cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Processing tetramethylammonium-carbonate-coprecipitated slurries to obtain small-particle-size YBa2Cu3O7

The effect of different drying and calcination methods on the ultimate particle size of YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7} (Y-123) has been investigated. The starting material was a tetramethylammonium (TMA) carbonate-precipitated slurry. Spray-drying the slurry after filtering and reslurrying (to remove residual TMA), was most effective in the ultimate formation of finely divided Y-123. The morphology of the spray-dried powder could be preserved by calcining in very low total pressures of flowing oxygen. When a slurry with 0.16% solids content was spray dried, and this powder calcined at 750 {degree}C in 2 Torr of flowing oxygen, a Y-123 powder of mean particle size 0.74 {mu}m (66% submicron) was obtained.
Some reactions of potassium perfluoro-t-butoxide with strong oxidizing agents

Abstract Several reactions of potassium perfluoro-t-butoxide with strong oxidizing agents have been studied. The new compounds (CF3)3COOSO2F and (CF3)3CONO2 have been prepared by reactions with peroxydisulfuryl difluoride and nitryl fluoride, and their properties are reported. Evidence is also presented for the formation of the novel peroxy salt KOOCF3 in the reaction with bis(fluoroxy)difluoromethane. A mechanism for the reaction of —OF compounds with KOC(CF3)3 is proposed.
Alteration of ozone-induced airway permeability by oxygen metabolites and antioxidants

This study determined the interactive effects of O3 and enzymatically-generated oxidants and antioxidants in the lung. Rats treated with dimethylthiourea (DMTU) or H2O2, generated by glucose/glucose oxidase, were exposed for 2 h to 0.6 or 0.8 ppm O3. A significant increase in the flux of total albumin in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and a concomitant elevation in the transport of 99mTc-diethylenetriaminepentaacetate (99mTc-DTPA) from trachea to blood occurred after O3 exposure. Pretreatment of rats with DMTU prevented the albumin flux in the BAL. Intratracheal instillation of glucose/glucose oxidase produced a localized response in trachea, but it did not affect the broncho-alveolar permeability. The results demonstrate an additive effect of O3 and an enzymatically-generated oxidant, and an antagonistic effect of an antioxidant in rats exposed to O3. The observations support the suggestion that a balance of oxidant-antioxidant system may be critical in maintaining respiratory integrity following O3 exposure.
ACUTE EFFECTS OF FRESH VERSUS WEATHERED OIL TO MARINE ORGANISMS: CALIFORNIA FINDINGS

ABSTRACT Early experiences with dispersants led to a widely accepted paradigm in the United States that chemically dispersing oil led to increased ecological damage. Since then, dispersant formulations have evolved significantly, leading many in the oil spill response community to revisit the question of whether or not dispersing oil can help achieve an overall net ecological benefit. Spill response must necessarily involve weighing the costs and benefits of both dispersant use and non-use to resources potentially at risk. The majority of comparative data on the toxicity of dispersed and undispersed oil in the literature to date is based on fresh oil. In most circumstances, however, mounting of dispersant operations requires hours to days, making the use of data based on fresh oil problematic. Laboratory-weathered oil has been used in the evaluation of dispersant effectiveness, but its use in toxicological investigations has been limited. Using standardized methods, the authors have compared the acute aqu...
Competitive sorption of pyrene, phenanthrene, and naphthalene on multiwalled carbon nanotubes.

Knowledge of toxic chemical sorption by carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is critical for environmental application of CNTs as superior sorbents and for environmental risk assessment of both CNTs and toxic chemicals. Single-solute sorption results were reported in the literature, however, they cannot be used for predicting pollutant sorption by CNTs in wastewater and natural water systems where multiple organic contaminants are present. In this study, competitive sorption of pyrene, phenanthrene, and naphthalene on a multiwalled CNT material was investigated. All isotherms in single-, bi-, and tri-solute systems were fitted well by the Dubinin−Ashtakhov (DA) model. The isotherm of a given primary solute changed from being significantly nonlinear to nearly linear when competitors were added. The observed competitive sorption depended on the relative equilibrium concentrations of both primary and cosolutes. Significant competition was observed at relatively low concentrations of primary solute and high concentrations...
Pericardial effusion: subxiphoid pericardiostomy versus percutaneous catheter drainage.

Abstract Background . Optimal management of cardiac tamponade resulting from pericardial effusion remains controversial. Methods . Cardiac tamponade in 117 patients was treated with either subxiphoid pericardiostomy (n = 94) or percutaneous catheter drainage (n = 23). Percutaneous catheter drainage was used for patients with hemodynamic instability that precluded subxiphoid pericardiostomy. Effusions were malignant in 75 (64%) of 117 patients and benign in 42 (36%) of 117. Results . Subxiphoid pericardiostomy had no operative deaths and a complication rate of 1.1% (1 of 94). In contrast, percutaneous drainage had significantly ( p p p Conclusions . Benign and malignant pericardial tamponade can be safely and effectively managed with subxiphoid pericardiostomy. Percutaneous catheter drainage should be reserved for patients with hemodynamic instability.
Neuromorphic hardware for rapid sparse coding

Sparse coding is an important optimization problem in many signal processing applications. A neuromorphic system based on the Locally Competitive Algorithm (LCA) is proposed to solve an overcomplete l1 sparse coding problem. The system includes integrate and fire (IF) neurons and current-based synapses. A network of 18 neurons with 12 inputs is implemented on the RASP 2.9v chip, a Field Programmable Analog Array (FPAA) with directly programmable floating gate elements. The circuit successfully solves the optimization problem, converging to within 4.8% RMS of a digital solver, with an objective cost only 1.7% higher on average. The active circuit consumes 559 μA of current at 2.4V, and converges on solutions in 25 μs.
Multilanguage programming with ada in the .Net environment

This paper describes our experiences in using Ada with other programming languages in the .NET environment. This paper explains our approach and presents lessons learned during our development of a real-world software project using .NET. We compare and contrast the languages used, justify our language choices, and present details of our efforts.
In the Modern Treatment Era, Is Breast Conservation Equivalent to Mastectomy in Women Younger Than 40 Years of Age? A Multi-Institution Study

Purpose Mastectomy is often recommended for women ≤40 years of age with breast cancer, as young women were under-represented in the landmark trials comparing breast conservation therapy (BCT) to mastectomy. We hypothesized that, in the modern treatment era, BCT and mastectomy result in equivalent local control rates in young women. Methods and Materials Breast cancer cases arising between 1975 and 2013 in women ≤40 years old were collected from the tumor registries of 2 large healthcare systems in Utah. Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyze freedom from locoregional recurrence (FFLR), overall survival (OS), and relapse-free survival (RFS). Results This analysis identified 853 BCT candidates. A comparison of BCT to mastectomy after 2000 showed FFLR, RFS, and OS were all similar. Rate for FFLR at 10 years was 94.9% versus 92.1% for BCT and mastectomy, respectively ( P =.57). For women whose cancer was diagnosed after 2000, who received BCT, FFLR and RFS rates were improved compared to those whose cancer was diagnosed prior to 2000 ( P P =.46) rates were similar. Among those who underwent mastectomy, FFLR, OS, and RFS were significantly improved ( P Conclusions FFLR rates for young women, ≤40 years of age, have significantly improved for BCT and mastectomy over time. If patients were treated after 2000, BCT appears to be safe and equivalent to mastectomy at 10 years in terms of FFLR, OS, and RFS.
COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGICAL ECOLOGY OF LUPINES COLONIZING EARLY SUCCESSIONAL HABITATS ON MOUNT ST. HELENS

Lupinus lepidus, a prostrate, evergreen perennial and Lupinus latifolius, a robust, deciduous perennial were prominent survivors and among the first colonizers of early successional habitats following the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. In this study, interspecific and age-specific variation in the water relations and photosynthetic properties of these lupines were assessed to determine their physiological capacity to colonize these volcanic habitats. Comparative water-relations studies showed that seasonal and diurnal trends in plant water balance were similar between species and age classes. Stomatal conductance and xylem pressure potential of seedlings and adults were closely coupled with soil water potential and leaf-to-air vapor-pressure gradients. Relatively high osmotic potentials were linked with high leaf water contents and cell-wall elasticity. Collectively, these water-relations properties are indicative of mesophytic, herbaceous species with leaf tissues sensitive to soil and atmospheric water deficits. The photosynthetic capacity of L. lepidus was higher over a wider range of environmental conditions than that of L. latifolius. L. lepidus had a higher light saturation point and was able to acclimate photosynthetically to higher temperatures, relative to L. latifolius. The photosynthetic activity of L. lepidus seedlings was significantly greater at higher light and temperature regimes compared to seedlings of L. latifolius. Differing photosynthetic responses to temperature and light help explain the contrasting demographic patterns of these lupines and the relative dominance of L. lepidus in early successional habitats on Mount St. Helens. The physiological capacity to respond to extreme temperatures and periodic water deficits also appears to be an important determinant of the natural distribution patterns of these two species in the Pacific Northwest: L. lepidus occupies windy, exposed alpine habitats, whereas L. latifolius is common within subalpine meadows and coniferous treeline communities.
N5-(1-Imino-3-butenyl)-L-ornithine. A neuronal isoform selective mechanism-based inactivator of nitric oxide synthase.

Abstract Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) catalyzes the NADPH- and O2-dependent conversion ofl-arginine to nitric oxide (NO) and citrulline; three isoforms, the neuronal (nNOS), endothelial, and inducible, have been identified. Because overproduction of NO is known to contribute to several pathophysiological conditions, NOS inhibitors are of interest as potential therapeutic agents. Inhibitors that are potent, mechanism-based, and relatively selective for the NOS isoform causing pathology are of particular interest. In the present studies we report that vinyl-l-NIO (N 5-(1-imino-3-butenyl)-l-ornithine;l-VNIO) binds to and inhibits nNOS in competition with l-arginine (K i = 100 nm); binding is accompanied by a type I optical difference spectrum consistent with binding near the heme cofactor without interaction as a sixth axial heme ligand. Such binding is fully reversible. However, in the presence of NADPH and O2,l-VNIO irreversibly inactivates nNOS (k inact = 0.078 min−1;K I = 90 nm); inactivation is Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent. The cytochromec reduction activity of the enzyme is not affected by such treatment, but the l-arginine-independent NADPH oxidase activity of nNOS is lost in parallel with the overall activity. Spectral analyses establish that the nNOS heme cofactor is lost or modified by l-VNIO-mediated mechanism-based inactivation of the enzyme. The inducible isoform of NOS is not inactivated byl-VNIO, and the endothelial isoform requires 20-fold higher concentrations to attain ∼75% of the rate of inactivation seen with nNOS. Among the NOS inactivating l-arginine derivatives,l-VNIO is the most potent and nNOS-selective reported to date.
Clostridium perfringens type A enterotoxin (CPE): more than just explosive diarrhea

The bacterial pathogen Clostridium perfringens is the most prolific toxin-producing species within the clostridial group. The toxins are responsible for a wide variety of human and veterinary diseases, many of which are lethal. C. perfringens type A strains are also associated with one of the most common forms of food-borne illness (FBI). The toxicosis results from the production and gastrointestinal absorption of a protein-enterotoxin known as CPE. The regulation, expression, and mechanism of action of CPE has been of considerable interest as the protein is unique. CPE expression is sporulation associated, although the mechanism of cpe-gene regulation is not fully elucidated. Cloning studies suggest the involvement of global regulators, but these have not been identified. Although very few type A strains are naturally enterotoxigenic, the cpe gene appears highly conserved. In FBI strains, cpe is chromosomally encoded; whereas in veterinary strains, cpe may be plasmid-encoded. Variation in cpe location suggests the involvement of transposable genetic element(s). CPE-like proteins are produced by some C. perfringens types C and D; and silent remnants of the cpe gene can be found in C. perfringens type E strains associated with the iota toxin gene. CPE has received attention for its biomedical importance. The toxin has been implicated in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) because of its superantigenic nature. CPE can destroy a wide variety of cell types both in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that it could have potential in the construction of immunotoxins to neoplastic cells. It is obvious that CPE is an interesting protein that deserves continued attention.
Applying machine learning to the design of multi-hop broadcast protocols for VANET

Multi-hop broadcast is an important component in ad-hoc wireless networks. Some vehicular network (VANET) applications in particular use broadcast communications extensively. We propose using the distance-to-mean method to facilitate these applications. The performance of this method depends heavily on the value of the decision threshold, and it is difficult to choose a value for that threshold that results in good performance across a wide range of network scenarios. Node density, spatial distribution pattern, and wireless channel conditions all affect the optimal statistical threshold value. VANETs exhibit wide ranges of these factors, so protocols designed to support these applications must be adaptive to those variations. In this work we address this design challenge by using black-box optimization algorithms based on machine learning techniques such as genetic algorithms and particle swarm optimization to automatically discover a decision threshold value for the distance-to-mean method that is simultaneously adaptive to node density, node distribution pattern, and channel quality. The resulting decision surface is a function of the number of neighbors N, the quadrat statistic Q, and the Rician fading parameter K. The result is the Statistical Location-Assisted Broadcast (SLAB) protocol. Evaluations using JiST/SWANS show SLAB achieves high reachability and efficient bandwidth consumption in both urban and highway scenarios with varying node density.
The Political Economy of State Environmental Regulation: The Distribution of Regulatory Burdens

This article examines interstate variance in the distribution of costs for hazardous waste regulation in the American states. The analysis identifies the distribution of regulatory costs for technical externalities and answers specific questions about the regulatory strategies of competing states in a federal system.
Sex Differences in Autoimmune Disease from a Pathological Perspective

Autoimmune diseases affect ∼8% of the population, 78% of whom are women. The reason for the high prevalence in women is unclear. Women are known to respond to infection, vaccination, and trauma with increased antibody production and a more T helper (Th)2-predominant immune response, whereas a Th1 response and inflammation are usually more severe in men. This review discusses the distribution of autoimmune diseases based on sex and age, showing that autoimmune diseases progress from an acute pathology associated with an inflammatory immune response to a chronic pathology associated with fibrosis in both sexes. Autoimmune diseases that are more prevalent in males usually manifest clinically before age 50 and are characterized by acute inflammation, the appearance of autoantibodies, and a proinflammatory Th1 immune response. In contrast, female-predominant autoimmune diseases that manifest during the acute phase, such as Graves' disease and systemic lupus erythematosus, are diseases with a known antibody-mediated pathology. Autoimmune diseases with an increased incidence in females that appear clinically past age 50 are associated with a chronic, fibrotic Th2-mediated pathology. Th17 responses increase neutrophil inflammation and chronic fibrosis. This distinction between acute and chronic pathology has primarily been overlooked, but greatly impacts our understanding of sex differences in autoimmune disease.
Novel plastic-molded optical receiver module

Summary form only given. In conclusion, we have developed a high volume manufacturable, yet high performance, new fiber-optic module assembly technology that is expected to make a major contribution to the wider deployment of fiber optics in telecommunications networks.
Mineral Fouling Control by Underwater Plasma Discharge in a Heat Exchanger

The excessive mineral contents in water circulation systems could cause severe fouling in heat transfer equipment. The present study investigated the effect of underwater pulsed spark discharges on the mitigation of mineral fouling in a concentric counterflow heat exchanger. Artificial hard water with calcium carbonate hardness of 250 mg/L was used with velocity ranging from 0.1 m/s to 0.5 m/s and zero blowdown. Fouling resistances decreased by 50― 72% for the plasma treated cases compared with the values for no-treatment cases, indicating that the pulsed spark discharge could significantly mitigate the mineral fouling on the heat exchanger surface.
Anti-snob land use laws, suburban exclusion, and housing opportunity

Creating housing opportunities in exclusionary suburbs for lower-income households is an essential component of any effort to reduce the concentration of the poor and minorities in central cities. ...
EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES OF THE TEMPERATURE GRADIENTS IN GLASSES OF VARIOUS COLORS

Laboratory gradients are presented for glasses of different colors and coloring agents when heated at the surface to a temperature of 2615°F. The gradients in commercial tanks are related to these laboratory-tank experiments. Ferrous iron and chromic oxide yield the largest gradients, whereas selenium, cerium, and very small amounts of cobalt give small gradients. Ferric iron gives a largc gradient and manganese a relatively low gradient. Iron sulfur ambers are intermediate. Visible color or color intensity is no indication of the temperature gradients.
Employee’s perception of the effect of Six Sigma projects on customer satisfaction

The paper investigates employee’s perception on the effect of Six Sigma process improvement projects on customer satisfaction. Five constructs have been developed to measure customer satisfaction: reliability, availability, completeness, responsiveness, and professionalism. This research attempts to examine the relationship between customer satisfaction and the five constructs as well as the perceptions of the organisations which employed Six Sigma and how Six Sigma implementation affects customer satisfaction. The results show that all constructs are significantly related to customer satisfaction. In addition, it is shown that implementation of Six Sigma projects improves customer satisfaction.
Open Education Resources: The New Paradigm in Academic Libraries

Academic library budgets are contracting while library usage is increasing. How can academic libraries best help campuses reduce costs and better serve their communities? One strategy is collecting campus-created content online and making it available through the campus Institutional Repository. All faculty, including tenure track and adjuncts, at California State University San Marcos were invited to participate in a brief Web-based survey with both quantitative and qualitative questions. With an 18% response rate, the survey results indicate a strong interest in free or reduced cost educational materials, as well as a high level of concern about the cost of educational materials. Faculty responses indicate they are looking for alternatives to high priced curriculum materials, and are looking to the library for assistance. The crisis in scholarly communication and educational budgets is coming together to create a surge of support for free or low cost educational resources. Many campuses across the country have created programs to support open educational resources, with the main push coming from campus libraries or librarians. The data from this survey and examination of current campus climate, combined with the analysis of implementation factors by other organizations, will bolster the argument for libraries to create open repositories for campus scholarship.
Attenuation of Brain Response to Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-Mediated Angiogenesis and Neurogenesis in Aged Mice

Background and Purpose— Alterations of neuroangiogenic response play important roles in the development of aging-related neurodisorders and affect gene-based therapies. We tested brain response to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in aged mice. Methods— Adeno-associated viral vector (AAV)-VEGF, an adeno-associated viral vector expressing VEGF, was injected into the brain of 3-, 12-, and 24-month-old mice. AAV-LacZ-injected mice were used as controls (n=6). Before euthanasia at 6 weeks after vector injection, the mice were intraperitoneally injected with 5-bromodeoxyuridine for 3 consecutive days. The vascular density and the number of neuroprogenitors were analyzed. Results— Injection of AAV-VEGF increased the vascular density in the brain of 3-, 12-, and 24-month-old mice by 22%±7% (AAV-VEGF: 320±15 per 10× field versus AAV-LacZ: 263±8, P<0.05), 20%±8 (AAV-VEGF: 300±9 versus AAV-LacZ: 250±11, P<0.05), and 7%±16% (AAV-VEGF: 257±27 versus AAV-LacZ: 236±13, P=0.283), respectively. There were more VE...
KLnTiO4 (Ln=La, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy): A New Series of Ruddlesden–Popper Phases Synthesized by Ion-Exchange of HLnTiO4

Abstract KLnTiO4 (Ln=La, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy), a new series of n=1 Ruddlesden–Popper phases, was synthesized by a two-step ion-exchange reaction. HLnTiO4 was first prepared by traditional acid exchange of NaLnTiO4, and the KLnTiO4 series was subsequently formed from the reaction of HLnTiO4 with hot aqueous KOH. The ion exchange is stoichiometric, and the KLnTiO4 phases are thermally stable to at least 700°C. All the KLnTiO4 phases are orthorhombic and crystallize in space group Pbcm. The structures of KSmTiO4, KEuTiO4, KGdTiO4, and KDyTiO4 were refined by the Rietveld method and found to be isostructural with their NaLnTiO4 precursors. All the KLnTiO4 phases form stable hydrates when exposed to a humidified atomosphere.
Programmed size-selected permeation of ssDNA into ZnS mesoporous hollow spheres

The permeability of liquid crystal templated ZnS mesoporous hollow spheres is programmed and investigated with molecular probes. Pore size programming was achieved by swelling of the hydrophobic regions of the lyotropic liquid crystal used to template the mesoporous shell. Small angle X-ray scattering and transmission electron microscopy confirm that the mesopore diameter can be tuned between 2.5 and 4.1 nm. Predictions of the mesopore permeability of ssDNA from Flory scaling theory inspire the selection of fluorescently tagged ssDNA probes. Short ssDNA strands were found to easily penetrate the mesoporous shell, while large strands were excluded. Intermediate length ssDNA strands were able to penetrate shells with 4.1 nm mesopores, while being sterically excluded from 2.5 nm mesopores.
Temporal analysis and spatial mapping of Lymantria dispar nuclear polyhedrosis virus transcripts and in vitro translation polypeptides

Abstract Genomic expression of the Lymantria dispar multinucleocapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus (LdMNPV) was studied. Viral specific transcripts expressed in cell culture at various times from 2 through 72 h postinfection were identified and their genomic origins mapped through Northern analysis. Sixty-five distinct transcripts were identified in this analysis. Most viral transcripts were expressed late in infection, and originated from throughout the viral genome. Viral polypeptides expressed in infected 652Y cells were labeled with [35S]methionine and identified by autoradiography after separation by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Viral protein synthesis was found to occur in a sequential manner. Four proteins were identified in the early phase of viral replication (4–12 h p.i.), 24 proteins in the intermediate phase (12–24 h p.i.), and 5 proteins during the late phase (> 24 h p.i.). Cytoplasmic RNAs were isolated from LdMNPV infected cells at 16, 24, and 48 h p.i., and used for hybrid selections with overlapping DNA fragments that covered the entire LdMNPV genome. The selected RNAs were translated in vitro, and 61 distinct viral polypeptides were identified and their genomic origins mapped. Temporal and spatial transcription and translation maps of the LdMNPV genome were generated with these data, and the expression pattern of the LdMNPV genome was compared to that of the Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus.
Safe ex vivo coronary angiography with isosmotic contrast agent

Abstract Plain-film coronary angiography of the cardiac explant on the operating table should be considered when conventional cardiac catheterization is desired but unavailable. We compared the effects of three contrast solutions on cold-preserved, isolated guinea pig hearts. Hearts were excised, perfused for 30 minutes, and arrested with Plegisol solution at 7o C. Twenty minutes after arrest, experimental hearts were perfused with one of three solutions: hyperosmolar Hexabrix solution ( n = 6), hyperosmolar Renografin-76 solution ( n = 6), or diluted, isosmotic Omnipaque solution ( n = 8). The hearts were flushed with cold Plegisol solution 5 minutes later. Control hearts received no contrast during arrest ( n = 9). The hearts were reperfused after 1 hour of arrest, and coronary blood flow (in millimeters per minute), left ventricular developed pressure (in millimeters of mercury), and rate of developed pressure (in millimeters of mercury per second) were measured. Endothelium-dependent smooth muscle relaxation to bradykinin administration and endothelium-independent relaxation to sodium nitroprusside administration were also assessed. No significant difference in myocardial or endothelial function was noted between control hearts and hearts perfused with Omnipaque solution. Hearts perfused with Renografin solution or Hexabrix solution, however, were found to have significantly impaired endothelial and myocardial function. We conclude that an isosmotic contrast solution should be used for ex vivo coronary angiography in cold-preserved hearts to avoid impairment of endothelial and myocardial function. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1996;112:306-9)
Propagation of Intense Beams in Plasma

When an intense charged particle beam is injected into a dense plasma, the beam space charge can be effectively neutralized by a redistribution of the plasma particles. For example, during injection of an intense electron beam, plasma electrons will move out of the beam region during the characteristic time (4πσ)−1, which is typically quite short («10−9 sec). Hence, net space charge effects (e.g., radial expansion or virtual cathode formation) do not pose serious limitations to beam transport in a plasma. Another general limitation arises, however, from the constriction of the beam due to its azimuthal self-magnetic field. In the original analyses,1 an upper limit for current propagation was derived as $$ {{I}_{A}}\simeq {\beta \gamma m{{c}^{3}}}/{e}\; $$ (4.1) where, as usual, β is the particle stream velocity divided by the velocity of light and γ=(1−β 2)−1/2. I A, the Alfven current limit, physically corresponds to the situation in which the beam self-magnetic field is sufficient to reverse the direction of the electron trajectories at the outer edge of the beam. In principle, this limitation can be avoided if the induced emf associated with the rising beam current is sufficient to drive a plasma current directed opposite to the beam current. Depending upon the plasma conductivity, the induction electric field can effectively cause the net current, and hence the magnetic field in the system, to vanish.
Posttranscriptional control of NLRP3 inflammasome activation in colonic macrophages

Colonic macrophages (cMPs) are important for intestinal homeostasis as they kill microbes and yet produce regulatory cytokines. Activity of the NLRP3 (nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat-containing pyrin receptor 3) inflammasome, a major sensor of stress and microorganisms that results in pro-inflammatory cytokine production and cell death, must be tightly controlled in the intestine. We demonstrate that resident cMPs are hyporesponsive to NLRP3 inflammasome activation owing to a remarkable level of posttranscriptional control of NLRP3 and pro-interleukin-1β (proIL-1β) protein expression, which was also seen for tumor necrosis factor-α and IL-6, but lost during experimental colitis. Resident cMPs rapidly degraded NLRP3 and proIL-1β proteins by the ubiquitin/proteasome system. Finally, blocking IL-10R-signaling in vivo enhanced NLRP3 and proIL-1β protein but not mRNA levels in resident cMPs, implicating a role for IL-10 in environmental conditioning of cMPs. These data are the first to show dramatic posttranscriptional control of inflammatory cytokine production by a relevant tissue-derived macrophage population and proteasomal degradation of proIL-1β and NLRP3 as a mechanism to control inflammasome activation, findings which have broad implications for our understanding of intestinal and systemic inflammatory diseases.
Managing Hypertension in Patients with CKD: A Marathon, Not a SPRINT

In this manuscript, nephrologist-investigators from one of five Clinical Center Networks of the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) provide background information and context on the intensity of anti-hypertensive therapy in conjunction with the release of detailed results from SPRINT's primary analysis. The authors highlight published evidence on the safety and efficacy of differing intensities of anti-hypertensive therapy in mild to moderate CKD, where SPRINT will help to inform practice, as well as where gaps in evidence will remain. The authors also challenge the nephrology community to renew its attention and efforts on hypertension clinical care and research.
Tipping the scales of time.

I truly am pleased to see so many of you here today and want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing this special day with me … being that this is the last Presidential Address of my term as President. However, to see so many people in the audience reminds me of a comment that was once made by Sir Winston Churchill when he was congratulated on the size of the audience that had come to hear him speak. It was no great achievement to draw such a crowd, Churchill said, “Twice as many would have turned out for a public hanging.” While I know that this is not a public hanging, I would like to avail myself of the condemned man's right to say a few last words … in this case, my thoughts on where the profession of physical therapy must go in the future. I am not here to dwell on our problems. It is no good telling people about your problems anyway, because 90% of the people don't care and the other 10% are glad you have them! But I am here to remind you about how we in our profession have fared in the past century and what we need to do to survive in this new century. I assure you that the scales of time have measured what we have accomplished in the past and will tell what we can achieve in the future. The past century has been good to us. It brought us the birth of physical therapy as a profession and the development of our Association. In 1921, we were reconstruction aides, treating those injured in World War I. It was projected that with the end of the war, the need for physical therapy would cease and …
Whipple's disease: A case revisited 14 years after diagnosis

Whipple’s disease is a rare disease that often remains undiagnosed for long periods because of difficulties on culture of the organism and the need for advanced polymerase chain reaction techniques. For these reasons, oftentimes it is initially treated as a rheumatologic disease based on presenting symptoms. There are increasing numbers of patients who require immunosuppressive medications, and little is known about the natural history of the disease in this population. This article is a follow-up to a previously published report on a patient with Whipple’s disease hip arthritis (Arthritis Rheum 1999;42:812–817). After a kidney transplantation, he went on to develop Whipple’s endocarditis 14 years after his initial diagnosis.
Telemedicine in Stroke Systems of Care

Acute ischemic stroke is a public health crisis in the USA and around the world. A concerted effort has been made to apply best practices to ischemic stroke care with the goal of improving post-stroke outcomes. However, geography, distance, time, and stroke expert personnel shortages contribute to disparities in access to stroke care, especially among a significant proportion of the population that lives beyond the immediate reach of an acute stroke-ready hospital, primary stroke center, or comprehensive stroke center. In an attempt to address this rural- to metropolitan disparity and expand the availability of best stroke practices, Levine and Gorman proposed the development of telemedical outreach for acute stroke evaluation and management, which they called “telestroke.” Since that time, evidence supporting telestroke has been published, which demonstrated excellent interrater and intrarater agreement of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score between telemedicine-enabled versus bedside assessment, increased correct thrombolysis decision making by telestroke as compared to telephone-only consultation, and cost-effectiveness of the telestroke model from a hospital as well as from a societal perspective. As a consequence of these health care delivery research discoveries and the recognition of clinical benefit by stroke providers, patients, and family, telestroke networks have expanded rapidly in the USA and beyond. Additional research is necessary to more clearly understand the potential benefits of the telestroke infrastructure for other phases of stroke care including prehospital emergency medical systems, post-stroke hospitalization, rehabilitation, repatriation, reintegration into the community, avoidance of readmission to hospital, reduction of complications, prevention of recurrent stroke, and education of patients, family, and health providers.
The sodomitical muse: Fanny Hill and the rhetoric of crossdressing.

Cleland's Fanny Hill, banned for centuries largely as a result of a passage depicting male sodomy, has been the focus of several approaches since it was republished in the United States in 1963. Critical readings by Nancy K. Miller and Randolph Trumbach in particular indicate that Fanny's persona itself is a "drag" act. While asserting this, no critic has traced the textual complexity of this persona, which is apparent in Cleland's use of figurative language and is accessible through close reading only.
Somatizing and Dissociative Disorders

Most patients consulting physicians have a mixture of physical and mental complaints that require careful differential diagnosis. Somatization is the production of recurrent and multiple physical symptoms in excess of any underlying medical disorder. Patients may have well-documented medical diagnoses, but their complaints are excessive or disproportionate in the judgment of the clinician. In DSM-5 the diagnosis of somatization emphasizes the presence of characteristic positive symptoms and signs for the diagnosis, whereas in DSM-IV the emphasis was on the absence of a medical explanation. DSM-5 makes it clear that the clinician is making a judgment about the complaints being excessive rather than on the absence of any medical diagnosis, but with either criterion, the clinician must make a judgment about the underlying medical basis for the complaints. The assessment and treatment of somatizing disorders requires patience and compassion to maintain a therapeutic alliance, and randomized controlled trials show that treatment with antidepressants, cognitive-behavioral therapy, or mindfulness-based therapies reduce health care utilization and subjective distress.
Umysł a kosmos

Esej przedstawia w krotkiej formie glowny argument ksiązki Thomasa Nagela Mind and Cosmos: Why the Materialist Neo-Darwinian Conception of Nature is Almost Certainly False (Oxford University Press 2012). Zgodnie z tym argumentem nauki fizykalne w obecnej postaci nie są w stanie podac zadowalającego wyjaśnienia świadomego zycia i w związku z tym są niezupelne. Nie powinno nas to jednak sklonic do przyjecia jakiejś formy teizmu, ale raczej do poszukiwania szerszej, adekwatniejszej koncepcji przyrody. Na podstawie: „The Core of Mind and Cosmos ”, The New York Times z 18 sierpnia 2013 r. Przeklad za zgo­dą Autora.
Post-9/11 New York on Screen: Mourning, Surveillance, and the Arab Other in Tom McCarthy’s The Visitor

In this essay, Toohey explores how The Visitor represents three major motifs of 9/11 narratives—the process of mourning, the threat of encroaching government surveillance, and the portrayal of Arab or Islamic characters as “other”—or to draw on the film’s title, as “visitors” in a country where they are made to feel as though they will never belong. Like Amy Waldman’s novel The Submission or Alex Gilvarry’s From the Memoirs of a Non-Enemy Combatant, whose protagonists—an American architect of Islamic descent and a Filipino fashion designer respectively—are also banished from the USA, The Visitor suggests that the problem of post-9/11 America, far from being the threat of terrorism, is American exceptionalism, which expels certain bodies as threatening because they lack cultural and political capital.
Lung Ultrasound for the Regional Anesthesiologist and Acute Pain Specialist

In this article, we discuss the emerging role of lung point-of-care ultrasonography for regional anesthesiologists and pain management specialists. Lung ultrasonography is a well-established clinical tool that is used on a routine basis in emergency rooms and critical care units internationally to evaluate patients with respiratory distress; however, its benefits to the regional anesthesiologist and pain specialist are not as well known and are practiced less frequently. This review article covers the clinical evidence in support of lung point-of-care ultrasonography as a rapid and superior tool to traditional imaging modalities such as chest radiography and fluoroscopy. As anesthesiologists routinely perform nerve blocks that put patients at potential risk of complications such as pneumothorax or diaphragmatic paresis, it is important to understand how to use lung ultrasonography to evaluate for these conditions, as well as to differentiate between other potential causes of respiratory distress, such as interstitial syndrome and pleural effusions. This article describes the normal and pathological findings that can be used to quickly and confidently evaluate a patient for these conditions.
Development of an instrument to measure Faculty’s information and communication technology access (FICTA)

The phenomenon of “digital divide” is complex and multidimensional, extending beyond issues of physical access. The purpose of this study was to develop a scale to measure a range of factors related to digital divide among higher education faculty and to evaluate its reliability and validity. Faculty’s Information and Communication Technology Access (FICTA) scale was tested and validated with 322 faculty teaching in public and private sector universities. Principal components analysis with varimax rotation confirmed an 8-factor solution corresponding to various dimensions of ICT access. The 57-item FICTA scale demonstrated good psychometric properties and offers researchers a tool to examine faculty’s access to ICT at four levels – motivational, physical, skills, and usage access.
‘I Am Them’: Tyler Perry’s Black Musical Theatre for the Masses

Director, writer, actor, and producer Tyler Perry (b. 1969) has achieved great success on stage and screen with the drag character Madea, a tough, elderly African American woman. With this intermedial character, Perry brings the chitlin, or urban theatre circuit, to a wider audience.
Evolution of maturity levels of the particle surface and bulk during soot growth and oxidation in a flame

ABSTRACTWe performed a study of the evolution of soot composition and fine structure, i.e., maturity level, in an atmospheric ethylene-air diffusion flame. We used laser-induced incandescence (LII) to provide information about maturity level of the bulk primary particle and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to provide complementary information about particle-surface-maturity level. The results demonstrate that the bulk material and the particle surface evolve separately in the flame. Increased soot-maturity level is associated with increased long-range order of the particle fine structure. This increased order leads to an increase in the absorption cross-section in the visible and near-infrared and a shift of the absorption to longer wavelengths with increasing maturity level of the bulk particle. These trends result in a decrease in the dispersion exponent (ξ) and increase in the absorption cross-section scaling factor (β), as inferred from LII measurements. LII measurements demonstrate that bulk-ma...
Modeling anthropogenic noise propagation using the Sound Mapping Tools ArcGIS toolbox

Abstract We introduce the open-source Sound Mapping Tools (SMT, implemented in ArcGIS with the Spatial Analyst extension) for use in terrestrial outdoor sound propagation modeling. SMT includes three sound propagation models: an updated version of SPreAD-GIS, based on the System for Prediction of Acoustic Detectability model; NMSIMGIS, a GIS implementation of the Noise Model Simulation (NMSim) algorithms; and an implementation of an international outdoor sound propagation standard, ISO 9613–2. SMT produces spatially-explicit predictions of sound pressure levels from one or more sound sources, facilitating the assessment of noise effects from sources such as motorized recreation, energy development, and road traffic. Model results can be weighted to represent variable acoustic sensitivity or compared to ambient sound pressure levels. SMT provides a user-friendly approach to produce sound level predictions across variable landscapes, with applications for environmental, behavioral, population, and community ecology studies and for planning and management of human land use and infrastructure.
Medicaid Health Insurance Status Limits Patient Accessibility to Rehabilitation Services Following ACL Reconstruction Surgery.

Background:In the senior author’s (X.L.) orthopaedic sports medicine clinic in the United States (US), patients appear to have difficulty finding physical therapy (PT) practices that accept Medicaid insurance for postoperative rehabilitation.Purpose:To determine access to PT services for privately insured patients versus those with Medicaid who underwent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in the largest metropolitan area in the state of Massachusetts, which underwent Medicaid expansion as part of the Affordable Care Act.Study Design:Cross-sectional study.Methods:Locations offering PT services were identified through Google, Yelp, and Yellow Pages internet searches. Each practice was contacted and queried about health insurance type accepted (Medicaid [public] vs Blue Cross Blue Shield [private]) for postoperative ACL reconstruction rehabilitation. Additional data collection points included time to first appointment, reason for not accepting insurance, and ability to refer to a location accept...
Rapporteur’s Synthesis

The research papers in this sub-session can be classified in two main groups : corrosion by a single oxidant and corrosion by mixed oxidant atmospheres. In addition two papers were concerned with the application of a new technique to the identification of the scale components in corroded samples.
Exercise and Diet Improve Cardiometabolic Risk in Overweight and Obese Individuals Without Weight Loss

Weight loss is routinely recommended for overweight and obese individuals for purposes of reducing morbidity and mortality risk, especially from cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, sustained weight loss presents a daunting challenge, and most individuals who lose weight eventually regain most, if not all, of their lost weight. Repeated efforts to lose weight may not be benign, as weight fluctuation has been associated with a number of CVD risk markers. We propose a non-weight-loss-centered approach to treating “obesity-related” health problems. Increasing physical activity and improving quality of diet have multiple health benefits for overweight and obese men and women, including skeletal muscle adaptations that improve fat and glucose metabolism and insulin action, reductions in blood pressure and pro-inflammatory markers, improved endothelial function, and favorable changes in blood lipids and lipoproteins. A large body of evidence demonstrates that these lifestyle-induced adaptations occur independently of changes in body weight or body fat. Consequently, we suggest that overweight and obese men and women, who are at increased risk for CVD and T2D due to sedentary lifestyle, poor diet, and excess body weight, should be encouraged to become more physically active and consume more nutrient-dense foods, even if the healthier lifestyle does not produce desired weight loss.
Halting Unfair Credit Card Practices

This chapter examines a Levin-led PSI investigation into unfair credit card practices that loaded down American families with expensive debt. It describes how the inquiry uncovered the abusive practices and held hearings requiring testimony from chief executives at leading credit card companies, including Chase, Bank of America, Discover, and Capital One. The chapter culminates with enactment of a credit card reform bill, authored in part by Senator Levin. Later studies found that the new law successfully ended the abuses, while preserving a healthy credit card market.
Cultural Processes in Elementary Mathematics: Studies in a Remote Papua New Guinea Community

Abstract Drawing upon my field studies conducted in 1978, 1980, 2001, and 2014 with the Oksapmin, a remote Papua New Guinea group, I illustrate a methodological approach and summarize prior research that traces the emergence of new forms of numerical representations and ideas in the cultural history of the community. In traditional life, the Oksapmin used a counting system that makes use of 27 parts of the body. As practices of economic exchange and schooling shifted, children and adults unwittingly reproduced and altered the system in order to solve new kinds of numerical problems, a process that has led to new forms of the body-part system and arithmetic understandings in Oksapmin communities. While my focus is on the Oksapmin, I argue that the methodological framework that I have developed in the context of the Oksapmin work is useful for understanding the interplay between cultural and developmental processes in any community.