cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Functional outcome after open repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Abstract Introduction: Detailed information on functional outcome after open abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair is sparse. Information about functional outcome of open AAA repair is essential to allow comparison of treatment modalities. Methods: To determine the functional outcome of patients after open repair of AAA, we reviewed 154 consecutive, nonemergency open repairs of infrarenal AAAs between 1990 and 1997 and each patient's medical records. Clinical variables were recorded for each patient, as were multiple outcomes, including ambulatory status, independent living status, current medical condition, and the patient's perception of recovery and satisfaction. Eighty-seven patients or their families were available for current telephone interview to obtain information about objective functional activities, including walking and driving, and subjective functional information, including assessment of complete recovery and willingness to undergo AAA repair again. Chart data were available for all 154 patients. Results: There were 42 women and 112 men. A total of 139 operations were elective, and 15 were urgent. The operative mortality rate was 4%, mean hospital stay was 10.7 ± 1.3 days, and mean intensive care unit stay was 4.57 ± 1.17 days. Seventeen (11%) patients required transfer to a skilled nursing facility with a mean stay of 3.66 ± 2.9 months. All patients were ambulatory preoperatively, whereas at last follow-up (median, 25 months; range, 0.13-108.5 months), 100 (64%) of the patients remained ambulatory, 34 (22%) required assistance, and 12 (14%) were nonambulatory. At current assessment by telephone interview, 33% of patients described a decrease in their functional activity including driving, shopping, and traveling compared with their preoperative status, whereas 67% were unchanged. When asked to assess their own degree of recovery, 64% of patients stated that they experienced complete recovery with an average time to recovery of 3.9 months, whereas 33% said they had not fully recovered at a mean follow-up of 34 months. Sixteen (18%) patients said they would not undergo AAA repair again knowing the recovery process, even though they appeared to fully understand the implication of AAA rupture. Conclusion: Patients undergoing open AAA repair generally experienced significant freedom from surgical complications. However, substantial functional impairment was present. It is unclear whether the functional disability resulted from the AAA surgery or from aging and comorbidities unrelated to surgery. (J Vasc Surg 2001;33:913-20.)
Prediction of breakthrough curves by the application of fast fourier transform

Cette etude, appliquee a un absorbeur a lit fixe, est comparee aux methodes de calculs utilisees jusque-la. La methode s'avere efficace et plus rapide
Blast Wave Analysis for Detonation Propulsion

Thermal Load Vector The changes to the thermal load vector for an anisotropic material are considerably simpler than the modifications to the stiffness matrix. Briefly, the thermal stress vector, which is used to compute the thermal loads, is derived from the product of the elasticity matrix and the thermal strain vector. The thermal stress in polar coordinates due to complete restraint of thermal expansion is
Ocean Observing System Instrument Network Infrastructure

We summarize results of a Workshop on Instrument Software Infrastructure held at MBARI, Moss Landing, California USA from September 13-15, 2004, jointly sponsored the National Science Foundation (NSF) and Ocean Research Interactive Observatory Networks (ORION) program. The Workshop included over fifty participants, including international participants from Germany, Canada, and Japan. This was one of the first technical workshops in the development of a series of ocean observatories under the US Ocean Observatory Initiative (OOI) being managed under the ORION program. The specific focus of this workshop was to define the standard requirements to be met by software infrastructure for sensors, instruments and platforms for observing systems in the ORION program. These requirements include the issues of configuring, interfacing, and managing devices, including sensors and actuators, to a networked based observing system as well as managing the resources necessary to support such devices. The topics include the capability of supporting plug-and-work instrumentation using service oriented network architecture. A major issue addressed is the observatory infrastructure requirements necessary for managing data and metadata coming from sensors and instruments of the observatory in support of an integrated data management system.
Complete Development of Isospora suis of Swine in Chicken Embryos1

Development of the swine coccidium , Isospora suis, in embryonated chicken eggs is described. The allantoic cavities of eight-to-ten-day-old white Leghorn embryos were inoculated with either 100,000 or 200,000 sporozoites. Developmental stages morphologically similar to those found in the intestines of piglets were present in the endodermal layer of the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM), beginning three days post inoculation (PI). No stages were found in the mesodermal or ectodermal layers of the CAM and none were observed in heart, lung, liver, or spleen. Type I meronts and merozoites were found on days 3 through 10 PI. Type II meronts and merozoites were found days 4 through 10 PI. Mature microgamonts , macrogamonts, and oocysts were found on days 7 through 10 PI. Oocysts appeared to be retained in the endodermal cells and in ovo sporulation did not occur. Attempts to sporulate CAM-derived oocysts were not successful. Isospora suis was not pathogenic for embryos under the conditions of this study. This study represents the first fully documented report of complete development of a mammalian coccidium in chicken embryos.
The natural history of asthma

Asthma begins most often in infants as wheezing with respiratory infections. If these episodes are mild and infrequent, asthma does not usually persist into the school years. However, if they are more frequent and severe, the asthma is likely to persist. After infancy, incidence falls and continues at about 100/100,000 for the rest of the lifespan. Allergic asthma develops most often in the second decade of life and frequently persists into adult years, but young patients with allergic asthma often enjoy a transient or even a permanent remission. More severe disease and continued allergen exposure cause persistence. Some patients with occupational asthma continue to have asthma long after exposure ceases. Asthma beginning after the fourth decade is usually intrinsic and may include the aspirin triad. Its severity tends to increase with time. Many middle-aged and elderly adults have a persistent decline in lung function that is retarded but not completely prevented by aerosol glucocorticoids. This loss of lung function is often the result of coexisting lung diseases, particularly bronchiectasis and COPD. Patients with asthma have the same overall rate and age of death as the general population, but are more likely to die of lung diseases, including cancer.
Analytic yield spectra for electrons on H2

Using a modified discrete energy bin method, we calculate equilibrium electron yield spectra produced by 50 eV to 25 keV incident electrons impacting upon H2. Analytic representations of this function and the probability of ionization simply explain the ion yield per energy loss, the approximate constancy of its reciprocal, the energy loss per ion pair, and other types of yields.
Predicting the rate of microbial respiration in geochemical environments

Abstract A new rate law of general form can be applied to predict rates of microbial respiration in various geochemical environments. Because it accounts for the energy available to a microbe, the rate law can be applied in over a spectrum of conditions, ranging from environments rich in chemical energy to those fully oligotrophic. Two sets of parameters, one related to thermodynamic constraints and the other set appearing in kinetic terms, need be determined to apply the new law. We show that the thermodynamic parameters can be estimated from knowledge of the details of a microbe’s respiratory chain. The kinetic parameters are best determined by fitting the rate law to experimental observations. We find that for respiration characterized by a strong thermodynamic driving force, such as many types of aerobic respiration and denitrification, the kinetic controls on respiration rate almost invariably dominate. In such cases, the thermodynamic control can safely be ignored. For respiration utilizing less powerful thermodynamic driving forces, such as sulfate reduction and reductive methanogenesis, the thermodynamic control on respiration rate can be dominant. It is of critical importance in these cases to account for thermodynamic as well as kinetic controls when calculating respiration rates. Taking as examples methanogenesis and sulfate reduction in hydrothermal fluids, we show how the new rate law can be applied over a spectrum of conditions and energy availability.
MXMLiszt: a preliminary MusicXML digital library platform built on available open‐source technologies

Purpose – The aim of this article is to describe the genesis and structural components for an open‐source MusicXML digital library platform.Design/methodology/approach – After briefly discussing music information retrieval within the context of emerging approaches to digital music notation formats, specifically MusicXML, the article discusses how the author's graduate school project evolved into a search and delivery platform for MusicXML files and their manifestations, with particular emphasis on the platform's underlying software structure. A discussion of the platform's end user interface and administrative scripts provides further explanation regarding how the system functions.Findings – Although work remains to be done, digital libraries are poised to use MusicXML and its supporting software for the advancement of music‐related services offered to patrons.Originality/value – The paper discusses a proof‐of‐concept, open‐source MusicXML digital library platform that may be of interest to librarians wit...
Reduction of x-ray sensitivity of Escherichia coli B/r by sulfhydryl compounds, alcohols, glycols, and sodium hydrosulfite.

SummaryThe X-ray sensitivity of E. colt is reduced if the cells are irradiated in the presence of certain chemical agents. BAL, ethanol, and sodium hydrosulfite increase the dose required to kill a given number of cells in suspensions at 2°C by a factor of 3-4. Other sulfhydryl compounds, glycols, and low-molecular-weight alcohols also increase the survival of E. coli suspensions.
Studies on localization of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the thyroid-parathyroid complex

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) was localized by an immunocytochemical technique in the thyroid-parathyroid complexes of rat, guinea pig, rabbit, and in normal human thyroids and parathyroids. Human medullary carcinomas and parathyroid adenomas were also studied. In man and all animal species examined CGRP was present in the parafollicular cell, however, in guinea pigs only in small amounts. Except in rabbits, presence of CGRP was demonstrated in nerves of the thyroid and parathyroid capsule as well as in the nerve fibers of the capsular blood vessels. In the thyroid of guinea pigs CGRP was also noted in nerve fibers and in blood vessel walls between follicles. CGRP was also present in the parathyroid glands of rat and man, in nerve fibers localized between parathyroid cells. In rabbit the parafollicular cells between parathyroid cells also expressed CGRP immunoreactivity. No CGRP was noted in the parathyroids of the guinea pig. The proximity of parathyroid cells and CGRP containing tissue structures suggests a role for CGRP in the modulation of parathyroid hormone secretion. The importance of these regulatory mechanisms appear to be different in individual species.
Evolution proposes and ontogeny disposes.

Genes, the basic building blocks of evolution, are highly conserved. For example, the mouse and human have approximately the same number of genes, and around 94% are identical in the two species. Since species differ on multiple dimensions (e.g., anatomy, physiology, and behavior), it follows that identical genes may subserve different functions in different species. Two reasons for this are gene-gene interaction and gene-environment interaction (and it is the presence of these interactions which prevents one from making deterministic statements about genetics, thus rendering obsolete the nature-nurture controversy). Behavioral examples of both types of interactions are presented, including studies showing that (1) the uterine environment enhances later cognitive competence, (2) early postnatal experiences affect learning and emotionality and can extend into future generations, (3) maternal behavior changes the offspring's later behavior and physiology, and (4) knocking out one gene results in an animal less competent in one learning process but more competent in a complementary learning process.
Computing and Partitioning Cloud Feedbacks Using Cloud Property Histograms. Part II: Attribution to Changes in Cloud Amount, Altitude, and Optical Depth

AbstractCloud radiative kernels and histograms of cloud fraction, both as functions of cloud-top pressure and optical depth, are used to quantify cloud amount, altitude, and optical depth feedbacks. The analysis is applied to doubled-CO2 simulations from 11 global climate models in the Cloud Feedback Model Intercomparison Project.Global, annual, and ensemble mean longwave (LW) and shortwave (SW) cloud feedbacks are positive, with the latter nearly twice as large as the former. The robust increase in cloud-top altitude in both the tropics and extratropics is the dominant contributor to the positive LW cloud feedback. The negative impact of reductions in cloud amount offsets more than half of the positive impact of rising clouds on LW cloud feedback, but the magnitude of compensation varies considerably across the models. In contrast, robust reductions in cloud amount make a large and virtually unopposed positive contribution to SW cloud feedback, though the intermodel spread is greater than for any other i...
Vibrational Circular Dichroism, Predominant Conformations, and Hydrogen Bonding in (S)-(-)-3-Butyn-2-ol

Vibrational absorption and circular dichroism spectra of (S)-(−)-3-butyn-2-ol have been measured in CCl4 solutions in the 2000−900 cm-1 region. Experimental spectra obtained at different concentrations are compared with the ab initio predictions of absorption and VCD spectra obtained with density functional theory using B3LYP/6-31G* basis set for three different conformers of (S)-(−)-3-butyn-2-ol. The Boltzmann populations, obtained from Gibbs free energies, indicate the presence of two predominant conformations for the isolated molecule. The population-weighted theoretical spectra are in satisfactory agreement with the experimental spectra obtained at dilute concentrations. The influence of intermolecular hydrogen bonding is seen in the experimental spectra at higher concentrations, where a single conformation appears to be predominant. A vibrational analysis was also undertaken for all three conformers and vibrational assignments were proposed for the observed bands.
Angina pectoris and coronary artery disease in isolated, severe aortic regurgitation

Seventy-eight patients with isolated, severe aortic regurgitation (AR) were studied retrospectively to determine the prevalence of angiographically significant coronary artery disease (CAD) and its relation to angina pectoris (AP). Angiographically, significant CAD was present in 29 of 78 patients (37%), and 36 patients (46%) had AP. Twenty-one of 36 patients (58%) with AP and 8 of 42 patients (19%) without AP had angiographically significant CAD. AP as a predictor of significant CAD had a sensitivity of 73%, specificity of 69% and a risk ratio of 3:1. The predictive accuracy of detecting CAD in the absence of AP was 81%. The benefit from concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting at the time of aortic valve replacement for AR has not been clearly demonstrated; therefore, routine coronary angiography is still recommended for all AR patients older than 40 years undergoing aortic valve replacement.
Activity theory and interface design for autism treatment: tracking, collaborating, and enriching the classroom experience

Autism is a growing health issue in today's youth that necessitates careful monitoring and commitment to education. iPads have quickly proven to be a great tool in assisting autistic children through prompting, interactive educational games, and language development. However, the instructors and therapists of autistic children can also significantly benefit from iPads as an interactive tool to more quickly and accurately track student data, and ultimately be able to teach the child in a more individualized and precise way. Activity theory considers an entire working activity system (including teams and organizations) beyond just one user, focusing on consciousness, the relationship between people and things, and the role of artifacts (objects, such as an iPad) in everyday life. By analyzing data collected from instructors of autistic students, we can identify areas of sensorial, emotion, and interactions for maximizing user experience for three distinct collaborative audience segments: teachers, therapists, and students. With that understanding, we can then evaluate, ideate, and describe the functionality of an iPad interface that allows careful data tracking and collaboration to best position an autistic student for academic success.
PS2-54: Best Practices: Improving Quality and Reliability in Research Data Sets

Background/Aims Healthcare data is highly complex, and considerable effort is required to create rich data resources that are reliable, user-friendly and represent valid utilization. Challenges include identifying appropriate sources, interpreting the data in a given source, matching data between sources, and transforming source data to meet desired specifications. Flaws in any of these aspects of data development can negatively impact data quality and reliability. Creating partnerships for data development across analytic groups within the organization could make the process more efficient by pooling specialized knowledge and increasing opportunities for evaluating data quality. Within Kaiser Permanente in the Mid-Atlantic States, our goal was to (1) identify and implement best practices for data quality, and (2) determine the best method to implement those practices by working in conjunction with not only research staff, but also operations staff and information technology staff.
Navier-Stokes flow for the initial stage of atomization

Abstract A nonlinear theory of atomization is given. The governing equations are the Navier-Stokes equations. The boundary conditions involve the unknown boundary of an atomizing jet. The relevant system of partial differential equations are reduced to a system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations by use of the Galerkin projection and a finite difference discretization respectively in the radial and the axial direction of the jet. The reduced system is solved numerically with given initial conditions for various flow parameters. The theoretical results reveal that origin of atomization is the pressure fluctuation at the core of the liquid jet. This pressure fluctuation subharmonically resonates the interfacial capillary waves which lead to the formation of ligaments which are the precursors of the atomized droplets.
Gallium Indium Nitride-Based Green Lasers

In this review article, we describe group-III nitride laser diodes that emit light in the green spectral range, using epitaxial structures grown on gallium nitride (GaN) substrates with c- and semipolar-plane orientations. We address the motivation for these lasers, the challenges faced in creating them, and the progress made in this field to date. Different structural design choices are described, taking into account specific material properties and crystal growth requirements for these orientations. We review various properties of the materials involved, including optical gain, optical confinement, internal optical losses and carrier injection. We also discuss mechanical strain during the growth of active and passive regions, and the way in which it limits the structural design. Various aspects of laser chip fabrication are discussed, including self-aligned ridge waveguides and facet formation. Finally, we outline the status of green laser reliability and challenges in this area.
Synthesis of 1α-hydroxyergocalciferol

Abstract A synthesis of 1α-hydroxyergocalclferol (1α-hydroxyvitamin D2), a potent analog of vitamin D2, is described. The preparative route involves conversion of ergosterol in two steps (60%) to the known ergosta-4,6,22-trien-3-one and dehydrogenation of the triene with SeO2 to ergosta-1,4,6,22-tetraen-3-one (30%). Epoxidation of the tetraenone to the corresponding 1α,2α-epoxide followed by Li/NH3 reduction gave ergosta-5,22-diene-1α,3β -diol in 26% yield from the tetraenone. After conversion to the corresponding diacetate and allylic bromination/dehydrobromination 1α-acetoxyergosteryl acetate was obtained. Irradiation of this intermediate gave the previtamin which was converted to the new vitamin analog by thermal equilibration and hydrolysis of the acetates. Characteristic uv, nmr and mass spectral patterns confirmed the structure of the product.
Early hepatic stellate cell activation is associated with advanced fibrosis after liver transplantation in recipients with hepatitis C

Recurrent hepatitis C after liver transplantation is a serious problem faced by liver transplant recipients. Activation of hepatic stellate cells is an early step in hepatic fibrogenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate hepatic stellate cell activation, early after liver transplantation, as a predictor for the subsequent development of advanced fibrosis. Forty-six patients who underwent liver transplantation for hepatitis C and protocol liver biopsies were divided into rapid fibrosers (n = 21), defined as recipients who developed bridging fibrosis or cirrhosis within 2 years of liver transplantation, and slow fibrosers (n = 25). The protocol liver biopsy obtained 4 months after transplantation was stained and quantitated for hepatic stellate cell activation with antibody to alpha smooth muscle actin. Hepatic stellate cell activity was independently associated with rapid fibrosis (odds ratio: 1.6 [95% CI: 1.1,2.2], P = 0.013). The c-statistics for the receiver operating characteristic curve for stellate cell activity and fibrosis were 0.78 and 0.67, respectively, P = 0.36. The receiver operating characteristic curve for a model including stellate cell activity, histology activity index, and alanine aminotransferase. obtained at month 4 had the best c-statistic (0.88). In recipients with stage 0 or 1 fibrosis on the month 4 liver biopsy who subsequently developed advanced fibrosis, the c-statistic for the receiver operating characteristic curves was significantly better for stellate cell activity than for stage of fibrosis (0.77 and 0.51, respectively; P = 0.004). In conclusion, hepatic stellate cell activation early after liver transplantation complements traditional testing for identifying liver transplant recipients with hepatitis C at greatest risk for developing advanced fibrosis. (Liver Transpl 2005;11:1235–1241.)
Dimorphic Effects of Transforming Growth Factor-β Signaling During Aortic Aneurysm Progression in Mice Suggest a Combinatorial Therapy for Marfan Syndrome

Objective— Studies of mice with mild Marfan syndrome (MFS) have correlated the development of thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) with improper stimulation of noncanonical (Erk-mediated) TGFβ signaling by the angiotensin type I receptor (AT1r). This correlation was largely based on comparable TAA modifications by either systemic TGFβ neutralization or AT1r antagonism. However, subsequent investigations have called into question some key aspects of this mechanism of arterial disease in MFS. To resolve these controversial points, here we made a head-to-head comparison of the therapeutic benefits of TGFβ neutralization and AT1r antagonism in mice with progressively severe MFS ( Fbn1 mgR/mgR mice). Approach and Results— Aneurysm growth, media degeneration, aortic levels of phosphorylated Erk and Smad proteins and the average survival of Fbn1 mgR/mgR mice were compared after a ≈3-month-long treatment with placebo and either the AT1r antagonist losartan or the TGFβ-neutralizing antibody 1D11. In contrast to the beneficial effect of losartan, TGFβ neutralization either exacerbated or mitigated TAA formation depending on whether treatment was initiated before (postnatal day 16; P16) or after (P45) aneurysm formation, respectively. Biochemical evidence-related aneurysm growth with Erk-mediated AT1r signaling, and medial degeneration with TGFβ hyperactivity that was in part AT1r dependent. Importantly, P16-initiated treatment with losartan combined with P45-initiated administration of 1D11 prevented death of Fbn1 mgR/mgR mice from ruptured TAA. Conclusions— By demonstrating that promiscuous AT1r and TGFβ drive partially overlapping processes of arterial disease in MFS mice, our study argues for a therapeutic strategy against TAA that targets both signaling pathways although sparing the early protective role of TGFβ. # Significance {#article-title-27}
Asymmetric generalization between the arm and leg following prism-induced visuomotor adaptation

We have previously shown an asymmetric generalization following a prism-induced visuomotor adaptation. Subjects who adapt to laterally deviating prism lenses during walking show a broad generalization to an arm pointing task, while subjects who adapt to prisms during arm pointing do not show generalization to walking. It is not known whether this broad generalization persists with other movements outside of walking or what specific features of the walking task, e.g. lower extremity involvement, allow it to be so broadly generalizable. In the current study, we tested healthy adult subjects performing one of three forms of prism adaptation and subsequently measured generalization. In Experiment 1 we tested whether a seated arm pointing prism adaptation would generalize to the leg. In Experiment 2 we tested whether a seated leg pointing prism adaptation would generalize to the arm. In Experiment 3 we tested whether standing influenced the extent of generalization from leg to arm. Results were surprising. We found a clear and consistent generalization from arm to leg, but much less so from leg to arm during either the seated or the standing task. These findings indicate that prism adaptations during arm movements are not limb-specific, as has been previously suggested. Further, the lack of generalization from leg to arm suggests that neither the adaptation of leg movements specifically, nor standing posture, nor the bilateral component of walking could be the salient feature allowing for its broad generalization across body parts.
Kinetic study of the aqueous electropolymerization of acrylamide, acrylonitrile andN,N′-methylene-bisacrylamide on an aluminium alloy cathode

This study concerns the potassium persulphate electroinitiated polymerization of acrylamide, acrylonitrile andN, N′-methylene-bisacrylamide on a 5182 aluminium-magnesium alloy. Kinetic studies of the polymerization gave the polymerization as -d[M]/dt=K(CD)0.99 [Persulphate]1.12 [M]2.33, whereCD is current density (mA cm−2), [M] is monomer concentration (mol cm−3),K is a constant andt is time (s). It is proposed that the thick swollen polymer coating restricted the diffusion of monomers and initiators to the electrode. The problem of mass transfer by diffusion in the present system was confirmed by measurements of the diffusion coefficient and by electron transfer fraction experiments carried out through the use of a cyclic voltammetry technique.
Hybrid Stochastic and Neural Network Approach for Efficient FPGA Implementation of a Field-oriented Induction Motor Drive Controller

The FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Arrays) is concurrent, executing all its logic in parallel, therefore is good for neural network applications that are characterized as heavy parallel calculation algorithms. The stochastic arithmetic can simplify the computation elements and is compatible with modern VLSI design. This paper presents an efficiency approach for a single FPGA to implement the field-oriented control of induction motor drive based on stochastic theory and neural network algorithm. A stochastic neural network structure is proposed for a feed-forward neural network to estimate the feedback signals in an induction motor drive. A new stochastic PI speed controller is developed with anti-windup function to improve the speed control performance. By applying the stochastic theory and neural network structure, the proposed algorithms enhance the arithmetic operations of the FPGA, save digital resources, simplify the algorithms, significantly reduce the cost and provide design flexibility and extra fault tolerance for the system. A hardware-in-the-loop test platform using Real Time Digital Simulator (RTDS) is built in the laboratory. The experimental results are provided to verify the proposed FPGA controller.
A Method for the Chemical Analysis of Intimal Surfaces of Arteries and Veins with Potassium Bromide Infrared Spectroscopy: Preliminary Results

We report a method to determine the chemical composition of the first few layers of molecules making up the intimal surface of the bovine aorta. We gently and uniformly spray-abrade the opened, flat surface of the aorta with fine, dry potassium bromide (KBr) powder. Surface molecules are rubbed off and collected with the KBr powder. This powder is pressed into a disk and analyzed by infrared spectroscopy. The thickness of the surface sample is estimated from the density-mass-volume (area times thickness) relationship. We designed and constructed a mechanical spray abrader to analyze blood vessel surfaces. The uniformity and depth of abrasion are controlled by the angle of spray, pressure, distance, and rate of traverse of sample drum. Several successive surface samples may be removed from one blood vessel. In complementary work, a method was developed for the physical removal and mounting of the intima of arteries and veins as intact films for infrared analysis. Preliminary experiments on bovine aortas gave surface samples as thin as 57 A (estimated) and with an infrared spectrum markedly different from that of the total aortic intimal film. The major infrared bands found in the surface samples were: NH (3300 cm−1); CH (lipid) (2920 cm−1); amides I and II (1650 and 1540 cm−1); and, as a tentative assignment, sulfate (1050 cm−1). Comparison of surface spectra with intimal film spectra suggests that the surface protein is different from intimal protein. The surface spectra resemble chondroitin sulfate, but not heparin. Possibly the first few molecular layers of intimal surface contain chondroitin sulfate. These methods may prove to be of value in determining the role of the intima and intimal surface in cardiovascular disease.
The symbolic empire and the history of racial inequality

Abstract Historiography is routinely employed to support contemporary accounts of racial inequality. Subjecting Khan's (1991) exploration of the history of East Indians1 in Canada (1903–47) to critical analysis this article argues that ‘empire’ is used as a narrative and symbolic device. But the symbolic empire is a constrained analytic tool which can only produce a circumscribed account of race and a limited form of race politics. By substituting the symbolic empire with an empire invoked as an administrative device, registered in political discourses, the symbolic empire becomes two nationhoods‐in‐process. These two very different nation‐building processes, one Indian the other Canadian, are connected. The Canadian nation was constructed as a white enterprise in a defensive action against the immigration of East Indians who were concurrently awarded a second‐class citizenship by Britain. This article shows how the Canadian discourse on alien immigrants was a device used to affirm its own (white) identit...
Fluvial landscape ecology: addressing uniqueness within the river discontinuum

SUMMARY 1. As rivers and streams are patchy and strongly hierarchical systems, a hierarchical patch dynamics perspective can be used as a framework for visualising interactions between structure and function in fluvial landscapes. The perspective is useful for addressing fundamental attributes of lotic ecosystems, such as heterogeneity, hierarchy, directionality and process feedback occurring across spatial scales and for illustrating spatio-temporal linkages between disparate concepts in lotic system ecology such as the River Continuum Concept, the Serial Discontinuity Concept, the Flood Pulse Concept and the Hyporheic Corridor Concept. 2. At coarse spatial scales, the hierarchical patch dynamics perspective describes each river network as a unique, patchy discontinuum from headwaters to mouth. The discontinuum is comprised of a longitudinal series of alternating stream segments with different geomorphological structures. Each confluence in the steam network further punctuates the discontinuum because the sudden change in stream characteristics can create a ‘gap’ in the expected pattern of downstream transitions. The discontinuum view recognises general trends in habitat characteristics along the longitudinal profile, but creates a framework for studying and understanding the ecological importance of each stream’s individual pattern of habitat transitions along longitudinal, lateral or vertical vectors at any scale. 3. Object-oriented modelling and programming techniques provide a means for developing robust, quantitative simulation models that describe the dynamic structure of patch hierarchies. Such models can simulate how the structure and function of lotic ecosystems are influenced by the landscape context of the system (the ecological conditions within which the system is set) and the metastructure (structural characteristics and juxtaposition) of finer-scale patches comprising the system. 4. A simple object-oriented, multiscale, discontinuum model of solute transformation and biological response along a stream channel illustrates how changing the branching pattern of a stream and the arrangement of its component patches along the downstream profile will result in substantial changes in predicted patterns of solute concentration and biotic community structure. 5. The importance of context, structure, and metastructure in determining lotic ecosystem function serves to underscore Hynes’ (1975) concept that ‘every stream is likely to be individual.’ Advancing the discipline of fluvial landscape ecology provides an excellent opportunity to develop general concepts and tools that address the individual character of each stream network and integrate the concept of ‘uniqueness within the river discontinuum’ into our ecological understanding of rivers and streams.
Management of environments in 2K

Computer users are increasingly multi-device equipped and no longer sedentary. It is desirable that the execution environment in any of these devices be customized to the user preferences and to the device characteristics. This paper describes a framework for managing execution environments in 2K, an adaptable, distributed, network-centric, user- and application-oriented operating system aimed at accommodating change. A 2K environment is a container of components, devices and configuration parameters and provides an execution context for the user within the 2K distributed system. A user has a distributed execution environment that consists of several subenvironments running on different platforms or temporarily suspended to be resumed later. The management of the execution environments is designed to provide a user-centric view of the system; it facilitates user mobility, by liberating users from the restriction of being explicitly attached to specific platforms, and by seamlessly recruiting resources where they are available.
Disruption of a temporal discrimination under response-independent shock

The responding of rats was reinforced on one key after a 1-sec auditory stimulus and on a second key after a 5-sec stimulus. With errors punished by a short timeout, all subjects achieved a high level of accuracy. A chain of responses during the stimuli mediated the performance so that when the auditory signals were omitted accuracy decreased only slightly. Response-independent aversive stimulation superimposed upon this procedure both suppressed the total amount of behavior and reduced the accuracy of the discriminative performance, the intensity of the stimulus determining the error rate. The increase in errors under these conditions may have depended in part upon differential suppression of members of the response chain, but such suppression was not necessary, since error rate increased even in its absence. Furthermore, the locus of response disruption within the chain was not consistent from day to day either for any individual animal or across animals.
Traveling planetary-scale Rossby waves in the winter stratosphere: The role of tropospheric baroclinic instability

The Southern Hemisphere winter stratosphere exhibits prominent traveling planetary-scale Rossby waves, which generally are not able to induce Stratospheric Sudden Warmings. A series of runs of a simplified general circulation model is presented, aimed at better understanding the generation of these waves. While the generation of planetary-scale traveling waves through the interaction of synoptic-scale waves is observed in a control run, when the model is truncated to permit only waves with zonal wave number 1 or 2, the long waves are found to increase in strength, leading to a considerably more active stratosphere including Sudden Warmings comparable in strength to Northern Hemisphere winter. This finding suggests that the role of tropospheric synoptic eddies is two-fold: while generating a weak planetary-scale wave flux into the stratosphere, their main effect is to suppress baroclinic instability of planetary-scale waves by stabilizing the tropospheric mean state.
Trade Liberalization versus Climate Change Policy for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Agriculture: Some Insights from Norway

Using a mathematical programming model of Norwegian agriculture, we explore interconnections between trade liberalization and reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. We show that the Doha Round proposals for a new agreement on agriculture through the World Trade Organization would not generate significant reductions in emissions. Further trade liberalization would reduce emissions by cutting agricultural production but would not change production methods. Imposing a carbon tax would lead both to a reduction in output and the extensification of production. In contrast, if farmers are allowed to claim a credit for carbon sequestration the effect is to intensify agricultural production.
A digital AM radio with CQUAM stereo

An all-digital compatible quadrature amplitude modulation (CQUAM) radio is discussed. The incoming signal is digitally demodulated and the in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) channels are separated. The I and Q signals are then low-pass filtered and decimated to produce lower-sample-rate baseband signals. The resulting baseband signals are manipulated to recover the left and right channels if a stereo signal was transmitted. A phase error is estimated and supplied to a numerically controlled oscillator which calculates the next sample demodulation terms. The theoretical algorithms for these functions are presented, and the performance of the radio is discussed. >
Some Aspects of Complexities for Quantum Processes

In quantum information theory, Emch, Conne, and Stormer were the first who studied the complexity of quantum dynamical processes. After that, Ohya introduced the -mixing entropy for general quantum systems and he defined the mean entropy and the mean mutual entropy for quantum dynamical systems based on the -mixing entropy. Conne, Narnhoffer and Thirring introduced the dynamical entropy (CNT entropy) and several researchers discussed this concept. Alicki and Fannes defined a different dynamical entropy — AF entropy. In 1995, Voiculescu proposed the dynamical approximation entropy. Accardi, Ohya and Watanabe defined yet another dynamical entropy (AOW entropy) through a quantum Markov process in 1997. In 1999, Kossakowski, Ohya and Watanabe introduced the dynamical entropy (KOW entropy) with respect to completely positive maps. In this paper, we discuss the complexity of quantum dynamical processes to calculate the dynamical entropy for noisy optical channels. In order to discuss the efficiency of information communication processes, a measure of complexity of initial state itself and a measure of transmitted complexity through communication channels are necessary. Quantum entropies were formulated on the basis of the quantum probability theory. In quantum communication systems, von Neumann entropy and Ohya mutual entropy relate to these measures of complexities, respectively. Recently, several mutual entropy type measures (Lindblad-Nielsen entropy and coherent entropy) were defined making use of entropy exchange with respect to a channel and initial state. In this paper, we show which of the measures is the most suitable one for discussing the efficiency of information transmission for quantum processes.
Trusted Computing, Peer-to-Peer Distribution, and The Economics of Pirated Entertainment

To thwart piracy the entertainment industry must keep distribution costs high, reduce the size of distribution networks, and (if possible) raise the cost of extracting content. However, if ‘trusted computing’ mechanisms deliver on their promises, large peer-to-peer distribution networks will be more robust against attack and trading in pirated entertainment will become safer, more reliable, and thus cheaper. Since it will always be possible for some individuals to extract content from the media on which it is stored, future entertainment may be more vulnerable to piracy than before the introduction of ‘trusted computing’ technologies.
Detection of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 DNA in Dried Blood Spots by a Duplex Real-Time PCR Assay

A dried blood spot (DBS) is a well-accepted means for the collection, transport, and storage of blood samples for various epidemiologic, serologic, and molecular assays for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) studies. It is particularly important for mother-to-infant-transmission studies of affected individuals living in remote areas. We have developed a real-time PCR method to detect HIV type 1 (HIV-1) DNA in dried blood spots. A cellular gene, RNase P, was coamplified with the HIV-1 DNA in the same tube to monitor the DNA extraction efficiency and the overall assay performance. Our assay is a one-tube, single-step closed-system assay and uses a dUTP/uracil DNA glycosidase anti-PCR contamination control. The HIV-1 primers and probe were derived from a conserved region of the long terminal repeat. The detection of RNase P is attenuated by lowering the forward and reverse primer concentrations so that its amplification will not overwhelm the HIV-1 amplification and yet will provide a semiquantitative measurement of the quality of the isolated DBS DNA. We examined 103 HIV-1-seropositive and 56 seronegative U.S. adults and found that our assay has a sensitivity of 98.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 95.5% to 100%) and specificity of 100% (95% CI, 99% to 100%). The positive and negative predictive values are 100% and 96.6%, respectively. This duplex PCR assay may be useful in identifying HIV-1-infected persons, particularly infants born to seropositive mothers in remote areas of the world.
Temporal variation and assessment of trophic state indicators in Missouri reservoirs: Implication for lake monitoring and management

Knowlton, M.F. and J.R. Jones. 2006. Temporal variation and assessment of trophic state indicators in Missouri reservoirs: Implication for lake monitoring and management. Lake and Reserv. Manage. 22(3):261-271. The magnitude and management implications of temporal variability in trophic state metrics was simulated by measuring mean values of total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), chlorophyll (Chl) and Secchi depth (SD) in summer (May-August) and detecting trends in these variables in a virtual lake undergoing gradual (doubling over 20 years) and abrupt (doubling over two years) change. Numbers of samples required (samples per summer over number of summers) to adequately detect these rates of change were used to show the size and management implications of temporal variability. Long-term data from 116 Missouri reservoirs, including eight summer data sets based on daily sampling, provided estimates of autocorrelation and variation within and among summers (seasonal and year-to-year variance) used in Monte Carlo simulations to evaluate sampling requirements. In simulations based on median variance, obtaining long-term means with 95% confidence intervals spanning less than a factor of two took from three years (TN) to eight years (Chl) with monthly samples (n=3 per summer). For a lake with mean values doubling every 20 years, linear regression had >75% chance of detecting the trend after 13 years of monthly samples for TN, but Chl required >20 years. For a lake with Chl doubling over two years, at least six years of pre-change data and 11 years of postchange data were required before monthly sampling gave >75% probability of detecting the trend. Increasing sampling to weekly frequency (n=16 per summer) in most scenarios reduced required duration of sampling by Q years. Variability data from lakes in other regions fall in the range exhibited by Missouri reservoirs. Results emphasize the need for long-term data to fulfill lake management needs and suggest that ordinary lake monitoring typically will not detect trends in individual lakes.
Measurement of ionized calcium in normal human blood platelets

To measure the concentrations of cytosolic ionized calcium in platelets we used a calcium-sensitive fluorophor (Fura-2) with two different spectrofluorometers (Perkin-Elmer LS-5 and Fluorolog 222). Values obtained by these two instruments for the basal cytosolic ionized calcium concentration of resting platelets and those of agonist-activated platelets did not differ significantly. Both instruments were capable of monitoring the shifts in wavelengths induced by the dye-calcium complex, the ratio between absorbances at the two wavelengths (340/380 nm), and calcium concentrations continuously during agonist-induced platelet activation. We conclude that a relatively inexpensive instrument may be adequate for measuring ionized calcium in cells by this method, although sophisticated kinetic studies may require analytical or research-grade instruments.
Dutch disease and the Chilean copper boom – an empirical analysis

Dutch disease is the phenomenon that has its origins in the ‘immiserising growth hypothesis’ which argued that increase in the export sector can lead to misery for the economy if the terms of trade deteriorate in a significant way. While Holland’s economy was the first to experience such a phenomenon, few other countries such as Venezuela, Brazil, Nigeria and Malaysia have had similar experiences in last 30 years. This paper applies the logic of Dutch disease to the case of Chile and investigates if the Dutch disease was spread to Chilean level. This was partly due to the tremendous rise in copper prices, and due to extraordinary dependence of economic growth on that sector. After reviewing the contemporary literature on the subject, the paper uses econometric as well as other techniques to apply the theory to the Chilean case. Our conclusion is that the Dutch disease was in fact contracted in the Chilean economy in the time period of our investigation.