cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Leibniz on the laws of nature and the best deductive system

Abstract Many philosophers who do not analyze laws of nature as the axioms and theorems of the best deductive systems nevertheless believe that membership in those systems is evidence for being a law. This raises the question, “If the best systems analysis fails, what explains the fact that being a member of the best systems is evidence for being a law?” In this essay I answer this question on behalf of Leibniz. I argue that although Leibniz’s philosophy of laws is inconsistent with the best systems analysis, his philosophy of nature’s perfection enables him to explain why membership in the best systems is evidence for being a law of nature.
ANALYSIS OF SUPERPOSED FLUIDS BY THE FINITE ELEMENT METHOD: LINEAR STABILITY AND FLOW DEVELOPMENT

SUMMARY A Galerkin finite element method is described for studying the stability of two superposed immiscible Newtonian fluids in plane Poiseuille flow. The formulation results in an algebraic eigenvalue problem of the form A1’ + B1+ C = 0 which, after transforming to a standard generalized eigenvalue problem, is solved by the QR algorithm. The numerical results are in good agreement with previous asymptotic results. Additional results show that the finite element method is ideally suited for studying linear stability of superposed fluids when parameters characterizing the flow fall outside the range amenable to perturbation methods. The applicability of the finite element method to similar eigenvalue problems is demonstrated by analysing the steady-state spatial development of two superposed fluids in a channel.
Understanding the physics of DNA using nanoscale single-molecule manipulation

Processes for decoding the genetic information in cells, including transcription, replication, recombination and repair, involve the deformation of DNA from its equilibrium structures such as bending, stretching, twisting, and unzipping of the double helix. Single-molecule manipulation techniques have made it possible to control DNA conformation and simultaneously detect the induced changes, revealing a rich variety of mechanically-induced conformational changes and thermodynamic states. These single-molecule techniques helped us to reveal the physics of DNA and the processes involved in the passing on of the genetic code.
Wing crack models of the brittle compressive failure of ice

Abstract This paper presents possible models for brittle compressive failure of ice based on the formation and growth of wing cracks. The limitations of each model are discussed, along with the implications of the model's respective functionality. Those results which are available in the literature are discussed in the light of the models. It is shown that none of the existing models describes the available data completely. Recent attempts to describe brittle failure in ice have concentrated on the Wing Crack model put forward by Ashby and Hallam, proposing that failure arises from the stable propagation of such wing cracks. However, at least two other possibilities must be considered. One is that wing cracks may indeed cause failure, but by an unstable propagation mechanism. The second is that rather than wing cracks causing the failure, the initiation of new cracks into the aggregate may give rise to a catastrophic reduction in stress. Given the failure of any of the models to provide good fits to the available data under the three test conditions, and their incorrect functionality for at least one of those test conditions, it is concluded that a model of the brittle compressive failure of ice that is based on wing cracks is inherently incorrect. New models or descriptions of the failure process must be found.
On the 'Bayesability' of chance-constrained programming problems

It was hoped that the aversions to risks of goal-attainment failures modeled by chance constraints could be equivalently embodied in some von Neumann-Morgenstern utility function, the expectation of which could be maximized in the standard Bayesian fashion to yield solution sets at all chance-constraint levels identical to those of the original chance-constrained program (CCP). But I shall show that a finite-act E-model CCP cannot have any such Bayesian equivalent if any goal modeled by a chance constraint can fail to be attained by a strategy which optimizes the chance-unconstrained objective function.
A critique of “catch-up” theories of development

Abstract The Asian crisis has rekindled the debate between advocates of neoliberalism, left-wing neoliberalism, and developmental-statism over the best institutions and policies for achieving economic development. However, this debate continues to generate far more heat than light. One reason is that, despite their alleged differences, all three mainstream theories share a common conception of development as “catch-up.” A second and even more important reason is that this shared conception is seriously flawed because of its technological determinism and uncritical stance towards capitalist relations of wage-labor and competition. A Marxist perspective on development dynamics is superior because it recognizes the contradictions of capitalist development and can therefore inform (and be informed by) the ongoing struggles of workers and communities for new development alternatives on national, regional, and global levels.
Public funding of US syringe exchange programs.

Although there has been no federal government funding of syringe exchange, there is substantial state and local government funding. We report here on program characteristics associated with receiving state and local government funding. Annual telephone surveys were made of program directors of syringe exchange programs known to the North American Syringe Exchange Network. The number of syringe exchange programs known to this network has increased from 63 in 1994–1995 to 127 in 2000. Approximately 80% of programs participated in each of the surveys. Approximately 50% of programs receive state and local government funding, and this has remained constant from 1994 to 2000. Receiving state and local government funding was associated with larger numbers of syringes exchanged per year and providing more on-site services. Among programs that received state or local government funding, this funding accounted for a mean of 87% of the budget for syringe exchange services. In the absence of federal funding, state and local government support is associated with better syringe exchange performance.
An expert system for dynamic scheduling

Traditionally, scheduling problems have been viewed as static in nature (i.e., a schedule is developed for a particular planning horizon and adhered to) and were cast as having one or more clearly defined objectives (e.g., minimize overall completion time, maximize resource utilization, etc.). These problems were most commonly solved via application of optimal seeking algorithms, heuristics or simulation analysis [1] [5] [9] [10] [17]. The payload scheduling problem is representative of a class of scheduling problems which are highly dynamic in nature. That is, the various parameters can change at any time, and the objectives themselves may change also. The nature of this class of problems is such that they can be most effectively solved by knowledge based expert systems [2] [3] [8] [13] [19] [20].
Determination of the pyridinium metabolite derived from haloperidol in brain tissue, plasma and urine by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

Abstract A sensitive and selective method for the determination of the pyridinium metabolite (HPP+) derived from the antipsychotic drug haloperidol (HP) in brain tissue, plasma and urine using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection is described. The HPP+ present in biological samples was extracted using a Sep-Pak C18 cartridge. Recoveries of HPP+ ranged from 78 to 90%. Final separation and quantitative estimations of HPP+ were achieved on a C18 reversed-phase column employing a mobile phase of acetonitrile—30 mM ammonium acetate (40:60, v/v) containing 10 mM triethylamine and adjusted to pH 3 with trifluoroacetic acid. The fluorescence detection utilized an excitation wavelength of 304 nm and an emission wavelength of 374 nm. Standard curves were linear in the range of 2.5–100 ng/ml for brain tissue homogenate and plasma samples and 10–500 ng/ml for urine samples. The detection limit of HPP+ was about 1 ng/ml in all biological samples. The concentrations of HPP+ in brain tissue, plasma and urine from HP-treated rats were determined using this method.
A factor analysis of cranial base and vault dimensions in children

Lengths within the cranial base and vault were measured in cephalometric radiographs of 220 boys and 177 girls ranging in age from 0 to 15 years; all these children are participants in The Fels Longitudinal Growth Study. The present study is based on mixed longitudinal data derived from 1640 radiographs for boys and 1260 radiographs for girls. Factor analysis was applied separately for boys and girls for each age group; i.e., 0-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12, and 13-15 years. For the 0-3 year age group, two factors were extracted in each sex, whereas four factors were extracted in the rest of the age groups. The factor structures are similar in the three older age groups of boys (7-9, 10-12, and 13-15 years). The first four factors for these groups are labelled, respectively: cranial vault size, posterior cranial base length, presphenoid length, and basisphenoid length. The order of the third and fourth factors is reversed in the 7-9 year olds. For girls, the factors extracted were also the same in both the 7-9 and 10-12 year age groups, even though the order of factors was different between age groups; i.e., anterior cranial base length, cranial vault size, basisphenoid length, and basioccipital length. Differential growth rates among cranial base dimensions probably cause changes in factor patterns. Obliteration of the spheno-occipital synchondrosis is suggested as the mechanism responsible for the change of factor pattern in the girls. closure of this synchondrosis would have occurred too late to affect the patterns in boys.
Estimation of rat brain acetylcholine I. Effect of time lapse between killing and freezing of the brain

Es wird nachgewiesen, dass die Zeitspanne, die fur die Extraktion von Acetylcholin gebraucht wird, auf seine quantitative Bestimmung entscheidend ist.
Prolegomenon to Neoliberalism: The Political Economy of Populist Argentina, 1943—1976

Recent research in economic history recasts the debate on economic policy in postwar Argentina. It demonstrates that the highly partisan writings on recent economic history and neoliberal prescriptions for economic reform have relied on an incomplete and therefore distorted understanding of the policies undertaken in the decades before the neoliberal reforms. An analysis of the inner workings of the country's banking system in these years provides a new historical precision to debates on the relationship between economic variables and political instability in the postwar years.
Nuclear data sheets for A = 66

Abstract Nuclear structure data available through July 1975 are compiled, and adopted level properties are given. The bulk of the data are presented pictorially for easy comparison. Experimental details, references, and additional comments, where required, are given in the text. All drawings, tables, and comments are reproduced from the computerized Evaluated Nuclear Structure Data File (ENSDF). Any additions or corrections desired by the users should be addressed to the compilers for maintenance and updating of the computer file.
Lower bounds for optimal alignments of binary sequences

In parametric sequence alignment, optimal alignments of two sequences are computed as a function of matches, mismatches and spaces, producing many different optimal alignments. In the two-parameter case, Gusfield et al shows that the number of distinct optimal alignment summaries for a pair of sequences is O(n^2^/^3). Here we construct binary sequences of length n with 3/(2^7^/^3@p^2^/^3)n^2^/^3+O(n^1^/^3logn) distinct optimal alignment summaries. This shows that the upper bound given by Gusfield et al. is tight over all alphabets, thereby disproving the ''n conjecture''. Thus the maximum number of distinct optimal alignment summaries over all pairs of length n sequences is @Q(n^2^/^3).
Compression molding of glass freeform optics using diamond machined silicon mold

Abstract In precision glass molding of freeform optics, mold material selection and mold fabrication are two major challenges. In this letter, we propose a method to fabricate silicon molds for micro freeform optics using ultraprecision diamond machining. Specifically, two microlens arrays and a kinoform lens molds were created on a 5.0 mm thick silicon wafer using ultraprecision diamond machining. The fabricated silicon molds were coated with a graphene-like carbon coating using chemical vapor deposition to prevent glass to silicon adhesion. To demonstrate the functionality of the single point diamond machined silicon molds, glass micro components were fabricated using precision compression molding. Compared with conventional grinding process required for tungsten carbide, the method investigated in this research provides a more flexible, faster and affordable alternative to fabricate molds for complex precision glass freeform optics.
Computing with words on energy options? Towards decision-making under risk and uncertainty

Nature’s real estate, such as water, minerals, oil and gas, and coal, is the precious gift available for the welfare of mankind since time immemorial. In spite of the efforts initiated by many countries in the development of non-conventional energy resources, it is too early to visualise that the gap between supply and demand of energy for the peaceful purpose could be bridged in the near future. This paper begins with a commentary on decision-making under risk and the important aspects of the expected utility theory and prospect theory. Further, an illustrative example describing decision-making for the energy prospects (options) under risk is presented. We believe that the decision of selecting energy options could also be approached with less computational bother as is intended in prospect theory. Computing with Words (CW) proposed by Professor Lotfi Zadeh, the father of fuzzy logic, could be a useful armamentarium in this quest.
Mammalian target of rapamycin signaling modulates photic entrainment of the suprachiasmatic circadian clock

Inducible gene expression appears to be an essential event that couples light to entrainment of the master mammalian circadian clock located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus. Recently, we reported that light triggers phase-dependent activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway, a major regulator of protein synthesis, in the SCN, thus raising the possibility that mTOR-evoked mRNA translation contributes to clock entrainment. Here, we used a combination of cellular, molecular, and behavioral assays to address this question. To this end, we show that the in vivo infusion of the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin led to a significant attenuation of the phase-delaying effect of early-night light. Conversely, disruption of mTOR during the late night augmented the phase-advancing effect of light. To assess the role of mTOR signaling within the context of molecular entrainment, the effects of rapamycin on light-induced expression of PERIOD1 and PERIOD2 were examined. At both the early- and late-night time points, abrogation of mTOR signaling led to a significant attenuation of light-evoked PERIOD protein expression. Our results also reveal that light-induced mTOR activation leads to the translation of mRNAs with a 5'-terminal oligopyrimidine tract such as eukaryotic elongation factor 1A and the immediate early gene JunB. Together, these data indicate that the mTOR pathway functions as potent and selective regulator of light-evoked protein translation and SCN clock entrainment.
Treatment options in Invasive Aspergillosis.

Aspergillus species are septated molds that cause a wide spectrum of clinical syndromes. Among these, invasive aspergillosis (IA) causes very high morbidity and mortality among the most severely immunosuppressed, especially those with profound qualitative or quantitative neutropenia. Empirical, pre-emptive, and targeted approaches have been attempted to blunt establishment of infection with variable success. The preferred treatment of primary IA is voriconazole, which has been found to be superior to amphotericin B. Azoles interfere with the synthesis of ergosterol found in the fungal cell membrane, whereas polyenes—such as amphotericin B—interfere with ergosterol function. An echinocandin that disrupts fungal cell wall synthesis—caspofungin—and itraconazole have been approved for salvage therapy of IA. Lipid amphotericin B formulations are used in those intolerant to amphotericin B deoxycholate. Posaconazole is used for prophylaxis in high-risk groups such as those with acute myelogenous leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, and stem cell transplant recipients with graft versus host disease to reduce the incidence of invasive fungal infections (IFI) such as IA. Combining mold-active azoles or a lipid amphotericin B formulation with an echinocandin may have a role in refractory IA. Immunomodulatory properties of antifungals, growth factors, cytokines, and immune cell infusions may enhance host ability to facilitate adjunctive control of infection, but an uncontrolled, exuberant inflammatory response can also cause significant pathology. Surgical resection may be a last resort when angioinvasion of critical structures places a patient at high risk for bleeding, thrombosis, or embolic phenomena, despite medical therapy. Nevertheless, immune reconstitution with myeloid lineage recovery is the key to successful outcomes.
Urinary incontinence: a classification system and treatment protocols for the primary care provider.

PURPOSE: To provide nurse practitioners (NPs) with an objective system for classification of urinary incontinence and protocols for treating the condition in the primary care setting. DATA SOURCE: Clinical practice guidelines and the author's clinical experience. CONCLUSIONS: By using tables of classifications of urinary inconti-nence, management strategies, and protocols, NPs can successfully manage mild urinary incontinence in primary care settings in a cost-effective manner. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: A thorough history and objective classification of the severity of incontinence provides the framework for treating urinary incontinence in a methodical and effective manner.
Evaluation of new methods for composite repair.

Abstract This study evaluated the effectiveness of air abrasion (sandblasting), hydrofluoric acid (HF) etching, and acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF) for composite repair. Five different composite (three hybrids, one small-particle, and one microfill) were used to test the effects of different compositions and particle sizes. A phosphonate resin bonding agent was used for all repair procedures. In general, air abrasion provided the strongest repairs, approximately 60% of cohesive strength. The effect of HF varied with different composites, either improving or reducing the repair strength. APF gave the lowest interfacial bond strengths for all composites except the microfill.
Tocainide therapy in muscle cramps and spasms due to neuromuscular disease

Significant improvement in symptoms of disabling cramps and muscle spasms was obtained in 9 patients with motor neuron diseases, tetany, and myotonic disorders who were treated with tocainide, a lidocaine analog. No significant side effects were observed except for light-headedness and fatigue in 1 patient, who also showed slight prolongation of intraventricular conduction time. Tocainide is useful in treating disabling muscle spasms and cramps associated with conditions characterized by neuromuscular irritability. This effect is probably based on stabilization of the membrane potential at various levels (motor neurons, peripheral nerve, or muscle fiber membrane).
Long-Term Follow-Up of Families with Young Conduct Problem Children: From Preschool to Grade School

Conducted a long-term follow-up of 83 mothers and 51 fathers who had received one of three parent training programs 3 years earlier for their preschoolers' conduct problems. Follow-up results indicated overall improvements in parent reports of the children's behaviors compared to baseline reports. However, only treatment that combined videotape modeling with therapist-led group discussion achieved stable improvements. Evaluation of the "clinical significance" of the treatment programs indicated that, after 3 years, 25% to 46% of parents and 26% of teachers reported significant child behavior problems. The families whose children were maladjusted were characterized by single-parent status, increased maternal depression, lower social class status, and family history of alcoholism and drug abuse.
Crystal structures of aryloxide complexes of zinc embracing sodium aryl group interactions: Na[Zn(2,6-diphenylphenoxide)3(H2O)] and Na[Zn2(2,6-diisopropylphenoxide)4Cl]·3THF

The addition of Na(2,6-diphenylphenoxide) to a diethyl ether solution of the monomeric Zn(2,6-diphenylphenoxide)2(THF)2 derivative affords the trisphenoxide complex, Na[Zn(2,6-diphenylphenoxide)3(H2O)] (1). An X-ray crystal structure analysis of 1 reveals the zinc to possess a distorted tetrahedral geometry and that the sodium counterion is essentially six-coordinate, being bound to the three oxygen atoms of the aryloxide ligands and the aromatic carbon atoms of one of the phenyl substituent on each of these ligands. An additional zinc phenoxide complex, Na[Zn2(2,6-diisopropylphenoxide)4Cl]·3THF (2), was obtained during the synthesis of Zn(2,6-diisopropylphenoxide)2(THF)2 in the presence of NaCl. The X-ray structure of 2 again shows the sodium ion to be six-coordinate, involved in an η6-interaction with the phenoxide π-system and bound to two THF ligands and a chloride ion.
Probe design optimization of HLA microarray: Data cleaning of probe signals from cDNA tiling microarray: Outlier detection, noise reduction, and identification of uninformative probes in HLA typing application

Custom made tiling cDNA microarrays have been developed for high resolution HLA genotyping. The array comprises tens of thousands of sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes (SSOP) that hybridize with HLA sequences. Sophisticated methods for analyzing the multidimensional complex data are needed due to large amounts of data generated from the microarray experiments. Moreover, the inconsistencies, noise, and outliers in the probe signals add additional complexities. We proposed data cleaning methods for the identification of uninformative and misinformative probes to improve the performance of HLA typing process.
Structural effects in electron transfer reactions : comparative interfacial electrochemical kinetics for cis- versus trans-dioxorhenium(V)(bi)pyridine oxidation

Abstract The comparative interfacial oxidation kinetics of the approximate structural isomers trans -(O) 2 Re V (py) + 4 and cis -(O) 2 Re V (bpy)(py) + 2 (py, pyridine; bpy, 2,2′-bipyridine) have been assessed in aqueous solution via conventional cyclic voltammetry at a highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) electrode. HOPG was employed because of its known propensity to diminish interfacial electron transfer (ET) rates (by ca. three to four orders of magnitude) and because of a probable lack of importance of kinetic work terms (diffuse double-layer corrections). Measured rates for the trans complex exceed those for the cis by about a factor of 3. Expressed as an effective activation Gibbs energy difference ΔG * , this corresponds to a cis-trans difference of ca. 3 kJ mol −1 . The actual vibrational barriers to ET have determined from a combination of published X-ray structural results ( trans complex) and new resonance Raman results ( cis complex). The values are 0.6 kJ mol −1 for the trans oxidation and 4.4 kJ mol −1 for the cis oxidation (i.e. close to the barrier difference inferred from rate measurements). Further analysis shows that most of the barrier difference is associated with displacement of a (predominantly) Re-N(bpy) stretching mode found only in the cis system. Differences in metal-oxo displacements ( cis > trans) are also implicated.
Pipeline persistence: Examining the association of educational experiences with earned degrees in STEM among U.S. students

As the global economic crisis continues, sustaining the United States' position as a leader in research and development is a top concern of policy makers. Looking to increase the number of students pursuing degrees in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), calls for improved mathematics and science education abound. We completed a two-part analysis to assess the school-based factors related to students choosing to complete a major in STEM. The results indicate that the majority of students who concentrate in STEM make that choice during high school, and that choice is related to a growing interest in mathematics and science rather than enrollment or achievement. These results indicate that the current policy focus on advanced-level course taking and achievement as measures to increase the flow of students into STEM may be misguided. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Sci Ed95:877–907, 2011
Salicylate prophylaxis in rheumatic fever

Summary One hundred and eighty-six young rheumatic subjects were observedbefore and following hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis. Forty-seven of this group received prophylactic doses of sodiumsalicylate. Forty-six escaped and one developed rheumatic fever. One hundred and thirty-nine patients were untreated. Eighty-twoescaped and fifty-seven developed rheumatic fever. These observations suggest that rheumatic fever can be prevented bythe administration of salicylates during the respiratory infection and silent phase. Statistical treatment of the data indicates that the association between salicylate prophylaxis and the failure of rheumatic subjects to develop attacks following streptococcal pharyngitis is significant.
Mutagen sensitivity of Drosophila melanogaster: VII. Alkylation mutagenesis of mature and immature oocytes of the excision-deficient mus (2) 201D1 mutant.

The mus (2) 201/sup D1/ strain has normal meiotic processes but is absolutely defective in excision repair ability following alkylation treatment. The authors examined what effect total excision deficiency has on induced mutagenesis in these stages of oogenesis. Excision-proficient cn/sup 35/ females and excision-deficient cn/sup 35/ mus (2) 201/sup D1/ females were exposed to MMS in phosphate buffer, and subsequently mated to Basc males for five broods. From their data they conclude: first, even at this low exposure to MMS, the mus (2) 201/sup D1/ females exhibit high infertility in broods 3 through 5, indicative of extensive cell killing in the excision-deficient genotype; second, for the excision-proficient cn/sup 35/ strain, the frequency of induced mutagenesis in brood 1 is approximately threefold that observed in brood 2; third, by comparing the induced frequencies for broods 1 and 2 between two strains, the data demonstrate a very substantial increase in mutagenesis in the excision-deficient strain over that observed for the control strain. The data clearly demonstrate the extensive contribution that the excision repair process makes during oogenesis and early embryogenesis in protecting the female and zygotic genomes from mutational consequences arising fron DNA damage.
CYTOPLASMIC INCOMPATIBILITY IN POPULATIONS WITH OVERLAPPING GENERATIONS

Many insects and other arthropods harbor maternally inherited bacteria inducing "cytoplasmic incompatibility" (CI), reduced egg hatch when infected males mate with uninfected females. CI-causing infections produce a frequency-dependent reproductive advantage for infected females. However, many such infections impose fitness costs that lead to unstable equilibrium frequencies below which the infections tend to be eliminated. To understand the unstable equilibria produced by reduced lifespan or lengthened development, overlapping-generation analyses are needed. An idealized model of overlapping generations with age-independent parameters produces a simple expression showing how the unstable point depends on the population growth rate, the intensity of CI, and the infection's effects on development time, longevity, and fecundity. The interpretation of this equilibrium is complicated by age structure. Nevertheless, the unstable equilibrium provides insight into the CI-causing infections found in nature, and it can guide potential manipulations of natural populations, including those that transmit diseases, through the introduction of infections that alter life-table parameters.
Effects of preoxidation on the nucleation and growth behavior of chemically vapor-deposited α-Al2O3 on a single-crystal Ni-based superalloy

A chemical vapor deposition (CVD) procedure was developed for preparing a high-quality α-Al2O3 coating layer on the surface of a single-crystal Ni-based superalloy using AlCl3, CO2 and H2 as precursors. A critical part of this procedure was a short-time preoxidation step (1 min) with CO2 and H2 in the CVD chamber, prior to introducing the AlCl3 precursor. Without this preoxidation step, extensive whisker formation was observed on the alloy surface. Characterization results showed that the preoxidation step resulted in the formation of a continuous oxide layer (∼50 nm) on the alloy surface. The outer part of this layer (∼20 nm) appeared to contain mixed oxides, whereas the inner part (∼30 nm) mainly consisted of α-Al2O3 grains with θ-Al2O3 as a minor phase. We observed that the nucleation of α-Al2O3 in the preoxidized layer was promoted by (1) rapid heating (10 seconds) of the alloy surface to the temperature region where α-Al2O3 was expected to nucleate; (2) the low oxygen pressure environment of the preoxidation step, which kept the rate of oxidation low; and (3) contamination of the reactor chamber with HfCl4. The preoxidized layer served as an effective diffusion barrier for mitigating the interaction with some of the alloying elements such as Co and Cr with the CVD precursors and eliminating whisker formation on the alloy surface.
Genetic variation in the natriuretic peptide system and heart failure

Heart failure (HF) is a modern epidemic and is one of the few cardiovascular diseases which is increasing in prevalence. The growing importance of the Natriuretic Peptide (NP) system in HF is well recognized. Laboratory tests for B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) have proven value as diagnostic and prognostic tools in HF and are now part of routine clinical care. Furthermore, recombinant atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) (carperitide) and BNP (nesiritide) and are approved HF therapies in Japan and the US, respectively and additional natriuretic peptides (e.g., CNP, urodilatin, and designer NPs) are under investigation for use in HF. Common genetic sequence variants are increasingly being recognized as determinants of disease risk or drug response and may help explain a portion of the inter-individual variation in the human NP system. This review describes current knowledge of NP system genetic variation as it pertains to HF as well as ongoing studies and where the field is expected to progress in the near future. To briefly summarize, NP system genetic variants have been associated with alterations in gene expression, NP levels, and cardiovascular disease. The next step forward will include specific investigations into how this genetic variation can advance ‘Personalized Medicine’, such as whether they impact the utility of diagnostic BNP testing or effectiveness of therapeutic NP infusion. This is already in progress, with pharmacogenetic studies of nesiritide currently underway. We expect that within 5 years there should be a reasonable idea of whether NP system genetic variation will have important clinical implications.
Lean Body Mass is a Predictor of the Daily Requirement for Thyroid Hormone in Older Men and Women

: Levothyroxine (T4) replacement need in adults with primary hypothyroidism has recently been reported to fall with age. Previous studies have demonstrated that the resting metabolic rate falls with age in euthyroid adults and that this fall is proportional to a reduction in lean body mass (LBM). Since LBM is correlated also with 24-hour energy expenditure, this study examined the possibility that LBM might be an accurate predictor of T4 requirement. Seventy-five hypothyroid adults receiving full replacement therapy, ranging in age from 24 to 88 years, were studied retrospectively. Lean body mass was found to be a better predictor of T4 requirement than age or weight for the entire group as well as for subgroups of men and women 51 years old and older. The age-related reduction in LBM may be responsible for the reported decrease in the rate of fractional thyroxine degradation with age.
Beta spectrum studies with cryogenic micro-calorimeters

Low energy beta spectra are studied with sources encapsulated in a superconducting Sn absorber. An NTD germanium thermistor measures the temperature transient (≈5 msec) caused by individual beta decays, and the total energy not given to the neutrino is determined with a resolution of ≈0.5 keV (FWHM) and a threshold of ≈5 keV. The response function is determined from the mono-energetic electron capture and internal conversion source109 Cd, both separately and simultaneously with the beta spectrum. The endpoint of the unique first-forbidden decay107 Pd →107 Ag+e −+ $$\bar v$$ e is found to be37.5±0.1 keV. High statistics results are compared to the unique first-forbidden shape and the atomic exchange correction. The latter is seen for the first time. Preliminary results of a search for heavy neutrino admixtures are0.15±0.33%.
A constraint logic programming approach for generating all perfect matchings

In [1,2], a heuristics based approach is presented for finding all perfect matchings of a graph. We present a simpler and more elegant approach based on constraint logic programming that embodies the same heuristic.
ENHANCEMENT OF BENZO(A)PYRENE METABOLISM MEDIATED BY RETINOL ACETATE IN CULTURED HUMAN BRONCHIAL EPITHELIAL-CELLS

As suggested by animal studies and human epidemiological data, retinoids possess significant cancer chemopreventive activity. Although the majority of studies in this area have focused on the ability of retinoids to prevent the promotion or progression of carcinogenesis, a significant amount of data suggest retinoids can alter initiation events. In the current report, we have evaluated the potential of retinol acetate to modulate benzo(a)pyrene metabolism in low-passage human bronchial epithelial cells in monolayer cultures, Of 16 different cell cultures, benzo(a)pyrene metabolism was increased in 14, decreased in one, and unchanged in one, when retinol acetate was added to the media, In a preliminary study with one of the cell cultures in which retinol acetate significantly enhanced benzo(a)pyrene metabolism, binding of carcinogen metabolites to;DNA was unaffected, Since retinoids are known cancer chemopreventive agents and carcinogen binding to DNA is the key event in the initiation of carcinogenesis, these results suggest that retinoids may decrease carcinogenic risk by increasing the detoxification of procarcinogens such as benzo(a)pyrene ina manner that does not yield a concomitant increase in damage to critical cellular targets such as DNA.
THE PRODUCT ENTHUSIAST: IMPLICATIONS FOR MARKETING STRATEGY

Product enthusiasts, increasingly prevalent in American society, represent significant marketplace forces because of their high levels of information seeking, opinion leadership, and innovativeness. For marketers to best serve these consumers, many commonly used marketing strategies must be altered or adapted. In this article, marketing mix elements serve as a framework to discuss strategic issues relevant to this category of consumer.
“Development of Theory of Democratic Administration”: Replies and Comments.

Since Dwight Waldo has credited me with "contributions" to public administration, I suppose that I might be flattered rather than dismayed by his treatment of the fact-value. issue in his recent article on "Development of Theory of Democratic Administration" in the AMERICAN POLITICAL SCIENCE REVIEW. Although under these circumstances silence is perhaps the more modest and the wiser policy, I cannot forbear from making a few comments on his paper. I am impelled to do this in part because the faults of Waldo's analysis are characteristic of the writings of those who call themselves "political theorists" and who are ever ready to raise the battle cry against positivism and empiricism. (Vide the last paragraph of Morgenthau's review of the book by Lasswell and Kaplan in the same issue of the REVIEW, pp. 230-234.) Love me, love my logic. A scientist is not (and, in my system of personal values, should not be) flattered by being told that his conclusions are good, but do not follow from his premises. If Mr. Waldo's footnote 40, on page 97, is correct, then I should be condemned, not flattered. I will perhaps be pardoned for believing the assertion in the footnote to be incorrect, and for wishing that Mr. Waldo would indicate more specifically just where the gaps in logic occur, and what are the correct premises and lines of reasoning for reaching the conclusions that I reach. I hope that, if Mr. Waldo someday undertakes this task, he will apply the same standards of rigor in his reasoning that I tried to apply (perhaps not always successfully) in Administrative Behavior. Study of logic and empirical science has impressed on me the extreme care that must be exercised, in the search for truth, to avoid logical booby traps. For this reason the kind of prose I encounter in writings on political theory, decorated with assertion, invective, and metaphor, sometimes strikes me as esthetically pleasing, but seldom as convincing. Since I am unable to discover definitions in Mr. Waldo's paper for his key terms, since he does not set forth his basic premises in any systematic fashion, and since his propositions appear to skip from philosophy to psychology to history and back, I have not succeeded in reconstructing the syllogisms by which I presume he reached his conclusions. Fact and Value. Even more worrisome to me than that I cannot discover most of the premises on which Mr. Waldo bases his argument, is the fact that one of the crucial premises that I do find is false. No one who has studied seriously the writings of logical positivists, or my own discussion of fact and value in Administrative Behavior, could attribute to us the "proposition that there are 'value decisions' and 'factual decisions.'" The phrases "value judgment" and
Clinical Technique: Dental Endoscopy of Rabbits and Rodents

Abstract Dental disease remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in rabbits, rodents, and other small herbivores. Because of their small oral commissure, the rigid telescope is an ideal tool for examining and working within the buccal cavity of these animals. Focal illumination and magnification provide greater sensitivity and accuracy for identifying occlusal dental disease than other modalities. In addition, the telescope provides intraoperative visualization during dental trimming, extractions, and exploration of abscess, nasal, or paranasal cavities associated with dental structures.
ROLE OF P53 IN THE REGULATION OF IRRADIATION-INDUCED APOPTOSIS IN NEUROBLASTOMA CELLS

Wild-type p53 plays a crucial role in the control of apoptosis following ionizing radiation (IR); conversely, mutant p53 is associated with IR resistance. Although wild-type p53 is expressed in virtually all neuroblastoma tumors, treatment failures secondary to inadequate local control with radiotherapy are a problem in patients with advanced stage disease. This apparent paradox is the focus of our interest. The Shep-1 neuroblastoma cell line is highly resistant to IR. This cell line contains a wild-type p53 gene and is an ideal model for studying the mechanism of IR resistance in this disease. Following high-dose IR, cell fractionation demonstrated that p53 is induced and targeted to the nucleus. The induced p53 is functional as p53-responsive genes (Waf-1 and MDM-2) are appropriately induced following IR. Intriguingly, overexpression of p53 could reverse the inherent IR resistance of Shep-1 cells. Multiple cell lines expressing variable levels of exogenous temperature-sensitive p53 were generated. Pulse induction of p53 alone did not affect Shep-1 cell viability, while induction of p53, followed by IR, resulted in cell death and DNA fragmentation proportional to the dose of IR and the level of p53 expression. These findings demonstrate that p53 overexpression renders Shep-1 cells IR-sensitive and suggest that large quantities of exogenous p53 can overcome the factors inhibiting p53-mediated, IR-induced apoptosis.
Perioperative care of a pregnant trauma victim: a review of anesthetic considerations

Extracted from text ... REVIEW Southern African Journal of Anaesthesia & Analgesia - February 2004 23 Perioperative care of a pregnant trauma victim: a review of anesthetic considerations while decreasing the time available and the margin of safety. The pregnant trauma victim presents a unique spectrum of challenges to the trauma healthcare team. The surgical diagnosis may be unknown at the time of incision, as may be the nature and extend of the procedure being undertaken. The fact that pregnancy may not always be known to be present to the health care team (at the scene of transportation accidents, in the emergency room, ..
Placenta accreta postpartum

Abstract BACKGROUND: Placenta accreta is the abnormal attachment of the placenta to the uterus. It occurs when the decidua basalis is either absent or incomplete. It is uncommon and most often presents with a retained placenta and hemorrhage. CASE: A 29-year-old gravida 1 had an uncomplicated antenatal course and delivery. The third stage of labor was complicated by a retained placenta necessitating manual removal. Her postpartum course was complicated by a persistent endometritis. The diagnosis of placenta accreta was made with the help of sonohysterography. CONCLUSION: Sonohysterography is a useful tool in discriminating a solid intracavitary mass from a placenta accreta postpartum.
Wehrl's entropy as a measure of squeezing

Abstract Wehrl's entropy is adopted to be a measure of uncertainties of quantum states and used to characterize the degree of squeezing of squeezed states in quantum optics.
A Comparison of Two Random Number Generators for the Birnbaum–Saunders Distribution

Abstract The Birnbaum–Saunders distribution was developed to describe fatigue failure lifetimes, however, the distribution has been shown to be applicable for a variety of situations that frequently occur in the engineering sciences. In general, the distribution can be used for situations that involve stochastic wear–out failure. The distribution does not have an exponential family structure, and it is often necessary to use simulation methods to study the properties of statistical inference procedures for this distribution. Two random number generators for the Birnbaum–Saunders distribution have appeared in the literature. The purpose of this article is to present and compare these two random number generators to determine which is more efficient. It is shown that one of these generators is a special case of the other and is simpler and more efficient to use.
Spin-exchange between stilbene triplets and oxygen (3Σ)

Abstract Comparison of the interactions of oxygen and β-carotene with stilbene triplets suggests that electronic excitation is not transferred to oxygen. Effective interactions may proceed via a triplet encounter complex which gives oxygen (3Σ) and twisted stilbene ground state molecules.
artdaq: An event filtering framework for fermilab experiments

Several current and proposed experiments at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory have novel data acquisition needs. These include (1) continuous digitization, using commercial high-speed digitizers, of signals from the detectors, (2) the transfer of all of the digitized waveform data to commodity processors, (3) the filtering or compression of the waveform data, or both, and (4) the writing of the resultant data to disk for later, more complete, analysis.
Meal replacements in weight intervention.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of meal replacements (MRs) in weight loss interventions in premenopausal women. Research Methods and Procedures: Overweight premenopausal women (n = 113; body mass index: 25 to 35 kg/m2; 30 to 50 years old) were randomized into three interventions: group A, a dietitian-led intervention; group B, a dietitian-led intervention incorporating MRs; and group C, a clinical office-based intervention incorporating MRs. In year 1, groups A and B attended 26 group sessions, whereas group C received the same educational materials during 26 10-minute office visits with a physician–nurse team. In year 2, participants attended monthly group seminars and drop-in visits with a dietitian. Results: For the 74 subjects completing year 1, weight loss in the office-based group C was as effective as the traditional dietitian-led group A (4.3 ± 6.5% vs. 4.1 ± 6.4%), while group B maintained a significantly greater weight loss (9.1 ± 8.9%; p < 0.02; mean ± SD). For the 43 subjects completing year 2, group B showed significant differences in the percentage of weight loss (−8.5 ± 7.0%) compared with group A (−1.5 ± 5.0%) and group C (−3.0 ± 7.0%; p < 0.001). Discussion: Study results showed that a traditional weight loss intervention incorporating MRs was effective as a weight loss tool in the medical office practice and in the dietitian-led group setting.
Oxidation Resistance: One Barrier to Moving Beyond Ni-Base Superalloys

The implementation of new high-temperature materials is often hampered by their lack of oxidation or environmental resistance. This failing is one of the strongest barriers to moving beyond Ni-base superalloys for many commercial applications. In practice, usable high-temperature alloys have at least reasonable oxidation resistance, but the current generation of single-crystal Ni-base superalloys has sufficient oxidation resistance that optimized versions can be used without a metallic bond coating and only an oxygen-transparent ceramic coating for thermal protection. The material development process often centers around mechanical properties, while oxidation resistance, along with other realities, is given minor attention. For many applications, the assumption that an oxidation-resistant coating can be used to protect a substrate is seriously flawed, as coatings often do not provide sufficient reliability for critical components. Examples of oxidation problems are given for currently used materials and materials classes with critical oxidation resistance problems.