[5,4-b]quinoline-3,4-dione (1), a potent broad-spectrum antibacterial agent that is effective against clinically important resistant organisms such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Our synthetic method is free of chromatographic purification and amenable to large-scale synthesis. The molecular structures of 1, 9-cyclopropyl-6,7-difluoro-8-methoxy-9H-isothiazolo[5,4-b]quinoline-3,4-dione (4), 5, and ethyl 2-cyclopropylamino-6,7-difluoro-8-methoxy-4-oxo-4H-thiochromene-3-carboxylate (10) were established unambiguously using multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography.
604 INHIBITORY ACTIVITY OF TYPE I & TYPE II INTERFERON AGAINST TRANSPLANTABLE OSTEOGENIC SARCOMA IN MICE

Interferon (IF) has been recognized to have antitumor as well as antiviral activity. Strander et al. have reported possible therapeutic effects of human IF in patients with osteosarcomas. To study the antitumor activity of IF under more controlled conditions we have utilized a 239Pu-induced osteogenic sarcoma (OGS) in mice as a model system. We previously reported that growth of murine OGS cells in tissue culture was inhibited by IF. In the present study the effect of IF on the growth of transplantable OGS in mice was determined. Two tynes of IF were utilized-type I (viral-induced) IF and type II (immune) IF. Mice inoculated sc with 1×105 OGS cells were treated daily with 32,000 U type I IF at the tumor site for 7 days. The time of appearance of tumors was increased by approximately 40 days. Utilizing a similar treatment schedule the antitumor effects of type I and type II IF were compared using groups of 10 animals: These data extend in vitro studies which demonstrated that OGS cells were inhibited by IF and indicate that: (1) transplantable murine osteosarcomas can be inhibited by local treatment with IF and (2) type II IF was more effective than type I IF in this experimental model.
The dream of reason An archaeology of the failures of modernity in Ethiopia

Modernity is central to the concept of archaeology. It is not only part and parcel of the modern project, but it also throws light on the constitution of modernity itself. Although archaeologists usually reveal the higher degrees of oppression and alienation brought by the modern world, they consider that modernity is, in the first place, a productive process, in that it gives rise to new things - be they good or bad. They also tend to consider it successful in an evolutionary sense: wherever it appears, modernity wins at the expense of other rationalities, social forms, material cultures and economies, imposing its reason. This is true in most cases, but it is not necessarily so. This article explores the destructive side of modernity through a case study from Ethiopia. For this purpose, I will use archaeology to engage with a landscape where modernity has brought immense devastation and has eventually failed.
Evaluation of the acute and chronic safety of the biosense injection catheter system in porcine hearts.

Direct myocardial injection of therapeutic agents has been explored as a new method for myocardial revascularization. The integration of a 3D electromechanical mapping catheter with a retractable injection needle should allow for intramyocardial injection to identified sites, obviating the need for open heart surgery. This study assessed the procedural safety and performance characteristics of a novel guided catheter-based transendocardial injection system. The electromagnetic guidance system was coupled with a retrievable 27G needle for left ventricular endocardial injection. Using this system, we injected, transendocardially, methylene-blue (MB) dye tracer at a volume of 0.1 or 0.2 ml per injection in eight normal pigs. Animals were sacrificed acutely, at 1, 3, and 7 days (two animal in each time). Three animals served as controls. The injections were followed by coronary angiography and echocardiogram to assess possible ventricular or coronary perforation and wall motion abnormalities. CK-MB levels were measured up to 24 hr following the procedure. The animals were sacrificed at the assigned time for gross and histopathology evaluation. A total of 101 injections were made in all regions of the heart except the apex and the mitral valve. No animal died as a result of the mapping or injection procedures. Vital signs did not change relative to baseline after the mapping and injection procedures. CK-MB values did not increase over time and there was no evidence of sustained arrhythmia or hemodynamic compromise. There was no evidence of left ventricular or coronary perforation, global or regional wall motion abnormalities, or hemopericardium. On histologic evaluation, the estimated volume of tissue staining was greater than the volume of the injected MB dye due to dispersion of the injectate in the interstitial and intracellular fluid compartments. It is concluded that using this magnetic guidance catheter-based navigational system, it is feasible and safe to perform the transendocardial injection procedure. Thus, if it is determined that direct intramyocardial injection of drugs is a valid therapeutic strategy, this approach offers a clear advantage over surgically based transepicardial injection procedures. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Intervent. 48:447-453, 1999.
Novel tyrosine kinase inhibitors in chronic myelogenous leukemia.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The successful introduction of the tyrosine kinase inhibitors has initiated a new era in the management of chronic myeloid leukemia. RECENT FINDINGS: Imatinib therapy has significantly improved prognosis of chronic myeloid leukemia. A minority of patients with chronic-phase disease (4% annually) and considerably more in advanced stages develop resistance. This is attributed, in 40-50% of cases, to the development of BCR-ABL (breakpoint cluster region/Abelson oncogene) tyrosine kinase domain mutations that impair imatinib binding. This has led to the development of more potent novel tyrosine kinase inhibitors that can overcome both BCR-ABL-dependent and BCR-ABL-independent mechanisms of resistance. Preliminary results of phase I and II trials with dasatinib and nilotinib have provided promising data that may reduce disease progression and potentially prevent acquired resistance to the tyrosine kinase inhibitors. SUMMARY: Novel tyrosine kinase inhibitors with more potent and selective Bcr-Abl inhibition and with multitargeted inhibition of Bcr-Abl and Src family kinases are promising and may further improve prognosis in chronic myeloid leukemia.
MUTATION INVARIANCE OF KHOVANOV HOMOLOGY OVER F2

We prove that Khovanov homology and Lee homology with coefficients in F2 = Z/2Z are invariant under component-preserving link mutations.
The Incidence of Breast Blisters as Related to the Amount of Breast Feathering

Abstract Since some broiler areas are reporting a relatively high incidence of breast blisters, some observations made recently at the University of Missouri may point to some basic research needed in finding a solution of the breast blister problem. Observations were made on a broiler strain of White Plymouth Rock cockerels brooded in batteries for 4 weeks and then placed on built-up litter in 10′ × 12′ pens. The chicks were hatched May 14, 1956; and the first observations were made when the broilers were 12 weeks of age. Table 1 shows that at that time there was a higher incidence of breast blisters in the poorly feathered birds than in the birds having better breast coverage. It was reasoned that if feather covering of the breast was related to breast blisters then by plucking the breast of every other bird selected at random and leaving them with the naturally feathered …
Polarized Distribution of Endogenous Rac1 and RhoA at the Cell Surface

Rac1 and RhoA regulate membrane ruffling and stress fiber formation. Both molecules appear to exert their control from the plasma membrane. In fibroblasts stimulated with platelet-derived growth factor or lysophosphatidic acid, the reorganization of the cytoskeleton begins at specific sites on the cell surface. We now report that endogenous Rac1 and RhoA also have a polarized distribution at the cell surface. Cell fractionation and immunogold labeling show that in quiescent fibroblasts both of these molecules are concentrated in caveolae, which are plasma membrane domains that are associated with actin-rich regions of the cell. Treatment of these cells with platelet-derived growth factor stimulated the recruitment of additional Rac1 and RhoA to caveolae fractions, while lysophosphatidic acid only caused the recruitment of RhoA. We could reconstitute the recruitment of RhoA using either whole cell lysates or purified caveolae. Surprisingly, pretreatment of the lysates with exoenzyme C3 shifted both resident and recruited RhoA from caveolae to noncaveolae membranes. The shift in location was not caused by inactivation of the RhoA effector domain. Moreover, chimeric proteins containing the C-terminal consensus site for Rac1 and RhoA prenylation were constitutively targeted to caveolae fractions. These results suggest that the polarized distribution of Rho family proteins at the cell surface involves an initial targeting of the protein to caveolae and a mechanism for retaining it at this site.
A numerical model for sedimentation from highly-concentrated multi-sized suspensions

The principal numerical approach to describing sedimentation from multi-component suspensions (Mirza and Richardson, 1979) has been applied only to systems containing two or three particle size populations, but is theoretically applicable to suspensions containing a wider range of particle sizes. In order to adapt this model to the simulation of sedimentation from natural high-density sediment-laden flows, we have conducted computational tests on the sedimentation of suspensions with up to ten particle size populations. The tests run smoothly with binary systems and sometimes ternary systems, but fail with systems containing more than three particle size populations. One cause of the discrepancy between theoretical predictions and computational tests arises from the method used to calculate the changing concentration of particles in each zone of a stratified settling suspension. In quantifying the changing sediment budget for each sedimentation zone, the equation set fails to include the apparent outflow of finer particle populations across the upper boundary of the zone. In the present study, we express the sediment budget of each particle population within each sedimentation zone as the net sediment flux, the algebraic sum of the apparent particle inflow from the zone's lower boundary and the apparent particle outflow across the zone's upper boundary. This revised model successfully predicts the evolution of multi-component suspensions containing up to ten particle size populations over the length of time required for complete sedimentation, up to 8×105 seconds. It can be used to predict the sediment sorting and the vertical textural variation of beds formed by the simulated sedimentation of a multi-component suspension. The model provides the basis for future computer simulation of sedimentation from highly concentrated sediment flows and for the prediction of downslope textural and structural variations of turbidites.
Investigation of plasma damage effects on characteristics and reliability of MOS devices with thin gate dielectrics

Abstract Device damage due to plasma process-induced charging continues to be a great threat and concern in modern CMOS technologies. This paper investigates NMOS vs. PMOS device sensitivity to plasma charging originating from various processing steps. This dependence is studied with respect to the gate oxide thickness and large antenna devices are used to evaluate device yield, latent damage, and residual effect of charging on device performance and reliability. In addition to results obtained for oxides of 40–90 A, specific studies are performed to explore the resistance to charging damage in CMOS devices with 50 A gate oxide grown with various oxidation processes.
Section workshop, field trips

The formation of a new Membership Committee to strengthen recruitment of members to the Biogeosciences Section was one of the outcomes of the “Biogeosciences on the Threshold” workshop held March 23–25, 2001. Eighteen biogeoscientists gathered near Baltimore, Maryland, to discuss future research themes, as well as the direction and structure of the new section. The Membership Committee is chaired by Max Holmes and will coordinate with AGU staff in recruiting scientists from the biogeosciences to join AGU. If you are interested in being involved in recruitment or have suggestions for groups to contact, please get in touch with Max Holmes (rholmes@mbl.edu).
An approach to educating residents about palliative care and clinical ethics.

Despite interest in end-of-life educational efforts, attitudinal barriers still thwart the integration of palliative care into medical education. The authors present their experience introducing a graduate medical education program in ethics and palliative care at New York Presbyterian Hospital and Weill Medical College of Cornell University. Through this initiative the authors sought to enhance residents’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed for effective palliative care. Residents were targeted because they are in a unique stage of their training; while they have mastered many basic clinical skills they remain open to educational experiences that might alter their lifelong practice patterns. Course material was based upon the residents’ experiences. Using their case histories interested them as adult learners and validated the importance of the subject matter. Seminar themes included professionalism, the physician facing death, ethical, legal, cross-cultural, and religious issues at the end of life, and pain and symptom management. The program provided a valuable educational forum for residents to give voice to their reflections and receive supportive feedback from peers and faculty. Building upon the residents’ own clinical experiences with end-of-life care effectively engaged their interest and provided much-needed instruction in this evolving area of study. Acad. Med. 2000;75:662‐665.
Wide-area imaging of ultrasonic Lamb wave fields by electronic speckle pattern interferometry

Ultrasonic elastic waves have traditionally been examined using single point measurement techniques. In this paper, we present a technique capable of recording out-of-plane ultrasonic displacement data over wide areas. The method employs 2D surface vibration data collected via electronic speckle pattern interferometry used in combination with laser modulation and optical phase stepping. Using this rapid, wide-area measurement method, images of ultrasonic Lamb waves on ideal and flawed plate structures are presented. For a single ultrasonic excitation frequency, multiple data records are collected as an externally excited traveling plate wave moves through the sample. When an optical phase shift is introduced between the data records, the data can be processed to yield quantitative displacement fields. The resulting processed images demonstrate evidence of Lamb wave reflection, transmission and scattering. Following the full field data collection, a novel inverse scattering algorithm was applied to reconstruct images of the scattering sources responsible for the measured displacement field data. The results of these investigations will be presented and discussed in the context of detecting hidden flaws in aging aircraft.
A master-slave manipulator for excavation and construction tasks

Abstract Currently used excavators and other construction machines use hydraulic actuators as the means of providing the necessary power to their effector tooling. The tools lack the flexibility of applying varying forces on an excavated object, thus preventing the use of powered equipment for the excavation and handling of buried sensitive objects. The prototype design of a master-slave force-feedback hydraulic manipulator described here will enable equipment operators to “feel” the force applied by the tool on a handled object as well as its location in space. This new tool may be provided as an optional feature on the traditional excavators, thus contributing to a greater flexibility of these machines and to the productivity enhancement of related work tasks.
Morality, Benevolence, and Responsibility: Regime Legitimacy in China from Past to the Present

Taking an interpretive approach, this study argues that Chinese political tradition plays an important role in the maintenance of regime legitimacy in China today. Contrary to the popular view that the Chinese Communist regime relies primarily on economic performance to sustain its legitimacy, the current regime legitimacy is maintained because of the historically rooted moral bond between the state and society and the societal expectation that the state would be responsible for the wellbeing of the population. The regime legitimacy in China has three overlapping layers: The basic layer is the morality of political elite. The crucial part of the morality is the benevolent governance which specifies that the government has to be compassionate to the people. The central component of a benevolent government is the state responsibility to the welfare of the people. All together, these layers create a moral bond between the state and society. The government will enjoy legitimacy as far as the society expects it to fulfill its end of the deal. This study further argues that the morality-based regime legitimacy in China has to be calibrated within its multi-level power structure. Governments at different levels enjoy different degree of legitimacy and face different degree of challenges. In general, the central government enjoys the most legitimacy and faces the least challenges comparing to the local governments. This multi-level power structure would cushion many regime legitimacy crises.
The Effect of Length of Stay on Travelers' Perceived Satisfaction with Service Quality

SUMMARY Consumer satisfaction related to service quality during the vacation experience is of paramount importance to the travel and tourism industry. This study tests empirically the effects the number of nights spent on a vacation have on the levels of satisfaction recent travelers report for three service aspects of the travel destination: perceived satisfaction with tourism service providers; perceived “freedom from defects” of tourism services; and perceived reasonableness of the cost of tourism services. Differentiation in satisfaction scores between “short-term visitors” (i.e., those who stayed from one to six nights) and “long-term visitors” (i.e., those who stayed seven or more nights) were examined. Significant differences between the two groups of visitors were present for (1) perceived satisfaction with industry professionals delivering the service experience at the travel destination, (2) perceived satisfaction with “freedom from defects” of the actual services at the destination, and (3) per...
Relationship between two-body interatomic potentials in a lattice model and elastic constants. II

General equations for the elastic constants associated with a crystal model in which the energy is given by two-body atom-atom interactions and volume-dependent terms are derived for monatomic solids. It is shown that noncentral interactions which require a choice of initial coordinate system do not necessarily give rise to an energy function which is invariant to homogeneous rotations. For central two-body forces, generalized Cauchy relations are defined. Explicit applications of these equations are given for short-ranged central forces in an hcp lattice and noncentral forces in the fcc lattice.
The construction and operation of a simple inexpensive slam freezing device for electron microscopy.

SUMMARY A simple and inexpensive slam freezing device has been constructed that allows consistently good rapid freezing of uncryoprotected tissue. The device employs a dry liquid-nitrogen-cooled copper surface and a slamming plunger designed to provide rapid and uniform tissue to metal contact.
Virus Particles Monitored by Fluorescence Spectroscopy: A Potential Detection Assay for Macromolecular Assembly¶

Native fluorescence spectroscopy was used for in situ investigations of two lipid-containing bacteriophages from the cystovirus family as well as their Pseudomonad host cells. Both the viruses phi6 and phi12 and their bacterial host proteins contain the amino acid tryptophan (trp), which is the predominant fluorophore in UV. Within proteins, trp's structural environment differs, and the differences are reflected in their spectroscopic signatures. It was observed that the peak of the trp emission from both viruses was at 330 nm, a significantly shorter wavelength than trp in either the Pseudomonad host cells or the amino acid's chemical form. This allowed us to monitor the viral attachment process and subsequent lytic release of progeny virus particles by measurement of the trp emission spectra during the infection process. This work demonstrates that fluorescence may offer a novel tool to detect viruses and monitor viral infection of cells and may be part of a biodefense application.
Friction parameter of an ion near a metal surface

Abstract The force on an ion located near a condensed-matter surface determines its Brownian motion along the surface. We have studied the dissipative component of this force using a model in which the ion interacts with a metal while moving parallel with its surface. We recover the known asymptotic form of the force for large separations when only electron-hole excitations are accounted for but find a different form when damping of collective states is included.
Use of a Daily Lung Compliance Evaluation to Track Progress on ECMO: Successful Use in a Patient With Cystic Fibrosis

Survival rates of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for pediatric respiratory failure have been improving and are now about 70%. With this, traditional exclusionary criteria for ECMO may be challenged. We hypothesize that an objective evaluation of pulmonary recovery whilst on ECMO may assist in the care of high risk patients, such as those with cystic fibrosis (CF), both to strategize appropriate decannulation and avoid futility. A 19-year-old female with CF developed septic shock and MRSA-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome. After 4 days, her respiratory status deteriorated and was transitioned to veno-venous ECMO. Due to uncertainty of pulmonary recovery and survival, we instituted a “ daily lung compliance trial ” (DLCT) to objectively assess pulmonary compliance and function. This included increasing ventilatory support from “ rest settings ” to moderate non-toxic setting and assessing pulmonary pressures and compliances after 30 min. This provided objective data of lung healing. Due in part to this data, the patient was decannulated from ECMO after 11 days and successfully extubated 2 days later. ECMO can be used for CF patients with acute respiratory failure as a bridge to recovery. Using a DLCT can help guide decision making for respiratory ECMO patients with significant co-morbidities. J Med Cases. 2014;5(2):83-88 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.14740/jmc1511w
Evacetrapib at a Supratherapeutic Steady State Concentration Does Not Prolong QT in a Thorough QT/QTc Study in Healthy Participants

Purpose:To evaluate whether evacetrapib prolongs QT intervals in healthy participants.Methods:This was a single-center, randomized, active and placebo-controlled, 3-period, 6-sequence, and crossover study. Participants were randomized to 1 of 6 treatment sequences in which they received 1 of 3 treatments: evacetrapib 1200 mg daily for 10 days (supratherapeutic dose), moxifloxacin 400 mg for 1 day (positive control), or placebo for 10 days in each of the 3 separate treatment periods. Electrocardiographic parameters were recorded at time points specified in the protocol. The primary end point was the comparison of evacetrapib effect on the population-corrected QT interval (QTcP) to that of placebo at 7 time points following dosing on day 10. An upper limit of the 2-sided 90% confidence interval (CI) <10 milliseconds confirmed the absence of significant effect. Pharmacokinetic parameters were also calculated.Results:Subjects were predominantly male (73.2%) with a mean age of 43.1 years and a mean body mass i...
Longitudinal Sex Differences during Landing in Knee Abduction in Young Athletes

Purpose: The objective of this study was to determine whether biomechanical and neuromuscular risk factors related to abnormal movement patterns increased in females, but not males, during the adolescent growth spurt. Methods: A total of 315 subjects participated in two testing sessions approximately 1 yr apart. Male and female subjects were classified on the basis of their maturation status as pubertal or postpubertal. Three trials of a drop vertical jump (DVJ) were collected. Maximum knee abduction angle and external moments were calculated during the DVJ deceleration phase using a three-dimensional motion analysis system. Changes in knee abduction from the first to second year were compared among four subject groups (female pubertal, female postpubertal, male pubertal, and male postpubertal). Results: There were no sex differences in peak knee abduction angle or moment during DVJ between pubertal males and females (P > 0.05). However, pubertal females increased peak abduction angle from first to second year (P < 0.001), whereas males demonstrated no similar change (P = 0.90) in the matched developmental stages. After puberty, the peak abduction angle and moment were greater in females relative to males (angle: female -9.3[degrees] +/- 5.7[degrees], male -3.6[degrees] +/- 4.6[degrees], P < 0.001; moment: female -21.9 +/- 13.5 N[middle dot]m, male -13.0 +/- 12.0 N[middle dot]m, P = 0.017). Conclusions: This study identified, through longitudinal analyses, that knee abduction angle was significantly increased in pubertal females during rapid adolescent growth, whereas males showed no similar change. In addition, knee abduction motion and moments were significantly greater for the subsequent year in young female athletes, after rapid adolescent growth, compared with males. The combination of longitudinal, sex, and maturational group differences indicates that early puberty seems to be a critical phase related to the divergence of increased anterior cruciate ligament injury risk factors
Antisearch for the glueball candidate fJ (2220) in two-photon interactions

Using $13.3{\mathrm{fb}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ of ${e}^{+}{e}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ data recorded with the CLEO II and CLEO II.V detector configurations at CESR, we have searched for ${f}_{J}(2220)$ decays to ${K}_{S}^{0}{K}_{S}^{0}$ in untagged two-photon interactions. We report an upper limit on the product of the two-photon partial width and the branching fraction, ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\gamma}}\mathcal{B}({f}_{J}(2220)\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{K}_{S}^{0}{K}_{S}^{0}),$ of less than 1.1 eV at the 95% confidence level; systematic uncertainties are included. This data set is four times larger than that used in the previous CLEO publication.
La argumentación y las emociones en el debate televisivo

Resumen es: Este articulo tiene como proposito entregar los resultados de una investigacion en la que se analizo el discurso argumentativo del programa televisivo de...
Resonant tunneling with electron-phonon interactions: an exactly solvable model applied to desorption

Abstract The problem of hot electron and/or laser induced desorption of atoms or molecules on surfaces is considered. The equivalence between a previous wavepacket model for this process and the problem of inelastic resonant electron tunneling through a quantum well with electron-phonon coupling is established. Numerical consequences of some exactly solved quantum well models are explored as they relate to desorption.
Adrenal Insufficiency in the Critically Ill: A New Look at an Old Problem

Stress from many sources, including pain, fever, and hypotension, activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis with the sustained secretion of corticotropin and cortisol. Increased glucocorticoid action is an essential component of the stress response, and even minor degrees of adrenal insufficiency can be fatal in the stressed host. HPA dysfunction is a common and underdiagnosed disorder in the critically ill. We review the risk factors, pathophysiology, diagnostic approach, and management of HPA dysfunction in the critically ill.
Parallel synthesis of robust control systems

Parallel computing is used to evaluate compensator robustness numerically and to automate the design of control systems. Robustness is quantified by Monte Carlo evaluation of the effects of plant-parameter uncertainty, and it is maximized by searching the control-design-parameter space with a genetic algorithm. This design approach requires considerable computation, and parallel computing can reduce execution times. Since evaluation times vary among trials, computation time could be prolonged if some nodes remain idle while others finish their tasks. A dynamic scheduler is proposed as a solution. Theoretical and experimental results for a shared-virtual-memory computer illustrate that "speed-up" of controller design computations is nearly linear in the number of computing nodes.
Cholecystectomy is becoming an increasingly common operation in children

Abstract Purpose: To determine the cause of a marked rise in cholecystectomy at a regional children's hospital. Methods: Retrospective review of 185 patients undergoing cholecystectomy since 1984. The years 1984 to 1990 (group I) and 1991 to 1996 (group II) were compared. Results: Cholecystectomy for gallbladder disease increased from 4.4/year (group I) to 16.3/year (group II). Abdominal ultrasound examinations increased during this time. The ratio of children diagnosed with gallstones and then undergoing cholecystectomy also increased ( P = 0.005). In group II, 43% of children had no apparent etiology for gallstones, and more children developed complications of gallstones and evidence of choledocholithiasis. Conclusions: (1) The increased incidence of cholecystectomy is probably multifactorial. (2) Gallstone identification has increased owing to increased patient visits and more liberal use of ultrasonography in patients with abdominal pain. (3) More patients with cholelithiasis now undergo cholecystectomy perhaps because of a change in physician perception of the disease and an apparent increase in complications from gallstones.
Analysis of the UF6-Xe Direct Nuclear-Pumped Laser

The quenching role of UF6 in noble gas nuclear-pumped lasers is examined. Detailed results are presented for the He-UF6-Xe system. These results indicate that depletion of the atomic ion is the mechanism responsible for the observed behavior. Based on this, it is concluded that UF6 is not compatible with noble gas lasers. In ad- dition to identifying the quenching role of UF 6, some key rates whose rate constants are not known are iden- tified. 235U(n,ff)FF reaction and to deduce from that the quenching role of UF6. Although the experiment employed an Ar-Xe-UF 6 mixture, detailed calculations are carried for a He-Xe-UF 6 mixture. This is because more kinetic data are available for He; moreover, the pumping mechanism is not expected to depend on the buffer gas as long as it is a noble gas with ionization and excitation potentials higher than those for Xe. It will be assumed that He is the dominant substance in the system and, as such, is initially excited and ionized by fission fragments. The energy stored in the excited and ionized states of He is then trans- ferred to the lasing material by charge transfer and Penning ionization. For noble gas lasers,3'4 recombination of the atomic ion yields the upper laser level, while recombination of the molecular ion yields the lower laser level. Thus, there is an optimum noble gas concentration for which the power output is maximum. Two possible mechanisms may be advanced for interpreting the termination of lasing observed in the experiments of Ref. 2. The first assumes that electron attachment is the dominant mechanism, while the second is based on the depletion of the atomic ion as a result of neutralizatio n of Xe + by UF^ and F ~ . The calculations indicate that the mechanism depends, to a large extent, on the neutralization rate of UF4+ and UF^ for which no measurements are available. For the case where the neutralization rate is comparable to rates involving complex ions,5 the results were not consistent with available ex- periment. However, when lower rates were assumed, the results were consistent with the observation of Ref. 2. Calculations using the lower rate indicate that depletion of the atomic ion is the mechanism responsible for quenching.
Craft specialization, the reorganization of production relations and state formation:

Since the late 1970s, archaeologists have been concerned with the origins and development of craft specialization in early civilizations. More recently, some have examined the organization of produ...
Plectoneme formation in twisted fluctuating rods

Abstract The mechanics of DNA supercoiling is a subject of crucial importance to uncover the mechanism and kinetics of several enzymes. It is therefore being investigated using several biochemical and biophysical methods including single molecule experimental techniques. An interesting problem within this realm is that of torsional buckling and plectoneme formation in DNA as it is simultaneously put under tensile and torsional stress. Analytical solutions to this problem are difficult to find since it involves nonlinear kinematics and thermal fluctuations. In this paper we use ideas from the Kirchhoff theory of filaments to find semi-analytical solutions for the average shape of the fluctuating DNA under the assumption that there is no self-contact. The basic step in our method consists of combining a helical solution of the rod with a non-planar localizing solution in such a way that the force, moment, position and slope remain continuous everywhere along the rod. Our solutions allow us to predict the extension vs. linking number behavior of long pieces of DNA for various values of the tension and temperature. An interesting outcome of our calculations is the prediction of a sudden change in extension at buckling which does not seem to have been emphasized in earlier theoretical models or experiments. Our predictions are amenable to falsification by recently developed single molecule techniques which can simultaneously track the force–extension as well as the torque–rotation behavior of DNA.
Marriage Laws and Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa

Many Sub-Saharan African countries are extremely poor. It has been argued that the marriage system – in particular polygyny – is one contributing factor to the lack of development in this region. Polygyny leads to low incentives to save, depressing the capital stock and output. Enforcing monogamy might seem like an obvious solution. However, such a law will have winners and losers. In this paper, we investigate the transition from a polygynous to a monogamous steady state. We find that the initial old men will be big losers. The reason is that they had married many wives in anticipation of the brideprice that future daughters will fetch. However, due to the marriage reform, the value of daughters depreciates rapidly, as the brideprice changes from positive to negative. This increases savings and thereby the aggregate capital stock. The interest rate falls and the initial young suffer a loss in capital income. Thus, all men alive during the reform period experience a loss in utility. Young women and all future generations will benefit. However, the future gains are not enough to compensate the losers. This may explain why many African countries experience strong resistance to changing their marriage laws.
The PumpSpark fountain development kit

The PumpSpark Fountain Development Kit includes a controller, eight miniature water pumps, and various accessories to allow rapid prototyping of fluidic user interfaces. The controller provides both USB and logic-level serial interfaces, yielding fast (~100ms), high-resolution (8-bit) control of water streams up to about 1 meter high. Numerous example applications built using the PumpSpark kit are presented. The kit has been the subject of a student contest with over 100 students, demonstrating its utility in rapid prototyping of fluidic systems.
Statutory Parenthood for Same-Sex Partners

While same sex civil union partners and opposite sex married (and unmarried?) partners are to be treated similarly under the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act (RFPCU), absolute sameness is impossible. Parenthood presumptions for married partners of new mothers are founded on possible genetic ties, impossible for same sex couples. Voluntary acknowledgments of parentage are only available to opposite sex couples as here too possible genetic ties are required.Given the U.S. Supreme Court’s recognition, in Michael H. v. Gerald D., 491 U.S. 110 (1989), that American states may extend parentage at birth to “unitary family” members who lack genetic ties, and given that both the Illinois General Assembly and the Illinois Supreme Court have already done so to some extent, this paper proposes new parentage laws for same sex parents (unionized and nonunionized) so that “parent-child relationships can develop early on with little fear of later disruptions.”The paper suggests two legislative initiatives for children born of sex. First, a new parentage presumption for unionized female couples. Second, new voluntary parentage acknowledgment opportunities for unionized male couples, as well as for all nonunionized same sex couples. It also suggests reforms of laws on parentage at birth for children not born of sex into unitary families encompassing same sex couples.
Impairment of mitochondrial respiration following ex vivo cyanide exposure in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

ABSTRACTObjectives: The objective of this study is to measure mitochondrial respiration using intact cells from whole blood exposed to cyanide as a new biomarker for mitochondrial inhibition. Methods: A single nontourniqueted venous blood sample was collected from 10 healthy volunteers after informed consent. Venous lactate was measured immediately following blood collection. Half of the remaining blood sample was then incubated with 100 mM of potassium cyanide (KCN) for 5 min, and half of the sample remained unexposed. Repeat lactate measurements were performed from blood exposed and not exposed to KCN. Measurement of mitochondrial respiration: intact PBMCs were placed in a 2-mL chamber at a final concentration of 2–3 × 106 cells/mL. Measurements of oxygen consumption were performed at 37°C in a high-resolution oxygraph (Oxygraph-2k Oroboros Instruments, Innsbruck, Austria). Oxygen flux (in pmol O2/s/106 cells), which is directly proportional to oxygen consumption, was recorded continuously using DatLab ...