cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Local Vortex Generation and the Surface Mode Spectrum of Large Bose-Einstein Condensates

A combination of analytical and numerical approaches obtains the complete dispersion curve for surface excitations in a condensate held in a plane linear potential. This improvement on previous approximate results yields an accurate formula for the local Landau critical velocity for vortex formation at the surface of a sufficiently large condensate, which agrees very well with recent experiments.
Chinese Migrant Networks and Cultural Change: Peru, Chicago, and Hawaii 1900-1936

Inspired by recent work on diaspora and cultural globalization, Adam McKeown asks in this new book: How were the experiences of different migrant communities and hometowns in China linked together through common networks? Chinese Migrant Networks and Cultural Change argues that the political and economic activities of Chinese migrants can best be understood by taking into account their links to each other and China through a transnational perspective. Despite their very different histories, Chinese migrant families, businesses, and villages were connected through elaborate networks and shared institutions that stretched across oceans and entire continents. Through small towns in Qing and Republican China, thriving enclaves of businesses in South Chicago, broad-based associations of merchants and traders in Peru, and an auspicious legacy of ancestors in Hawaii, migrant Chinese formed an extensive system that made cultural and commercial exchange possible.
Effective-mass analysis of Bose-Einstein condensates in optical lattices: Stabilization and levitation

We investigate the time evolution of a Bose-Einstein condensate in a periodic optical potential. Using an effective mass formalism, we study the equation of motion for the envelope function modulating the Bloch states of the lattice potential. In particular, we show how the negative effective-mass affects the dynamics of the condensate.
Immunologic studies of human high density lipoproteins.

High density serum lipoprotein underwent serologic and physicochemical alterations on aging during storage at 0°C. for 1 month, as judged by decrease of diffusion coefficient and increase of C' fixation. Ultracentrifugation, dialysis, and high concentrations of sodium chloride did not cause these changes. A protein sedimenting at density 1.24 in the ultracentrifuge reacted with antiserum to high density lipoprotein. Probably it was the protein portion of α lipoprotein dissociated from the lipide during ultracentrifugation. Although the antiserum to high density lipoprotein did not react with low density lipoprotein prepared from normal serum, it reacted with similarly prepared lipoproteins from the serum of a patient with biliary cirrhosis.
Experiments and Quasi-experiments: Methods for Evaluating Marketing Options

Excerpt] Hospitality executives have available a number of different research methodologies and tools to aid them in decision making. Each methodology is valuable in its own way, but no single technique can provide all the answers to decision makers' questions. This article advocates the increased use of experiments and quasiexperiments in hospitality-marketing research. To be as effective as possible, marketers should develop and test several potential courses of action before embarking on any of them. The best way to develop a variety of courses of action is to conduct exploratory or descriptive research. The best way to evaluate those options is to conduct a causal-research study that compares consumers' behavior when faced with various options. Experiments and quasi-experiments are under-used, but are nevertheless powerful research tools that allow hospitality marketers to draw strong causal conclusions about the effects of pricing, design, and other changes on the amount of money customers spend, or the number of visits they make to an establishment.
Cosmic Neutrino Background Limits at the KATRIN Experiment and Beyond

The KATRIN experiment is a next-generation tritium beta decay experiment aimed at measuring the mass of the electron neutrino. KATRIN can also serve as a possible target for the process of neutrino capture, νe+H3→He+3+e−. The latter process is sensitive to the Cosmic Neutrino Background (CνB). The KATRIN experiment is sensitive to a CνB overdensity ratio of 2.0×109 over standard concordance model predictions at 90% C.L. Ref: arXiv:1006.1886v1
Quantum inequalities in two dimensional curved spacetimes

We generalize a result of Vollick constraining the possible behaviors of the renormalized expected stress-energy tensor of a free massless scalar field in two dimensional spacetimes that are globally conformal to Minkowski spacetime. Vollick derived a lower bound for the energy density measured by a static observer in a static spacetime, averaged with respect to the observers proper time by integrating against a smearing function. Here we extend the result to arbitrary curves in non-static spacetimes. The proof, like Vollick's proof, is based on conformal transformations and the use of our earlier optimal bound in flat Minkowski spacetime. The existence of such a quantum inequality was previously established by Fewster.
Chew-Low model and the potential description of the π N interaction

The inverse scattering problem for the Chew-Low model is solved and the solution is used to construct three different forms for the off-shell $\ensuremath{\pi}N$ $T$ matrix. The three forms differ in their treatment of the nucleon pole and the crossing cut. One of the forms is shown to be equivalent to a separable potential model with an energy dependent strength. The analysis gives some insight into the question of the range of the $\ensuremath{\pi}N$ interaction.
Dissociating Quaternary Structure Regulates Cell-signaling Functions of a Secreted Human tRNA Synthetase

Many tRNA synthetases are homodimers that are catalytically inactive as monomers. An example is the 528-amino acid human tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase, which is made up of an N-terminal catalytic unit (TyrRSMini) and a 164-amino acid C-domain. Although native TyrRS has no known cytokine functions, natural proteolysis of secreted TyrRS releases TyrRSMini, which not only has the same aminoacylation activity as native TyrRS but also has strong activity for stimulating migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes. The migration-stimulating activity is dependent on an ELR tripeptide motif, similar to that in CXC cytokines like IL-8, and also has the familiar bell-shaped concentration dependence seen for CXC cytokines. Here we show that in contrast to IL-8, where the bell-shaped dependence arises from the effects of CXCR1/2 receptor internalization, TyrRSMini does not induce internalization of CXCR1/2. A rationally designed non-associating monomer and a non-dissociating dimer were constructed. With these constructs, the bell-shaped concentration dependence of leukocyte migration was shown to arise from the agonist (for migration) activity of the catalytically inactive monomer and the antagonist activity of the catalytically active dimer. Thus, the dissociating quaternary structure of TyrRSMini regulates two opposing cytokine activities and suggests the possibility of dissociating quaternary structures regulating novel functions of other tRNA synthetases.
A comparison of the decomposition of a 3-nitreno-1,3-oxazolin-2-one and the isomeric 1,3,4-oxadiazin-2-one

Abstract The oxidation of 3-amino-4,5-diphenyl-1,3-oxazolin-2-one ( 7 ) affords monodiazobenzil 10 as the primary decomposition product of N -nitrolactam 1 . In contrast, the oxidation 3,6-dihydro-5,6-diphenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazin-2-one ( 6 ) leads to diphenylacetylene ( 12 ) via oxadiazin-2-one 2 .
Evidence for the role of mast cells in colon–bladder cross organ sensitization

This study examined the contribution of mast cells to colon-bladder cross organ sensitization induced by colon irritation with trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS-CI). In urethane anesthetized rats 12 days after TNBS-CI, the voiding interval was reduced from 357 s to 201 s and urothelial permeability, measured indirectly by absorption of sodium fluorescein from the bladder lumen, increased six-fold. These effects were blocked by oral administration of ketotifen (10 mg/kg, for 5 days), a mast cell stabilizing agent. TNBS-CI in wild type mice produced a similar decrease in voiding interval (from 319 s to 209 s) and a 10-fold increase in urothelial permeability; however this did not occur in KitaWa/KitaW-va mast cell deficient mice. Contractile responses of bladder strips elicited by Compound 48/80 (50 μg/ml), a mast cell activating agent, were significantly larger in strips from rats with TNBS-CI (145% increase in baseline tension) than in control rats (55% increase). The contractions of strips from rats with TNBS-CI were reduced 80-90% by pretreatment of strips with ketotifen (20 μM), whereas contractions of strips from control animals were not significantly changed. Bladder strips were pretreated with SLIGRL-NH2 (100 μM) to desensitize PAR-2, the receptor for mast cell tryptase. SLIGRL-NH2 pretreatment reduced by 60-80% the 48/80 induced contractions in strips from rats with TNBS-CI but did not alter the contractions in strips from control rats. These data indicate that bladder mast cells contribute to the bladder dysfunction following colon-bladder cross-sensitization.
Human factors: Case history: Building a medical monitor

In the fall of 1965, a group of industrial designers, electrical engineers, and mechanical engineers at Tektronix were called upon to form a team with the express purpose of building a medical instrument. Since it was to be Tektronix' first attempt to enter this market, not much was known about the problems of medical instrumentation and its related technology. This proved to have one advantage, however, since the absence of established rules and protocol governing the new project allowed its members to start completely from scratch. The result: a synergistic approach to the project task (see Box, this page) that led to an instrument superior to any that could have been obtained through disjointed efforts.
Microalbuminuria in pediatric obesity: prevalence and relation to other cardiovascular risk factors

Microalbuminuria (MA) has emerged as a strong predictor of cardiovascular (CV) events, even in nondiabetic adults. While the mechanisms behind this association remain to be established, most studies suggest that MA is the result of increased vascular leakage denoting endothelial dysfunction associated with early vasculopathy. To examine if a urine albumin creatinine ratio (UACR) in the microalbuminuric range is related to metabolic markers of CV risk in obese and pre-diabetic youth recruited from an obesity clinic. MA was defined as a UACR between 2.0 and 20 mg/mmol. Subjects with gross proteinuria (UACR>20 mg/mmol) were excluded from the study. Analyses were performed to assess the relationship of MA and markers of CV risk, including body mass index (BMI), % body fat, blood pressure (BP), lipid profile, inflammatory markers, insulin sensitivity indexes and degrees of oral glucose tolerance. MA was also correlated with risk factor constellations unique to the metabolic syndrome, a distinct CV risk entity. Postchallenge alterations in glucose metabolism and overall loss in insulin sensitivity were strongly and positively correlated with the presence of MA (P=0.002 and 0.01, respectively). Neither the metabolic syndrome nor any of the individual CV risk factors examined were associated with MA. These data suggest that early glucose toxicity, as reflected by postchallenge elevations in plasma glucose even below the diagnostic cutoff for diabetes mellitus may contribute to the presence of MA. Whether MA is equally as predictive of CV disease in youth, as in adulthood, remains to be investigated.
Study of amino acid formation during palmitate oxidation in rat brain mitochondria.

The interrelation of palmitate oxidation with amino acid formation in rat brain mitochondria has been investigated in purified mitochondria of nonsynaptic origin by measuring the formation of aspartate, α-ketoglutarate, and glutamate during palmitate oxidation, and also by assaying14C-products of [1-14C]palmitate oxidation. Oxidation of palmitate (or [1-14C]palmitate) resulted in the formation of aspartate (or14C-aspartate), and the oxidation was inhibited by aminooxyacetate (an inhibitor of transaminase), Palmitate oxidation also resulted in α-ketoglutarate formation, which was sensitive to the effect of aminooxyacetate. Addition of NH4Cl was found to increase14C-products and formation of α-ketoglutarate, whereas glutamate formation was not increased unless the rate of palmitate oxidation was reduced by 50% by aminooxyacetate or α-ketoglutarate was added exogenously. Exogenous α-ketoglutarate was found to decrease14C-products, but not aspartate formation. These results indicated that palmitate oxidation was closely related to aspartate formation via aspartate aminotransferase. During palmitate oxidation without aminooxyacetate or added α-ketoglutarate, however, α-ketoglutarate was not available for glutamate formation via glutamate dehydrogenase. We discuss the possibility that this was because (a) oxidative decarboxylation of α-ketoglutarate to form succinyl-CoA was favored over glutamate formation for the competition for α-ketoglutarate in the same pool, and (b) the pool of α-ketoglutarate produced in the aspartate aminotransferase reaction did not serve as substrate for glutamate formation.
Humour mediates the facilitative effect of bizarreness in delayed recall

The first empirical study focused exclusively on the influence of bizarre elaboration on memory (Delin, 1968) indicated a significant relationship between bizarreness and recall after a 15-week delay. However, that study was strongly criticized on methodological grounds. The present study offers a conceptual replication of Delin's historically significant study which sought to verify his influential, yet criticized, results and to test the possibility that a humour response mediates the relationship between bizarre elaboration and recall using multiple regression procedures. In keeping with Delin's findings, the results of the present study suggest that bizarre elaboration facilitates both free and cued recall after a substantial delay. The results also suggest that the facilitative effects of bizarreness are mediated by humour. The findings are discussed in the context of a comprehensive theory of bizarreness effects.
Routine Discovery of Complex Genetic Models using Genetic Algorithms

Simulation studies are useful in various disciplines for a number of reasons including the development and evaluation of new computational and statistical methods. This is particularly true in human genetics and genetic epidemiology where new analytical methods are needed for the detection and characterization of disease susceptibility genes whose effects are complex, nonlinear, and partially or solely dependent on the effects of other genes (i.e. epistasis or gene-gene interaction). Despite this need, the development of complex genetic models that can be used to simulate data is not always intuitive. In fact, only a few such models have been published. We have previously developed a genetic algorithm approach to discovering complex genetic models in which two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) influence disease risk solely through nonlinear interactions. In this paper, we extend this approach for the discovery of high-order epistasis models involving three to five SNPs. We demonstrate that the genetic algorithm is capable of routinely discovering interesting high-order epistasis models in which each SNP influences risk of disease only through interactions with the other SNPs in the model. This study opens the door for routine simulation of complex gene-gene interactions among SNPs for the development and evaluation of new statistical and computational approaches for identifying common, complex multifactorial disease susceptibility genes.
Smoking and health outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention

Abstract Background This study was designed to describe the impact of smoking on health status and mortality after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods A cohort of 271 consecutive PCI patients at the Mid-America Heart Institute of St Luke's Hospital in Kansas City, Mo, were observed in a prospective, observational study. Surveys that included health status assessments were administered at baseline and at 6 and 12 months after intervention. Primary outcome was health status as measured by the Short Form-12 (SF-12) and the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ). Results Risk-adjusted statistical models demonstrated that, across a number of health-related quality of life domains, patients who were current smokers had poorer health status outcomes than other patients after revascularization. For instance, patients who had never smoked (P
DC motor identification using speed step responses

Based on the DC motor speed response measurement under a constant voltage input, important motor parameters such as the electrical time constant, the mechanical time constant, and the friction can be estimated. A power series expansion of the motor speed response is presented, whose coefficients are used to calculate the motor parameters. Experimental results are presented to demonstrate the application of this approach and its effectiveness.
Robotic thoracoscopic plication for symptomatic diaphragm paralysis

Diaphragmatic paralysis is an uncommon condition characterized by significant elevation of a hemidiaphragm, and can cause dyspnea. The goal of diaphragm plication is to improve dyspnea by correcting the dysfunctional movement of a diaphragm during inspiration. Minimally invasive thoracoscopic diaphragm plication has been widely used and has been reported to lead to significant improvements in dyspnea and postoperative pulmonary function. Advantages of thoracoscopic plication compared to open thoracotomy are less postoperative pain and shorter hospitalization, yet technical difficulties due to limited workspace afforded by the ribcage and the elevated hemidiaphragm have been a major drawback in using the thoracoscopic approach for this disorder. We describe our experience with robotic thoracoscopic plication for the treatment of diaphragmatic paralysis. This is, to our knowledge, the first report of this kind.
Two Authority Structures in the Economy

A second authority structure, called a management system, is emerging in the technological milieu of the information age. The new construct, that operates in a framework of Judaeo‐Christian ethics, must replace the political system. This latter mechanism is the original authority structure which has traditionally been bounded by situation ethics. Supplanting the political system with the management system is an essential condition in the knowledge‐based economies of advanced societies if they are to achieve their full productive potential.
The effects of subchronic haloperidol on intact and dizocilpine-disrupted sensorimotor gating.

Rationale: Reversal of deficits in prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the startle reflex in rats is considered a preclinical screen for potential antipsychotics. Whereas acutely administered antipsychotics consistently reverse apomorphine-induced deficits in PPI, some antipsychotics, including haloperidol, are unable to reverse deficits in PPI produced by non-competitive NMDA antagonists such as phencyclidine or dizocilpine (MK-801). Acute administration of antipsychotics tends to facilitate baseline PPI. However, the effect is generally not large enough in magnitude nor reliable enough to be considered a useful preclinical screen for antipsychotic activity. Objective: Because the clinical effects of antipsychotics typically require subchronic administration, this study tested the hypothesis that reversal of NMDA antagonist-induced deficits in PPI by antipsychotics require subchronic administration. A second aim of this study was to determine if subchronic administration of an antipsychotic produces a more potent facilitation of baseline PPI than acute administration. Methods: Rats received a subcutaneous injection of 0, 0.025, 0.1 or 0.5 mg/kg haloperidol for 16 consecutive days. On day 16, half the rats in each haloperidol dose group received a second subcutaneous injection consisting of either dizocilpine (0.1 mg/kg) or saline. Results: None of the haloperidol doses tested had a significant effect on baseline PPI. The 0.1 mg/kg dose of haloperidol diminished but did not completely reverse dizocilpine-induced disruption of PPI. The other doses had no significant effect. Conclusions: These results suggest that time course factors may partially modify the effects of haloperidol on dizocilpine-induced disruption of PPI but not its effect on baseline PPI.
Rash impulsivity, vengefulness, virtual-self and amplification of ethical relativism on cyber-smearing against corporations

Office outbursts are often associated with impulsive reactions to something that is said or done that aggravates an individual by offending his or her beliefs, expectations, sensibilities, or principles. Vengefulness is linked to needs for retribution (until satisfied) for a perceived offense. An unsettled issue is whether these antecedents are also manifested in electronic expressions known as cyber smearing. Free speech by constitution and legislation in the US, UK, EU have been held as a cherished value and basic right, but the rights to free speech are not unlimited and in fact are legally constrained to varying degrees regarding issues such as related to privacy, defamation, and harassment. Cyber smearing is a campaign waged to damage the credibility or reputation of others over the Internet. Using a randomized study we investigated rash impulsivity, vengefulness, and anonymous identity (a virtual self), as factors contributing to cyber smearing, and we found that when people who lack self-control and have tendencies to seek revenge especially when shrouded in anonymity of virtual self and concomitantly have high tendencies toward cyber smearing. We also found that those who hold the view in which ethical standards are situational and relative amplifies these cyber smearing behaviors.
Is the use of prophylactic theophylline safe for the prevention of severe renal dysfunction in term and post-term neonates with perinatal asphyxia?

Is the use of prophylactic theophylline safe for the prevention of severe renal dysfunction in term and post-term neonates with perinatal asphyxia?
On uniform marginal representation of contingency tables

Abstract For a two-dimensional probability distribution represented as a contingency table, an algorithm due to Mosteller (1968) “standardizes” the table to have uniform marginals so as to obtain its “uniform marginals representation (UMR)”. In this note, this algorithm is first shown to minimize the Kullback-Leibler information function between distributions with uniform marginals and the given distribution. Next, a characterization of such tables is proved, in terms of (i) their UMRs, (ii) cross-product ratios of each of their 2 × 2 subtables (iii) the ability to obtain one table from another only by adjustment of their row or column marginals.
Remote observing with the Keck Telescope from California using NASA's ACTS satellite

As a technical demonstration project for the NASA Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS), we have implemented remote observing on the 10-meter Keck II telescope on Mauna Kea in Hawaii from the California Institute of Technology campus in Pasadena. The data connection consists of ATM networks in Hawaii and California, running at OC-1 speeds (51 Mbit/sec) through optical fiber, and high data rate (HDR) satellite antennae at JPL in Pasadena and at the Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu. The ACTS network provides sufficient bandwidth to enable true remote observing, with a software environment identical to that used for on-site observing. In this paper, we demonstrate that while the satellite link introduces a number of difficulties and decreases overall reliability of the system, remote observing is not only feasible, but provides several important advantages over standard observing paradigms. Benefits include involving more members of observing teams while decreasing expenses, enhancing real-time data analysis of observations by persons not subject to altitude-related conditions, and providing facilities, expertise, and personnel not normally available at the observing site. Although the current bandwidth of the public Internet is insufficient for true remote observing, we nevertheless anticipate a growing role for remote observing techniques, particularly as high-speed terrestrial networking paradigms, such as ATM, become more commonly available.
ECONOMIC PRODUCTION QUOTAS FOR PULL MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS

We consider the problem of using “safety capacity” to ensure due date integrity in a pull manufacturing system and quantify the basic tradeoff between lost revenue opportunity and overtime costs. In this context, we address the question of when it is economically attractive to use “under capacity scheduling” and the problem of setting economic production quotas. We develop four models for addressing the quota setting problem. The first three assume that quota shortfalls cannot be carried over to the next regular time production period. Models 1 and 3 assume that these shortages are made up on overtime and incur fixed or fixed plus variable costs. Model 2 does not use a capacity buffer and treats shortages as lost sales. Finally, Model 4 assumes that shortages can be backlogged to the next regular time production period at a cost. For this model, we compute both an optimal quota and an overtime “trigger,” which represents the minimum shortage for which overtime is used. We give computational results that i...
Elite recruitment and state-society relations in technocratic authoritarian regimes: The Russian case

Abstract This article argues that Russia has a peculiar form of authoritarianism that exhibits pronounced technocratic features. The analysis places in a comparative frame the bases of regime legitimacy and the paths to political, administrative, and economic power in Russia. By locating the Russian state in a matrix that considers the ideology of governance on one axis and the backgrounds of elites on the other, the article highlights areas of overlap and separation between state–society relations in Russia and other regimes in the developed and developing world. It also illustrates the ways in which technocratic elites in Russia differ from their counterparts in other parts of the world.
Fatal attraction: Bacterial bait lures worms to their death

During the past decade, the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans has become a popular model for the study of host/pathogen relationships, leading to a wealth of information about microbial virulence factors and host defense pathways (1). Although the complicated interactions between C. elegans and the many pathogens that it encounters in the soil have become clearer in recent years, there is still much to learn. What are the cues that worms use to detect food sources? How do worms choose which bacterial species to eat and which to leave alone? Once a pathogen is encountered, what are the microbial killing mechanisms and the nematode’s survival mechanisms? The paper by Niu et al. (2) in PNAS provides a rare 360° view of one C. elegans/pathogen relationship. It describes the Bacillus nematocida signals that attract C. elegans, the virulence factors it uses to kill worms from within, and the specific host proteins targeted.
Managing Yield and Water Use of Pearl Millet in the Sahel

Management effects on yield and water use of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) were investigated for a range of climate conditions in the Sahel. Grain and aboveground dry matter yield,daily vapour pressure deficit, and soil water data were taken during four years of contrasting rainfall near Niamey, Niger. Within any given year, genotype, plant population, and fertilizer had relatively small to no effect on evapotranspiration (ET), but large effects on yield. When high plant population (more or =20000 hills ha sup(-1)) was combined with high fertilizer application (more or =40 kg N ha sup(-1) and or =18 kg P ha sup(-1)) during the wettest year, total ET was increased by c. 50 mm. High fertilizer application tended to slightly increase ET and thereby deplete soil water reserves, but this was not associated with yield decline. Yield and water-use data refute the view that, by maintaining fields at low fertility and low plant populations, farmers reduce risk of crop failure during drought by reducing crop water use. Compared with traditional practices that use plant populations as low as 5000 hills ha sup(-1) and zero fertilizer input, moderate plant population (10000 hills ha sup(-1) and fertilizer application (20 kg N ha sup(-1) and 9 kg P ha sup(-1)) substantially increased yield and approximately tripled water use efficiency even during 1984, the driest year on record. In general, grain yield was better predicted from ET within different management categories when corrections were made for mean daily vapour pressure deficit during the growing season.
Characterization of lens proteins. IV. Analysis of soluble high molecular weight protein aggregates in human lenses.

Abstract Soluble proteins of individual human normal and nuclear cataractous lenses of 60–70-year-old subjects were collected for this investigation. The average wet weights of both the normal and nuclear cataractous lenses were found to be essentially identical, approximately 230 mg. When the lens proteins, either cortical or nuclear, were subjected to fractionation by Sephadex G-200sf chromatography, six fractions (F-I to F-VI) were obtained and their respective molecular weights approximated. F-I, which contains α-crystallin and high molecular weight aggregates, was subsequently fractionated through a series of Bio-gel A chromatographic columns. The quantities of the proteins and the molecular weights of each fraction were obtained. All the proteins fractionated were subjected to SDS gel electrophoresis by which the molecular weights of the subunits were obtained. The distribution and molecular weights of proteins smaller than 0·2 × 106 showed certain changes, more noticeable in the nucleus than in the cortex, between the normal lens and nuclear cataractous lens. For the high-molecular-weight protein aggregates, the major fraction in the lens cortex was found to be in the 5−1·5 × 106 range, representing 10 and 12% of the total protein in the normal and cataractous lenses, respectively. The major fraction in the nucleus was found to be > 150 × 106, representing 11 and 19% for the normal and cataractous lenses respectively. The above data are presented for the first time to show the differences in distribution of the high-molecular-weight proteins in the cortical and nuclear regions, and their respective changes in cataractogenesis. Based upon these data, we are able to calculate the average molecular weights of (1) the soluble cortical and nuclear proteins and (2) the total soluble protein, in the normal and cataractous human lenses.
SU-E-I-36: A Study to Compare Operator Dosimeter Exposure versus Fluoroscopic Time and Air Kerma in Fluoroscopically Guided Interventional Procedures.

Purpose: The total effective dose equivalent limit for occupationally radiation exposed persons has remained at 50 millisieverts per year since the 1960s. There is ongoing discussion whether this limit should be lowered. Whether or not it is lowered, all facilities have to adhere to the principle of ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable). In a hospital environment, the workers who typically have exposures which Result in ALARA investigations having to be performed include interventional radiologists, cardiologists, and mobile C‐arm operators. At our institution there are a limited number of interventional radiologists with one person being responsible for performing the majority of the procedures and sometimes exceeding the ALARA investigational levels. Methods: A limited study was performed to compare the number, type of studies, cumulative air kerma, and fluoroscopic time versus the exposure measured by the personnel dosimeters worn by the radiologists. This was also related to the type of angiographic equipment in use. Results: The length of fluoroscopic time and cumulative air kerma and cumulative DAP appeared to be related to the higher exposures received by the operator. The number of procedures performed did not correlate with the personnel dosimeter exposure; rather it was the type and complexity of a study and the length of fluoroscopic time that was related. Conclusion: The number of ALARA investigations required has decreased gradually. This could be attributed to several factors. These include increased use of available safety items. With an increase in the number of interventionalists the work load is distributed more equitably. The purchase of new angiographic equipment has resulted in better image quality and more shielding options for the operators. The operators are periodically reminded to keep fluoroscopic time to a minimum and use appropriate settings on the equipment. The equipment is calibrated to provide adequate image quality at mid‐dose settings.
Using an agent-based model to explore troop surge strategy:

In October of 2001, the United States invaded Afghanistan and replaced the Taliban government. Since its overthrow, the Taliban has pieced together and waged an insurgency to retake Afghanistan, an...
ESTIMATION OF α/β FOR LATE RECTAL TOXICITY BASED ON RTOG 94-06

Purpose To estimate α/β, the parameter ratio from the linear-quadratic (LQ) model, for grade ≥2 late rectal toxicity among patients treated on Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) protocol 94-06, and to determine whether correcting the rectal dose-volume histogram (DVH) for differences in dose per fraction, based on the LQ model, significantly improves the fit to these data of the Lyman-Kutcher-Burman (LKB) normal-tissue complication probability (NTCP) model.
Rasta silanes: new silyl resins with novel macromolecular architecture via living free radical polymerization

Heating TEMPO-methyl resin with dialkylsilane styrenes affords larger resin beads via living free radical polymerization. The new silyl resins prepared by this solvent-free suspension polymerization protocol have been coined “Rasta silanes”. Rasta silanes have a novel macromolecular architecture typified by long straight chain polymers bearing the silanes which emanate from the phenyl rings of a cross-linked polystyrene core. By careful selection of comonomers during the polymerization step, loading capacity, silane spacing, and the relative distance of the silane moieties from the resin core can be controlled. The consistently high-loading Rasta silane resins produced can be easily converted into either a reactive silyl chloride or triflate to subsequently anchor alcohols and phenols to the solid phase. Cleavage from the resin can be mediated by treatment with HF·pyridine, TFA solutions, or TBAF.
Qualitative Psychological Research and Individualized/Collaborative Psychological Assessment: Implications of Their Similarities for Promoting a Life-World Orientation.

This article describes similarities of qualitative psychological research and individualized/collaborative psychological assessment. These similarities remind us of what we often take for granted: their grounding in a human-science psychology that grants priority to the life world. Reflection on that grounding encourages more thorough attention to the assumptions underlying our practices, which in turn may encourage us to extend those practices more broadly and consistently. Holding humanistic values is not in itself sufficient. Themes include empiricality, holistic interpretive evolution of understandings, rigor in analysis and representation, life-world validity, and practical usefulness. This article encourages bridging natural-science and human-science endeavors. It reminds us of the importance of the contexts in which clients and research participants find themselves, and underscores the inherent moral challenges as well as the possibilities for constructive action in both qualitative research and in...
Multi-User Multimedia Resource Management using Nash Bargaining Solution

Multi-user multimedia applications such as enterprise streaming, surveillance, and gaming are recently emerging, and they are often deployed over bandwidth-constrained network infrastructures. To ensure the quality of service required by the delay-sensitive and bandwidth intensive multimedia data for these applications, efficient resource (bandwidth) management becomes paramount. We propose to deploy the well-known game theoretic concept of bargaining to allocate the bandwidth fairly and optimally among multiple collaborative users. Specifically, we consider the Nash bargaining solution (NBS) for our resource management problem. We provide interpretations for the NBS for multi-user resource allocation: the NBS can be used to maximize the system quality. The bargaining strategies and solutions are implemented in the network using a resource manager, which explicitly considers the application-specific distortion for the bandwidth allocation.
Circadian rhythm does not affect responses to chemical cues in the red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii

Studies of crayfish chemical ecology have been conducted in both day and night conditions. This variation may hinder the comparison of data among studies, if the responses by crayfish to chemical cues are dependent upon the time at which the cues are encountered. We tested the hypothesis that responses to chemical cues are dependent on observation time using the red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii. Procambarus clarkii is known to exhibit a light-regulated circadian rhythm, with nocturnal activity peaks. Habitat use differed significantly between non-stimulated periods and periods of exposure to a food stimulus, but no effects of photoperiod (normal vs. reversed) or laboratory conditions (dark vs. light) were observed. The results suggest that, all else being equal, (1) studies of crayfish chemical ecology can be successfully conducted in a variety of experimental conditions, and (2) previous studies conducted at various times of the day should have comparable results.
Kierkegaard and the Dialectic of Demonic Despair

This paper argues that Dante’s conception of Lucifer helps illuminate Kierkegaard’s understanding of the dialectic of despair. In Sickness Unto Death , Kierkegaard’s pseudonym Anti-Climacus sets out what could be called a scalar gradation of forms of despair. In order to scale this gradation, it is necessary to start at the bottom rung, and quickly climb up to the demonic. We then examine one possible meaning of demonic despair and raise a question: why does Anti-Climacus consider demonic despair one of the highest forms of despair? This question is difficult to answer, and it requires some assistance from literature. In order to make some sense of his use of the demonic, we will turn to Dante’s depiction of the fallen angel Lucifer in his Inferno . Working up from the bottom rung, we find ourselves, perhaps paradoxically, in the lowest ring of hell, the ninth ring.
Diagnosis of sinusitis in infants and children.

A study was undertaken to evaluate sinusitis in infants and children and to correlate the clinical and radiographic findings. Symptoms were often minimal, even in the face of marked sinus involvement, and persistent rhinorrhea, cough, and otitis media were the most common findings. Symptoms such as fever, localized tenderness, and pain were much less frequently encountered, and indeed, were conspicuous by their absence. Radiographic examination was found to be valuable both in assessing the initial extent of involvement and in following the response to therapy, but probably is not necessary in every case.
Characterization of the plasma membrane of Mycoplasma laidlawii. II. Modes of aggregation of solubilized membrane components

Abstract The process of assembly of membrane components from Mycoplasma laidlawii, previously solubilized by deteregent (sodium dodecyl sulfate), is investigated under conditions of dialysis to remove the detergent and allow the introduction of different levels of Mg2+. Material aggregated under these conditions is investigated by electron microscopy, density-gradient centrifugation, and analytical ultracentrifugation. In all cases, removal of detergent leads to the formation of lipoprotein material, but large lipoprotein aggregates are only obtained in the presence of Mg2+. Different morphologies and density-gradient profiles are seen for this aggregated material, depending on the initial detergent concentration and on Mg2+ concentration. Only under a limited set of conditions does the majority of this material closely resemble the original membrane.
Error detection by duplicated instructions in super-scalar processors

This paper proposes a pure software technique "error detection by duplicated instructions" (EDDI), for detecting errors during usual system operation. Compared to other error-detection techniques that use hardware redundancy, EDDI does not require any hardware modifications to add error detection capability to the original system. EDDI duplicates instructions during compilation and uses different registers and variables for the new instructions. Especially for the fault in the code segment of memory, formulas are derived to estimate the error-detection coverage of EDDI using probabilistic methods. These formulas use statistics of the program, which are collected during compilation. EDDI was applied to eight benchmark programs and the error-detection coverage was estimated. Then, the estimates were verified by simulation, in which a fault injector forced a bit-flip in the code segment of executable machine codes. The simulation results validated the estimated fault coverage and show that approximately 1.5% of injected faults produced incorrect results in eight benchmark programs with EDDI, while on average, 20% of injected faults produced undetected incorrect results in the programs without EDDI. Based on the theoretical estimates and actual fault-injection experiments, EDDI can provide over 98% fault-coverage without any extra hardware for error detection. This pure software technique is especially useful when designers cannot change the hardware, but they need dependability in the computer system. To reduce the performance overhead, EDDI schedules the instructions that are added for detecting errors such that "instruction-level parallelism" (ILP) is maximized. Performance overhead can be reduced by increasing ILP within a single super-scalar processor. The execution time overhead in a 4-way super-scalar processor is less than the execution time overhead in the processors that can issue two instructions in one cycle.
An (almost) exact solution to general SISO mixed H 2 /H ∞ problems via convex optimization

The mixed (H2/H∞) control problem can be motivated as a nomninal LQG optimal control problem, subject to robust stability constraints, expressed in the form of an H∞ norm bound. A related modified problem consisting on minimizing an upper bound of the L2 cost subject to H∞ constraints was introduced in [1]. Although there presently exist efficient methods to solve this modified problem, the original problem remains, to a large extent, still open. In this paper we propose a method for solving general discrete-time SISO (H2/H∞) problems. This method involves solving a sequence of problems, each one consisting of a finite-dimensional convex optimization and an unconstrained Nehari approximation problem
Neonatal Hypothermia in a Developing Country

Fifty newborn Iraqi children with hypothermia were studied to determine causes and incidence of the precipitating factors. The majority of infants more than three days old (late-onset) had evidence of infection, particularly septicemia. The overall mortality rate was 26 per cent-(42 per cent in low birth weight infants (LBW). Early-onset hypothermia in the first three days of life is due to exposure to cold without evidence of infection and has a good prognosis. The most common finding in our series was a high incidence of aspiration pneumonia in late-onset hypothermia. Antibiotics effective against Escherichia, coli, such as gentamicin, should be given from the outset to all patients with late-onset hypothermia without waiting for laboratory proof of infection.
Tips and Tricks for Robotic Prostatectomy: A Step-By-Step Approach

Since the first Robotic-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy (RARP) has been successfully performed in 2001, robotic assis¬tance has dramatically changed the surgical manage¬ment of clinically localized prostate cancer. In this short period, RARP is now being utilized worldwide. In the United States, 41% of radical prostatectomies were performed with robot-assistance in 2006. This number increased to more than 60% in 2007 and nearly 80% in 2008. More impor¬tantly, multiple RARP series are now mature enough to demonstrate safety, efficiency and reproducibility of the procedure, as well as oncologic and functional outcomes comparable to its open counterpart. In the present manuscript we perform a detailed description of our surgical technique of RALP and provide practical recommendations based on available reports and personal experience
Pioneers in uncharted territory: VINITI and the communist influence on the U.S. scientific and technical information system

Given that the rise of the Internet has greatly intensified information management problems in contemporary society, the historical perspective, or looking at the roots, is viewed by many as an indispensable component of the quest for practical solutions to information overload. This historical comparative study intends to narrow the gap in the existing knowledge about the impact of the Soviet military-industrial complex on the rise of the scientific and technical information management system in the mid-20th century United States, particularly in such agencies as the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Technical Information Service (NTIS). Along with a chronological analysis of primary and secondary documents, data are being collected via a series of interviews with prominent experts in the field whose research has revolved around both VINITI and the formative years of the U.S. scientific and technical information domain. Conclusions regarding the NSF and NTIS reactions to the Soviet developments are being made based on such indicators as organizational changes, budget allocations, and manpower changes.
Pharmacokinetics of β-methyldigoxin in healthy humans III: Pharmacodynamic correlations

Significant decreases in left ventricular ejection time and heart rate were observed after the oral and intravenous administration of beta-methyldigoxin. The time course of this action correlated with the time course of beta-methyldigoxin and its active metabolite, digoxin, in their deepest pharmacokinetic compartments and not with their plasma levels. This pharmacodynamic activity peaked (decrease of 6.3% at 0.6 mg iv and 3.5% at 0.3 mg iv; decrease of 3.8% at 0.6 mg po and 4.5% at 0.3 mg po) at about 10 hr, concomitantly with the amounts of beta-methyldigoxin in its deepest compartment and showed a terminal half-life equivalent to the 41 hr for beta-methyldigoxin. The relative peak heights and area under the ejection time-time curves indicated a linear dose-response relationship on intravenous administration and an effect greater than that reported for larger amounts of digoxin. The time course of heart rate action correlated (8.3 and 12.5% decreases with 0.3 and 0.6 mg iv, respectively; 6.5 and 9.5% decreases with 0.3 and 0.6 mg po, respectively) with the time course of beta-methyldigoxin and its metabolite digoxin in shallower pharmacokinetic compartments (peaks at approximately 80 min intravenously and 135 min orally), and significant effects had disappeared by 10 hr after drug administration. This finding indicated that the biophases differ for ejection time and heart rate action. Mean arterial blood pressure could not be correlated with the time course of drug, although a small consistent decrease (4-8%) was observed from 22 to 72 hr after drug administration.