cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Coherent population trapping in a two-level atom excited by a resonant field under amplitude and phase modulation

Recently, the existence of population-trapping states in a two-level system driven by a frequency-modulated field has been demonstrated. In this work we show such states can exist in a two-level atom driven by both an amplitude- and phase- modulated field.
Effects of Caffeine Consumption by Women and Men on the Outcome of In Vitro Fertilization

Objective: The objective of this study was to estimate the association between caffeine consumption and in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes. Methods: A total of 2474 couples were prospectively enrolled prior to undergoing their first cycle of IVF, contributing a total of 4716 IVF cycles. Discrete survival analysis adjusting for observed confounders was applied to quantify the relation between caffeine consumption and livebirth. Secondary outcomes of interest were oocyte retrieval, peak estradiol level, implantation rate, and fertilization rate. Results: Overall, caffeine consumption by women was not significantly associated with livebirth (ptrend=0.74). Compared with women who do not drink caffeine, the likelihood of livebirth was not significantly different for women who drank low (>0–800 mg/week; odds ratio [OR]=1.00, 95% confidence interval [CI])=0.83–1.21), moderate (>800–1400 mg/week; OR=0.89, 95% CI=0.71–1.12), or high levels of caffeine (>1400 mg/week; OR=1.07, 95% CI=0.85–1.34). Greater caffeine...
Gauge field preheating at the end of inflation

Here we consider the possibility of preheating the Universe via the parametric amplification of a massless, $U(1)$ Abelian gauge field. We assume that the gauge field is coupled to the inflaton via a dilaton-like coupling, a conformal factor with one free parameter. We present the results of high-resolution three-dimensional simulations of this model and show that this mechanism efficiently preheats the Universe to a radiation-dominated final state.
Memory for script-typical and script-atypical actions: A reaction time study

Subjects listened to scripted activities (e.g., going to a restaurant) that contained typical actions (e.g., ordering a meal) and atypical actions (e.g., reading a newspaper). Recognition memory was measured at an immediate and at a delayed retention interval. The recognition memory test contained target and distractor test statements referring to actions that did or did not occur in the scripted activities. The latencies for yes-no recognition judgments were measured for these test statements. The memory and reaction time data supported the predictions made by a schema-based model.
QED test of a Bethe-Salpeter solution method.

A method is described of solving Bethe-Salpeter equations for spin-\textonehalf{} particles using a standard quasipotential approximation with a correction series. A three-dimensional, 16-component bound-state equation is obtained whose form is different from the Breit equation. The equation has two equivalent first-order forms which show each particle obeying a Dirac equation in the presence of the other. The formalism also reconstitutes the four-dimensional bound-state vertex function from the three-dimensional wave function. The method is tested on positronium and the hydrogen atom, using a single-photon-exchange kernel in the Coulomb gauge. In the bound-state equation, in addition to the Coulomb potential and Breit interaction, the formalism gives a subtracted box potential $(\frac{1}{2E})\frac{{\ensuremath{\alpha}}^{2}}{{r}^{2}}$ where $E$ is the mass of the bound state. With this term included, the energy levels (fine structure and hyperfine structure) are correct to order ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}^{4}$. The reconstituted bound-state vertex function, when substituted in Feynman triangle diagrams, gives the lowest-order atomic dipole transition amplitudes correctly.
Influence of diabetes on rat liver mitochondria: Decreased unsaturation of phospholipid and d-β-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase activity

Abstract Liver mitochondria and submitochondrial vesicles have been prepared from rats made diabetic by treatment with streptozotocin (diabetic membranes). The membranes were characterized in terms of phospholipid and fatty acid composition, electron transport functions, and d -β-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase activity and compared with mitochondria and submitochondrial vesicles prepared from control animals (control membranes). No change in the phospholipid composition (44% lecithin, 35% phosphatidylethanolamine, and 21% diphosphatidylglycerol) was found, but a marked alteration in fatty acid composition of both the total phospholipid and lecithin occurred within 3 weeks after streptozotozin treatment and persisted thereafter. In lecithin, the 18:1 18:0 ratio decreases ~33% and the 20:4 18:2 ratio decreases ~55%. d -β-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase is a lipid-requiring enzyme which has a specific requirement of lecithin for function. In diabetic membranes, there is a progressive decrease in d -β-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase activity with time after streptozotocin treatment to about 40% of control value at 15 weeks. In contrast, succinate oxidase and succinate- or NADH-cytochrome c reductase activities remain essentially unaltered. Further, the Arrhenius plot characteristics differ for d -β-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase in diabetic membranes as compared with control membranes, in that the break point of the biphasic plot increases from 20 ± 1 °C in controls to 29 ± 1 °C in samples from diabetic animals. The change occurs about 3 weeks after streptozotocin treatment and is correlatable with the increased saturation of the fatty acid moiety of the phospholipids. The observed changes in d -β-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase function and phospholipid composition were prevented by administration of insulin to the diabetic animals and are therefore referable to insulin insufficiency.
Determination of March strain from phyllosilicate preferred orientation: A semi-numerical method

Abstract The tensor for the strain in a fine-grained phyllosilicate-rich rock can be estimated according to the March theory. An extended March equation with seven coefficients relates March strain in a rock to the angular density distribution function (ADF) of the basal planes of its phyllosilicates. The ADF is mapped from 420 intensity measurements by an automatic X-ray pole figure goniometer in the transmission mode. Five of the coefficients are the independent components of the constant-volume strain tensor; the two additional coefficients pertain to X-ray goniometry. The strain tensor and the ADF share principal directions by theory. By visually determining these directions from the fabric diagram and expressing the extended March equation in reference coordinates coinciding with the principal directions, the seven coefficients in the equation are reduced to four. Applying the Levenberg-Marquardt routine, we calculate the remaining four coefficients by a best fit of the ADF to the March equation in principal coordinates. As an example, the strain in a slate from North Wales was measured by this method as [0.77 ± 0.05, 0.30 ± 0.04, − 0.57 ± 0.00], which is compatible with the results from the direct measurement of ellipsoidal strain indicators, [0.80, 0.31, −0.57]. This is an improvement over earlier estimates on the same sample by means of a graphic approximation, [0.81, 0.38, −0.60]. The stability and uniqueness of the solution was tested by convergences starting from a wide range of guess values and its sensitivity to bad estimates of principal direction by test calculations starting from two misalignments of different severity.
Regulation of glucose transporter messenger RNA in insulin-deficient states

Recent studies have indicated that a family of structurally related proteins with distinct but overlapping tissue distributions are responsible for facilitative glucose transport in mammalian tissues. Insulin primarily stimulates glucose transport by inducing the redistribution of a unique glucose transporter protein from an intracellular pool to the plasma membrane. This 509-amino-acid integral membrane protein, termed GLUT-4, is the main insulin-responsive glucose transporter in adipose and muscle tissues. We have observed a dramatic decrease (tenfold) in the steady-state levels of GLUT-4 messenger RNA in adipose tissue from fasted rats or rats made insulin deficient with streptozotocin. Insulin treatment of the streptozotocin-diabetic rats or refeeding the fasted animals causes a rapid recovery of the GLUT-4 mRNA to levels significantly above those observed in untreated control animals. By contrast, the levels of the erythrocyte/HepG2/rat brain-type glucose transporter mRNA remain essentially unchanged under these conditions. These data suggest that the in vivo expression of GLUT-4 mRNA in rat adipose tissue is regulated by insulin.
Bioreduction of hematite nanoparticles by the dissimilatory iron reducing bacterium Shewanella oneidensis MR-1

Abstract We examined the reduction of different size hematite (α-Fe2O3) nanoparticles (average diameter of 11, 12, 30, 43, and 99 nm) by the dissimilatory iron reducing bacteria (DIRB), Shewanella oneidensis MR-1, to determine how S. oneidensis MR-1 may utilize these environmentally relevant solid-phase electron acceptors. The surface-area-normalized-bacterial Fe(III) reduction rate for the larger nanoparticles (99 nm) was one order of magnitude higher than the rate observed for the smallest nanoparticles (11 nm). The Fe(III) reduction rates for the 12, 30, and 43 nm nanoparticles fell between these two extremes. Whole-cell TEM images showed that the mode of Fe2O3 nanoparticle attachment to bacterial cells was different for the aggregated, pseudo-hexagonal/irregular and platey 11, 12, and 99 nm nanoparticles compared to the non-aggregated 30 and 43 nm rhombohedral nanoparticles. Due to differences in aggregation, the 11, 12, and 99 nm nanoparticles exhibited less cell contact and less cell coverage than did the 30 and 43 nm nanoparticles. We hypothesize that S. oneidensis MR-1 employs both indirect and direct mechanisms of electron transfer to Fe(III)-oxide nanoparticles and that the bioreduction mechanisms employed and Fe(III) reduction rates depend on the nanoparticles’ aggregation state, size, shape and exposed crystal faces.
Activation of Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1 and ERK2) by FGF-2 and PDGF-BB in Normal Human Osteoblastic and Bone Marrow Stromal Cells: Differences in Mobility and In-Gel Renaturation of ERK1 in Human, Rat, and Mouse Osteoblastic Cells

Abstract We recently demonstrated that basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) and platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) mainly activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 (ERK2) in normal human osteoblastic (HOB) and bone marrow stromal (HBMS) cells by an “in-gel” MAP kinase assay, although both ERK1 and ERK2 proteins were present. In the present study, we examined whether ERK1 is also activated by growth factors by using three different MAPK assay procedures, an “in-gel MAP kinase assay,” an immune-complex kinase assay, and western blotting with anti-active MAPK antibody which recognizes specifically activated forms of both ERK1 and ERK2. Results have demonstrated that in addition to ERK2, ERK1 is activated by FGF-2 and PDGF-BB in normal HOB and HBMS cells. The human ERK1 moved faster on SDS-polyacrylamide gel compared to rat and mouse, revealing differences in the apparent molecular weight of ERK1 in normal human osteoblastic and bone marrow osteoprogenitor cells, human (TE-85) and rat (ROS 17/2.8 and UMR-106) osteosarcoma, and mouse (MC3T3-E1) osteoblastic cells. ERK1 is less stable in the in-gel renaturation process compared to ERK2; thus, in-gel MAP kinase assay does not provide an accurate estimation of ERK1 activity. Results also showed that anti-active MAPK antibody can be used reliably and accurately to measure the activation of ERK1 and ERK2 in osteoblastic cells.
Some effects of rounding errors on arma(1,1) models

Much of the data used for the construction of time series models has been subjected to a rounding procedure prior to its use for modelling. In this work, the error induced by the rounding procedure is modelled as additive and uniformlydistributed, and its effect on ARMA(1,1) models is investigated. The impact on the three model parameters (autoregressive, moving average, and location) is developed; the primary effect is on the moving average term. The effect of roundingerrors on the small-sample properties of the estimators for ARMA(1,1) models is studied using Monte Carlo simulation techniques
Convergence of a lattice model of the boltzmann equation

It is shown that the solutions of a (spatially) discrete model of the Boltzmann equation converge in a weak sense as the lattice spacing approaches zero. The method follows a compactness argument of Arkeryd.
EGF receptor-associated DNA-nicking activity is due to a Mr-100,000 dissociable protein

The receptor for epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a single-chain transmembrane polypeptide of relative molecular mass (Mr) 170,000 (170K) which has been implicated in the regulation of both normal and abnormal cell proliferation. It has an externally facing EGF-binding domain and a cytoplasmically facing tyrosine-specific protein kinase site. Although the receptor has been well characterized, the mechanism by which it transmits the growth stimulatory signal from the plasma membrane to the nucleus is unclear. EGF binding to cells has been shown to enhance topoisomerase activity within the cells. Topoisomerases catalyse the interconversion of topological isomers of DNA and thus may influence replication and transcription. Mroczkowski et al. reported that purified EGF receptors of both human and murine origin can nick supercoiled double-stranded (ds) DNA in an ATP-dependent fashion, an activity related to those of topoisomerases. Another related tyrosine kinase, pp60src, has also been reported to have a similar DNA-nicking activity. We have now characterized the EGF receptor-associated DNA-nicking activity by sucrose gradient centrifugation. Our results, presented here, indicate that the DNA-nicking activity is not intrinsic to the EGF receptor, but is found in a distinct molecular species.
Laser induced fluorescence lifetime characterization of Bacillus endospore species using time correlated single photon counting analysis with the multi-exponential fit method

Rapid detection of biological material is critical for determining presence/absence of bacterial endospores within various investigative programs. Even more critical is that if select material tests positive for bacillus endospores then tests should provide data at the species level. Optical detection of microbial endospore formers such as Bacillus sp. can be heavy, cumbersome, and may only identify at the genus level. Data provided from this study will aid in characterization needed by future detection systems for further rapid breakdown analysis to gain insight into a more positive signature collection of Bacillus sp. Literature has shown that fluorescence spectroscopy of endospores could be statistically separated from other vegetative genera, but could not be separated among one another. Results of this study showed endospore species separation is possible using laser-induce fluorescence with lifetime decay analysis for Bacillus endospores. Lifetime decays of B. subtilis, B. megaterium, B. coagulans , and B. anthracis Sterne strain were investigated. Using the Multi-Exponential fit method data showed three distinct lifetimes for each species within the following ranges, 0.2-1.3 ns; 2.5-7.0 ns; 7.5-15.0 ns, when laser induced at 307 nm. The four endospore species were individually separated using principle component analysis (95% CI).
Extreme-ultraviolet Spectroscopic Observation of Direct Coronal Heating during a C-class Solar Flare

With the Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer operating in rapid cadence (9.8 s) stare mode during a C6.6 flare on the solar disk, we observed a sudden brightening of Fe XIX line emission (formed at temperature T ≈ 8 MK) above the pre-flare noise without a corresponding brightening of emission from ions formed at lower temperatures, including He I (0.01 MK), O V (0.25 MK), and Si XII (2 MK). The sudden brightening persisted as a plateau of Fe XIX intensity that endured more than 11 minutes. The Fe XIX emission at the rise and during the life of the plateau showed no evidence of significant bulk velocity flows, and hence cannot be attributed to chromospheric evaporation. However, the line width showed a significant broadening at the rise of the plateau, corresponding to nonthermal velocities of at least 89 km s–1 due to reconnection outflows or turbulence. During the plateau He I, O V, and Si XII brightened at successively later times starting about 3.5 minutes after Fe XIX, which suggests that these brightenings were produced by thermal conduction from the plasma that produced the Fe XIX line emission; however, we cannot rule out the possibility that they were produced by a weak beam of nonthermal particles. We interpret an observed shortening of the O V wavelength for about 1.5 minutes toward the middle of the plateau to indicate new upward motions driven by the flare, as occurs during gentle chromospheric evaporation; relative to a quiescent interval shortly before the flare, the O V upward velocity was around –10 km s–1.
Hycar OR. Properties of Typical Compounds

Abstract Hycar-OR is an oil-resistant synthetic rubber produced and sold by the Hydrocarbon Chemical and Rubber Company, which is jointly owned by The B. F. Goodrich Company and the Phillips Petroleum Company. Articles manufactured from Hycar by The B. F. Goodrich Company are sold under the trade name Ameripol. The object of this paper is to give a general view of the more important properties of a range of Hycar compounds and to illustrate the methods of compounding used. The recipes were selected, not to meet any particular specifications, but to include different types of stocks which might have commercial utility.
Contour area filtering of two-dimensional electrophoresis images.

Abstract We describe an algorithm, Contour Area Filtering, for separating background from foreground in gray scale images. The algorithm is based on the area contained within gray scale contour lines. It can be viewed as a form of local thresholding, or as a seed growing algorithm, or as a type of watershed segmentation. The most important feature of the algorithm is that it uses object area to determine the segmentation. Thus, it is relatively impervious to brightness and contrast variations across an image or between different images. Contour Area Filtering was designed specifically for image analysis of 2D electrophoresis gels, although it can be applied to other gray scale images. A typical gel image is an electrophoretogram or a phosphor image of 1000–2500 spots representing protein or DNA restriction fragments. The images are quantitative with spot intensities reflective of the number of proteins or the DNA fragment copy number. The background intensity can vary widely across the image caused both by variation in spot density and by the physical laboratory process of creating a gel. Analyzing and comparing gel images entails extracting and segmenting spots, registering images and matching spots, and measuring differences between spots. We present experimental results which show that Contour Area Filtering is a quick, efficient method for separating electrophoresis gel background from foreground with extremely high accuracy.
Age and Growth Variability between Sexes of Three Catfish Species in Lake Wilson, Alabama

Abstract Blue catfish Ictalurus furcatus, channel catfish I. punctatus, and flathead catfish Pylodictus olivaris were collected from Lake Wilson (Tennessee River), Alabama. Fish were aged with otoliths to determine sex-specific differences in growth, age structure, and longevity. Male blue catfish grew faster, lived longer, and attained larger sizes than females. Growth of flathead catfish did not differ statistically between sexes; however, male flathead catfish tended to be longer and to attain older ages than females. Sex-specific differences in age-related population demographics were not evident for channel catfish. Reproductive strategies of catfishes may cause sexual selection toward larger male blue catfish and flathead catfish. Recently imposed harvest regulations in Alabama that permit only one catfish greater than 864 mm to be harvested daily will protect older and slower-growing female blue catfish and could allow disproportionate protection of larger male blue catfish and flathead catfish.
Observation of cold collisions between trapped ions and trapped atoms.

We study cold collisions between trapped ions and trapped atoms in the semiclassical (Langevin) regime. Using ${\mathrm{Yb}}^{+}$ ions confined in a Paul trap and Yb atoms in a magneto-optical trap, we investigate charge-exchange collisions of several isotopes over three decades of collision energies down to $3\text{ }\text{ }\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{eV}$ (${k}_{B}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}35\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{mK}$). The minimum measured rate coefficient of $6\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}10}\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{cm}}^{3}\text{ }{\mathrm{s}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ is in good agreement with that derived from a Langevin model for an atomic polarizability of 143 a.u.
Accumulation of Potassium, Cesium, and Rubidium in Bean Plants Grown in Nutrient Solutions

Adding potassium to the nutrient substrate reduced Cs/sup 137/ and Rb/sup 86/ uptake by bean plants less than expected from an assumed physiological equivalence of these ions. Plants discriminated against cesium at low potassium nutrient concentrations, but with increasing substrate potassium, this discrimination diminished. Discrimination of Rb/sup 86/ from potassium approximated that observed for Cs/sup 137/. Potential errors from the use of ratios in predicting uptake of Cs/sup 137/ were discussed. Some toxicity was noted when significant quantities of non-radioactive cesium were in the nutrient solution.
Amyloid β-Related Central Nervous System Angiitis Presenting With an Isolated Seizure:

Amyloid beta-related angiitis (ABRA) of the central nervous system (CNS) is a very rare inflammatory disorder that causes destruction of CNS arteries and subsequent neuronal injury. Most patients with ABRA are old and present with cognitive dysfunction and stroke; however, some patients may present atypically. In this article, we report a 44-year-old man who presented with a first-time seizure but was otherwise neurologically intact and denied any headache. Brain MRI showed right hemispheric and bilateral medial frontal lobe hyperintensities and microhemorrhages that were most suspicious for a mass lesion. An extensive diagnostic evaluation including CSF analysis and catheter angiography was unremarkable. A brain biopsy with specific stains for amyloid surprisingly demonstrated ABRA and led to immunosuppressive treatment. The patient has remained neurologically intact and seizure-free 1 year after presentation. This case demonstrates that ABRA can occur in young patients without headache or neurologic deficits, and should be considered in patients with new-onset seizures and mass lesions. It also reinforces the need to consider a brain biopsy in patients with idiopathic brain lesions and negative non-invasive testing, as it is virtually impossible to confirm the diagnosis of ABRA otherwise.
Repair of an Ulnar Fracture With Radial Luxation in a Horse

An ulnar fracture with radial luxation (Monteggia fracture) was repaired in a horse. Reduction of the radial luxation was difficult, requiring 2 incisions, limb traction, neuromuscular blockade, and direct radial manipulation. The ulnar fracture was repaired by use of a dynamic compression plate. Three months postoperatively, the horse was free of any apparent lameness.
The ‘Antrim Plot’ of 1641: a rejoinder

Professor Michael Perceval-Maxwell and I agree that, if authentic, the 'Antrim plot', even though it did not contribute directly to the crucial Ulster rebellion of October I64I, merits a prominent place in the history of the 'War of the Three Kingdoms'. Unravelling this conspiracy is, however, frustrated by the total absence of direct evidence: the original of Antrim's I650 depositions and any documentation, original or otherwise, exchanged between Charles I and Antrim in I64I have all disappeared. Nevertheless those contemporaries who considered the issue seem to have concluded that a plot had been afoot. Edmund Borlase (the Irish protestant historian and son of Sir John Borlase, an Irish lord justice between I640 and I643), the regicide Edmund Ludlow (who had served in Ireland during the i650s), and the influential divine Richard Baxter all held Charles I guilty of conspiring with Antrim in i641.1 In an attempt to settle this controversial issue once and for all, the duke of Ormond's biographer, Thomas Carte, in I7I7 tried to procure 'copyes of some of the papers presented by the M[arquis of Antrim] to the [Privy] Council: in his own defence when his Cause was there' only to discover that 'the originals whereof were burnt in the Fire at Whitehall, as the Records of the Court of Claims were in another that happened some years ago [I7II] in Dublin'.2 The absence of any conclusive contemporary evidence relating directly to the plot itself led Professor Perceval-Maxwell to look 'minutely at what Antrim actually said' in his May I65o depositions and to compare 'where possible, his account with the known behaviour, as determined from contemporary evidence, of those whom he identified as participants in the plotting'. He concluded that Antrim's testimony simply cannot be reconciled 'with the known behaviour of many of those he implicated' (p. 430 above).
Association of C-Reactive Protein With Blood Pressure

Davey Smith et al have used instrumental variable regression to assess the effect of C-reactive protein (CRP) on blood pressure (BP) in a cross-sectional sample of women.1 By using the 1059G/C polymorphism of the CRP gene as an instrument, they attempted to avoid confounding by unmeasured variables and reverse causality bias and concluded that elevated CRP levels do not lead to high BP. However, this analysis has several limitations. First, the 1059G/C polymorphism is a poor instrument because its effect on CRP level is small. Reported differences in CRP levels between White subjects with the GG and the GC variants were 0.33 mg/L in 1 study,2 0.07 mg/L in another (GG versus GC+CC),3 and nonsignificant in 3 others.4–6 In fact, in the author’s own study the average between-genotype CRP difference was only 0.42 mg/L.1 In the only prospective study on the association of CRP and incidence of hypertension,7 the smallest average difference in CRP level associated to a statistically significant increase in risk was 1.10 mg/L, almost 3× larger than that reported by Davey Smith et al.1 Second, the findings from the …
THE ISOMORPHISM PROBLEM FOR MODULAR ABELIAN p-GROUP ALGEBRAS

The isomorphism problem for modular abelian group algebras is solved for p-groups of countable p-length for p odd. For the prime p = 2, it is solved for all 2-groups.
Analysis of tapered ENF specimen and characterization of bonded interface fracture under Mode-II loading

Abstract An engineering approach for evaluating the shear-mode (Mode-II) fracture toughness of wood–wood and wood-composite bonded interfaces is presented. A tapered beam on elastic foundation model is developed to analyze and design a linear tapered end-notched flexure (TENF) specimen for fracture tests of bonded interfaces. The elastic foundation model is verified numerically by finite element analysis and experimentally by compliance calibration tests, which demonstrate that the present model can accurately predict the compliance and compliance rate-change of the specimen, and with proper design, an approximate constant rate of compliance change with respect to crack length can be achieved. The proposed TENF specimen can be used for Mode-II fracture toughness evaluations with reasonable confidence in the linearity of compliance crack-length relationship. The fracture of wood–wood and wood-composite bonded interfaces under Mode-II loading is experimentally evaluated using the proposed TENF specimen, and the corresponding values of critical strain energy release rate are obtained. The modeling technique and testing method presented can be efficiently used for characterization of Mode-II fracture of bonded bimaterial interfaces.
Demographics of vasectomy--USA and international.

Vasectomy is safer simpler less expensive and equally as effective as female sterilization-yet it remains one of the least known and least used methods of contraception. Worldwide an estimated 33 million of married women aged 15 to 49 (less than 3%) rely on their partners vasectomy for contraception (Table 1). Female sterilization is approximately twice as common as vasectomy in the developed world 8 times more common in Asia and 15 times more common in Latin America and the Caribbean. The gap is likely greater in sub-Saharan Africa; however rates are too low for accurate comparison. Vasectomy is more common than female sterilization in only five countries-Bhutan Canada the Netherlands New Zealand and the Great Britain. In Bhutan vasectomy is 8 times more common than female sterilization; in Great Britain nearly 3 times as common; in Canada and the Netherlands twice as common; and in New Zealand approximately one third more common. The use of vasectomy in the world varies significantly by region and country. In developed countries overall fewer than 5% of couples rely on vasectomy. In developing countries the overall prevalence of vasectomy is 2.5%. Prevalence exceeds 10% in eight countries-Australia Bhutan Canada the Netherlands New Zealand the Republic of Korea Great Britain and the United States (Table 2).Bhutan has approximately 40% of contracepting couples relying on vasectomy the highest proportion in the world followed by New Zealand with approximately 25% then Canada the United Kingdom and the United States at approximately 20% each and Australia and the Republic of Korea with 12.5% each. Asia with a prevalence of 3% accounts for approximately three fourths of the 32 million couples worldwide who use vasectomy-China and India alone account for 20 million users. In Latin America and the Caribbean the prevalence of vasectomy is only 2%. Puerto Rico has the highest rate in the region 5.3%. In sub-Saharan Africa less than one tenth of 1% of married women rely on a partners vasectomy for contraception.
Emerging therapies in cystic fibrosis

The life expectancy of people with cystic fibrosis (CF), a lethal inherited disease, has been greatly extended by advances in therapy. Currently, there are a number of potential drugs for treatment of CF lung disease in clinical trials. These therapies are targeted at all points in the pathogenesis of lung disease, from gene transfer to drugs that treat mucus, infection and inflammation in the airways. An exciting development is that of modulation of the abnormal protein that causes CF, the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), where drugs are targeted at specific defects in CFTR transcription, processing or functioning. Inhaled therapies are being developed to augment airway surface liquid height, either by modulating the abnormal ion channel function in the airway epithelial cell or by rehydrating with osmotic agents. Anti-inflammatory therapy is also of great interest in CF and there are several candidate drugs in clinical trials. A number of antibacterial agents formulated for inhalation are at various stages of study or newly approved, which should improve options for chronic management of airway infection. Hopefully, many of these potential therapies will come to market and will further extend the life expectancy of people with CF.
Effects of simulated increased gravity on the rate of aging of rats: implications for the rate of living theory of aging.

It was found that the rate of aging of 17 month old rats which had been exposed to 3.14 times normal gravity in an animal centrifuge for 8 months was larger than that of the controls as determined by the apparently elevated lipofuscin content in heart and kidney, reduced numbers and increased size of mitochondria of heart tissue, and inferior liver mitochondria respiration. Steady-state food intake per day per kg body weight, which is presumably proportional to rate of living or specific basal metabolic expenditure, was found to be about 18 percent higher than in the controls after an initial 2 month adaptation period. Although half of the centrifuged animals lived only a little shorter than the controls (average about 343 vs. 364 days on the average, statistically nonsignificant), the remaining half (longest survivors) lived on the centrifuge an average of 520 days (range 483-572) compared to an average of 574 days (range 502-615) for the controls, computed from the onset of centrifugation, or 11 percent shorter. These findings indicate that a moderate increase of the level of basal metabolism of young adult rats adapted to hypergravity compared to controls in normal gravity is accompanied by a roughly similar increase in the rate of organ aging and reduction of survival, in agreement with Pearl's (1928) rate of living theory of aging, previously experimentally demonstrated only in poikilotherms.
Backward production of protons in nuclear reactions with 400 GeV protons

The measurement of invariant cross sections for the production of protons by 400 GeV protons from a variety of nuclear targets is described. Results are given for Li6, Be, C, A1, Cu, and Ta at 70°, 90°, 118°, 137° and 160° for detected protons from 0.4 to 1.4 GeV/c. Some angular distributions are given over a wider selection of angles. Comparisons are made with observed experimental results at other energies. NUCLEAR REACTIONS Inclusive cross section, 400 GeV, Li6, Be, C, A1, Cu, and Ta.
Fibrolamellar Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FLM) is a rare tumor that occurs in young adults. It occurs in the absence of chronic liver disease or cirrhosis. Serum alpha-fetoprotein is typically normal. FLM is characterized by a triad of morphological features: polygonal tumour cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm, prominent nucleoli and lamellar pattern of fibrosis. A central scar is seen in some cases. FLM has to be distinguished from conventional hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Scirrhous variant of HCC can closely resemble FLM, but lacks its typical cytological features. Acinar differentiation and focal mucin production can be seen in FLM and can be confused with adenocarcinoma. Focal neuroendocrine differentiation occurs in a minority of FLMs and can be mistaken for neuroendocrine tumours. Some of the molecular changes typically observed in conventional HCC like p53 and beta-catenin mutations are not observed in FLM. FLM is an aggressive neoplasm with 5-year survival of around 50%. Although the prognosis in FLM has been described as favorable compared to conventional HCC, this is likely to be related to absence of cirrhosis rather than unique morphological features of the tumor.
Anarchy and the emulation of military systems: Military organization and technology in South America, 1870–1930

(1996). Anarchy and the emulation of military systems: Military organization and technology in South America, 1870–1930. Security Studies: Vol. 5, Realism: Restatements and Renewal, pp. 193-260.
Survival and behavior of four species of Ambystoma larvae under hypoxic conditions.

Abstract 1. 1. Ontogenetic and interspecific differences in behavior and tolerance to low oxygen concentrations are reported for four species of Ambystoma larvae. 2. 2. These differences are related to habitat and time of breeding. 3. 3. Tolerance prior to hatching decreased with increasing embryonic states in all species. 4. 4. Premetamorphic larvae were more tolerant than either small larvae or metamorphic individuals. 5. 5. Activity was high upon initial exposure to low oxygen but decreased rapidly.
The X-ray photoelectron spectra of heterogeneous catalysts: III. Catalysts derived from dimeric molybdenum(II) carboxylates on silica and their reactions with carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, and hydrogen

Abstract The X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) have been recorded for a series of molybdenasilica catalysts (containing 4 or 10% Mo). These catalysts were prepared from the molybdenum (II) carboxylates Mo 2 (O 2 CR) 4 , where R = H, CH 3 , CF 3 , or C 6 H 5 , which contain a quadruple MoMo bond. The Mo 3 d 1 2 , 1 2 and O 1s binding energies were measured for the calcined catalysts before and after their reaction with NO and CO. XPS evidence supports the presence of a mixture of Mo (VI), Mo (V), and Mo (IV) sites on the surface of the calcined catalysts, while treatment with NO and CO leads to the formation of Mo (VI) and Mo (V), respectively. The redox characteristics of the catalyst (i.e., Mo (VI) Mo (V)) induced by NO and CO treatments are reversible as shown by cycling of the NO and CO in various sequences. ESR spectroscopy indicates that the surface changes monitored by XPS are also typical of the bulk, namely, Mo (V) with g = 1.93 is formed upon CO treatment but disappears in the presence of NO. The present XPS results are compared to relevant literature data for supported molybdena catalysts prepared from more conventional starting materials. It is suggested that Mo-SiO 2 prepared from Mo 2 (O 2 CR) 4 may have different metal-support interactions from other molybdena systems.
Antagonistic effects of dihydrotestosterone and cyproterone acetate on the synthesis of RNA.

Abstract 1. Adult castrate rats were treated with dihydrotestosterone or with dihydrotestosterone plus the antiandrogen, cyproterone acetate, and then given a 30-min pulse of [5- 3 H]cytidine before sacrifice. RNA was isolated from prostate and seminal vesicle and its amount and radioactivity was measured. Dihydrotestosterone increased the weight and the RNA content of the prostate and the incorporation of cytidine into RNA. All of these were depressed by the concomitant injection of cyproterone acetate. The synthesis of RNA in isolated seminal vesicles was increased by the previous administration of dihydrotestosterone in vivo and was depressed by cyproterone acetate. 2. No difference was detected by electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel in RNA purified from the nuclei of rats treated with dihydrotestosterone alone or with dihydrotestosterone plus cyproterone. 3. Cyproterone acetate does not simply inhibit 5α reductase, for it antagonizes the effects of dihydrotestosterone. The effect of cyproterone in reducing RNA synthesis might be produced by competition of cyproterone and dihydrotestosterone for binding sites on cytosol or nuclear receptors or by competition of the two for interactions with chromatin.
Posterior approach to the deep femoral artery

Unusual surgical approaches to the deep femoral artery are valuable when the standard anterior approach is difficult because of scarring or infection. A posterior approach to the deep femoral artery in patients, in whom all other approaches were unsuitable, is described.
The functional neuroanatomy of language.

There has been substantial progress over the last several years in understanding aspects of the functional neuroanatomy of language. Some of these advances are summarized in this review. It will be argued that recognizing speech sounds is carried out in the superior temporal lobe bilaterally, that the superior temporal sulcus bilaterally is involved in phonological-level aspects of this process, that the frontal/motor system is not central to speech recognition although it may modulate auditory perception of speech, that conceptual access mechanisms are likely located in the lateral posterior temporal lobe (middle and inferior temporal gyri), that speech production involves sensory-related systems in the posterior superior temporal lobe in the left hemisphere, that the interface between perceptual and motor systems is supported by a sensory-motor circuit for vocal tract actions (not dedicated to speech) that is very similar to sensory-motor circuits found in primate parietal lobe, and that verbal short-term memory can be understood as an emergent property of this sensory-motor circuit. These observations are considered within the context of a dual stream model of speech processing in which one pathway supports speech comprehension and the other supports sensory-motor integration. Additional topics of discussion include the functional organization of the planum temporale for spatial hearing and speech-related sensory-motor processes, the anatomical and functional basis of a form of acquired language disorder, conduction aphasia, the neural basis of vocabulary development, and sentence-level/grammatical processing.
The response of naive breeding adults of the spotted salamander to fish

Several recent investigations have shown that somc species of salamanders are capable of perceiving the presence of fish in breeding ponds through olfaction. It has been suggested that breeding adult salamanders may avoid depositing eggs in pools containing fish. We examined the hypothesis that breeding salamanders avoid fish ponds through olfactory cues in two field tests. In the first, naive spotted salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum) restrained within screened enclosures were submerged in either fish or fishless ponds. The number of eggs laid within each enclosure was counted at the conclusion of breeding. There was no difference in the number of eggs within and among four fishless and three fish ponds. In the fourth fish pond the fish harassed the salamanders and completely inhibited reproduction. We repeated the experiment using double screened enclosures in which the salamanders were free from direct fish attack but were still exposed to fish scent. There was no difference in egg production. The second test repeated the design of the first but provided the salamanders with the choice of remaining in the double screened enclosures or exiting the pond. The test animals from both the fish and fishless ponds responded similarly in their breeding activities. We conclude that naive spotted salamanders do not avoid fish ponds based solely on olfactory cues.
Size-Dependent Antibacterial Behavior of Graphene Quantum Dots

In this study, the antibacterial behavior of differing sized graphene quantum dots (GQDs) was studied. The gram negative bacteria, Escherichia coli (E. coli), were used as the bacteria mode. Different sized GQDs with tunable fluorescent colors were acquired by a gel-filtration method. The size, surface chemistry, and photoluminescence properties of GQDs were characterized, respectively. The viability of GQDs treated bacteria was determined by the standard plate counting method. Moreover, the reactive oxidative species (ROS) level was detected by the 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide (MTT) method. The integrality of the bacteria membrane was observed under the scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The experimental results indicated that GQDs demonstrated size-dependent and surface chemistry-dependent antibacterial behaviors. This research provided insightful guidelines in the selection of suitable GQDs for their potential bioapplications.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Parameterization Models for Sampling Planar Curves

Discretizing planar curves yields many useful applications. We show that in order to sample a curve, one needs to impose a priori assumptions about the type of parameterization (coordinate system) ,
Viral infections among patients with hemophilia in the state of Georgia

This analysis evaluated the extent to which infections with selected blood-borne viruses, specifically infection with hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and/or the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), continue to contribute to the morbidity of persons with hemophilia. The Georgia Hemophilia Surveillance System collected information on 336 state residents with hemophilia A or B who were followed by a physician in 1994. Data abstracted from medical records included information on demographics, sources of hemophilia care, clinical characteristics, joint range of motion measurements, hospitalization, and results of laboratory testing for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and the human immunodeficiency virus. Prevalence of infection with one or more of these viruses was determined, and relationships with disease severity, bleeding frequency, and amount of clotting factor prescribed were explored. No child under the age of ten was positive for the human immunodeficiency virus; hepatitis infection was also uncommon in this age group, in contrast to the very high frequency of such infections among older subjects. There was a strong association between HIV positive status and infection with one of the hepatitis viruses. The likelihood of all types of viral infection increased with frequency of bleeding and with amount of clotting factor received. Efforts to prevent transmission of lipid-enveloped viruses via clotting factor have been extremely effective. However, currently infected hemophilia patients will likely experience significant morbidity and mortality due to chronic liver disease and AIDS-related complications.
Hope, Faith, and Statistics: An Examination of the Relationship

The role of faith in numerous aspects of the daily life of many individuals, including college students, cannot be overestimated. In particular, many Americans feel that faith is an integral part of their lives and helps them through difficult situations. This article examines the associations among attitude, anxiety, hope, and religiosity in a statistics classroom. Specifically, the study examines the impact of faith in fostering a hopeful outlook in a Christian university and a secular university. Surveys were distributed asking students to report their attitude towards statistics, dispositional hope, stimulus-specific anxiety, and religious motivation. Demographic information was also collected. Results indicate that the students at the Christian university reported more hope, a more positive attitude, less anxiety, and more intrinsic religious motivation than students in the secular university. These findings suggest that there are noncognitive factors that university instructors should consider when ...
Laboratory studies of interaction between trace gases and sulphuric acid or sulphate aerosols using flow-tube reactors

Stratospheric ozone provides a protective shield for humanity and the global biosphere from harmful ultraviolet solar radiation. In past decades, theoretical models for the calculation of ozone balance frequently used gas-phase reactions alone in their studies. Since the discovery of the Antarctic ozone hole in 1985, however, it has been demonstrated that knowledge of heterogeneous reactions is needed to understand this significant natural event owing to the anthropogenic emission of chlorofluorocarbons. In this review I will briefly discuss the experimental techniques for the research of heterogeneous chemistry carried out in our laboratory. These experimental instruments include flow-tube reactors, an electron-impact ionization mass spectrometer, a chemical ionization mass spectrometer and a scanning mobility particle spectrometer. Numerous measurements of uptake coefficient (or reaction probability) and solubility of trace gases in liquid sulphuric acid have been performed under the ambient conditions ...