cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Households saving in China

China, in recent years the world's largest and fastest growing economy, also has national saving rates that are among the highest in the world. This article considers a variety of statistical issues that cloud the measurement of aggregate and household saving in China. It also provides new empirical evidence on the importance of intertemporal considerations in explaining the variation in household saving across China's provinces. Given China's size and its high saving rates, it is not surprising that in recent year's considerable theoretical and empirical effort has been devoted to understanding its saving behavior. This research can be divided into two broad strands. The first emphasizes the relevance for China of traditional equilibrium theories of saving, ranging from simple Keynesian consumption/saving functions to variants of the life-cycle and permanent-income hypotheses. The second argues that equilibrium theories of saving are unlikely to be relevant in an economy in transition from plan to market. Instead, disequilibrium factors, especially shortages and rationing in goods and credit markets, explain China's saving experience. More broadly, China's saving rate remains unusually high relative to international experience, even after controlling for some of the determinants of saving.
Inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity blocks cellular differentiation mediated by glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor in dopaminergic neurons.

Abstract: Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is a potent survival factor for midbrain dopaminergic neurons. To begin to understand the intracellular signaling pathways used by GDNF, we investigated the role of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity in GDNF-stimulated cellular function and differentiation of dopaminergic neurons. We found that treatment of dopaminergic neuron cultures with 10 ng/ml GDNF induced maximal levels of Ret phosphorylation and produced a profound increase in phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity, as measured by western blot analysis and lipid kinase assays. Treatment with 1 µM 2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenylchromone (LY294002) or 100 nM wortmannin, two distinct and potent inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity, completely inhibited GDNF-induced phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activation, but did not affect Ret phosphorylation. Furthermore, we examined specific biological functions of dopaminergic neurons: dopamine uptake activity and morphological differentiation of tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive neurons. GDNF significantly increased dopamine uptake activity and promoted robust morphological differentiation. Treatment with LY294002 completely abolished the GDNF-induced increases of dopamine uptake and morphological differentiation of tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive neurons. Our findings show that GDNF-induced differentiation of dopaminergic neurons requires phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activation.
An Update on Childhood and Adolescent Vaccines

In 2008, the recommendations for vaccines in children and adolescents changed substantially. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices expanded the routine use of influenza vaccines. New recommendations also addressed the newly licensed rotavirus vaccine. Furthermore, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices addressed the use of the meningococcal conjugate vaccine in children aged 2 to 10 years who are at high risk of that disease. Finally, the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reviewed the safety data collected about the human papillomavirus vaccine since its licensure and reaffirmed their recommendations for its use. This article discusses some of the important changes that should be of concern to the practitioner.
JP-8 Catalytic Cracking for Compact Fuel Processors

Abstract In processing heavier hydrocarbons such as military logistic fuels (JP-4, JP-5, JP-8, and JP-100), kerosene, gasoline, and diesel to produce hydrogen for fuel cell use, several issues arise. First, these fuels have high sulfur content, which can poison and deactivate components of the reforming process and the fuel cell stack; second, these fuels may contain non-volatile residue (NVR), up to 1.5 vol.%, which could potentially accumulate in a fuel processor; and third is the high coking potential of heavy hydrocarbons. Catalytic cracking of a distillate fuel prior to reforming can resolve these issues. Cracking using an appropriate catalyst can convert the various heavy organosulfur species in the fuel to lighter sulfur species such as hydrogen sulfide (H2S), facilitating subsequent sulfur adsorption on zinc oxide (ZnO). Cracking followed by separation of light cracked gas from heavies effectively eliminates non-volatile aromatic species. Catalytic cracking can also convert heavier hydrocarbons to lights (C1–C3) at high conversion, which reduces the potential for coke formation in the reforming process. In this study, two types of catalysts were compared for JP-8 cracking performance: commercially-available zeolite materials similar to catalysts formulated for fluidized catalytic cracking (FCC) processes, and a novel manganese/alumina catalyst, which was previously reported to provide high selectivity to lights and low coke yield. Experiments were designed to test each catalyst’s effectiveness under the high space velocity conditions necessary for use in compact, lightweight fuel processor systems. Cracking conversion results, as well as sulfur and hydrocarbon distributions in the light cracked gas, are presented for the two catalysts to provide a performance comparison.
An artificial compression method for ENO schemes: the slope modification method

A simple and effective method of artificial compression is introduced. This method is based on a modification of the slopes of the END (essentially nonoscillatory) reconstruction and, with the help of suitable chosen parameters, greatly improves the resolution of the contact discontinuities. Numerical examples are provided to test the performance of the method and to give some suggestions as to the choice of the parameters.
One-dimensional chemical shift imaging of fluorinated neuroleptics in rat brain in vivo by 19F NMR rotating frame zeugmatography

One-dimensional chemical shift imaging reflecting local tissue contents of the fluorinated neuroleptics fluphenazine and trifluoperazine in rat brain was obtained noninvasively in vivo using one-dimensional 19-fluorine (19F) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) rotating frame zeugmatography. Activities of these fluorinated neuroleptics showed a differential distribution in the brain, maximal in the deep structures presumably within the basal ganglia. An additional resonance of an unidentified fluorinated metabolite was localized to the subcutaneous tissue. The present data indicate the feasibility of chemical shift imaging of fluorinated neuroleptics using a high field NMR system and the potential for future development of neurotransmitter imaging by NMR.
A Single Center's Experience with Candida parapsilosis Related Long-Term Central Venous Access Device Infections: The Port Removal Decision and Its Outcomes

Pediatric cancer patients have an increased risk of potentially life-threatening fungal infections such as Candida parapsilosis, associated with long-term CVADs. The Infectious Diseases Society of ...
Non-linear interactions in a viscous heat-conducting compressible gas

The linearized equations of motion show that in a viscous heat-conducting compressible medium three modes of fluctuations exist, each one of which is a familiar type of disturbance. The vorticity mode occurs in an incompressible turbulent flow, the entropy mode is familiar as temperature fluctuations in low speed turbulent heat transfer problems, and the sound mode is the subject of conventional acoustics. A consistent higher order perturbation theory is presented with the only restrictions being that the Prandtl number is 3/4 and the viscosity and heat conductivity are monotinic functions of the temperature alone. The theory is based on expansion of the disturbance fields in powers of an amplitude parameter α. The non-linearity of the full Navier-Stokes equations can be interpreted as interaction between the three basic modes; in order to help physical insight the interactions are classed as ‘mass-like’, ‘force-like’, and ‘heat-like’ effects.Besides the amplitude parameter α there is another subsidiary non-dimensional parameter e which indicates the relative importance of viscosity and heat conduction effects as compared to the inertial effects, e is proportional to the ratio of the molecular mean free path and the characteristic length of the flow pattern (Knudsen number). The main contribution of the paper is the outline of a consistent successive approximation for an arbitrary order in α and the presentation of explicit formulae for the second order (bilateral) interactions.A special case of rather general significance is treated in more detail. This is when all three basic modes have intensities and length scales of the same orders of magnitude and in addition to α the parameter e is also small; the second-order interactions are then relatively few and easily identifiable and are shown in table 1.The present analysis also sheds some light on the ‘zero order’ approximation which treats the vorticity and entropy disturbances as a ‘frozen pattern’ and the sound field as propagating nondissipative waves. The interpretation of hot-wire measurements relies heavily on these simplified models and the present paper lends some support to these current hot-wire practices.
Development of the Olfactory Apparatus of the Cutthroat Trout

Abstract The development of the olfactory structures of embryos, fry, fingerling, jnvenile and adult cutthroat trout was determined by histological and dissection techniques. Fish examined 20 days after fertilization (15 days before hatching) had nerve cells present in the olfactory epithelium and nerve fibers entering the brain. Lamellae developed on alternate sides of the central raphe in each rosette. Adult olfactory epithelium contained neuroepithelial, mucous, supporting, and basal cells with neuroepithelial cells present only in the valleys of the lamellae. Water circulation through the olfactory organ appeared to be inactive, although two accessory chambers were present. The structural components necessary for olfaction were present well before the fish leave their homestreams. Imprinting to a homestream odor is a possibility at a very early age.
Activation of LH receptors expressed in GnRH neurons stimulates cyclic AMP production and inhibits pulsatile neuropeptide release.

The GT1-7 cell line of immortalized GnRH neurons has been shown to express receptors for GnRH, LH, and prolactin, as well as a variety of other hormones and transmitters. Treatment of GT1-7 cells with hCG caused a dose-dependent increase in cAMP production, with a rapid increase during the first 15 min and a subsequent decrease that was prevented by pre-treatment with pertussis toxin. Furthermore, the stimulatory effect of cholera toxin on cAMP production was inhibited by hCG in a dose-dependent manner. These data indicate that the LH receptors expressed in GT1-7 cells are coupled to adenylyl cyclase both stimulatory (Gs) and inhibitory (Gi) proteins. In perifused cell cultures, treatment with forskolin and 8-bromo cAMP increased the amplitude of spontaneous GnRH release. However, treatment with nanomolar concentrations of hCG abolished pulsatile GnRH release from both GT1-7 cells and rat hypothalamic cells. The similarity of hCG action on pulsatile GnRH release to that of extracellular Ca2+ depletion and...
Pegylated arginase I: a potential therapeutic approach in T-ALL

Adult patients with acute lymphoblastic T cell leukemia (T-ALL) have a very poor prognosis and few effective therapeutic options. Therefore, novel therapies that increase the efficacy of the treatments and that prolong T-ALL patient survival are needed. Malignant T cells require high concentrations of nutrients to sustain their increased rate of proliferation. In this study, we determined whether L-Arginine depletion by the pegylated form of the L-Arginine-metabolizing enzyme arginase I (peg-Arg I) impairs the proliferation of malignant T cells. Our results show that peg-Arg I depleted L-Arginine levels in vitro and in vivo. In addition, treatment of malignant T-cell lines with peg-Arg I significantly impaired their proliferation, which correlated with a decreased progression into the cell cycle, followed by the induction of apoptosis. Furthermore, peg-Arg I impaired the expression of cyclin D3, a fundamental protein in T-ALL proliferation, through a global arrest in protein synthesis. Injection of peg-Arg I plus chemotherapy agent Cytarabine prolonged survival in mice bearing T-ALL tumors. This antitumoral effect correlated with an inhibition of T-ALL proliferation in vivo, a decreased expression of cyclin D3, and T-ALL apoptosis. The results suggest the potential benefit of L-Arginine depletion by peg-Arg I in the treatment of T-cell malignancies.
A systematic approach to quantitation of ephedra alkaloids in natural health products

A method for accurate determination of ephedrine (E) alkaloids in natural health products (NHP) is described. The NIST dietary supplement standard reference materials (SRMs) were selected for these studies. These SRMs comprise ground Ma Huang herb (Ephedra sinica Stapf.), a spray dried extract of the former, and commercial formulations derived from gel caps and a protein drink. The efficiency of sonication-assisted extraction and Soxhlet extraction was studied using both ammonium formate and potassium phosphate in 3% methanol as extraction media. The efficiency of SPE clean-up of the extract deteriorated rapidly when increasing amounts of sample matrix or analyte were processed, because of limited cartridge capacity. Quantitation by the method of additions was required to ensure the highest accuracy using both LC–UV and ES–LC–MS–MS techniques. Whereas the LC–UV method is more convenient and precise, the results are more questionable than ES–LC–MS–MS, because species-specific detection is not possible.
THE CHANGING SYSTEM OF CHINESE CITIES

A dual system of urban centers, one inherited from late imperial times and the other from the developed world, has recently emerged as the spatial structure for national development in China. The development policy since the Cultural Revolution has emphasized the role of small and medium sized traditional cities and the widespread application of “intermediate technology'’in fostering rural enterprises throughout the country. The old administrative cities have been gradually transformed into a hierarchical urban network of local industrial production centers to serve agriculture.
Small-aperture, high-resolution, two-channel imaging system.

A method that utilizes incoherent light interferometry is used to form images through vanishingly small apertures. The method utilizes the increased channel capacity produced by reduction of spatial coherence, but in a way that improves the resolution instead of the signal-to-noise ratio.
Metal Inhibition of Ferrochelatase

Ferrochelatase activity was examined both in growing MEL cells and in in vitro assays of the purified enzyme to determine what effect a variety of divalent cations would have. Data obtained with the purified enzyme demonstrated that Mn2+ strongly inhibits the activity in a competitive fashion with respect to Fe2+ with a calculated Ki of 15 microM. Cadmium ion is also inhibitory (Ki: 50 microM), as is Hg2+ and arsenite, but Pb2+ is a poor inhibitor. All other metals tested had no effect. When these same metal ions were tested on differentiating MEL cells it was found that their ability to inhibit both heme formation and ferrochelatase activity mimicked their in vitro effect on purified ferrochelatase.
Effects of androgen on induction of gonadotropin receptors and gonadotropin-stimulated adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate production in rat ovarian granulosa cells.

Although androgens have been implicated as agents for follicular atresia in the mammalian ovary, it has been difficult to ascribe an action to these steroids that could lead, ultimately, to the degeneration of developing follicles. Since both FSH and estradiol are required for the development of preovulatory follicles and LH receptor, we examined the effect of 5adihydrotestosterone (DHT), a potent nonaromatizable androgen, on the content of gonadotropin receptors and gonadotropinstimulated cAMP accumulation in the granulosa cells from developing preantral and antral follicles. DHT treatment of 24-day-old intact female rats prevented the induction by ovine FSH of LH receptors and, thus, the ability of LH to stimulate cAMP accumulation in the membrana granulosa. FSH receptors and FSH-responsive adenylate cyclase were unaffected in this tissue, suggesting that DHT acted distal to these membrane components. Furthermore, DHT did not affect ovine FSH-stimulated ovarian estradiol production, suggesting that DHT ...
Becoming a Reflective Practitioner in the Age of Accountability

Abstract Drawing on Zeichner's levels of reflection (Liston and Zeichner 1996), this study uses a fine-grain analysis of portfolio entries to describe the reflective practice of a cohort of preservice secondary education teachers as they student teach, participate in a student teaching seminar, and prepare the Vermont Licensure Portfolio. The paper raises questions about the tension between satisfying state mandates while facilitating critical reflection among preservice teachers and recommends a broader curriculum for teacher education programs to further develop preservice teachers' critical reflection.
The Alopex process: Visual receptive fields by response feedback

The determination of trigger features of single neurons in afferent pathways has been one of the central problems in sensory physiology. A novel method, called Alopex, has been developed, in which response feedback is used to construct visual patterns that optimize the responses. Data are presented which show the emergence of trigger features of cells monitored in frog visual tectum. The method is checked against results obtained by scanning the visual field with a small spot. Correlations between Alopex patterns and scan patterns are generally between 0.3 and 0.5 but may be as high as 0.9 when smoothing and/or averaging procedures are applied to the Alopex patterns. The dynamics of the Alopex process are discussed and details of the algorithms are presented. The series of experiments presented here has established the validity of the method and suggests that this approach should find wide application in receptive field studies. For that purpose data on the instrumentation and software are also presented.
A Comparison of Bond Ratings from Moody's S&P and Fitch IBCA

Previous research has found that the bond market values the ratings of Moody's and Standard & Poor's. This paper extends earlier research by comparing the ratings of Moody's, Standard and Poor's, and Fitch IBCA. The authors examine a very large database with monthly observations of bonds and bond ratings over a five-year time period. The analysis focuses on comparing rating levels, rating changes, and the impact of ratings on bond yields. The results show that firms with publicly available Fitch IBCA ratings have higher ratings from Moody's and S&P than firms without Fitch IBCA ratings. The typical firm releasing a Fitch IBCA rating has a lower yield (controlling for Moody's and S&P rating), a more stable rating, and is more likely to receive an upgrade. For split-rated bonds (Moody's vs. S&P), Fitch IBCA serves as a tiebreaker. This evidence is consistent with the bond market valuing the ratings of all three raters—Moody's, Standard & Poor's, and Fitch IBCA.
Low-power high-efficiency wavelength conversion based on modulational instability in high-nonlinearity fiber.

Bandwidth and peak efficiency are enhanced for wavelength conversion based on induced modulation instability by use of dispersion-shifted fiber in which the nonlinearity n2/Aeff is enhanced by a factor of ?4.5 over that of conventional dispersion-shifted fiber. We experimentally obtain a peak conversion efficiency as high as 28??dB over a 40-nm bandwidth with 600??mW of peak pump power. Considerations for further enhancement of fiber-based wavelength conversion are also discussed.
Direct observation of phase transformation anisotropy in indented silicon studied by confocal Raman spectroscopy

The theoretically predicted anisotropic nature of the indentation phase transformation in silicon (Si) is observed directly in experiments using hyperspectral, confocal Raman microscopy. The anisotropy is reflected in the two-dimensional distribution of the residual diamond cubic Si-I phase and high-pressure phases in indented Si(001), Si(110), and Si(111) surfaces, and is linked to the number and orientation of the {111}$\ensuremath{\langle}110\ensuremath{\rangle}$ slip systems of the diamond cubic phase that are activated during indentation. Key to the observation of the anisotropic phase transformation is the local preservation of Si-I in the residual contact impression, which is controlled by the magnitude of the applied indentation strain, ${\ensuremath{\varepsilon}}_{\mathrm{I}}$. The condition for islands of Si-I to be retained after indentation is 0.04 ${\ensuremath{\varepsilon}}_{\mathrm{I}}$ 0.01; strains outside of this range either do not result in a residual contact impression or completely transform the contacted material, rendering the underlying anisotropy of the phase transformation unobservable.
Keeping Safe: Teenagers’ Strategies for Dealing With Perinatal Violence

Objective To identify strategies adolescents use to cope with and keep safe from perinatal violence. Design Exploratory descriptive design incorporating qualitative content analysis. A semistructured interview guide was used to inquire about coping strategies. Sample 20 nonpregnant teenagers between the ages of 18 and 20 years who experienced violence before, during, or after a prior pregnancy, regardless of outcome, were recruited for this study from community advertising and two outpatient gynecologic clinics. Results The teenagers described experiences of rape, stalking, and physical and sexual violence. They identified perpetrators as family members, nonintimate social acquaintances, and male and female intimate partners. Five themes were identified that described the teenagers' experiences with "Keeping Safe," including Losing Ground: Moving Backward; Minimizing Damage: Decreasing the Impact and the Severity of Violence; Keeping Away: Drawing Inward and Moving On; Getting Help: Reaching Out to Others; and Taking Charge: Being Proactive. Conclusions The teenagers were actively engaged in developing creative strategies to minimize stress and the severity of violence in their lives. They also incorporated maladaptive behaviors that further increased their jeopardy. Asking about the ways that teenagers deal with violence might assist health care workers to proactively minimize damage from ineffective coping mechanisms.
Nucleophilic openings of bicyclic β-lactones via acyl C-O and alkyl C-O cleavage: catalytic, asymmetric synthesis of a versatile, carbocyclic nucleoside precursor and protected transpentacin

Abstract A variety of carbocycle-fused β-lactones are accessible via the intramolecular catalytic, asymmetric nucleophile catalyzed aldol-lactonization reaction recently developed in our laboratory. These bicyclic β-lactones undergo facile ring cleavage under mild conditions via both acyl C–O and alkyl C–O bond cleavage. Cleavage of the acyl C–O bond with hydroxylamine nucleophiles proceeds at ambient temperature and reductive cleavage is readily accomplished with aluminum and boron reducing agents. Alternatively, alkyl C–O cleavage with various nucleophiles leads to a variety of trans -β-substituted cyclopentane carboxylic acids. The utility of these transformations is demonstrated by the synthesis of protected (1 S ,2 S )-transpentacin and a versatile diol for carbocyclic nucleoside synthesis.
Integrating ecosystem services and local government finances into land use planning: a case study from coastal Georgia.

This work presents a novel approach to assessing the impact of future growth in rural regions faced with rapid growth. We investigate one of the most rural counties on the eastern coast of the U.S. (McIntosh County, Georgia) from the dual perspective of (1) ecosystem services and (2) costs assumed by local government. As land cover in our focal locality is overwhelmingly forest or wetland, we compiled estimates from multiple sources to map the value per ha/year of (1) timber sales and recreational leases to private landowners and (2) a suite of non-market public amenities: rare species habitat, carbon sequestration, flood control, pollution treatment, water supply, and storm protection. We then quantified, based on county budgets, expenditures and revenues deriving from major land use categories (residential, commercial/industrial, agricultural/open-space). Results indicate that (1) forested wetlands generate relatively little revenue to either private landowners or in taxes to the county from extractive uses, but have very high value relative other land cover types in the provision of ecosystem services, (2) forest lands contribute much more in revenue than they receive in services, whereas residential properties cost more in services, than they generate in revenue, and (3) significant gains in both ecosystem service preservation, hazard reduction, and in lower costs to the county in municipal services could be achieved by restricting new development from within the Federal Insurance Rate Map (FIRM)-determined 500 year floodplain.
Comparison of calculated and experimental FTIR spectra of specifically labeled ubiquinones

Abstract Density functional theory has been used to calculate harmonic vibrational frequencies and intensities of unlabeled and labeled ubiquinone-1 in both the gas phase and in solution (CCl 4 ). Calculations were undertaken using the B3LYP functional and the 6-31G+(d) basis set. Calculations using larger basis sets did not significantly alter the calculated spectra. Calculations for ubiquinone-2, -3, -6 or -8 gave similar results. Calculations show that eight ubiquinone-1 conformations, which differ only in the orientation of their methoxy groups, are likely to coexist in solution at room temperature. The calculated infrared spectra for these eight conformations vary considerably. However, by averaging the Boltzmann weighted spectra for the eight conformers, composite spectra are calculated that successfully model both the frequency and intensity information inherent in the experimental FTIR spectra obtained for both unlabeled and labeled ubiquinones in solution. The calculated spectra presented here provide a robust foundation from which to consider and assess future modeling of the vibrational properties of ubiquinones embedded in protein complexes.
Alcohol use, daily hassles, and religious coping among students at a religiously affiliated college.

Objective: This article presents empirical findings which suggest that religious coping moderates the relationship between daily hassles stress and alcohol use among female college students. Method: This study utilized a cross-sectional data collection strategy and convenience sampling to examine the relationship between alcohol use, daily hassles stress, and religious coping among 423 undergraduate students (269 females and 154 males) at a religiously affiliated college in the Midwestern USA. Data were collected in 2008. Instruments utilized for data collection included the Inventory of College Student Recent Life Experiences, the Brief RCOPE, and quantity/frequency measures of alcohol use. Results: Involvement in positive religious coping was significantly related to lower rates of alcohol use. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that among women, positive religious coping moderated the relationship between two types of daily hassles stress (academic alienation and romantic problems) and ...
A bound for the fixed-point index of an area-preserving map with applications to mechanics

Carl P. Simon (Ann Arbor) Area-preserving maps and flows play an essential role in the study of motions of mechanical systems, especially in celestial mechanics (see [1, 14]). Since one is often interested in the behavior of an area-preserving map around a fixed point and in the number and type of critical points and periodic orbits of an area-preserving flow, the ./i'xed-point index of a map and the index oj" a singularity or a closed orbit of a flow can yield much information about the map or flow. For example, the fact that the index of an isolated singularity of an area-preserving flow can never be greater than +1 has aided in setting a lower bound for the number of stationary points of certain area-preserving flows. It has also been a useful necessary condition for a flow to be area-preserving. For these reasons, the conjecture that the fixed-point index of an area-preserving homeomorphism of a 2- manifold is always less than or equal to + 1 has drawn attention. In this paper, we answer this conjecture in the affirmative for smooth maps and then put this bound to work to show that certain maps must have at least two fixed points and certain flows at least two periodic orbits. An important application is the following generalization of a famous theorem of Liapunov: a Hamiltonian vectorfield on M 4 must have two distinct one-parameter families of periodic orbits around a non-degenerate minimum (or maximum) of the Hamiltonian, even when the pure imaginary characteristic exponents are in resonance.
Mesh infection in ventral incisional hernia repair: incidence, contributing factors, and treatment.

Abstract Background: Prosthetic mesh infection is a catastrophic complication of ventral incisional hernia (VIH) repair. Methods: The current surgical literature was reviewed to determine the incidence, microbiology, risk factors, and treatment of mesh infections. Results: Mesh infections tend to present late. Diagnosis depends on high clinical suspicion and relies on culture of the fluid surrounding the mesh or of the mesh itself. Risk factors may include a high body mass index (obesity); chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; abdominal aortic aneurysm repair; prior surgical site infection; use of larger, microporous, or expanded polytetrafluoroethylene mesh; performance of other procedures via the same incision at the time of repair; longer operative time; lack of tissue coverage of the mesh; enterotomy; and enterocutaneous fistula. The best treatment is prevention. Treatment of mesh infection is evolving on a case-by-case basis from explantation toward mesh salvage, to prevent complications such as her...
Characterization of an In Vitro Model of Alphavirus Infection of Immature and Mature Neurons

Terminally differentiated, mature neurons are essential cells that are not easily regenerated. Neurotropic viruses, such as Sindbis virus (SV), cause encephalomyelitis through their ability to replicate in neurons. SV causes the death of immature neurons, while mature neurons can often survive infection. The lack of a reproducible and convenient neuronal cell culture system has hindered a detailed study of the differences in levels of virus replication between immature and mature neurons and the molecular events involved in virus clearance from mature neurons. We have characterized SV replication in immortalized CSM14.1 rat neuronal cells that can be differentiated into neurons. During differentiation, CSM14.1 cells ceased dividing, developed neuronal morphology, and expressed neuron-specific cell markers. SV infection of undifferentiated CSM14.1 cells was efficient and resulted in high levels of virus replication and cell death. SV infection of differentiated CSM14.1 cells was less efficient and resulted in the production of 10- to 100-fold less virus and cell survival. In undifferentiated cells, SV induced a rapid shutdown of cellular protein synthesis and pE2 was efficiently processed to E2 (ratio of E2 to pE2, 2.14). In differentiated cells, the SV-induced shutdown of cellular protein synthesis was transient and pE2 was the primary form of E2 in cells (ratio of E2 to pE2, 0.0426). We conclude that age-dependent restriction of virus replication is an intrinsic property of maturing neurons and that the CSM14.1 cell line is a convenient model system for investigating the interactions of alphaviruses with neurons at various stages of differentiation.
BAL 31 nuclease as a probe in concentrated salt for the B-Z DNA junction

The BAL 31 nuclease, an extracellular nuclease from A. espejiana, specifically recognizes and cleaves the salt induced conformational junction between B and Z-DNA. Short segments of (dC-dG) left-handed Z-helix, comprising approximately 1% of the total DNA, are specifically detected within two different recombinant plasmids. The BAL 31 enzyme is highly resistant to inactivation by the presence of high concentrations of a variety of electrolytes that stabilize left-handed helices, is active at physiological pH, and can be used to probe both linear and circular DNAs. Additionally, the nuclease cleaves left-handed (dC-dG)n only very poorly, if at all. Thus, the BAL 31 nuclease can be utilized as a probe for helical junctions and consequently for segments of left-handed DNA that might exist within predominantly right-handed naturally occurring genomes.
Changes in selected blood serum constituents, as a function of salinity variations, in the marine elasmobranch, Sphyrna tiburo

Abstract 1. 1. Bonnethead sharks, Sphyrna tiburo, were acclimated to three salinities representative of hyposaline, ambient, and hypersaline conditions. 2. 2. Serum urea, TMAO, sodium, and chloride comprised the major portion of the osmotic pressure. 3. 3. Urea and TMAO made up most of the serum osmotic pressure difference noted between 20 and 30‰ Urea, TMAO, and sodium chloride contributed equally to the increase in osmotic pressure from 30 to 40‰ 4. 4. A number of possibilities are explored to explain the failure of the sharks to become hyperosmotic during the 40‰ trial, with particulate matter causing stress deemed the most likely explanation.
Assessment of current density singularity in electromigration of solder bumps

This paper investigates the current density singularity in electromigration of solder bumps. A theoretical analysis is performed on a homogenous wedge with arbitrary apex angle, 2(π−θ 0 ), when the current flow passes through. A potential difference is applied at a distance far away from the tip of the wedge. It is found that current density singularity exists at the tip of the wedges when the angles θ 0 < 90°. The acute angles represent the corner configuration of the actual solder bump and the interconnect. The current crowding in bumps is a result of singularity exhibited at such corners. Finite element results confirm that the maximum current density has strong dependence on mesh size. To eliminate the singularity effect, a volume-averaged current density approach, over a crescent shape where the maximum current density occurs, is suggested. Such an averaged value represents the concentration of current flow in the region, and is also insensitive to mesh sizes over a large range of crescent thickness.
New extended model of hadrons

We propose that a strongly interacting particle is a finite region of space to which fields are confined. The confinement is accomplished in a Lorentz-invariant way by endowing the finite region with a constant energy per unit volume, $B$. We call this finite region a "bag." The contained fields may be either fermions or bosons and may have any spin; they may or may not be coupled to one another. Equations of motion and boundary conditions are obtained from a variational principle. The confining region has no dynamical freedom but constrains the fields inside: There are no excitations of the coordinates determining the confining region. The model possesses many desirable features of hadron dynamics: (i) a parton interpretation and presumably Bjorken scaling; the confined fields are free or weakly interacting except close to the boundary; (ii) infinitely rising Regge trajectories as a consequence of the bag's finite extent; (iii) the Hagedorn degeneracy or limiting temperature; (iv) all physical hadrons are singlets under hadronic gauge symmetries. For example, in a theory of fractionally charged, "colored" quarks interacting with colored, massless gauge vector gluons, if both quark and gluon fields are confined to the bag, only color-singlet solutions exist. In addition to establishing these general properties, we present complete classical and quantum solutions for free scalars and also for free fermions inside a bag of one space and one time dimension. Both systems have linear mass-squared spectra. We demonstrate Poincar\'e invariance at the classical level in any dimension and at the quantum level for the above-mentioned explicit solutions in two dimensions. We discuss the behavior of specific solutions in one and three space dimensions. We also discuss in detail the problem of fermion boundary conditions, which follow only indirectly from the variational principle.
Prediction of Critical Micelle Concentration Using a Quantitative Structure−Property Relationship Approach. 1. Nonionic Surfactants

A quantitative structure−property relationship study was performed on the critical micelle concentration (cmc) of nonionic surfactants using the CODESSA program. A known correlation between the logarithm of the cmc and counts of linear alkane carbon atoms and ethoxy groups in linear alkyl ethoxylates was improved (R2 = 0.996) by adding cross terms of these molecular descriptors. A general three-parameter structure−property relationship was developed for a diverse set of 77 nonionic surfactants (R2 = 0.984) employing topological descriptors calculated for the hydrophobic fragment of the surfactant molecule. The three descriptors represent contributions from the size of the hydrophobic group, the size of the hydrophilic group, and the structural complexity of the hydrophobic group.
Intra-Atrial Pressure Increases Rate and Organization of Waves Emanating From the Superior Pulmonary Veins During Atrial Fibrillation

Background— Atrial fibrillation (AF) commonly associates with atrial dilatation by poorly understood mechanisms. We hypothesized that elevation of intra-atrial pressure elicits high-frequency and spatio-temporally organized left atrial (LA) sources emanating from the superior pulmonary veins. Methods and Results— We used a stretch-related AF model in the sheep heart to induce stable episodes of AF (>40 minutes) in 9 animals. Video movies of the LA free wall (LAFW) and LA superior pulmonary vein junction (JPV) were obtained by using di-4-ANEPPS. Electrograms from the right atrium were recorded. At intra-atrial pressures >10 cm H2O, the maximum dominant frequency (DFMax) was significantly higher in the JPV than in the LAFW (12.0±0.2 and 10.5±0.2 Hz, respectively [mean±SEM]; P<0.001). Below 10 cm H2O, DFMax was similar in the JPV and LAFW (10.8±0.3 versus 10.2±0.3 Hz; P=0.6); DFMax in both JPV and LAFW was significantly higher than in the right atrium (7.8±0.3 Hz; P<0.001). Analysis of excitation direction i...
Imposing Sanctions: States, Firms, and Economic Coercion

The majority of research on economic sanctions focuses on the effectiveness of sanctions as an instrument of foreign policy. Although the number of sanctions episodes is rapidly growing, the empirical record suggests that sanctions, while possibly effective for symbolic purposes, often fail to alter the behavior of target states (Wagner 1988; Hufbauer, Schott, and Elliot 1990; Pape 1997; Drury 1998, 2001). But even though the empirical work indicates a poor performance record, many scholars have attempted to identify conditions under which sanctions have the greatest chance of success (Tsebelis 1990; Smith 1996; Drezner 1998). For example, Clifton Morgan and Valerie Schwebach (1996) argue that sanctions aimed at the political elites within a target state increase the probability that sanctions will succeed. Further research investigates the relation between sanctions success and target regime characteristics (Thelen and Steinmo 1992; Al-Sowayel 1999), unilateral versus multilateral imposition (Martin 1992; Kaempfer and Lowenberg 1998), conflict expectations (Drezner 1998), and the duration of imposition (Bolks and Al-Sowayel 2000). Recently, scholars have advocated examining the effectiveness of threats to use sanctions in addition to imposing them to eliminate potential selection bias problems in current empirical research (Smith 1996; Drezner 1999; Morgan and Miers 1999). The research presented in these studies is typically based on the assumption that sanctions are an activity that occurs between states. The sanctions literature follows the argument that senders cut exchanges and impose costs on the target state. Although this assumption seems reasonable, the exchange halted as a result of sanctions frequently does not occur between states. Often, the imposition of sanctions affects the exchanges between the firms and the individuals of the sender and the target state. Sanctions prevent the sender's firms from trading with and investing in the firms of the …
Ischemic Cardiomyopathy is Associated With Coronary Plaque Progression and Higher Event Rate in Patients After Cardiac Transplantation

Background Cardiac allograft vasculopathy is the leading cause of graft failure and death in heart transplant (HTx) recipients; however, the association between the etiology of heart failure (ischemic cardiomyopathy [ICM] or non-ICM) that led to HTx and progression of cardiac allograft vasculopathy, and adverse events after HTx has not been explored. Methods and Results We retrospectively included 165 HTx patients, who were followed-up with at least 2 virtual histology–intravascular ultrasound examinations after HTx, and grouped them as ICM (n=46) or non-ICM (n=119). Coronary artery plaque volume was analyzed using virtual histology–intravascular ultrasound, and cardiovascular event data—a composite of myocardial infarction, hospitalization for heart failure and arrhythmia, revascularization, retransplantation, and death including cardiovascular death—were collected from the medical records of all study subjects. ICM patients had significantly higher plaque volume at both first ( P =0.040) and follow-up ( P =0.015) intravascular ultrasound examinations. After multivariate adjustment for traditional coronary risk factors, ICM was significantly associated with plaque progression (odds ratio 3.10; CI 1.17 to 9.36; P =0.023). Ten-year cardiovascular event-free survival was 50% in ICM patients compared with 84% in non-ICM patients (log-rank test P =0.003). In multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis, ICM was significantly associated with a higher event rate after HTx (hazard ratio 2.02; 95% CI 1.01 to 4.00; P =0.048). Conclusion Our study demonstrates that ischemic etiology of cardiomyopathy prior to HTx may be independently associated with plaque progression and higher event rate after HTx.
Enhanced oxidative stability of non-Grignard magnesium electrolytes through ligand modification

A series of non-Grignard Mg-electrolytes with various para-substituents was synthesized starting from commercially-available phenols. More electron-withdrawing substituents shift the anodic stability of the electrolyte by 400 mV. The p-CF3 substituted phenol exhibits the highest stability of 2.9 V vs. Mg2+/0, and cycles reversibly with the Chevrel-phase Mo6S8 Mg-ion cathode.
Optimal power-aware design of all-optical multicasting in wavelength routed networks

Power loss encountered by the optical signal in the light-trees can be due to attenuation, signal splitting, or both. Optical amplifiers may have to be used in order to recover from the power loss so that the optical signal can still be detected at the receivers. Due to the high cost of optical amplifiers, we introduce an optimal power-aware design of wavelength-routed optical networks supporting multicast traffic. The network design problem is formulated as a mixed-integer linear programming, and the main objective is to minimize the total required gain in the network while allowing unequally powered signals. It also determines the optimal number and placement of the splitters, and the routing and wavelength assignment for the multicast sessions. We used the CPLEX linear optimization package in order to solve the MILP formulation. Then, the number and location of optical amplifiers per link is computed off-line.
Control Design for Relative Stability in a PWM-Controlled Pneumatic System

This paper presents a control design methodology that provides a prescribed degree of stability robustness for plants characterized by discontinuous (i.e., switching) dynamics. The proposed control methodology transforms a discontinuous switching model into a linear continuous equivalent model, so that loop-shaping methods may be utilized to provide a prescribed degree of stability robustness. The approach is specifically targeted at pneumatically actuated servo systems that are controlled by solenoid valves and do not incorporate pressure sensors. Experimental demonstration of the approach validates model equivalence and demonstrates good tracking performance.
Effect of gallopamil on electrophysiologic abnormalities and ventricular arrhythmias associated with left ventricular hypertrophy in the feline heart.

Abstract Left ventricular hypertrophy increases vulnerability to ventricular fibrillation. To determine whether calcium channel blockade protects against ventricular arrhythmia in left ventricular hypertrophy, we studied the effects of gallopamil, a potent and specific calcium channel antagonist, in 37 cats undergoing aortic banding (group 1, n = 28) or a sham procedure (group 2, n = 9). Each cat underwent serial echocardiography and was studied after the development of left ventricular hypertrophy, defined as an increase of at least 30% in left ventricular posterior wall thickness. After baseline electrophysiologic testing, animals received gallopamil (70 μg/kg loading dose followed by 2.5 μg/kg/min infusion) ( n = 19) or a control infusion of saline solution ( n = 18), and testing was repeated. There was no significant difference between groups 1 and 2 in baseline excitability thresholds intraventricular conduction times, ventricular effective refractory periods, or monophasic action potential durations. Thresholds for induction of ventricular fibrillation were lower in group 1 than in group 2, and only in group 1 was ventricular fibrillation inducible during programmed stimulation. This altered vulnerability was associated with a significantly greater dispersion of excitability thresholds, ventricular effective refractory periods, and monophasic action potential durations. Gallopamil did not change baseline measurements except for prolonging sinus cycle length and atrioventricular conduction time. Ventricular fibrillation thresholds were similar to pretreatment values (12.3 ± 2 vs 11.9 ± 3 mA; p = NS) as were dispersion of excitability thresholds (0.45 ± 0.17 vs 0.49 ± 0.14 mA; p = NS), ventricular effective refractory periods (30.5 ± 9 vs 33.6 ± 12 msec; p = NS), and monophasic action potential durations (27.5 ± 11 vs 28.2 ± 14 msec; p = NS). A similar percentage of animals in group I were inducible by programmed stimulation before and after treatment with gallopamil (1114vs812; p=NS). Thus calcium channel blockade, even with a potent agent, does not protect against susceptibility to ventricular arrhythmia caused by left ventricular hypertrophy.