cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bull's eye maculopathy associated with hereditary hemochromatosis.

Abstract Purpose To report a case of bull's eye maculopathy, a novel finding in a patient with iron overload secondary to hereditary hemochromatosis with a homozygous mutation of the HFE gene. Observations A 39-year-old man with recently diagnosed hereditary hemochromatosis undergoing treatment by serial phlebotomy presented with bilateral progressive blurry vision and recent onset of photopsias and headaches. Fundus examination revealed a symmetric bull's eye maculopathy with photoreceptor loss and retinal pigment epithelium transmission defects in the area of speckled hyper- and hypo-pigmentation by multimodal imaging. Full field and multifocal electroretinograms demonstrated generalized rod and cone dysfunction with some central preservation of waveforms. Further systemic work-up revealed low ceruloplasmin, mildly decreased serum copper and zinc levels, and low urinary copper. The patient underwent testing for inherited retinal dystrophies, but was not found to have any known pathogenic gene mutations. His ferritin levels normalized with serial phlebotomy and his retinopathy did not appear to progress over 6 months with normalization of his iron levels. Conclusions and Importance We report a case of bull's eye maculopathy in a patient with hereditary hemochromatosis with no previous exposure to iron chelators and no known inherited retinal dystrophy. Ocular involvement in hereditary hemochromatosis is relatively rare. In this case, the patient's low serum ceruloplasmin is thought to have increased the amount of redox-active ferrous iron and potentiated retinal iron toxicity resulting in the observed retinopathy. To the authors' knowledge, this is a potentially novel ocular manifestation of hereditary hemochromatosis.
Un territorio acechado: realismo espectral en Fragmentos de Doris Salcedo

Analyzing Fragmentos (Doris Salcedo, 2018) encourages a reflection about how art can create spaces that disrupt the deadly dynamics of what Philippe Bourgois calls the continuum of violence in war and peace. In Fragmentos, this is achieved through the deployment of formal components associated with what I call spectral realism. That is to say, works that understand the return of those who have borne the brunt of the violence of the armed conflict, not as one of many possible subjects of the artistic endeavor, but as a disruptive force that questions and transforms it.
Biometric Analysis of Surgeons' Physiologic Responses During Surgery.

BackgroundMuch has been written from the social science perspective surrounding surgeons’ stress and burn out. The literature is sparse in reference to scientific investigations of the hemodynamic ...
Farmer awareness, perceptions and adoption of unmanned aerial vehicles: evidence from Missouri

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are expected to play an important role in the future of farming. Because UAVs can provide precise, real-time information on biotic and abiotic stressors in agricultu...
51. INCREASING PEDIATRIC RESIDENT LOGGING OF PROCEDURES THROUGH DEVELOPMENT OF A MOBILE APP

Background Learning to perform common medical procedures is one of many elements of Pediatric residency training. In our program, we have observed great proficiency of residents’ procedural skills, but an unfortunate deficiency in completion of procedural logs. Incomplete procedure logs make it difficult to ensure each resident is receiving adequate procedural skills training and to certify competency to future employers. At our institution, the biggest barrier to timely completion of procedure logs was a cumbersome, tedious, and time-consuming logging system (New Innovations). Using QI methodology and technology, we aimed to improve the procedure logging process. Aim Statement To increase the number of procedures logged per resident, from 14 per year to 20 per year (1.66 per month), by March 31, 2020. Interventions We used the model for improvement to perform multiple PDSA cycles to create a simpler, quicker, and more efficient process for logging procedures. After analyzing failures in our legacy process, we tested multiple commercially available apps and web-based platforms as potential replacements. Based on our learning, we opted to design and create our own “NYU Peds App”. The app was iteratively tested using small groups of Pediatric residents, allowing us to modify the design and maximize efficiency, prior to implementation across the full program. Following the launch of the app, the program created a new policy, specifying the number of procedures to be completed each year. Results Since its launch, 1192 procedures have been logged using the NYU Peds App. The number of procedures logged per resident per month has increased from 0.9 to 3.2 (see Figure 1). Further, we have improved resident satisfaction. On an anonymous survey, the percent of residents who strongly agree that the logging system is easy to use significantly increased from 3% (New Innovations) to 82% (NYU Peds App). Conclusions and Next Steps We were able to successfully increase the number of procedures logged by our residents. The main driver of the improvement was implementation of a mobile app that is easy, fast, and usable at the time of care.
Excess Pneumonia Mortality During a 2014-2015 Legionnaires' Disease Outbreak in Genesee County, Michigan.

BACKGROUND From June 2014 to October 2015, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reported an outbreak of 90 cases of Legionnaires' disease, including 10 deaths, in Genesee County, Michigan. As Legionnaires' disease is not routinely tested for as a cause of community-acquired pneumonia, we hypothesized that the size of the outbreak was underestimated. METHODS We used Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Wide-ranging ONline Data for Epidemiologic Research data to compare pneumonia mortality in Genesee to similar counties from 2011 to 2017. We used data from the Genesee County Vital Records Division to assess geographic overlap of pneumonia mortality with reported Legionnaires disease cases by census tract. RESULTS We estimated 70.0 excess pneumonia deaths (90% uncertainty interval: 36-103) in Genesee County during the outbreak. Areas of high pneumonia mortality overlapped with those with high Legionnaires' disease incidence. CONCLUSIONS These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the Legionnaires' disease outbreak was larger than reported. Earlier outbreak detection and response may have facilitated identification of additional cases.
Gene Regulation and Transcriptomics.

Borrelia (Borreliella) burgdorferi, along with closely related species, is the etiologic agent of Lyme disease. The spirochete subsists in an enzootic cycle that encompasses acquisition from a vertebrate host to a tick vector and transmission from a tick vector to a vertebrate host. To adapt to its environment and persist in each phase of its enzootic cycle, B. burgdorferi wields three systems to regulate the expression of genes: the RpoN-RpoS alternative sigma (σ) factor cascade, the Hk1/Rrp1 two-component system and its product c-di-GMP, and the stringent response mediated by RelBbu and DksA. These regulatory systems respond to enzootic phase-specific signals and are controlled or fine- tuned by transcription factors, including BosR and BadR, as well as small RNAs, including DsrABb and Bb6S RNA. In addition, several other DNA-binding and RNA-binding proteins have been identified, although their functions have not all been defined. Global changes in gene expression revealed by high-throughput transcriptomic studies have elucidated various regulons, albeit technical obstacles have mostly limited this experimental approach to cultivated spirochetes. Regardless, we know that the spirochete, which carries a relatively small genome, regulates the expression of a considerable number of genes required for the transitions between the tick vector and the vertebrate host as well as the adaptation to each.
Paradox as Decolonization: Ali Shariati’s Islamic Lawgiver:

This article reevaluates the Iranian polymath Ali Shariati’s most controversial lectures. Scholarly consensus reads 1969’s Ummat va Imāmat as derivative, comprising an imitation of Sukarno’s guided...
Longitudinal Associations of Midlife Accelerometer Determined Sedentary Behavior and Physical Activity With Cognitive Function: The CARDIA Study.

Background To determine if accelerometer measured sedentary behavior (SED), light-intensity physical activity (LPA), and moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) in midlife is prospectively associated with cognitive function. Methods and Results Participants were 1970 adults enrolled in the CARDIA (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults) study who wore an accelerometer in 2005 to 2006 (ages 38-50 years) and had cognitive function assessments completed 5 and/or 10 years later. SED, LPA, and MVPA were measured by an ActiGraph 7164 accelerometer. Cognitive function tests included the Digit Symbol Substitution Test, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, and Stroop Test. Compositional isotemporal substitution analysis examined associations of SED, LPA, and MVPA with repeated measures of the cognitive function standardized scores. In men, statistical reallocation of 30 minutes of LPA with 30 minutes of MVPA resulted in an estimated difference of SD 0.07 (95% CI, 0.01-0.14), SD 0.09 (95% CI, 0.02-0.17), and SD -0.11 (95% CI, -0.19 to -0.04) in the Digit Symbol Substitution Test, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, and Stroop scores, respectively, indicating better performance. Associations were similar when reallocating time in SED with MVPA, but results were less robust. Reallocation of time in SED with LPA resulted in an estimated difference of SD -0.05 (95% CI, -0.06 to -0.03), SD -0.03 (95% CI, -0.05 to -0.01), and SD 0.05 (95% CI, 0.03- 0.07) in the Digit Symbol Substitution Test, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, and Stroop scores, respectively, indicating worse performance. Associations were largely nonsignificant among women. Conclusions Our findings support the idea that for men, higher-intensity activities (MVPA) may be necessary in midlife to observe beneficial associations with cognition.
COVID-19 Cases Among Employees of U.S. Federal and State Prisons.

Introduction Previous research has found COVID-19 cases to be disproportionately prevalent among U.S. prisoners. Similar to prisoners, prison staff experience ventilation and social distancing hazards and may have limited access to testing, paid sick leave, personal protective equipment, and other workplace protections. Yet, systematic case surveillance among prison staff remains unexplored. The objective of this study is to document the trends in COVID-19 cases among U.S. correctional staff relative to those among prisoners and the U.S. population. Methods Reports of COVID-19 cases among prisoners and staff were collected from state Departments of Corrections and the Federal Bureau of Prisons from March 31, 2020 to November 4, 2020. In November 2020, this series of aggregated case records was linked to population estimates to calculate COVID-19 period prevalence among prison staff and residents in comparison with the U.S. population trends. Results Within the prison environment, COVID-19 case burden was initially higher among staff than among prisoners in 89% of jurisdictions. Case prevalence escalated more quickly among prisoners but has remained persistently high among staff. By November 4, 2020, COVID-19 was 3.2 times more prevalent among prison staff than among the U.S. population. Conclusions Prison staff experienced substantially higher COVID-19 case prevalence than the U.S. population overall. Across prison staff and resident populations, cases were rapidly rising in November 2020, indicating poor outbreak containment within the prison environment. An Emergency Temporary Standard, issued by federal and state Occupational Safety and Health Administrations, and priority vaccination are urgently needed to reduce COVID-19 occupational risk. Reduced occupational transmission of COVID-19 will benefit workers, incarcerated people, and community members alike.
Detection and localization of objects hidden in fog

Degraded visual environments like fog pose a major challenge to safety and security because light is scattered by tiny particles. We show that by interpreting the scattered light it is possible to detect, localize, and characterize objects normally hidden in fog. First, a computationally efficient light transport model is presented that accounts for the light reflected and blocked by an opaque object. Then, statistical detection is demonstrated for a specified false alarm rate using the Neyman-Pearson lemma. Finally, object localization and characterization are implemented using the maximum likelihood estimate. These capabilities are being tested at the Sandia National Laboratory Fog Chamber Facility.
Interleukin-10 and Transforming Growth Factor-β Cytokines Decrease Immune Activation During Normothermic Ex Vivo Machine Perfusion of the Rat Liver.

Normothermic ex vivo liver perfusion (NEVLP) is a novel system for organ preservation that may improve over static cold storage clinically and offers the chance for graft modification prior to transplantation. Although recent studies have shown the presence of inflammatory molecules during perfusion, none have yet shown the effects of NEVLP on liver-resident immune cell activation. We investigated the effects of NEVLP on liver-resident immune cell activation and assessed the ability of anti-inflammatory cytokines interleukin 10 (IL10) and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) to improve organ function and reduce immune activation during perfusion. Rat livers were perfused for 4 hours at 37°C with or without the addition of 20 ng/mL of each IL10 and TGF-β (n = 7). Naive and cold storage (4 hours at 4°C) livers served as controls (n = 4). Following preservation, gene expression profiles were assessed through single-cell RNA sequencing; dendritic cell and macrophage activation was measured by flow cytometry; and cytokine production was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. NEVLP induced a global inflammatory gene expression signature, most notably in liver-resident macrophages and dendritic cells, which was accompanied by an increase in cell-surface levels of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II, CD40, and CD86. Immune activation was partially ameliorated by IL10 and TGF-β treatment, but no changes were observed in inflammatory cytokine production. Overall levels of liver damage and cellular apoptosis from perfusion were low, and liver function was improved with IL10 and TGF-β treatment. This is the first study to demonstrate that liver-resident immune cells gain an activated phenotype during NEVLP on both the gene and protein level and that this activation can be reduced through therapeutic intervention with IL10 and TGF-β.
Fast approximate shortest hyperpaths for inferring pathways in cell signaling hypergraphs

Cell signaling pathways, which are a series of reactions that start at receptors and end at transcription factors, are basic to systems biology. Properly modeling the reactions in such pathways requires directed hypergraphs, where an edge is now directed between two sets of vertices. Inferring a pathway by the most parsimonious series of reactions then corresponds to finding a shortest hyperpath in a directed hypergraph, which is NP-complete. The state of the art for shortest hyperpaths in cell-signaling hypergraphs solves a mixed-integer linear program to find an optimal hyperpath that is restricted to be acyclic, and offers no efficiency guarantees. We present for the first time a heuristic for general shortest hyperpaths that properly handles cycles, and is guaranteed to be efficient. Its accuracy is demonstrated through exhaustive experiments on all instances from the standard NCI-PID and Reactome pathway databases, which show the heuristic finds a hyperpath that matches the state-of-the-art mixed-integer linear program on over 99% of all instances that are acyclic. On instances where only cyclic hyperpaths exist, the heuristic surpasses the state-of-the-art, which finds no solution; on every such cyclic instance, enumerating all possible hyperpaths shows that the solution found by the heuristic is in fact optimal.
A Family of Software Reliability Models with Bathtub-Shaped Fault Detection Rate

Researchers have proposed several software reliability growth models, many of which possess complex parametric forms. In practice, software reliability growth models should exhibit a balance betwee...
Qualities of the Restaurant Food Environment: A Direct Observation Pilot Study of Restaurants Located Near High Schools.

Objective: This study aimed to identify and describe healthful and youth-oriented qualities of the restaurant food environment around high schools. Methods: Using direct observation data from 58 re...
Analysis of hydraulic fracturing additives by LC/Q-TOF-MS

The chemical additives used in fracturing fluids can be used as tracers of water contamination caused by hydraulic fracturing operations. For this purpose, a complete chemical characterization is necessary using advanced analytical techniques. Liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC/Q-TOF-MS) was used to identify chemical additives present in flowback and produced waters. Accurate mass measurements of main ions and fragments were used to characterize the major components of fracking fluids. Sodium adducts turned out to be the main molecular adduct ions detected for some additives due to oxygen-rich structures. Among the classes of chemical components analyzed by mass spectrometry include gels (guar gum), biocides (glutaraldehyde and alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride), and surfactants (cocamidopropyl dimethylamines, cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaines, and cocamidopropyl derivatives). The capabilities of accurate mass and MS-MS fragmentation are explored for the unequivocal identification of these compounds. A special emphasis is given to the mass spectrometry elucidation approaches used to identify a major class of hydraulic fracturing compounds, surfactants.
Fundamental Laws of the People’s Republic: From the Common Program to the Constitution of 1954

The Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), held in Peking from September 21 to 30, 1949, served as a constituent body of the People’s Republic for the creation of the Central People’s Government and the enactment of the Common Program. This Common Program and other fundamental laws adopted by the Conference constituted, in effect, a provisional constitution during the transitional period of 1949–1954. The CPPCC was claimed by the Communists to be “the organization of the democratic united front of the entire Chinese people,” composed of “all democratic classes and all nationalities throughout China,” for the establishment of “the unity of all democratic parties and groups and people’s organizations.”
The Impact of the Choice of Gains on the Robustness of Control Systems and Observers

The notion of "optimal robustness margin" is extracted from ideas introduced by Barmish and Lettmann. Two examples of the results of this notion are presented.
4,4'-Bis-dimethylaminodiphenylcarbinol modification of active center sulfhydryl residues in malate dehydrogenase.

Abstract This laboratory has previously reported the use of 4,4'-bis-dimethylaminodiphenylcarbinol as a highly sensitive reagent for the quantitative determination of sulfhydryl residues in proteins. The reagent dissociates in buffers below pH 6.5 to form a resonance-stabilized "carbonium-immonium" ion which exhibits an absorption maximum centered around 606 nm. Sulfhydryl residues react with this cation form of the reagent to form stable S-(4,4'-bis-dimethylaminodiphenylmethyl-) derivatives with a concomitant quantitative loss in absorbance. Incubation of mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase (l-malate:NAD+ oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.37) from porcine heart with a 20-fold molar excess of the reagent over enzyme leads to a time-dependent loss of enzymatic activity which is complete within approximately 30 min. Inactivation is coincident with the incorporation of approximately 1 mole of reagent per enzymatic active center of the enzyme. The presence of the coenzyme, NAD+, fully protects the enzyme from inactivation and the modification of cysteine residues, suggesting interaction at or near the coenzyme binding site. The modified mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase was digested with trypsin and a peptide containing the active center cysteine was isolated. Due to a unique aggregation phenomenon exhibited by the peptide modified with this reagent, isolation was achieved in a single step of chromatography on Sephadex G-100. These studies are suggestive that this reagent may be widely applicable for the selective chemical modification of active center cysteines in proteins and that peptides containing this reagent can be isolated in an extremely simple manner.
Alpha‐Synuclein as a Pathological Link Between Chronic Traumatic Brain Injury and Parkinson's Disease

The long-term consequences of traumatic brain injury (TBI) are closely associated with the development of histopathological deficits. Notably, TBI may predispose long-term survivors to age-related neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease (PD), which is characterized by a gradual degeneration of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons. However, preclinical studies on the pathophysiological changes in substantia nigra (SN) after chronic TBI are lacking. In the present in vivo study, we examined the pathological link between PD-associated dopaminergic neuronal loss and chronic TBI. Sixty days post-TBI, rats were euthanized and brain tissues harvested. Immunostaining was performed using tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), an enzyme required for the synthesis of dopamine in neurons, α-synuclein, a presynaptic protein that plays a role in synaptic vesicle recycling, and major histocompatibility complex II (MHCII), a protein found in antigen presenting cells such as inflammatory microglia cells, all key players in PD pathology. Unbiased stereology analyses revealed significant decrease of TH-positive expression in the surviving dopaminergic neurons of the SN pars compacta (SNpc) relative to sham control. In parallel, increased α-synuclein accumulation was detected in the ipsilateral SN compared to the contralateral SN in TBI animals or sham control. In addition, exacerbation of MHCII+ cells was recognized in the SN and cerebral peduncle ipsilateral to injury relative to contralateral side and sham control. These results suggest α-synuclein as a pathological link between chronic effects of TBI and PD symptoms as evidenced by significant overexpression and abnormal accumulation of α-synuclein in inflammation-infiltrated SN of rats exposed to chronic TBI. J. Cell. Physiol. 230: 1024–1032, 2015. © 2014 The Authors. Journal of Cellular Physiology Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Evolved Ricochet Compositions

We consider evolutionary art based on the ricochet art-making technique. With this technique, a sequence of line segments defined by particles moving within the interior of a polygon is developed into a geometric composition by virtue of the fact that reflection (the ricochet) is used to ensure that whenever a particle meets an existing line segment it does not cross it. There is also a rule for filling some of the interior polygons that are formed by particle trajectories based on line color attributes. We establish a genetic infrastructure for this technique and then consider objective measures based on ratio statistics for aesthetically evaluating the results. For the special case of four particles in motion within a square we also examine fitness landscape questions.
Interlayer structure and dynamics of Cl-bearing hydrotalcite: far infrared spectroscopy and molecular dynamics modeling

Comparison of the observed far-infrared (FIR) spectrum of Cl−-containing hydrotalcite, [Mg3Al(OH)8]Cl·3H2O, to a power spectrum calculated using molecular dynamics (MD) computer simulation, provides a greatly increased understanding of the structure and vibrational dynamics in the interlayers of layered double hydroxides. Good agreement between the observed FIR band positions and the simulated power spectrum illustrates the capability of this combination of experimental and computational techniques to effectively probe the structure and dynamics of water in nano-pores and other confined spaces. The simulation model assumes an ordered Mg3Al arrangement in the octahedral sheet and no constraints on the movement of any atoms or on the geometry and symmetry of the simulation supercell. Calculated anisotropic components of the individual atomic power spectra in combination with computed animations of the vibrational modes from normal mode analysis allow for reliable interpretations of the observed spectral bands. For the vibrations related to octahedral cation motions, bands near 145, 180, and 250 cm−1 are due dominantly to Mg vibration in the c direction (perpendicular to the hydroxide layers), Al vibration in the c direction, and Mg and Al vibrations in the a-b plane (parallel to the hydroxide layers), respectively. The low frequency vibrational motions of the interlayer are controlled by a network of hydrogen bonds formed between interlayer water molecules, Cl− ions, and the OH groups of the main hydroxide layers. The bands near 40–70 cm−1 are related to the translational motions of interlayer Cl− and H2O in the a-b plane, and the bands near 120 cm−1 and 210 cm−1 are largely due to translational motions of the interlayer species in the c direction. The three librational modes of interlayer water molecules near 390, 450, and 540 cm−1 correspond to twisting, rocking, and wagging hindered rotations, respectively. The spectral components of the interlayer Cl− motions are remarkably similar to those of bulk aqueous chloride solutions, reflecting the structural and dynamic similarity of the nearest-neighbor Cl− environments in the interlayer and in solution.
Emerging Human Coronaviruses — Disease Potential and Preparedness

It is likely that novel zoonotic virus infections causing serious disease and death in humans will increasingly test our ability to respond appropriately. Changes in commercial and social practices, the environment, and travel will continually provide new opportunities for zoonotic pathogens to infect humans. In addition, ever more sophisticated tools to detect novel pathogens will increase the chance that we will identify sporadic infections that do not cause widespread disease. Zaki et al.1 now describe in the Journal the detection of a novel betacoronavirus (called HCoV-EMC) in a patient from Saudi Arabia who died of pneumonia and renal failure in . . .
Measurements and Modeling of the Spectral and Directional Radiative Properties of Micro/Nanostructured Materials

Spectral and directional control of thermal radiation is a challenging yet important task for a number of applications, including thermophotovoltaic energy conversion, solar energy utilization, space thermal management, and high-efficiency incandescent lamps. A number of structures have been proposed as coherent emission sources, with spectral emission peaks in well-defined directions. The grating structure has been commonly used in which coherent emission is achieved by the excitation of surface polaritons or surface waves. Along with the development of metamaterials, magnetic polaritons have also received much attention lately and have been demonstrated to be useful for controlling the radiative properties of periodic structures. Furthermore, planar structures can also support surface waves or optical resonance for thermal emission control, such as the truncated one-dimensional photonic crystals and asymmetric Fabry–Perot structures. This article provides an overview of theoretical and experimental research activities, performed in the Nanoscale Thermal Radiation Lab at the Georgia Institute of Technology, on tailoring the spectral and directional thermal radiative properties.
The Intra-National Struggle to Define “US”: External Involvement as a Two-Way Street

Three perspectives on the causes of communal conflict are visible in extant work: a focus on ancient hatreds, on leaders, or on the context that leaders “find” themselves in. Leaders therefore have all the power to mobilize people to fight (or not to) or leaders are driven by circumstantial opportunities or the primordial desires of the masses to resist peace or coexistence with historical enemies. Analysts who focus on leaders or context recognize that external actors affect internal conflicts, but little systematic research has explored the processes relating the domestic politics of nationalist mobilization to factors in the international arena. How does the international arena affect the competition among leaders? How do skillful leaders draw in external actors to lend credibility to their own views? This article asserts that leaders compete to frame identity and mission, and explores the degree to which international factors affect whose “definitions of the situation” are successful in precipitating mobilization shifts among potential followers. A unique finding of this longitudinal study of Northern Ireland is that the role played by international institutions and actors is affected by how domestic actors perceive, cultivate, and bring attention to the linkages between the two spheres.
The onset and blocking of slip in NiAl

Abstract NiAl single crystals that are well annealed and oriented along the [0 0 1] orientation to suppress dislocations have been used to study the onset of slip. Under a constant stress, slip is initiated abruptly with increasing temperature. The slip vector is identified to be by slip line and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations. There is a rate-independent slip initiation temperature that decreases approximately linearly with stress. TEM observations show that the slip is blocked by dislocation locking along both of the two directions in the {0 1 1} glide plane. The locking is explained by the non-planar splitting of the screw component along the three-fold line directions. The blocking of slip by dislocation locking long two line directions is in contrast to dislocations in NiAl that are locked only along the screw orientation, and to dislocations that are not locked at all. This property explains why slip is more difficult than and slips, the general absence of dislocations in annealed crystals, and the need for these dislocations to be nucleated in [0 0 1]-oriented NiAl. Possible mechanisms for the onset of slip in [0 0 1] NiAl are discussed and compared.
Pulmonary Valve Obstruction During Cardiac Catheterization

The clinical and hemodynamic responses to acute pulmonary valve obstruction during cardiac catheterization in patients with severe pulmonary valve stenosis are presented to illustrate the serious nature of this complication.
Colonic mucosal dissection following electrocautery or laser polypectomy

Mucosal proctectomy and ileoanal anastomosis is being increasingly performed on patients with familial polyposis, many of whom have undergone previous subtotal colectomy followed by endoscopic surveillance and polypectomy with monopolar electrocautery (MPEC) or, more recently, argon laser (AL). Our aim was to compare the ease of mucosal dissection following polypectomy with MPEC or AL in the canine colon. At celiotomy, two groups of fifteen 5-to 7-mm sessile polyps were surgically created in the descending colon of five mongrel dogs. Six weeks later, each animal underwent flexible colonoscopy and polyp fulguration with MPEC (15 polyps) and AL (15 polyps). Fulguration was performed weekly for 2–3 weeks until all polyps had been obliterated. Ten weeks later, mucosal dissection was performed with the operating team unaware of prior treatment. Mucosal dissection was scored for dissectability (1 to 4; 1 = facile, 4 = difficult), blood loss, operating time, and number of mucosal perforations with the last three parameters normalized to 100 cm2 of mucosa. AL and MPEC were equally effective at polyp obliteration; however, more AL-treated polyps required retreatment than MPEC-treated polyps (P < 0.05). After AL treatment, mucosal dissection was more facile [dissectability index (mean ± SEM): 1.4 ± 0.2 vs 2.6 ± 0.2; P < 0.05] and could be performed more quickly (15.1 ± 2.4 min vs 23.6 ± 2.7 min; P < 0.01). After AL treatment, mucosal dissection could be performed with fewer mucosal holes (1.6 ± 1.0 vs 7.7 ± 1.0 holes, P < 0.007) and less blood loss (67.2 ± 19.3 cc vs 105.6 ± 24.5 cc, P < 0.03). We conclude that argon laser is as effective as MPEC in colonic polyp ablation and may allow the surgeon an easier and safer mucosal dissection at the time of subsequent mucosal proctectomy.
A CORDIC-based pipelined architecture for robot direct kinematic position computation

The authors describe a CORDIC-based pipelined architecture for computing a direct kinematic position solution based on the decomposition of the homogeneous link transformation matrix. It is found that a homogeneous link transformation matrix can be decomposed into a product of two matrices, each of which can be computed by two CORDIC processors arranged in parallel, forming a two-stage cascade CORDIC computational module. Extending this idea to an n-link manipulator, n two-stage CORDIC computational modules, consisting of 4 pi CORDIC processors, can be concatenated to form a pipelined architecture for computing the position and orientation of the end-effector of the manipulator. Since the initial delay time of the proposed pipelined architecture is 80n mu s and the pipelined time is 40 mu s, the proposed CORDIC-based architecture requires a total computation time of (80n+120) mu s for computing the position and orientation of the end-effector of an n-link manipulator. >
Polymers: facing the flip side.

A blend of ferroelectric and semiconducting polymers provides a potential route to a memory technology compatible with low-cost printed electronics.
The representation of the saccade target object depends on visual stability

During everyday scene viewing, the human visual system faces many challenges. The most frequent disruption of the visual input occurs during saccadic eye movements. Every time we execute a saccade, the perceptual input is disrupted by both saccadic suppression and shifts of objects’ retinal locations. Despite these frequent changes, the visual system is quite efficient at representing a stable visual world (i.e. establishing visual stability). We have previously proposed that transsaccadic integration depends on an object-mediated updating (OMU) process (Tas, Moore, & Hollingworth, 2012). According to this view, the representation of the saccade target object depends on visual stability. Specifically, if stability is established, the post-saccadic object is perceived as the continuation of the pre-saccadic object. In this case, the properties of the pre-saccadic object are overwritten by the post-saccadic properties. In contrast, when visual stability is disrupted, the pre- and post-saccadic objects are represented as separate objects. Therefore, the properties of the pre-saccadic object are protected from overwriting. In the present study, we tested this assumption directly. Specifically, we asked whether visual stability modulates the availability of the pre-saccadic object's features for report.
Design of a Potent CB1 Receptor Antagonist Series: Potential Scaffold for Peripherally-Targeted Agents

Antagonism of cannabinoid-1 (CB1) receptor signaling has been demonstrated to inhibit feeding behaviors in humans, but CB1-mediated central nervous system (CNS) side effects have halted the marketing and further development of the lead drugs against this target. However, peripherally restricted CB1 receptor antagonists may hold potential for providing the desired efficacy with reduced CNS side effect profiles. In this report we detail the discovery and structure–activity-relationship analysis of a novel bicyclic scaffold (3) that exhibits potent CB1 receptor antagonism and oral activity in preclinical feeding models. Optimization of physical properties has led to the identification of analogues which are predicted to have reduced CNS exposure and could serve as a starting point for the design of peripherally targeted CB1 receptor antagonists.
UI-Route: An Ultra-Fast Incremental Maze Routing Algorithm

Grid-based maze routing is a fundamental problem in electronic-design-automation (EDA) domain. A core primitive deals with a large query set about route connectivity subject to incremental changes on grid graph. Existing approaches pertain to batch processing, where each route query is independently and repeatedly solved by a routing procedure. Few researches so far discuss an efficient utilization of search knowledge in incremental fashion, which could dramatically speed up the search. Unfortunately, existing algorithms nearly rely on irregular and highly divergent search space, imposing acceleration challenges on refitting them to incremental version. Consequently, in this paper we present UI-Route, an ultra-fast incremental maze routing algorithm in grid environment. UI-Route is unique in breaking route equivalence, proving that a huge amount of equivalent search efforts can be optimally and incrementally eliminated. Equivalence breaking enables regularized search space, delivering well-tabulated search knowledge through the incremental processing. Moreover UI-Route is largely orthogonal to many applications built upon maze routing and therefore can seamlessly substitute for speedup. Experimental results on a set of modern circuit benchmarks demonstrate that UI-Route achieves prominent speedup over existing algorithms.
Identification of 1,3,5-triamino-2,4-6-trinitrobenzene impurities by two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography

Abstract A two-dimensional thin-layer chromataographic method capable of identifying twelve impurities of 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene is described. The method is applied to the analysis of toluene and acetone extracts of various 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trobenzene, 1.3-dinitro-2,4,5,6-tetrachlorobenzene, 1,3-dinitro-2,4,6-tricholobenzene and their partially aminated products. In addition, trace amounts of several unknown compounds were detected. From the identified products, it is possible to explain the small amount of chlorine (0.5%) that is commonly found in 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene samples.
O.D. at the U.N.: facilitating global change

Expanding our OD horizons to the global level means not only carrying abroad what we know, but also being sensitive to diverse clients who may operate from cultural assumptions very different from our own. Both formal and informal change is possible at international gatherings if practitioners follow a few key guidelines. Seven such observations are discussed by the author, who includes a discussion of “expert” and “process” consultation methods. The article concludes that OD skills are needed in the international arena, but are often unappreciated or unknown. Hence, OD professionals must be educators in addition to their interpersonal practice of superior communication skills. OD is only beginning to stretch its full imaginative power and practice to the international arena, as is reflected in my experiences at a conference of 122 countries held at the United Nations in Vienna, Austria. The conference was the first convening of nations to discuss the topic of old age in light of the policy and organizati...
Spiritual Struggles and Psychological Distress: Is There a Dark Side of Religion?

A growing literature examines the correlates and sequelae of spiritual struggles. Particular attention has been focused on three specific types of such struggles: (a) divine, or troubled relationships with God; (b) interpersonal, or negative social encounters in religious settings; and (c) intrapsychic, or chronic religious doubting. To date, however, this literature has focused primarily on one or another type, leaving open the possibility that these are highly correlated and may tap a single, underlying dimension. Further, because studies have relied mostly on small, specialized samples, it is not clear whether the associations between spiritual struggles and psychological functioning vary across key subgroups in the US population. Using data from the 1998 NORC General Social Survey we address these issues. Findings reveal strong and independent associations between each type of spiritual struggle and psychological distress, and they also show that these patterns are robust across most population subgroups, except for variations by age and marital status. Implications, study limitations, and directions for further research are identified.
A Second-Order Method for the General Nonlinear Programming Problem,

This paper presents a multiplier-type method for nonlinear programming problems with both equality and inequality constraints. Slack variables are used for the inequalities. The penalty coefficient is adjusted automatically, and the method converges quadratically to points satisfying second-order conditions.
Multiple ion implantation effects on hardness and fatigue properties of Fe13Cr15Ni alloys

Abstract Eight complex alloys based on the composition Fe13Cr15Ni2Mo2Mn0.2Ti0.8Si0.06C were implanted simultaneously with 400 keV boron and 550 keV nitrogen, and investigated for microhardness changes and bending fatigue life. The dual implantation was found to decrease the fatigue life of all eight alloys although the implantation increased near-surface hardness of all eight alloys. This result was in contrast to the significant improvements found in the fatigue life of four B, N implanted simple Fe13Cr15Ni alloys. It was determined that the implantation suppressed surface slip band formation, the usual crack initiation site, but in the complex alloys, this suppression promoted a shift to grain boundary cracking. A similar phenomenon was also observed when the simple Fe13Cr15Ni alloys were simultaneously implanted with boron, nitrogen and carbon wherein fatigue life decreased, and gain, grain boundary cracks were observed. To test the hypothesis that ion implantation made the overall surface more fatigue resistant but led to a shift to grain boundary cracking, single crystal specimens of the ternary Fe15Cr15Ni were also implanted with boron and nitrogen ions. The fatigue life decreased for the single crystal specimens also, due to concentration of applied stress along fewer slip bands as compared to the control single crystal specimens were applied stress was relieved by slip band formation over the entire gauge region.
Two-zone model for stream and river ecosystems

A mechanistic two-zone model is developed to represent the food web dynamics of stream and river ecosystems by considering the benthic and nonbenthic (or water-column) zones as two separate, but interacting biotopes. Flow processes, solar radiation, and temperature are the dynamic external environmental drivers. State variables are defined to represent the hierarchical levels of detritus, limiting nutrient, vegetation, and invertebrates. The fish trophic level is included as a constant input parameter. Model parameters, constants, and boundary conditions are defined based on watershed as well as channel hydrology, stream geomorphology, and biological activities. Recent advances in ecological science and engineering are used in representing important biogeochemical processes. In particular, the turbulent diffusion, as well as sloughing or detachment, processes are defined based on these recent advancements. The two-zone model was evaluated for a gravel bed prealpine Swiss stream named River Necker with data for the study period of January 1992 through December 1994. The model was able to capture the general trends and magnitudes of the food web state variables. A comprehensive relative sensitivity analysis with five moment-based measures found that approximately 5% of the model parameters were important in predicting benthic vegetation. Results of sensitivity analysis guided the model calibration. Simulated benthic vegetation with the calibrated model, which was obtained by adjusting only four parameters, corresponded with observed data. Hydrology-dependent sloughing and detachment were dominant in determining the response of benthic vegetation and invertebrates. The proposed two-zone food web model is a potentially useful research tool for stream and river ecosystems.
The Self-Talk Scale: Development, Factor Analysis, and Validation

Researchers and theorists have argued that self-talk plays an important role in everyday behavior and self-regulation. To facilitate research on this role, we developed a new measure of self-talk for use with nonclinical adult populations. The Self-Talk Scale (STS) measures one's frequency of self-talk. Analysis indicated a factor structure consisting of Social Assessment, Self-Criticism, Self-Reinforcement, and Self-Management factors. In 5 studies, we demonstrated that the STS shows acceptable test-retest reliability and preliminary construct validity. We present implications for the use of the STS.
Single-channel K+ currents in Drosophila muscle and their pharmacological block

Four types of nonvoltage-activated potassium channels in the body-wall muscles ofDrosophila third instar larvae have been identified by the patch-clamp technique. Using the inside-out configuration, tetraethylammonium (TEA). Ba2+, and quinidine were applied to the cytoplasmic face of muscle membranes during steady-state channel activation. The four channels could be readily distinguished on the basis of their pharmacological sensitivities and physiological properties. The KST channel was the only type that was activated by stretch. It had a high unitary conductance (100 pS in symmetrical 130/130mm KCl solution), was blocked by TEA (Kd∼35mm), and was the most sensitive to Ba2+ (complete block at 10−4m). A Ca2+-activated potassium channel. KCF 72pS (130/130mm KCl), was gated open at>10−8m Ca2+, was the least sensitive to Ba2+ (Kd of ∼3mm) and TEA (Kd of ∼100mm), and was not affected by quinidine. K2 was a small conductance channel of 11 pS (130/2 KCl, pipette/bath), and was very sensitive to quinidine, being substantially blocked at 0.1mm. It also exhibited a half block at ∼0.3mm Ba2+ and ∼25mm TEA. A fourth channel type, K3, was the most sensitive to TEA (half block<1mm). It displayed a partial block to Ba2+ at 10mm, but no block by 0.1mm quinidine. The blocking effects of TEA, Ba2+ and quinidine were reversible in all channels studied. The actions of TEA and Ba2+ appeared qualitatively different: in all four channels. TEA reduced the apparent unitary conductance, whereas Ba2+ decreased channel open probability.
Bromocriptine for cocaine dependence. A controlled clinical trial.

On the basis of the dopamine depletion theory, bromocriptine has been tested to treat cocaine withdrawal and dependence. The authors conducted a 6-week study with I week of pretreatment observation and 5 weeks of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of bromocriptine for DSM-III-R-defined cocaine dependence in methadone-maintained male patients. The bromocriptine group (n = 24) did not differ from the placebo group (n = 26) in self-reported cocaine use, proportion of positive urine toxicology samples, craving for cocaine, resistance to cocaine use, or mood symptoms between the pretreatment baseline and the last week of the clinical trial. Both groups showed significant reduction in self-reported frequency of cocaine use, resistance to craving, and mood symptoms during participation in the protocol. The results of this study are consistent with recent clinical and laboratory findings in primary cocaine users. Despite initially promising pilot studies, recent evidence does not suppor...