cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fatal clostridial sepsis after spontaneous abortion

Abstract BACKGROUND: Although obstetric mortality due to complications of Clostridium perfringens infection is rare at present, we report a case of fatal clostridial sepsis secondary to a septic spontaneous abortion. CASE: A woman at 6–8 weeks’ gestation presented with vaginal bleeding and abdominal pain. Although afebrile, the patient was hypotensive, tachycardic, and tachypneic. Physical examination was remarkable for a 10-weeks’-gestation-size uterus, mild pelvic tenderness, a closed cervix without signs of trauma, and moderate vaginal bleeding. Laboratory studies were consistent with infection, hemolysis, and coagulopathy. Sonography demonstrated echolucencies consistent with gas formation in the endometrial cavity. Despite fluid resuscitation, transfusions, antibiotic therapy, and a dilation and curettage, persistent vaginal bleeding required an emergency hysterectomy. Hypotension ensued, and despite aggressive resuscitation attempts, the patient died. CONCLUSION: Rare cases of fatal sepsis secondary to pelvic infection with Clostridium perfringens continue to occur. Hemolysis, anuria, coagulopathy, and characteristic sonographic findings should heighten suspicion of this potentially fatal infection.
The Bad Seed in Alzheimer’s Disease

In this issue of Neuron, McGowan et al. report on a new mouse model of amyloid deposition as occurs in Alzheimer's disease. Unlike previous models in which overexpression of the amyloid precursor protein results in amyloid plaque formation, McGowan et al. have produced mice that overexpress only Aβ40 or Aβ42 and prove that Aβ42 is critical for the formation of amyloid deposits in vivo.
Petite typologie philologique du « moderne » au Québec (1850-1950). Moderne, modernisation, modernisme, modernité

Le concept de modernite a ete souvent interprete et utilise dans la plus complete confusion par les praticiens quebecois des sciences sociales. On reconnait sans peine la « labilite extreme » des definitions proposees par les historiens et les sociologues. Et pourtant, pour peu que l’on consulte les textes publies des avant la Revolution tranquille, et deja meme au XIXe siecle, on retrouve, sous la plume des acteurs et intellectuels canadiens-francais, l’intuition des quatre grandes acceptions de l’idee du « moderne », a savoir le moderne comme contemporaneite (« etre moderne »), comme autopoiesis (mouvement moderniste), comme progres socio-economique (modernisation) et comme periode historique (modernite). Cette cursive typologie, que nous proposons ici sur un mode purement conceptuel alors meme que nous l’illustrons de nombreux exemples tires de la litterature des annees 1850 a 1950, permettra de faire sens non seulement de l’evolution passee et recente de la societe quebecoise (en nous donnant l’occasion de reprendre a nouveaux frais plusieurs debats anciens sur son developpement historique), mais peut-etre aussi d’eviter a l’avenir de steriles discussions provoquees par une aussi curieuse que regrettable « lassitude conceptuelle ».
Design And Fabrication Of A Self-Calibrating Germanium Photodiode

The design of a self-calibrating germanium photo-diode with an internal quantum efficiency in excess of 980 in the wavelength range from .4 to 1.5 μm is described. The fabrication of these photodiodes by ion implantation is discussed.
Measures of obesity and risk of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Background Obesity is associated with intestinal-specific inflammation. Nonetheless, a specific role of obesity in the etiology of inflammatory bowel disease is unclear. Methods We conducted a prospective cohort study of U.S. women enrolled in 1989 in the Nurses' Health Study II. At baseline, we collected information on height, weight, waist and hip circumference, weight at age 18, and body shape at age 20. We used Cox proportional hazard models to calculate hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results Among 111,498 women (median age, 35 yr), we documented 153 cases of Crohn's disease (CD) and 229 cases of ulcerative colitis (UC) more than 18 years of follow-up, encompassing 2,028,769 person-years. Compared with women with normal BMI, the multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios of CD were 2.33 (95% CI, 1.15-4.69) for obese women at age 18 and 1.58 (95% CI, 1.01-2.47) for obese women at baseline. Increasing weight gain between age 18 and baseline was associated with increased risk of CD (Ptrend = 0.04). Adolescent body habitus was also associated with risk of CD with a multivariate-adjusted hazard ratio of CD of 1.63 (95% CI, 1.07-2.50) for women with overweight/obese body shape compared with women with a thin/slender body shape. We did not observe a significant association between any of these anthropometric measures and risk of UC. Conclusions In a large prospective cohort of U.S. women, measures of adiposity were associated with an increased risk of CD but not UC. Additional studies are needed to elucidate the biological mechanisms by which excess adiposity may increase the risk of CD.
Hypothyroidism and iodine deficiency in an infant requiring total parenteral nutrition

While iodine deficiency remains a relatively rare cause of thyroid dysfunction in the United States, little is known about iodine status and deficiency in children requiring parenteral nutrition (PN). This population may be at an elevated risk of thyroid dysregulation and neurodevelopmental sequelae due to low concentrations in typical PN formulations. Furthermore, with the widespread practice of switching from iodine-based antiseptics to chlorhexadine, previous inadvertent sources of iodine are being eliminated as well.
Lack of a role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in the fasting-induced suppression of luteinizing hormone secretion in adult male rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta).

One day of fasting suppresses pulsatile LH secretion in adult male rhesus monkeys. In the present study, we determined whether the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is activated by 1 day of fasting, and if there is any evidence that an increase in the activity of the HPA axis causes the fasting-induced suppression of LH secretion. In the first experiment, blood samples were collected at 15-min intervals from nine monkeys for 24 h (0800-0800 h) on a day of normal feeding (animals fed a single daily meal at 1100 h) and again on a day of fasting (animals not fed their daily meal) to assess changes in LH and cortisol secretion caused by fasting. LH secretion on the day of fasting (4.44 +/- 0.85 LH pulses/24 h) was significantly suppressed compared to that on a day of normal feeding (7.67 +/- 0.74 LH pulses/24 h; P < or = 0.01), and there was a slight, but significant, rise in plasma cortisol levels from 17.86 +/- 2.29 to 25.14 +/- 2.74 micrograms/dl (measured at 1400 h) that was evident soon after the...
Intramolecular Singlet and Triplet Energy Transfer in a Ruthenium(II) Diimine Complex Containing Multiple Pyrenyl Chromophores

We report the synthesis and the photophysical properties of UV light-harvesting arrays constructed around a [Ru(bpy)3]2+ core (bpy = 2,2‘-bipyridine) bearing one and three pyrenyl units in the periphery. The free ligand containing the pyrenyl unit, 4-methyl-4‘-(2-hydroxyethylpyrenyl)-2,2‘-bipyridine, displays an intense emission band centered near 400 nm with a lifetime of 264 ns, characteristic of singlet pyrene emission. The complexes [Ru(dmb)2(4-methyl-4‘-(2-hydroxyethylpyrenyl)-2,2‘-bipyridine)](PF6)2, where dmb is 4,4‘-dimethyl-2,2‘-bipyridine, and [Ru(4-methyl-4‘-(2-hydroxyethylpyrenyl)-2,2‘-bipyridine)3](PF6)2 exhibit visible emission characteristic of the [Ru(bpy)3]2+ unit, regardless of excitation wavelength. The singlet emission from the pyrene chromophores is almost quantitatively quenched by the metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) states of each respective Ru(II) complex resulting in the observation of sensitized MLCT-based emission. On account of the energetic proximity between the 3MLCT s...
Digital filter interpolation of decoded LSFs for distributed continuous speech recognition

A digital filter interpolation of decoded line spectral frequencies (LSFs) that significantly outperforms linear interpolation for large vocabulary distributed continuous speech recognition systems is presented. Experiments were conducted using linear predictive coding (LPC) and LSF-derived speech recognition features, CDHMM acoustic models, triphone units and trigram language models for Brazilian Portuguese.
Photochemical generation of nitric oxide from nitro-containing compounds: Possible relation to vascular photorelaxation phenomena

We examined the production of nitric oxide (NO) from various nitro-containing compounds (500 microM and 100 microM solutions in Krebs buffer, pH 7.4). Sealed vials containing solutions of NaNO2, N-nitro-L-arginine, 4-nitrophenol, BAY K 8644, or N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester were stored in the dark, under normal room light, or were exposed to ultraviolet light (365 nm), for 30 min (24 degrees C). NO was measured in the vial headspace after 30 min, using a sensitive assay previously established in our laboratory. Production of NO was found to be dependent on the intensity of light exposure for all compounds, and the highest degree of light-induced production of NO was found for NaNO2 and BAY K 8644 solutions. Since NO is a relaxant of smooth muscle, these results help explain the increased sensitivity to relaxation by UV light of vascular and other types of smooth muscle in the presence of NaNO2, BAY K 8644 and N-nitro-L-arginine, as observed by other investigators.
Effects of Radiative and Diffusive Transport Processes on Premixed Flames near Flammability Limits

A study of the mechanisms of flammability limits and the dynamics of flame extinguishment in premixed gas flames is described, a novel feature of which is the use of diluent gases having a wide range of radiative and diffusive transport properties. This feature enables an assessment of the importance of volumetric heat losses and Lewis number effects on these mechanisms. Additionally, effects of flame dynamics and flame front curvature are studied by employing spherically expanding flames obtained in a microgravity environment whereby natural convection is eliminated. New diagnostics include chamber pressure measurements and the first reported species concentration measurements in a microgravity combustion experiment. The limit mechanisms and extinguishment phenomena are found to be strongly influenced by the combined effects of radiant heat loss, Lewis number and flame curvature. Two new and as yet not well understood phenomena are reported: 'double flames' in rich H2-O2-CO2 mixtures and an 'inverse flammability region' in rich C3H8-O2-CO2 mixtures.
Justification through biological faith: A rejoinder

A philosopher is often more fortunate in his critics than in his supporters.Though I have not found enough of the latter to test out this bromide, Iam sensible of the value bestowed by colleagues who have taken suchexacting care in analyzing my arguments. While their incisive observationand hard objections threaten to leave an extinct theory, I hope the readerwill rather judge it one strengthened by adversity.Let me initially expose the heart of my argument so as to make obviousthe shocks it must endure. I ask the reader to grant that altruistic behaviorcan be empirically justified, that is, to allow that we have evolved underthe aegis of kin and group selection (or comparably effective mechanisms)to heed the community welfare, to be moved to aid the distressed even atcost to ourselves, and to approve of altruistic behavior in others. Grantedthis empirical account, I then attempt to show how ethical propositions,that is moral 'ought'-propositions and appraisals, can be justified withoutcommitting any fallacy. My strategy is to reveal that any ethical frameworkthat might be urged on us depends on a variety of empirical assumptions. Iattempt to show, for instance, that philosophers who argue for theadoption of any normative framework - even that of modern logic -employ a common strategy, namely to justify the adoption by showing thatthe framework sanctions certain empirical descriptions that are deemedwell confirmed. This leads me to reject the common belief that inferringvalues from facts is ipso facto fallacious.I then mount several justifications, moral justifications, for the conclu-sion that one ought to act altruistically. The first justification, whichWilliam Hughes has correctly isolated, is suggested in my discussion of therole of empirical considerations in ethical reasoning. There I illustrate howindividuals might validly derive moral conclusions from factual premises.That argument can be further elaborated. First, it must be granted thathuman beings have evolved not only to reason theoretically according tocertain logical rules (e.g., modus ponens), but also to reason practicallyaccording to certain moral rules (e.g., "From 'Action x enhances thecommunity good,' conclude 'I ought to perform x' "). If that is so, then nofallacy is committed when someone reasons from the fact that a child isdrowning to the conclusion "I ought to try saving this child." The rule of
Magnetic field effect on space-charge neutralization in electric propulsion.

Some basic aspects of ion beam neutralization in the presence of magnetic fields are investigated. The problem leads to an integrodifferential equation for the electrostatic potential. This equation is solved numerically for several values of the electron-ion mass ratio. Of more interest for practical applications is the limit as the mass ratio tends to zero. In this case, the governing equation becomes linear and the problem reduces to finding the inverse of a Hilbert transform. The solution can be expressed in terms of elementary functions. Among the results obtained are the distribution of the charge densities for electrons and ions in the beam, and the electron trajectories. The limiting condition for beam reversal, which applies when the magnetic field is sufficiently strong to prevent the electrons from being drawn into the beam, is determined. Also computed is the loss in propulsive efficiency due to "electron-swirl." Finally, it is pointed out that this loss can be entirely avoided if a magnetic field is employed whose transverse component changes direction.
Medieval Jewish Biblical Commentaries and the State of Parshanut Studies

This article surveys recent developments in the field of Parshanut studies. It explores the editing, publication, and translation of new text editions of medieval commentaries and provides an overview of current debates concerning the development of Karaite exegesis and the school of peshat commentary in Northern France. Using a case study of medieval Jewish commentaries on the book of Job it highlights those biblical exegetes who are currently receiving scholarly attention and the types of questions being asked about them and the works they composed. Finally, some topics for future research are highlighted.
Crowing and mating behaviors in lines of chickens selected for mating frequency

Abstract The frequency and relationship of crowing to several mating behaviors were determined in lines selected for high and low cumulative number of completed matings, and in the unselected random-bred population from which the selected lines originated. A diurnal rhythm in crowing frequency was observed, with birds crowing more at 09.00 h than at 13.00 and 16.00 h. The frequency of crowing increased from 24 to 68 weeks of age in the high mating line which was in contrast to decreases in the low mating and unselected control lines. Significant positive correlations were obtained between crowing at the various ages and between crowing and courting at 68 weeks of age. Implications of these findings to the backyard flocking situation are discussed.
Role of Molecular Chaperones in G Protein β5/Regulator of G Protein Signaling Dimer Assembly and G Protein βγ Dimer Specificity

The G protein βγ subunit dimer (Gβγ) and the Gβ5/regulator of G protein signaling (RGS) dimer play fundamental roles in propagating and regulating G protein pathways, respectively. How these complexes form dimers when the individual subunits are unstable is a question that has remained unaddressed for many years. In the case of Gβγ, recent studies have shown that phosducin-like protein 1 (PhLP1) works as a co-chaperone with the cytosolic chaperonin complex (CCT) to fold Gβ and mediate its interaction with Gγ. However, it is not known what fraction of the many Gβγ combinations is assembled this way or whether chaperones influence the specificity of Gβγ dimer formation. Moreover, the mechanism of Gβ5-RGS assembly has yet to be assessed experimentally. The current study was undertaken to directly address these issues. The data show that PhLP1 plays a vital role in the assembly of Gγ2 with all four Gβ1–4 subunits and in the assembly of Gβ2 with all twelve Gγ subunits, without affecting the specificity of the Gβγ interactions. The results also show that Gβ5-RGS7 assembly is dependent on CCT and PhLP1, but the apparent mechanism is different from that of Gβγ. PhLP1 seems to stabilize the interaction of Gβ5 with CCT until Gβ5 is folded, after which it is released to allow Gβ5 to interact with RGS7. These findings point to a general role for PhLP1 in the assembly of all Gβγ combinations and suggest a CCT-dependent mechanism for Gβ5-RGS7 assembly that utilizes the co-chaperone activity of PhLP1 in a unique way.
Speciation and Stasis in Marine Ostracoda: Climatic Modulation of Evolution

Morphologic and paleozoogeographic analysis of Cenozoic marine Ostracoda from the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Pacific indicates that climatic change modulates evolution by disrupting long-term stasis and catalyzing speciation during sustained, unidirectional climatic transitions and, conversely, by maintaining morphologic stasis during rapid, high-frequency climatic oscillations. In the middle Pliocene, 4 to 3 million years ago, at least six new species of Puriana suddenly appeared as the Isthmus of Panama closed, changing oceanographic circulation and global climate. Since then morphologic stasis has characterized ancestral and descendant species during many glacial-interglacial cycles. The frequency and duration of climatic events have more impact on ostracode evolution than the magnitude of climatic changes.
Uses of superconducting rf structures in pion beams at LAMPF

Abstract Calculations indicate that a single-cell superconducting rf cavity can be used to reduce the energy spread of a secondary pion beam. Such a device would increase the pion flux in a small energy spread pion beam at the Low Energy Pion channel at LAMPF by more than a factor of 5.
Mechanistic link between β barrel assembly and the initiation of autotransporter secretion

Autotransporters are bacterial virulence factors that contain an N-terminal extracellular (“passenger”) domain and a C-terminal β barrel (“β”) domain that anchors the protein to the outer membrane. The β domain is required for passenger domain secretion, but its exact role in autotransporter biogenesis is unclear. Here we describe insights into the function of the β domain that emerged from an analysis of mutations in the Escherichia coli O157:H7 autotransporter EspP. We found that the G1066A and G1081D mutations slightly distort the structure of the β domain and delay the initiation of passenger domain translocation. Site-specific photocrosslinking experiments revealed that the mutations slow the insertion of the β domain into the outer membrane, but do not delay the binding of the β domain to the factor that mediates the insertion reaction (the Bam complex). Our results demonstrate that the β domain does not simply target the passenger domain to the outer membrane, but promotes translocation when it reaches a specific stage of assembly. Furthermore, our results provide evidence that the Bam complex catalyzes the membrane integration of β barrel proteins in a multistep process that can be perturbed by minor structural defects in client proteins.
Acquired Cytomegalovirus Infection in Immunocompetent Patients

Acquired cytomegalovirus infection may be asymptomatic or produce a mononucleosis syndrome. Complications of the latter include pneumonitis, hepatitis, or involvement of the nervous system.
Yttrium Aluminum Garnet Fibers from Metalloorganic Precursors

Mixtures of yttrium acetate hydrate (Y(O 2 CCH 3 ) 3 .4H 2 O) and aluminum formate hydrate (Al(O 2 CH) 3 .3H 2 O in H 2 O) or yttrium isobutyrate (Y[O 2 CCH(CH 3 ) 2 ] 3 ) and aluminum isobutyrate (Al[O 2 CCH(CH 3 H 2 C 3 ) in tetrahydrofuran were used as precursors to process yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG, Al 5 Y 3 O 12 ) fibers. The pyrolytic decomposition patterns of Al(O 2 CH) 3 .3H 2 O, Y(O 2 CCH 3 ) 3 .4H 2 O, and a [3Y(O 2 CCH 3 ) 3 .4H 2 O/5Al(O 2 CH) 3 .3H 2 O] YAG stoichiometry mixture were assessed by heating samples to selected temperatures and characterizing the products by thermogravimetric analysis, differential thermal analysis, X-ray diffractometry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The YAG acetate/formate precursor decomposes to an amorphous intermediate at temperatures >400°C and crystallizes (at ∼800°C) to phase-pure YAG with a ceramic yield of 40% at 1000°C. YAG isobutyrate precursor fibers were extruded or hand drawn. YAG acetate/formate precursor fibers were formed using a commercial extruder. The pyrolysis behavior of both precursor fibers was studied to identify the best pyrolysis conditions for producing dense, defect-free ceramic fibers. Only thin (diameter of <30 μm) precursor fibers could be processed to dense, defect-free, thin YAG fibers (diameter of <20 μm). For the YAG isobutyrate precursor, crack-free crystalline YAG fibers (diameter of -7 μm) were obtained at 1000°C. For YAG acetate/formate precursor fibers, dwell times of 2 h at temperatures of 400° and 900°C were necessary to process fully dense, defect-free ceramic fibers. Heating the resulting 900°C fibers (at a rate of 30°C/min) to 1570°-1650°C gave dense fibers with grain sizes of 0.7-3.2 μm and bend strengths of up to 1.7 ± 0.2 GPa (for fibers that had a diameter of ∼10 μm and had undergone sintering at 1600°C).
Imaging and manipulating molecules with the scanning tunneling microscope

Summary form only given, as follows. In a very short time the scanning tunneling microscope (STM) has become an important surface analysis tool for real-space imaging of surface structure on an atomic scale. The visualization of atoms on a surface and even distinguishing one element from another can be performed routinely in many labs around the world. This technique has been extended to imaging organic adsorbates on conducting surfaces. The STM can resolve individual molecules and can even distinguish individual parts within complicated molecules. While the primary use of the STM has been as an imaging tool and sensitive topographic mapper, recently efforts have been made to use the STM as a manipulator of materials. Two applications are lithography and molecular manipulation including transformations on single molecules. >
A Forbidden Subposet Characterization of an Order - Dimension Inequality

Dushnik and Miller defined the dimension of a partially ordered setX, DimX, as the minimum number of linear extensions ofX whose intersection is the partial ordering onX. The concept of dimension for a partially ordered set has applications to preference structures and the theory of measurement. Hiraguchi proved that DimX ≤ [|X|/2] when |X| ≥ 4. Bogart, Trotter, and Kimble gave a forbidden subposet characterization of Hiraguchi's inequality by constructing for eachn ≥ 2 the minimum collectionℬn of posets such that if [|X|/2] =n ≥ 2, then DimX < n unlessX contains one of the posets inℬn. Recently Trotter gave a simple proof of Hiraguchi's inequality based on the following theorem. IfA is an antichain ofX and |X − A| =n ≥ 2, then DimX ≤ n. In this paper we give a forbidden subposet characterization of this last inequality.
Genetic demonstration of mitotic recombination in cultured chinese hamster cell hybrids

Abstract Chinese hamster ovary cell hybrids were constructed that are heterozygous for two markers, leu S and emt B, linked to the long arm of chromosome 2. In addition, the chromosome 2 carrying the wild-type leu S and emt B alleles contains, on its short arm, a homogeneously staining region (hsr) in which the gene encoding dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) is amplified ∼50-fold. This provides a convenient cytogenetic and biochemical means to distinguish the chromosome 2s from the different parents. Analysis of emetine-resistant segregants isolated from such hybrids identified three distinct classes of segregants. One rare class of segregants loses the wild-type leu S and emt B gene functions on the long arm of the hsr chromosome 2 (H-2) but retains the amplified dhfr genes on the opposite arm. Detailed genetic analysis of two such segregants that did not arise by chromosome loss or deletion revealed that new gene linkage relationships had been established on the H-2 chromosome in each, demonstrating that the segregation events in these cell lines involved mitotic recombination.
Tension pneumopericardium in an infant.

Three serial chest radiographs (CXR) are presented to document the patient’s clinical course. (A) Patient’s on CXR to the emergency department, which shows a right sided pulmonary infiltrate as the probable cause nfants presenting respiratory distress. (B) The development of pneumopericardium (black arrows) after endotratubation. (C) CXR taken after pericardiocentesis and insertion of a pericardial drain (arrows).
A minimum fluid volume of 75 mL is needed to ensure adequacy in a pleural effusion: A retrospective analysis of 2540 cases

BACKGROUND No consensus exists regarding minimum fluid volume for adequacy of benign pleural effusion specimens. Although any volume is acceptable if cytologic findings are malignant, the distinction between the absence of disease and false-negativity is not straightforward in low-volume specimens. Recent literature has offered conflicting results regarding what minimum volume is necessary. Moreover, no studies to date have evaluated this issue across a large series of specimens with a wide distribution of volumes. The objective of the current study was to determine the minimum volume of pleural fluid necessary for optimal cytopathological diagnosis. METHODS The authors identified 2540 pleural fluid specimens received between January 2000 and December 2009 and retrospectively reviewed their diagnoses and characteristics. Because of the large range of volumes (1 mL-6500 mL), the cases were binned into 9 groups of roughly equivalent sample sizes. The malignancy fractions (percentage of cases with malignant diagnoses) were compared for each group. RESULTS The current study specimens had a median volume of 200 mL and an overall malignancy fraction of 20.1%. The malignancy fraction increased from 10.1% (95% confidence interval, 8.1%-12.1%) for volumes < 5 mL to 23.3% (95% confidence interval, 20.0%-25.8%) for volumes between 50 mL and 75 mL (P = .009). Specimens with volumes ≥ 75 mL had malignancy fractions independent of volume. In addition, ratios of benign or malignant diagnoses versus nondiagnostic and atypical results continued to increase with volume. CONCLUSIONS A fluid volume of ≥ 75 mL is required to eliminate the influence of specimen size on diagnostic adequacy. Although larger volumes do not appear to impact malignancy fraction, they do correlate with decreased nondiagnostic and atypical results. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2014;122:657–665. © 2014 American Cancer Society.
Decentralized observer with a consensus filter for distributed discrete-time linear systems

This paper presents a decentralized observer with a consensus filter for the state observation of a discrete-time linear distributed systems. In this setup, each agent in the distributed system has an observer with a model of the plant that utilizes the set of locally available measurements, which may not make the full plant state detectable. This lack of detectability is overcome by utilizing a consensus filter that blends the state estimate of each agent with its neighbors' estimates. We assume that the communication graph is connected for all times as well as the sensing graph. It is proven that the state estimates of the proposed observer asymptotically converge to the actual plant states under arbitrarily changing, but connected, communication and sensing topologies. As a byproduct of this research, we also obtained a result on the location of eigenvalues, the spectrum, of the Laplacian for a family of graphs with self-loops.
Prostate blood flow characteristics in the chronic prostatitis/pelvic pain syndrome.

Purpose:: We determine whether the chronic prostatitis/pelvic pain syndrome is associated with abnormal prostate blood flow.Materials and Methods:: We used color Doppler ultrasonography to examine 53 patients with inflammation, 80 men without inflammation and 22 healthy controls. Images were recorded and scored using standardized criteria to characterize the degree and distribution of prostatic vascularity.Results:: Flow was observed to the entire prostatic capsule in 77% of patients but only 18% of controls (p <0.0001). Parenchymal flow was evaluated using several criteria. On a 2-point scale flow was classified as grade 2 in 74% of patients compared to 27% of controls (p <0.0001). Similar findings were noted on a Doppler spot scale, with flow classified as grade 2 in 47% of patients compared to 14% of controls (p <0.004). Patients also had more parenchymal Doppler spots than controls (p <0.01). Diffuse blood flow throughout the prostatic parenchyma was observed in 63% of patients compared to 36% of cont...
Multiplicity among Widely Separated Brown Dwarf Companions to Nearby Stars: Gliese 337CD

We present Lick Natural Guide Star Adaptive Optics observations of the L8 brown dwarf Gl 337C, which is resolved for the first time into two closely separated (0B53 � 0B03), nearly equal magnitude components with a Ks flux ratio of 0:93 � 0:10. Companionship is inferred from the absence of a 3B6 offset source in Two Micron All Sky Survey or photographic plate images, implying that the observed secondary component is a comoving late-type dwarf. With a projected separation of 11 AU and nearly equal magnitude components, Gl 337CD has properties similar to those of other known companion and field substellar binaries. Its long orbital period (estimated to be � 140‐ 180 yr)inhibits short-term astrometric mass measurements, but the Gl 337CD system is ideal for studying the L-T transition at a fixed age and metallicity. From a compilation of all known widely separated (k100 AU) stellar‐ brown dwarf multiple systems, we find evidence that the binary fraction of brown dwarfs in these systems is notably higher than that of field brown dwarfs, 45 þ15 � 13 %v ersus 18 þ7 � 4 % for analogous samples. We speculate on possible reasons for this difference, including the possibility that dynamic (ejection) interactions that may form such wide pairs preferentially retain binary secondaries because of their greater combined mass and/or ability to absorb angular momentum.
Reaching the healthy people goals for reducing childhood obesity: closing the energy gap.

Background The federal government has set measurable goals for reducing childhood obesity to 5% by 2010 ( Healthy People 2010 ), and 10% lower than 2005–2008 levels by 2020 ( Healthy People 2020 ). However, population-level estimates of the changes in daily energy balance needed to reach these goals are lacking. Purpose To estimate needed per capita reductions in youths' daily "energy gap" (calories consumed over calories expended) to achieve Healthy People goals by 2020. Methods Analyses were conducted in 2010 to fit multivariate models using National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 1971–2008 (N=46,164) to extrapolate past trends in obesity prevalence, weight, and BMI among youth aged 2–19 years. Differences in average daily energy requirements between the extrapolated 2020 levels and Healthy People scenarios were estimated. Results During 1971–2008, mean BMI and weight among U.S. youth increased by 0.55 kg/m 2 and by 1.54 kg per decade, respectively. Extrapolating from these trends to 2020, the average weight among youth in 2020 would increase by ∼1.8 kg from 2007–2008 levels. Averting this increase will require an average reduction of 41 kcal/day in youth's daily energy gap. An additional reduction of 120 kcal/day and 23 kcal/day would be needed to reach Healthy People 2010 and Healthy People 2020 goals, respectively. Larger reductions are needed among adolescents and racial/ethnic minority youth. Conclusions Aggressive efforts are needed to reverse the positive energy imbalance underlying the childhood obesity epidemic. The energy-gap metric provides a useful tool for goal setting, intervention planning, and charting progress.
The Generalizability of Content Validity Ratings

The problem of assessing the content validity (or relevance) of standardized achievement tests is considered within the framework of generalizability theory. Four illustrative designs are described that may be used to assess test-item fit to a curriculum. For each design, appropriate variance components are identified for making relative and absolute item (or test) selection decisions. Special consideration is given to use of these procedures for determining the number of raters and/or schools needed in a content-validation decisionmaking study. Application of these procedures is illustrated using data from an international assessment of mathematics achievement
Multiscale Modeling of Flow Induced Thrombogenicity With Dissipative Particle Dynamics and Molecular Dynamics

The coagulation cascade of blood may be initiated by flow induced platelet activation, which prompts clot formation in prosthetic cardiovascular devices and arterial disease processes. While platelet activation may be induced by biochemical agonists, shear stresses arising from pathological flow patterns enhance the propensity of platelets to activate and initiate the intrinsic pathway of coagulation, leading to thrombosis. Upon activation platelets undergo complex biochemical and morphological changes: organelles are centralized, membrane glycoproteins undergo conformational changes, and adhesive pseudopods are extended. Activated platelets polymerize fibrinogen into a fibrin network that enmeshes red blood cells. Activated platelets also cross-talk and aggregate to form thrombi. Current numerical simulations to model this complex process mostly treat blood as a continuum and solve the Navier-Stokes equations governing blood flow, coupled with diffusion-convection-reaction equations. It requires various complex constitutive relations or simplifying assumptions, and is limited to μm level scales. However, molecular mechanisms governing platelet shape change upon activation and their effect on rheological properties can be in the nm level scales. To address this challenge, a multiscale approach which departs from continuum approaches, may offer an effective means to bridge the gap between macroscopic flow and cellular scales. Molecular dynamics (MD) and dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) methods have been employed in recent years to simulate complex processes at the molecular scales, and various viscous fluids at low-to-high Reynolds numbers at mesoscopic scales. Such particle methods possess important properties at the mesoscopic scale: complex fluids with heterogeneous particles can be modeled, allowing the simulation of processes which are otherwise very difficult to solve by continuum approaches. It is becoming a powerful tool for simulating complex blood flow, red blood cells interactions, and platelet-mediated thrombosis involving platelet activation, aggregation, and adhesion.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Phospholipid meets all-trans-retinal: the making of RPE bisretinoids

The lipid phase of the photoreceptor outer segment membrane is essential to the photon capturing and signaling functions of rhodopsin. Rearrangement of phospholipids in the bilayer accompanies the formation of the active intermediates of rhodopsin following photon absorption. Furthermore, evidence for the formation of a condensation product between the photolyzed chromophore all-trans-retinal and phosphatidylethanolamine indicates that phospholipid may also participate in the movement of the retinoid in the membrane. The downside of these interactions is the formation of bisretinoid-phosphatidylethanolamine compounds that accumulate in retinal pigment epithelial cells with age and that are particularly abundant in some retinal disorders. The propensity of these compounds to negatively impact on the cells has been linked to the pathogenesis of some retinal disorders including juvenile onset recessive Stargardt disease and age-related macular degeneration.
Is Logic Necessary

“Logic” entails both a toolkit for dealing with situations requiring precision, and a prescription for a type of public reasoning. A sufficiently extended society facing a stream of genuinely novel opportunities and challenges will benefit from an ability to generate and encourage the use of such reasoning systems to deal with these opportunities and challenges. The study of “logic” is the result of using the toolkit on itself, which would appear to be a necessary and not unnatural step for a society developing sufficient familiarity with the toolkit. Many societies have developed something like logic, and past and present use of logic-like toolkits in learning situations and transmission of skills suggests that many societies will develop something like logic.
Pictorial Review and Basic Principles of Foot and Ankle Hardware Extraction

This pictorial review presents basic principles of the types of hardware extraction commonly encountered in foot and ankle surgical practice. We review the indications, contraindications and complications of hardware removal including pain, intra-articular fixation, and carcinogenesis, as well as special considerations in pediatric patients and in the setting of infection. Figures are then used to describe the appropriate techniques for use of the screwdriver shafts, conical extraction screws, extraction bolts, hollow reamers, and other instruments found in most hardware extraction sets.
Counterpoints and the Imaginaries Behind Them

The central question of this forum has been asked in other contexts and, sadly, will remain with us for the foreseeable future: “What is or can international political sociology be beyond the European and North American traditions in social and political thought?” The answer would be obvious if the terms of the question were not themselves already beholden to centuries-old traditions of social and political thought. These are vested in certain ideas of “politics” associated with sovereignty and “state” as exclusive foundations of order. It does not much matter whether “Man” is held to be natural, an individual, or person. These notions or categories are all imbued with a modern understanding of historical consciousness and agency that is egotistically self-referential, violently exclusionary, and pathologically delusional. Without these features, it would have been easier to study the state, global order, or civil society and to orient analyses toward imaginaries of order, security, justice, and peace that did not defer to national mythologies and representations and to the identities and “spaces” that they produce. I agree with Pinar Bilgin that the identities and phenomena that structure global politics do not conform to our categories (see below). I undertake this assignment therefore with the proviso that I do not intend my categories to be impermeable and stable. I am open to pleas by the likes of Stanley Hoffmann, Ole Waever, and R.B.J. Walker to contemplate new possibilities and modes of actualization of the discipline of International Relations (IR). I take the forum offered by International Political Sociology (IPS) to be a crucial step in this direction. I begin with a parallel between IR and anthropology: the study of the social relations and cultures of human beings. When it was moored to the colonial project, anthropology focused on the origins, distribution, and classification of …
Search in spatial scale-free networks

We study the decentralized search problem in a family of parameterized spatial network models that are heterogeneous in node degree. We investigate several algorithms and illustrate that some of these algorithms exploit the heterogeneity in the network to find short paths by using only local information. In addition, we demonstrate that the spatial network model belongs to a classof searchable networks for a wide range of parameter space. Further, we test these algorithms on the US airline network which belongs to this class of networks and demonstrate that searchability is a generic property of the US airline network. These results provide insights on designing the structure of distributed networks that need effective decentralized search algorithms.
Periodic to quasiperiodic transition of chemical spiral rotation

Abstract We report observations of the tip motion of spiral waves in excitable Belousov-Zhabotinskii reagent. An open reactor is used to determine the time-asymptotic dynamics of the spiral tip as a function of a control parameter. We have observed a supercritical transition from simple rotation (one frequency) to compound rotation (two frequencies); the compound motion at onset closely resembles that predicted by two-species reaction-diffusion models. Measurements of the frequencies of the motion indicate that the compound rotation is quasiperiodic over the range studied; there is no evidence of frequency locking. The compound tip motion appears to result from fluctuations in the curvature of the spiral wave near its tip. We describe qualitatively the sequence of events during a single tip orbit andsuggest that the refractory tail of the wave plays a dominant role in controlling the tip motion.
Classical SU(3) gauge theory and magnetic monopoles

A topologically stable solution to the pure Yang-Mills SU(3) gauge field equations (without scalar fields is constructed) which corresponds to a point magnetic monopole. There is no SU(2) analog to this solution. (auth)
Feedback Control of Hyperbolic PDE Systems

Transport-reaction processes in which the diffusive and dispersive phenomena are negligible compared to the convective phenomena can be adequately described by systems of first-order hyperbolic PDEs. Representative chemical processes modeled by such systems include heat exchangers [115], plug-flow reactors [115], fixed-bed reactors [130], pressure swing adsorption processes [119], and so forth.
HABITAT-USE PATTERNS OF FLORIDA KEY DEER: IMPLICATIONS OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Abstract Urban development in the Florida Keys, USA, mandates an understanding of how habitat requirements for Florida Key deer (Odocoileus virginianus clavium) interact with vegetation changes caused by development. Our study objectives were to (1) determine Key deer habitat use at different spatial scales, (2) evaluate vegetation changes and identify vegetation types most threatened by development, and (3) provide guidelines to direct land acquisition programs in the future. We identified 6 vegetation types: pineland, hammock, developed, freshwater marsh, buttonwood, and mangrove. Key deer (n = 180; 84 F, 96 M) preferred upland vegetation types (>1 m above mean sea level; pineland, hammock, developed) and avoided tidal or lower-elevation areas (<1 m above mean sea level; freshwater marsh, buttonwood, mangrove). Analyses of Geographic Information System (GIS) coverages suggested that historical development impacted near-shore habitats while recent trends pose a greater risk to upland areas (pineland, ham...
Identification of genetic factors that modify motor performance and body weight using Collaborative Cross mice

Evidence has emerged that suggests a link between motor deficits, obesity and many neurological disorders. However, the contributing genetic risk factors are poorly understood. Here we used the Collaborative Cross (CC), a large panel of newly inbred mice that captures 90% of the known variation among laboratory mice, to identify the genetic loci controlling rotarod performance and its relationship with body weight in a cohort of 365 mice across 16 CC strains. Body weight and rotarod performance varied widely across CC strains and were significantly negatively correlated. Genetic linkage analysis identified 14 loci that were associated with body weight. However, 45 loci affected rotarod performance, seven of which were also associated with body weight, suggesting a strong link at the genetic level. Lastly, we show that genes identified in this study overlap significantly with those related to neurological disorders and obesity found in human GWA studies. In conclusion, our results provide a genetic framework for studies of the connection between body weight, the central nervous system and behavior.
Evidence Matters: Transforming Knowledge into Housing and Community Development Policy Fall 2014

This issue of Evidence Matters focuses on why housing matters for youth, documenting evidence that a range of outcomes in children are closely aligned with housing and neighborhood quality. The lead article, “Housing’s and Neighborhoods’ Role in Shaping Children’s Future,” presents an overview of the topic, discussing the effect of housing and neighborhood quality on physical health, behavioral and emotional welfare, school achievement, and economic opportunity, among other topics. The Research Spotlight piece, “How Housing Mobility Affects Education Outcomes for Low-Income Children,” details research on the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Making Connections initiative and analyzes important findings on mobility and educational attainment. Finally, the In Practice article, “Protecting Children From Unhealthy Homes and Housing Instability,” examines the work of organizations that promote housing quality and reduce youth homelessness.
Hemodynamic and Intravascular Ultrasound Evaluation of an Infrarenal Aortic Stenosis.

A 59-year-old man with hypertension and hyperlipidemia presented with symptoms of chest pain, claudication, and erectile dysfunction. He reported exertional chest discomfort occurring with less than a flight of stairs and bilateral lower extremity pain after walking 40 feet. Claudication persisted
Shallow Contact Formation of Gadolinium Silicide

Gadolinium silicide with its attractive features of low formation temperature of about 350°C and low Schottky barrier height on n-type single-crystal silicon substrates ( $\phi _{\rm{B}}^{\rm{n}} \sim 0.4{\rm{ev}}$ , $\phi _{\rm{B}}^{\rm{p}} \sim 0.7{\rm{ev}}$ ) was chosen for studying the feasibility of forming shallow uniform contacts. Samples with various compositions prepared by both bilayer evaporation with a configuration of Si(α)/Gd/Si(xt1) and coevaporation with a Si-Gd/Si(xt1) structure were used for studying the contact formation as a function of composition and heat treatment. We found that shallow contact formation can be achieved provided that the following conditions are met: (a) for bilayer evaporation, the atomic ratio of Si(α)/Gd ≥ 2 should be maintained, (b) for coevaporation, the Si to Gd atomic ratio between 1.7 and 2.0 is desired. The bilayer deposition scheme appears to be a more convenient technique to use in practice.