cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of Disease States on the Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Angiotensin‐Converting Enzyme Inhibitors

The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE) in elderly patients and patients with renal and hepatic impairment were examined, and a role for an AUC/EC50 ratio to guide dosing was evaluated. A Medline and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts search was used to identify human studies and abstracts. Relevant data were evaluated and summarized. Dosing regimens were compared using an AUC/EC50 ratio. Most studies evaluating ACE inhibitors in renal impairment report a strong linear correlation between creatine clearance and drug elimination. AUC and EC50 values for these drugs in elderly subjects appear similar to younger and hypertensive patients. There is increased AUC in some patients with hepatic impairment. Pharmacodynamic data are conflicting. Prolonged ACE inhibition is evident in renal impairment but not necessarily other disease states. ACE inhibitor dosing for hypertension is reasonable based on pharmacokinetics and EC50 values. Further individualization of therapy may improve outcomes, and using the threshold AUC/EC50 ratio may help guide appropriate dosing.
Improving question-answering with linking dialogues

Question-answering dialogue systems have found many applications in interactive learning environments. This paper is concerned with one such application for Army leadership training, where trainees input free-text questions that elicit pre-recorded video responses. Since these responses are already crafted before the question is asked, a certain degree of incoherence exists between the question that is asked and the answer that is given. This paper explores the use of short linking dialogues that stand in between the question and its video response to alleviate the problem of incoherence. We describe a set of experiments with human generated linking dialogues that demonstrate their added value. We then describe our implementation of an automated method for utilizing linking dialogues and show that these have better coherence properties than the original system without linking dialogues.
The chemical signature of magnetohydrodynamic waves in molecular clouds

By considering the propagation of low-amplitude magnetohydrodynamic waves in partially ionized plasmas, it is shown that the ion-neutral drift (ambipolar diffusion) induced by the waves can have specific effects on the molecular chemistry of cold material. The chemistry occurring in gas swept by Alfven waves is described and it is shown that this leads to spatial variations in the deuterium fractionation ratios of, for example, HCO+ and N2H+, on spatial scales of a few hundredths of a parsec, depending upon the fractional ionization of the ambient medium. The possibility of detecting interstellar Alfven waves by molecular spectroscopy and their effect of producing small-scale chemical abundance gradients in molecular clouds are briefly discussed.
Stool Examinations in Immigrant New School Enrollees in New York City|[dagger]| 659

The Bureau of School Health (BSH) of the New York City Department of Health(NYCDOH) is mandated by law to provide new-admission health assessments for all children without primary health care providers enrolling in school for the first time. A stool examination is not a part of the routine new admission evaluation. From 1990-1994, New York City received 562,988 immigrants (14.6% of the U.S. total), many from countries where intestinal parasites pose a significant health problem. The majority of immigrants came from the Caribbean(33%), Asia (26%), South America (12%), and Africa (2%); and 13.6% of these immigrants settled in the Bronx. During a four month period (March-June 1996) single, fresh stool specimens from asymptomatic new school enrollees seen at a BSH Clinic in the Bronx were submitted to the DOH Bureau of Laboratories. One hundred and nineteen children were evaluated with the following results: age range 4-18 years (mean 10 yrs.); 43 (36%) females, 76 (64%) males; 41 (34%) black; 62 (52%) hispanic. Most of these children came from the Dominican Republic 45 (38%), Ghana 22 (18.5%), and Jamaica 10 (8%). One child was a U.S.-born citizen. All children were asymptomatic and free of significant underlying illness. Stool examinations were positive for 88 (74%) children. The most commonly identified parasites of clinical significance included Blastocystis hominis 62 (71%), Entamoeba histolytica 21(24%), Giardia lamblia 18 (21%), Ascaris lumbricoides 5(6%), hookworm 5 (6%), and Trichuris trichiura 2 (2%). Other parasites identified included Endolimax nana 39 (44%),Iodamoeba butschlii 25 (28%), Entamoeba hartmani 18 (21%),Entamoeba coli 12 (14%), and Chilomastix mesnili 3 (3.4%). Multiparasitism was very common. A second sampling of 94 symptomatic children at a BSH clinic in Queens confirmed an equally high rate (73%) of intestinal parasites among immigrant children, with the addition of Strongyloides stercoralis (2%) as an important pathogen. The impact of such infections on the health and development of the school-aged immigrant population in New York City needs to be better defined, as well as the need to consider stool examinations as part of the health evaluation of these children.
Are massive photons and monopoles mutually exclusive

Linear equations, constructed from quantities transforming according to the same representations of the Lorentz group as those making up Maxwell's equations, are used to investigate the effect of a photon mass on the existence of monopoles. For stable point particlesand one kind of photon it is shown that isolated monopoles cannot exist. Dirac strings are employed in the proof.
Kinetic theory molecular dynamics; numerical considerations

Abstract Typical numerical simulations of dense plasmas are limited by either an inability to treat the dynamical quantum evolution of the electrons or a difficulty with strongly-coupled ions. Yet these different physics problems are individually well-treated by particular approximations. Kinetic theory molecular dynamics (KTMD) is a hybrid approach that treats electrons via kinetic theory (KT) and ions with molecular dynamics (MD). We present a derivation suitable for classical plasmas and specialize to the Vlasov or mean-field case. In addition, we consider the limit of adiabatic electron dynamics, where the problem reduces to the Poisson–Boltzmann (PB) equations coupled to MD. An exploration of practical ways to implement KTMD within an existing MD framework. The initial goal is to develop computationally efficient solutions of the PB problem, suitable for large-scale PB or Thomas-Fermi MD simulations.
Teaching NeuroImages: Cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy A rare adult form

A 42-year-old man with Addison disease presented to the emergency department with unsteady gait for 1 year. A half-brother had epilepsy and difficulty walking, and died at 6 years of age. Another half-brother has a longstanding gait disorder. Over 3 to 4 months, his gait has become worse with marked stiffness, ataxia, and dysarthria. Neurologic examination demonstrated saccadic pursuit, ocular flutter, severe spasticity throughout, peripheral neuropathy, hyperreflexia, clonus, with bilateral extensor plantar reflexes, marked dysmetria, and dysdiadochokinesia. He stands with a marked forward stoop and flexed knees. MRI is shown in figures 1 and 2. The plasma concentration of very-long-chain fatty acids, which is a general test for peroxisomal disorders, was elevated, confirming the diagnosis of adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD). Very-long-chain fatty acids were also elevated in the surviving brother's plasma. Adult cerebral ALD is extremely rare. It is an X-linked peroxisomal disorder caused by mutation in the ABCD1 gene located at Xq28 and involves the nervous system, adrenal cortex, and Leydig cells in the testes.1,2
An investigation of a model of percentage depth dose for irregularly shaped fields.

A significant component of the total dose delivered to tumor and surrounding tissue during a radiation treatment arises from the scattering of the primary beam. Accounting for this component accurately and efficiently is a necessity. In this study we investigate a method for calculating the phantom-scatter contributions to the total dose by simple summation of scatter dose from a set of individual triangles that span an irregular field. The calculation of phantom scatter is based on a two-parameter model, which is applicable to regions where electron equilibrium is established. The two physical parameters are the dose-averaged linear attenuation coefficient and the beam-hardening coefficient. The advantage of this model is that it is a natural method when an irregular field is shaped by a multi-leaf collimator (MLC). Accuracy is not compromised by the triangulation since the irregular field is defined by the straight edges of the MLC leaves. The model predicts the percent depth dose with acceptable accuracy for any arbitrary shape of fields. We report on results for 6- and 18-MV photon beams and for a number of irregularly shaped fields.
Alpha and Beta Subunits of Human Thyrotropin: Purification and Development of Specific Radioimmunoassays

Highly purified human TSH (hTSH) was dissociated into its alpha and beta subunits with propionic acid; the subunits were separated from undissociated hTSH and;-from each other by gel and ion exchange chromatography. During purification hTSH-a was identified by its cross reaction in a radioimmunoassay for the alpha subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG-α), and hTSH-β was identified by its cross reaction in an hTSH immunoassay. Purified hTSH-α (> 90% pure) and hTSH-β (>95% pure) were used toinduce antibodies in rabbits by a primary injection of 10 or 15 (µg, respectively, followed by 1 to 3 booster injections of 5 μg. Using hTSH-α tracer and anti-hTSH-α from each of 3 rabbits, radioimmunoassays were developed capable of detecting about 1 ng'ml hTSH-α. In these hTSH-α assays, the cross reactivity of hCG-α and hLH-α was virtually complete, while the cross reactivity of hLH was 15% and the reactivity of hTSH, hTSH-β,and hCG was less than 5%. Using hTSH-β tracer and anti-hTSH-β from each of 3 rabbits, ra...
Effects of wastewater effluent organic materials on fouling in ultrafiltration

The objective was to determine the effects of wastewater effluent organic materials (EfOM) on fouling of ultrafilters (100kDa polyethersulfone (PES)). EfOM constituents were sequentially removed, first by removing particles down to the approximate ultrafilter pore size and then by removing dissolved EfOM based on functionality. Particles and colloids >20nm accounted for 19% of total organic carbon (TOC), including 96% of EfOM >100kDa. Removal of particles and colloids resulted in increased fouling, attributed to increased contact of dissolved EfOM with the membrane. Hydrophobic and hydrophilic (HPO/HPI) acids were 22% of total EfOM, and accounted for nearly all of the fouling. HPO/HPI base/neutrals were 59% of EfOM, but did not cause any significant fouling. Although HPO/HPI base/neutrals did not cause any fouling, they were the dominant EfOM constituent at the surface of fouled and then hydraulically cleaned membranes, as measured by attenuated reflectance infrared spectroscopy. Since the filtration runs were short, the effects of HPO/HPI base/neutrals on long-term fouling should be further investigated, but these results cast doubt on the presumption that organic materials that are identified during membrane autopsies are necessarily a primary cause of fouling. These results also indicate that wastewater EfOM should be treated to remove HPO/HPI acids prior to membrane filtration.
Ixabepilone: a novel microtubule inhibitor for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer.

Abstract Background : Ixabepilone is the first member of the epothilones, a new class of anticancer drugs. It is approved for use as monotherapy in patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer that has failed to respond to therapy with a taxane, an anthracycline, and capecitabine, or in combination with capecitabine in patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer that has failed to respond to therapy with a taxane and an anthracycline. Objectives : This paper reviews available information on the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, clinical efficacy, and tolerability of ixabepilone when used for its approved indication. It also reviews clinical studies of ixabepilone in other cancers, including prostate, lung, and ovarian cancers, sarcoma, and lymphoma. Finally, the dosing and administration of ixabepilone and pharmacoeconomic considerations are discussed. Methods : MEDLINE and EMBASE (1950–present) were searched in November 2007 and again in March and June 2008 to identify clinical trials, abstracts, and case reports involving ixabepilone. The search terms included ixabepilone , BMS-247550 , and epothilone . The reference lists of identified articles and meeting abstracts were reviewed to identify additional publications. Results : In a Phase III trial of the combination of ixabepilone 40 mg/m 2 IV + capecitabine 1000 mg/m 2 PO BID versus capecitabine 1250 mg/m 2 PO BID, both given on days 1 through 14 of a 21-day cycle, the combination arm had significantly greater progression-free survival (5.8 vs 4.2 months, respectively; P P 2 IV given every 21 days, 50% of patients had stable disease, with a median progression-free survival of 3.1 months. Grade 3/4 hematologic adverse effects occurring during use of ixab epilone included neutropenia (54%),leukopenia (49%), anemia (8%), and thrombocytopenia (7%). The most common nonhematologic adverse effects included peripheral neuropathy (72%), fatigue (56%), myalgia/arthralgia (49%), alopecia (48%), nausea (42%), stomatitis/mucositis (29%), vomiting (29%), diarrhea (22%), and musculoskeletal pain (20%). Dose adjustment is required in the presence of toxicity (grade 2 or higher neuropathy; grade 3 or higher myalgia/arthralgia, fatigue, or palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia; prolonged neutropenia, febrile neutropenia, or severe thrombocytopenia). Use of ixabepilone is contraindicated in patients with hepatic impairment. Conclusions : Ixabepilone, a new antineoplastic agent with antimitotic capabilities, is approved for use with or without capecitabine in the management of metastatic or locally advanced breast cancer. It has also been evaluated for antitumor activity in a number of other cancers. The potential for significant toxicity with ixabepilone requires close clinical observation to assess the need for dose adjustment.
Raw materials price and technological uncertainty in a small open economy

This paper examines the implications of raw materials price uncertainty for capital allocation and compares the impact of production uncertainty and raw materials price uncertainty. It shows that the economy may avoid risk by allocating more capital in a sector using an input (for example, raw materials) which has a random price. This contrasts with multiplicative production uncertainty case, in which the economy avoids risk by allocating less capital to the risky (uncertainty) sector. Input efficiency uncertainty and materials input price uncertainty have the same implications for a raw-materials-importing economy, but quite opposite implications for a raw-materials-exporting economy.
Photo Quiz: An 11-Year-Old with Abdominal Pain

A previously healthy 11-year-old girl presented to an emergency department in Boston with a 2-day history of abdominal pain and vomiting. She did not have a fever, diarrhea, melena, or hematochezia by history. She had immigrated to the United States from central Ethiopia 2 months earlier. Her temperature was 37.7°C. She had diminished bowel sounds and lower abdominal tenderness, with guarding and a positive psoas sign. Hematological testing demonstrated a mildly elevated white blood cell count of 11,000 cells/microliter, with a differential of 90% neutrophils, 2% lymphocytes, 6% monocytes, 0% eosinophils, and 1% basophils. Abdominal imaging showed evidence of a complex fluid collection in the pelvis. She underwent abdominal surgery and was found to have a ruptured appendix, which was removed.
Modulation of prostaglandin synthesis in mouse peritoneal macrophages by enrichment of lipids with either eicosapentaenoic or docosahexaenoic acids in vitro.

Abstract The n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) of fish oils alter arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism in macrophages. The present investigation studied the efficacy of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), two n-3 PUFA of fish, to alter lipid composition and specific functions of mouse peritoneal macrophages. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were readily incorporated by macrophages in vitro and replaced 25–50 % of AA in cellular lipids. The EPA- or DHA-enriched cells synthesized significantly less (50–65 %) prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ), thromboxane B 2 (TXB 2 ) and 6 keto prostaglandin F1 1 α (6 keto PGF 1 α) when stimulated with opsonized zymosan. The enrichment with EPA or DHA did not affect phagocytosis nor superoxide anion formation in macrophages. These studies demonstrated that EPA or DHA can be used to decrease prostaglandin synthesis selectively without affecting the other physiological functions of macrophages.
Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the ureter.

Lymphoepithelioma is a malignant epithelial tumor of the nasopharynx that has also been reported to occur in other organs. To our knowledge we report the first case of lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the ureter. CASE REPORT A 75-year-old man presented with total gross painless hematuria and intermittent right flank pain. Ultrasound showed mild right hydronephrosis in an otherwise normal kidney and cystoscopy revealed blood coming from the right ureteral orifice. Creatinine was 1.9 mg./dl. (normal 0.6 to 1.4). Urine cytology showed some atypical cells. Retrograde ureteropyelography and subsequent ureteroscopy defined a solitary 1.0 cm. lesion in the lower third of the ureter. Computerized tomography suggested a localized ureteral process. Distal ureterectomy and psoas hitch ureteroneocystotomy were performed. A 1.0 x 1.0 x 0.8 cm. white nonpapillary intraluminal nodule was noted in the lower third of the right ureter (fig. 1). At the site of excision the tumor was noted to ' have infiltrated the entire ureteral wall. A total of 27 pelvic lymph nodes proved negative for metastatic disease. Microscopic examination of the resected tumor revealed , syncytium-like sheets of large tumor cells with indistinct , cytoplasmic membranes, vesicular nuclei and prominent nucleoli. Rare mitotic figures were present. Individual cell necrosis was also evident. Between the syncytium was a prominent lymphoid infiltrate composed of small lymphocytes, immunoblasts, histiocytes and plasma cells. Occasional germinal center formation was noted (fig. 2). Adjacent to the tumor was an area of severe urothelial atypia with numerous small lymphocytes interspersed between epithelial cells. NO classical urothelial carcinoma was noted on the specimen. Immunostains revealed the large tumor cells to express cytokeratins 7 and 20, a keratin profile compatible with urothelial cells. The lymphocytic infiltrate was composed of predominantly CD20 positive B cells and CD3 positive T cells (ratio 2:l). CD68 positive histiocytes were scattered in the lymphoid infiltrate. The plasma cells were polyclonal with respect to K and A expression. Deoxyribonucleic acid in situ hybridization with the Epstein-Barn virus, deoxyribonucleic acid NotWstI repeat region probe? and Epstein-Barr virus early Eber ribonucleic acid oligoprobest proved negative in the tumor cells and lymphocytic infiltrate. Because the morphological picture was indistinguishable from that of lymphoepithelioma of the nasopharynx and the immunohistochemistry confirmed an epithelial differentiation, diagnosis was lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the ureter. DISCUSSION
Comparison of sulfur interaction with hydrogen on Pt(111), Ni(111) and Pt3Ni(111) surfaces: The effect of intermetallic bonding

Abstract Adsorption strengths of hydrogen and sulfur both individually and together as co-adsorbates were investigated on Pt(1 1 1), Ni(1 1 1) and Pt3Ni(1 1 1) surfaces using density functional theory in order to determine the effect of metal alloying on sulfur tolerance. The adsorption strengths of H and S singly follow the same trend: Ni(1 1 1) > Pt(1 1 1) > Pt3Ni(1 1 1), which correlates well with the respective d-band center positions of each surface. We find that the main effect of alloying is to distort both the sub-layer structure and the Pt overlayer resulting in a lowered d-band. For all three surfaces, the d-band shifts downward non-linearly as a function of S coverage. Nearly identical decreases in d-band position were calculated for each surface, leading to an expectation that subsequent adsorption of H would scale with surface type similarly to single species adsorption. In contradiction to this expectation, there was no clearly discernable difference between the energies of coadsorbed H on Pt(1 1 1) and Ni(1 1 1) and only a slightly lowered energy on Pt3Ni(1 1 1). This provides evidence that coadsorbed species in close proximity interact directly through itinerant mobile electrons and through electrostatic repulsion rather than solely through the electronic structure of the surface. The combination of the lowered d-band position (arising from distorted geometry) and direct co-adsorbate interactions on Pt3Ni(1 1 1) leads to a lower energy barrier for H2S formation on the surface compared to pure Pt(1 1 1). Thus, alloying Pt with Ni both decreases the likelihood of S adsorption and favors S removal through H2S formation.
Stereospecific synthesis of trans-1,3-disubstituted-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro β-carbolines

Abstract The stereospecific synthesis of trans -1,3-disubstituted-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro β-carbolines has been accomplished in good yield by a two step sequence which involves Pictet-Spengler condensation of Nb-benzyltryptophan methyl ester with aldehydes, followed by removal of the 2-benzyl moiety from the corresponding tetrahydro β-carboline via catalytic hydrogenation.
Natural history of interstitial cystitis in 274 patients receiving sulfated polysaccharide therapy

Abstract Objectives. To assess the natural history of interstitial cystitis in the presence of sulfated polysaccharide treatment. Methods. This was a longitudinal study of 274 patients. Questionnaires were administered at first visit to obtain information on demographic characteristics, medical history, other risk factors, and type and severity of symptoms. Follow-up questionnaires were administered at subsequent visits to measure symptom progress. Patient status over time was measured for three symptoms: pain, urgency, and nocturia. Changes in symptom and severity were assessed at 6, 12, and 24 months on treatment. Comparisons of symptom change from baseline to 6 and 12 months were assessed for different characteristics among patients with the most severe symptoms. Results. After 1 year of treatment, a decrease of two or more points in symptom score was observed for 33.5% of all patients for pain and 35.4% for urgency. Among patients with the most severe symptoms, a decrease of two or more points was observed in more than 54% for pain and urgency; 55.7% experienced remission to the moderate and mild level (49.2% and 6.5%, respectively). There was no appreciable decrease in nocturia at any severity level. With the exception of feeling heavy and experiencing dull pain at baseline, patients who did not report a specific type of pain improved more than those who did. Conclusions. The results of this study suggest that treatment with sulfated polysaccharides can help alleviate the symptoms of patients suffering from the most severe stages of interstitial cystitis.
Formal potential estimation for a quasi-reversible charge transfer followed by a first-order irreversible chemical reaction

Abstract A method is presented for estimating the formal potential of a quasi-reversible charge-transfer with a coupled following chemical reaction. The method is based on the dc polarographic half-wave potential variation with drop-time. Results of data analysis of digitally simulated polarograms using following first-order rate constants of 10 5 and 10 7 s −1 indicate that formal potential estimates are generally accurate to within 3–4 mV. Effects of error in the required estimates of the first-order chemical rate constant and the charge-transfer coefficient are described. The charge-transfer standard rate constant can also be estimated.
Nuclear resonance study of lithium motion in β-eucryptite (LiAlSiO4)

Abstract Several diffusion processes have been observed in ceramic β-eucryptite using NMR methods. One low activation energy (0.25 eV) process has been identified with the high temperature disordered phase of the lattice. NMR deduced jump rates agree well with Raman scattering experiments.
Production of Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFA) During in vitro Fermentation of Fibers

Abstract Increasing dietary fiber has been shown to improve colonic health and reduce the risk of colon cancer. One aspect of fiber consumption is its fermentation by colonic microflora to produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFA). The major SFCA produced are acetic, propionic and butyric acids. Butyric acid is absorbed by the colonic mucosa as its major energy source. The concentration of SCFA in the feces can be measured and the results extrapolated to production in the colon. However, this is probably not a true reflection of SCFA production since SCFA are absorbed and utilized by the colon epithelial cells. In our study, fresh fecal samples were mixed with 9 different fibers with glucose serving as the control, incubated at 37°C for 24h. SCFA production was measured at 0,4,8,12, and 24h. This approach avoids loss of SCFA by absorption into the body. SCFA production after 24h was 42.35 ± 5.5mg/ml for 8 of the 10 samples. Unifiber™ had a lower production of total SCFA (33.5mg/ml) after 24h and Benefiber™ had a high production of SCFA (54.6mg/ml). To allow for differences in total SCFA production, the percentage of total SCFA was calculated for three major fatty acids. Percent averages after 24h were: Acetic acid 44.9% ± 12.9. with the highest production from glucose and the lowest from cellulose, 69.2% and 17.7%, respectively. Propionic acid 32.5% ± 10.4, with the highest from cellulose and the lowest from glucose, 55% and 20.2%, respectively. Butyric acid 22.3% ± 9.0, with the highest from Metamucil™ and the lowest from cellulose, 38.5% and 9.0%, respectively. There was no consistent pattern as to when the SCFA are formed over the 24h period. Thus, in vitro fermentation of different fibers ail yield SCFA, but the concentrations of the various SCFAs vary among the fibers.
The Importance of Positioning the Near-term Infant for Sleep, Play, and Development

Abstract The near-term infant (NTI) refers to the infant born between 34 and 37 weeks' gestational age. These infants may initially be cared for in well-baby nurseries, special care nurseries, or neonatal intensive care nurseries. These infants have a unique set of abilities and needs, which do not always mimic the abilities and needs of either their older term or younger, more preterm, counterparts. Health care professionals must adapt their care practices and discharge teaching to meet the unique needs of the NTI. This article will address the unique needs of the NTI with regard to neuromotor maturation, positioning, and safe sleep practices, as well as how health care professionals can alter daily care practices and discharge teaching when working with this special population.
Do vacuum fluctuations prevent the creation of closed timelike curves

It has been shown elsewhere that in a classical spacetime with multiply connected space slices (wormhole spacetime), closed timelike curves can form generically. The boundary between an initial region of spacetime without closed timelike curves and a later region with them is a Cauchy horizon which can be stable against small classical perturbations. This paper investigates stability against vacuum fluctuations of a quantized field, by calculating the field’s renormalized stress-energy tensor near the Cauchy horizon. The calculation is restricted to a massless, conformally coupled scalar field, but it is argued that the results will be the same to within factors of order unity for other noninteracting quantum fields. The calculation is given in order of magnitude for any spacetime with closed timelike curves, and then a detailed calculation is given for a specific example of such a spacetime: one with a traversable wormhole whose mouths create closed timelike curves by their relative motions. The renormalized stress-energy tensor is found to diverge as one approaches the Cauchy horizon. However, the divergence is extremely weak: so weak, that as seen in the rest frame of one of the wormhole mouths the vacuum polarization’s gravity distorts the spacetime metric near the mouth by only δgμνVP∼(lP/D)(lP/Δt), where Δt is the proper time until one reaches the Cauchy horizon and D is the distance between the two mouths when the Cauchy horizon forms. For a macroscopic wormhole with D∼1 m, δgμνVP has only grown to lP/D∼10-35 when one is within a Planck length of the horizon. Since the very concept of classical spacetime is normally thought to fail, and be replaced by the quantum foam of quantum gravity on scales Δt≲lP, the authors are led to conjecture that the vacuum-polarization divergence gets cut off by quantum gravity upon reaching the tiny size lP/D, and spacetime remains macroscopically smooth and classical and develops closed timelike curves without difficulty. Hawking, in response to this, has conjectured that the spacetime near the Cauchy horizon remains classical until DΔt (which in a certain sense is frame invariant) gets as small as ∼lP2, and correspondingly until δgμνVP∼1, and that, as a result, the vacuum-polarization divergence will prevent the formation of closed timelike curves. These two conjectures are discussed and contrasted. The attempt to test them might produce insight into candidate theories of quantum gravity.
Inductive extensions of some Z -cyclic whist tournaments

Abstract A whist tournament Wh( v ) for v players is a special type of resolvable ( v , 4, 3)-BIBD; the blocks represent four players, each block having two ‘partner pairs’ and four ‘opponent pairs,’ with every one of the ( 2 v ) possible pairs occurring once among the former and twice among the latter. For v = 4 n (and v = 4 n + 1), n a positive integer, a Wh( v ) is known to exist. We consider Wh( v ) that are Z -cyclic, that is, having players represented by residues modulo N (depending on v , with an additional symbol ∞ when v = 4 n ) and all rounds obtained by successively adding 1 (mod N ) to symbols from the initial round. We give constructions for Z -cyclic Wh( v ) for v = q 2 k , k > 1, and for v = q 2 m +1 + 1, m > 0, where q  3 (mod 4), q ⩾ 7, is a prime. We show inductively that whenever a special Z -cyclic Wh( q 2 ) exists (and, in the second case, a Z -cyclic Wh( q + 1) exists), tournaments for all such v also exist. Additional infinite families arise when these constructions are combined with others in the literature.
Therapist gender in child-adolescent treatment groups

The group therapist's gender influences the workability of child and adolescent treatment groups. The decision of whether a group should be co-educational is related to the given children's developmental levels.
Theory and experimental studies of all-optical transmission switching in a twist-alignment dye-doped nematic liquid crystal

We present a theoretical model and experimental demonstration of an all-optical switching process occurring in twist alignment dye-doped nematic liquid crystal cells. A Landau-deGennes theory is applied together with the thermal buildup and diffusion equation to analyze the laser-induced temperature, the order parameter, and the birefringence changes in the liquid crystal cell. The resulting transmission switching processes are calculated using a modified Jones matrix method. Experimental observations of the switching processes in cells of varying thicknesses and their dependence on the input optical power are in good agreement with theoretical predictions. We have also studied the dynamics of the switching processes and observed microseconds switching times. These studies demonstrate the possibility of low-threshold power and microseconds speed switching applications.
Shear velocity estimates on the inner shelf off Grays Harbor, Washington, USA

Shear velocity was estimated from current measurements near the bottom off Grays Harbor, Washington between May 4 and June 6, 2001 under mostly wave-dominated conditions. A downward-looking pulse-coherent acoustic Doppler profiler (PCADP) and two acoustic-Doppler velocimeters (field version; ADVFs) were deployed on a tripod at 9-m water depth. Measurements from these instruments were used to estimate shear velocity with (1) a modified eddy-correlation (EC) technique, (2) the log-profile (LP) method, and (3) a dissipation-rate method. Although values produced by the three methods agreed reasonably well (within their broad ranges of uncertainty), there were important systematic differences. Estimates from the EC method were generally lowest, followed by those from the inertial-dissipation method. The LP method produced the highest values and the greatest scatter. We show that these results are consistent with boundary-layer theory when sediment-induced stratification is present. The EC method provides the most fundamental estimate of kinematic stress near the bottom, and stratification causes the LP method to overestimate bottom stress. These results remind us that the methods are not equivalent and that comparison among sites and with models should be made carefully.
Cleaness of the First Pipeline Steel Slab along with Casting Direction

To improve the quality controlling of pipeline steel and to avoid mis-down grade, the cleaness including content of non-metallic inclusions, total oxygen and nitrogen of the first continuous casting slags of X70 pipeline steel were investigated. Results showed that, content of total oxygen, nitrogen, large non-metallic inclusions and inclusions areal density decrease with casting length increasing gradually. But at casting length of about 5.0 m which is just during the drastic changeing period of casting speed approaching to stead casting state, the content of large non-metallic inclusions and inclusions areal density increases abruptly induced by the entrapment of mold powders. Thus, to decrease the degradation rate of pipeline slab, the increasing rate of casting speed should be adjusted more evenly.
Trait anxiety and trait anger measured by ecological momentary assessment and their correspondence with traditional trait questionnaires.

Ecological momentary assessments (EMA) of anxiety and anger/hostility were obtained every 25�30 min over two 24-h periods, separated by a median of 6 months, from 165 employees at a university in the Northeast. We used a multilevel trait-state-error structural equation model to estimate: (1) the proportion of variance in EMA anxiety and anger/hostility attributable to stable trait-like individual differences; (2) the correspondence between these trait-like components of EMA anxiety and anger/hostility and traditional questionnaire measures of each construct; and (3) the test�retest correlation between two 24-h averages obtained several months apart. After adjustment for measurement error, more than half the total variance in EMA reports of anxiety and anger/hostility is attributable to stable trait-like individual differences; however, the trait-like component of each construct is only modestly correlated with questionnaire measures of that construct. The 6-month �test�retest� correlations of latent variables representing the true 24-h EMA average anxiety and average anger are quite high (r ? 0.83). This study represents the longest follow-up period over which EMA-based estimates of traits have been examined. The results suggest that although the trait component (individual differences) of EMA momentary ratings of anxiety and anger is larger than the state component, traditional self-report questionnaires of trait anxiety and anger correspond only weakly with EMA-defined traits.
Firm-level perspectives on public sector engagement with private healthcare providers: survey evidence from Ghana and Kenya.

Background Health systems in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are in urgent need of improvement. The private health sector is a major provider of care in the region and it will remain a significant actor in the future. Any efforts by SSA governments to improve health systems performance therefore has to account for the private health sector. Regional and international actors increasingly recognize importance of effectively engaging with the private health sector, and initiatives to improve engagement are underway in several countries. However, there is little systematic analysis of private health providers' view and experience with engagement. Methodology/Principal Findings In this study we surveyed private health facilities in Kenya and Ghana to understand the extent to which and how governments interact and engage with these facilities. The results suggest that government engagement with private health facilities is quite limited. The primary focus of this engagement is “command-and-control” type regulations to improve the quality of care. There is little attention paid to building the capacity of health care businesses through either technical or financial assistance. The vast majority of these facilities also receive no government assistance in meeting public health and social goals. Finally, government engagement with private pharmacies is often neglected and clinics receive a disproportionate share of government assistance. Conclusions/Significance Overall, our findings suggest that there may be considerable untapped potential for greater engagement with private health facilities—particularly pharmacies. Improving engagement will likely help governments with limited resources to better take advantage of the private sector capacity to meet access and equity objectives and to accelerate the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.
Reducing magnetic susceptibility differences using liquid fluorocarbon pads (Sat Pad): results with spectral presaturation of fat.

Although the magnetic field may be homogeneous, the positioning of a human subject in the bore of the magnet to perform imaging studies induces inhomogeneous fields. Least effect is generated when the object is cylindrical. In regions of marked contour abnormalities such as the leg to foot junction and trunk to neck or neck to head, the inhomogeneity can be so dramatic that errors in fat saturation occur that can lead to misdiagnoses.This manuscript is intended to explain the principle of magnetic susceptibility, fat saturation, and how Sat Pads help improve magnetic field homogeneity. The improved homogeneity results in higher quality MR images, improved homogeneous fat/water saturation to allow for true anatomic representation.
Nondestructive real-time monitoring of fiber formation in meat analogs

High moisture extrusion technology is capable of producing meat analogs which assemble real meat. Since visual and textural properties are the key factor for consumer acceptance, assessing fiber formation in extruded products is important for producing quality meat analogs with a great texture. Recently, we developed a photon migration method to assess fiber formation in meat analogs. In this paper, we present an implementation of this method in a real time scanning system. Acquired images were processed to characterize the fiber formation. This system provides a fast, non destructive means to determine the fiber formation in meat analogs.
An improved boosting algorithm and its implications on learning complexity

In this work we present some improvements and extensions to previous work on boosting weak learners [Sch90, Fre90]. Our main result is an improvement of the boosting-by-majority algorithm. One implication of the performance of this algorithm is that if a concept class can be learned in the PAC model to within some fixed error smaller than 1/2, then it can be learned to within an arbitrarily small error e > 0 with time complexity 0((1/e)(log 1/e)2) (fixing the sample space and concept class and the required reliability). We show that the majority rule is the optimal rule for combining general weak learners. We also extend the boosting algorithm to concept classes that give multi-valued labels and real-valued labels.
Prediction of elastic properties for curved fiber polymer composites

The objective of this article is to study the effect of fiber curvature on the elastic properties of a long-fiber composite. The study was carried out using a unit cell homogenization approach and micromechanical modeling. In the first approach, a unit cell with a fiber bundle was defined and used in the analysis. Appropriate boundary conditions were prescribed to extract the elastic stiffness components. The second approach made use of the Eshelby-Mori-Tanaka model to compute the stiffness of the aligned fiber composite. Fiber curvature was then accounted for through the variation of fiber orientation within a prescribed range that corresponds to a given degree of fiber curvature. It was found that curved fibers significantly affect the composite properties since they lead to a significant stiffness reduction in the longitudinal direction while relatively small increase in stiffness is achieved in the transverse direction in the plane containing the fiber tow. POLYM. COMPOS., 2008. Published 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers
Linking of Glycine Receptor Transmembrane Segments Three and Four Allows Assignment of Intrasubunit-Facing Residues

Glycine receptors (GlyRs) are pentameric ligand-gated ion channels that mediate inhibitory neurotransmission in the brain and spinal cord and are targets of alcohols and anesthetics. The transmembrane (TM) domain of GlyR subunits is composed of four α-helical segments (TM1-4), but there are conflicting data about the orientation of TM3 and TM4 and, therefore, also the proximity of residues (e.g., A288) that are important for alcohol and anesthetic effects. In the present study, we investigated the proximity of A288 in TM3 to residues in TM4 from M404 to K411. We generated eight double mutant GlyRs (A288C/M404C, A288C/F405C, A288C/Y406C, A288C/W407C, A288C/I408C, A288C/I409C, A288C/Y410C, and A288C/K411C), as well as the corresponding single mutants, and expressed them in Xenopus laevis oocytes. To measure glycine responses, we used two-electrode voltage clamp electrophysiology. We built homology models of the GlyR using structures of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) and a prokaryotic ion channel (Gloeobacter violaceus, GLIC) as templates, and asked which model best fit our experimental data. Application of the cross-linking reagent HgCl(2) in the closed state produced a leftward shift in the glycine concentration-response curves of the A288C/W407C and A288C/Y410C mutants, suggesting they are able to form cross-links. In addition, when HgCl(2) was coapplied with glycine, responses were changed in the A288C/Y406C, A288C/I409C, and A288C/Y410C double mutants, suggesting that agonist-induced rotation of TM4 allows A288C/Y406C and A288C/I409C to cross-link. These results are consistent with a model of GlyR, based on nAChR, in which A288, Y406, W407, I409, and Y410 face into a four-helical bundle.
Cortical effects of repetitive finger flexion- vs. extension-resisted tracking movements: a TMS study

While the cortical effects of repetitive motor activity are generally believed to be task specific, the task parameters that modulate these effects are incompletely understood. Since there are differences in the neural control of flexor vs. extensor muscles, the type of muscles involved in the motor task of interest may be one important parameter. In addition, the role each muscle plays in the task, such as whether or not it is the prime mover, is another potentially important task parameter. In the present study, use-dependent cortical plasticity was examined in healthy volunteers performing a robotic waveform tracking task with either the extensor digitorum communis (EDC) or flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) acting as the prime mover. Transcranial magnetic stimulation was used to measure corticospinal excitability (CE) and short-interval intracortical inhibition of lower and higher threshold corticospinal neurons (SICI(L) and SICI(H), respectively) before and after a flexion- or extension-resisted finger tracking task. After repetitive performance of the tracking task, there was a significant decrease in SICI(L) targeting the EDC, while no change in CE targeting EDC was observed. In contrast, the reverse pattern was observed in the FDS: a significant increase in CE with no change in SICI(L). There was also a tendency toward increased SICI(H) targeting whichever muscle was acting as the prime mover, although this effect did not reach statistical significance. We conclude that there is a difference in patterns of use-dependent plasticity between extrinsic finger flexor and extensor muscles performing the same task.
Room-temperature atmospheric oxidation of Si nanocrystals after HF etching

The effect of HF etching of the silicon oxide shell covering the surface of Si nanocrystals (NCs) on the subsequent room-temperature atmospheric oxidation of Si-NCs has been investigated by means of photoluminescence measurements, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. After the HF etching, the surface of Si-NCs is found to be H terminated. The HF etching also restructures the surface of Si-NCs. This leads to a decrease in the incorporation of O during subsequent oxidation, which finally results in silicon suboxide $\mathrm{Si}{\mathrm{O}}_{1.9}$. In contrast, without the HF etching stoichiometric $\mathrm{Si}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ is formed. A smaller ratio of O to Si in the silicon oxide results in a higher density of defects. This contributes to a more significant oxidation-induced decrease in the intensity of photoluminescence from Si-NCs after the HF etching than without the HF etching.
Intra-urban migrant lifelines: a spatial view.

The term intra-urban migrant lifeline refers to the sequence of residential movements made by a household within a single urban area. This study examines spatial aspects of lifelines and the relationship between such aspects and the spatial structure of the city. Spatial aspects are defined in terms of distance, directional, and sectoral biases. A variety of techniques for identifying such biases are critically discussed. The approach applied is one that transforms the spatial pattern of migrations so as to accent the spatial biases in question. Measurement of the biases is accomplished by application of standard ellipse techniques to the transformed distributions. Data for the study traces migrant lifelines for a sample of households in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for the period 1950 through 1965. Differences in locational and social-economic characteristics of households are shown to be reflected in the spatial morphology of their respective lifelines. In general the migrant lifelines show a fairly restricted distance bias, a directional bias towards the center of the city, and a low degree of sectorality. This is in contrast to expectations generated by previous work on lifelines. Reconciliation of the findings here with previous findings employs a model that considers both the space preferences of intra-urban migrants and the set of vacancies available to them.
Exponentially Accurate Error Estimates of Quasiclassical Eigenvalues

We study the behaviour of truncated Rayleigh-Schrodinger series for the low-lying eigenvalues of the one-dimensional, time-independent Schrodinger equation, in the semiclassical limit →0. Under certain hypotheses on the potential V(x), we prove that for any given small >0 there is an optimal truncation of the series for the approximate eigenvalues, such that the difference between an approximate and exact eigenvalue is smaller than exp (-C/) for some positive constant C. We also prove the analogous results concerning the eigenfunctions.