cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Koopman Operator Approach to Optimal Control Selection Under Uncertainty

Uncertainty propagation is an important step in the derivation of optimal control strategies for dynamic systems in the presence of state and parameter uncertainty. Many stochastic control formulations seek to optimize an expected value of a score or cost function, or otherwise enforce a probabilistic constraint through the use of an expected value. The time-varying state density needed for this expected value computation may be quantified through Monte Carlo methods or explicit approaches such as the Frobenius-Perron operator. This paper explores an alternative approach to the computation of the expected value by leveraging the adjoint relationship between the Frobenius-Perron operator and the Koopman operator. This relationship states that the expected value of a forward-propagated density with a score function is equivalent to the expected value of the initial density with the score function mapped back to the initial state space. By computing the expected value through use of the Koopman operator, several computational issues arising when using the Frobenius-Perron operator can be mitigated, while maintaining the benefits of an explicit method over Monte Carlo. A general stochastic optimal control problem is formulated wherein the expected value is computed between the initial state density and a score function using the Koopman operator. The computational benefits of computing the expected value through use of the Koopman operator are discussed, particularly with respect to numerical issues encountered using explicit forward propagation of the state probability density. A series of numerical examples highlight these computational advantages and illustrate the benefit of using this adjoint approach in solution to a range of optimal control problems in the presence of uncertainty.
Un eroismo diverso? La rappresentazione delle guerriere nella Scanderbeide di Margherita Sarrocchi (1623) e ne L’Enrico di Lucrezia Marinella (1635)

SOMMARIOMuovendosi nel solco dell’epica religiosa di ispirazione tassiana ed agendo sullo sfondo dei rispettivi contesti storico-politici, Margherita Sarrocchi e Lucrezia Marinella, autrici rispett...
After Cahokia: Indigenous Repopulation and Depopulation of the Horseshoe Lake Watershed AD 1400–1900

The occupation history of the Cahokia archaeological complex (ca. AD 1050–1400) has received significant academic attention for decades, but the subsequent repopulation of the region by indigenous peoples is poorly understood. This study presents demographic trends from a fecal stanol population reconstruction of Horseshoe Lake, Illinois, along with information from archaeological, historical, and environmental sources to provide an interpretation of post-Mississippian population change in the Cahokia region. Fecal stanol data indicate that the Cahokia region reached a population minimum by approximately AD 1400, regional population had rebounded by AD 1500, a population maximum was reached by AD 1650, and population declined again by AD 1700. The indigenous repopulation of the area coincides with environmental changes conducive to maize-based agriculture and bison-hunting subsistence practices of the Illinois Confederation. The subsequent regional depopulation corresponds to a complicated period of warfare, epidemic disease, Christianization, population movement, and environmental change in the eighteenth century. The recognition of a post-Mississippian indigenous population helps shape a narrative of Native American persistence over Native American disappearance.
Global sourcing in oil markets

Abstract This paper develops a multi-country general equilibrium model that incorporates crude oil global sourcing by refineries and refined oil demand by downstream industries that are connected through international trade and input-output linkages. I exploit detailed data on crude oil imports of US refineries, and derive a new procedure that allows for an all-in-one estimation of which suppliers refineries select and how much they buy from each. Using the estimates to evaluate counterfactual policies, I find: (i) A boom in crude oil production of a source changes the relative prices of crude oil across countries modestly which I interpret as the extent to which the behavior of crude oil markets deviates from an integrated global market. (ii) Lifting the ban on U.S. crude oil exports creates notable distributional impact across American crude oil producers and refineries. (iii) Due to the importance of oil trade and consumption, gains from trade are larger compared to the existing benchmarks.
Formation of high purity uranium via laser induced thermal decomposition of uranium nitride

Abstract Producing gram quantities of uranium metal in a controlled manner by traditional methods is challenging due to the complex chemistry of precursor material and extreme thermal requirements. In this article, a novel approach is reported that combines modeling and an advanced experimental technique for extracting uranium from a uranium-containing compound. Using uranium nitride as an example, a computational thermodynamic approach identified a decomposition pathway to convert uranium nitride to uranium metal at temperatures exceeding 2500 K under conditions of rapid material cooling. To realize these extreme conditions, laser-induced heating, which enables fine control of process location and rapid cooling, was utilized for high-temperature modification of material. Uranium nitride was irradiated by a controlled laser under several gaseous conditions including high-vacuum, argon, and nitrogen environments, resulting in uranium metal at yields up to 96%. The complete decomposition leading to pure uranium metal occurs at the high temperature surface region, where laser-based heating induces a surface depression and molten pool of material. The observed kinetic phase behaviors in this study fundamentally differ from previous uranium decomposition studies where small uranium metal precipitates from the nitride bulk are formed at the surface of uranium nitride.
Beyond benefits: Towards a recreational ecosystem services interpretive framework

The challenge of managing protected areas to purvey benefits through visitor experiences has been a major subject of research within the fields of recreation and leisure. Driver and others have adv...
Stochasticity in Single-Entity Electrochemistry.

Abstract Most electrochemical processes are stochastic and discrete in nature. Yet experimental observables, for example, i vs E, are typically smooth and deterministic, because of many events/processes, for example, electron transfers, being averaged together. However, when the number of entities measured approaches a few or even one, stochasticity frequently emerges. Yet all is not lost! Probabilistic and statistical interpretation can generate insights matching or superseding those from macroscale/ensemble measurements, revealing phenomena that were hitherto averaged over. Herein, we review recent literature examples of stochastic processes in single-entity electrochemistry, highlighting strategies for interpreting stochasticity, contrasting them with macroscale measurements and describing the insights generated.
Non-Pharmacological Management

Trigeminal Neuralgia is a painful condition affecting the trigeminal nerve which transmits sensory information from the face to the brain. Symptoms range from mild to severe pain or abnormal sensation in the face. This chapter will discuss non-pharmacologic treatments for trigeminal neuralgia. This will include a discussion of home remedies, vitamin supplementation (particularly B vitamins), acupuncture, and laser therapy. Other common treatments include oral medications, local injections, surgeries, psychological interventions, and physical therapy. These treatments will be discussed in other chapters.
Cell-Penetrating Doxorubicin Released from Elastin-Like Polypeptide Kills Doxorubicin-Resistant Cancer Cells in In Vitro Study

Elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) undergo a characteristic phase transition in response to ambient temperature. Therefore, it has been be used as a thermosensitive vector for the delivery of chemotherapy agents since it can be used to target hyperthermic tumors. This novel strategy introduces unprecedented options for treating cancer with fewer concerns about side effects. In this study, the ELP system was further modified with an enzyme-cleavable linker in order to release drugs within tumors. This system consists of an ELP, a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) substrate, a cell-penetrating peptide (CPP), and a 6-maleimidocaproyl amide derivative of doxorubicin (Dox). This strategy shows up to a 4-fold increase in cell penetration and results in more death in breast cancer cells compared to ELP-Dox. Even in doxorubicin-resistant cells (NCI/ADR and MES-SA/Dx5), ELP-released cell-penetrating doxorubicin demonstrated better membrane penetration, leading to at least twice the killing of resistant cells compared to ELP-Dox and free Dox. MMP-digested CPP-Dox showed better membrane penetration and induced more cancer cell death in vitro. This CPP-complexed Dox released from the ELP killed even Dox-resistant cells more efficiently than both free doxorubicin and non-cleaved ELP-CPP-Dox.
Revealing the growth kinetics of atmospheric corrosion pitting in aluminum via in situ microtomography

Understanding the mechanistic relationship between the environment, microstructure, and local kinetics of atmospheric corrosion damage remains a central challenge. To address this challenge, this study used laboratory-based X-ray tomography to directly observe attack in-operando over an extended period, enabling insights into the evolving growth kinetics and morphology of individual pits over months of exposure. Damage progression associated with nine pits in a 99.9% pure aluminum wire exposed to chloride salts in humid air was characterized. Most pits grew at a nominally linear rate up until pit death, which occurred within 12–24 h of nucleation. Exceptions to this were observed, with three pits exhibiting bimodal growth kinetics and growing for 40 or more hours. This was explained by secondary droplets that formed near the pits, increasing the cathode area. A corrosion-driven drying mechanism likely contributed to pit death in both cases. Pits first grew into the material followed by lateral expansion.
Design of Mechanically Reliable ULK Glasses

We show that hyperconnected ULK dielectric glasses incorporating optimal precursor geometries lead to exceptional mechanical stiffness, as well as increasing fracture bond density. Using molecular dynamics and a novel graph theory approach, we predict that hyperconnected precursors with cyclic planar geometries significantly improve the mechanical reliability of these otherwise fragile materials, by not only increasing the network stiffness but also contributing to the fracture energy. Ultimately, we conclude that characterizing the implications of structural elements, such as precursor geometry and network connectivity, on the mechanical and fracture properties is essential for mechanically much more reliable design and integration of ULK dielectric materials.
HEALTH The Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Act

The Act allows a competent adult to appoint an agent to make health care decisions on his or her behalf. The Act provides the mechanisms for establishing and enforcing a health care agency relationship and a statutory short form durable power of attorney for health care. The Act also defines the responsibilities of health care providers in health care agency situations and provides for penalties, liability, and immunity from liability under some circumstances for both health care providers and agents.
A National Survey of Current Legislative and Policy Trends in Gifted Education: Life after the National Excellence Report.

Recent reports on the existence and nature of educational programs for gifted learners have indicated that current educational practices in gifted education vary in both availability and quality. O...
Aversive conditioning in the sociopath

Results of two experiments on differential conditioning of the skin conductance (SCR) in sociopaths and normal control subjects are described. In the first experiment it was found that an equal number of sociopaths and control subjects were aware of the conditioning contingency. However, only the normal subjects displayed reliable differential SCR conditioning. Sociopaths showed a dissociation between verbal learning and conditioning of a physiological change. The second experiment examined the differential conditioning of normal subjects and sociopaths in partial remission. The number of aware subjects in the two groups did not differ. Aware subjects in both groups showed differential SCR conditioning. Differential conditioning in sociopaths did not persist over trials as it did in control subjects. A deficiency in ACTH 4–10 as well as neurological dysfunctions were considered possible factors in the etiology of sociopathy. Further research on the relation of neuropeptides to the etiology and treatment of sociopathy is suggested.
Biochar-surface oxygenation with hydrogen peroxide.

Biochar was produced from pinewood biomass by pyrolysis at a highest treatment temperature (HTT) of 400 °C. This biochar was then treated with varying concentrations of H2O2 solution (1, 3, 10, 20, 30% w/w) for a partial oxygenation study. The biochar samples, both treated and untreated, were then tested with a cation exchange capacity (CEC) assay, Fourier Transformed Infrared Resonance (FT-IR), elemental analysis, field water-retention capacity assay, pH assay, and analyzed for their capacity to remove methylene blue from solution. The results demonstrated that higher H2O2 concentration treatments led to higher CEC due to the addition of acidic oxygen functional groups on the surface of the biochar, which also corresponds to the resultant lowering of the pH of the biochar with respect to the H2O2 treatment. Furthermore, it was shown that the biochar methylene blue adsorption decreased with higher H2O2 concentration treatments. This is believed to be due to the addition of oxygen groups onto the aromatic ring structure of the biochar which in turn weakens the overall dispersive forces of π-π interactions that are mainly responsible for the adsorption of the dye onto the surface of the biochar. Elemental analysis revealed that there was no general augmentation of the elemental composition of the biochar samples through the treatment with H2O2, which suggests that the bulk property of biochar remains unchanged through the treatment.
Assessment of the annual frequency and duration indices in composite system reliability using genetic algorithms

A new approach for the assessment of annual frequency and duration indices of composite system is presented. Genetic algorithms (GA) are used as a state sampling tool for the composite generation and transmission system. The GA binary chromosomes are used to represent composite system states. The system hourly load for the year is represented as a multistate component using k-means clustering technique. Transition rates between the load states are calculated. The conditional probability based method is used to calculate the frequency of sampled failure states using different component transition rates. The GA samples network failure states with the system load assigned its maximum state value. Failure states are then reevaluated with lower load states until a success state is obtained or all load states have been evaluated. Through its fitness function GA is able to trace intelligently the network failure states. Case studies on a sample test system are presented. Results are compared with those obtained by nonsequential Monte Carlo simulation. These results are analyzed to indicate the advantages of the proposed method over other conventional methods.
Examining the Community Integration Measure (CIM): A replication study with life satisfaction.

Objective To examine instrument reliability, validity, factor structure, and conceptual underpinnings of the Community Integration Measure (CIM) with the Community Integration Questionnaire Revised (CIQ-R) and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Design A replication study. Setting Community living. Participants Ninety-one participants: 51 individuals with a brain injury, and 40 without brain injury. Main outcomes Internal consistency, criterion validity, construct validity, discriminant validity factor structure. Results CIM items produced standardized alphas ranging from 0.72 to 0.83. Significant positive correlations were found among the CIM and both the CIQ-R and SWLS, with the CIM performing better with the SWLS than did the CIQ-R. The CIM discriminated between subject samples as well as by living arrangement. The factor loading solution revealed a three-factor model that explained 63.72 percent of the variance. Conclusion The CIM shows good promise for capturing an individual's perception of community integration. The factor structure supports the original Model of Community Integration. Further research is needed to examine the influence of objective items on the CIM and Model of Community Integration.
Group Communication During Resource Dilemmas: 4: The Effect of Group Size

Previous theory and research implies that increasing the size of groups facing resource dilemmas results in poorer outcomes, but no previous study has allowed for communication among group members. The present study relates group size with communication content, task outcomes, and participant perceptions of their experience. With communication, actual group size was irrelevant; to the extent that groups chose to cooperate, outcomes were more equal within groups and participants had more positive perceptions. Greater information exchange and negative maintenance talk was related with less equal outcomes and more negative perceptions; more discussion relevant to specific strategy was associated with more equal outcomes. Findings are instructive concerning the genesis and role of group cooperation.
Legal and Regulatory Issues Raised by Future Power Plant Design and Siting Considerations

It is proposed that the regulations governing currently existing, as well as anticipated improved and evolutionary reactor designs (such as Gen III and Gen III+), may be inadequate to appropriately regulate newer and fundamentally different designs (such as Gen IV, Pebble Bed, FBR, as well as small long-lifetime units (Toshiba/CRIEPI). Recent interest has been raised in underground nuclear parks, medium to small semi-portable reactors to provide the energy for advanced oil recovery programs (from oil shale and tar sands) and other uses. This paper will identify an overall framework for proposed future licensing procedures not in conflict with existing statutes and regulations. The goal is to demonstrate that the extension of current laws and regulations into such contemplated areas will do much to reduce costs, simplify procedures, and enhance operational safety and security in the areas of proliferation, containment, and waste utilization and/or disposal.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Is there a role for heparin in the management of complications of subarachnoid hemorrhage

Proven effective therapy to prevent ischemic deficits and other complications after subarachnoid hemorrhage is lacking despite extensive research efforts. A literature review documented both clinical and experimental evidence suggesting that heparin may be effective in preventing ischemic deficits after subarachnoid hemorrhage by reversing vasospasm, improving blood flow through narrowed vessels, and preventing the development of a proliferative angiopathy. Additional evidence suggests that heparinization of the cerebrospinal fluid following subarachnoid hemorrhage may prevent the development of hydrocephalus. In the only clinical trial using heparin after subarachnoid hemorrhage, the incidence of rebleeding in the heparinized patients was no higher than in the control group. We conclude that the existing preliminary data concerning a role for heparin in the management of the complications of subarachnoid hemorrhage is promising, but further controlled studies are needed prior to clinical application.
The physics of hot-electron degradation of Si MOSFET's: Can we understand it?

Abstract We discuss some of the difficulties we must overcome to analyze the “hot-electron problem” in Si MOSFET's from a first-principle point of view. Using our Monte Carlo-Poisson device simulator DAMOCLES, we find that many physical elements are very important in determining the gate current in short-channel devices. Examples are given for effects whose importance was expected (band-structure and short-range carrier-carrier interaction), and for some whose importance was underestimated (such as the long-range plasma effects at the channel-drain region). Fortunately, recent results show that only electrons reaching the SiO2-gate interface with energy in excess of about 2 to 3 eV can damage the oxide. We discuss the important technological consequences of this finding.
Myxomatous tumors of the jaws.

Abstract This study of twenty-six myxomas of the jawbones emphasizes that such tumors may be locally invasive and may recur after conservative management, but that they rarely, if ever, metastasize. Since myxomas are practically unknown in bones outside the jaw, and since they resemble portions of the dental follicle, they are likely of odontogenic origin. Their histologic appearance correlates poorly with the capacity of myxomatous tumors of the jaws to recur.
Model‐based sensory pattern fusion

This article describes an evidential pattern classifier for the combination of data from physically different sensors. We assume that the sensory evidence is multiresolutional, incomplete, imprecise, and possibly inconsistent. Our focus is on two types of sensory information patterns: visual and tacticle. We develop a logical sensing scheme by using a model-based representation of prototypical 3-D surfaces. Each surface represents a class of topological patterns described by shape and curvature features. The sensory evidence is classified by using a conductivity measure to determine which prototypical surface best matches the evidence.
Protection, payback, or both? Emotional and motivational mechanisms underlying avoidance by victims of transgressions

In the wake of an interpersonal offense, victims often feel motivated to avoid their perpetrators, and the more severe the offense, the more pronounced this motivation is. On the surface, avoidance appears to serve a self-protective function such that victims, compelled by a sense of fear and apprehension, withdraw from their wrongdoers to prevent further harm. However, avoidance might also serve a retaliatory purpose in which victims shun their offenders out of anger and hostility, using interpersonal aloofness as a means of payback. In the present pair of studies, we examined victims’ self-reports of recent offense experiences and tested the mediating roles of fear and anger in the relationship between offense severity and avoidance motivations. Study 1 revealed that anger, not fear, was the emotion that mediated this relationship. Study 2 replicated this finding and also showed that the link between anger and avoidance was mediated both by revenge and self-protection motives, which demonstrates the complex nature of avoidance following a transgression.
Associations of alcohol consumption and mental health with the prevalence of arthritis among US adults: data from the 2012 National Health Interview Survey

The findings of association between alcohol consumption and arthritis are mixed while little is known about age differences in the associations of mental health and behavioral factors with arthritis. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and associated factors of arthritis among US adults using data from the 2012 National Health Interview Survey. In total, 8,229 adults with arthritis and 26,256 controls were selected from the adult respondents. Weighted univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) with 95 % confidence intervals. The overall prevalence of arthritis was 22.1 %. The prevalence increased with age (6.8, 29.6, and 47.9 % for 18–49, 50–64, and 65+ years of age, respectively). The prevalence of mental problems was higher in cases than controls [4 vs. 1 % for serious psychological distress (SPD), 29 vs. 16 % for anxiety, and 26 vs. 11 % for depression, respectively]. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that being female, older age, smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, SPD, depression, and anxiety were positively associated with arthritis. Stratified by age, SPD was associated with arthritis only in young adults (18–49 years old) while the ORs of anxiety and depression with arthritis decreased as age increased. Alcohol consumption revealed stronger associations in middle-aged adults and elderly. Using a large nationally representative sample in the USA, alcohol consumption, smoking, SPD, anxiety, and depression were associated with arthritis, and the associations varied across different age groups.
Differential response of soybean genotypes to soil pH and manganese application

A study was conducted to evaluated response of four soybean genotypes to different soil pH conditions, and rates of manganese application. Enon sandy loam soil was used for the investigation in a greenhouse. Manganese rates were 0, 10, and 20 Kg Mn ha. The pH levels were 5.3, 6.3, and 7.0. The genotypes tested were PI 159319, PI 324924, PI 960895, and L-76-0132. Genotype PI 960895 gave the highest yield whereas I-76-0132 gave the lowest yield. Genotype PI 324924 showed normal plant growth and higher yield at pH 5.3 indicating its tolerance to low soil pH. Soil pH 5.3 resulted in highest concentration of Mn in the leaves. Relatively lower seed yield of PI 159319 at pH 5.3 was due to intolerance to low soil pH. Genotypes PI 960895 and L-76-0132 gave similar seed yields at all pH levels. Genotypes PI 159319 responded to Mn addition while the others did not. The data suggest differential response by soybean genotypes to soil pH and Mn addition.
The next step: innovative molecular targeted therapies for treatment of intracranial chordoma patients.

BACKGROUND: Chordomas are rare, locally aggressive malignancies that often exhibit an insidious natural history and are difficult to eradicate. Surgery and radiotherapy are the treatment mainstays of chordoma, but the chance of local recurrence remains high. Patients who relapse or cannot undergo a complete en bloc resection generally have a poor prognosis. New agents for postoperative adjuvant treatment of chordomas are needed. OBJECTIVE: To highlight potential clinical trials that could evolve from new insights into the molecular biology of chordoma. METHODS: We performed a review of recent studies published in the literature that have begun to characterize the molecular features of chordoma, and with this knowledge, several targets for potential clinical therapies have been determined. RESULTS: Several receptor tyrosine kinases and their downstream signaling cascades show dysregulation in chordoma and represent attractive targets for future therapeutic interventions. The pathways shown to be of particular importance in chordoma involve the platelet-derived growth factor receptor, epidermal growth factor receptor, hepatocyte growth factor receptor, and common downstream cascade of phosphoinositide 3-kinases, Akt, and mammalian target of rapamycin. CONCLUSION: Recent findings characterizing the molecular biology of chordoma have illuminated multiple possible targets for future clinical trials. The availability of inhibitors against these aberrant pathways makes clinical trials with chordoma both feasible and immediately realizable. Additionally, we emphasize the rationale for combination therapy when implementing molecular therapy in chordoma and other cancers.
Method of sampling and positioning for laser scanning microscope: load cell method (Proceedings Only)

The output signal of microtranslators such as PZT is not always proportional to the input signal. It usually is expensive and requires special techniques for linearization. A method is described that is simple, inexpensive, and accurate for measuring the length variations of PZT. A commercialized load cell is directly attached to a PZT (the output voltage of the load cell versus the expansion of PZT has very good linearity) and is then applied to the scanning mechanism for a laser scanning microscope (LSM). A sampling circuit for the increasing voltage used to produce sampling pulses is also studied.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Experimental Investigation of Four Transmit Antenna Space-Time Block Codes

Space-time trellis and space-time block codes harness the effects of spatial diversity by taking advantage of multiple independently fading transmit and receive antenna paths between the transmitter and receiver. In this paper, we present experimental studies primarily on the performance of four transmit antenna space-time block codes which, although promising in simulations, need to be investigated in real-world wireless channels. Simulations often inaccurately model the wireless channel impulse response and other impairments such as interference, signal fading, multipath, phase noise, etc. Experimental results reveal an improvement in reliability by use of space-time block codes as predicted in simulations. However, the theoretical diversity gains promised in the simulations cannot be fully realized because of what is believed to be interference generated by other RF sources on the same 2.4GHz WLAN band on which the experiments were conducted
Role of medial prefrontal NMDA receptors in spatial delayed alternation in 19-, 26-, and 33-day-old rats.

Long–Evans rats were trained on spatial delayed alteration (SDA) in a T-maze following medial prefrontal cortical (mPFC) infusions of different doses of the noncompetitive NMDA-receptor antagonist, MK-801 (.125 µl; .25 µl; or .25 µlsaline, bilaterally), on postnatal day (PND) 19, 26, or 33. Pups trained on PND 19 showed almost no learning of SDA, regardless of drug condition (including saline). On PND 26, both doses of MK-801 significantly and equivalently prevented SDA learning, with performance during the final three training blocks remaining near chance levels, in contrast with 85% correct performance in the saline control group. On PND 33, substantial SDA learning was evident regardless of dose, although a modest impairment appeared in mid-training at both doses. These findings confirm previous reports of mPFC involvement in the early postnatal ontogeny of SDA and suggest a developmentally transient role of mPFC NMDA-receptor function in this task. Dev. Psychobiol. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 52: 583–591, 2010.
Some design considerations in background corrected atomic absorption instrumentation

Two recent papers have described modifications to single-beam Varian Techtron AA5 atomic absorption spectrometers which are purported to allow accurate background correction to be performed with that instrument. Unfortunately, the simple modifications described will not, generally, give an accurate atomic absorption signal under conditions often encountered in nonflame atomic absorption experiments. The reason for this is that emission light from either the atomizer or its contents cannot be accurately corrected for with the equipment described.
Serum 13C-bicarbonate assay for the diagnosis of gastric Helicobacter pylori infection and response to treatment

Abstract BACKGROUND & AIMS: Current serological tests for Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection are not useful in assessing active infection or eradication. The feasibility, sensitivity, and specificity of serum 13C- bicarbonate (13C-HCO3) measurement in determining gastric HP before and after eradication by antibiotics were investigated. METHODS: Twenty- seven symptomatic patients underwent endoscopy, biopsy, and CLOtest. Patients then consumed a 13C-urea-rich meal; serum was collected before and 1 hour after meal ingestion for quantitative determination of 13C by mass spectrometry. Postprandial fractional elevation of 13C (delta 13C-HCO3) was correlated with endoscopy, histology, and CLOtest at baseline and at 4 and 8 weeks after therapy. RESULTS: delta 13C-HCO3 +/- SEM was 17.02 +/- 2.94 in HP-positive patients and 2.77 +/- 044 in HP- negative patients (P CONCLUSIONS: Serum 13C-HCO3 analysis is a novel, simple, and noninvasive method for diagnosis and assessment of eradication of HP infection. (Gastroenterology 1997 Jul;113(1):31-7)
Postparturient metabolic and production responses in cows previously exposed to long-term treatment with somatotropin.

Abstract Postparturient metabolic and production responses were studied for 85 multiparous cows consisting of controls and animals that had been previously exposed to long-term treatment with bST. Older cows previously exposed to bST at high doses (51.6 mg/d) had lower milk yields than controls. However, there were no significant differences compared with controls in milk yield for lower dose (17.2 mg/d) older cows or parity 2 cow groups. The bST-treated groups had higher postpartum DMI, lower serum FFA, lower serum β-hydroxybutyrate levels, and higher serum glucose than controls. Some bST-exposed groups had lower milk fat but higher milk protein levels. All bST-treated groups had significantly lower ratios of C 18 to C 4 to 10 milk fatty acids. Control cows of both parity groups were in higher body condition and weighed more than bST-treated cows prior to calving. The differences in postpartum metabolism may be attributed to differences in body composition resulting from bST treatment in the prior lactation, because use of body condition score prior to calving as a covariate did not substantially alter responses. The control cows probably had greater reserves of mobilizable lipid. These contentions are supported by changes in milk composition for bST-treated cows, which were consistent with animals of greater appetite, mobilizing less lipid. The bST-treated cows were probably more energetically efficient milk producers because they produced milk from feed rather than from mobilization of tissue stores. These data suggest that bST use in a prior lactation may 6have potential benefit in reducing risk of metabolic disorders associated with lipid mobilization in the postparturient period.
Resistivity Interpretation Near a Trench

On Andros Island, Bahamas, fresh water is pumped from trench wells for shipment. The depth to the interface between fresh and salt water needs to be monitored in the well fields to prevent salt water contamination of the aquifer. Resistivity soundings are an effective way to measure the thickness of the fresh water layer. The presence of the trenches violates the horizontal layering assumption of usual 1D modeling programs. Finite element method modeling for a 2.5D case was used to determine the conditions under which 1D models are adequate and to provide a means to model salt water depth in situations where 1D is inadequate.
Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae: an unusual pathogen of infective endocarditis.

Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, a Gram-positive A 49-year-old man presented a 2-week history of bacilli, is an important animal pathogen, but rarely left sided chest pain, fever, chills, night sweats, reported in humans [1]. Most infections are related to fatigue, orthopnea and exertional dyspnea. The paoccupational exposure (fishermen, fish handlers, buttient was previously in good health, had no history of chers, slaughterhouse workers, veterinarians). drug abuse, and worked in a steel plant. Physical Erysipeloid, a localized skin lesion, is the most examination revealed a temperature of 98.4 8F, blood common manifestation in humans, but sepsis and pressure of 100/40 mmHg, pulse of 120 beats /min, endocarditis can occur rarely. Gram-positive bacilli, and respirations of 18/min. Jugular vein distension in particular E. rhusiopathiae, are rarely implicated as was present and the lungs had bilateral crackles etiological pathogens in bacterial endocarditis, and occupying 50% of the lung fields. Cardiac examinablood cultures with such microorganisms many times tion revealed a soft first heart sound and a blowing are considered contaminants. Erysipelothrix decrescendo holodiastolic murmur grade 3/6 along rhusiopathiae endocarditis has significant morbidity the upper left parasternal border. No skin or nail and much higher mortality rate than endocarditis due lesions were noted. to other organisms. Also, it is resistant to vancomycin Chest radiography revealed a right upper lobe and aminoglycosides, antibiotics frequently used as infiltrate. The total white blood cell count was empirical therapy for infective endocarditis. E. 10 000/ml. Serum electrolytes, liver associated enrhusiopathiae should be considered in the differential zymes, hemoglobin, and coagulation studies were diagnosis of infective endocarditis, particularly in normal. Empiric antibiotic therapy was started with those patients with associated characteristic skin ceftriaxone and azithromycin for presumptive comlesions or those with a history of occupational munity acquired pneumonia. A transesophageal echexposure to animals (particularly swine and fish). ocardiogram was performed and revealed a large This is a case of a healthy man without known vegetation of the aortic valve (Fig. 1) and severe occupational exposure or previous valvular heart aortic insufficiency (Fig. 2). Azithromycin was disdisease who developed E. Rhusiopathiae endocarditis continued and empirical therapy for endocarditis with involving the aortic valve and requiring aortic valve penicillin G and gentamicin was initiated. A Gramreplacement and prolonged antibiotic therapy with positive rod was recovered in all blood cultures and adequate recovery. subsequently was identified as Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae. Because of the severity of aortic insufficiency, the patient underwent successful aortic
Der Mensch is(s)t nicht(s) allein

Jeder kennt die Nebeneffekte einer Antibiotika-Therapie auf die Eingeweide: die endogene Bakterienflora muss hinterher wieder aufgepappelt oder gleich ganz neu angesiedelt werden. Sequenzanalysen der Darmbakterien zeigen jetzt, dass diese insgesamt etwa hundertmal so viele Gene enthalten wie der Mensch selbst. Viele dieser Gene codieren fur Enzyme, die Pflanzenstoffe verwerten, die fur uns Menschen als solche nicht abbaubar sind.
NO reactions with sol–gel and solution phase samples of the ferric nitrite derivative of HbA

The reaction of nitric oxide (NO) with the ferric (met) nitrite derivative of human adult hemoglobin Hb is probed for both solution phase and sol-gel encapsulated populations. The evolution of both the Q band absorption spectrum and fitted populations of Hb derivatives are used to show the sequence of events occurring when NO interacts with nitrite bound to a ferric heme in Hb. The sol-gel is used to compare the evolving populations as a function of quaternary state for the starting met-nitrite populations. The redox status of intermediates is probed using the CN(-) anion to trap ferric heme species. The emergent presence of reactive NO species such as N(2)O(3) during the course of the reaction is probed using the fluorescent probe DAF-2 whereas the fluorophore Chemifluor is used as an indirect measure of the ability of the reaction to create S-nitrosothiols on glutathione. The results are consistent with the formation of a stable reactive intermediate capable of generating bioactive forms of NO. The patterns observed are consistent with a proposed mechanism whereby NO reacts with the ferric nitrite derivative to generate N(2)O(3).
Rate Constants for CF3 + H2 → CF3H + H and CF3H + H → CF3 + H2 Reactions in the Temperature Range 1100−1600 K

The shock tube technique coupled with H-atom atomic resonance absorption spectrometry has been used to study the reactions (1) CF3 + H2 → CF3H + H and (2) CF3H + H → CF3 + H2 over the temperature ranges 1168−1673 K and 1111−1550 K, respectively. The results can be represented by the Arrhenius expressions k1 = 2.56 × 10-11 exp(−8549K/T) and k2 = 6.13 × 10-11 exp(−7364K/T), both in cm3 molecule-1 s-1. Equilibrium constants were calculated from the two Arrhenius expressions in the overlapping temperature range, and good agreement was obtained with the literature values. The rate constants for reaction 2 were converted into rate constants for reaction 1 using literature equilibrium constants. These data are indistinguishable from direct k1 measurements, and an Arrhenius fit for the joint set is k1 = 1.88 × 10-11 exp(−8185K/T) cm3 molecule-1 s-1. The CF3 + H2 → CF3H + H reaction was further modeled using conventional transition-state theory, which included ab initio electronic structure determinations of react...
Metabolism and pharmacokinetics of progesterone in the cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis).

Abstract [4 - 14 C]Progesterone was administered to two cycling female monkeys during the luteal phase of the cycle, and blood and urine were sampled over a 24 h period. Progesterone had a volume of distribution of 1.75 ± 0.3 L/kg, and a plasma elimination clearance of 0.06 ± 0.03 L/kg/min. In comparison to the human, plasma progesterone binding was greater and progesterone clearance was slower in the cynomolgus monkey. The major unconjugated metabolite in plasma was 20α-hydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one. In urine 6.2% of 14 C - steroids were unconjugated, 2.3% of which were [ 14 C]progesterone. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) of conjugated metabolites in urine revealed that 24% had the mobility of sulfates, 19% that of glucuronides, and 52% were more polar. After hydrolysis of conjugates, a major fraction chromatographed with pregnanediol. However, despite evidence for the presence of a 20α-hydroxyl group, none of the pregnanediol isomers could be identified among these 14 C - steroids. Nevertheless, over 80% of urinary metabolites had sufficient analogy to pregnanediol to bind to an antiserum specific for ring D and the C-17 side-chain of pregnanediol.
Wall modeled large eddy simulations of complex high Reynolds number flows with synthetic inlet turbulence

Abstract Large eddy simulations of complex high Reynolds number flows are carried out with the near wall region being modeled with a zonal two layer model. A novel formulation for solving the turbulent boundary layer equation for the effective tangential velocity in a generalized co-ordinate system is presented and applied in the near wall zonal treatment. This formulation reduces the computational time in the inner layer significantly compared to the conventional two layer formulations present in the literature and is most suitable for complex geometries involving body fitted structured and unstructured meshes. The cost effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed wall model, used with the synthetic eddy method (SEM) to generate inlet turbulence, is investigated in turbulent channel flow, flow over a backward facing step, and confined swirling flows at moderately high Reynolds numbers. Predictions are compared with available DNS, experimental LDV data, as well as wall resolved LES. In all cases, there is at least an order of magnitude reduction in computational cost with no significant loss in prediction accuracy.
Methods to improve transient performance of CVTs: analysis and recommendations

Transients in capacitive voltage transformers (CVTs) are known to cause measurement problems in the relays. These switching transients can take several cycles to die out if the burden imposed by the secondary connected devices is a fraction of the CVT rated burden. In this paper, the transient response of the CVTs connected to low burden numerical relays is studied in detail and than the methods to improve the same are discussed. The methods discussed vary from simple modifications in existing CVT design to some major changes in the CVT construction. The paper gives a comprehensive coverage of design issues for CVTs intended to be used with numerical relays. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Superquadrics and Angle-Preserving Transformations

A new and powerful family of parametric shapes extends the basic quadric surfaces and solids, yielding a variety of useful forms.
The Intelligibility of God-talk

There are certain primary religious beliefs which are basic to a whole religious Weltanschauung, for they are the cornerstone of the whole edifice.1 If these beliefs are unintelligible, incoherent, irrational or false the whole-way-of-life, centring around them, is ‘a house of cards’. Certain segments of it may still be seen to have a value when viewed from some other perspective, but if these primary religious beliefs are faulted, the religious Weltanschauung itself has been undermined. If it has been undermined and if people recognise that it has been undermined and still go around believing in it, accepting and acting in accordance with its tenets, they are then being very irrational. And while in humility we should recognise that we all suffer from propensities to irrationality and perhaps in some spheres of our life cannot help being irrational, it is a propensity we should resist, for to be irrational is to do something we ought not to do.
Life cycle and epizootiology of Amblyospora sp. (Microspora: Amblyosporidae) in the mosquito, Aedes cantator

In Aedes cantator, Amblyospora sp. is transovarially transmitted and has two developmental sequences. The life cycle is initiated in the adult female with the release of sporoplasms from binucleated spores not bounded by membranes, lying free within host oenocytes. Sporoplasms infect the developing oocytes and are transmitted to the filial generation when the eggs are laid. In some of the female progeny that hatch from infected eggs, diplokaryotic cells infect host oenocytes and divide by binary fission during merogony. Sporulation and spore formation do not occur until a blood meal is taken by the host and they coincide with the development and maturation of the oocytes to complete the cycle. In other female and all male progeny, pathogen development occurs within fat body tissue of the host where diplokaryotic cells divide by multiple fission during merogony to spread the infection. Sporulation in this developmental sequence is characterized by the secretion of an accessory membrane and the meiotic division of diplokaryotic sporonts, which result in the formation of octonucleated plasmodia that undergo cytokinesis to form eight haploid spores which are not perorally infectious to other mosquito larvae. There is no increase in the prevalence of either type of infection in field populations during juvenile development, indicating that there is no direct horizontal transmission of the pathogen within any one generation. Data obtained from laboratory rearings of infected progeny, however, show that infections cannot persist relying solely upon maternal-mediated transmission and that some other mode of transmission must be operative for continued maintenance of this microsporidium in A. cantator.