cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Treatment of uncorrected refractive error improves vision-specific quality of life.

Author(s): Coleman, Anne L; Yu, Fei; Keeler, Emmett; Mangione, Carol M | Abstract: ObjectivesTo evaluate the benefit of eyeglasses and magnifiers in elderly patients with uncorrected refractive errors.DesignA single-center, randomized, prospective, controlled trial (September 2001 to August 2003).SettingLos Angeles County, California.ParticipantsOne hundred thirty-one community-dwelling persons aged 65 and older who had habitual distance visual acuity of 20/32 or worse and whose distant visual acuity, near visual acuity, or both could be improved with eyeglasses, a magnifier, or both by two lines of acuity or more.InterventionSixty-six were randomized to receive a prescription and voucher for free eyeglasses, a magnifier, or both immediately, and 65 were randomized to receive a prescription and voucher after the 3-month follow-up visit (the control group).MeasurementsPrimary outcome was vision-specific functioning as measured using the 25-item National Eye Institute-Visual Functioning Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ). Secondary outcomes were distance and near visual acuity and overall functioning as measured using the Rosow-Breslau function questionnaire.ResultsIn the intention-to-treat analysis of 3-month follow-up data, participants who received the eyeglasses prescription and voucher immediately had greater improvement in NEI-VFQ composite scores than the control group (Pl.01). They also had greater improvement in perceptions of their general vision (Pl.01), distance visual acuity (P=.03), near visual acuity (P=.04), and mental health (P=.02).ConclusionCorrection of uncorrected refractive error, one of the leading causes of visual impairment in older people, improved the vision-specific quality of life of community-dwelling older persons.
Identification of Oncofetal Antigen/Immature Laminin Receptor Protein Epitopes That Activate BALB/c Mouse OFA/iLRP-Specific Effector and Regulatory T Cell Clones

During tumor development in mice and humans, oncofetal Ag/immature laminin receptor (OFA/iLRP)-specific Th1, CTL, and IL-10-secreting T (Ts) cells are induced. The presence of too many Ts or too few effector T cells appears to predict a poor prognosis. We established clones of OFA/iLRP-specific splenic Th1, CTL, and Ts cells from the OFA/iLRP + MCA1315 fibrosarcoma-bearing BALB/c mice or from BALB/c mice vaccinated with 1 or 10 μg of rOFA/iLRP. The MCA1315 tumor cell-reactive T cell clones were characterized as to surface Ag phenotype, cytokine secretion profile, and specificity for OFA/iLRP presented by syngeneic splenic APC. OFA/iLRP-specific Th1 and Ts clones were established from all mice. OFA/iLRP-specific CTL could be established from all mice except for mice immunized with 10 μg of rOFA/iLRP. Analysis of the proliferation profile of the OFA/iLRP-specific clones to overlapping OFA/iLRP 12-mer peptides that spanned the OFA/iLRP protein sequence defined the epitopes to which the T cell clones responded. There was a similar spatial distribution of the epitopes to which the two types of CD8 T cell clones responded. The nonapeptide epitopes of the Ts clones were located between aa 36 and 147 of OFA/iLRP, while the epitopes of the CTL clones were located between aa 52 and 163. Even though the CTL and Ts epitopes shared part of the protein, all of the CD8 CTL epitopes were distinct and separable from those of CD8 Ts cells.
Some Reflections on the Relationship between AI and Fuzzy Logic (FL) - A Heretical View

Basically, fuzzy logic is aimed at a formalization of modes of reasoning that are approximate rather than exact. Much of perhaps most human reasoning is approximate in nature. From this, one would surmise that fuzzy logic should be welcomed with open arms by AI. This has not been the case. If anything, the AI community has, for the most part, viewed fuzzy logic with skepticism and sometimes with hostility.
The Dynamics of Soil Water. Part II. Temperature and Solute Effects

Changes in the soil temperature and solute concentration occur continually under natural field conditions. Examples of the variations in solute concentration are given in chapter 14, particularly Fig. 14-13 and 14-14. In addition to this type of change induced by moisture flow, the concentration of the soil's solution oscillates between saturation under dry conditions to very dilute values after a rain or irrigation. Soil temperature, like solution concentration, continually changes. Its variation is conveniently classified as diurnal (Fig. 13II-1) and seasonal (Fig. 13II-2). The diurnal thermal changes are generally significant to a depth of 20 or 30 cm; the soil zone which contains the greatest proportion of plant roots. The seasonal temperature wave extends well below the zone of most crop roots.
Simulations of Lattice QCD with Dynamical Fermions

I present recent results of simulations of lattice Quantum Chromo-Dynamics with two and three flavors of dynamical Wilson fermions on a 10 x 10 x 10 x 30 lattice. I discuss the source and nature of the systematic error in the pseudofermion method, and ways to reduce the error to an amount which is comparable or less than the expected statistical error. Finally I present some results for the improved algorithm which support the theoretical arguments for the error term estimate, and compare to the results obtained with other fermion algorithms.
Multi-Aspect Information Use Task Performance: The Roles of Topic Knowledge, Task Structure, and Task Stage

Information search, quite often, is not an isolated activity, but is accompanied by the use of the located information to generate some outcome. Frequently seen are “complex” tasks that consist of multiple aspects and can be divided into sub-tasks and/or finished in multiple sessions. This paper explores how search systems may help users with their multi-aspect tasks by examining whether, and how user knowledge and task structure play roles in leading to better work task performance. A 3-session lab experiment was conducted with 24 participants, each coming 3 times to work on 3 subtasks of a general task, couched either as the “parallel” or the “dependent” structure type. The overall task was to write a report on the general topic, with interim documents produced for each subtask. Results show that users’ previous knowledge of task topics positively correlated with task performance, but the evolving and the exit knowledge did not. Neither task session nor task structure significantly affected session task performance. However, there was a tendency that those users with different levels of task knowledge performed differently in different tasks: higher knowledge users tended to perform better in the parallel task than in the dependent; lower knowledge users tended to perform better in the dependent task than in the parallel. These results can possibly be explained by users’ searching and writing behaviors. Our findings help understand factors influencing information use task performance, and have implications on designing personalized systems that support information use task accomplishment.
CONTRAST ENHANCEMENT OF EXTRADURAL COMPRESSIVE MATERIAL ON MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING

Gadolinium-enhancement of compressive extradural material is detected occasionally with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in dogs. Our goal was to characterize contrast enhancement of extradural compressive material associated with intervertebral disc herniation, and to evaluate the association between enhancement and histopathologic findings and the onset of clinical signs. Ninety-three dogs with a total of 99 lesions diagnosed as intervertebral disc herniation on MR imaging were assessed. Images were evaluated for lesion location, type of herniation, degree of compression, intramedullary T2-weighted (T2W) intensities, and contrast enhancement. In 23 dogs, surgically removed compressive material was evaluated histopathologically for hemorrhage, inflammation, neovascularization, fibroplasia, fibrosis, mineralization, necrosis, and chronicity. Contrast enhancement of extradural compressive material, meninges, and both the compressive materials and meninges was present in 51.5%, 39.4%, and 17.2% of lesions, respectively. Extradural enhancement occurred more frequently in extrusions than protrusions (P=0.001). Meningeal enhancement and more severe neurologic deficits were significantly associated with a shorter duration of clinical signs (P=0.04 and 0.01, respectively). Intramedullary T2W hyperintensities, present with 44.4% of lesions, were associated with more severe neurologic deficits (P=0.001). Lesions with extradural enhancement were more often considered subacute to chronic in duration and more frequently associated with hemorrhage compared with nonenhancing material; however, no statistically significant association was established between contrast enhancement and histopathologic findings. Contrast enhancement of extradural compressive material and the meninges was found to be common with intervertebral disc herniation, and should not be interpreted as a specific sign of a mass lesion such as neoplasia.
Judicial Review of Discount Rates Used in Regulatory Cost-Benefit Analysis

Executive orders, statutes, and precedent increasingly require cost-benefit analysis of regulations. Presidential executive orders have long required executive agencies to submit regulatory impact analyses' to the Office of Management and Budget ("OMB") before issuing regulations,2 and recent federal legislation exhibits a trend toward mandatory cost-benefit analysis. For example, the Toxic Substances Control Act,3 the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act,4 and the recent Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments5 require the Environmental Protection Agency to balance costs and benefits in regulating chemicals and pesticides. In 1995, Congress passed the Unfunded Mandates Act,6 requiring cost-benefit analysis of all significant federal regulations that require expenditures by state, local, or tribal governments.7 Additionally, Congress has proposed several bills
Iatrogenic "buffalo chest" bilateral pneumothoraces following unilateral transbronchial lung biopsies in a bilateral lung transplant recipient.

We present a 54 year old male patient who had a bilateral lung transplant sixteen years ago for Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency-related emphysema. He was referred for flexible bronchoscopy with transbronchial biopsies to evaluate new mild exertional dyspnea and worsening of his FEV1. Eight transbronchial biopsies were done from the right middle lobe and the right lower lobe. Post procedure he developed bilateral pneumothoces that required emergent bilateral pleural ‘pigtail’ catheters. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of bilateral pneumothoraces that developed after a unilateral procedure in a bilateral lung transplant recipient relatively late after the transplant.
Automated Extraction of Horizontal Curve Information for Low-Volume Roads

Rates of fatal and injury crashes on low-volume roads are much higher than those on higher-volume roads. A large proportion of crashes on low-volume roads are roadway departure crashes. Research has shown that roadway departure crashes are 1.5 to 4 times more likely at curves than on tangent sections. Therefore, knowledge of where horizontal curves are located and their geometric characteristics is key to addressing safety issues for low-volume roads. In the United States, although many states have a horizontal curve database for their state routes and Interstate highways, most states do not have such a database for non-state-owned roads, especially for low-volume rural roads, because of the lack of funds for additional data collection. A novel approach is presented that can extract curve data for both state and local roads in an accurate, cost-effective, and time-efficient manner without additional data collection. An ArcGIS add-in tool, CurveFinder, was developed by the authors previously to automatically identify horizontal curves from a selected roadway layer, classify curves, compute curve geometrics, and, finally, create a geographic information system for curve layers. CurveFinder was updated to incorporate compatibility with curve elements of FHWA's Model Inventory of Roadway Elements. Case studies are used to demonstrate the application of the updated CurveFinder on rural low-volume roads in different states and the lessons learned. RESULTS show that none of the control curves were 100% missed by CurveFinder. False identification rates were also low. Both results validate CurveFinder. Causes of the few errors in the extracted curve data are identified, and potential solutions are explored.
Involvement of Phosphoenolpyruvate in the Catabolism of Caries-Conducive Dĭsaccharides by Streptococcus mutans: Lactose Transport

The mechanisms for transport and hydrolysis of lactose were investigated in five cariogenic strains (HS6, AHT, FA1, NCTC 10449, and SL1) representing the four serogenetic groups of Streptococcus mutans. The systems for transport and hydrolysis of lactose had the characteristics of a phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP)-dependent lactose (Lac) phosphotransferase (PT) system and phospho-β-galactosidase (P-β-gal), respectively, in all strains tested, except strain HS6. Decryptified cells required PEP and Mg2+ for transport of the non-metabolizable model β-galactosides o-nitrophenyl-β-d-galactopyranoside (ONPG) and thiomethyl-β-d-galactopyranoside (TMG). Substitution of 2-phosphoglycerate (2-PG) for PEP also stimulated the Lac PT system. Other potential high-energy phosphate donors (adenosine tri-, di-, and monophosphates and guanosine triphosphate) did not stimulate the Lac PT system. Sodium fluoride had no effect upon the PEP-dependent Lac PT system in decryptified cells with PEP as the energy source; however, when 2-PG was used as the energy source, F− inhibited ONPG phosphorylation. With intact cells which must generate PEP endogenously, the presence of F− in concentration ≥ 10 mM completely inhibited the Lac PT system, presumably through inhibition of 2-PG hydrolyase (EC 4.2.1.11; enolase). Both intact and decryptified cells accumulated a phosphorylated derivative of TMG that behaved chromatographically as TMG-phosphate. After alkaline phosphatase treatment, the derivative had an Rf identical to that of TMG. No β-galactosidase (β-gal) activity was detected with ONPG as the substrate; hydrolysis occurred only when ONPG-6-phosphate was supplied as the substrate. Strain HS6 apparently transported lactose by an active transport-type system in which the accumulated intracellular product was the free disaccharide based on the following criteria: (i) ONPG transport and hydrolysis in decryptified cells was not stimulated by PEP; (ii) ONPG hydrolysis occurred in the absence of PEP; and (iii) ONPG-6-phosphate was not hydrolyzed. These data indicate that, in all strains tested except strain HS6, lactose transport was mediated by a PEP-dependent Lac PT system, resulting in accumulation of lactose-phosphate that was hydrolyzed by an enzyme similar to the P-β-gal of group N streptococci and Staphylococcus aureus; conversely, strain HS6 transported and hydrolyzed lactose by a PEP-independent transport system and β-gal, respectively.
Statins and congenital malformations: cohort study

Objective To examine the teratogenic potential of statins. Design Cohort study. Setting United States. Participants A cohort of 886 996 completed pregnancies linked to liveborn infants of women enrolled in Medicaid from 2000 to 2007. Methods We examined the risk of major congenital malformations and organ specific malformations in offspring associated with maternal use of a statin in the first trimester. Propensity score based methods were used to control for potential confounders, including maternal demographic characteristics, obstetric and medical conditions, and use of other drugs. Results 1152 (0.13%) women used a statin during the first trimester. In unadjusted analyses, the prevalence of malformations in the offspring of these women was 6.34% compared with 3.55% in those of women who did not use a statin in the first trimester (relative risk 1.79, 95% confidence interval 1.43 to 2.23). Controlling for confounders, particularly pre-existing diabetes, accounted for this increase in risk (1.07, 0.85 to 1.37). There were also no statistically significant increases in any of the organ specific malformations assessed after accounting for confounders. Results were similar across a range of sensitivity analyses. Conclusions Our analysis did not find a significant teratogenic effect from maternal use of statins in the first trimester. However, these findings need to be replicated in other large studies, and the long term effects of in utero exposure to statins needs to be assessed, before use of statins in pregnancy can be considered safe.
Group Effects on a Merit Pay System

A relationship between pay increases and performance ratings may reflect differences between individuals, between groups, or both. An empirical study of a firm’s compensation program, demonstrating what proportion of pay raise is attributable to individual performances and to group influences, is presented. The results show how concealed effects of groups pose difficult problems in examining pay‐for‐performance relationships in compensation systems. Policy implications for incentive programs, pay secrecy, differencies in pay for performance within and between work units, substitutability of pay components, and problems in associating individual performance with pay raises are discussed.
Criteria to average out the chemical shift anisotropy in solid-state NMR when irradiated with BABA I, BABA II, and C7 radiofrequency pulse sequences.

Abstract Floquet–Magnus expansion is used to study the effect of chemical shift anisotropy in solid-state NMR of rotating solids. The chemical shift interaction is irradiated with two types of radiofrequency pulse sequences: BABA and C7. The criteria for the chemical shift anisotropy to be averaged out in each rotor period are obtained.
„precancer”︁ lesions in ulcerative colitis(A retrospective study of rectal biopsy and colectomy specimens)

To further define and determine the occurrence of the „precancer” lesion in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), colectomy specimens and rectal biopsies from patients with UC from the files of The Johns Hopkins Hospital in the period 1962 to 1973 (41 resections and 412 rectal biopsies) were studied. Seven out of 8 resections containing carcinoma also showed flat or adenomatous mucosal lesions, characterized by the marked epithelial atypia, villous change, and reduced epithelial mucus content indicative of precancer. Similar precancerous changes were found in 3 of the 412 rectal biopsies studied. Two of these patients had subsequent colectomy with invasive carcinoma. The 3rd had diffuse precancerous changes throughout his colon in the form of multiple adenomas. It is concluded that precancer changes are valid means for identifying the population of UC patients at highest risk of developing carcinoma of the colon, and that some of these individuals can be discovered by using rectal biopsy. It was also clear, however, that active colitis (acute inflammation) artificially increased the number of biopsies showing changes suspicious of precancer. At the same time, bonafide cases of precancer involving other parts of the colon can go undetected by using only rectal biopsy. Those patients might be more successfully identified by using colonoscopy, combined with biopsy at regular intervals in individuals with UC who are known on clinical grounds to be especially likely to develon carcinoma.
Aluminum Agglomeration in Solid-Propellant Combustion

-... Results of a series of tests on AP/aluminum/PBAN propellants, with particular attention to bimodal AP particle size distribution, show the effect of particle size of fine AP and the concentration of fine AP on aluminum agglomeration and ignition. Results are interpreted in terms of the distribution of aluminum in propellant microstructure and the proximity of AP-binder flamelets to precipitate ignition of the accumulating aluminum.
Diffractive Interstellar Scintillation Timescales and Velocities

We derive general relationships between the observed timescale of diffractive interstellar scintillations and the physical velocities of the observer, the source, and the scattering medium. Our treatment applies exclusively to saturated scintillations of point sources in the strong scattering regime. We show how scintillation observations may be combined with other observables (proper motion and dispersion measure) to yield (1) improvements in galactic models for the free-electron density and (2) estimates of the distance and transverse velocity of individual pulsars. We explicitly consider cases of current astrophysical interest, including hypervelocity pulsars too far above the Galactic plane to allow distance estimates from dispersion measures alone. We also briefly consider scintillations of extragalactic sources, including gamma-ray burst sources at great distances from the Galaxy.
Uncertainty Analysis for CloudSat Snowfall Retrievals

Abstract A new method to derive radar reflectivity–snow rate (Ze–S) relationships from scattering properties of different ice particle models is presented. Three statistical Ze–i relationships are derived to characterize the best estimate and uncertainties due to ice habit. The derived relationships are applied to CloudSat data to derive near-surface snowfall retrievals. Other uncertainties due to various method choices, such as vertical continuity tests, the near-surface reflectivity threshold used for choosing snowfall cases, and correcting for attenuation, are also explored on a regional and zonally averaged basis. The vertical continuity test in particular is found to have interesting regional effects. Although it appears to be useful for eliminating ground clutter over land, it also masks out potential lake-effect-snowfall cases over the Southern Ocean storm-track region. The choice of reflectivity threshold is found to significantly affect snowfall detection but is insignificant in terms of the mean...
Quadratic Lyapunov Functions for Cooperative Control of Networked Systems

This paper addresses the problem of applying the Lyapunov direct method to stability analysis of cooperative systems. In particular, cooperative stability and its associated Lyapunov function are sought in terms of the topological properties of a cooperative system. Along this direction, the only available result is for the time-invariant case, it requires irreducibility, and the corresponding Lyapunov function is of form V = Sigmai pix i T xi but its time derivative is only negative semi-definite. In this paper, cooperative control Lyapunov function is defined to be a function which is positive definite with respect to the consensus set x = c1 and whose value monotonically decreases along the system trajectory. A necessary and sufficient condition in terms of the properties of a topology is found for the existence of cooperative control Lyapunov function and, through the introduction and development of an average system, the necessary and sufficient condition is extended to the case of time-varying topology. It is also shown that, under the condition, the cooperative system has the desired stability property and the corresponding Lyapunov function is always of form V =Sigma i pi(xi-xk)T(xi-xk), where k can be determined using the proposed condition for any collection of time-varying topologies.
Exploring Social Workers’ Use of the Socioecological Model as an Intervention and Research Framework for Treating Overweight or Obese Clients

The purpose of this study was to identify the empirical contribution made by the social work profession in the prevention and treatment of overweight and obesity. The constructs of the socioecological model of health, which suggest that there are multiple levels of influence on individual behaviors, were used as a conceptual framework to synthesize studies authored by social work researchers investigating overweight and obesity risk factors. A review of obesity-related research written by social workers published over an unrestricted time was conducted. The author found 51 articles in published peer-review journals written by social workers from 1993 to 2013. The reviewed studies included participants living in the United States, China, Israel, and Australia. Findings indicate that the majority of research conducted by social workers address overweight and obesity treatment and consequences at the individual level, and there is little on how social workers plan to address this issue from community-level or policy-related perspectives. This review is the first comprehensive study of social workers' empirical coverage of varying levels of influences affecting obesity. Practice and policy implications are discussed for social work professionals employed in community settings.
Parameter Estimation for Differential Equation Models Using a Framework of Measurement Error in Regression Models

Differential equation (DE) models are widely used in many scientific fields, including engineering, physics, and biomedical sciences. The so-called “forward problem,” the problem of simulations and predictions of state variables for given parameter values in the DE models, has been extensively studied by mathematicians, physicists, engineers, and other scientists. However, the “inverse problem,” the problem of parameter estimation based on the measurements of output variables, has not been well explored using modern statistical methods, although some least squares–based approaches have been proposed and studied. In this article we propose parameter estimation methods for ordinary differential equation (ODE) models based on the local smoothing approach and a pseudo–least squares (PsLS) principle under a framework of measurement error in regression models. The asymptotic properties of the proposed PsLS estimator are established. We also compare the PsLS method to the corresponding simulation-extrapolation (...
Boronation of antibodies with mercaptoundecahydro-closo-dodecaborate(2-) anion for potential use in boron neutron capture therapy.

Abstract The anionic polyhedral borane derivative, mercaptoundecahydro-closo-dodecaborate(2-), has been evaluated as a boronating agent for antibodies. The objective of the studies was the selective delivery of boron to neoplasms for neutron capture therapy. Incubation of a large excess of this anion with the polyclonal antibody antithymocyte globulin (ATG) resulted in the incorporation of 9–13 mol of the anion per mol of antibody. The extent of boron incorporation into the protein was measured either by tritium-labeled B 12 H 11 SH 2− or by direct boron determination with neutron activation anlaysis. The nature of the covalent linkage of the anion to the antibody appeared to involve the formation of a new disulfide bond by a thiol-disulfide exchange. The number of boron atoms incorporated into antibodies by this method appeared to be inadequate for neutron capture therapy. However, such boronated antibodies may have potential for the detection of molecules of biologic interest by means of electron energy loss spectroscopy.
Inactivation of calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum in frog skeletal muscle.

1. The rate of calcium release (Rrel) from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) in voltage clamped segments of frog skeletal muscle fibres was calculated from myoplasmic free calcium transients (delta[Ca2+]) measured with the calcium indicator dye Antipyrylazo III. 2. During a 100-200 ms depolarizing pulse Rrel reached an early peak and then declined markedly. The time course and extent of decline of Rrel were independent of membrane potential over a range of potentials where release activation varied severalfold. 3. For test pulses applied shortly after relatively large or long conditioning pulses Rrel completely lacked the early peak. The peak gradually recovered as the interval between the conditioning and test pulses was increased to 1 s. 4. A latency was often observed before the start of recovery of the peak in Rrel. The latency appeared to be correlated with the time for delta[Ca2+] to fall below a certain level, indicating that recovery of the peak might represent reversal of a calcium-dependent process. It was therefore proposed that the rapid decline in Rrel during a pulse was due to calcium-dependent inactivation of the SR calcium release channels. 5. Inactivation continued to develop during the interval between a relatively large 20 ms conditioning pulse and a test pulse applied 20 ms later. This was as expected for calcium-dependent inactivation of SR calcium release because of the elevated [Ca2+] between the conditioning and test pulses. It was not as expected for external membrane potential-dependent inactivation. 6. Small steady elevations in [Ca2+] due to relatively small 200 ms conditioning pulses produced marked inactivation of Rrel, indicating an apparent dissociation constant for calcium-dependent inactivation only slightly above resting [Ca2+]. 7. All observations could be well simulated by a two-step model for inactivation in which myoplasmic free calcium equilibrates rapidly with a high-affinity calcium receptor on the release channel and then the calcium-receptor complex undergoes a slower conformational change to the inactivated state of the channel. 8. An alternative model in which calcium binds to a soluble receptor (e.g. free calmodulin) and then the calcium-receptor complex binds to and directly inactivates the channel was shown to be formally identical to the preceding model. Either model could closely simulate all observations.
Super-resolution technique for CW lidar using Fourier transform reordering and Richardson-Lucy deconvolution.

An interpolation method is described for range measurements of high precision altimetry with repeating intensity modulated continuous wave (IM-CW) lidar waveforms using binary phase shift keying (BPSK), where the range profile is determined by means of a cross-correlation between the digital form of the transmitted signal and the digitized return signal collected by the lidar receiver. This method uses reordering of the array elements in the frequency domain to convert a repeating synthetic pulse signal to single highly interpolated pulse. This is then enhanced further using Richardson–Lucy deconvolution to greatly enhance the resolution of the pulse. We show the sampling resolution and pulse width can be enhanced by about two orders of magnitude using the signal processing algorithms presented, thus breaking the fundamental resolution limit for BPSK modulation of a particular bandwidth and bit rate. We demonstrate the usefulness of this technique for determining cloud and tree canopy thicknesses far beyond this fundamental limit in a lidar not designed for this purpose.
Cu2S Reduced Graphene Oxide Composite for High-Efficiency Quantum Dot Solar Cells. Overcoming the Redox Limitations of S2–/Sn2– at the Counter Electrode

Polysulfide electrolyte that is employed as a redox electrolyte in quantum dot sensitized solar cells provides stability to the cadmium chalcogenide photoanode but introduces significant redox limitations at the counter electrode through undesirable surface reactions. By designing reduced graphene oxide (RGO)-Cu2S composite, we have now succeeded in shuttling electrons through the RGO sheets and polysulfide-active Cu2S more efficiently than Pt electrode, improving the fill factor by ∼75%. The composite material characterized and optimized at different compositions indicates a Cu/RGO mass ratio of 4 provides the best electrochemical performance. A sandwich CdSe quantum dot sensitized solar cell constructed using the optimized RGO-Cu2S composite counter electrode exhibited an unsurpassed power conversion efficiency of 4.4%.
An on-chip air-bursting detonator for driving fluids on disposable lab-on-a-chip systems

A new fluidic delivery system for driving fluids on disposable lab-on-a-chip systems using an air-bursting detonator device has been designed, fabricated and successfully characterized in this paper for driving fluid on disposable lab-on-a-chip or point-of-care testing. The disposable air-bursting detonator device uses a pressurized gas source, sealed in a microcavity with a thermoplastic membrane. A microheater positioned on the thermoplastic membrane is used as an electro-thermal heater to melt the sealing membrane thus releasing the pressurized gas to the integrated microfluidic system. The pressurized gas drives liquid samples through designated microfluidic channels. Both air pressure and detonating temperature are adjustable to get the desired driving pressure responses. A 40 mW electrical power pulse applied to the microheater for 700 ms resulted in releasing 650 µJ of stored pneumatic energy in the microcavity and driving a 500 nl sample through the microchannels of an integrated test system. The dynamic pressure response of the fabricated air-bursting detonator has been fully simulated and characterized. Due to its compact structure and fast response, the air-bursting detonator device will be a promising alternative power source to drive fluid samples in disposable lab-on-a-chip systems or portable clinical diagnostic kits.
Vapor conjugation of toluene diisocyanate to specific lysines of human albumin.

Exposure to toluene diisocyanate (TDI), an industrially important crosslinking agent used in the production of polyurethane products, can cause asthma in sensitive workers. Albumin has been identified as a major reaction target for TDI in vivo, and TDI–albumin reaction products have been proposed to serve as exposure biomarkers and to act as asthmagens, yet they remain incompletely characterized. In the current study, we used a multiplexed tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) approach to identify the sites of albumin conjugation by TDI vapors, modeling the air/liquid interface of the lung. Vapor phase TDI was found to react with human albumin in a dose-dependent manner, with up to 18 potential sites of conjugation, the most susceptible being Lys351 and the dilysine site Lys413–414. Sites of vapor TDI conjugation to albumin were quantitatively limited compared with those recently described for liquid phase TDI, especially in domains IIA and IIIB of albumin. We hypothesize that the orientation of albumin at the air/liquid interface plays an important role in vapor TDI conjugation and, thus, could influence biological responses to exposure and the development of in vitro assays for exposure and immune sensitivity.
Reflecting on embedding socio‐cultural issues into instructional design

Purpose – While there is significant existing literature on learner analysis in instructional design and separately in cultural issues in education, these two areas are rarely examined in tandem. This paper aims to bring these two areas together.Design/methodology/approach – This research uses qualitative methods within the context of a case study. A dual role is played by the author as instructor‐researcher in gathering and analyzing the data.Findings – One area of success in the course is that it served to increase the coverage of the area of instructional design in addition to expanding the literature base in this area of study that has only recently begun to receive attention.Research limitations/implications – One limitation of the course is that while it is designed to provide a blended mix of learning opportunities, the instructional design field is quite large and it is impossible to explore all relevant topics.Practical implications – A challenge of the course is that socio‐cultural concepts are ...
Colchicine protects mice from the lethal effect of an agonistic anti-Fas antibody

The aim of this study was to determine whether colchicine, which has been reported to protect against various hepatotoxic insults, influences the susceptibility of mice to the agonistic anti-Fas antibody, Jo2. All mice that were pretreated with colchicine (2 mg/kg) survived the lethal challenge of intraperitoneal administration of 10 μg of Jo2, whereas all control mice pretreated with γ-lumicolchicine succumbed to the challenge. Twelve micrograms of Jo2 killed less than half of colchicine-pretreated mice and its lethal effects were delayed relative to control mice, which all died within 8 hours. Other microtubule-disrupting agents such as Taxol, vinblastine, and nocodazole also improved the survival of mice treated with the lethal dose of Jo2. Histologic examination showed that colchicine protected against Jo2-induced fulminant liver injury, and TUNEL assay demonstrated that colchicine protected against massive apoptosis of hepatocytes. Hepatocytes isolated from colchicine-pretreated mice exhibited decreased susceptibility to Jo2-induced apoptosis. In addition, colchicine pretreatment reduced surface expression of Fas and decreased Jo2- and TNF-α–induced apoptosis of cultured hepatocytes in the presence of actinomycin D, but did not affect the susceptibility of cultured sinusoidal endothelial cells to Jo2-induced apoptosis. Remarkably, Fas and TNF receptor-1 mRNA and intracellular protein levels increased after colchicine treatment, indicating that colchicine protects against death ligand–induced apoptosis in the liver by decreasing death-receptor targeting to the cell surface.
Diurnal variation in water homeostasis among schizophrenic patients subject to water intoxication

Among seven schizophrenic patients subject to water intoxication (six men and one woman, mean age 39.1 ± 6.9 years), we measured serum sodium, plasma arginine vasopressin, and urine osmolality at 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. on eight consecutive Thursdays. On the days of greatest diurnal change in serum sodium, the 7 a.m. serum sodium was 141.1 ± 1.8 mEq/1 and the 4 p.m. value was 129.9 ± 3.2 mEq/1. Plasma vasopressin also tended to be lower at 4 p.m. but, in many case, was inadequately suppressed for the level of hyponatremia The urine was dilute at both 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. and mean urine osmolality did not differ at the two times. In three patients, urine osmolality was consistently subnormal relative to plasma vasopressin at both 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. This abnormality was consistent with nephrogenic diabetes insipidus secondary to lithium and, possibly, phenytoin which the patients received to protect them against hyponatremia. We conclude that the combination of polydipsia and abnormal osmoregulation of vasopressin secretion contributes importanly to the afternoon hyponatremia found in schizophrenic patients subject to water intoxication.
The Combined Closed Form–Perturbation Approach to the Analysis of Mistuned Bladed Disks

A two-step method is presented for the determination of reliable approximations of the probability density function of the forced response of a randomly mistuned bladed disk. Under the assumption of linearity, an integral representation of the probability density function of the blade amplitude is first derived. Then, deterministic perturbation techniques are employed to produce simple approximations of this function. The adequacy of the method is demonstrated by comparing several approximate solutions with simulation results.Copyright © 1992 by ASME
Fever and leukocytosis responses in goats to inhaled endotoxin are dose-dependent

Forty-five, weanling goats of mixed-sex, were randomly allotted to five treatment groups: no dust (n = 16), raw organic dust exposure for 15 min (n = 6), raw organic dust exposure for 1 h (n = 7), raw organic dust exposure for 3 h (n = 7), and raw organic dust exposure for 4 h (n = 9). Inhalation exposures were performed in a closed tent for the allotted times. The amount of endotoxin calculated to be in the dust was shown to be 26.9 μg/g. The amounts of dust introduced into the tent for each time period were 4.58 g/m3 of air for 15 min; 7.46 g/m3 of air for 1 h; 14.82 g/m3 of air for 3 h; and 40.60 g/m3 of air for 4 h. There was a significant increase in the white blood cell count in the animals dusted for 4 h, at 8 and 12 h following exposure. There was a significant decrease in the peripheral lymphocyte cell count following the 15 min exposure at 12 h post exposure, and there was a significant increase in the peripheral lymphocyte cell count following the 4 h exposure, 24 h after the exposure. There was a significant increase in the neutrophil cell count 8 and 12 h following the 4 h exposure, while there was a significant decrease in the neutrophil cell count 48 h following the 4 h exposure. There was a significant increase in the rectal temperatures of all goats receiving the 4 h dust exposure at all time periods (0 time, 4, 12, 24, and 48 h). There was a significant increase in the rectal temperatures of goats following the 1 h exposure, 8 h later. These results indicate that the larger the dose of inhaled endotoxin, the higher the resultant fever and leukocytosis.
Chemotherapy screening assay using 3-dimensional cell culture

A new alginate culture method (ACM) was used to test the effects of vincristine and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on the commonly used human colon carcinoma cell line HT-29. Colorimetric analysis of viability following treatment with physiologically tolerated levels of vincristine showed significant reduction of the surviving cell population. Hematoxylin and eosin staining of sections of treated organoid growths corroborated the colorimetric analyses. The ACM is inexpensive, rapid and extremely versatile. Many alginate beads containing "mini-tissue" growths of many cell lines can be used simultaneously to evaluate numerous chemotherapeutic agents in an "in vivo-like" environment.
Differential diagnosis of lower extremity enlargement in pediatric patients referred with a diagnosis of lymphedema

Background:There are many causes for a large lower limb in the pediatric age group. These children are often mislabeled as having lymphedema, and incorrect diagnosis can lead to improper treatment. The purpose of this study was to determine the differential diagnosis in pediatric patients referred f
The Land Where the Blues Began

In the late 1970s Alan Lomax traveled to Mississippi with filmmaker John Bishop and folklorist Worth Long and made this film about the African American music he found there.
Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy.

r t r idney transplantation is the treatment of choice for suitable patients with end-stage real disease. The number of candidates on the kidey transplant waiting list has grown steadily from 7,830 in 2001 to 61,408 in 2004, with 75% of this ncrease occurring among patients 50 years old or lder, who now represent more than 50% of the otal list (34% in 1993). The shortage of organs emains the most important factor limiting the sucess of kidney transplantation. In May 2004, the verage waiting period for a cadaver kidney exeeded 2 years for 40% of the patients on the waitng list.1 Compared with cadaveric transplantation, ive-donor transplants are associated with fewer echnical graft failures and better short-term and ong-term renal function.1,2 To increase organ donation, various strategies ave been developed to increase the number of iving donors: (a) ABO-incompatible renal translant with or without splenectomy,3 (b) cross-over ransplantation (paired-kidney exchange proram), allowing overtake of ABO incompatibility, c) emotionally related kidney donation, (d) genetcally unrelated renal donor, (e) transplantation of bnormal kidneys,4 and (f) laparoscopic donor nehrectomy (LDN). LDN, by reducing postoperative pain, shortening onvalescence, and improving the cosmetic outome of the donor nephrectomy, has shown the otential to increase the number of living kidney onations further by removing some of the disinentives inherent to donation itself.5
Systematics of Odd-Isospin Combination of n-Particle Production Cross Sections

A large class of multiperipheral models (MPM) is shown to predict a striking pattern for the distribution of a total cross-section difference among states of various multiplicities. Though the relevant experimental information in this case is much inferior to the corresponding information on over-all multiplicity distributions, the present approach may yield rather crucial tests of the model. While the general pattern predicted by the MPM seems to agree with the available data, the detailed numerical predictions of the magnitude of the cross-section difference fails, indicating a large diffraction component in the various isospin-even cross-section combinations.
Structural proteins of murine erythroblastosis virus.

3H-amino-acid labelled murine erythroblastosis virus (MEV) was harvested from the EMS cell line and purified by centrifugation in sucrose or potassium-citrate gradients. 3H-amino-acid labelled nucleoids were isolated from MEV by the tween-ether method. Proteins were solubilized from whole MEV and MEV-nucleoids. Electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels of pH 7.2 in 0.5 M urea for 17 h yielded three major peaks of radioactivity from whole MEV preparations. These proteins were referred to as MEV-1, MEV-2 and MEV-3. In addition, two minor protein peaks, MEV-a and MEV-b, were recovered from whole MEV. Only two major peaks, MEV-1 and MEV-2, and one minor component, MEV-a, were found in electropherograms of MEV-nucleoids. The results were reproducible with MEV progeny harvested from later subcultures of EMS cells. The results suggested that MEV-3 and MEV-b were structural proteins of either the virion coat or the internal virion structure.
Warfare and tourism: Paris in World War II.

Abstract When the Germans occupied France in 1940, they organized group tours for tens of thousands of their personnel. Their itineraries and symbols reflected Nazi images of the Germans as appreciating French high culture but also conscious of their own ‘‘race and homeland’’. German touristic values impacted political and military decision-making with dramatic results, such as the sparing of Paris in both 1940 and 1944 and Hitler’s decision to grant France an armistice in 1940. This article suggests new areas of study, such as tourism during wartime and the touristic images and policies of defeated as well as victorious nations during and after wars.
Environmental complexity, cerebral change, and behavior.

Functional and size changes in brain due to differential experience and relation of changes to effect of experience on learning
Influence of Pressure on the Shape of γ‐Lines Emitted by Sm‐Nuclei Recoiling with 3 eV in Eu‐Metal

The deceleration of the Sm152 nuclei recoiling with an energy of 3 eV after the electron capture decay of Eu152, and thus the shapes of γ-lines emitted after the neutrino emission, depends on the condition of the source material. The change of the γ-line shape of a Eu-metal source as a function of pressure was ascertained by measuring the yield of resonantly scattered 963 keV γ-rays for pressures of 3.54 and 16.6 kbar. Features of the forces acting between the Sm-atom and the Eu-atoms are presented. In view of the low recoil-energies involved and of the short lifetime of the nuclear state, the line shapes could be calculated to a good approximation by assuming that the recoiling nuclei were moving in a spherical potential [1, 2]. Die Abbremsung von Sm152-Ruckstoskernen mit einer Energie von 3eV nach dem Elektroneneinfangzerfall von Eu152, und damit die Form der emittierten γ-Linien nach Neutrinoemission hangt von den Eigenschaften des Quellenmaterials ab. Die Anderung der γ-Linienform der Eu-Metallquelle in Abhangigkeit vom Druck wurde durch die Bestimmung der Ausbeute von resonant gestreuten 963 keV γ-Strahlen bei Drucken von 3,54 kbar und 16,6 kbar erhalten. Einige Eigenschaften der zwischen den Sm- und Eu-Atomen wirkenden Krafte werden angegeben. In Anbetracht der niedrigen Ruckstosenergien und der kurzen Lebensdauern der Kernzustande konnen die Linienformen in guter Naherung mit der Annahme berechnet werden, das die Ruckstoskerne sich in einem kugelsymmetrischen Potential [1, 2] bewegen.