cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
From Self-Organizing Systems to Pattern Formation Systems

In this chapter and the following chapter fundamental concepts of the theory of pattern formation and synergetics will be introduced. The goal of this chapter is to clarify the notion of self-organizing systems and pattern formation systems. It will be shown that while it is difficult to arrive at a clear definition of self-organizing systems, pattern formation systems can be defined in a precise way. With the definition of pattern formation systems at hand, this chapter provides a basis for understanding humans and animals from a pattern formation perspective.
Online Demand Response of Voltage-Dependent Loads for Corrective Grid De-Congestion

During grid overload or upon occurrence of certain contingencies, a corrective action is required to eliminate congestion and reduce transmission line thermal limit violations. In this paper, we propose to use demand-responsive loads for such a purpose. Cost considerations include power retrieved from the slack reserves and the dis-utility of consumers for providing demand-response actions. Violations of voltage and generator reactive power limits are also accounted for. The idea is to topologically re-arrange the consumption of flexible loads to achieve grid de-congestion while maintaining the aggregate network power consumption constant to avoid interference with frequency control procedures. Our formulation is based on nonlinear power flows and easily allows the inclusion of voltage-dependent loads. An online gradient projection algorithm with closed-form updates is developed to solve the non-convex grid de-congestion problem. Approximate gradient calculations based on fast-decoupled load flow are further provided to simplify the algorithm and make it amenable to distributed implementation.
Pulse Oximetry Screening Has Not Changed Timing of Diagnosis or Mortality of Critical Congenital Heart Disease

This study evaluates the effectiveness of mandatory pulse oximetry screening. The objective is to evaluate whether mandatory pulse oximetry testing had decreased the late critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) diagnosis rate and reduced mortality in neonatal subjects. This was a single center, retrospective cohort study comparing the timing of diagnosis of CCHD between neonates undergoing cardiac surgery in 2009–2010, prior to mandatory pulse oximetry screening, and neonates in 2015–2016, after mandatory pulse oximetry screening was instituted. Follow-up was for 1 year. We defined CCHD as lesions requiring surgical correction within 30 days of life. Exclusions included: pacemaker insertions, vascular ring divisions, closure of patent ductus arteriosus, arterial cutdown, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation cannulation without structural heart disease as the sole procedure, or if subjects were born at home. Infants diagnosed prior to discharge from birth hospital were defined as early postnatal; late postnatal subjects were diagnosed after birth hospital discharge. In-hospital mortality and 1-year mortality were measured. A total of 527 neonates were included; 251 (47.6%) comprised the pre-mandatory pulse oximetry screening cohort (2009–2010). Only 3.6% of the 2009–2010 cohort and 4.3% of the 2015–2016 cohort were diagnosed late (p = 0.66). One-year mortality decreased during the study period (17.2% in 2009–2010 vs 10.5% in 2015–2016, p = 0.03). There were no deaths in the late CCHD diagnosis groups. Mandatory pulse oximetry screening legislation has not changed the late postnatal diagnosis rate at our institution. Mortality for neonatal CCHD has declined, but this decline is not attributable to mandatory pulse oximetry screening.
Fractures of the Lateral Process of the Talus

The lateral process of the talus plays a critical role in hindfoot function. It is the attachment site for several important ligamentous structures responsible for lateral ankle stability and provides a significant percentage of the talar contribution to the subtalar joint. Lateral process fractures have recently experienced increased attention due to the rise in popularity of snowboarding over the past two decades and the greatly increased rate of lateral process injuries seen in snowboarders as compared to other activities. This rapid rise in incidence has greatly increased our understanding of diagnosis, management, and natural history of the fracture. Historically, these have been an underdiagnosed entity, often being mistaken for an ankle sprain. Though long-term follow-up and a paucity of data exist in regard to management, we advocate operative management in the majority of injuries due to the critical role the lateral process plays in normal hindfoot function. The objective of this chapter is to provide a comprehensive review of lateral process injuries with particular attention paid to operative treatment concepts.
MMP9 mediates acute hyperglycemia-induced human cardiac stem cell death by upregulating apoptosis and pyroptosis in vitro.

Providing a conducive microenvironment is critical to increase survival of transplanted stem cells in regenerative therapy. Hyperglycemia promotes stem cell death impairing cardiac regeneration in the diabetic heart. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of high glucose-induced stem cell death is important for improving cardiac regeneration in diabetic patients. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9), a collagenase, is upregulated in the diabetic heart, and ablation of MMP9 decreases infarct size in the non-diabetic myocardial infarction heart. In the present study, we aim to investigate whether MMP9 is a mediator of hyperglycemia-induced cell death in human cardiac stem cells (hCSCs) in vitro. We created MMP9−/− hCSCs to test the hypothesis that MMP9 mediates hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress and cell death via apoptosis and pyroptosis in hCSCs, which is attenuated by the lack of MMP9. We found that hyperglycemia induced oxidative stress and increased cell death by promoting pyroptosis and apoptosis in hCSCs, which was prevented in MMP9−/− hCSCs. These findings revealed a novel intracellular role of MMP9 in mediating stem cell death and provide a platform to assess whether MMP9 inhibition could improve hCSCs survival in stem cell therapy at least in acute hyperglycemic microenvironment.
Rough Diamond: An Extension of Equivalence-Based Rewriting

Previous work by the authors generalized conditional rewriting from the use of equalities to the use of arbitrary equivalence relations. Such (classic) equivalence-based rewriting automates the replacement of one subterm by another that may not be strictly equal to it, but is equivalent to it, where this equivalence is determined automatically to be sufficient at that subterm occurrence. We extend that capability by introducing patterned congruence rules in the ACL2 theorem prover, to provide more control over the occurrences where such a replacement may be made. This extension enables additional automation of the rewriting process, which is important in industrial-scale applications. However, because this feature is so new (introduced January, 2014), we do not yet have industrial applications to verify its utility, so we present a small example that illustrates how it supports scaling to large proof efforts.
“A Silent Battle”: Using a Feminist Approach to Support Couples after Miscarriage

The lack of recognition and understanding of miscarriage as a significant loss often leaves bereaved parents with less social support to help them navigate their grief. In a phenomenological study ...
Tales of Precarious Digital Empowerment

This critical cyber-autoethnography delves into the processes of adopting a wearable device, specifically a smartwatch. As I contemplate various moments during which my foreign body (by virtue of b...
Facilitators and Barriers to Accepting Long Term Care at Home: An Analysis of Licensed Home Care Service Agency Websites

Most people prefer to age in place. However, there is a growing body of literature to suggest a reluctance to accept supportive services in the home due to concerns about trust, privacy, cost, and ...
Analyzing the Safety and Efficacy of Flow-Diverting Stents in Pediatric Aneurysms: A Systematic Review

Ruptured intracranial aneurysms cause 50% of spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhages in children, resulting in up to 65% mortality when left untreated. Although flow-diverting stents are especially suited to treat the fusiform and giant aneurysms more commonly found in children, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has only approved their use in patients ≥22 years of age. Our objective was to assess the safety of flow-diverting stents in the treatment of pediatric patients with aneurysms through a systematic literature review using the PRISMA criteria. We used PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science to identify all published cases of pediatric aneurysms treated or retreated using flow-diverting stents from 2007 through 2019. Two independent researchers developed a consensus regarding the inclusion of all articles. Patient data were extracted from the identified articles and used to calculate the incidence rate of complications. From 1396 journal articles identified, 24 articles contained data on 37 pediatric patients that met the inclusion criteria. Of these 37 patients, 8 (21.6%) had a complication by last follow-up (death: 2; residual aneurysm: 2; parent artery occlusion: 4). This resulted in an incidence rate of 0.018 complications per patient at-risk month (95% CI 0.008-0.035). These data suggest that the use of flow-diverting stents for treatment of aneurysms in children may be safe and that FDA approval for this use should be evaluated. Although this analysis is comprised of case reports and case series, it represents the best attempt thus far to quantify the risk of using flow-diverting stents in children.
Prostate Cancer Stem Cells

Prostate cancer is the leading cancer diagnosed in males. Emerging data suggests that cancer arises from only certain cells, termed cancer stem cells, contained within the prostate. In this chapter we will discuss in depth the prostate cancer stem cell. We detail the properties of both normal prostate stem cells and cancer stem cells and discuss the identification and isolation of the prostate cancer stem cells, including the current knowledge of the surface markers used for identification. Furthermore, we discuss the signaling pathways that are important in stem cell maintenance and comment on what is known about these pathways in prostate cancer stem cells and how these pathways, and others, may be targeted to inhibit or kill the tumor-initiating cancer stem cells. In conclusion, we provide a short discussion on the future directions for study of prostate cancer stem cells.
Social Presence in Computer-Based Receptionists: Experimental Study Towards Organizational Automation

This study investigated how computer-based receptionists were perceived by visitors. Considering the perceived degree of social presence in four types of receptionists, we tested perceptions in sou...
The Effect of Feeding Medicated or Non-medicated Milk Replacer on Growth, Morbidity and Mortality of Holstein Heifer Calves

With the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in the medical communities, the agricultural community has been heavily scrutinized on how antimicrobial agents are used. This has led to calling for more prudent use of such drugs in animal agriculture. Given the advances in veterinary preventive medicine, some question the necessity of adding antimicrobial agents to milk replacer for dairy calves. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of feeding milk replacer with or without antimicrobial agents on growth, morbidity and mortality in dairy heifers.
Reduced bone mineral density in the first year after total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation (TPIAT).

Abstract Background/objectives The effect of total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation (TPIAT) on bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with CP is unknown. We aimed to assess bone health in patients with CP after TPIAT. Methods We measured BMD, BMD Z-score, and bone mineral content (BMC) for total body, lumbar spine, right and left hip in 78 patients before and after TPIAT using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA, n = 78 pre-TPIAT, n = 65 paired pre- and 12 months post-TPIAT, n = 33 paired 12 and 18 months post-TPIAT), and tested for association with clinical history including age, smoking status, and medications using paired and two-sample t-tests, linear regression, and Fisher's exact test. Laboratory measures related to bone health were also assessed. Results In the patients with pre-TPIAT DXA, 12% had low BMD (Z-score ≤ −2). BMD, BMD Z-score, and BMC all decreased from pre-to 12 months post-TPIAT. BMD declined by 1.7%–4.1% with the greatest change at the hips. Adjusted for change in lean and fat body mass, DXA changes remained significant for total body and hip. Serum carboxy-terminal collagen crosslinks telopeptide and alkaline phosphatase increased at 12 months post-TPIAT, suggesting possible increased bone remodeling. BMD, BMD Z-score, and BMC did not change between 12 months and 18 months in any of the four regions (p > 0.6). Conclusions TPIAT is associated with decreases in BMD in the body, lumbar, and hip regions of patients with CP in the first year after TPIAT but these appear to stabilize between 12 and 18 months after TPIAT.
The Metabolic Systems: Aerobic Metabolism and Substrate Utilization in Exercising Skeletal Muscle

This section by J. O. H. deals with the early era of aerobic metabolism study, from the 1780s to the 1960s, and is presented with a historical perspective derived from the 1911 review of Nathan Zuntz (137) and the 1950 review of Alexander von Muralt (129).
First-Principles-Driven Model-Based Control of the Poloidal Magnetic Flux Profile at the DIII-D Tokamak

Abstract Efficient, high-gain operation of a tokamak device requires the achievement of certain radial shapes for the toroidal current profile. The evolution in time of the toroidal current profile in tokamaks is related to the evolution of the poloidal magnetic flux profile. A model-based control approach for the regulation of the poloidal magnetic flux profile at the DIII-D tokamak is proposed in this work. The model describing the poloidal flux evolution is based on a control-oriented formulation of the magnetic diffusion equation. Auxiliary heating and current drive (H&CD) systems including electron cyclotron (EC) and neutral beam injection (NBI) along with the total plasma current are used as actuators to manipulate the profile shape. Optimal state feedback control with integral action is used to design a controller to regulate the profile around a target while rejecting disturbances. Combining the profile controller with control of the plasma stored energy is found to improve tracking performance. Simulations and experimental results are presented to demonstrate the controller's effectiveness.
América is in the Archipelago: Mariano De la Rosa’s "Fíame" and the Filipino (American) Novel in Spanish of World War II

Via analysis of the World War II novel Fiame (Filipinas-America) [Trust in Me (Philippines-America)] by Mariano L. De la Rosa, this essay argues that Filipino literature in Spanish written during the United States colonial period undermines any normative definitions of both American and Filipino literature. Fiame, a hitherto unknown text, challenges the marginality of its oblivion by revamping putative national boundaries through a symbolic plot in which two couples, each composed of a Filipino and an American, develop subtly subversive relationships before, during, and immediately after the War. The novel thereby can be connected to questions of Filipino American identity implicitly raised in texts as diverse as the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., and the testimonial narrative America Is in the Heart by Carlos Bulosan. The conceptual diversification of “Filipino American” to include texts written in the islands and in an older imperial language makes the term not an ethnic designation of immigrants and their descendants but a heuristic device of potentially global usage and implications. Meanwhile, Fiame also forces a reappraisal of the twentieth century tradition of Filipino fiction in Spanish because scholars have supposed unanimously that Los pajaros de fuego [The Birds of Fire] by Jesus Balmori was the lone archipelagic novel in that language to be written during and about World War II. This essay is a companion piece to an analysis of Balmori’s novel that was published in Kritika Kultura 17.
In pursuit of Pomeron loops: The Jalilian-Marian-Iancu-McLerran-Weigert-Leonidov-Kovner equation and the Wess-Zumino term

We derive corrections to the JIMWLK equation in the regime where the charge density in the hadronic wave function is small. We show that the framework of the JIMWLK equation has to be significantly modified at small densities in order to properly account for the noncommutativity of the charge density operators. In particular the weight function for the calculation of averages can not be real, but is shown to contain the Wess-Zumino term. The corrections to the kernel of the JIMWLK evolution which are leading at small density are resummed into a path ordered exponential of the functional derivative with respect to the charge density operator, thus hinting at intriguing duality between the high and the low density regimes.
The generative power of categorial grammars and head-driven phrase structure grammars with lexical rules

In this paper, it is shown that the addition of simple and linguistically motivated forms of lexical rules to grammatical theories based on subcategorization lists, such as categorial grammars (CG) or head-driven phrase structure grammars (HPSG), results in a system that can generate all and only the recursively enumerable languages. The proof of this result is carried out by means of a reduction of generalized rewriting systems. Two restrictions are considered, each of which constrains the generative power of the resulting system to context-free languages.
Effects of algal and terrestrial carbon on methane production rates and methanogen community structure in a temperate lake sediment

Summary 1. Sources of atmospheric CH4 are both naturally occurring and anthropogenic. In fact, some anthropogenic activities may influence the production of CH4 from natural sources, such as lakes. 2. Ongoing changes in the catchment of lakes, including eutrophication and increased terrestrial organic carbon export, may affect CH4 production rates as well as shape methanogen abundance and community structure. Therefore, inputs from catchments to lakes should be examined for their effects on CH4 production. 3. We added algal and terrestrial carbon separately to lake sediment cores and measured CH4 production. We also used quantitative polymerase chain reaction and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism to determine the effects of these carbon additions on methanogen abundance and community composition. 4. Our results indicate that CH4 production rates were significantly elevated following the addition of algal biomass. Terrestrial carbon addition also appeared to increase methanogenesis rates; however, the observed increase was not statistically significant. 5. Interestingly, increased CH4 production rates resulted from increases in per-cell activity rather than an increase in methanogen abundance or community compositional shifts, as indicated by our molecular analyses. 6. Overall, anthropogenic impacts on aquatic ecosystems can influence methanogenesis rates and should be considered in models of global methane cycling and climate.
The semantic web and networked governance: promise and challenges

The virtual state is a metaphor meant to draw attention to the structures and processes of the state that are becoming increasingly aligned with the structures and processes of the semantic web. Semantic Web researchers understand the potential for information sharing, enhanced search, improved collaboration, innovation, and other direct implications of contemporary informatics. Yet many of the broader democratic and governmental implications of increasingly networked governance remain elusive, even in the world of public policy and politics. Governments, not businesses, remain the major information processing entities in the world. But where do they stand as knowledge managers, bridge builders and creators? As they strive to become not simply information-based but also knowledge-creating organizations, public agencies and institutions face a set of striking challenges. These include threats to privacy, to intellectual property, to identity, and to traditional processes of review and accountability. From the perspective of the organization of government, what are some of the key challenges faced by governments as they seek to become networked? What best practices are emerging globally? And in the networked world that is rapidly emerging and becoming institutionalized, how can public, private and nonprofit sectors learn from one another?
Impact of activated vitamin D on insulin resistance in nondiabetic chronic kidney disease patients.

Background Although vitamin D deficiency has been associated with increased insulin resistance, a causal link has not been established. Interpreting the relationship has been confounded by a close correlation between vitamin D deficiency and obesity. The current clinical approach of assessing endogenous 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), and independently administering activated vitamin D (AD), allows a unique opportunity to clarify cause and effect in the relationship of vitamin D, obesity and insulin resistance. Methods We assessed how 25(OH)D and body mass index (BMI) related to fasting insulin concentrations in 120 nondiabetic patients with CKD. In addition, we described how treatment with AD modified these relationships. Results In the full cohort, fasting insulin concentrations varied inversely with both 25(OH)D (r = −0·22, P = 0·02) and BMI (r = −0·36, P < 0·0001). The administration of AD altered these relationships. In individuals treated with AD, there was no association between 25(OH)D and fasting insulin, and the mean fasting insulin concentrations were significantly lower than in those not receiving AD (40·5 ± 22·0 vs 54·1 ± 30·9 pm, P = 0·01). In a multivariate analysis, both AD treatment and BMI were independent predictors of fasting insulin. Furthermore, obese patients treated with AD had insulin concentrations similar to nonobese patients (46·1 ± 24·9 vs 40·2 ± 21·5 pm), whereas untreated obese patients had markedly higher fasting insulin concentrations (74·4 ± 33·4 pm, P = 0·003). Conclusion 25(OH)D deficiency is associated with insulin resistance in CKD. Replacement with pharmacologic doses of AD is associated with lower fasting insulin concentrations, especially in obese patients.
International expansion of U.S. full-service restaurants: Positive and increasing effects on financial performance

Abstract Contrary to conventional wisdom, the current study found that full-service restaurant companies increasingly perform better as their degree of international expansion increases once their international stores reach 8.3% of their total store units, while the impact is significantly lower for quick-service restaurant companies for U.S. based companies. This study argues that various degrees of tacit knowledge required by operating full-service restaurant companies and quick-service restaurant companies explain the major reason for significant differences in success of international operations. As a firm's accumulated tacit knowledge for international operations becomes a source of sustainable competitive advantage, U.S. full-service restaurant companies increasingly perform better than U.S. quick-service restaurant companies; this disparity in performance is due to the relatively easy-to-transfer knowledge and standardized approaches of the U.S. quick-service restaurant companies.
An ELISA for detection of DNA-bound carcinogen using a monoclonal antibody to N-acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene-modified DNA.

Abstract We have produced and characterized a murine monoclonal antibody that recognizes DNA modified with N -acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene. The effectiveness of competitive binding inhibitors in an ELISA indicates that this antibody binds most strongly to N -(guanin-8-yl)-2-acetylaminofluorene. It also binds to N -(guanin-8-yl)-2-aminofluorene, albeit some 20-fold less avidly. Thus the monoclonal antibody displays specificity generally similar to the polyclonal antisera elicited by other laboratories but having the advantage of stable and precisely defined specificities. We employed a biotin-streptavidin ELISA to demonstrate that the antibody can detect less than 10 fmol of N -(guanin-8-yl)-2-acetylaminofluorene. N -(guanin-8-yl)-2-acetylaminofluorene is a more effective competitive binding inhibitor of the antibody than is N -(2′-deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-2-acetylaminofluorene or calf thymus DNA modified with N -acetoxy- 2-acetylaminofluorene. Thus the antibody should be most useful in quantifying the persistence of N -acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene adducts in DNA hydrolyzed with trifluoroacetic acid.
On the analytical modeling of the nonlinear vibrations of pretensioned space structures

Pretensioned structures are receiving considerable attention as candidate large space structures. A typical example is a hoop-column antenna. The large number of preloaded members requires efficient analytical methods for concept validation and design. Validation through analyses is especially important since ground testing may be limited due to gravity effects and structural size. The present investigation has the objective to present an examination of the analytical modeling of pretensioned members undergoing nonlinear vibrations. Two approximate nonlinear analysis are developed to model general structural arrangements which include beam-columns and pretensioned cables attached to a common nucleus, such as may occur at a joint of a pretensioned structure. Attention is given to structures undergoing nonlinear steady-state oscillations due to sinusoidal excitation forces. Three analyses, linear, quasi-linear, and nonlinear are conducted and applied to study the response of a relatively simple cable stiffened structure.
Cultivation of monolayer cultures of frog renal cells.

CONSIDERABLE evidence has been accumulated by Lucke1, Duryee2, Rose3, Tweedell4, and others for an agent which induces an organ-specific adenocar-cinoma in the kidney of the leopard frog, Rana pipiens. Lucke1 has postulated that this agent is probably of a viral nature. Although a percentage of the animals develop palpable renal tumours after a long and variable period of time following injection of tumour material, it is still desirable to devise other methods to propagate and possibly isolate the infective agent. At the same time, the large dimensions of the frog cells make them an ideal system with which to study the initiation of any subcellular modifications following incubation of cells with the tumour-inducing agent.
Biotechnology, Anticipated Productivity Increases and U.S. Dairy Policy

A major difficulty with the U.S. milk price support program is the instability in fiscal budgeting caused by the rapid technological change occurring in the industry. Further, the introduction of foreseeable new technologies such as synthetic bovine Somatotropin (bST) will compound the levels and costs of government purchases of milk after the technology is introduced in 1990. In this paper, an optimal control model is developed to stabilize government purchases of surplus milk in anticipation of bST. Results indicate that the current policies of Food Security Act of 1985 do not adequately anticipate the introduction of bST, and this will present a large dilemma for dairy policy. Provisions of FSA are adequate to stabilize government purchases of milk at acceptable levels only if bST is not introduced. Either the technology must be restricted, possibly through product taxes, or support prices must be lowered dramatically. Even with lower support prices, CCC purchases may still climb to high levels (15 billion pounds), depending on the rate of adoption.
Seeking Asylum from Torture: A Doctor's View

Asylum seekers have suffered atrocities that are impossible for most of us to comprehend. As a physician, I evaluate and document injuries, scars, and mental health problems and then render an opin...
SV40 T-antigen is a histocompatibility antigen of SV40-transgenic mice.

Although the extensive family of non-H-2 histocompatibility (H) antigens provides a formidable barrier to transplantation, the origin of their encoding genes are unknown. Recent studies have demonstrated both the linkage between H genes and retroviral sequences and the ability of integrated Moloney-murine leukemia virus to encode what is operationally defined as a non-H-2 H antigen. The experiments described in this communication reveal that skin grafts from an SV40 T-antigen transgenic C57BL/6 mouse strain are rejected by coisogenic C57BL/6 recipients with a median survival time of 49 days, which is comparable to those of many previously defined non-H-2 H antigens. The specificity of this response for SV40 T-antigen was demonstrated by the identification of SV40 T-antigen-specific cytolytic T lymphocytes and antibodies in multiply-grafted recipients. Although these cytolytic T lymphocytes could detect SV40 T-antigen on syngeneic SV40-transformed fibroblasts, they neither could be stimulated by splenic lymphocytes from T-antigen transgenics nor could they lyse lymphoblast targets from T-antigen transgenics. These observations suggest a limited tissue distribution of SV40 T-antigen in these transgenics. These results confirm the role of viral genes in the determination of non-H-2 histocompatibility antigenes by the strict criteria that such antigenes stimulate (1) tissue graft rejection and (2) generation of cytolytic T lymphocytes. Furthermore, they suggest that the SV40 enhancer and promoter region can target expression of SV-40 T-antigen to skin cells of transgenic animals.
Implications of the experimental results on the photodisintegration of He 4

The photoproton and photoneutron cross sections for $^{4}\mathrm{He}$ are evaluated in the light of several recent measurements, and are found to be substantially different in the energy region below 30 MeV. Because these cross sections are dominated by $\ensuremath{\Delta}S=0$, $\ensuremath{\Delta}T=1$ $E1$ transitions, this result implies strong isospin mixing in the four-nucleon system. Furthermore, since available continuum shell-model calculations including Coulomb effects predict only small differences in the photoproton and photoneutron cross sections except near threshold, this result suggests that a nonzero charge asymmetry is present in the nuclear force.NUCLEAR REACTIONS $^{4}\mathrm{He}(\ensuremath{\gamma}, p)^{3}\mathrm{H}$, $^{4}\mathrm{He}(\ensuremath{\gamma}, n)^{3}\mathrm{He}$, evaluated cross sections, cross-section ratio; isospin mixing, charge asymmetry.
Counterpoint: Hydroxyapatite crystal deposition is not intimately involved in the pathogenesis and progression of human osteoarthritis

The association of hydroxyapatite deposition with osteoarthritis pathogenesis and progression remains controversial, even after decades of study. Hydroxyapatite crystals are found in osteoarthritis in advanced disease only. Even then, hydroxyapatite crystals are found in such small amounts that special analytical techniques are required to detect the crystals. Further, the osteoarthritic joint fluid appears noninflammatory, suggesting that such hydroxyapatite crystals have very small effect on the pathologic process. Formal histopathologic evidence is scant, but hydroxyapatite crystal deposition within osteoarthritic synovium or cartilage is a rare event. Hydroxyapatite crystals may be present at end-stage osteoarthritis, but in insufficient amounts to contribute significantly to osteoarthritis pathogenesis or progression. This review critically examines the evidence from osteoarthritic synovial fluids, imaging, and histopathology to determine whether the well-characterized in vitro cellular reactions to hydroxyapatite apply to the pathogenesis of human osteoarthritis.
Electrical and contractile activities of the small intestine of the cat

Five conscious cats were studied in the fasted and fed states to characterize the electrical and contractile activities of the feline small intestine. Slow waves were present at a frequency which decreased from 18 cycles/min in the duodenum to 13 cycles/min in the terminal ileum. There was a frequency “plateau” over the proximal 40 to 60% of intestine where the slow waves were coupled. Spike potentials of 2 types were present. The majority of spikes occurred only during the depolarization phase of the slow waves and were accompanied by phasic contractions. The second type of spiking (occurring only in fasted animals) was characterized by a 4-to 16-second prolonged burst of spike potentials that first appeared in the upper small bowel and spread aborally. This burst was accompanied by a large tonic contraction. The slow waves were disrupted by the prolonged burst. These experiments not only demonstrate that the small intestine of the cat exhibits many of the same electrical and mechanical activities present in other species but also that a seemingly unique activity is present.
Fabrication of Optical Microlenses in Glass Using a Femtosecond Laser for LBA-on-a-Chip Applications

We describe the fabrication of microoptical cylindrical and hemispherical lenses vertically embedded in a photosensitive Foturan glass by femtosecond (fs) laser three-dimensional (3D) micromachining. The process is mainly composed of four steps: (1) fs laser scanning in the photosensitive glass to form curved surfaces (spherical and/or cylindrical); (2) postannealing of the sample for modification of the exposed areas; (3) chemical etching of the sample for selective removal of the modified areas; and (4) second postannealing for smoothening the surfaces of the tiny lenses. We examine the focusing ability of the microoptical lenses using a He-Ne laser beam, showing great potential of using these microoptical lenses in lab-on-a-chip applications.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Influence of vegetation height on the distribution and persistence of insecticide residues on alfalfa and soil

This study was conducted to field-test the vegetation nomogram the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency uses to estimate maximum expected concentrations of pesticide residues on plants when conducting ecological risk assessments. The objectives were to test whether residue concentrations were conservatively predicted by the nomogram and to determine the influence of vegetation structure on residue distribution and degradation. Azinphos-methyl was applied at 0, 0.88, and 3.61 kg/ha to 24 0.2-ha enclosures planted with alfalfa (Medicago sativa). Alfalfa in 12 enclosures was mowed in order to reduce vegetation height three weeks before the chemical was applied. Residue concentrations were measured on canopy-level spray cards, soil samples, and alfalfa on days 0, 2, 6, 14, and 28 after spraying. Deposition of azinphos-methyl on spray cards was generally lower than the measured application rates. Residue concentrations increased proportionately with application rate. However, the nomogram underestimated mean concentrations on mowed alfalfa and unmowed alfalfa tops. Residue concentrations on the top 15 cm of unmowed alfalfa were ≥4 times greater than concentrations on the bottom 15 cm, indicating that much of the insecticide was intercepted in the canopy of unmowed alfalfa. Residue concentrations tended to be higher on mowed alfalfa than on unmowed alfalfa tops. The half-life of azinphos-methyl on alfalfa ranged from 1.7 to 5.1 days. Apparently, mowing did not affect residue persistence. The results indicate that the vegetation nomogram may underestimate pesticide residue concentrations on alfalfa and that variation in vegetation structure may substantially influence exposure of herbivores to pesticides.
Organic and inorganic lead inhibit neurite growth in vertebrate and invertebrate neurons in culture.

Neurons from brains of chick embryos and pond snails (Lymnaea stagnalis) were cultured for 3 to 4 d in the presence of no toxins, inorganic lead (PbCl2), or organic lead (trielthyl lead chloride). In chick neurons, inorganic lead reduced the percentage of cells that grew neurites (IC50=270μM total lead, approximately 70 nM free Pb2+) but did not reduce the number of neurites per cell or the mean neurite length. Triethyl lead reduced the percentage of cells that grew neuites (IC50=0.24 μM) and the mean neurite length (extrapolated IC50=3.6 μM) but did not reduce the number of neurites per cell. InLymnaea neurons, inorganic lead reduced the percentage of cells that grew neurites (IC50=13 μM total lead; approximately 10 nM free Pb2+). Triethyl lead reduced the percentage of cells that grew neurites (IC50=0.4 μM) and exerted significant toxicity at 0.2 μM. The two forms of lead affected neurite growth in qualitatively different ways, which suggests that their mechansms of action are different.
Arteriogenesis: role of nitric oxide

Arteriogenesis is an important process for adapting the pre-existing circuit of vessels into functional collateral conduits for delivery of oxygen enriched blood to tissue distal to occlusion of a large, peripheral conduit artery. Recent evidence has shown that arteriogenesis is regulated by nitric oxide (NO), angiogenic factors and shear stress. NO significantly impacts vasomotor tone to enhance conductance of the newly recruited collateral arteries, and this effect is augmented by exercise training prior to arterial occlusion. NO-mediated increases in vascular conductance allows for greater collateral dependent blood flow to the tissue distal to occlusion. NO production is also critical to the efficacy of therapeutic arteriogenesis achieved by delivery of exogenous angiogenic growth factors (VEGF, FGF-2) or by exercise training. The critical role of NO in therapeutic arteriogenesis is independent of NO-mediated changes in vascular conductance and implies a central role in arteriogenic signaling events. Maintenance, or improvement, of NO production and signaling, such as with regular exercise, may improve endothelial cell function and thus may help preserve the arteriogenic potential of preexisting collateral networks.
Engineering of glycerol-stimulated insulin secretion in islet beta cells. Differential metabolic fates of glucose and glycerol provide insight into mechanisms of stimulus-secretion coupling

Insulin secretion from beta cells in the islets of Langerhans can be stimulated by a number of metabolic fuels, including glucose and glyceraldehyde, and is thought to be mediated by metabolism of the secretagogues and an attendant increase in the ATP:ADP ratio. Curiously, glycerol fails to stimulate insulin secretion, even though it has been reported that islets contain abundant glycerol kinase activity and oxidize glycerol efficiently. We have reinvestigated this point and find that rat islets and the well differentiated insulinoma cell line INS-1 contain negligible glycerol kinase activity. A recombinant adenovirus containing the bacterial glycerol kinase gene (AdCMV-GlpK) was constructed and used to express the enzyme in islets and INS-1 cells, resulting in insulin secretion in response to glycerol. In AdCMV-GlpK-treated INS-1 cells a greater proportion of glycerol is converted to lactate and a lesser proportion is oxidized compared with glucose. The two fuels are equally potent as insulin secretagogues, despite the fact that oxidation of glycerol at its maximally effective dose (2-5 mM) occurs at a rate that is similar to the rate of glucose oxidation at its basal, nonstimulatory concentration (3 mM). We also investigated the possibility that glycerol may signal via expansion of the glycerol phosphate pool to allow enhanced fatty acid esterification and formation of complex lipids. Addition of Triacsin-C, an inhibitor of long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase, to AdCMV-GlpK-treated INS-1 cells did not inhibit glycerol-stimulated insulin secretion despite the fact that it blocked glycerol incorporation into cellular lipids. We conclude from these studies that glycerol kinase expression is sufficient to activate glycerol signaling in beta cells, showing that the failure of normal islets to respond to this substrate is due to a lack of this enzyme activity. Further, our studies show that glycerol signaling is not linked to esterification or oxidation of the substrate, but is likely mediated by its metabolism in the glycerol phosphate shuttle and/or the distal portion of the glycolytic pathway, either of which can lead to production of ATP and an increased ATP:ADP ratio.
Novel Anticoagulants Eliminate the Need for Left Atrial Appendage Exclusion Devices

The justification for implanting a left atrial appendage (LAA) exclusion device is based on the assumption that the pathogenesis of stroke in every patient with atrial fibrillation (AF) is the embolism of clot from the LAA to the brain. This hypothesis, although true in some patients, is a simplistic view of a more complex disease. What is well established is that AF is often accompanied by hypertension, diabetes mellitus, systolic left ventricular dysfunction, vascular disease, and previous stroke, conditions that are independent risk factors for stroke.1 In an individual patient it is often impossible to determine which among these factors is responsible for a stroke. Of interest, AF may be the underlying cause of an ischemic stroke but may also go undetected, and lead to the erroneous diagnosis of cryptogenic stroke.2,3 The common pathogenesis of ischemic stroke is thrombosis, and anticoagulation is a highly effective preventative measure particularly when AF is present.4–8 Noteworthy, warfarin, against which the novel anticoagulants and Watchman device have been compared, is very effective for stroke prevention in patients with AF, with a reduction of up to 81% against placebo in open-label trials and 79% in the only completed double-blind trial.5,7 The novel anticoagulants (dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban) were developed primarily to obviate the difficulties of using warfarin. The expectation was to show noninferiority for both efficacy and safety compared with warfarin.9–12 In definitive clinical trials these agents have either exceeded or met expectations against warfarin. Dabigatran 150 mg twice daily (BID) and apixaban (5 mg BID down-titrated to 2.5 mg BID for age ≥80 years, body weight ≤60 kg, and serum creatinine ≥1.5 mg/dL) were superior in efficacy to well-controlled warfarin.13,14 Rivaroxaban (20 mg down-titrated to 15 mg …
Dietary fish oil modulation of in vivo peritoneal macrophage leukotriene production and phagocytosis

Abstract Dietary fish oils (FO) are generally considered to have anti-inflammatory properties, due in part to the competitive inhibition of macrophage arachidonic acid (20:4n-6) metabolism by n-3 fatty acids. To further determine how FO feeding may act to influence macrophage function, mice were fed complete diets containing either 9% by weight FO supplemented with 1% corn oil (CO) containing linoleic acid (18:2n-6), 10% CO, or 10% borage oil (BO) containing 18:2n-6 and gammalinolenic acid (18:3n-6). After 2 wks, an acute inflammatory episode was induced by injecting unopsonized zymosan into the peritoneal cavity 1 hr prior to sacrifice. Peritoneal exudates were subsequently analyzed for in vivo leukotriene E4 production by combined solid phase extraction and reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography. In addition, phagocytosis of zymosan was determined by light and electron microscopy. Peritoneal exudates from CO and BO animals contained five times more LTE4 than FO exudates (BO, 37.5 ± 5.3 and CO, 29.6 ± 3.3 versus FO, 6.5 ± 3.3 ng/mouse). The fraction of FO macrophages ingesting zymosan was 62.2% compared with 32.6% in BO- and 35.0% in CO-fed animals. The mean number of particles ingested per macrophage was also elevated in FO, 4.31 versus BO, 3.51 and CO, 3.57. These results indicate that dietary FO is capable of suppressing macrophage eicosanoid metabolism and enhancing zymosan phagocytosis in vivo.
Orienting the reader: Discourse strategies for conversing about spatial information in George Orwell’s Burmese Days

This study examines strategies that authors can use in texts to keep readers active and accurate participants in the literary conversation and sets forth a taxonomy of those strategies: initiating the literary conversation, anticipating, preventing and correcting possible misunderstandings, and keeping readers engaged as interlocutors. A case study on Burmese Days, by George Orwell, reveals a pattern of interactions between stated information and assumed knowledge. Orwell’s strategies indicate that he assumes that readers are competent, participatory readers (literary conversants), and he uses that assumption to convey locational information. Among these strategies are the following main categories: emphasizing closed-class semantics over open-class implicatures; providing more detail about more important information and less detail about less important information; reviewing the most important information from multiple perspectives; and perhaps most importantly, leaving some information for readers to infer. All of Orwell’s strategies assume the best about readers’ knowledge and willingness to participate and leave room for a pragmatically productive give-and-take that closely resembles conversation.
A Model for On-Line Learning Networks in Engineering Education

This paper describes a model for implementing on-line learning in engineering education. Relationships between traditional learning strategies and network-enabled engineering education are discussed. The model proposed is based on a World Wide Web implementation that includes presentation materials, on-line conferencing, demonstrations, and interactive capabilities that permit computer-mediated question and answer sessions. An example of a course implemented using these techniques for a first year engineering course is given. Guidance for engineering educators who wish to implement components of the model is provided.
Complete Analytical Model for Different Variations of FinFET

Here we present a complete analytical model that characterizes all the variations of multi-gate MOSFETs including the Tri-gate FinFET (Figure 1), all-around gate FinFET, Trapezoidal FinFET, Double-gate MOSFET, etc. Next we present a complete comparison between ideal rectangular FinFETs and trapezoidal FinFETs. Finally, for the first time, we present the ultimate limit for scaling of rectangular and trapezoidal FinFETs.
Radioisotope assay of sperm-binding globulin.

A radioisotope assay of sperm-binding globulin was employed to: 1) d etermine how many doe rabbits might develop sperm-binding globulins afte r being injected with about the same number of spermatozoa as normally enter their reproductive tracts 2) compare the effectiveness of Freunds adjuvant with polyribonucleotide adjuvant and 3) compare sperm agglutination and sperm immobilization techniques with a previously reported radioisotope tagging method for sperm-binding globulins. Injecting the rabbits with rabbit or human spermatozoa plus adjuvant did not increase serum sperm-binding globlulin levels and their fertility was not markedly altered. The assay results corresponded closely with results of hemagglutination ititers sperm macroagglutination and immobilization tests done in another laboratory on the same samples. Since none of the does responded it is concluded that natural sperm immunity would be rarely found in rabbits.
Critical-density scale-length measurements in laser-produced plasmas

Inhomogeneity scale lengths between critical and quarter-critical densities have been obtained by photographing laser-produced plasmas in emitted light at twice and three-halves the laser frequency. The displacements of the harmonic-light images were measured on photographs taken from a position below spherical targets irradiated by four Nd: glass-laser beams. Over the range of 5 to 20 J absorbed (in 200 to 600 psec) by 70-100-\ensuremath{\mu}m-diam glass shells, this scale length increased linearly from 10 to 30 \ensuremath{\mu}m.