cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Depolarization ratios and intensity of light Raman-scattered from roton pairs in liquid4He

Precise measurements of the depolarization properties and intensity of laser light Raman-scattered from roton pairs in liquid4He are described and compared with several existing theories.
Effects of chrysotile asbestos on lung and pleural carcinogenesis of N-bis(2-hydroxypropyl)nitrosamine in rats

The effects of chrysotile asbestos on lung and pleural carcinogenesis by N-bis(2-hydroxypropyl)nitrosamine (DHPN) in male Wistar rats were studied. Chrysotile, 30 mg per rat, was injected into the left pleural cavity and 3 g/kg body wt. DHPN was injected once into the abdominal cavity. Lung tumors (adenoma, adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and combined carcinoma) occurred at the highest incidence (100%). Adenocarcinoma was seen in 4 of 11 (36%) rats killed at 35 weeks and in 6 of 12 (50%) rats killed at 52 weeks, squamous cell carcinoma occurred in 1 of 11 (9%) rats killed at 35 weeks and 3 of 12 (25%) rats killed at 52 weeks, and mixed carcinoma was seen in 1 of 12 (8%) rats killed at 52 weeks, which received chrysotile and DHPN. Adenocarcinoma was seen in 9 of 11 (82%) rats which received DHPN only and killed at 52 weeks. Mesotheliomas were seen in 2 of 11 (18%) rats, killed at 35 weeks, and 3 of 12 (25%) rats, killed at 52 weeks, which received chrysotile and DHPN. Hyaline thickening of the pleura was seen in 100% of rats receiving chrysotile. Mesothelial cell hyperplasia and adenomatous and/or fibromatous growth of the mesothelium were seen in the pleura on both sides, ranging from 36% to 50% and 31% to 64% in rats receiving chrysotile and DHPN, respectively. Asbestos bodies were seen in the pleura on both sides and in the lung.
The polar ionosphere of venus near the terminator from early pioneer venus orbiter radio occultations.

Fourteen profiles of electron density in the ionosphere of Venus were obtained by the dual-frequency radio occultation method with the Pioneer Venus orbiter between 5 and 30 December 1978. A region of almost constant electron density above approximately 250 km was detected. The ionopause height is found to vary from about 300 to 700 km. The structures of the profiles are consistent with models in which O2(+) dominates near the ionization peak and is replaced by O(+) at higher altitudes.
The effect of trichloroethene on the aqueous solubility of chlorobenzenes

Co‐solute effects of partially‐miscible‐with‐water trichloroethene (TCE) on the solubility of seven chlorobenzenes have been studied. The aqueous concentrations of these chlorobenzenes in water were determined with and without the presence of TCE. It has been found that reliable solubility measurements demand relatively long mixing times and settling times to minimize the effect of colloids. Experimental results indicate that the aqueous concentrations of chlorobenzenes which are liquid at 25°C decrease with increasing concentrations of TCE as long as an organic phase is present; and TCE does not decrease aqueous concentrations of chlorobenzenes which are solid at 25°C unless TCE present as an organic phase dissolves the solid chlorobenzene. These results suggest that solubility of mixtures of hydrophobic organic compounds is a function of the system used.
Sac behavior after aneurysm treatment with the Gore Excluder low-permeability aortic endoprosthesis: 12-month comparison to the original Excluder device.

Background The original Gore Excluder endoprosthesis (OGE) used both during and briefly after clinical trials was associated with less sac regression and more sac growth than some other devices, even without apparent endoleaks, presumably because of transmural movement of serous fluid across the expanded polytetrafluoroethylene material. In July 2004, the device was modified to decrease graft permeability. This study evaluated the efficacy of the new Excluder Low-Permeability Device (ELPD) at 1 year and compared it with the OGE and the Cook Zenith device (ZEN). Methods From Food and Drug Administration approval of the Excluder in November 2002 until June 2005, 283 patients underwent endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms with the Gore Excluder or the ZEN. Postoperative surveillance included computed tomographic scans at 1 and 12 months; 181 (64%) patients completed both scans. The 1-month computed tomographic scan served as a baseline, and the minor axis diameter, measured at the largest axial cut of the abdominal aortic aneurysm, was compared with the same measurement at 1 year. A sac size change of 5 mm or more was considered significant. Sixty patients treated with the OGE were compared with 72 patients treated with the ELPD. Forty-nine patients treated during the same time period with the ZEN, known for early sac shrinkage, were used as a reference. All measurements were performed by one observer from a digital workstation. Wilcoxon signed rank tests (pairwise) or Kruskal-Wallis tests (three groups) were used for intergroup comparison of continuous variables, whereas χ 2 statistics or Fisher exact tests were used to compare categorical variables. Results Patient age and sex and mean maximum aneurysm diameter at baseline were similar among groups ( P = .59, .27, and .46, respectively). Graft migration, stent fractures, acute surgical conversion, late abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture, or aneurysm-related deaths were not observed. Type II endoleak rates were similar between ELPD and ZEN (23.6% and 20.4%; P = .68). Although a higher rate of endoleaks was seen with OGE (36.7%), this was not significant when compared with the other two devices ( P = .11). At 1 year, patients treated with ELPD had a sac regression rate that was significantly higher than that for patients treated with OGE (63.9% vs 25%; P Conclusions At 1 year, similar to ZEN, significant aneurysm sac regression and minimal sac expansion were noted after endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms with ELPD. Low-porosity fabric used in the construction of endoprostheses seems to be an important factor in early aneurysm sac shrinkage. Long-term efficacy regarding the prevention of sac enlargement remains unclear, and further follow-up is suggested.
Looking forward to the present.

The present understanding of the origin of life based on Oparin's (1924) conception of life as a manifestation of matter in a special stage of its development is outlined. The results of chemical analyses of lunar samples are discussed, and their implications regarding chemical reactions beginning with carbonaceous dust are considered. Amino acids isolated from lunar samples taken from different sites show a high degree of similarity, in agreement with the hypothesis that carbon compounds, including amino acid precursors, were implanted on the lunar surface by components of the solar wind. The amino acid precursors are most likely a cyanide compound. Overlapping amino acid/carbon ratios from lunar samples and samples of meteorites suggest a common cosmochemical state of carbon in the solar system.
Risk Factors for Asthmatic Patients Requiring Intubation. I. Observations in Children

There are significant concerns regarding the increased mortality of patients with asthma. Indeed the paradox of improved pharmacotherapy but worsening prognosis has been explored in depth in several studies including observations in epidemiology, access to medical care, and drug toxicity. Because of our ability to track all admissions to a tertiary-care hospital, we attempted to define the demographic data from a population of asthmatic children admitted for asthma in order to identify risk factors for intubation. We performed a retrospective cohort study of all asthma admissions excluding patients with cystic fibrosis. This study included all asthmatics aged 5-12 years admitted over a 10-year period (1984-1994) to the University of California at Davis Medical Center, Sacramento. A total of 300 such asthma admissions were reviewed, involving 135 girls and 165 boys, mean age 7.7 +/- 2.4 years. Of this group, 166 children were black, 70 were Caucasian, 49 were Hispanic, 14 were Asian, and 1 was an American Indian. By National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute guidelines, this group included 147 mild, 117 moderate, and 36 severe cases. Thirteen children required intubation for their asthma. Significant risk factors identified for children requiring intubation, compared to those who did not require intubation, were secondhand smoke exposure [odds ratio (O.R.) 22.4; 95% confidence interval (C.I.) 7.4, 68.0], psychosocial problems (O.R. 13.5; 95% C.I. 5.1, 36.0), family dysfunction (O.R. 13.0; 95% C.I. 3.9, 43.9), upper respiratory infection (O.R. 10.2; 95% C.I. 3.4, 28.1), little formal education (O.R. 8.7; 95% C.I. 2.4, 31.6), prior asthma emergency room visit in past year (O.R. 7.2; 95% C.I. 1.9, 27.1), prior asthma hospitalization in past year (O.R. 7.1; 95% C.I. 2.2, 22.2), crowding (O.R. 6.9; 95% C.I. 2.5, 19.1), low socioeconomic status (O.R. 6.5; 95% C.I. 2.1, 20.8), steroid-dependent (O.R. 3.8; 95% C.I. 1.2, 12.1), parental history of allergy or asthma (O.R. 3.4; 95% C.I. 1.1, 10.0), and language barrier (O.R. 3.3; 95% C.I. 1.1, 10.6). Nonsignificant mild risk factors included inhaled cromolyn (O.R. 2.7; 95% C.I. 0.7, 10.0), atopy (O.R. 1.9; 95% C.I. 0.6, 5.9), and prior intubation (O.R. 1.6; 95% C.I. 0.2, 13.1). These risk parameters may be important determinants of baseline risk for asthma deaths and their recognition may have a significant impact on preventive measures.
The Intelligence Function And the Constitution

Strategic intelligence is requisite to national security. But fitting an intelligence function, with its ancillary covert action and counterintelligence activities, into the U.S. constitutional framework is an enduring and perhaps unsolvable problem. Conduct of the government's clandestine operations overseas is an executive function requiring extraordinary secrecy. Yet the Constitution requires that the president share with Congress decisions about intelligence policy, organization, funding, and operations. And Congress is the principal institution for enforcing accountability. Efforts since the beginning of the contemporary intelligence establishment in 1947 to balance the conflicting requirements of executive secrecy and legislative oversight are surveyed. A foreign policy consensus on ends and means is found to be essential for the effective functioning of an intelligence system within a democratic framework. The absence of policy consensus generates a politicization of intelligence activities, inviti...
Generalizing cross redundancy in data envelopment analysis

Abstract Lee and Choi (2010) proved that a cross redundant output in a CCR or BCC DEA study is unnecessary and can be eliminated from the model without affecting the results of the study. A cross redundant output, as characterized by Lee and Choi, can be expressed as a specially constrained linear combination of both some outputs and some inputs. This article extends the contributions of Lee and Choi (2010) in at least three ways: (i) by adding precision and clarity to some of their definitions; (ii) by introducing specific definitions that complement the ones in their paper; and (iii) by conducting some additional analysis on the impact of the presence of other types of linear dependencies among the inputs and outputs of a DEA model. One reason that it is important to identify and remove cross redundant inputs or outputs from DEA models is that the computational burden of the DEA study is decreased, especially in large applications.
Expression and purification of turkey coronavirus nucleocapsid protein in Escherichia coli

Purification of turkey coronavirus (TCoV) nucleocapsid (N) protein, expressed in a prokaryotic expression system as histidine-tagged fusion protein is demonstrated in the present study. Turkey coronavirus was partially purified from infected intestine of turkey embryo by sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation and RNA was extracted. The N protein gene was amplified from the extracted RNA by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and cloned. The recombinant expression construct (pTri-N) was identified by polymerase chain reaction and sequencing analysis. Expression of histidine-tagged fusion N protein with a molecular mass of 57 kd was determined by Western blotting analysis. By chromatography on nickel-agarose column, the expressed N protein was purified to near homogeneity as judged by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis. The protein recovery could be 2.5 mg from 100 ml of bacterial culture. The purified N protein was recognized by antibody to TCoV in Western blotting assay. The capability of the recombinant N protein to differentiate positive serum of turkey infected with TCoV from normal turkey serum was evident in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). These results indicated that the expressed N protein is a superior source of TCoV antigen for development of antibody-capture ELISA for detection of antibodies to TCoV.
Exponential decay rates for the solutions to plate equations with boundary dissipation in the moments

The author presents several results related to feedback controllability and feedback stabilization for Euler-Bernoulli plates with boundary controls acting via moments (bendings, torques twists, etc.). This kind of problem has numerous applications in the area of robotics, large space structures, etc., where only moments are available to control action. It is assumed that only the moments are subject to control action. This fact leads to new PDE (partial differential equation) questions that must be answered. In addition a feedback solution to the null-controllability problem, which appears to be the first result of this type for infinite dimensional systems with unbounded controls, is provided. >
Experimental measurement of vacuum arc current chop

The rapidity of a current "chop," occurring when a vacuum arc spontaneously extinguishes, is measured for a low current tungsten arc. The time required for cessation of the arc is found to be 2-5 ns. An estimate of chopping current verifies the notion that a minimal current is necessary for the existence of an arc.
Formation and properties of metallic organotin films

Abstract Semiconductive and conductive films of metallic appearance are formed by glow discharge of appropriate organometallic compounds. Tetramethyltin is used as a starting compound for the film-forming experiments. The resulting films contain carbon, tin and hydrogen with a carbon-to-tin atomic ratio of 2.5 or less. These films are semiconductors with conductivities between 2 × 10-1 and 1 × 10 -2 Ω -1 cm -1 . Transmission electron microscopy shows the films to be amorphous. Films of a certain composition are transformed to β-Sn on exposure to an electron beam. Thermal treatment increases the conductivity gradually to values of about 1 × 10 2 Ω -1 cm -1 .
Performance of female adults on the Southern California Visual Figure-Ground Perception Test.

This study was conducted to assess adult female performance on the Southern California Visual Figure-Ground Perception Test (FGP) and to obtain an estimate of the test's reliability. Data were obtained for two scoring formats. The first format was the score for all items on the test (TOTAL), and the second format was the score through the fifth error (FIRST-FIVE). The mean scores were 38.24 (SD = 3.2) for TOTAL and 29.71 (SD = 10.14) for FIRST-FIVE. For each format, mean, standard deviation, kurtosis, and skewness values are presented (N = 124). Both formats were reliable over time (.90 and .71, respectively), and scores of the even-numbered items correlated moderately with the odd-numbered items, indicating split-half reliability (.70 and .87 for both administrations of the test). Although the sample was representative across the socioeconomic variable, moderate correlations were obtained between the performance scores and the age and education level variables. We concluded that the FGP is a reliable assessment tool for use with adults; however, a subject's age and education must be considered when interpreting the scores.
Conditions for the Input-Output Relation of Perfect-Mixing Processes to be First Order With Application to Building Ventilation Systems

Perfect-mixing models are commonly used for analyzing the performance of building ventilation systems. Recently, they have been used to estimate the strength of gas sources in buildings. However, buildings are generally, partitioned in such a way that scalar first-order models are insufficient to completely describe the dynamic behavior of the gas transport in buildings. This paper addresses the question of when scalar, first-order differential equations are useful for describing the aggregate dynamical behavior of multi-variable perfect-mixing processes. Sufficient conditions for the input-output relation of a multi-variable perfect-mixing process to be a first-order differential equation are derived. The conditions are related to sensor location and system design. It is shown that the design condition is too restrictive to be widely applicable. Therefore, an alternative first-order relationship is derived by replacing the design condition with a leakage condition. The results enable the estimation of aggregate parameters of multi-zone ventilation systems from scalar, first-order differential equations, which substantially simplifies the estimation problem.
Interspecific shell transfer by mutual predation site attendance

Abstract The hermit crabs Clibanarius vittatus and Pagurus pollicaris overlap considerably in the species of gastropod shells occupied. Patterns of epibionts on shells suggested interspecific transfer between the crab species. In laboratory observations, however, even when crabs were highly motivated to get new shells, no direct transfers occurred. This lack of exchanges is correlated with different shell exchange behaviour patterns of the two crab species. When simulated snail predation sites were set up in the laboratory and in the field, indirect interspecific transfers were observed as crabs moved from occupied shells to recently vacated shells.
Information fusion and uncertainty management for biological multisensor systems

This paper investigates methods of decision-making from uncertain and disparate data. The need for such methods arises in those sensing application areas in which multiple and diverse sensing modalities are available, but the information provided can be imprecise or only indirectly related to the effects to be discerned. Biological sensing for biodefense is an important instance of such applications. Information fusion in that context is the focus of a research program now underway at MIT Lincoln Laboratory. The paper outlines a multi-level, multi-classifier recognition architecture developed within this program, and discusses its components. Information source uncertainty is quantified and exploited for improving the quality of data that constitute the input to the classification processes. Several methods of sensor uncertainty exploitation at the feature-level are proposed and their efficacy is investigated. Other aspects of the program are discussed as well. While the primary focus of the paper is on biodefense, the applicability of concepts and techniques presented here extends to other multisensor fusion application domains.
The interactions of tropical soda apple mosaic tobamovirus and Gratiana boliviana (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), an introduced biological control agent of tropical soda apple (Solanum viarum)

Tropical soda apple (Solanum viarum Dunal (Solanaceae) is a South American invasive plant of rangelands, pastures and natural areas in Florida. A chrysomelid beetle from South America, Gratiana boliviana Spaeth, has been released at >300 locations in Florida for biological control of tropical soda apple since 2003. Tropical soda apple is a host of several plant viruses, including the newly described tropical soda apple mosaic virus (TSAMV). We investigated the influence of TSAMV infection of tropical soda apple plants on developmental time, leaf tissue consumption, longevity, fecundity, and feeding preference of G. boliviana, and also tested transmission of the virus by the beetle. Developmental time was approximately 10% slower, and adults consumed only about 50% as much leaf tissue, for beetles fed on infected plants compared to uninfected plants. Longevity did not differ between females reared on infected and uninfected plants, but females fed on uninfected plants produced 71% more eggs than those fed on infected plants. Adult G. boliviana preferentially fed on uninfected plants when given a choice. There was no evidence of TSAMV transmission by G. boliviana. The potential impacts of TSAMV infection on the effectiveness of G. boliviana as a biological control agent are discussed.
Identification of Ligand Templates using Local Structure Alignment for Structure-Based Drug Design

With a rapid increase in the number of high-resolution protein–ligand structures, the known protein–ligand structures can be used to gain insight into ligand-binding modes in a target protein. On the basis of the fact that the structurally similar binding sites share information about their ligands, we have developed a local structure alignment tool, G-LoSA (graph-based local structure alignment). The known protein–ligand binding-site structure library is searched by G-LoSA to detect binding-site structures with similar geometry and physicochemical properties to a query binding-site structure regardless of sequence continuity and protein fold. Then, the ligands in the identified complexes are used as templates (i.e., template ligands) to predict/design a ligand for the target protein. The performance of G-LoSA is validated against 76 benchmark targets from the Astex diverse set. Using the currently available protein–ligand structure library, G-LoSA is able to identify a single template ligand (from a nonh...
Modernity, Emancipatory Values, and Power: A Rejoinder to Adams and Orloff

As Julia Adams and Ann Shola Orloff rightly point out, one of the purposes of my essay “The Logic of Masculinist Protection: Reflections on the Current Security State” (2003) is to complicate our understanding of what it means to view events, institutions, and ideas under a gender lens. Our society exhibits multiple logics of gender, that is, in varying ways that “masculinity” and “femininity,” as well as less heterosexual gender ideas, are defined and interpreted. In that essay, I suggest that a traditional meaning of masculinity less noticed recently by feminists, that of the husband/father as loving protector, has been mobilized by the Bush administration to justify both war abroad and the domestic contraction of civil liberties. Part of the lesson I wish to draw for feminist theory is that these varying gender logics may have loose or contradictory relationships to the comportments of actual men and women, especially today. Some women may stand in “masculine” positions, as soldiers or firefighters, and many men may stand in “feminine” positions, as fearful and protected citizens. Gender is better thought of as a set of ideational and social structural relationships that people move through, rather than attributes they have attached to their persons.
Two Chelate Palinurid Larvae From Hawaiian and Philippine Waters (Decapoda, Palinuridea)

Es werden zwei Exemplare einer seltenen langustenartigen Phyllosoma-Larve von den Hawaiischen Inseln und den Philippinen beschrieben und gezeichnet. Diese Larven sind ganz einmalig, da sie gut entwickelte Scheren an den ersten Beinen besitzen und einen kurzen Thorax mit einem breiten konkaven Hinterrand haben. Auf die mogliche Verwandtschaft mit der Gattung Justitia wird hingewiesen.
Impaired suppression of plasma norepinephrine during head-down tilt in patients with congestive heart failure

Neurohumoral activation is present in congestive heart failure and may contribute to vasoconstriction in this syndrome. The mechanisms leading to and maintaining neurohumoral activation in long-standing congestive heart failure are as yet undefined. The present study addresses the possibility that baroreceptor-mediated suppression of plasma norepinephrine may be abnormal in patients with long-standing congestive heart failure. Eight normal subjects and 12 patients with long-standing congestive heart failure were studied during 15 minutes of 30 degrees head-down tilt. There were no significant changes in heart rate or arterial blood pressure in either group during these maneuvers. In normal subjects, plasma norepinephrine declined from 257 +/- 38 pg/ml at control to 208 +/- 39 pg/ml during head-down tilt (p less than 0.005). Plasma norepinephrine was elevated in the patients with congestive heart failure, 475 +/- 189 pg/ml, and did not change during head-down tilt. These observations suggest that baroreflex loading maneuvers, which in this study included increased central blood volume and hydrostatic effects on the sinoaortic baroreceptor, do not suppress increased plasma norepinephrine in patients with long-standing congestive heart failure. Impaired baroreflex responsiveness could therefore contribute to either the generation or maintenance of high plasma norepinephrine in this syndrome.
Tunnel injection lasers

Carrier heating in conventional quantum well lasers can lead to several deleterious effects and are related to the transport and thermalization characteristics of injected carriers. The properties of a quantum well laser in which the electrons are directly transported to the lasing subband by tunneling is described here. The resulting device — a tunnel injection laser — is shown to have negligible gain compression, superior high-temperature performance, lower Auger recombination and wavelength chirp, and better high frequency modulation characteristics when compared to conventional lasers. All these improvements are attributed to the reduction of hot-carrier population in the active region of the laser. Results are presented here for lasers made with GaAs — and InP — based heterostructure systems.
Enhanced a-Se X-ray imager for mammography

a-Se is a well-known material for X-ray imaging. It is a direct x-ray conversion photoconductor-detector material with less image blurring than scintillator-photodiode based imagers, which provides excellent resolution.
Some amine-interhalogen electron donor-acceptor systems

Abstract Several new interhalogen-amine addition compounds have been prepared: 4-Picoline·IBr; Isoquinoline·IBr; Acridine·IBr; Isoquinoline·ICl; Acridine·ICl; Isoquinoline·ICl3; Acridine·ICl3. In addition to 1:1 type compounds, thermal studies have shown the existence of: Pyridine·2IBr; IBr·2Acridine; ICl·2Acridine; ICl3·2Acridine. A compound, Acridine·2IBr apparently exists, but loses one mole IBr at 110° to form the 1:1 compound. Trends among the melting points of the 1:1 addition compounds are interpreted as indicating a decrease in electron acceptor strength of the interhalogens in the order ICI3 > ICI > IBr. Addition compounds of non-1:1 stoichiometry are also briefly discussed.
Multidimensional response analysis towards the detection and identification of soft divalent metal ions

The stepwise detection and identificational of soft divalent metal ions is reported using a carboxylate functionalised poly(thiophene) in combination with small-molecule competitive binders and multivariate statistics. This approach involves two sensory events. First, the addition of polyvalent metal ions (alkaline-earth metals, transition metals and lanthanides) leads to precipitation of the polymer in a qualitative detection step. Then, the addition of a competitive ligand (α,ω-diamines) causes the precipitate to re-dissolve for soft divalent metal ions. Unique colorimetric fingerprints are obtained for different analytes, allowing for facile identification based on statistical analysis of the spectral response from the ensemble, i.e. multidimensional response analysis. In a highly competitive aqueous media, identification of divalent metal ions was achieved with 100% accuracy. In a parallel investigation, mercury salts did not cause precipitation but did alter the fluorescence response of polymer 1 pro...
Sphingolipids in pulmonary fibrosis.

Abstract Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating disease characterized by alveolar epithelial cell injury, accumulation of fibroblasts/myofibroblasts and deposition of extracellular matrix proteins. Levels of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), a naturally occurring bioactive lipid, are elevated in bronchoalveolar fluids and lung tissues from IPF patients and animal models of pulmonary fibrosis. However, the in vivo contribution of S1P, regulated by its synthesis catalyzed by Sphingosine kinases (SphKs) 1 & 2 and catabolism by S1P phosphatases and S1P lyase (S1PL), in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis is not well defined. Microarray analysis of blood mononuclear cells from patients with IPF and SphK1-, SphK2- or S1PL-knockout mice and SphK inhibitor were used to assess the role of S1P in fibrogenesis. The expression of SphK1 negatively correlated with lung function and survival of patients with IPF. Further, the expressions of SphK1 and S1PL were increased in lung tissues from patients with IPF and bleomycin-challenged mice. Genetic knockdown of SphK1, but not SphK2, ameliorated bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice while deletion of S1PL ( SGPL1 +/− ) in mice potentiated fibrosis post-bleomycin challenge. TGF-β increased the expression of SphK1 and S1PL in human lung fibroblasts and knockdown of SphK1 or treatment with SphK inhibitor attenuated S1P generation and TGF-β mediated signal transduction. Over-expression of S1PL attenuated bleomycin-induced TGF-β secretion and S1P mediated differentiation of human lung fibroblasts through regulation of autophagy. Administration of SphK1 inhibitor 8 days post-bleomycin challenge reduced bleomycin-induced mortality and pulmonary fibrosis. Our results suggest that SphK1 and S1PL play critical roles in the pathology of lung fibrosis and may be novel therapeutic targets.
On integral plus proportional compensation

Integral, nth order compensation in the feedforward loop of a unity feedback system is shown to result from quadratic, stochastic optimal control of a linear system with arbitrary step input and no error measurement noise. This gives agreement with common practice. Unfortunately this result is obtained only with nonzero compensator noise. It is shown that in the limit of zero compensator noise, the estimator produces a zero at the origin to cancel the effect of the integrator, negating the practical result. The conclusion is that this particular discrepancy between common practice and optimal control theory is still unresolved and that research effort should be expended on reconcilement in order to find the extension to time-variable, multivariable systems.
CilkSpec: optimistic concurrency for Cilk

Recursive parallel programming models such as Cilk strive to simplify the task of parallel programming by enabling a simple divide-and-conquer programming model. This model is effective in recursively partitioning work into smaller parts and combining their results. However, recursive work partitioning can impose additional constraints on concurrency than is implied by the true dependencies in a program. In this paper, we present a speculation-based approach to alleviate the concurrency constraints imposed by such recursive parallel programs. We design a runtime infrastructure that supports speculative execution and a predictor to accurately learn and identify opportunities to relax extraneous concurrency constraints. Experimental evaluation demonstrates that speculative relaxation of concurrency constraints can deliver gains of up to 1.6x on 30 cores over baseline Cilk.
So many algorithms. So little time

This paper discusses the futility in answering questions about convergence and performance in algorithms used to solve optimization problems. Not only are these answers difficult to obtain, they are often times meaningless.
Ehrlichiosis—A Cause of Prolonged Fever

Human ehrlichiosis is a recently described illness that is thought to be tick-borne. Most recognized cases of human ehrlichiosis manifest as an acute nonspecific febrile illness. The natural history of untreated symptomatic disease is largely unknown. Over a 4-year period, we identified 41 cases of human ehrlichiosis by serological testing, polymerase chain reaction analysis, or both methods. The principal finding for six of the patients was protracted fever. The duration of their fevers ranged from 17 to 51 days. At the time of presentation, all six patients had clinical features, laboratory features, or both consistent with a diagnosis of ehrlichiosis. Polymerase chain reaction analysis helped to rapidly confirm the diagnosis for four of five patients tested. The diagnosis of human ehrlichiosis should be considered for patients with prolonged fever who live in an area of endemicity.
Review and redescription of species in the Oecetis avara group, with the description of 15 new species (Trichoptera, Leptoceridae)

The O. avara group of Oecetis is formally defined to include 4 described species, O. avara (Banks), O. disjuncta (Banks), O. elata Denning & Sykora, and O. metlacenis Bueno-Soria, and 15 new species. Oecetis marquesi Bueno-Soria, previously considered a member of the O. avara group, is treated as incertae sedis to species group, but is also redescribed and treated in the current work. New species described here (with their respective distributions) include: O. acciptrina (Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador), O. agosta (Mexico), O. angularis (Guatemala to Ecuador), O. apache (SW USA), O. campana (Ecuador), O. constricta (Mexico to Ecuador, Venezuela, and Trinidad), O. houghtoni (North America), O. maritza (Costa Rica), O. mexicana (Mexico to Ecuador), O. patula (Guatemala, Nicaragua), O. protrusa (Mexico to Ecuador), O. sordida (Mexico, USA, Canada), O. tumida (Costa Rica), O. uncata (Costa Rica), and O. verrucula (Mexico to Costa Rica). A key to the species is also provided.
Fractions of Chinese hamster DNA differing in their content of guanine+cytosine and evidence for the presence of single-stranded DNA.

Abstract By direct base composition analysis it has been shown that most of the DNA molecules isolated from Chinese hamster nuclei band in CsCl at a density linearly related to their G + C content. A small fraction (less than 1 %) of the molecules band at a higher buoyant density and have anomalous properties. Some of the high density fractions have properties that suggest that they are single-stranded: their buoyant density does not increase after heating and fast cooling, they bind to nitrocellulose filters, their buoyant density corresponds to that of single-stranded DNA of average base composition, and they are degraded by mung bean nuclease which preferentially attacks single-stranded DNA. The nitrocellulose filter technique was used to examine DNA-DNA homologies among these CsCl gradient fractions. As expected, but not previously demonstrated, fractions of low G + C content and fractions of high G + C content are not homologous to each other as measured by the filter technique. Hybridization studies also indicate that the fractions of differing G + C content do not appear to be significantly enriched in any of four morphologically distinct size classes of metaphase chromosomes. The plateau value is higher when the filters containing total nuclear DNA are saturated with A + T-rich DNA fractions than with other fractions.
HISTORY OF HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELL TRANSPLANTATION

Objectives To provide an overview of the history of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Data Sources Research studies, book chapters, websites, and articles. Conclusion The history of HSCT begins in the late 1950s. Although many treatment strategies have evolved, the basic concepts of transplantation remain the same. Implications for Nursing Practice An understanding of the history of HSCT and transplant nursing practice are important to broaden the knowledge of nurses caring for transplant patients.
X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy of Liquid Methanol Microjets: Bulk Electronic Structure and Hydrogen Bonding Network

We have measured the X-ray absorption (XA) spectrum of liquid (298 K) methanol at the oxygen and carbon K edges. The 4a1 orbital at the O K edge exhibits a pronounced sensitivity to the formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonds, with significant differences observed between the vapor and bulk spectra, whereas the C K edge reveals only subtle corresponding spectral changes. Comparison with DFT computed spectra of model methanol clusters indicates that the bulk liquid comprises long chains (n > 6) and rings of hydrogen-bonded monomers.
ASSESSMENT OF THE DUCTILE-TO-BRITTLE TRANSITION REGION WITH 1X-WOL SPECIMENS

Abstract Several of the nuclear reactor surveillance programs that were started in the early 1970s incorporated some 1X-WOL type fracture mechanics specimens. The 1X-WOL is an early specimen design intended specifically to obtain valid K Ic values on highly embrittled materials. This specimen is now known to be unsuitable when the material being tested has sufficient fracture toughness to develop elastic-plastic performance. The objective of this project was to evaluate modifications that can be easily made by machining within the hot cell to make the specimens viable for evaluation in the ductileto-brittle transition region using elastic-plastic data development and analyses. Three modifications were tried: (1) remove 7.4 mm from the back face to make the compact specimen H/W ratio of 0.6; (2) a side groove of 25% to decrease the initial remaining ligament strength; and (3) combining side grooving and back face removal, both in lesser amounts, to weaken the remaining ligament strength. An A 533 grade B steel that had already been well documented in toughness properties was selected for this work. The first modification did not work because the remaining ligament was made too small to sufficiently control loss of constraint. The second and third modifications were successful from the standpoint of reproducing the results of the previous material characterization. A recommendation is made for the adoption of the second modification since it is more easily performed as a machining operation in the hot cell.
37th interscience conference on antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy (ICAAC) Toronto, Canada, 28 September–1 October 1997

Summary Renewed public awareness of infectious diseases, the commercial success of marketed antimicrobial agents and the well-publicized microbial resistance to them, have greatly stimulated infectious disease research in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry and this was reflected in the conference. In the antibacterial field, there were useful updates on newer quinolones, macrolides/ketolides and other agents in development. In the antifungal field, there were updates on newer triazoles, amphotericin B formulations and β-1,3 glucan synthase inhibitors in clinical development. There were also reports on new antifungals with novel mechanisms of action such as protein synthesis inhibitors. In the antiviral field, there were updates on neuraminidase inhibitors for influenza viruses, capsid-directed inhibitors of viral attachment for enteroviruses and combination regimens (for example, protease inhibitors plus non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors) for HIV. In the protozoal field, there were insights on sterol synthesis inhibitors. Resistance in all microorganisms was a recurrent theme, fuelling discussions in infection control measures and alternative compounds and targets.
The classification of MDS: From FAB to WHO and beyond

The purpose of any classification of hematologic neoplasms is to provide reliable criteria for their diagnosis and their classification into clinically relevant disease entities. In 1982, the French – American – British (FAB) group introduced such a classification for the myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), a heterogenous group of diseases that prior to the FAB scheme was often referred to only as “preleukemia.” Over the ensuing two decades, the FAB classification facilitated hundreds of morphologic, clinical, and genetic studies that helped to clarify the disease process and its management. The World Health Organization (WHO) classification of MDS is a consensus classification first introduced in 2001 and revised in 2008. It maintains much of the structure and philosophy of the FAB classification, but draws upon more recently acquired biologic and clinical information to refine the diagnostic criteria and improve its prognostic value. This paper outlines the evolution from the FAB to the WHO classification of MDS and gives a glimpse of what might lie beyond.
Impact of age on presentation of chronic rhinosinusitis and outcomes of endoscopic sinus surgery

BACKGROUND As the population ages, the mean age of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) likely will increase as will the frequency of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) in the older population. The purpose of this study was to compare symptom presentation, CT scores, endoscopy scores, and quality of life (QOL) measures in patients >60 years of age as compared with younger patients. METHODS A prospective cohort of 18 patients >60 years and 121 patients < or =60 years undergoing ESS for CRS were studied. Patient factors, symptom severity, and CT scores were examined preoperatively. Endoscopy and QOL scores were compared pre- and postoperatively between the two groups. RESULTS The prevalence of allergies, polyps, asthma, aspirin sensitivity, and revision surgery was similar in each age group. There was no statistically significant difference in the visual analog scale scores of symptom severity in each age group. Older patients had scores that were similar to younger patients with regard to CT (13.11 versus 11.63; p = 0.419), preoperative endoscopy (8.22 versus 7.96; p = 0.828), postoperative endoscopy (3.06 versus 4.82; p = 0.100), and change in endoscopy (-5.17 versus -3.15; p = 0.083). Older patients had similar preoperative, postoperative, and change scores when compared with younger patients on the Rhinosinusitis Disability Index (-15.33 versus -20.63; p = 0.318) and Chronic Sinusitis Survey (14.35 versus 23.11; p = 0.126). CONCLUSION Older patients with CRS present with symptoms and patient factors that are comparable with younger patients and have a similar degree of improvement on endoscopy scores and QOL measures after ESS.
Adsorption of sulphur dioxide on coal

A study was made of the feasibility of using coal as an adsorbent material for the removal of sulphur dioxide from stack gases emitted to the atmosphere by different industries. From preliminary results, it would appear that coal is to be favoured by a raw materials/cost-effectiveness ratio of 2:1. The work shows semi-quantitatively that the adsorptive capacity of sulphur dioxide on coal varies slightly from one coal to another and that when coal is used and re-used through numerous (˜40) cycles, its effectiveness as an adsorbent for sulphur dioxide is not greatly reduced. Moreover, this research supports the view that the heating value, ash, sulphur content, etc. of most types of coal changes only slightly after repeated usage as an adsorbent for sulphur dioxide. If, as these findings indicate, coal can initially be used as a sulphur dioxide adsorbent prior to its use as a fuel, economic potential for commercial applications should be enhanced. Empirical equations, developed to correlate the adsorption-desorption characteristics of different coals, can be used as a basis for prediction and comparison by future investigators to further explore this research.
Designing Least-Cost Nonblocking Broadband Networks

Integrated network technologies, such as ATM, support multimedia applications with vastly different bandwidth needs, connection request rates, and holding patterns. Due to their high level of flexibility and communication rates approaching several gigabits per second, the classical network planning techniques, which rely heavily on statistical analysis, are less relevant to this new generation of networks. In this paper, we propose a new model for broadband networks and investigate the question of their optimal topology from a worst-case performance point of view. Our model is more flexible and realistic than others in the literature, and our worst-case bounds are among the first in this area. Our results include a proof of intractability for some simple versions of the network design problem and efficient approximation algorithms for designing nonblocking networks of provably small cost. More specifically, assuming some mild global traffic constraints, we show that a minimum-cost nonblockingstarnetwork achieves near-optimal cost; the cost ratio is at most 2 if switch source and sink capacities are symmetric and at most 3 when the total source and sink capacities are balanced. In the special case of unit link costs, we can show that a star network is indeed the cheapest nonblocking network.
Using Market Research to Characterize College Students and Identify Potential Targets for Influencing Health Behaviors

Marketing campaigns, such as those developed by the tobacco industry, are based on market research, which defines segments of a population by assessing psychographic characteristics (i.e., attitudes, interests). This study uses a similar approach to define market segments of college smokers, to examine differences in their health behaviors (smoking, drinking, binge drinking, exercise, diet), and to determine the validity of these segments. A total of 2,265 undergraduate students aged 18–25 years completed a 108-item online survey in fall 2008 assessing demographic, psychographic (i.e., attitudes, interests), and health-related variables. Among the 753 students reporting past 30-day smoking, cluster analysis was conducted using 21 psychographic questions and identified three market segments – Stoic Individualists, Responsible Traditionalists, and Thrill-Seeking Socializers. We found that segment membership was related to frequency of alcohol use, binge drinking, and limiting dietary fat. We then developed ...
Giant Cell Tubulitis with Tubular Basement Membrane Immune Deposits: A Report of Two Cases after Cardiac Valve Replacement Surgery

This paper presents two elderly patients who had normal baseline renal function and had stenotic valvular lesions secondary to rheumatic fever and underwent aortic valve replacements with mechanical valves. Both patients developed acute renal failure after cardiac valve replacement procedures. The renal biopsies revealed acute granulomatous tubulointerstitial nephritis. The unique histologic features were tubular basement membrane (TBM) immune complex deposition detected by both immunofluorescence and electron microscopy and prominent multinucleated giant cells surrounding intact TBM. The temporal relationship to the surgical procedure and the subsequent recovery of the patients' renal functions upon therapy suggested that the renal failure may have been due to an allergic drug reaction from the perioperative exposure to unknown agents, such as prophylactic antibiotics and furosemide. The literature on TBM immune complex deposition was reviewed, and the pathophysiologic mechanisms that may account for the similarities between the clinicopathologic features of these two cases were examined. These two cases expand the histopathologic spectrum of previously described cases of putative drug-induced acute tubulointerstitial nephritis.