cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Disparities in Awareness of Hepatitis C Virus among U.S. Adults: an analysis of the 2019 Health Information National Trends Survey.

BACKGROUND The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force updated hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening 2020 guidelines to target adults aged 18 to 79 years: a major shift from the prior focus on high-risk populations ("baby boomers" aged ≥55 years as of 2019). To inform efforts to maximize HCV screening coverage, our objective was to identify demographic groups reporting a lack of HCV awareness, particularly by race/ethnicity and age, and sources of health information. METHODS We used nationally representative data of adults (≥18 years) included in the 2019 Health Information National Trends Survey (n = 5438). Awareness of HCV was defined using the following question: "Have you ever heard of the hepatitis C virus (also known as Hep C or HCV)?" We estimated frequencies by demographic groups and computed risk differences (RDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to compare lack of HCV awareness by age (<55 and ≥55 years) and race/ethnicity. RESULTS Overall, 17% of adults never heard of HCV. Younger adults (<55 years; 21%) were more likely to have never heard of HCV compared with older adults (≥55 years; 12%; χ2P < 0.001). This observation was consistent across most demographic characteristics including, racial/ethnic categories, and residing in the Southern United States. More than one-third of adults with low English fluency had a lack of HCV awareness in both age groups (χ2P = 0.537). Non-Hispanic (NH) Asian (RD, 25%; 95% CI, 6.9%-43.3%) and Hispanic (RD, 10%; 95% CI, 0.01%-19.6%) adults younger than 55 years were significantly more likely to have never heard of HCV compared with their NH White counterparts after adjustment for sex, educational level, household income, English fluency, and having a regular provider. Adults younger than 55 years with a lack of HCV awareness commonly obtained their health information from the Internet across most sociodemographic characteristics. CONCLUSIONS Hispanic and NH Asian young adults should be targeted for public health messaging regarding HCV screening, potentially through social media campaigns.
A Survey of Comparative Criminal Procedure through Foreign Films

Textbook for course in Comparative Criminal Procedure through Film. Constructs of comparative legal analysis are described and then applied to examine the adjudicative process through foreign films, beginning with police contact with a crime suspect and ending either with a judge or jury’s acquittal of an accused or with execution of sentence. The analytical constructs include the inquisitorial-adversarial dichotomy, role-specific constructs, and the Civil Law-Common Law dichotomy. In addition, differences in criminal procedure are examined through the Socialist, Islamic, and indigenous legal traditions. Role-specific constructs measure the degree to which a suspect is expected to cooperate, the degree of independence and neutrality of the prosecutor, and the degree of lay participation (jurors) in adjudication and sentencing. The author concludes that a survey of foreign films confirms that suspects and accused enjoy greater protection of the presumption of innocence in Common Law, adversarial justice systems, and that there are several aspects of U.S. criminal procedure that could be changed to further safeguard the presumption of innocence.
Advance Directive and POLST Documentation in Decedents With Dementia at a Memory Care Center: The Importance of Early Advanced Care Planning

Abstract Objective: To determine the frequency of and challenges to documentation of advance care planning (ACP) in people with dementia, we conducted a chart review of 746 deceased patients seen at a tertiary memory care center between 2012 and 2017. Methods: The rates of documented Advance Directives (AD), Physician Order for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) and Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) status were calculated from review of institutional electronic health records. Regression analysis was used to determine associations between ACP documentation and patient characteristics. Results: At the time of death, approximately half of the patient had a documented AD and/or DNR status and 37% had a documented POLST; 30% of patients did not have any ACP documentation. Whereas the majority of AD were documented more than five years prior to time of death, POLST and DNR status were documented more frequently within two years of time of death. People who presented to clinic at a younger age and who primarily spoke English were more likely to have documented ADs. People living in zip codes with lower household incomes were 2-4.5 times less likely to have a POLST or DNR documentation. Conclusion: ACP is underutilized in people with dementia, even among those seen in a specialty memory care center. ACP should be introduced early on for people with dementia to ensure patients have a voice in their care.
An Iterative Method, from Large to Small

Consider a dynamical system governed by $$\dot x = F(x,t,\mu ),x \in {\Bbb {R}^N},t \in \Bbb {R},\mu \in {\Bbb {R}^K}$$ (12.1.1) .
Extracting flow features via supervised streamline segmentation

Effective flow feature extraction enables users to explore complex flow fields by reducing visual clutter. Existing methods usually use streamline segmentation as a preprocessing step for feature extraction. In our work, features are directly extracted as a result of streamline segmentation. In order to achieve this, we first ask users to specify desired features by manually segmenting a few streamlines from a flow field. Users only need to pick the segmentation points (i.e., positive examples) along a streamline, remaining points will be used as negative examples. Next we compute multiscale features for each positive/negative example and feed them into a binary support vector machine (SVM) trainer. The trained classifier is then used to segment all the streamlines in a flow field. Finally, the segments are clustered based on their shape similarities. Our experiment shows that very good segmentation results can be obtained with only a small number of streamlines to be segmented by users for each data set. We also propose a novel heuristic based on the minimum bounding ellipsoid volume to help determine where to segment a streamline. Graphical abstractDisplay Omitted HighlightsWe proposed a supervised segmentation algorithm to extract flow features.We propose an effective heuristic which captures how human beings segment streamlines.We illustrate the utility of our streamline segmentation method using both synthesized and real-simulation data sets.We compare our method with the state-of-the-art to show our method performs much better.
Controlling EMI Sources — Unintentional Signals

When starting to think about EMI design, the most effective approach is to consider the actual sources of EMI emissions, and treat them all individually. Most of the causes of EMI emissions at the printed circuit (PC) board level are separable and can be considered and treated individually, without increasing the emissions from some other source.
Quantum transport in ballistic conductors: evolution from conductance quantization to resonant tunnelling

We study the transport properties of an atomic-scale contact in the ballistic regime. The results for the conductance and related transmission eigenvalues show how the properties of the ideal semi-infinite leads (i.e. measuring device) as well as the coupling between the leads and the conductor influence the transport in a two-probe geometry. We observe the evolution from conductance quantization to resonant tunnelling conductance peaks upon changing the hopping parameters in the disorder-free tight-binding Hamiltonian which characterize the leads and the coupling to the sample.
Planetary radio waves

Three planets, the earth, Jupiter and Saturn are known to emit nonthermal radio waves which require coherent radiation processes. The characteristic features (frequency spectrum, polarization, occurrence probability, radiation pattern) are discussed. Radiation which is externally controlled by the solar wind is distinguished from internally controlled radiation which only originates from Jupiter. The efficiency of the externally controlled radiation is roughly the same at all three planets (5 x 10 to the -6th) suggesting that similar processes are active there. The maser radiation mechanism for the generation of the radio waves and general requirements for the mechanism which couples the power generator to the region where the radio waves are generated are briefly discussed.
Consumer Support for Food Tracing with RFID Technology

Food borne illness continues to be a significant problem and food traceability may help reduce the number and severity of outbreaks. One technology that could improve food tracing is radio frequency identification tags or RFID. However, some consumers may oppose the use of this technology because of its potential for reducing personal privacy. A survey of consumers asked about their support for an RFID tracing system for produce and for meat. Results suggest that some consumer privacy attitudes and privacy behaviors were negatively related to support for RFID tracing. Proponents of traceability with RFID may need to spend more time explaining the technology to consumers to reduce their concerns and anxieties. In addition, the results for produce tracing and meat tracing were different, suggesting that consumer support for food traceability may vary by product category.
The Role of Charge and Spin Migration in DNA Radiation Damage

High energy radiation damage to DNA results in direct ionization of DNA and its immediate surroundings. Holes are generated throughout the DNA and its first hydration layer in accord with the electron density and the electrons produced add randomly to the DNA bases. Within a short time frame the holes move to the most stable site, the guanine base, or react by deprotonation thus localizing the damage. Electrons rapidly transfer to the DNA bases of highest electron affinity, thymine and cytosine. From these initial events the major products of radiation damage to DNA result. In Chap. 7, Becker, Adhikary and Sevilla have reviewed the recent efforts that have elucidated hole and electron transfer processes within DNA and from its hydration layer. In addition recent results are presented and discussed in this chapter. demonstrating that visible light induces hole transfer to other bases, as well as, most significantly, to the sugar phosphate backbone resulting in sugar radicals and ultimately strand breaks, i.e. a significant DNA damage.
Cell Dimensions and Macroscopic Thermal Expansion

Cell dimensions of feldspars are affected principally by the bulk chemical composition and the distribution of T and M atoms among the lattice sites.
Errors of measurement and the recent acceleration in manufacturing productivity growth

Using detailed (4-digit SIC) industry data for the years 1958–1989, I examine whether the recent acceleration in manufacturing productivity can be attributed to the effects of mismeasurement of the prices of inputs and output, by testing a model linking a set of proxy variables for measurement error to a series of measures of acceleration in total factor productivity (TFP). Alternative TFP estimates are presented in order to determine if the findings are sensitive to the method of TFP calculation. The results are inconsistent with the measurement error hypothesis and invariant to the specification of the TFP equation.
Effects of Hygrothermal Cycling on Properties of Glass–Vinyl Ester Composite:

Hygrothermal freeze-thaw cycling exposures were performed on glass-vinyl ester composite to simulate harsh temperature and moisture conditions that the composite might encounter during their lifetime in services. The cycling conditions used were 80°C/saturated steam/48 h ↔ -17.8°C/dry/24h. A characteristic moisture absorption behavior observed was that each time when the composite was taken out of the warm and humid environment and put into freezer, it exhibited a fast absorption of moisture, while the composite underwent an obvious desorption when moved from freezer to a warm humidity chamber. After the desorption at the very beginning of the thaw process, the composite showed a moderate absorption in the saturated steam at 80°C. This phenomenon was explained by the difference in thermal expansion rates of the fibers and the resin. Compression tests were conducted to investigate hygrothermal cycling effects on mechanical properties of the composite. The results showed that the degradation in compression strength for hygrothermally cycled composites was less significant than that of samples simply experienced isothermal holding at the same temperature and with the same exposure duration. Thermal analysis results indicated that glass transition temperature of the composite increased with an increase in hygrothermal cycling duration and leveled off after about 1000 h of the exposure, while thermal decomposition temperature of the composite was only slightly influenced by the hygrothermal exposures.
Perceived magnitude of two-tone-noise complexes - Loudness, annoyance, and noisiness

An investigation of the perceived effects of tonal components was undertaken to establish a broader data base for quantification and prediction of annoyance of sounds containing added tones. The current study was concerned with two-tone-noise complexes. The stimuli were tone pairs added to a low-pass noise that was attenuated by 5 dB/oct above 600 Hz. Overall perceived magnitude is shown to be a function of the frequency separation (delta F) between the tonal components, tone-to-noise ratio, and the overall SPL of the noise-tone complex. Results obtained with two tones are compared to those obtained in an earlier study with single tones [R. P. Hellman, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 75, 209-218 (1984)]. The observed effects appear relevant to the rules governing loudness summation across frequency, to measurements of psychoacoustic consonance and roughness, and to the issue of mutual masking among the component stimuli. The implications of the findings in relation to proposed tone-correction procedures are also discussed.
Marginal cost and second-best pricing for water services

This paper examines the pricing strategy of water services relative to marginal cost and second-best pricing rules, which is a principal concern of utility commissions. The water utility is viewed as a multiproduct firm providing residential and nonresidential services, and a translog multiproduct cost function is estimated for a cross section of U.S. water utilities. Marginal costs are estimated and combined with demand elasticities to simulate second-best prices for water services. Results show that while the existing price structure is quite different from the one suggested by marginal costs, it does not depart substantially from the second-best optimum.
Long-term deficits in water maze spatial conditional alternation performance following retrohippocampal lesions in rats

The effects of large bilateral retrohippocampal lesions on long-term performance of conditional spatial alternation, incorporating a strong working memory component, were examined using a T-maze task motivated by swim-escape. The lesions, which included entorhinal cortex, subiculum, pre- and parasubiculum and invaded the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus, completely eliminated the previously acquired conditional alternation learning, and performance failed to recover with 40 days of testing. These findings support the contention that retrohippocampal structures are an important and necessary component of the neural circuitry mediating working memory.
Expansion of the Time‐Dependent Wavefunction in Quasistationary Energy Eigenfunctions

The motion of a wave packet moving in a potential well with a penetrable barrier is considered. A formally exact expression for the evolution operator is given as a sum over quasistationary energy eigenfunctions plus a remainder term. Numerical calculations are carried out for the square barrier potential. The approximation in which one neglects the remainder term is shown to be a useful and accurate one in computing properties of the particle which depend on the value of the wavefunction inside the potential well.
Fabrication of a Molecular Self-Assembled Monolayer Diode Using Nanoimprint Lithography

We report a simple parallel process for the fabrication of nanoscale electrical contacts to probe the conductance characteristics of a molecular self-assembled monolayer (SAM) using nanoimprint lit...
The TREC Medical Records Track

The Text REtrieval Conference (TREC) is a series of annual workshops designed to build the infrastructure for large-scale evaluation of search systems and thus improve the state-of-the-art. Each workshop is organized around a set of "tracks", challenge problems that focus effort in particular research areas. The most recent TRECs have contained a Medical Records track whose goal is to enable semantic access to the free-text fields of electronic health records. Such access will enhance clinical care and support the secondary use of health records. The specific search task used in the track was a cohort-finding task. A search request described the criteria for inclusion in a (possible, but not actually planned) clinical study and the systems searched a set of de-identified clinical reports to identify candidates who matched the criteria. As anticipated, the search results demonstrate that language use within electronic health records is sufficiently different from general use to warrant domain-specific processing. Top-performing systems each used some sort of vocabulary normalization device specific to the medical domain to accommodate the array of abbreviations, acronyms, and other informal terminology used to designate medical procedures and findings in the records. The use of negative language is also much more prevalent in health records (e.g., patient denies pain, no fever) and thus requires appropriate handling for good search results.
Uncertainties in neutron densities determined from analysis of 0. 8 GeV polarized proton scattering from nuclei

The first order, spin-dependent microscopic proton-nucleus optical potential of Kerman, McManus, and Thaler is used to analyze 800 MeV polarized proton elastic differential cross section and analyzing power data for target nuclei $^{58}\mathrm{Ni}$, $^{90}\mathrm{Zr}$, $^{116,124}\mathrm{Sn}$, and $^{208}\mathrm{Pb}$. Approximately model-independent target neutron density distributions are constructed in order to investigate the uncertainty in the deduced neutron densities resulting from the statistical error and the finite range of momentum transfer in the experimental angular distributions. Numerous other experimental and theoretical sources of error and uncertainty are considered to obtain a realistic estimate of the total error in the deduced neutron densities and their root-mean-square radii. The typical error in the root-mean-square radii is found to be \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.07 fm. Impressive qualitative agreement is found between the deduced neutron matter densities and the corresponding densities predicted by Hartree-Fock calculations.NUCLEAR REACTIONS Proton-nucleus scattering, $E=0.8$ GeV; targets $^{58}\mathrm{Ni}$, $^{90}\mathrm{Zr}$, $^{116,124}\mathrm{Sn}$, $^{208}\mathrm{Pb}$; analyzing power; spin-dependent Kerman, McManus, and Thaler optical potential; model-independent densities; error analysis; neutron radii.
COMPARING THE ACHIEVEMENT OF STUDENTS TAUGHT BY PART‐TIME VERSUS FULL‐TIME FACULTY

This study compares the instructional effectiveness of full‐time with part‐time faculty by assessing the subsequent achievement of their students. The 1,075 students under study enrolled in English 1101 at Miami‐Dade Community College where half of the 38 sections they comprised were taught by part‐time faculty. Using grades in the next English course and scores on a competency‐based exit exam as measures of subsequent achievement, the study found no differences between students of part‐time and full‐time faculty
A note concerning the quantization of spinor fields

Jauch’s paper with the same title is re-examined by use of the usual quantization formalisms. Schwinger’s action principle can give the commutation relations suggested byJauch, if we choose appropriate canonical independent variables, different from the variational independent variables. Quantization in the interaction representation is also discussed. The interaction betweenJauch’s field and the electromagnetic field is considered.
Effect of Oxygen and Bacteria on the Property of Polymer Gel

Abstract The viscosity property of Cr 3+ , Al 3+ , and compound ion cross-linked polymer gel solution in the anaerobic and aerobic environment was investigated aiming at meeting the practical demand of the oil field. The viscosity reserving effect after adding the biocide and the gelation in the anaerobic and aerobic environments was also studied in the paper. The results indicate that the viscosity of the cross-linked polymer gel solution caused by the water produced in aerobic environment is higher than that in anaerobic environment, and that the viscosity value of the cross-linked polymer gel solutions after adding biocides has improved to some extent and polymer gel has gelated well in anaerobic environment.
Task specific inter-hemispheric coupling in human subthalamic nuclei

Cortical networks and quantitative measures of connectivity are integral to the study of brain function. Despite lack of direct connections between left and right subthalamic nuclei (STN), there are apparent physiological connections. During clinical examination of patients with Parkinson’s Disease (PD), this connectivity is exploited to enhance signs of PD, yet our understanding of this connectivity is limited. We hypothesized that movement leads to synchronization of neural oscillations in bilateral STN, and we implemented phase coherence, a measure of phase-locking between cortical sites in a narrow frequency band, to demonstrate this synchronization. We analyzed task specific phase synchronization and causality between left and right STN local field potentials (LFP) recorded from both hemispheres simultaneously during a cued movement task in four subjects with PD who underwent Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery. We used a data driven approach to determine inter-hemispheric channel pairs and frequencies with a task specific increase in phase locking. We found significant phase locking between hemispheres in alpha frequency (8-12 Hz) in all subjects concurrent with movement of either hand. In all subjects, phase synchronization increased over baseline upon or prior to hand movement onset and lasted until the motion ceased. Left and right hand movement showed similar patterns. Granger causality at the phase-locking frequencies between synchronized electrodes revealed a unidirectional causality from right to left STN regardless of which side was moved. Phase synchronization across hemispheres between basal ganglia supports existence of a bilateral network having lateralized regions of specialization for motor processing. Our results suggest this bilateral network is activated by a unilateral motor program. Understanding phase synchronization in natural brain functions is critical to development of future DBS systems that augment goal directed behavioral function.
Stability of the vacuum in scalar field models in 1+1 dimensions.

Utilizing the recently proposed discretized light-front quantization method we evaluate the critical coupling for vanishing mass gap (with respect to the perturbative vacuum) for two interacting scalar field models in 1+1 dimensions. Our extrapolated results for the critical coupling are compared with results based on the equal-time formulation.
Comments on the reported observation of a monopole

It is shown that the cosmic-ray event recently interpreted as the track of a Dirac monopole can instead be plausibly described in terms of the interaction of an ultraheavy cosmic-ray nucleus, having $Z\ensuremath{\sim}96$ and velocity \ensuremath{\sim}0.72c.
Relativistic generation of isolated attosecond pulses: a different route to extreme intensity

Isolated attosecond pulses and electron bunches can be efficiently generated in the interaction of intense lasers with plasma in the confined volume of the λ3 regime. Scaling with intensity is found to improve pulse brevity and focusability greatly while the efficiency of the attosecond pulse generation continues to remain high. Practical consideration of the tools needed to generate such pulses indicates that such interactions are surprisingly accessible. We mention some introductory experiments whereby we may verify the theoretical predictions of this new class of attosecond pulses. This technique may enable us to reach the Schwinger intensity 1029 W cm−2.
A Perspective on University Research and Graduate Studies in Japan

Several facets of education and research in a Japanese university are discussed. Many similarities exist (relative to the U.S.A.); nonetheless, numerous cultural and organizational differences profoundly influence the nature of graduate studies in Japan. Graduate education in the Minami Laboratory of Scientific Instrumentation and Measurement Engineering, Department of Applied Physics, Osaka University, is featured. Some particulars relative to undertaking a long-term research stay in Japan are also included.
Distrust, Race, and Research

Background: Investigators have voiced concerns that distrust of research and the medical community inpedes successful recruitment of African Americans into clinical research. Objective: To examine possible differences in distrust by race and to determine to what extent other sociodemographic factors explain any racial differences in distrust. Methods: We analyzed data from 527 African American and 382 white respondents of a national telephone survey on participation in clinical research. Our main outcome was a 7-item index of distrust. Results: African American respondents were more likely that white respondents not to trust that their physicians would fully explain research participation (41.7% vs 23.4%,P<.01)and to state that they believed their physicians exposed them to unnecessary risks (45.5% vs 34.8%,P<.01). African American respondents had a significantly higher mean distrust index score than white respondents(3.1 vs 1.8,P<.01). After controlling for other sociodemographic variables in a logistic regression model, race remained strongly associated with a highter distrust score (prevalence odds ratio, 4.7;95% confidence interval,2.9-7.7). Conclusions: Even after controlling for markers of social class, African Americans were less trusting than white Americans. Racial differences in disturst have important implications for investigation as they engage African Americans in research.
Performance Analysis of a Quadrifilar Helix Antenna Above the Ground Plane

Design and performance evaluation of a modified quadrifilar helix antenna (QHA) above various terrains are investigated utilizing the method of moments (MoM). In particular, antenna performance above "average ground" plane with epsivtau=13 and sigma=5 mS/m and "extremely poor" ground that is common to heavy industrial cities having epsivtau=3 and sigma=0.1 mS/m is first considered as a base line. Two extreme cases of antenna orientation above the ground plane are considered and antenna modification method is presented to reduce the ground reflection effect. Simulated axial ratio of less than 0.3 dB is achieved along the antenna axis over 20% bandwidth operating in the cellular frequency band
Evidence for the presence of glutathione peroxidase activity toward an organic hydroperoxide in larvae of the cabbage looper moth, Trichoplusia ni

Using enzyme preparations of mid-fifth instar larvae of the cabbage looper moth, Trichoplusia ni, we have detected glutathione peroxidase activity against a model organic hydroperoxide substrate, cumene hydroperoxide. Specific activity, pmol NADPH oxidized/mg protein/min at 25°C and pH 7.0 was 54.3 for 600 g (10 min) and 57.3 for 850 g (15 min) supernatant. Cysteamine and cyanide which inhibit the peroxidase activity of glutathione transferase, significantly inhibited the enzyme activity, while azide, an inhibitor of catalase and peroxidase had no effect. Specific activities associated with the nuclear, microsomal and cytosolic fractions were 74.0, 34.6 and 13.2, respectively. No activity was detected in the mitochondrial fraction. In the absence of a Se-dependent glutathione peroxidase in T. ni, the GSH-dependent peroxidase activity appears to conform to the peroxidase activity analogous to the mammalian non-Se glutathione transferase.
XMM space telescope: development plan for the lightweight replicated x-ray gratings

An approach and development plan for the production of replicated variable line spacing X-ray reflection gratings on lightweight substrates is described. The gratings will be arrayed in spectrometers to analyze the soft X-rays gathered by the telescopes flown aboard the European Space Agency (ESA) "X-ray Multi- Mirror Mission" (XMM). The mission requires about 750 gratings to form 3 arrays. Each array provides a grating area of approximately 5 square meters. From relatively few master gratings, the low blaze angle gratings will be replicated onto 55 gram substrates having an equivalent length/thickness aspect ratio s40. We will describe the criteria used for selecting the substrate design and material. A multi-phased study to solve identified technical problems associated with the replication of these gratings is also described. We will report on the present status of the substrates and replication process.
Example of a Thermodynamically Controlled Reaction on a Semiconductor Surface: Acetone on Ge(100)-2 × 1

The adsorption of acetone on the Ge(100)-2 × 1 surface has been investigated using multiple internal reflection infrared spectroscopy and density functional theory quantum chemistry calculations and was found to be under thermodynamic control at room temperature. Acetone undergoes attachment at the carbonyl oxygen with loss of an α hydrogen at room temperature on the Ge(100)-2 × 1 surface to form an enol-like adduct. This so-called ene reaction has not been seen on the Si(100) surface, on which the reaction of acetone is under kinetic control and instead a less thermodynamically favored [2 + 2] addition across the carbonyl bond is observed. At low temperature, acetone adsorbs via dative-bond formation with the surface, which we find to be too weak to remain at room temperature in contrast to the stronger dative bonds formed by amines on the Si(100) and Ge(100) surfaces. There is evidence that the acetone ene product may undergo oxygen migration and insertion into Ge−Ge bonds, especially at elevated surfac...
Study of “plasma bullets” propagation inside of tissue and agarose tissue model

Summary form only given. Non-thermal plasma jets in open air have been previously shown to be composed of ionization waves commonly known as ‘plasma bullets’ propagating at high velocities1,2. One of the obvious and exciting applications of this type of plasma is treatment of internal organs, for example lung cancer treatment. However, if the conductivity of a tube in which plasma bullets are propagating is relatively large, the plasma formation extinguishes and consequently treatment is impossible. Here we show the possibility of plasma bullet propagation inside of tissues and agarose tissue models with ionic type of conductivity. We study the effects of agar conductivity and tube diameter on length and velocity of propagation, and emission spectra, as well as production of hydrogen peroxide in the agarose gel.
Review and analysis of the register of space objects

Abstract Parties to the Registration Convention are committed to providing the United Nations with certain information about objects they launch into space. This report describes the categories of information required, outlines the inadequacies of the present Register and suggests modifications.
1044 LOCAL PROTECTION OF THE MIDDLE EAR DURING RECURRENT OTITIS MEDIA

A series of longitudinal studies of otitis media secondary to three strains of bacterial pathogens were conducted in the chinchilla animal model in order to define the importance of local and systemic mechanisms for the protection of the middle ear. The three strains of bacteria used were: Streptococcus pneumoniae type 6A and type 7F, and β-lactamase producing non-typable Haemophilus influenzae. Initially, the bacteria were inoculated unilaterally into the epitympanic bulla. Following the resolution of the induced otitis media with effusion, bacterial challenges were repeated ipsilaterally and contralaterally. Middle ear condition was assessed employing otomicroscopy, tympanometry and periodic direct inspection and culture. The results for the three strains of bacteria were similar. The ipsilateral middle ear was resistant to subsequent infection whereas the contralateral middle ear evidenced a disease course similar to that induced by the initial challenge. Thus resistance to subsequent infection appears to be a local phenomenon with little systemic participation.
Pervasive Tabs, Pads, and Boards: Are We There Yet?

How far have we come with respect to commercial deployments of the devices Mark Weiser described? This review of Weiser's vision evaluates the commercial success of tabs, pads, and boards and discusses their real-world use.
Promoting student participation and learning in the observational clinical setting

Abstract Observational clinical experiences can provide nursing students with many opportunities for active learning and participation; however, with limited faculty contact, students may not actively participate in opportunities that are available. A Perioperative Clinical Worksheet has been developed and is used in an Associate Degree in Nursing Program. An evaluation of the educational tool has indicated that it is effective in promoting active learning in the observational setting.
Purification and characterization of porcine liver DNA polymerase γ: utilitzation of dUTP and dTTP during in vitro DNA synthesis

Porcine liver DNA polymerase gamma has been demonstrated to preferentially incorporate dTMP over dUMP during in vitro DNA synthesis. When polymerase activity was measured in standard reactions containing saturating levels of either dTTP or dUTP, the polymerization rate was slightly faster in the reaction containing dTTP. However, under conditions where both dTTP and dUTP competed, at an equal molar concentration, approximately 3-times more thymine residues were incorporated than uracil residues into DNA. Similarly, preferential incorporation of dTMP was observed on several substrates including poly (dA).oligo p(dT), poly (rA).oligo p(dT) and poly (dA-dT). The discrimination against dUMP incorporation was even more apparent with reduced levels of dUTP. These observations were consistent with the finding that the Km for DNA polymerase gamma was about 3-fold lower for dTTP (0.4 microM) than for dUTP (1.1 microM). On the other hand, the Vmax for these two reactions was very similar. Discrimination against dUMP incorporation was also observed during inhibition of polymerase gamma by dideoxyribonucleoside triphosphates. Dideoxythymidine triphosphate preferentially inhibited dUMP incorporation compared to that of dTMP, whereas ddATP, ddCTP and ddGTP inhibited both reactions equally.
Odor-taste mixtures.

A solution with both an odor and a taste may be considered to be a mixture that involves two sensory modalities. Estimates of the intensity of such mixtures appear to be additive. If the overall intensity of each of the unmixed components is compared with the overall intensity of the mixture, the additivity approaches 100%. If the intensities of the smell and taste of the unmixed components are compared with the overall intensity of the mixture, the additivity is less than 100%. Thus, the specific question that is given to the subjects influences the magnitude of the estimations. This suggests that the additive process involves a central (cognitive) mechanism. Considering that the perception of complex flavors also involves sensory information of touch, temperature, and possibly vision and hearing, a central interpretation seems appropriate. The influences of smell on the perception of taste also appear to involve a cognitive mechanism. These smell-taste confusions appear to be stimulus specific and are usually resolved in favor of taste. This may be true because the sensations of pressure, movement, and resistance are usually localized in the mouth. These accompanying sensations then suggest that the taste organs are active in determining the result even when no true taste is present. The influences of taste on the perception of smell are most pronounced when the tastant contains an odor. This suggests that the effect may be peripheral. That is, odorant molecules may be moving from the pharynx, through the posterior nares, to the olfactory receptors. If this interpretation is correct, the influences of taste on smell may be an odor-odor mixture involving "retronasal" and "nasal" olfaction.
Association of graft ischemic time with survival after heart transplant among children in the United States

Background Previous studies have found no association between graft ischemic time (IT) and survival in pediatric heart transplant (HTx) recipients. However, previous studies were small or analyzed risk only at the extremes of IT, where observations are few. We sought to determine whether graft IT is independently associated with graft survival in a large cohort of children with no a priori assumptions about where the risk threshold may lie. Methods All children aged Results Of 4,716 pediatric HTxs performed, the median IT was 3.5 hours (interquartile range, 2.7–4.3 hours). Adjusted analysis showed that children with an IT > 3.5 hours were at increased risk of graft loss within 6 months after transplant (hazard ratio, 1.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.1–1.5; p = 0.002). Among 6-month survivors, IT was not associated with longer-term graft loss. Conclusions IT beyond 3.5 hours is associated with a 30% increase in risk of graft loss within 6 months in pediatric HT recipients. Although the magnitude of risk associated with IT is small compared with the risk associated with recipient factors, these findings may be important during donor assessment for high-risk transplant candidates.
Two-fluid behavior of the Kondo lattice in the 1 ∕ N slave boson approach

It has been recently shown by Nakatsuji, Pines, and Fisk [S. Nakatsuji, D. Pines, and Z. Fisk, Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 016401 (2004)] from the phenomenological analysis of experiments in ${\mathrm{Ce}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{La}}_{x}{\mathrm{CoIn}}_{5}$ and ${\mathrm{CeIrIn}}_{5}$ that thermodynamic and transport properties of Kondo lattices below coherence temperature can be very successfully described in terms of a two-fluid model, with Kondo impurity and heavy electron Fermi liquid contributions. We analyze thermodynamic properties of Kondo lattices using $1∕N$ slave boson treatment of the periodic Anderson model and show that these two contributions indeed arise below the coherence temperature. We find that the Kondo impurity contribution to thermodynamics corresponds to thermal excitations into the flat portion of the energy spectrum.
Do pulse checks cause a significant delay in the initial defibrillation sequence

Abstract This study was undertaken to determine if checking for a pulse between initial defibrillations causes a clinically significant delay in the administration of the defibrillations. Ten emergency department nurses and 10 emergency medicine resident physicians were timed delivering three successive defibrillations (200, 300 and 360 J) to a manikin under three randomly assigned scenarios: (1) without pulse checks; (2) with pulse checks performed by an assistant; and (3) with pulse checks performed by the participant. All participants performed the three defibrillation scenarios using three different models of defibrillators. Repeated measures analysis of variance was used to compare mean defibrillation times for the three scenarios. The mean time was 20.4±1.0 s for defibrillation without pulse checks; 20.2±1.2 s with pulse checks by an assistant and 22.0±2.0 s with pulse checks by the participant. There was a statistically significant difference between no pulse checks and pulse checks by the participant. No statistically significant difference was noted between no pulse checks and pulse checks by an assistant. We conclude that checking for a pulse does cause a statistically significant delay in the administration of defibrillations. This difference, however, is not likely to be clinically relevant.
Effects of chronic ethanol administration on rat brain phospholipid metabolism

Alterations in brain phospholipid metabolism were observed after chronic ethanol administration for 16 days to developing rats. Animals were injected intraperitoneally with 32Pi 16 h prior to killing. Overall uptake of 32Pi by brain did not differ between the control and ethanol-treated groups, which were killed 2 h and 24 h after the last ethanol feeding. Except for an increase in the labeling of myelin after ethanol treatment, the amount of radioactivity recovered in the synaptosomal-mitochondrial and plasma membrane fractions of control and ethanol-treated groups was not different. Relative to the radioactivity of phosphatidylcholines, which indicated no change, there were increases (20-44%) in labeling of ethanolamine plasmalogens, phosphatidic acids, and phosphatidylinositols in cortical synaptosomes from the 2-h ethanol-treated group. In the plasma membrane fractions, however, increases (9-14%) in labeling of phosphatidylserines and phosphatidylinositols were observed in both 2- and 24-h ethanol-treated groups. In both membrane fractions, there was an obvious increase (44-86%) in labeling of polyphosphoinositides at 24 h after withdrawal from ethanol. Results thus indicate an adaptive increase in the biosynthesis of ethanolamine plasmalogen and brain acidic phospholipids due to chronic ethanol administration. Furthermore, the increase in labeling of polyphosphoinositides in the 24-h withdrawal group may reflect the hypoactivity associated with ethanol withdrawal.
Linear stability analysis of mixed-convection flow in a vertical pipe

A comprehensive numerical study on the linear stability of mixed-convection flow in a vertical pipe with constant heat flux is presented with particular emphasis on the instability mechanism and the Prandtl number effect. Three Prandtl numbers representative of different regimes in the Prandtl number spectrum are employed to simulate the stability characteristics of liquid mercury, water and oil. The results suggest that mixed-convection flow in a vertical pipe can become unstable at low Reynolds number and Rayleigh numbers irrespective of the Prandtl number, in contrast to the isothermal case. For water, the calculation predicts critical Rayleigh numbers of 80 and −120 for assisted and opposed flows, which agree very well with experimental values of Rac = 76 and −118 (Scheele & Hanratty 1962). It is found that the first azimuthal mode is always the most unstable, which also agrees with the experimental observation that the unstable pattern is a double spiral flow. Scheele & Hanratty's speculation that the instability in assisted and opposed flows can be attributed to the appearance of inflection points and separation is true only for fluids with O(1) Prandtl number. Our study on the effect of the Prandtl number discloses that it plays an active role in buoyancy-assisted flow and is an indication of the viability of kinematic or thermal disturbances. It profoundly affects the stability of assisted flow and changes the instability mechanism as well. For assisted flow with Prandtl numbers less than 0.3, the thermal–shear instability is dominant. With Prandtl numbers higher than 0.3, the assisted-thermal–buoyant instability becomes responsible. In buoyancy-opposed flow, the effect of the Prandtl number is less significant since the flow is unstably stratified. There are three distinct instability mechanisms at work independent of the Prandtl number. The Rayleigh–Taylor instability is operative when the Reynolds number is extremely low. The opposed-thermal–buoyant instability takes over when the Reynolds number becomes higher. A still higher Reynolds number eventually leads the thermal–shear instability to dominate. While the thermal–buoyant instability is present in both assisted and opposed flows, the mechanism by which it destabilizes the flow is completely different.
Sources of variation in dietary requirements in an obligate nutritional symbiosis

The nutritional symbiosis between aphids and their obligate symbiont, Buchnera aphidicola, is often characterized as a highly functional partnership in which the symbiont provides the host with essential nutrients. Despite this, some aphid lineages exhibit dietary requirements for nutrients typically synthesized by Buchnera, suggesting that some aspect of the symbiosis is disrupted. To examine this phenomenon in the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, populations were assayed using defined artificial diet to determine dietary requirements for essential amino acids (EAAs). Six clones exhibiting dependence on EAAs in their diet were investigated further. In one aphid clone, a mutation in a Buchnera amino acid biosynthesis gene could account for the clone's requirement for dietary arginine. Analysis of aphid F1 hybrids allowed separation of effects of the host and symbiont genomes, and revealed that both affect the requirement for dietary EAAs in the clones tested. Amino acid requirements were minimally affected by secondary symbiont infection. Our results indicate that variation among pea aphids in dependence on dietary amino acids can result from Buchnera mutation as well as variation in the host genotype.
Acoustically detectable cellular-level lung injury induced by fluid mechanical stresses in microfluidic airway systems.

We describe a microfabricated airway system integrated with computerized air–liquid two-phase microfluidics that enables on-chip engineering of human airway epithelia and precise reproduction of physiologic or pathologic liquid plug flows found in the respiratory system. Using this device, we demonstrate cellular-level lung injury under flow conditions that cause symptoms characteristic of a wide range of pulmonary diseases. Specifically, propagation and rupture of liquid plugs that simulate surfactant-deficient reopening of closed airways lead to significant injury of small airway epithelial cells by generating deleterious fluid mechanical stresses. We also show that the explosive pressure waves produced by plug rupture enable detection of the mechanical cellular injury as crackling sounds.
Growth factors for neuronal survival and process regeneration. Implications in the mammalian central nervous system.

• Within the past several years a number of substances have been identified in the mammalian brain that are capable of (1) preventing the death of injured neurons and (2) promoting the regeneration of severed neuronal processes. The goal of this review article is to update the clinical neurologist in this area by presenting a brief, general overview of this subject, including a glimpse at potential clinical implications. Recent advances in neuronal transplantation and molecular techniques underlying nerve growth are discussed. Possible therapeutic approaches are presented for many neurologic disorders, ranging from stroke to Alzheimer's disease to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, based on regrowing or saving injured neurons. The clinical neurologist will become important in practical applications and research into prolonging neuronal survival and fostering axonal regeneration. Over the coming years, with further research, it is anticipated that patients will be treated with these or similar modulatory agents.