cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Superwicking Surfaces Produced by Femtosecond Laser

Modifying material wetting properties using femtosecond laser surface nano/microstructuring has recently become an actively studied area due to many promising applications. In this chapter, we overview briefly the newly emerged femtosecond laser-based approaches for modifying the wetting properties of materials and describe recent developments in producing a novel type of surface structures that transform a regular surface of solids to superwicking. This novel type of the surface structure is an array of parallel nanostructured microgrooves. In a gravity defying way, water runs vertically uphill on the created superwicking surfaces. The fast self-propelling motion of the liquid is due to strong capillary force generated in the surface structure. The unique wetting and wicking properties of these novel materials may find a wide range of applications in nano/microfluidics, optofluidics, lab-on-chip technology, fluidic microreactors, chemical sensors, biomedicine, and heat transfer devices (e.g., heat pipes for cooling of electronic devices).
The Origins of Anxiety, Panic and Rage Attacks

This is a report of clinical observations over forty five years. We describe the difference between limbic fear versus brainstem terror. The earlier a patient relives events from childhood, and infancy, the deeper into the brain he may reach. In the process, the affective responses become more exaggerated; for example, mild hopelessness becomes suicidal hopelessness, fear becomes terror, and anger becomes rage. The responses become more primitive as they emanate from a brain that is more primitive; older and pre-human. (Janov), (2011) That primitive brain inside of us provides all of the responses that existed hundreds of millions of years ago. In some respects we are still that alligator or shark with no pity or remorse, just instinct. Those primitive responses are pre-emotion, before mammalian caring and concern evolved, and they do allow us to murder when evoked. They also permit panic attacks which evolved to be life-saving in situations where rapid and vigorous responses meant survival. A person responding with rage or terror is overwhelmed by his brainstem activity and is reacting exactly like the alligator does. These deep and early processes have largely been ignored in clinical work and must be revisited.
Which Future for Humanity

Our Final Hour A Scientist9s Warning; How Terror, Error, and Environmental Disaster Threaten Humankind9s Future in This Century--On Earth and Beyond. by Martin Rees. Basic Books (Perseus), New York, 2003. 238 pp. $25, C$39. ISBN 0-465-06862-6. Our Final Century The 50/50 Threat to Humanity9s Survival. by Martin Rees. William Heinemann, London, 2003. 238 pp. £17.99. ISBN 0-434-00809-5. Exploring reasons why the prospects for human survival on Earth may be dire, Rees provides a calm consideration of apocalyptic scenarios that science and technology have made possible.
Acid–Base Balance and Bone Health

On a daily basis, humans eat substances that during metabolism generate or consume protons (1–3).
Interprocess analysis and optimization in the equational language compiler

Data dependence analysis is a standard part of many compilers and optimizers of high level languages [1]. Traditionally, any call to a procedure causes such analysis to assume the worst-case dependences between data used by that procedure. Vectorizing and parallelizing compilers are strongly dependent on the quality of data dependence analysis [10, 11]. Thus, some compilers in this class include interprocedural data analysis [6, 7]. The goal is to improve code parallelization and to minimize the extent of recompilations triggered by the changes in the called procedures [7]. In the assertive programming paradigm, a computation is represented by a set of assertions about the solution. The flow of control is defined by the compiler based on data dependences. In the Equational Programming Language the assertions are restricted to algebraic equations [17]. Large computations are represented as sets of cooperating processes. In this framework, the quality of the generated code and its correctness depend on recognizing all data dependences existing in the computation. Furthermore, individual process correctness is a necessary but not sufficient condition for the correctness of the entire computation. In analyzing dependences implied by each process, the EPL compiler follows the standard technique of building and processing a data dependence graph [10, 11, 8, 6, 7, 16]. This paper discusses the tools implemented in the EPL compiler for analyzing dependences implied by the process' interactions. Our approach to interprocess data dependence analysis is to extend a dependence graph beyond the scope of each process. The extended graph is then analyzed using the attribute propagation technique developed in the EPL compiler for individual process consistency checking [17]. The derived dependences, called external, are specific to each use of a process in a particular computation. As such, they are kept separate from the process dependence graph. A process needs to be recompiled only if the changes in other process' definitions change its external dependences. The described algorithm, although
Localization of the gravity field and the signature of glacial rebound

The negative free-air gravity anomaly centred on Hudson Bay, Canada, shows a remarkable correlation with the location of the Laurentide ice sheet, suggesting that this gravity anomaly is the result of incomplete post-glacial rebound. This region, however, is also underlain by higher-than-average mantle seismic velocities, suggesting that the gravity low might result instead from dynamic topography associated with convective downwellings. Here we analyse the global gravity field as a simultaneous function of geographic location and spectral content. We find that the Hudson Bay gravity low is unique, with anomalously high amplitude in the spectral band where the power from the Laurentide ice load is greatest and the relaxation times predicted for viable models of viscous relaxation are longest. We estimate that about half of the Hudson Bay gravity anomaly is the result of incomplete post-glacial rebound, and derive a mantle viscosity model that explains both this gravity signature and the characteristic uplift rates for the central Laurentide and Fennoscandian regions. This model has a jump in viscosity at 670 km depth, comparable to that in dynamic models of the geoid highs over subducted slabs, but lacks a low-viscosity asthenosphere, consistent with a higher viscosity in the upper mantle beneath shields than in oceanic regions.
Trajectories of Aging Long-Term Mexican American Heroin Injectors: The "Maturing Out" Paradox.

Objective: To examine the applicability of the “maturing out” theory to a sample of aging Mexican American men who are long-term heroin injectors. Method: Ethnographic data were collected as part of a cross-sectional study of aging Mexican American heroin users in Houston with 20 current heroin users. Results: Findings indicate that dysfunctions that emerge in the heroin lifestyle lead not to cessation but rather to “maturing in,” a specific process of social readjustment that returns the heroin user to a stable maintenance pattern of use instead of a recovery phase. This process of paradoxical maturing out can be attributed to the unconditional social support provided to the heroin user by family, peers, and the tecato subculture embedded in Mexican American communities. Discussion: Results highlight the implications for the intersection of heroin-related conditions, natural age-related impairments, and cognitive functioning that make this population increasingly susceptible to adverse health consequences.
Work Stress and Marriage: A Theoretical Model Examining the Relationship Between Workaholism and Marital Cohesion

Using structural equation modeling the relationship of work stress and marital cohesion was empirically investigated. It was hypothesized that work stress would have an inverse relationship with marital cohesion. Participants were a random sample of 326 adult females who were members of the American Counseling Association. The results of the data-model fit analyses support the hypothesized relationship. The coefficient of determination for the structural equation was 0.60 indicating a substantial degree of explanation for the relationship tested. Implications of these findings for future research are presented.
Concise total synthesis of (-)-muricatacin by tandem ring-closing/cross metathesis.

A strategy for the synthesis of chiral 5-(1-hydroxyalk-2-enyl)-5H-furan-2-ones and its application to the total synthesis of (−)-muricatacin, in four steps and 37% overall yield from (R,R)-hexa-1,5-diene-3,4-diol, are described. The key synthetic step in this approach is a highly regioselective and stereoselective tandem ring-closing/cross metathesis reaction in which both lactone formation and alkyl chain extension are accomplished in an efficient one-pot process.
An interdisciplinary approach to training health professionals in maternal nutrition

Health professionals in the United States continue to be concerned with the many problems that still surround pregnancy and birth. In 1983 there were an estimated 3,614,000 live births. Of these, 39,400 in­ fants died before reaching one year of age. In that year, the provisional infant mortality rate was 10.9 per 1,000 live births. According to United Nations' fig­ ures, Finland's rate of 6.0 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 1982 was almost half of the U.S. figure of 11.2 per 1,000, and worldwide, the U.S. ranked 17th in this category (1).
Nonadditivity and inhibition among chromatic luminances at threshold.

Abstract Under the postulate that all stimuli have the same luminance at absolute threshold, the following experiment was performed. The observer first set a monochromatic light to threshold, then the experimenter reduced this by some fixed proportion to a subthreshold intensity. A second monochromatic light was then added to the subthreshold field, and the amount needed (in threshold units) to bring the mixture to threshold was noted. Ten wavelengths were used, and three trained observers. Marked failures of additivity, and also inhibitory effects, were observed. For example, for each subject, the energy of a green light which had to be added to a red subthreshold field to bring the mixture to threshold was realiably greater than the energy required to bring the green to threshold when no mixing was involved.
Rat α2u-globulin mRNA expression in the preputial gland

Rat α2u-globulin and the mouse major urinary proteins (MUP) are encoded by homologous multigene families whose members exhibit diverse tissue-specific, developmental, and hormonal controls of expression. Although their patterns of expression and hormonal control appear to be very similar in many respects, we have found high levels of α2u-globulin mRNA in rat preputial glands, whereas MUP mRNA could not be detected in the male mouse preputial gland. Male and female rat preputial have similar concentrations of α2u-globulin mRNA, suggesting an absence of endocrine regulation as occurs in the liver and lachrymal glands. Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of proteins encoded by hybrid-selected α2u-globulin mRNA indicates that the liver and lachrymal translation products have different mobilities. However, many of the preputial gland products comigrate with most or all of the liver and lachrymal products. Among the possibilities suggested by these results is that α2u-globulin genes expressed in liver and lachrymal glands under endocrine control are also expressed constitutively in the preputial gland.
Interpretation of the UV−vis Spectra of the meso(Ferrocenyl)-Containing Porphyrins using a TDDFT Approach: Is Gouterman’s Classic Four-Orbital Model Still in Play?

The vertical excitation energies of H_2TPP [TPP = 5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin(2-)], H_2FcPh_3P [FcPh_3P = 5-ferrocenyl-10,15,20-triphenylporphyrin(2-)], cis-H_2Fc_2Ph_2P [cis-Fc_2Ph_2P = 5,10-bisferrocenyl-15,20-diphenylporphyrin (2-)], trans-H_2Fc_2Ph_2P [trans-Fc_2Ph_2P = 5,15-bisferrocenyl-10,20-diphenylporphyrin(2-)], H_2Fc_3PhP [H_2Fc_3PhP = 5,10,15-trisferrocenyl-20-phenylporphyrin(2-)], and H_2TFcP [TFcP = 5,10,15,20-tetraferrocenylporphyrin(2-)] were investigated using a time-dependent density functional theory (DFT) approach and compared to their experimental UV-vis spectra in the 10,000-30,000 cm^(-1) region. It was shown that the lowest energy transitions in meso(ferrocenyl)-containing porphyrins have predominantly ferrocene-to-porphyrin charge transfer character, while the porphyrin-centered π-π* transitions predicted by the Gouterman's classic four-orbital model still have the largest intensities in the UV-vis region. The number of predominantly ferrocene-to-porphyrin charge transfer transitions increases with the number of ferrocene substituents and becomes dominant in H_2TFcP.
Prospective management of malignant hyperthermia in the otolaryngological patient

Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a seemingly rare genetic myopathy. Hypermetabolic crises accompanied by a rise in body temperature to as high as 44 degrees C are its hallmark. These are usually triggered by potent inhalation anesthetics or depolarizing muscle relaxants. Because of the extraordinary risk of death in patients who are at risk, otolaryngologists may be reluctant to operate on these patients. Ten such patients undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, myringotomy with ventilation tube insertion, and nasal polypectomy were anesthetized with nitrous oxide, barbiturates, opiates, tranquilizers and non-depolarizing muscle relaxants without complication. The patients were not treated prophylactically with dantrolene. Cardiac monitoring and rectal temperatures were followed. All ten patients had vastus lateralis muscle biopsy performed and subsequent caffeine/halothane contracture studies completed. The contracture study was positive in eight out of the patients studied. No anesthetic or surgical complications were encountered. This study demonstrates that patients at risk of developing MH crisis can have otolaryngologic procedures performed safely while undergoing appropriately selected general anesthesia.
Cardiac observations late after operative transmyocardial laser "revascularization".

This case study suggests that transmyocardial laser revascularization does not produce lasting benefit.
An overview of UCSD's Center for Wireless Communications

UCSD's Center for Wireless Communications was founded in March 1995 as a partnership between the University and the wireless communications industry. Its goals include the definition and pursuit of a cutting-edge program of precompetitive, multidisciplinary research focused on wireless access systems, technologies, and applications; the creation of a relevant base of new knowledge with high commercial impact potential; and the production of graduates at all degree levels trained to meet industrial human resources needs. Of paramount importance to the achievement of these goals are the involvement, collaboration, and financial support of the CWCs industrial participants. Working in close cooperation with its industrial participants, the theme of broadband wireless access to the Internet was chosen as the unifying focus for the Center's programs, and five thrust areas have been defined: circuits, signal processing (smart antennas and compression), communication theory, networks, and software to wirelessly support multimedia applications. Seven specific goal-oriented projects are currently underway, each intended to meet the long-term interests of a subset of our industrial participants. These seven projects focus, respectively, on ad hoc home networks, universal wide-area wireless service, space-time processing, modulation/coding for enhanced coverage, linear power amplifiers, RF receivers, and changes to the Internet infrastructure needed to support ubiquitous broadband wireless access. Among the many issues being addressed are agent-based computing, division of responsibilities between the tetherless information portal and the infrastructure-based agents, battery-conserving protocols for the air interface, quality of service at the wireless networking layer, capacity enhancement and interference suppression on the radio air interface, modulation and coding, image and video compression, and low-power RF and integrated circuits for the handheld device.
The value of creativity in business process re‐engineering

Explores the drivers behind successful business process re‐engineering (BPR). Examines Caterpillar Inc, located in Peoria, Illinois, USA, using data collected over a four‐year period, beginning in 1992. Reveals positive outcomes which can be directly tied to the deployment of the business process simplification and improvement (BSP/I) methodology. BPS/I provides a systematic methodology for analysis, design and implementation of re‐engineering principles. In addition, it provides the environment to help its people generate creative solutions to critical business problems. Examines the link between the steps of BPS/I and the theoretical phases of the problem‐solving process. Also explores the link between BPS/I and Couger’s variant model of creative problem solving. Notes creative opportunities available to Caterpillar as a result of the identification of this link.
Vibration transmission through rolling element bearings, part I: Bearing stiffness formulation

Abstract Current bearing models, based on either ideal boundary condition or purely translational stiffness element description, cannot explain how the vibratory motion may be transmitted from the rotating shaft to the casing and other connecting structures in rotating mechanical equipment. For example, a vibration model of a rotating system based upon the existing bearing models can predict only the purely in-plane type motion on the flexible casing plate given only the bending motion on the shaft. However, experimental results have shown that the casing plate motion is primarily flexural or out-of-plane type. In this paper this issue is claridied quantitatively and qualitatively by developing a new mathematical model for the precision rolling element bearings from basic principles. A comprehensive bearing stiffness matrix [ K ] bm of dimension six is proposed which clearly demonstrates a coupling between the shaft bending motion and the flexural motion on the casing plate. A numerical scheme which involves a solution of non-linear algebraic equations is proposed for the estimation of the stiffness coefficients given the mean bearing load vector. A second method which requires the direct evaluation of these stiffness coefficients given the mean bearing displacement vector is also discussed. Some of the translational stiffness coefficients of the proposed bearing matrix have been verified by using available analytical and experimental data. Further validation of [ K ] bm is not possible as coupling coefficients are never measured. Also, parametric studies on the effect of unloaded contact angle, preload or bearing type are included. These results lead to a complete characterization of the bearing stiffness matrix. The theory is used to analyze vibration transmission properties in the companion paper, Part II.
CDC project on standardizing steroid hormone measurements

Estradiol and testosterone measurements are widely used to assess steroid hormone status and to monitor stimulative, suppressive, or replacement therapy among children and adults of both sexes. Despite their common application, these measurements - particularly at low concentrations - show only limited comparability among assays, such as those observed for testosterone among women or for estradiol among postmenopausal women. This shortcoming hampers progress in research and in research translation. To overcome this, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, Division of Laboratory Sciences (CDC/NCEH/DLS) initiated a project to standardize and to improve steroid hormone measurements. The project is a collaborative effort between institutions, organizations, and groups involved in estradiol and testosterone testing, test interpretation, and use. Specific activities are scheduled based on needs assessments conducted with the clinical, research, and public health communities. The initial focus of this standardization project is to improve analytical measurements through reference laboratory activities. As part of the project's translational activities, CDC/NCEH/DLS will work further with professional societies and organizations to improve pre- and postanalytical issues that affect results from these measurements and their interpretation.
Configuring express pipes in emerging telecommunication networks

Over the past few decades, telecommunication networks have been designed and implemented to support a wide variety of services, including the integration of a customer's voice, data and video communication requirements. Rapid advances in VLSI technology, coupled with declining costs of fiber-based transmission systems, have resulted in high speed, broadband digital networks capable of transporting hundreds of megabits per second. At the same time, a growing number of business customers have expressed the need for controlling and re-configuring their private networks themselves, to better match their business needs. In digital networks, a key component in allowing this flexibility is the establishment of intelligent Digital Cross-Connect Systems (DCS). With DCS, network re-configuration, including bandwidth allocation and topology changes, can be made on a near real time basis, or be scheduled on a reservation basis to take place once (or multiple times) in the future. In this paper, we study the application of digital cross-connect systems in packet switched networks. These systems allow the designer to configure express pipes or direct links between source--destination pairs that have high communication traffic requirements. Since express pipes are configured by borrowing channels from the underlying, leased, backbone network, establishing a direct link reduces the number of "free" channels available for regular switched traffic, and consequently have the potential of increasing queueing delays. We formulate the problem of judiciously selecting express pipes as a 0/1 nonlinear integer programming problem, that seeks to minimize overall network delay. An efficient Lagrangian relaxation based solution procedure is proposed. Results of computational experiments with the proposed solution technique are also reported.
Defining, developing and assessing global competence in engineers

Engineering curricula are increasingly focused on developing student competencies. Many new competencies needed by engineers today are professional skills (sometimes called the ‘soft skills’). Among the new competencies for engineering graduates is global competence, the ability to work knowledgeably and live comfortably in a transnational engineering environment and global society. While there is broad agreement within the engineering community for the need to better prepare engineers for global practice, there is much less agreement as to what skills and abilities define global competence, what combination and duration of international education and experiences best instil it and what means and metrics should be used to judge whether students have attained it. This paper presents a conceptual model to define global competence, a curriculum model for instilling it and an assessment model to determine if graduates have attained it. It concludes with a description of a quasi-experimental research effort no...
The response of a propane-air counter-flow diffusion flame subjected to a transient flow field

Abstract OH planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) and particle image velocimetry have been used to study the frequency response of laminar C3H8-air counterflow diffusion flames to assess the adequacy of the steady-flamelet models. Particle image velocimetry was used to determine the flame strain rate, while OH PLIF was used both to measure temperature at the flame front, using the two-line PLIF technique, and the reaction-zone width. Both measurements demonstrate that the frequency response of flames subjected to a time-varying flow field is diffusion-limited. At the 30-Hz and 50-Hz forcing frequencies, the maximum reaction-zone temperature and width were found to respond quasi-steadily. However, at higher forcing frequencies-i.e., 100 and 200 Hz-transient behavior is evident from the phase relationship between the imposed sinusoidal strain rate and the resulting peak temperature and reaction-zone width. The measured values of the OH-field widths were well fit by an offset sine function. In all cases when the oscillation amplitude is normalized by the cycle mean strain rate and plotted against the non-dimensional flow field frequency, the results collapse onto a single line having a steep negative slope.
A Perceived Uncertainty Model of Human Resource Forecasting Technique Use

A model of human resource forecasting (HRF) technique use is developed by integrating a perceived uncertainty component (Duncan, 1972) with Hogarth and Makridakis' (1981) model of human judgment. Predictions are generated from the model and existing literature is examined in support of the predictions. The authors conclude that their Perceived Uncertainty Model of Technique Use better explains use of HRF techniques than does a “straight-line” evolutionary approach.
A syndrome of congenital hyperinsulinism and hyperammonemia

This report describes two patients from unrelated families with an unusual syndrome of hyperinsulinism plus hyperammonemia. The diagnosis of hyperinsulinism was based on the demonstration of fasting hypoglycemia with inappropriately elevated insulin levels, inappropriately low beta-hydroxybutyrate and free fatty acid levels, and inappropriately large glycemic response to the administration of glucagon. In both patients, plasma ammonium levels were persistently elevated and unaffected by protein feeding, protein restriction, or benzoate therapy. Plasma and urinary amino acids, urinary organic acids, and urinary orotic acid levels were not consistent with any of the urea cycle enzyme defects or other hyperammonemic disorders. These two patients appear to represent a unique form of congenital hyperinsulinism distinct from the previously described autosomal dominant and autosomal recessive variants. We speculate that the underlying defect involves a site that is common to the amino acid regulation of both insulin secretion in pancreatic beta-cells and urea synthesis in the liver.
L-guluronan-specific alginate lyase from a marine bacterium associated with Sargassum.

Abstract The major extracellular alginate lyase activities secreted by a Gram-negative, facultative bacterium associated with actively growing Sargassum fluitans have been resolved an examined for substrate specificity. A fraction excluded from Sephadex G-75 was equally active toward (1→4)-β- d -mannuronan, (1→4)-α- l -guluronan, and alginate with the formation of di- and tri-saccharides as apparent limit products and oligo-saccharide indicative of an endolytic mechanism. A second fraction which was included during G-75 filtration was inactive toward d -mannuronan and 4 times more active toward l -guluronan than native alginate. Proton magnetic resonance spectrometry identified the primary product of this enzyme as O -(4-deoxy-α- l - erythro -hex-4-enopyranosyluronic acid)-(1→4)- O -(α- l -gulopyranosyluronic acid)-(1→4)- O -α- l -gulopyranuronic acid. The l -guluronan-specific enzyme requires 0.5 m NaCl for maximal activity and has been purified as a monomeric protein having an apparent molecular mass of 38 kD and an approximate pI of 4.5. The predominant formation of trisaccharide over the course of a reaction showed a primarily exolytic mechanism, indicating an enzyme activity unique from any previously reported.
Finite sequences of orthogonal polynomials connected by a Jacobi matrix

Abstract If p0,…,pn is an orthogonal sequence, with pj a monic polynomial of exact degree j, all j, then the sequence q0,…,qn of monic polynomials defined by the requirement that pj=cjqn −j−1pn−1 at the zeros of pn (with cj suitable constants) is also orthogonal (with respect to a possibly differently weighted scalar product). These two sequences can be shown to be the upper left, respectively lower right, principal minors of the matrix t – J, with J a suitable tridiagonal matrix. The sequence q occurs in the characterization of the discrete least-squares approximation to f from span(p0,…,pj) in terms of the (n−j−1)-order divided differences of f p n−1 at the nodes, i.e., the zeros of pn. A complete characterization of the pair (U,V) of zero sets of pj−1 and qn−j is given, and an application is made to the problem of recovering a Jacobi matrix from such data.
Separation of metadata and bulkdata to speed DICOM tag morphing

Most medical images are archived and transmitted using the DICOM format. The DICOM information model combines image pixel data and associated metadata into a single object. It is not possible to access the metadata separately from the pixel data. However, there are important use cases that only need access to metadata, and the DICOM format increases the running time of those use cases. Tag morphing is an example of one such use case. Tag or attribute morphing includes insertion, deletion, or modification of one or more of the metadata attributes in a study. It is typically used for order reconciliation on study acquisition or to localize the Issuer of Patient ID and the Patient ID attributes when data from one Medical Record Number (MRN) domain is transferred to or displayed in a different domain. This work uses the Multi-Series DICOM (MSD) format to reduce the time required for tag morphing. The MSD format separates metadata from pixel data, and at the same time eliminates duplicate attributes. MSD stores studies using two files rather than in many single frame files typical of DICOM. The first file contains the de-duplicated study metadata, and the second contains pixel data and other bulkdata. A set of experiments were performed where metadata updates were applied to a set of DICOM studies stored in both the traditional Single Frame DICOM (SFD) format and the MSD format. The time required to perform the updates was recorded for each format. The results show that tag morphing is, on average, more than eight times faster in MSD format.
Cutaneous Bacteria of the Redback Salamander Prevent Morbidity Associated with a Lethal Disease

Chytridiomycosis, caused by the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), is an infectious disease that causes population declines of many amphibians. Cutaneous bacteria isolated from redback salamanders, Plethodon cinereus, and mountain yellow-legged frogs, Rana muscosa, inhibit the growth of Bd in vitro. In this study, the bacterial community present on the skin of P. cinereus individuals was investigated to determine if it provides protection to salamanders from the lethal and sub-lethal effects of chytridiomycosis. When the cutaneous bacterial community was reduced prior to Bd exposure, salamanders experienced a significantly greater decrease in body mass, which is a symptom of the disease, when compared to infected individuals with a normal bacterial community. In addition, a greater proportion of infected individuals with a reduced bacterial community experienced limb-lifting, a behavior seen only in infected individuals. Overall, these results demonstrate that the cutaneous bacterial community of P. cinereus provides protection to the salamander from Bd and that alteration of this community can change disease resistance. Therefore, symbiotic microbes associated with this species appear to be an important component of its innate skin defenses.
Rising marginal cost and concavity of the production function

Abstract Suppose a production function, f , is continuous, quasi-concave and weakly monotone on the non-negative orthant of Euclidean n -space. Let c (·, ·) be the associated cost function. Then it is shown that f is concave if and only if for each w , c ( w , ·) is convex.
The effect of soy polysaccharide on body weight, serum lipids, blood glucose, and fecal parameters in moderately obese adults

Abstract This double-blind study examined the effects of soy polysaccharide on perceived hunger, body weight, blood lipids and fecal parameters in moderately obese subjects. Thirty subjects, one male and 29 female, completed the 14-week study. The fiber group consumed 6.76 g of dietary fiber as soy polysaccharide in crackers three times per day, 30 minutes before each meal, for a total of 20.3 g of dietary fiber per day. The placebo group ingested low fiber crackers, ingesting a total of 0.7 g of dietary fiber per day. Fiber subjects lost .04 Kg while the control group gained 0.76 Kg (N.S.). Subjects consuming fiber reported feeling significantly less hungry at breakfast. Total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, blood glucose, hemoglobin, and hematocrit levels did not change significantly during the 14-week study. Seventeen of the 30 subjects gave fecal samples at three different times during the study. No significant differences in fecal transit times, wet weight, dry weight, percent of water content, frequency of defecation or stool consistency were found. Fiber subjects, in general, rated their stools as softer than the control group. Thus, an addition of 20 g per day of dietary fiber as soy polysaccharide may reduce hunger slightly, but does not significantly reduce body weight in moderately obese subjects consuming an otherwise normal American diet.
A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of effects of dexamethasone on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in preterm infants.

As part of a blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled study of dexamethasone therapy in 27 preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, we investigated the effect of 7 days of high-dose glucocorticoid therapy on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Before therapy the median basal cortisol concentration in all infants was 8.2 μg/dl (226 nmol/L). After stimulation with 1–24 ACTH, the serum cortisol concentration rose in all infants to a median concentration of 23.5 μg/dl (649 nmol/L), resulting in a median rise of 13.4 μg/dl (37 nmol/L). Immediately after 7 days of glucocorticoid therapy basal and peak cortisol concentrations were significantly decreased in the dexamethasone group. The rise in serum cortisol following 1–24 ACTH, however, remained equivalent in both groups. Ten days after the end of therapy basal and peak cortisol concentrations in the dexamethasone group had returned to levels equivalent to those seen in the placebo group. Weight gain was markedly diminished while the infants were receiving dexamethasone. Weight gains were, however, equivalent 10 days after the end of treatment. These data indicate that 7 days of dexamethasone therapy has significant but short-term effects on cortisol secretion and possibly on weight gain.
Array set addressing: making the world safe for hexagonal imaging

It has been shown through various research efforts over the past few decades that there are numerous advantages to sampling images hexagonally rather than rectangularly. Despite the advantages, hexagonal imaging has not been generally accepted as being advantageous due to the lack of sensors that sample hexagonally, lack of displays for hexagonal images, and lack of an elegant addressing scheme. The advantages gained by sampling hexagonally are offset by the additional processing required to deal with the problems that are inherent with the previously proposed addressing schemes. Hence, there is insufficient motivation to develop sensors and displays that operate in the hexagonal domain. This paper introduces an addressing scheme, array set addressing, that solves the problems exhibited by other approaches. This new approach represents the hexagonal grid with a pair of rectangular arrays, supporting efficient linear algebra and image processing manipulation. Early results have shown that image processing techniques such as convolution, downsampling, calculating Euclidean distances, and vector arithmetic can be done with no more complexity than is required for processing rectangularly sampled images.
Thermally induced loads of fastened hybrid composite/aluminum structures

Large composite structures have been increasingly used in the aviation industry. New applications of composite materials include primary structures such as aircraft fuselages. These large composite parts are sometimes attached, either by the fasteners or adhesive bonding, to metallic structures. Because of the large coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch between the metallic and composite structures, the temperature change from the aircraft assembly line to the actual flight condition induces high thermal stresses during flight in both the composite fuselage and aluminum frames. An experimental program was executed to determine the interaction between the fastened Z-shaped aluminum beams and the solid composite laminate. An analytical model was also developed to simulate the thermal/mechanical behavior of the hybrid composite/metal structure. Finite element analysis was conducted to determine the parameters necessary for the analytical model. The results from the developed analytical model were found to correlate well with experimental results.
Providing conversation partners views of the driving scene mitigates cell phone-related distraction:

Cognitively demanding cell phone conversations impair driving performance. In some situations, conversations with a passenger are less disruptive than cell phone conversations, in theory because of...
Cash Benefits and Poverty Alleviation in an Economy in Transition: The Case of Lithuania

Transition caused output to contract sharply and income differentials to widen, thus poverty has become a serious policy issue in Lithuania. Dramatic increases in the number of people needing assistance occurred at the same time the capacity to finance social welfare services significantly decreased. Utilizing the latest definition, this paper measures the magnitude of poverty, examining the impact of social assistance programs. Policy simulations suggest that better targeting of the poor would generate a significant reduction in the incidence of poverty.
Effects of chromatic adaptation on color naming

Abstract Some effects of chromatic adaptation have been evaluated in the context of a color-naming task. Color-naming responses were obtained from three observers under both neutral and chromatic-adaptation conditions and those data were used to generate indices of the magnitude of change in spectral appearance under various adaptation conditions. A few general comments on the use of color-naming procedures are made.
Concomitant Amphotericin B Therapy, Granulocyte Transfusions, and GM-CSF Administration for Disseminated Infection with Fusarium in a Granulocytopenic Patient

The use of granulocyte transfusions during amphotericin B treatment of invasive fungal infections in granulocytopenic patients is controversial because of concern about pulmonary complications from leukostasis. Moreover, the administration of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) to patients with active infections has been questioned because of reports that this cytokine inhibits neutrophil migration into areas of inflammation. We report a case in which the combined use of amphotericin B, granulocyte transfusions, and GM-CSF was safe and life-saving in a pancytopenic patient with disseminated fusarium infection. Histologic evidence of the migration of neutrophils into an area of active infection was found.
Magnetic studies of bct Fe(100)p(1 × 1)/Pd(100) films

Abstract Electron capture (ECS) and spin-polarized electron emission spectroscopy (SPEES) studies are performed at surfaces of ultra-thin bct Fe(100)p(1 × 1) films deposited on atomically flat Pd(100) substrates. For well-annealed films, the electron spin polarization (ESP) is oriented in-plane, and ferromagnetic order sets in at a surface Curie temperature TCs = 662.3 K (4 ML). Near TCs, the ESP follows the power law (TCs — TCs)β, with a critical exponent β = 0.129 ± 0.01 evaluated near TCs. Varying the probing depth, it is found that the layer-dependent average (ESP) at the topmost surface layer (37%) is enhanced by 32% as compared to that of bulk layers (28%). Pd Auger electrons emitted from the Fe/Pd interface are spin polarized with their ESP oriented parallel to that of emitted Fe Auger electrons.
Shear viscosity coefficients of compressed gaseous and liquid carbon dioxide at temperatures between 220 and 320 K and at pressures to 30 MPa

The shear viscosity coefficients of compressed gaseous and liquid carbon dioxide hav been measured with the torsional piezoelectric crystal method at temperatures between 220 and 320 K and at pressures to 30 MPa. The dependencies of the viscosity on pressure, density, and temperature and the dependencies of the fluidity (inverse viscosity) on molar volume and temperature have been examined. The measurements on the compressed liquid were correlated with a modified Hildebrand equation.
Motivating Compliance with a Request by Remembering Someone's Name:

22 students are asked to comply with a request by their professor after he recalls or is unable to recall their names. Students whose names were recalled started and returned the completed task more quickly than those whose names were not recalled. The results are consistent with the position that remembrance of names motivates compliance with requests. A complimentary interpretation of remembrance of names is argued.
Molecular biology and pathogenesis of Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus

Kaposi sarcoma (KS)-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is the most recently discovered human oncogenic herpesvirus. The virus is associated with KS lesions and other human malignancies, including pleural effusion lymphomas and multicentric castleman's disease. The sequence of the viral genome demonstrated that it belongs to the gammaherpesvirus family similar to the Epstein-Barr virus, the only other known human herpesvirus associated with human cancers. Molecular studies have identified a number of viral genes involved in regulation of cell proliferation, gene regulation, chromatin remodeling and apoptosis. KSHV transforms human endothelial cells in vitro with low efficiency and expresses a repertoire of latent genes involved in the establishment of latency. One of these latent proteins, the latency-associated nuclear antigen (LANA) is required for episomal maintenance and tethers the viral genome to the host chromatin. LANA has now been shown to be a multifunctional protein involved in numerous cellular functions including binding to the retinoblastoma protein and p53, regulating cell proliferation and apoptosis.
Does the Targeted Jobs Tax Credit Create Jobs at Subsidized Firms

This paper uses the results of a survey of more than 3500 private employers to determine whether use of the Targeted Jobs Tax Credit (TJTC) alters the level of a f Irm's employment and/or whom the f Inn hires. We estimate that each subsidized hire generates between .13 and .3 new jobs at a participating f Irm. Use of the program also appears to induce employers to hire more young workers (age 25 and under). Our results suggest, however, that at least 70% of the tax credits granted employers are payments for workers who would have been hired even without the subsidy. Such payments represent mere transfers to employers.
Aeolian cliff-top deposits and buried soils in the White River Badlands, South Dakota, USA

Aeolian deposits in the North American Great Plains are important sources of Holocene palaeo environmental records. Although there are extensive studies on loess and dune records in the region, little is known about records in aeolian cliff-top deposits. These are common on table (mesa) edges in the White River Badlands. These sediments typically have loam and sandy-loam textures with dominantly very fine sand, 0.5–1% organic carbon and 0.5–5% CaCO3. Some of these aeolian deposits are atypically coarse and contain granules and fine pebbles. Buried soils within these deposits are weakly developed with A-C and A-AC-C profiles. Beneath these are buried soils with varying degrees of pedogenic development formed in fluvial, aeolian or colluvial deposits. Thickness and number of buried soils vary. However, late-Holocene soils from several localities have ages of approximately 1300, 2500 and 3700 14C yrs BP. The 1300 14C yr BP soil is cumulic, with a thicker and lighter A horizon. Soils beneath the cliff-top dep...
Localization of age-related macular degeneration-associated ARMS2 in cytosol, not mitochondria

PURPOSE To analyze the relationship between ARMS2 and HTRA1 in the association with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in an independent case-control dataset, and to investigate the subcellular localization of the ARMS2 protein in an in vitro system.
A New Approach to Quantify Functional Improvements Following X-Stop Spacer Procedure: A Case Report

The purpose of this case report was to study effects of X-Stop implant surgery on the continuous spinal movement kinematics using 3D motion analysis. A proposed 3D kinematic spinal model was used to assess lumbar continuous active range of motion (AROM) during a standardized lumbar extension/flexion preoperatively and at 2 months postoperatively of a patient who underwent the X-Stop procedure. To investigate levels of muscle activities, electromyography recordings were made from right and left rectus abdominis, erector spinae and biceps femoris muscles. Also, functional mobility and patient quality of life were evaluated using the 6-minute walk test and the Swiss spinal stenosis and PROMIS-29 questionnaire. At 2 months postoperative, lumbar AROM increased by 18.5 and 14° for flexion and extension respectively and less muscle activation level was observed, despite the increase in lumbar AROM. Unlike positional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that is a common approach to assess spinal posture in static positions, the proposed continuous-motion analysis approach is able to analyze the lumbar AROM dynamically during flexion and extension. In this case report, the results indicate that the lumbar AROM, functional mobility and quality of life have been improved following X-Stop surgical intervention. J Med Cases. 2015;6(5):205-210 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jmc2104w
Comparison of Fixed Burst Versus Decremental Burst Pacing for Termination of Ventricular Tachycardia

The objective of this study was to compare prospectively the efficacy of fixed burst pacing with that of decremental burst pacing in terminating VT. Forty-four patients with inducible sustained monomorphic VT were studied. The efficacy of fixed burst and decremental burst pacing for terminating 57 distinct types of VT were compared during 50 electrophysiology tests (mean VT cycle length = 334 +/- 84 msec). Termination of each type of VT was attempted with fixed burst and decremental burst pacing. Both pacing algorithms were delivered in an adaptive fashion with an increasing number of stimuli with each successive attempt at VT termination. Seventy percent of VT episodes were successfully terminated with fixed burst pacing. The mean number of stimuli required for VT termination was 5 +/- 2. Seventy-two percent of VT episodes were successfully terminated with decremental burst pacing. The mean number of stimuli required for VT termination was 5 +/- 2. For fixed burst and decremental burst pacing, the efficacy of VT termination was greater for VTs with a cycle length > 300 msec than for faster VTs (P 0.1). The results of this study demonstrate that fixed burst and decremental burst pacing are equally effective in terminating VT and that a single adaptive pacing algorithm is effective in terminating nearly three fourths of VTs.