cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
BETWEEN HISTORY AND LEGEND: FOOD, CULTURE AND POLITICS AT THE ESTE COURT OF FERRARA - A PSEUDOSCIENTIFIC APPROACH TO REIGNING.

Gastronomy, by which I mean the pleasure and the luxury ofthe dinner table, was always a passion of the ambitious Este family. They were rulers of Ferrara from the beginning of the 13th to the end of the 16th centuries. The Estensi, as they were called, fancied fine clothes, elaborate ceremonies, beautiful art works and succulent food. Today's Ferraresi have adopted many of their customs and habits. If they can afford it, that is. The Este laid a splendid table. Famous chefs, such as Cristoforo Messibugo, whose name is still revered in culinary circles, spent their time inventing dishes for the many courses that typically made up one of these gargantuan feasts. And what a sparkling life was lived in those splendid times! When I grew up in Ferrara in the 1960s and early 1970s very few people seemed to remember the city‘s glorious past, the castle moat had become one of the favorite dumping grounds to rebellious teenagers who would throw in it outdoor bar furniture, bicycles and whatever else they found lying around late at night. The breathtaking castle was in need of repairs. Via delle Volte with its arches and cobblestones had become home to prostitutes and small-time thieves, the wall surrounding the city was crumbling down. The Estensi‘s work had been lost, not only through fire and earthquake, but also due to civic disregard.
High-gain observer design for multi-output systems: Transformation to a canonical form by dynamic output shaping

SUMMARY In this paper, we consider the observer design problem for a class of observable linear systems perturbed by nonlinear, time-varying terms. Our design methodology is based on a canonical form, similar to canonical forms used elsewhere in the literature, that allows the nonlinearities to be dominated using high gain. We show that linear state and output transformations to this canonical form exist if, and only if, the data of the system satisfies a certain admissibility property. Moreover, the appropriate transformations can easily be constructed using available tools. We furthermore show that, if a system does not satisfy the admissibility property, it may be possible to extend it with an invertible output filter that makes the data of the extended system admissible. We refer to the problem of constructing such a filter as the output shaping problem and introduce an algorithm that solves the problem whenever it is solvable. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Financial Reporting and Disclosure Quality, and Emerging Market Companies' Access to Capital in Global Markets

This study examines how five financial reporting and disclosure quality proxies are related to emerging markets (EM) firms' cross-listing choices and their access to the global capital market. Our five financial reporting and disclosure quality proxies are transparency of the annual report, global vs. local auditor, global vs. local GAAP, translation of the annual report into English, and voluntary dissemination of information through websites. We first ask whether this set of proxies reflects a single (or two) underlying financial reporting quality constructs using a principal components factor analysis. We find that the proxies are sufficiently distinct to escape parsimonious description as a single construct. This result suggests that EM firms pick and choose from among alternatives to enhance their financial reporting and disclosure quality, rather than moving from low quality to high quality on all dimensions simultaneously. We next document the relations among our reporting and disclosure proxies and EM firms' decisions to be listed or traded in U.S. and U.K. capital markets, after controlling for factors we expected to be associated with firms' cross-listing decisions. Evidence in prior research leaves open the question of the endogeneity of cross-listing and financial reporting and disclosure quality. We find evidence of a strong association between each of our five proxies and EM firms' participation in U.S. and U.K. capital markets, but the variation in the five proxies (plus the controls) explains only about 40% of the variation in firms' cross-listing patterns. This result is important because it suggests that EM firms view being listed or traded in the U.S. or the U.K. as a substitute rather than a complement to enhanced financial reporting and disclosure quality. Finally, we find the reporting and disclosure proxies are not significantly correlated with the amount of debt and equity capital raised in global markets, after controlling for the effects of cross-listing in the U.S. and the U.K. and other control variables. In contrast, firms' cross-listing choices are strongly correlated with amount of capital raised. From this evidence we conclude that, consistent with the bonding hypothesis, EM firms' presence in U.S. and U.K. capital markets is a more important factor in their ability to raise capital than are their financial reporting and disclosure quality choices.
Aspergillus infection in a hospitalised veteran population

The recent article by Paterson [1] provided an update on the changing nature of infection with Aspergillus spp., and highlighted the appearance of this disease in non-conventional hosts. Our own experience with aspergillosis in a veteran population hospitalised at the Salem Veterans Affairs Medical Center also supports a shift in the nature of the affected patients. Following review of all inpatients between 1989 and 2003, 17 patients were identified with Aspergillus infection. The mean age of these patients was 59.8 years, all were male, 15 were Caucasian and two were African-American. Thirteen (76%) were smokers. Concurrent medical illness included chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in seven patients, and pre-existing cavitary lung lesions in four. Two patients had a history of treated tuberculosis. Only four patients were immunocompromised, three with AIDS and one with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Presenting symptoms were dyspnoea or cough in nine patients, haemoptysis in three, stroke in one, and sinusitis in one. Eleven immunocompetent patients had pulmonary involvement (five patients with Aspergillus pneumonia, with one complicated by empyema, five cavitary lung lesions and one isolated Aspergillus empyema). One immunocompetent patient had invasive maxillary sinusitis, and one had septic arthritis. One immunocompromised patient had disseminated aspergillosis and presented with a posterior circulation stroke, two had pulmonary involvement, and one had perioral cutaneous spread. Patients were treated with amphotericin B or triazole antifungal agents based on the severity of the disease. The deaths of five patients were related to Aspergillus infection, but three of these were identified only at autopsy. Of the latter three cases, one patient had AIDS, with a stroke resulting from vascular invasion, while two deaths were of immunocompetent patients with pulmonary aspergillosis. Aspergillosis as a clinical entity is difficult to diagnose, and is diagnosed occasionally only at autopsy. We concur with Dr Paterson’s assessment that a higher index of suspicion is needed to improve the outcomes for patients with invasive Aspergillus infection, not only in immunocompromised patients, but also in immunocompetent hosts.
Primary pleomorphic liposarcoma of the parotid gland: A case report and review of the literature

Although liposarcomas are the most common type of sarcoma in adults, they are rare in the head and neck region. Pleomorphic liposarcoma is the least common histologic subtype in all locations. To our knowledge, there have been only 11 reported cases of primary liposarcomas of the major salivary glands, and the pleomorphic variant arising in the parotid gland has been reported only once before. Only 2 of the 11 reported cases of liposarcoma of the major salivary glands in the literature have died of disease, and both cases were of the pleomorphic subtype. We report a case of pleomorphic liposarcoma arising in the left parotid gland of an 80-year-old woman. This case report highlights that, despite conservative surgery followed by 2 local recurrences, our patient is doing well with minimal local morbidity and no demonstrable metastases 30 months after the initial diagnosis. We also present a review of the literature on the subject.
Effect of BMI on primary treatment of prostate cancer.

Objectives Obese patients with prostate cancer have more aggressive tumors and, in some studies, more prostate cancer-specific deaths. This study was designed to assess the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and treatment patterns of prostate cancer patients. Methods We identified 5041 men with clinically localized prostate cancer (T1-3a, N0M0) who received their first treatment between 1995 and 2006. We derived the odds ratios (OR) for the likelihood of receiving each type of therapy compared with radical prostatectomy by BMI categories using multinomial logistic regression. In our analysis we controlled for age at diagnosis, race/ethnicity, education level, clinical risk category, and number of co-morbidities. Results A total of 28.1% of patients were classified as normal BMI, 50.5% were overweight, 16.5% were obese, and 4.8% were very obese. The adjusted OR of receiving nonsurgical therapies (brachytherapy, external radiation, primary androgen deprivation, and active surveillance) increased relative to radical prostatectomy for increasing obesity (P = 0.003). Compared with the patients with normal BMI, very obese patients were more likely to receive brachytherapy (OR 1.59, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01 to 2.52), external radiation (OR 1.29, 95% CI 0.73 to 2.26), primary androgen therapy only (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.12 to 2.81), and active surveillance (OR 1.06, 95% CI 0.52 to 2.17) compared with radical prostatectomy. Conclusions In a large cohort of American prostate cancer patients, a significant trend toward nonsurgical treatment modalities was apparent with increasing BMI.
A Computer Organization and Programming System for Automated Maintenance

This paper describes an approach to the maintenance problem of central processors which minimizes the human role. This approach consists of a combination of 1) a programming system which computes the diagnostic program from the design-automation tape, and 2) a novel organization of a part of the controls of an experimental computer. Problems which require solution are listed and reasons are given as to why they were solved by the methods described. An account of the programming system and hardware as implemented is given, and improvements in them are considered in the light of difficulties encountered.
Erythrocytapheresis in children with sickle cell disease and acute chest syndrome.

Background Red cell exchange (RCE) is part of the management of acute chest syndrome (ACS) in patients with sickle cell disease. The study describes the indications and outcome of the procedure. Procedure We retrospectively reviewed 53 episodes of ACS in 44 patients who received RCE from January 2003 to October 2006. Patients were aged between 18 months and 19 years. Results Sixty-two percent of the patients had at least one previous episode of ACS. ACS was diagnosed at presentation in 66%, in the remainder ACS was diagnosed after a median of 2 days. Clinical Respiratory Score (CRS) was assigned retrospectively to assess respiratory distress (0 = no distress, >6 = severe). Median admission CRS of 2, progressed to 4 before RCE and declined to 2 within 24 hr afterwards. Median day of RCE was day 2 (IQR 1–3) and the main indication was worsening respiratory distress. No patient developed venous thrombosis, alloantibodies or other complications from RCE. Median length of hospitalization was 7 days (IQR: 5–9 days). Patients with a platelet count significantly lower than their baseline on admission had an increased risk of mechanical ventilation. Conclusions RCE appears to be a safe and effective treatment for patients with sickle cell disease and ACS. One-third of patients who received RCE for ACS had no respiratory symptoms on admission. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2009;53:1060–1063. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Effects of Reviewing Multiple-Choice Tests on Specific versus General Learning

Reviewing test items improves subsequent scores on identical items, but does not generalize to a rewrite of those items.
Expression of hyaluronan and the hyaluronan-binding proteoglycans neurocan, aggrecan, and versican by neural stem cells and neural cells derived from embryonic stem cells.

Abstract We have examined the expression and localization patterns of hyaluronan and hyaluronan-binding chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans in neural stem cells and differentiated neural cells derived from mouse embryonic stem cells. Expression of proteoglycans and hyaluronan was weak in the SSEA1-positive embryonic stem cells but increased noticeably after retinoic acid induction to nestin-positive neural stem cells. After subsequent plating, the hyaluronan-binding chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans aggrecan, neurocan, and versican are expressed by cells in both the astrocytic and neuronal lineages. During the time period that hyaluronan was present, it co-localized with each of the hyaluronan-binding proteoglycans studied and was found to be clearly associated with β-III tubulin-expressing neurons and oligodendrocytes expressing the O4 sulfatide marker. Although proteoglycan expression levels increased to varying degrees following neural differentiation, they did not change noticably during the following 2 weeks in culture, but there was a significant decrease in hyaluronan expression. Our studies therefore demonstrate the expression by neural stem cells and neural cells derived from them of hyaluronan and its associated proteoglycans, thereby providing a necessary foundation for integrating their specific properties into developing strategies for therapeutic applications.
Embedding landscape processes into triangulated terrain models

Triangulated irregular networks (TIN) can form the basis for multiple‐resolution representations in distributed hydrogeomorphic simulations over complex basins. Current methods for deriving TIN meshes depend primarily on surface slope without considering other terrain attributes significant to the watershed response such as the specific basin area. As an alternative, we present a methodology for combining a hydrogeomorphic or landscape index with an unstructured triangulated mesh. Landscape indices provide a concise method for describing steady‐state terrain processes by isolating the dominant physical factors. The mesh‐generation algorithm results in an adaptive discretization that resembles the spatial pattern of the landscape index with a high resolution retained in areas expected to impact the basin response. We compare the proposed algorithm with a slope‐preserving method as a means for initializing the terrain representation in two TIN‐based hydrogeomorphic models. Through three case studies in satu...
Photodetachment of Hydrated Sulfate Doubly Charged Anions: SO42-(H2O)n(n= 4-40)†

We produced hydrated clusters of the sulfate dianion, SO42-(H2O)n (n = 4−40), using electrospray ionization and investigated their energetics and stabilities using photodetachment photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) at four photon energies. The adiabatic electron detachment energies of the hydrated cluster dianions were observed to increase with the number of water, from ∼0.4 eV for n = 3, the smallest number of water to stabilize SO42- in the gas phase, to ∼5.7 eV for n = 40. The PES features of the smaller clusters are similar, all due to the SO42- dianion, which was found to be in the center of the solvated clusters. The intensity of the SO42- solute PES features was observed to decrease with solvent coverage beyond the first solvation shell (n ≈ 12), whereas a strong high binding energy feature due to ionization of the solvent emerged. For n > 30, the solute PES features almost completely disappeared, and the water feature became dominant. The photon energy dependent studies allowed us to examine the rep...
Molecular actions of sirolimus: sirolimus and mTor

Recent therapeutic strategies to combat organ allograft rejection have focused on T-cell signaling pathways and the molecules that comprise them. The macrolide antibiotic produced by the bacterium Streptomyces hygroscopicus, known as sirolimus or rapamycin, has shown great therapeutic potential in the transplant setting. Sirolimus alone or in combination with other immunosuppressive agents can block acute rejection, chronic graft destruction, and promote permanent allograft acceptance. Sirolimus targets a unique serine-threonine kinase, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTor), which plays a key role in mitogenic and nutritional cells signals. Within T cells, mTor regulates a number of proteins likely dependent on T cell growth factors such as interleukin 2. This review is focused on the molecular mechanisms by which mTor may regulate T-cell signaling cascades and affect T-cell responsiveness, and how sirolimus likely uncouples this activity.
Rotational and vibrational analysis of the ?←? system of XeF as observed in a supersonic free jet

The fluorescence excitation spectrum of XeF cooled in a supersonic expansion with helium has been observed for the wavelength region 2860 to 3205 A. The cold spectrum displays well‐resolved rotational structure for seven of the XeF isotopic species. Analysis of this rotational structure is reported for v′=16–21 in the ? (Ω=1/2) state and for v″=0 and 1 in the ? 2Σ+ state. Vibrational intervals have been measured for individual XeF isotopes with an accuracy of ±0.50 cm−1 for vibrational levels v′=11–22 and ±0.37 cm−1 for v″=0–2.
Identification and Characterization of a Compound That Protects Cardiac Tissue from Human Ether-à-go-go-related Gene (hERG)-related Drug-induced Arrhythmias

The human Ether-a-go-go-related gene (hERG)-encoded K+ current, IKr is essential for cardiac repolarization but is also a source of cardiotoxicity because unintended hERG inhibition by diverse pharmaceuticals can cause arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. We hypothesized that a small molecule that diminishes IKr block by a known hERG antagonist would constitute a first step toward preventing hERG-related arrhythmias and facilitating drug discovery. Using a high-throughput assay, we screened a library of compounds for agents that increase the IC70 of dofetilide, a well characterized hERG blocker. One compound, VU0405601, with the desired activity was further characterized. In isolated, Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts, optical mapping revealed that dofetilide-induced arrhythmias were reduced after pretreatment with VU0405601. Patch clamp analysis in stable hERG-HEK cells showed effects on current amplitude, inactivation, and deactivation. VU0405601 increased the IC50 of dofetilide from 38.7 to 76.3 nm. VU0405601 mitigates the effects of hERG blockers from the extracellular aspect primarily by reducing inactivation, whereas most clinically relevant hERG inhibitors act at an inner pore site. Structure-activity relationships surrounding VU0405601 identified a 3-pyridiyl and a naphthyridine ring system as key structural components important for preventing hERG inhibition by multiple inhibitors. These findings indicate that small molecules can be designed to reduce the sensitivity of hERG to inhibitors.
The relationship between prior suicidal behavior and mortality among individuals in community corrections.

Background: Individuals under community corrections have multiple risk factors for mortality including exposure to a criminal environment, drug use, social stress, and a lack of medical care that predispose them to accidents, homicides, medical morbidities, and suicide. The literature suggests that prior suicidal behavior may be a particularly potent risk factor for mortality among individuals in the criminal justice system. Aims: This study looked to extend the link between history of a suicide attempt and future mortality in a community corrections population. Method: Using an archival dataset (N = 18,260) collected from 2002 to 2007 of individuals being monitored under community corrections supervision for an average of 217 days (SD = 268), we examined the association between past history of a suicide attempt and mortality. Results: A Cox Proportional Hazard Model controlling for age, race, gender, and substance dependence indicated that past history of a suicide attempt was independently associated wi...
Dual-sided lithography: a method for evaluating alignment accuracy

We describe a method for measuring the accuracy of aligners used to align lithographic patterns on opposite sides of a substrate (back-to-front aligners). The method, with minor modifications, can also be used as an aid in performing back-to-front alignments. The method is based on interferometric principles, is insensitive to manufacturing errors, and is simple to implement. The version described in this paper is fabricated by using binary optics technology and can measure the accuracy of aligners to ±0.2 μm.
Tandem utilization of the hemostatic clip and banding can be employed for successful hemostasis for esophageal dieulafoy lesion

Esophageal bleeding from Dieulafoy lesion is difficult to control due to obtuse angle and difficulty in applying end-on pressure for coaptive coagulation. We present a case of esophageal Dieulafoy lesion, which required successive techniques to arrive at a successful hemostasis.
Reciprocal Regulation of β1-Adrenergic Receptor Gene Transcription by Sp1 and Early Growth Response Gene 1: Induction of EGR-1 Inhibits the Expression of the β1-Adrenergic Receptor Gene

The beta(1)-adrenergic receptor (beta(1)-AR) plays a key role in regulating heart rate and contractility in response to catecholamines. Our studies have focused on defining the factors that regulate the expression of the beta(1)-AR gene. We determined that a 65-base-pair (bp) region in the beta(1)-AR promoter between bp -394 and bp -330 directs basal transcription. An element located between -377 and -365 can bind Sp1 and Sp3. In Drosophila melanogaster SL2 cells, Sp1 stimulated the expression of the beta(1)-AR promoter, whereas Sp3 was unable to activate transcription. Site-directed mutagenesis indicated that an intact Sp1-binding site is essential for maintaining the activity of the basal promoter. In addition to binding Sp family members, the nucleotides between -381 and -367 can bind the zinc-finger transcription factor Egr-1. The Egr-1 and Sp1 binding sites are partially overlapping and their binding sequence is conserved among mammalian beta(1)-AR genes. The induction of Egr-1 in rat neonatal ventricular myocytes with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate or in HeLa S3 cells by regulated expression of Egr-1 in a tetracycline-responsive promoter, suppressed expression from the beta(1)-AR promoter. Overexpression of Sp1 in SK-N-MC cells increased beta(1)-AR mRNA by 2.4-fold, whereas overexpression of Egr-1 reduced beta(1)-AR mRNA by 40%. Coexpression of Egr-1 with Sp1 reduced Sp1-mediated up-regulation of beta(1)-AR mRNA by 60%. Mutagenesis revealed that an intact Sp1-binding site is essential for observing transcriptional repression by Egr-1 and that Egr-1 suppressed the transcription of the beta(1)-AR gene by competing with Sp1 for binding to their overlapping sites. These results reveal a novel physiologically relevant transcriptional mechanism for reciprocal regulation of beta(1)-AR gene expression.
EFFECTS OF NEONATAL HYPERTHYROIDISM ON SOMATIC GROWTH AND ON SUBMANDIBULAR GLAND AND SERUM-EPIDERMAL GROWTH FACTOR CONCENTRATION IN ONE MONTH OLD MICE

We examined the consequences of neonatal hyperthyroidism on somatic growth and SMG- and serum-EGF levels in one month old female mice. Littermate pups were randomly divided into control (vehicle injected) and thyroxine (T4) treated (0.4 ug/g BW/day) groups. Animals were treated with vehicle or T4 from birth (day 0) through day 6 and sacrificed on day 31. T4 treatment resulted in acceleration of both tooth eruption and eyelid opening, and in addition, caused growth retardation (Body weight: control vs T4-treated 22.3±0.5g and 16.0±0.8g P<0.001; and nose to rump length: control vs T4-treated (cm) 9.3±0.1 and 8.2±0.1 P<0.001). SMG and serum EGF concentrations were measured by RIA with results as follows:
Influence of phantom diameter, kVp and scan mode upon computed tomography dose index

The computed tomography (CT) radiation dose to pediatric patients has received considerable attention recently. Moreover, it is important to be able to determine CT radiation doses for various patient sizes ranging from infants to large adults. The current AAPM protocol only measures CT radiation dose using a 16 cm acrylic phantom to represent an adult head and a 32 cm acrylic phantom to represent an adult body. The goal of this paper is to study the dependence of the computed tomography dose index (CTDI) upon the size of the phantom, the kVp selected and the scan mode employed. Our measurements were done on phantom sizes ranging from 6 cm to 32 cm. The x-ray tube potential ranged from 80 to 140 kVp. The scan modes utilized for the measurements included: consecutive axial scans, single-slice helical scans with variable pitch and multislice helical scans with variable pitch. The results were consolidated into simplified equations which related the phantom diameter and kVp to the measured CTDI. Some generalizations were made about the relationship between the scan modes of the various CT units to the measured radiation doses. The CTDI appears to be an exponential function of phantom diameter. For the same kVp and mAs, the radiation doses for smaller phantoms are much greater than for larger sizes. The derived relationship can be used to estimate the radiation doses for a variety of scan conditions and modes from measurements with the two standard reference phantoms. A method was also given for converting axial CT dose measurements to appropriate MSAD values for helical CT scans.
Role of vasodilation during normothermic machine perfusion of DCD porcine livers

IntroductionNormothermic machine perfusion (NMP) of the liver is a promising preservation modality that holds the potential to better preserve and even repair marginal grafts. In spite of several l...
Fixed length FIR filters with continuously variable bandwidth

Software defined radios require filters of different bandwidths to process the many different bandwidth signals plucked from the ether. Filters with different fractional bandwidth, fBW/fSMPL, have different lengths or number of taps, that varies inversely with the fractional bandwidth. Different length filters require different computational resources which include data registers, multipliers, and filter coefficients. This paper describes a filter architecture that supports variable bandwidth FIR filters with fixed computational resources.
Substance use by college students: the role of intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation for athletic involvement.

Certain types of athletic involvement may confer risk for substance use by college students. This study investigated whether motivational factors play a role in the relationship between athletic involvement and substance use. Intercollegiate athletes (n = 98) and exercisers (n = 120) were surveyed about substance use and motivation for athletic involvement. Athletes and exercisers who were extrinsically motivated had significantly higher rates of alcohol use than their intrinsically motivated counterparts. Results suggest that college students who are extrinsically motivated for involvement in physical activity/ athletics-particularly those involved in team sports-may be in need of targeted prevention efforts.
Potential Effects of Voluntary Catch and Release of Fish on Recreational Fisheries

Abstract Anglers frequently release fish that are large enough to keep under prevailing fishing laws. However, fisheries managers usually estimate only fishing effort and number of fish harvested when assessing a fishery, and simply assume this voluntary release of fish is unimportant. In this study, I examined how the release of legal fish might affect a fishery. I modified the classical yield-per-recruit model so that the total mortality rate (Z) was partitioned into three components: natural (M), fishing (F), and hooking (H) mortality rates. I used another parameter (p), representing the probability a legal fish was released when captured, to modify the levels of fishing and hooking mortality. I applied the model to four fisheries with widely different characteristics of growth, mortality, and fishing: brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) in a small stream, largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) in a medium-sized reservoir, brown trout (Salmo trutta) in a medium-sized river, and northern pike (Esox luc...
Stochastic analysis of stepwise fluorescence quenching reactions on single-walled carbon nanotubes: single molecule sensors.

The 1D quantum confinement of photogenerated excitons in single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) can amplify the detection of molecular adsorption to where single-molecule discrimination is realizable, even from within living cells and tissues. Toward this aim, we present a type 1 collagen film, similar to those used as 3D cell scaffolds for tissue engineering, containing embedded SWNT capable of reporting single-molecule adsorption of quenching molecules. We utilize hidden Markov modeling to link single-molecule adsorption events to rate constants for H2O2, H+, and Fe(CN)63−. Among the three kinds of reactant molecules studied, H2O2 has the highest quenching equilibrium constant of 1.59 at 20 μM, whereas H+ is so insensitive that a similar equilibrium constant is achieved only with a concentration of 0.1 M (pH 1). The results were self-consistent because reverse (unquenching) rate constants (600 μs−1 for H2O2, 1130 μs−1 for H+ and 4000 μs−1 for Fe(CN)63−) were observed to be concentration-independent and t...
An instrument system for profiling suspended sediment, fluid, and flow conditions in shallow marine environments

A new instrument system (sediment profiler) is described which is designed for making suspended sediment transport observations in shallow marine waters. The instrument system is capable of obtaining simultaneous profiles through the water column of suspended sediment concentration (Cz), fluid properties (conductivity, temperature, depth) and flow conditions (Uz, Vz), and of collecting water/suspended sediment samples at selected depths. Additionally it can be used in a calibration mode to intercompare multiple optical backscatter sensors (up to eight sensors). The sediment profiler is a relatively small aluminum tripod (91 cm high) that can be lowered through the water column in strong flows (∼2m s−1), measure suspended sediment concentrations between 5 mg l−1 and∼10g l−1, and can be lowered directly to the seabed (sensor elevations∼20cm). It contains internal battery power and on board digital logging capabilities and has no electrical connection with the vessel during operation. Since July 1989 the sediment profiler has been used extensively on a study of the Amazon shelf transport system (AmasSeds). Numerous profiles have been collected from hydrographic surveys off the northeast coast of Brazil to investigate spatial distributions of suspended sediment and to monitor net particle flux over 25 h anchor stations. The instrument system is rugged and reliable and has improved our ability to document the relationships between fluid properties, flow conditions, and suspended sediment characteristics in a complex shelf environment.
Kant on mental disorder. Part 2: Philosophical implications of Kant’s account

This paper considers various philosophical problems arising from Kant's account of mental disorder. Starting with the reasons why Kant considered his theory of mental disorder important, I then turn to the implications of this theory of Kant's metaphysics, epistemology and ethics. Given Kant's account of insanity as 'a totally different standpoint... from which one sees all objects differently' (7: 216), the Critique of Pure Reason should be read as offering a more social epistemology than typically recognized. Also, mental disorders that seem to undermine human freedom and rationality raise problems for Kant's moral philosophy that his pragmatic anthropology helps to mitigate. Finally, I propose some implications of Kant's account of mental disorder for contemporary work on mental illness.
Integrating genomics into undergraduate nursing education.

Purpose: To prepare the next generation of nurses, faculty are now faced with the challenge of incorporating genomics into curricula. Here we discuss how to meet this challenge. Organizing Construct: Steps to initiate curricular changes to include genomics are presented along with a discussion on creating a genomic curriculum thread versus a standalone course. Ideas for use of print material and technology on genomic topics are also presented. Information is based on review of the literature and curriculum change efforts by the authors. Conclusions: In recognition of advances in genomics, the nursing profession is increasing an emphasis on the integration of genomics into professional practice and educational standards. Incorporating genomics into nurses’ practices begins with changes in our undergraduate curricula. Information given in didactic courses should be reinforced in clinical practica, and Internet-based tools such as WebQuest, Second Life, and wikis offer attractive, up-to-date platforms to deliver this now crucial content. Clinical Relevance: To provide information that may assist faculty to prepare the next generation of nurses to practice using genomics.
Abrasive wear testing of dental restorative materials

Abstract A tribometer (model ISC-200PC) was modified to form a pin-on-disk type of wear test apparatus. A dental restorative material specimen was used as the pin and a diamond grinding wheel as the abrasive counterface. Both normal and friction forces were recorded during the course of the test. The volumetric wear rate was calculated from the change of length and cross-sectional area of the specimen. The failure mode of the worn surface was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) photographs. The specific wear rates and friction coefficients of three commercial dental restorative products, Z-100 (3M). Renamel (Cosmedent) and Clearfil AP-X (Kuraray), were compared. A parametric study of the effects of filler volume fraction and particle size on the wear resistance of a glass bead filled BisGAMA/TEGDMA resin showed that relative wear rate increased with the volume fraction and decreased with average particle diameter of the glass beads. The behavior was explained in terms of matrix failure mode particle pull-out and inter-particle spacing.
Early endovascular coiling of posterior communicating artery saccular aneurysm in the setting of Staphylococcus bacteremia: case report and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE Although infectious complications of endovascular aneurysm treatment are in general rare, platinum coil therapy for patients with ruptured cerebral aneurysms and active bacteremia could be expected to carry increased risk. The literature on the timing and safety of endovascular treatment in this setting, however, is limited. In this report, the authors present a case of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and active bacteremia in which intravenous antibiotics and early endovascular therapy were successfully used. A review of the literature is also provided. CLINICAL PRESENTATION A 79-year-old woman presented with Hunt-Hess grade 4, Fisher grade 3 + 4 subarachnoid hemorrhage. Blood cultures obtained on admission revealed gram-positive cocci, which later proved to be coagulase-negative Staphylococcus. INTERVENTION Intravenous cefepime and vancomycin were begun soon after admission. A right posterior communicating artery saccular aneurysm was identified on diagnostic cerebral angiography and was treated with bare platinum coils 28 hours after antibiotic therapy was initiated. An extended course of vancomycin was completed. No intracranial infectious complications were noted at 34-month clinical and radiographic follow-up. CONCLUSION This is the first case report to document the efficacy and safety of early endovascular coil embolization of a ruptured saccular cerebral aneurysm presenting in the context of active bacteremia. Review of the available literature suggests that a similar strategy for ruptured infectious aneurysms may also be safe. Further validation of this approach for both saccular and infectious aneurysms, however, is required.
Blank Form and Reduction as Determinants of Mousterian Scraper Morphology

Variation in the forms of Mousterian tools has been attributed to a number of factors, including style, function, and more recently, differential reduction. This study compares the influences of two factors, reduction and the shapes of tool blanks, on the forms of scrapers from a Mousterian site in Italy. In the subject assemblages, the shapes of the tool blanks had a much stronger influence on scraper forms than had reduction. To the extent that blank form affects typology in other cases, explanations of contrasts among Mousterian assemblages would need to account for the use of alternative techniques of flake production. Since typological variation is multicausal, it would also appear more profitable to focus directly on variables pertinent to current research issues, rather than on reinterpreting the typology.
The Potential of 21-Aminosteroids (Lazaroids) as Neuroprotective Therapies in CNS Injury

Following injury to the CNS, highly reactive free radicals may produce secondary or delayed tissue damage via peroxidation of lipids in cellular membranes. This extensive generation of free radicals appears to overwhelm natural defence mechanisms, dramatically reducing the levels of endogenous antioxidant compounds.
When the Integral is the Limit

Abstract If (nk) is a pointwise (or even just norm) universally good sequence for Cesaro averages as in the ergodic theorem, then for the generic invertible measure-preserving transformation τ, the averages (1/n)∑k=1nf∘τnkconverge in norm to the integral off.
Solution of fink & straight conjecture on path-perfect complete bipartite graphs

We consider various edge disjoint partitions of complete bipartite graphs. One case is where we decompose the edge set into edge disjoint paths of increasing lengths. A graph G is path-perfect if there is a positive integer n such that the edge set E(G) of the graph G can be partitioned into paths of length 1,2,3,…,n. The main result of the paper is the proof of the conjecture of Fink and Straight [4]: A complete bipartite graph Ks,t on t + s vertices (t ≤ s) is path-perfect if and only if there is a positive integer n such that the following two conditions are satisfied; $${\rm{({i})}}\; {{st}}={\rm{1}}+{\rm{2}}+{\rm{\ldots}}+ {{n}}=\left({{{{n}}+ {\rm{1}}}}\atop{{{\rm{2}}}}\right){\rm{,}} \quad {\rm{and}}\quad {\rm{(ii)}}\; {{n}}\le {\rm{2}}{{t}}.$$. Our proof gives a linear time algorithm to find an edge disjoint partition of a complete bipartite graph into paths of lengths 1,2,3,…,n. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 55:91–111, 2007
Opportunistic Spectrum Access for Cognitive Radio Networks withMultiple Secondary Users

We develop channel-aware opportunistic spectrum access strategies for cognitive radio networks consisting of multiple secondary users. In addition to balancing between the cost of foregoing weaker transmission opportunities in pursuit of channels that offer better data rates, we consider collisions between primary users (PUs) and secondary users (SUs), and among the SUs themselves. We derive strategies for both cooperative setting where SUs maximize their sum total of throughputs, as well as non-cooperative, game theoretic setting where each SU tries to maximize its own throughput. We show that the optimal schemes for both scenarios are pure threshold policies, where each SU decides to use or skip transmission opportunities by comparing the channel qualities to a fixed threshold. In the non-cooperative case, we establish the existence of Nash equilibrium and develop best response strategies that can converge to equilibria, with SUs relying only on their local observations. We study the tradeoff between maximal throughput in cooperative setting and fairness in the non-cooperative setting, and schemes based on utility functions and pricing that mitigate this tradeoff. Lastly, we analyze the issue of interference of SUs to the PUs. We show numerical results illustrating the schemes and analysis.
Incidence and Cardiac Effects of Systemic Venous Air Embolism: Echocardiographic Evidence of Arterial Embolization via Noncardiac Shunt

• Central nervous system dysfunction in venous air embolism may result from air entering the arterial circulation. Using two-dimensional and pulsed-wave Doppler echocardiography, this study not only documented the frequent presence of air in the right heart chambers of patients undergoing upright neurosurgery or pacemaker insertion, but also documented the presence of air in the left atrium and left ventricle of one patient via noncardiac shunt. Studies in dogs confirmed paradoxical air embolism in the absence of anatomic communications between right and left heart chambers. Systemic venous air also produced a dose-dependent increase in pulmonary artery pressure and diastolic flattening of the ventricular septum with increase in left ventricular filling pressure despite preserved systolic function. (Arch Intern Med1988;148:795-800)
Expression of surface antigen and mRNA for the CD11c (αX, p150) subunit of the human leukocyte adherence receptor family in hematopoietic cells

Abstract We characterized the surface antigen and mRNA expression for the CD11c (αX, p150) subunit of the human leukocyte adherence receptor family during hematopoietic cell differentiation. The CD11c subunit antigen and mRNA are constituitively expressed in undifferentiated HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells, and levels increase markedly with differentiation along the monocyte/macrophage pathway using phorbol myristate acetate. Human monocyte-derived macrophages and human alveolar macrophages express elevated levels of the CD11c subunit antigen and mRNA, indicating that the changes observed in vitro are present in vivo . Dot blot analysis of immature and mature lymphoid and myeloid cells and cell lines demonstrate equivalent levels of CD11c mRNA expression. We conclude that CD11c gene expression is selectively increased during hematopoietic cell differentiation along the monocyte/macrophage pathway.
Functional luteolysis in the rhesus monkey: ovarian estrogen and progesterone during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle.

In a continuing effort to elucidate the processes underlying luteolysis in primates, the concentrations of estradiol, estrone and progesterone were measured in ovarian tissues and in ovarian vein plasma through the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle of the rhesus monkey. The concentration of progesterone in corpora lutea collected 4-6 days after the preovulatory LH peak (early luteal phase) was more than twice that found in those collected 8-13 days after the LH surge (late luteal phase) while estradiol and estrone concentrations in the latter had increased 4fold. These changes in luteal steroid concentrations were paralleled by a striking increase in the concentration of estrone in the ipsilateral ovarian vein. Estrone predominated in the venous effluent of the ovary bearing the corpus luteum while estradiol concentrations were similar in both ovarian veins suggesting that estrone is the principal estrogen released by the corpus luteum. The results of this study are consonant with the hypothesis that es...
Treating solar model uncertainties: A consistent statistical analysis of solar neutrino models and data.

We describe how to consistently incorporate solar model uncertainties, along with experimental errors and correlations, when analyzing solar neutrino data to derive confidence limits on parameter space for proposed solutions of the solar neutrino problem. Our work resolves ambiguities and inconsistencies in the previous literature. As an application of our methods we calculate the masses and mixing angles allowed by the current data for the proposed MSW solution using both Bayesian and frequentist methods, allowing purely for solar model flux variations, to compare with previous work. We also show that solutions which simply suppress the [sup 8]B solar neutrino flux are strongly disfavored and have a likelihood ratio of at most 10[sup [minus]8] compared to the best MSW solution. Finally, we consider the effects of including metal diffusion in the solar models and also discuss implications for future experiments.
A Heuristic for a Class of Production Planning and Scheduling Problems

Abstract This paper describes a solution technique for a general class of problems referred to as aggregate planning and master scheduling problems. The technique is also applicable to multi-item single level capacitated lot sizing problems. The solution technique presented here is a heuristic that is practical for large problems e.g. 9 products and 36 periods. We have tested it for problems with varying number of time periods, number of products, setup costs, holding costs, overtime costs and capacity levels. For those problems that we could solve exactly using a branch and bound algorithm, the solutions produced by the heuristic were all within 1 % of optimality. For problems that we could not solve exactly, we are able to compute a lower bound on the optimal cost. Using the bound we are able to show that our heuristic solutions were within 2.93% of optimality on the average. Except for those problems having very high setup cost or problems with extreme seasonality, the algorithm produced solutions that...
Why are African Americans under-represented in medical research studies? Impediments to participation.

Abstract Objectives. In accordance with the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993, the National Institutes of Health and the Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Administration require grant applicants and cooperative agreement participants to include minorities in human subject research. In an environment characterized by diminishing research dollars, this mandate has increased the pressure on investigators to determine factors that impede minority participation and to develop strategies to overcome these impediments. Methods. An extensive review of the literature was conducted to identify the factors possibly responsible for the low participation levels of African Americans in medical research studies and to highlight areas for further research. The items examined included the historical relationship between African Americans and medical researchers and the attitudes, perceptions and beliefs of potential participants and researchers as they relate to the low representation of African Americans in medical research. ...
On the Scientific Contributions and Insight of Professor Yale Mintz

Abstract Professor Yale Mintz's contributions in combining theory, diagnostic analysis, and modeling in scientific studies across a broad range of interests over more than four decades are reviewed. His studies include diagnostic analysis of the general circulation and modeling of atmospheric circulation, planetary atmospheres, stratospheric ozone transport, ocean circulations, and hydrospheric and biospheric processes. The focus of the review is to examine some of the early interests of this illustrious individual during the formative year of his career in atmospheric science, to document Mintz's creative insight concerning the development of the Mintz-Arakawa General Circulation Model (GCM), and to summarize briefly his scientific contributions. Much of his scientific work involved collaborations with an unusually talented array of younger scientists. His descriptions of the field of mean motion, the zonally averaged state, and poleward angular momentum flux must be regarded as classic contributions to ...
Wide-bandwidth multichannel acoustooptic spectrum analyzer with polychromatic lightwave.

On montre qu'il est possible d'eliminer le rapport entre la largeur de bande et l'efficacite de diffraction et de rendre effectif un analyseur de spectre a canaux en utilisant des ondes optiques polychromatiques. Des applications sont envisagees dans les dispositifs integres