cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Node Localization Research of the Underground Wireless Sensor Networks Based on DV-Hop and Ant Colony Optimization

In order to hold the hardware cost is not the premise of improving the positioning accuracy of sensor nodes, the paper proposed the node locaLization research of the underground wireless sensor networks based on DV-Hop and Ant Colony Optimization, this method of non-ranging DV-Hop algorithm calculate the distance between unknown nodes and beacon nodes, with the method of triangular positioning algorithm to determine the location of unknown nodes, and through the ant colony optimization to improve accuracy of the unknown node location. To verify the feasibiLity of the method, with the comparison of the traditional orientation algorithms and the improved algorithm by MATLAB simulation, experimental results show that the improved algorithm has higher accuracy.
The effect of interstitial gas atoms on mustructural evolution in self-ion irradiated nickel☆

Annealed foils of pure nickel were injected with He in concentrations of 100 and 600 atomic parts per million (appm) at room temperature utilizing a 700 kV electrostatic accelerator. Injections were completed at various accelerating potentials over the range 700 kV to 200 kV. This variation produced a relatively uniform concentration of interstitial gas atoms extending from a depth of approximately 1.25 μm to the surface of the sample. The injected samples were irradiated at temperatures of 525°C and 625°C with 14 MeV Ni3+ ions to a fluence of 1 × 1016ions/cm2 and prepared for transmission electron muscopy evaluation utilizing a transverse sectioning technique. Results show the formation of a void-free zone which extended from the surface to a depth of 1.25 μm. The variation of void number density, average void diameter, and swelling and a function of depth from the surface is presented for each sample. The results are compared with previous studies completed without injected gas atoms.
The PRECiSE 2 trial of certolizumab pegol, a new PEGylated anti-TNF agent, in the treatment of Crohn's disease: An interview with David A Schwartz, 13 June 2007.

Context: Certolizumab pegol (CDP 870) is a new anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy currently in development for the treatment of Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis. Certolizumab pegol is the first PEGylated biologic anti-TNF agent and has a high binding affinity for TNF. Dr. Schwartz was an investigator of the PRECiSE (PEGylated Antibody Fragment Evaluation in Crohn’s Disease Safety and Efficacy) 2 trial of certolizumab pegol in patients with Crohn’s disease.
Flexible and continuous execution of real-time critical robotic tasks

Today, industrial robots are usually programmed using specialised programming languages, different for every robot manufacturer. These languages provide good usability, because they are tailored to the functionality traditionally offered by robots. However, these languages are reaching their limits with the growing integration of sensors or multiple robot systems. Therefore, we propose an architecture based on the separation of application control and the execution of real-time robotic tasks. This article describes a flexible and extensible interface for the specification and continuous execution of robotic tasks.
High-resolution turbulent scalar field measurements in an optically accessible internal combustion engine

High-resolution planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) measurements were performed in an optically accessible internal combustion engine to investigate the evolution of the turbulent mixing process during the intake and compression strokes. The PLIF measurements were used to analyze the important turbulent length scales, scalar energy and dissipation spectra, and mean scalar gradients. The fluorescence images had sufficient spatial resolution and integrity to resolve all of the fine-scale features of the flow, allowing for direct determination of the Batchelor length scale. The integral and Taylor scales were also determined from two-point spatial correlations of the fluctuating scalar field using an appropriately defined mean scalar value. The general morphology of the scalar field and the measured integral, Taylor and Batchelor length scales were found to be largely independent of engine speed and intake pressure, but increased as the engine cycle progressed through the intake and compression strokes. The measured Batchelor scales ranged from 22 to 54 μm; the integral scales ranged from 1.8 to 3.5 mm; and the Taylor microscales ranged from 0.6 to 1.2 mm. The Taylor and integral scale values were comparable to values reported in the literature from in-cylinder velocity measurements. The mean scalar gradient, a measure of the fine-scale mixing rate, monotonically decreased as the engine cycle advanced. High-resolution measurements of this type are important in the development and validation of future engine combustion models used in computer simulations.
Geophysical Investigations Of Earthen Dams: An Overview

The Sacramento District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) controls 16 dams in the state of California. Three of these dams were classified in the 2006 USACE Screening for Portfolio Risk Analysis as being in Class I or Class II, where the hazards associated with potential failure are considered either urgent and compelling, or urgent, respectively. These dams are Isabella and Martis Creek, both Class I, and Success Dam, identified as Class II. All three dams are earthen structures with either an impervious core or blanket on the upstream toe. Starting in 2005, the USACE teamed with the U.S. Geological Survey in acquiring geophysical data on these dams to provide geotechnical information to be used in assessing the dams and their foundations. The goal of this paper is to provide a review on the status of these surveys, one of which is complete (Success Dam), another underway (Isabella Dam), and a third (Martis Creek) where detailed surveys are planned for the spring of 2008. The techniques being applied include direct current (DC) resistivity, compressional (P) and shear (S) wave seismic reflection and refraction tomography, audio-magnetotellurics (AMT), frequency- and time-domain electromagnetics (EM and TDEM), and self potential (SP). Other techniques are continually being evaluated as project demands change.
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia: Treatment and outcomes

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a congenital defect in the diaphragm that allows herniation of abdominal contents into the fetal chest and leads to varying degrees of pulmonary hypoplasia and pulmonary hypertension. Advances in prenatal diagnosis and the institution of standardized delivery and postnatal care protocols have led to improved survival. Fetal endoscopic tracheal occlusion shows early promise for patients with the most severe CDH, but prospective randomized data is still required. CDH survivors have a variety of associated morbidities that require long-term follow-up and early intervention strategies for optimal care.
High Level, Stable Production of Recombinant Proteins in Mammalian Cell Culture using the Herpesvirus VP16 Transactivator

We have engineered mammalian cell lines to produce high levels of heterologous proteins by constructing a cell line that expresses the herpesvirus transactivator, VP16. Subsequent stable transfection with a gene of interest under control of a herpesvirus immediate early promoter led to a rapid isolation of cell lines producing between 1 and 20 micrograms of protein/million cells/24 hours. This high level expression is stable for at least five months.
A Survey of the Incidence of Antigenic Forms of Salmonella Pullorum in the United States

Abstract THIS report is concerned primarily with the incidence of the various antigenic forms found in a total of 1,689 Salmonella pullorum cultures submitted by cooperating poultry diagnostic laboratories in 27 states. The occurrence in chickens of a form of pullorum disease, which could not always be detected by the standard agglutination tests, was first reported by Younie (1941). This observation was well substantiated by other workers. Edwards and Bruner (1946) pointed out that this failure of detection was due to antigenic variation and demonstrated that the antigen formula of S. pullorum is IX, XII1, (XII2), XII3. These workers considered that in normal cultures the quantity of XII2 antigen was variable and that such cultures might be in continuous form variation. It was demonstrated that a culture might also become stabilized with either the XII2 or XII3 antigen as the predominant one of the two. These were termed variant and standard, . . .
Effect of tidal currents, seston, and bottom sediments on growth of Mercenaria mercenaria: results of a field experiment

Tidal currents, seston, and sediments separately influence growth of the hard clam, Mercenaria mercenaria, but it is uncertain how these factors may interact. A 3×3 factorial field experiment, carried out in Great Sound, a coastal lagoon in Southern New Jersey, USA, between May and September 1986, determined the relative effects of three sediment types and three site-specific seston/tidal current regimes on the individual growth of M. mercenaria. Analysis of variance of the change in shell length after 15 wk (differences in initial and final lengths) demonstrated a significant difference (P=0.0064) in growth among sites, but no significant differences (P=0.1331) for growth in different sediments, although trends were evident. Effects of sites were independent of sediment type (P=0.2621). Shell growth rates differed by 10.7% between the slowest and fastest sites, but only differed by 5.7% between sediment types, with fastest growth in sand and slowest in mud. Tidal current speeds and four measures of seston (chlorophyll a, particulate inorganic and organic matter, PIM and POM, and energy content) were measured >20 times in near-bottom waters at each site. Horizontal fluxes of POM exhibited higher correlation coefficients with growth rates, than did seston concentrations or current speeds alone. We attribute significant “site” differences to differences in horizontal seston fluxes fluxes among sites. We suggest that horizontal seston fluxes may be a major factor affecting individual growth of suspension-feeding bivalves.
A Magnetic Bearing Suspension System for High Temperature Gas Turbine Applications: Part III — Magnetic Actuator Development

Magnetic bearings, unlike traditional mechanical bearings, consist of a series of components when mated together, form a stabilized system. A series of four papers will summaries the results carried out at Draper in the development of a high temperature magnetic bearing suspension system for a gas turbine application. Part I [1] will document our approach for rotordynamics modeling of the turbine shaft and the development of models for use in our simulation programs. Part II [2] documents the simulation efforts and the control system which resulted from this effort. Parts III and IV [3] document the design and fabrication of the magnetic bearing actuators and the auxiliary touchdown bearings.This paper, part III, deals with the design of the high temperature magnetic bearing actuators. Two radial and one axial magnetic bearing actuator were designed to meet the requirements for the turbine application. No bias coils are included in these design. The biasing flux is provided by current from the control power amplifiers. All the coils are made from ceramic coated copper wire and are terminated to high temperature connectors designed into the actuators. The new high strength Hiperco 50 HS material was chosen for the rotor lamination material for the radial bearings. A customized heat treatment process for this material in a high vacuum environment was developed to insure the maximum strength was obtained with the maximum magnetic properties. High temperature ceramic coated copper wire and bonding and potting material used for the coil assembly were tested up to 650 degrees C without failures.Copyright © 1997 by ASME
Turbulent transport of a high-Schmidt-number scalar near an air–water interface

We measure solute transport near a turbulent air–water interface at which there is zero mean shear. The interface is stirred by high-Reynolds-number homogeneous isotropic turbulence generated far below the surface, and solute transport into the water is driven by an imposed concentration gradient. The air–water interface is held at a constant concentration much higher than that in the bulk of the water by maintaining pure gas above a water tank that has been initially purged of dissolved . We measure velocity and concentration fluctuations below the air–water interface, from the viscous sublayer to the middle of the ‘source region’ where the effects of the surface are first felt. Our laboratory measurement technique uses quantitative imaging to collect simultaneous concentration and velocity fields, which are measured at a resolution that reveals the dynamics in the turbulent inertial subrange. Two-point statistics reveal the spatial structure of velocity and concentration fluctuations, and are examined as a function of depth beneath the air–water interface. There is a clear dominance of large scales at all depths for all quantities, but the relative importance of scales changes markedly with proximity to the interface. Quadrant analysis of the turbulent scalar flux shows a four-way balance of flux components far from the interface, which near the interface evolves into a two-way balance between motions that are raising and lowering parcels of low-concentration fluid.
Measuring Lipid Asymmetry in Planar Supported Bilayers by Fluorescence Interference Contrast Microscopy

There is substantial scientific and practical interest in engineering supported lipid bilayers with asymmetric lipid distributions as models for biological cell membranes. In principle, it should be possible to make asymmetric supported lipid bilayers by either the Langmuir−Blodgett/Schafer (LB/LS) or Langmuir−Blodgett/vesicle fusion (LB/VF) techniques (Kalb et al. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1992, 1103, 307−316). However, the retention of asymmetry in biologically relevant lipid bilayers has never been experimentally examined in any of these systems. In the present work, we developed a technique that is based on fluorescence interference contrast (FLIC) microscopy to measure lipid asymmetry in supported bilayers. We compared the final degree of lipid asymmetry in LB/LS and LB/VF bilayers with and without cholesterol in liquid-ordered (lo) and liquid-disordered (ld) phases. Of five different fluorescent lipid probes that were examined, 1,2-dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine-N-[lissamine rhodamine B] was the ...
Psoriasis, Sacroiliitis, and Aortitis: An Echocardiographic Mimic of Aortic Root Dissection

A patient with psoriasis, HLA-B27-positive sacroiliitis, and aortitis presented with clinical features suggesting acute aortic dissecting aneurysm. Although M-mode and two dimensional echocardiography supported the diagnosis, dissection was excluded by angiography and by direct observation at surgery. Asymmetric thickening of the right coronary cusp secondary to psoriatic aortitis was found to be etiologic of both the regurgitation and the false-positive echo for dissection. It is emphasized that in the setting of any fibrocalcific or inflammatory disease of the aorta, the echo diagnosis of dissection is fraught with hazard.
Erectile function recovery in patients after non-nerve sparing radical prostatectomy.

Summary Few studies have looked at erectile function recovery (EFR) rates in men undergoing non-nerve sparing resection during radical prostatectomy (RP). Existing studies show great variation in EFR rates owing to multiple factors that minimize their utility in counselling RP patients. We investigated the EFR rate and its predictors in unilateral cavernous nerve resection and bilateral cavernous nerve resection patients 24 months after RP. We conducted a population-based, prospective cohort study of 966 patients who underwent RP at a tertiary cancer centre from 2008 to 2012. Cavernous nerve condition was evaluated on a 4-point nerve sparing score and assigned to one of three groups: bilateral sparing, unilateral resection (UNR) and bilateral nerve resection (BNR). EF was assessed pre-RP and 24–30 months post-op using a validated 5-point patient-reported scale (1 = fully rigid; 5 = no tumescence). EFR was defined as a post-op EF grade of 1–2. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, anova, chi-square, Fisher's exact test and logistic regression. Mean baseline EF was 1.84 ± 1.3 and 2.74 ± 1.5 for UNR and BNR patients respectively. Thirty-three percent of UNR patients and 13% of BNR patients exhibited EFR. Age, baseline EF were predictors of EFR. Multivariable analysis showed baseline EF was a significant predictor of EFR at 24 months for UNR. For BNR patients, pre-RP EF was the only factor predictive of EFR. Patients undergoing nerve resection still have a significant chance of achieving true EFR, with UNR surgery patients showing more potential for improvement than patients undergoing BNR surgery. Age and baseline EFR characterize recovery prospects in these two groups. Physicians should thus measure and account for baseline EF in addition to age and the degree of nerve resection when advising patients about expectations for successful EF following RP.
Large new dimensions and quantum gravity around the corner

Abstract The electroweak unification mass may be the only fundamental scale in nature. If so, the visible universe may lie on a membrane floating within a higher dimensional space; new dimensions, black holes, quantum gravity, and string theory may become experimentally accessible in this decade. The dark matter could reside on parallel universes inside the extra dimensions. To cite this article: N. Arkani-Hamed et al., C. R. Physique 4 (2003).
Kidney Function in Cor Pulmonale Particular Consideration of Changes in Renal Hemodynamics and Sodium Excretion during Variation in Level of Oxygenation

Renal hemodynamics and sodium excretion were investigated in two groups of patients with cor pulmonale: group 1 was in heart failure at the time of study, and group 2 had previously been in heart failure. These subjects, who were virtually or potentially in heart failure, were exposed to various levels of oxygenation in order to aggravate acutely or relieve their chronic anoxia. The compensatory adjustments in kidney function to these changes in oxygen tension and their implications constitute the substance of this report.
Challenges in umbilical cord blood stem cell banking for stem cell reviews and reports.

Twenty years has passed since the first report of a successful cord blood transplant was reported in 1989 in a child with Fanconi’s anemia. During these 20 years, the cord blood field has had dramatic growth, with over 400,000 cord blood units donated and stored worldwide for unrelated use. Approximately, 14,000 unrelated cord blood transplants have been performed to date for patients with hematologic malignancies and bone marrow disorders, and who do not have matched family or unrelated donors. In contrast, about 900,000 cord blood units have been stored privately for personal use, with about 100 autologous transplants performed. Twenty years ago, due to the low cell dose, cord blood transplants were only performed in children. Today, with the use of better banking techniques, reduced intensity transplants, and double cord blood transplantation, the majority of cord blood transplants are being performed in adults. In this chapter, we review the scientific basis for cord blood transplantation, and outcome data in both pediatric and adult transplantation. We will then focus on the recent concerns regarding private and public cord blood banking. Finally, we discuss the future of cord blood transplantation, and the exciting work beginning outside of oncology.
Role of the Board Compensation Committee

The role of the Board’s Compensation Committee is to approve the design of the pay programs for the top executive officers and to approve specific payments based on the plans and the company’s performance. Typically, the specific responsibilities of the compensation committee is specified within the company bylaws. This includes composition of the committee, statement of pay philosophy, implementation of plans approved by the board, identification of specific performance objectives, assessment of competitive pay practices, approval of employment contracts, role of external consultants, preparation of a Compensation Discussion and Analysis Report consistent with Securities and Exchange Commission requirements and filing a copy of the committee minutes to the board of directors and responding to their questions. Committee members have responsibility to put shareholder’s interest above their own (duty of loyalty), understanding the issues and alternatives (duty of care) and exercising prudent judgment (avoid...
Lattice Boltzmann simulations of three-dimensional single droplet deformation and breakup under simple shear flow

We present three-dimensional numerical simulations of the classical Taylor experiment on droplet deformation within a shear flow. We have used the promising lattice Boltzmann method numerical scheme to simulate single droplet deformation and breakup under simple shear flow. We first compute the deformation of the droplet, and find excellent agreement with the theoretical prediction. We have used the same method to simulate the shear and breakup for larger values of the shear rate. We find that the lattice Boltzmann method used in conjunction with the interface force model of Shan and Chen [Phys. Rev. E 47, 1815 (1993); 49, 2941 (1994)] results in an excellent treatment of the entire process from small deformation to breakup into multiple droplets. Our results could be extended to study the rheology of dispersed droplets and the dynamics of droplet breakup and coalescence in shear flow.
Disciplinary theatrics: Public reprimand and the textual performance of affect at Sera Monastery, India

Abstract This article examines ‘public reprimand’ (tshogs gtam) at Sera Monastery, a major Tibetan Buddhist monastery of the Geluk sect in India. This disciplinary practice is shown to be of duplex textual and theatrical complexity. In this form of reprimand, the Disciplinarian seeks to (re)form the dispositions of monastic subjects by textually projecting, juxtaposing, and evaluating morally weighted voices. As the Disciplinarian stages this moral-didactic drama – this ‘serious theatre’, to borrow Foucault’s expression – he adopts a culturally prescribed stance on his own affective performance. In investigating the textuality of voice, stance, and affectivity in this form of public reprimand, this article seeks to rekindle interest in ‘penal semiotics’, a vector of inquiry that Foucault initiated.
Maternal Substance Abuse and Children's Exposure to Violence

This article focuses on exposure to violence and violence-related activities (i.e., crime and drug use) in 70 children whose mothers are addicted to alcohol or other drugs and explores maternal characteristics associated with violence exposure. Results suggest that exposure to violence is relatively common for these children, with many exposed to repeated violence in both the home and community. Findings also suggest higher levels of exposure to violence among children whose mothers reported fewer symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder and held beliefs and attitudes about child rearing that have been associated with abusive and neglectful parenting. Levels of violence exposure were also higher when mothers reported more severe drug use in the recent past. These findings point to the need for assessment and treatment for children whose mothers abuse alcohol and other drugs.
Durability based design of FRP jackets for seismic retrofit

Although FRP composites are increasingly being used for the rehabilitation of civil infrastructure, there is still a lack of well documented long-term durability data, and of design methodologies that explicitly consider effects of deterioration over time at a structural level. This paper provides results of an investigation aimed at assessing the effect of deterioration over time, at the materials level, on the effectiveness of FRP jackets used for seismic retrofit. Three different systems are investigated and results of accelerated testing are used to provide predictive equations for long-term performance of the material, which are then used to analyze effectiveness at the level of seismic retrofit through four specific cases. The effect of deterioration is expressed, for ease in comparison, to an increase in the required thickness of the jacket with expected service-life. Results using unexposed values for materials performance are compared to those obtained using the values recommended by ACI-440 procedures, as well as through the use of time-dependent materials degradation models. It is shown that the ACI recommendations for durability may be excessively conservative for the 50-year period considered herein. The use of the proposed predictive methodology for materials durability combined with the analytical tools for design of FRP jacket thickness are shown to not only enable a better assessment of required jacket thickness but can also enable assessment of the dominant mechanism controlling selection of thickness which can change with time of exposure. Results of the accelerated tests are also linked to field exposure results providing a set of correlation factors.
Organization of spliceosomal U6 snRNA genes in the mouse genome

U6 RNA is an abundant small nuclear RNA (snRNA) required for splicing of pre-mRNAs. In mammalian cells, the genes for U1 to U4 snRNAs consist of multigene families ranging from 10 to 100 copies of real genes per haploid genome, and are transcribed by RNA polymerase II. In contrast, results obtained in this study indicate that U6 RNA, which is transcribed by RNA polymerase II and III, may be coded for in mouse cells by only two genes. These two U6 genes are at least 9 kb apart from each other, and the flanking sequences are highly conserved, indicating that the organization of U6 genes is similar to that observed for other mammalian U-snRNA genes.
Terraced‐heterostructure large‐optical‐cavity AlGaAs diode laser: A new type of high‐power cw single‐mode device

A new terraced lateral wave confining structure is obtained by liquid phase epitaxy over channeled substrates misoriented perpendicular to the channels' direction. Single spatial and longitudinal mode CW operation is achieved to 50 mW from one facet, in large spot sizes (2 x 7.5 micron, 1/e squared points in intensity) and narrow beams (6 deg x 23 deg), full width half-power). At 70 C ambient temperature CW lasing is obtained to 15 mW from one facet. Weak mode confinement in an asymmetric lateral waveguides provides discrimination against high-order mode oscillation.
A comparison of cardiac rate-pressure product and pressure-rate quotient with Holter monitoring in patients with hypertension and cardiovascular disease: a follow-up report.

Abstract Objectives. The purpose of this study was to evaluate patients with hypertension or cardiovascular disease, or both, for myocardial ischemia and cardiac arrhythmias while undergoing minor oral surgery. Study design. Sixteen patients were studied with noninvasive monitoring including heart rate, systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure to calculate rate-pressure product (systolic blood pressure multiplied by heart rate) and pressure-rate quotient (mean arterial pressure divided by heart rate). These calculated measures were compared with the incidence of cardiac arrhythmias and ST segment depression recorded on a continuous Holter monitoring system. Results. Nine of 16 (56%) developed supraventricular or ventricular ectopy during dental extractions or minor preprosthetic surgery performed with local anesthesia 2% xylocaine with 1 100,000 epinephrine dilution. Three of the nine patients who experienced these arrhythmias had coincident abnormal rate pressure product and pressure-rate quotient values. None of these patients exhibited ST-T wave changes suggestive of myocardial ischemia. Atrial or ventricular ectopy suggests that myocardial irritability was more likely to occur than ischemia as measured by Holter monitoring and compared with abnormal rate pressure product and pressure-rate quotient values recorded.
Temperature and rate of gastric evacuation by rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri

Abstract Young-of-the-year hatchery reared rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri, were used to estimate the rate of gastric evacuation of meals of oligochaetes and commercial pellets at water temperatures of 5, 10, 15, and 20 C. Different regression models produced different predictions for 25, 50, and 100% stomach emptying times for pellet meals consumed at 15 C. Greatest variation occurred when predicting time required for 100% stomach evacuation. Estimates ranged from 22 to 35 h for a substantial 13-h difference. Because the semilog model consistantly produced the highest F regression and the lowest F deviation it was selected as best for describing the data. Rate of gastric evacuation increased with increased temperature. Differences were greatest between 0 and 5 C and least between 15 and 20 C. An increase of 5 C at the low end of the temperature range produced a much greater absolute effect than at the high range. Depending on food type, it took 3 to 4 times as long to empty the stomach by 50% or 100% at 5...
Alcohol Treatment and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy: Enhancing Effectiveness by Incorporating Spirituality and Religion

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective modality for the treatment of alcoholism. Given widespread interest in incorporating spirituality into professional treatment, this article orients practitioners to spiritually modified CBT, an approach that may enhance outcomes with some spiritually motivated clients. More specifically, by integrating clients' spiritual beliefs and practices into treatment, this modality may speed recovery, enhance treatment compliance, prevent relapse, and reduce treatment disparities by providing more culturally congruent services. The process of constructing spiritually modified CBT self-statements is described and illustrated, and suggestions are provided for working with client spirituality in an ethical manner. The article concludes by emphasizing the importance of this approach in light of the growing spiritual diversity that characterizes contemporary society.
Changes in exhaled nitric oxide and breath pH during fluticasone wean in asthma.

Background: Inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) therapy improves asthma outcome. Both the anti-inflammatory efficacy and toxicities of ICS therapy are dose dependent. Therefore, there is interest in monitoring airway inflammation during ICS dose adjustments. Objective: Fraction of expired nitric oxide (FENO) and exhaled breath condensate (EBC) pH were studied as noninvasive, corticosteroid-responsive markers of airway inflammation. Methods:We prospectively studied the effect of stepwise ICS wean on FENO and EBC pH over 6 months in otherwise healthy adults with moderate persistent asthma. Results:Eighteen subjects completed the initial dose titration and 13 completed the protocol. Of these, 7 weaned off ICS completely and 6 had exacerbations. FENO rose significantly with ICS withdrawal, though there was heterogeneity in the starting level and the degree of rise. EBC pH was collected at home in all subjects and fell more in subjects who had an exacerbation than in those who did not. The decrease in pH was associated with hazard of exacerbation. Conclusion: FENO can be a patient-specific index of airway inflammation during ICS dose titration; change in EBC pH is one home marker that might possibly be used during ICS dose titration. However, additional studies are required.
A Look From the Inside: Balancing Custody and Treatment in a Juvenile Maximum-Security Facility

This article is based on an ethnographic study of a cottage for violent offenders in one state's maximum-security training school. Staff members working in the cottage were the institution's front line in its attempts to hold the youth accountable for their crimes while also trying to resocialize and rehabilitate young men who were growing up with few conforming role models. As such, cottage staff members were put in the difficult position of juggling their roles as corrections officers, counselors, and surrogate parents. To effectively do their job, they had to find ways to balance the rhetoric of rehabilitation with the punitive reality of daily life in the institution. This article details the juvenile justice career paths of the staff members in the cottage and provides a sociological analysis of the roles, responsibilities, and interactions of the staff members with each other and with the young men in their care.
Identification of four distinct pools of catenins in mammalian cells and transformation-dependent changes in catenin distributions among these pools.

Catenins are cytoplasmic proteins that were initially identified in a complex with cadherins, a superfamily of transmembrane glycoproteins important for cell adhesion in normal and disease states. We have used gel filtration to identify four complexes of catenins in extracts from normal and transformed epithelial cells. In normal Madin-Darby canine kidney epithelial cells, a significant fraction of α- and β-catenin and plakoglobin co-elute with cadherin in a high molecular weight complex (complex I). A portion of α-catenin and the remainder of β-catenin and plakoglobin co-elute in a high molecular weight complex that does not contain cadherin (complex II). The remainder of α-catenin elutes in a low molecular weight fraction (complex III). In extracts from two colon carcinoma cell lines, HCT116 and SW480, β-catenin elutes in an additional low molecular weight pool (complex IV) not present in Madin-Darby canine kidney cell extracts. In two subclones derived from SW480 cells, SW-E8 and SW-R2, β-catenin is distributed evenly between high and low molecular weight pools in SW-E8 cells, whereas it elutes primarily in the low molecular weight pool (complex IV) in SW-R2 cells. These changes in β-catenin elution profiles correlate with an increase in transformed phenotype and decreased cell-cell adhesion in the SW-R2 cells.
Stochastic capacity control with different delay times for expansion and reduction

A novel optimal solution, based on Markov decision theory, is presented for the capacity management problem with stochastic market demand and different delay times in expansion and reduction between the time capacity change is ordered and the time it is delivered. The optimal policy in this paper is presented as optimal boundaries representing the optimal capacity expansion and reduction levels inspired by optimal inventory control.
Limits to the Human Cancer Genome Project

Although the efforts of Vogelstein and colleagues to define the mutational landscape of two of the most common human cancers (breast and colon) are highly commendable (“The consensus coding sequences of human breast and colorectal cancers,” T. Sjoblom et al. , Research Article, 13 Oct. 2006, p
Hepcidin in iron metabolism.

Purpose of review Hepcidin is a recently discovered hepatic peptide that regulates intestinal iron absorption as well as maternal-fetal iron transport across the placenta. It probably also affects the release of iron from hepatic stores and from macrophages involved in the recycling of iron from hemoglobin. Connecting iron metabolism to innate immunity, hepcidin is a key mediator of hypoferremia of inflammation. Recent findings The essential role of hepcidin in iron metabolism is being elucidated through mouse and human genetics, biochemistry, and cell biology. Summary Studies of hepcidin are leading to fundamental understanding of iron homeostasis and pointing to potential treatments for hemochromatosis and anemia of inflammation (anemia of chronic disease).
Numerical Investigation of Pyrolysis Gas Blowing Pattern and Thermal Response using Orthotropic Charring Ablative Material

An orthotropic material model is implemented in a three-dimensional material response code, and numerically studied for charring ablative material. Model comparison is performed using an iso-Q sample geometry. The comparison is presented using pyrolysis gas streamlines and time series of temperature at selected virtual thermocouples. Results show that orthotropic permeability aects both pyrolysis gas ow and thermal response, but orthotropic thermal conductivity essentially changes the thermal performance of the material. The eect of orthotropic properties may have practical use such that the material performance can be manipulated by altering the angle of orthotropic orientation.
Nutritional and Lifestyle Factors and High-Density Lipoprotein Metabolism

The purpose of this chapter is to review our knowledge of the effects of nutritional and lifestyle factors on high-density lipoprotein (HDL) metabolism. Alcohol intake increases HDL apolipoprotein (apo) A-I by increasing its production, and is the topic of a chapter by Dr. Brinton. Dietary cholesterol increases HDL apolipoprotein (apo) A-I by increasing its secretion, probably due to a greater need for enhanced reverse cholesterol transport. Diets high in polyunsaturated fatty acids relative to saturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids (oleic acid), as well as high carbohydrate, low-fat diets, lower HDL apoA-I by enhancing its fractional clearance, due to upregulation of hepatic scavenger receptor B1 (SR-B1) activity. Omega-3 fatty acids have little effect on HDL cholesterol or apoA-I levels, but decrease both apoA-I production as well as its fractional catabolism; but they do increase large beneficial HDL particles. Trans fatty acids lower HDL apoA-I, by modestly enhancing its fractional clearance. Dietary carbohydrate, especially refined carbohydrate high in sugar or high-fructose corn syrup, when replacing fat in the diet, lowers HDL apoA-I by enhancing its fractional clearance. Alterations in dietary protein have little effect on HDL metabolism. Weight loss via caloric restriction and increased exercise decrease TRL levels, resulting in less transfer of cholesteryl ester from HDL to TRL in exchange for triglyceride, and delayed fractional clearance of HDL apoA-I. Weight loss, exercise, and restriction of sugars are the most effective way to raise HDL cholesterol. In intervention studies, replacement of animal fat with vegetable oil and increasing n3 fatty acids in the diet have been associated with significant heart disease risk reduction.
Hyperacute neuropathological findings after proton beam radiosurgery of the rat hippocampus.

OBJECTIVE: To study the hyperacute histological and immunohistochemical effects of stereotactic proton beam irradiation of the rat hippocampus. METHODS: Nine rats underwent proton beam radiosurgery of one hippocampus with nominal doses of cobalt-2, -12, and -60 Gray equivalents (n = 3 each). Control animals (n = 3) were not irradiated. Animals were killed 5 hours after irradiation and brain sections were stained for Nissl, silver degeneration, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragmentation (DNAF), and the activated form of two mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), phospho-Erk1/2 (P-Erk1/2) and p38. Stained cells in the hippocampus expressing DNAF and/or P-Erk1/2 were counted. Confocal microscopy with double immunofluorescent staining was used to examine cellular colocalization of DNAF and P-Erk1/2. RESULTS: Both DNAF and P-Erk1/2 showed quantitative dose-dependent increases in staining in the targeted hippocampus compared with the contralateral side and controls. This finding was restricted to the subgranular proliferative zone of the hippocampus. Both markers also were up-regulated on the contralateral side when compared with controls in a dose-dependent fashion. Simultaneous staining for DNAF and P-Erk1/2 was found in fewer than half of all cells. p38 was unchanged compared with controls. Although Nissl staining appeared normal, silver stain confirmed dose-dependent cellular degeneration. CONCLUSION: DNAF, a marker of cell death, was present in rat hippocampi within 5 hours of delivery of cobalt-2 Gray equivalents stereotactically focused irradiation, suggesting that even low-dose radiosurgery has hyperacute neurotoxic effects. Activated mitogen-activated protein kinase was incompletely colocalized with DNAF, suggesting that activation of this cascade is neither necessary nor sufficient to initiate acute cell death after irradiation.
Blocking Stretch-Induced Myocardial Remodeling

It is increasingly recognized that pathological cardiac remodeling, including myocardial hypertrophy and chamber dilation, is a process that promotes progression of myocardial dysfunction and adverse clinical sequelae among patients with dilated cardiomyopathies, regardless of the pathogenesis. Accordingly, the goals of delaying progression or inducing regression of pathological cardiac hypertrophy and dilation, so-called “reverse remodeling,” have emerged as important therapeutic targets in the treatment of dilated cardiomyopathies. In recent years, some of the most dramatic examples of reverse remodeling have been observed after application of devices that reduce global or regional left ventricular loading conditions. Perhaps most striking have been the myocardial adaptations after placement of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) in patients with medically refractory heart failure awaiting heart transplantation. In these settings, studies from multiple laboratories have demonstrated that LVAD support induces regression of many of the typical abnormalities of the failing myocardium including pathological hypertrophy,1,2 action potential prolongation,3 impaired contractility and contractile reserve,4–6 extracellular matrix abnormalities,7 and expression of genes normally associated with fetal development.8 Such studies support the hypothesis that the progression and persistence of many of the myocardial abnormalities observed in dilated failing hearts, regardless of pathogenesis, are a direct or indirect consequence of increased myocardial wall stress. Because LVADs are only used among patients with the most severe degrees of myocardial failure, studies of LVAD-supported hearts also suggest that the potential for myocardial reverse remodeling is retained across a wide spectrum of disease severity. Indeed, recent applications of other devices, most notably multisite ventricular pacing and passive cardiac support devices, have demonstrated the potential to induce regression of pathological hypertrophy and improvements in myocardial contractile performance by altering regional and global myocardial wall stress in hearts with …
Culture and Change: An Introduction

Culture and Change: An Introduction. Larry L. Naylor. Westport, CT: Berg In and Garvey, Greenwood Publishing Group, 1996. xxiv. 236 pp. figures, bibliography, Index.
System operations of mercury; a diode-pumped solid-state laser

The Mercury laser project is part of a national inertial fusion energy program in which four driver technologies are being considered including solid-state lasers, krypton fluoride gas lasers, Z-Pinch and heavy ions. Mercury's operational goals of 100 J, 10 Hz, 10% efficiency in a 5 times diffraction limited spot will demonstrate the critical technologies required for scaling the system to the multi-kilojoule level. Five one hour runs were conducted to assess system stability and reliability; energy fluctuations during the 55 J operations showed a 0.6% rms deviation. Current beam quality during average power operation is approximately 10 times diffraction limited. In the future, active wavefront control, and corrector plates for steady state thermal distortions will be implemented to achieve the 5 times diffraction limited spot.
Cutting Edge: Gut Microenvironment Promotes Differentiation of a Unique Memory CD8 T Cell Population

Whether tissue microenvironment influences memory CD8 T cell differentiation is unclear. We demonstrate that virus-specific intraepithelial lymphocytes in gut resemble neither central nor effector memory CD8 T cells isolated from spleen or blood. This unique phenotype arises in situ within the gut, suggesting that anatomic location plays an inductive role in the memory differentiation program. In support of this hypothesis, memory CD8 T cells changed phenotype upon change in location. After transfer and in vivo restimulation, gut or spleen memory cells proliferated, disseminated into spleen and gut, and adopted the memory T cell phenotype characteristic of their new environment. Our data suggests that anatomic location directly impacts the memory T cell differentiation program.
Insulin bolusing software: the potential to optimize health outcomes in type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Background: Insulin bolusing calculators alleviate the burden of having to calculate insulin bolus doses for patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Three important pieces of information are needed: a blood glucose monitoring (BGM) result, carbohydrates to be consumed, and the amount of insulin bolus delivered. The purpose of this study was to describe insulin pump adherence behaviors associated with the use of bolus calculators in youth who use Medtronic insulin pumps. Methods: Data were downloaded from the MiniMed Paradigm insulin pumps (Medtronic) of 31 youth with T1DM. Areas of adherence that were evaluated included fundamental insulin pump adherence behaviors (e.g., BGM, carbohydrate entry, and insulin bolusing), decisions about Wizard ® recommendations, and three Wizard steps: BGM result–carbohydrate input–insulin bolus. Results: On average, patients conducted BGM ≥4 times/day on 69% of days, inputted carbohydrates ≥3 times/day on 63% of days, and insulin bolused ≥3 times/day on 85% of days. Participants generally followed Wizard recommendations. Finally, participants completed all three Wizard steps (BGM, carbohydrate input, insulin bolus) within 30 min for an average of 29% of boluses. Almost 3% of boluses that were preceded by Wizard use were delivered without conducting BGM or inputting carbohydrates. Conclusion:
The AAPM/RSNA physics tutorial for residents. Contrast mechanisms in gradient-echo imaging and an introduction to fast imaging.

The strengths of spin-echo sequences in clinical magnetic resonance imaging are its relative insensitivity to magnetic field inhomogeneities and its versatility; however, they require relatively long imaging times. Use of gradient-echo sequences largely circumvents the problem. A gradient echo is created by means of a gradient reversal following a single radio-frequency (RF) pulse, typically with a flip angle that is less than 90 degrees, compared with a spin-echo sequence, which requires at least two RF pulses, typically a 90 degree excitation pulse followed by a 180 degree refocusing pulse. The shortened repetition times (TRs) in gradient-echo sequences together with small flip angles enable maintaining adequate image signal-to-noise ratios while still achieving a short imaging time. Numerous gradient-echo sequences have been developed, with the most common being (a) fast low angle shot (FLASH), which uses small flip angles and short TRs; (b) gradient-recalled acquisition in the steady state and fast im...
Real-Time Shipboard Orbit Determination Using Kalman Filtering Techniques

The real-time tracking and orbit determination program used on board the NASA tracking ship, the USNS Vanguard, is described in this paper. The computer program uses a variety of filtering algorithms, including an extended Kalman filter, to derive real-time orbit determinations (position-velocity state vectors) from shipboard tracking and navigation data. Results from Appolo missions are given to show that orbital parameters can be estimated quickly and accurately using these methods.