cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The combined effect of functional independence, loneliness, and social engagement on older adult drinking levels

Loneliness has long been associated with older adult alcohol use; however, the relationship between loneliness and alcohol use remains complex and poorly understood. The purpose of this study is to...
ANALYSIS OF THE QUESTION/ANSWER SERVICE OF THE EMMA CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL INFORMATION CENTER

Introduction At the information centre of the Emma Children’s Hospital AMC paediatric patients, parents, relatives, healthcare professionals and other persons involved with the patient can ask questions about all aspects of disease and social subjects. This is important because sufficient information has positive effects on coping with disease and medical results. Objective To evaluate the question/answer service, what kind of questions are asked, how frequently and by whom, which information sources are the most appropriate for the service and the time it takes and to what extend we are able to answer questions. Methods A case management system was developed in MS Access. Information content areas of all questions and used information resources are registered. Also, characteristics of the requester are registered (parent, patient, healthcare professional, other), if a question was answered (fully, partly, not) according to the employee and according to the requester and the time it took to answer a question. Results In 2007, 1434 questions were asked. Most questions were asked by parents (23.3%). Most frequently asked questions include disease (19.6%) and treatment (12.5%). About 90% of questions could fully or partly be answered. Paper information sources mainly from other organisations were the most used information sources. Conclusions Despite provision of information by their physician or other healthcare professionals and despite access to information on the internet, parents in particular want more and more thorough information about all aspects of disease. The information centre of the ECH anticipates this information need with relatively simple resources.
Deep Venous Aberration.

Deep venous thrombosis is a common medical diagnosis. Estimates suggest 60,000 to 100,000 deaths annually from deep venous thrombosis and related complications in the United States of America. The diagnosis is often straightforward using a combination of clinical features and ultrasonography. Once confirmed, the treatment is straightforward as well - anticoagulation. However, we might come across a case where despite the prescribed treatment, there is little clinical improvement. There could be myriad reasons for this. We wish to share our experience with one such treatment failure and how we were able to narrow down the etiology to an anatomical defect. Eventually, we were able to offer curative treatment with vessel stenting. This case refreshed our medical knowledge and we hope to do the same for our colleagues.
Dimethyl fumarate preserves left ventricular infarct integrity following myocardial infarction via modulation of cardiac macrophage and fibroblast oxidative metabolism.

Abstract Myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the leading causes of mortality and cardiovascular disease worldwide. MI is characterized by a substantial inflammatory response in the infarcted left ventricle (LV), followed by transition of quiescent fibroblasts to active myofibroblasts, which deposit collagen to form the reparative scar. Metabolic shifting between glycolysis and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) is an important mechanism by which these cell types transition towards reparative phenotypes. Thus, we hypothesized that dimethyl fumarate (DMF), a clinically approved anti-inflammatory agent with metabolic actions, would improve post-MI remodeling via modulation of macrophage and fibroblast metabolism. Adult male C57BL/6J mice were treated with DMF (10 mg/kg) for 3–7 days after MI. DMF attenuated LV infarct and non-infarct wall thinning at 3 and 7 days post-MI, and decreased LV dilation and pulmonary congestion at day 7. DMF improved LV infarct collagen deposition, myofibroblast activation, and angiogenesis at day 7. DMF also decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine expression (Tnf) 3 days after MI, and decreased inflammatory markers in macrophages isolated from the infarcted heart (Hif1a, Il1b). In fibroblasts extracted from the infarcted heart at day 3, RNA-Seq analysis demonstrated that DMF promoted an anti-inflammatory/pro-reparative phenotype. By Seahorse analysis, DMF did not affect glycolysis in either macrophages or fibroblasts at day 3, but enhanced macrophage OXPHOS while impairing fibroblast OXPHOS. Our results indicate that DMF differentially affects macrophage and fibroblast metabolism, and promotes anti-inflammatory/pro-reparative actions. In conclusion, targeting cellular metabolism in the infarcted heart may be a promising therapeutic strategy.
Physics-Informed Machine Learning Method for Large-Scale Data Assimilation Problems.

We develop a physics-informed machine learning approach for large-scale data assimilation and parameter estimation and apply it for estimating transmissivity and hydraulic head in the two-dimensional steady-state subsurface flow model of the Hanford Site given synthetic measurements of said variables. In our approach, we extend the physics-informed conditional Karhunen-Loeve expansion (PICKLE) method for modeling subsurface flow with unknown flux (Neumann) and varying head (Dirichlet) boundary conditions. We demonstrate that the PICKLE method is comparable in accuracy with the standard maximum a posteriori (MAP) method, but is significantly faster than MAP for large-scale problems. Both methods use a mesh to discretize the computational domain. In MAP, the parameters and states are discretized on the mesh; therefore, the size of the MAP parameter estimation problem directly depends on the mesh size. In PICKLE, the mesh is used to evaluate the residuals of the governing equation, while the parameters and states are approximated by the truncated conditional Karhunen-Loeve expansions with the number of parameters controlled by the smoothness of the parameter and state fields, and not by the mesh size. For a considered example, we demonstrate that the computational cost of PICKLE increases near linearly (as $N_{FV}^{1.15}$) with the number of grid points $N_{FV}$, while that of MAP increases much faster as $N_{FV}^{3.28}$. We demonstrated that once trained for one set of Dirichlet boundary conditions (i.e., one river stage), the PICKLE method provides accurate estimates of the hydraulic head for any value of the Dirichlet boundary conditions (i.e., for any river stage).
Spherical indentation of NiTi-based shape memory alloys

Abstract In this study, spherical indentation responses of room temperature superelastic (homogenized Ni50.8Ti49.2 and 400 °C 3 h aged Ni45.3Ti29.7Hf20Pd5) and nonsuperelastic (Ni49.9Ti50.1 and 600 °C 3 h aged Ni45.3Ti29.7Hf20Pd5) are revealed as functions of maximum loading level in nano and macro scales. Experimental results showed that for all alloys, the depth and work recovery ratio decrease and then saturate with hmax/R. In contrast, indentation hardness increases and then saturates with indentation depth. Both NiTi and NiTiHfPd alloys have higher hardness in austenite than in martensite. NiTiHfPd alloys have a higher indentation hardness than NiTi alloys which was attributed to the higher strength of NiTiHfPd alloys.
On Some Alleged Truthmakers for Negatives

This article considers three recent attempts by David Armstrong, Ross Cameron, and Jonathan Schaffer to provide truthmakers for negative existential truths. It is argued that none of the proposed truthmakers are up to the task of making any negative existential truth true and, it will turn out, for the same reason.
Daily feeding of diclazuril top dress pellets in foals reduces seroconversion to Sarcocystis neurona.

Thirty-three foals from a farm with a high exposure rate to Sarcocystis neurona were assigned to either an untreated or a diclazuril-treated group. Treated foals received daily 0.5 mg/kg of diclazuril pellets from 1 to 12 months of age. Monthly blood was tested for IgG against S. neurona using the indirect fluorescent antibody test. Following ingestion of colostral antibodies to S. neurona, there was a steady and continuous decline in seroprevalence to S. neurona until foals from both groups reached weaning age. Thereafter, the untreated foal group showed a significant increase in monthly seroprevalence compared to the diclazuril-treated foal group. The difference in temporal seroprevalence could be explained by the successful reduction of S. neurona infection in foals receiving a daily low-dose diclazuril.
A System for Privacy-Aware Resource Allocation and Data Processing in Dynamic Environments

In this paper we describe a system for allocating computational resources to distributed applications and services (within distributed data centres and utility computing systems) in order to perform operations on personal or confidential data in a way that is compliant with associated privacy policies. Relevant privacy policies are selected on the fly, based on related meta-policies, depending on contextual information (potentially including location) and properties of the resources. One or more Trusted Privacy Services are involved to mediate the access to the data, based on the satisfaction of pertinent policies. Resources might be equipped with trusted computing components (e.g. Trusted Platform Modules [1]) to provide higher assurance and trust about the contextual statements or properties of these resources (such as their location, their status and integrity, etc.).
AUTOPILOT: a distributed planner for air fleet control

Distributed planning requires both architectures for structuring multiple planners and techniques for planning, communication, and cooperation. We describe a family of systems for distributed control of multiple aircraft, in which each aircraft plans its own flight path and avoids collisions with other aircraft. AUTOPILOT, the kernel planner used by each aircraft, comprises several processing "experts" that share a common world model. These experts sense the world, plan and evaluate flight paths, communicate with other aircraft, and control plan execution. We discuss four architectures for the distribution of airspace management and planning responsibility among the several aircraft occupying the airspace at any point in time. The architectures differ in the extent of cooperation and communication among aircraft.
Fiebre petequial en Texas

El ilustre hombre de ciencia Ludwik Anigstein, antiguo y sabio profesor de Varsovia quien hoy se encuentra en la Universidad de Texas de los Estados Unidos de Norteamerica, al proseguir sus estudios universalmente conocidos sobre Rickettsiasis, encontro en asocio de Madero N. Bader, un foco de fiebre petequial en Texas con nuevos e interesantes aspectos epidemiologicos. Siendo esta una cuestion tan vivamente interesante para los medicos colombianos, porque la Rickettsia transmitida por garrapatas o sea la fiebre petequial de Tobia, es enfermedad mortifera de varias zonas campesinas de nuestras tierras calidas, publicamos con su asentimiento, para los lectores de la Revista de la Facultad de Medicina de Bogota, la traduccion de la nota informativa del ilustre Profesor Anigstein, aparecida en el No 2.494 del Vol. 96, ano 1942 de la Revista "Science".
Has the WIC Incentive to Formula-Feed Led to an Increase in Overweight Children?

We explored the relationship between the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and overweight status in children, with a focus on WIC's provision of infant formula, through secondary analyses and review of existing literature. Because of the complexity involved and the lack of previous research on the combined link between WIC, breast-feeding, and overweight status, we considered evidence for each of these relations separately. Using food-cost data from the WIC's 1996 Participant and Program Characteristics Survey, we found that the state-level average for 1 y of program benefits for women who formula-fed was over twice the value of program benefits for those who breast-fed (BF). This difference in benefit levels, or formula incentive, was negatively associated with both the in-hospital and 6-mo BF rates in state-level multiple regression models. Despite WIC's efforts to promote BF, other large-scale studies have found a negative association of program participation with BF rates. An inverse association of BF on subsequent overweight in children also has been shown in a number of studies. Despite this accumulating evidence for the protective effect of BF, it has not been seen in African American or Latino populations. In sum, there is reason to be concerned that WIC's incentive to formula-feed may have led to an increase in overweight children; yet there is too much uncertainty about the issue to conclude that this is so. Further research is needed to understand this relationship, as is the development of applied interventions to increase BF rates.
Clinically determined and self-reported dental status during and after pregnancy among low-income Hispanic women

Objectives This analysis assessed, during and one-year after pregnancy: 1) the prevalence of and relationship between self-reported and clinically determined dental caries and oral health status, and whether self-reports are a potential proxy for professional determination; 2) factors associated with high levels of professionally determined or self-reported oral disease.
Accelerated maturation of limb mesenchyme by the BrachypodH mouse mutation.

Abstract Mesenchyme cell populations prepared from proximal and distal halves of stage 20 mouse forelimb buds are shown to behave under in vitro micromass culture conditions like analogous cell populations obtained from chick embryo limb buds. While the distal cells are spontaneously chondrogenic, the proximal cells make aggregates which are only potentially chondrogenic after treatment with dibutyryl cyclic AMP. In addition, stage 20 mouse whole limb bud cells homozygous for the brachypodism H ( bp H ) mutation are shown to behave similarly to ‘normal’ proximal cells. Both make fewer aggregates and nodules and both have faster aggregation rates (determined as the rate of disappearance of single cells over time) in rotation cultures than ‘normal’ distal or whole limb bud cells. These results support the hypothesis that the bp H mutation specifically decreases the proportion of spontaneously chondrogenic mesenchyme cells (that is, distal-like cells) present at certain developmental stages in the limb bud, resulting in a prematurely high proportion of proximal-like cells.
Measurements of the low-energy cosmic radiation during the summer of 1966.

Isotopic composition of hydrogen and helium nuclei in low energy cosmic rays based on scintillation counter telescope data during balloon flights
Lack of acute alcohol effects on estradiol and luteinizing hormone in female macaque monkey

Abstract The effects of alcohol (1.5, 2.5, 3.5 g/kg) on 17-β estradiol and LH were evaluated in adult female Macaque monkeys. Integrated plasma samples were collected prior to and following nasogastric intubation of alcohol or isocaloric sucrose control solutions. Samples were collected at 30 minute intervals over 240 minutes. Each alcohol dose and control was studied at menstruation, the peri-ovulatory and mid-luteal periods and the premenstruum. After low, moderate and high doses of alcohol, blood alcohol levels (BAL) averaged 140, 260 and 344 mg/dl at the peak of the ascending BAL curve. Despite high blood alcohol levels, there was no evidence of alcohol dose-related suppression of LH or 17-β estradiol at any phase of the menstrual cycle. These data are consistent with our findings in human females that acute alcohol intoxication did not suppress LH or estradiol. The apparent resiliency of human and Macaque females to acute alcohol effects on reproductive hormones contrasts sharply with data obtained in males that alcohol significantly suppresses testosterone in all species studied.
A thermoanalytical study of polyesterification reactions in solid mixtures of pentaerythritol and dicarboxylic acids, oxalic acid and succinic acid

Abstract DSC and TG, supported by IR spectrophotometry, evolved gas anaysis and pyrolysis-gas chromatography, were applied to the study of reactions in solid mixtures of pentaerythritol, 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol, with succinic acid and with oxalic acid. In all cases the pentaerythritol reacted with the acid in 1:2 mole ratio to form polyesters. However, the nature of the polymeric product depended on the amounts of reactants taken.
Intra/extra-aneurysmal stent placement for management of complex and wide-necked- bifurcation aneurysms: eight cases using the waffle cone technique.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a novel application of the Neuroform stent (Boston Scientific-Target, Fremont, CA) for the management of eight wide-necked aneurysms. METHODS: All patients were treated using a single Neuroform stent placed partially into the aneurysm and into the afferent artery. The portion of the stent protruding into the aneurysm fundus provided neck support for the subsequent successful coiling. CONCLUSION: The Neuroform stent is a versatile device that can be used in a variety of ways to assist in the coiling of wide-necked aneurysms. The technique described here may be used for bifurcation aneurysms in lieu of using two stents in a Y configuration.
Network complexity as a measure of information processing across resting-state networks: evidence from the Human Connectome Project

An emerging field of research focused on fluctuations in brain signals has provided evidence that the complexity of those signals, as measured by entropy, conveys important information about network dynamics (e.g., local and distributed processing). While much research has focused on how neural complexity differs in populations with different age groups or clinical disorders, substantially less research has focused on the basic understanding of neural complexity in populations with young and healthy brain states. The present study used resting-state fMRI data from the Human Connectome Project (Van Essen et al., 2013) to test the extent that neural complexity in the BOLD signal, as measured by multiscale entropy 1) would differ from random noise, 2) would differ between four major resting-state networks previously associated with higher-order cognition, and 3) would be associated with the strength and extent of functional connectivity—a complementary method of estimating information processing. We found that complexity in the BOLD signal exhibited different patterns of complexity from white, pink, and red noise and that neural complexity was differentially expressed between resting-state networks, including the default mode, cingulo-opercular, left and right frontoparietal networks. Lastly, neural complexity across all networks was negatively associated with functional connectivity at fine scales, but was positively associated with functional connectivity at coarse scales. The present study is the first to characterize neural complexity in BOLD signals at a high temporal resolution and across different networks and might help clarify the inconsistencies between neural complexity and functional connectivity, thus informing the mechanisms underlying neural complexity.
How wide is the Calaveras fault zone—Evidence for distributed shear along a major fault in central California

High-angle and reverse faults offset Pleistocene and Holocene deposits across a zone several kilometres wide east of the Calaveras fault near Sunol, California. Alignment of recent epicenters with these and other fault traces suggests that a band of contemporary deformation roughly parallels the Calaveras fault. These exposures provide evidence that active deformation associated with this major transverse fault is distributed over a broad zone. This complex pattern of faulting suggests that other faults throughout central California may be more active than is recognized in seismic hazard assessments.
Studies of observed trends in values of Bethe–Bloch parameters extracted from stopping power measurements

In the course of previous investigations, trends in values of the Bethe–Bloch parameters, mean excitation energy (I) and Barkas-effect parameter (b), have been observed. Generally I values decrease with increasing projectile atomic number (z) whereas b values increase. However, the opposite trends have been previously observed for ZnSe and GaAs targets traversed by 1H and 4He projectiles. In the present study, that opposite trend was also followed when 7Li projectiles were included. When selected measurements for 4He, 12C, 14N, and 16O projectiles impinging on Si targets were analyzed, extracted I and b values followed essentially the original trends in z dependence. Stopping power measurements for 12 elemental targets with atomic numbers (Z) lying between 12 and 48 traversed by 29Si projectiles have been analyzed for determination of values of a single effective charge parameter, as part of a continuing study of systematics in such values in terms of both z and Z. Two other sets of measurements featuring 7Li projectiles and eight elemental targets with Z values between 5 and 48 have been similarly analyzed. In some of the effective charge studies the data proved amenable to extraction of three parameters, so that results could be included in the ongoing study of z dependences of extracted values of I and b. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2004
Sexual Minority Young Adult Religiosity, Sexual Orientation Conflict, Self-Esteem and Depressive Symptoms

Positive associations between religious involvement and psychosocial health outcomes have been amply documented. However, many of these studies have not accounted for the sexual identification of the participants sampled and have been limited in their conceptualization of religiosity. The religious context may be a source of conflict for some sexual minority individuals. As such, additional research is needed to examine the relationship between sexual minority religiosity and mental health. One-hundred and six sexual minority young adults (ages 18–24) were surveyed to examine the relationship between a multidimensional understanding of religiosity and sexual orientation conflict, self-esteem, and depressive symptoms. While behavioral religiosity was generally not related to mental health outcomes, affective and cognitive measures of religiosity indicate both risk and protective benefit. These relationships are not moderated by either biological sex or years since self-identification as a sexual minority.
Models of Aortic Valve Calcification

Aortic valve stenosis is a complex inflammatory process, akin to arterial atherosclerosis, involving lymphocytic infiltrates, macrophages, foam cells, endothelial activation and dysfunction, increased cellularity and extracellular matrix deposition, and lipoprotein accumulation. A clonal population of aortic valve myofibroblasts spontaneously undergoes phenotypic transdifferentiation into osteoblast-like cells and forms calcific nodules in cell culture. Animal models complement these cell culture models by providing in vivo systems in which to study the complex molecular and cellular interactions that cause aortic valve disease in the native hemodynamic and biochemical environment. Whereas some species, such as swine, can develop spontaneous vascular and valvular atherosclerotic lesions, others, such as rabbits and mice, have not been shown to develop lesions naturally and require an inciting factor, such as hypercholesterolemia. In this article, we review the published cell culture and animal models available to study calcific aortic valve disease.
Thermal quenching of fluorescence in chromium-doped fluoride laser crystals

The temperature dependence of the fluorescence lifetime of chromium ions in the fluorides LiBaAlF6, LiCaAlF6, LiSrAlF6, and LiSr0.8Ca0.2AlF6 is reported. In each crystal the lifetime at low temperatures is nearly constant. Above a temperature that depends on the host the lifetime drops rapidly with increasing temperature. This strong decrease is attributed to nonradiative decay processes. From the experimental data the radiative decay rate, the thermal quenching activation energy, and the nonradiative decay rate are determined. Excellent agreement with the Mott model is then demonstrated by using these parameters.
The Feasibility of a VLSI Chip for Ray Tracing Bicublic Patches

In this article we explore the possibility of a VLSI chip for ray tracing bicubic patches in Bezier form. The purpose of the chip is to calculate the intersection point of a ray with the bicubic patch to a specified level of accuracy, returning parameter values (u,v) specifying the location of the intersection on the patch, and a parameter value, t, which specifies the location of the intersection on the ray. The intersection is calculated by succesively subdividing the patch and computing the intersection of the ray with a bounding box of each subpatch until the bounding volume meets theaccuracy requirement. There are two operating modes: another in which all intersections are found. This algorithm (and the chip) correctly handle the difficult cases of the ray tangentially intersecting a planar patch and intersections of the ray at a silhouette edge of the patch. Estimates indicate that such a chip could be implemented in 2-micron NMOS (N-type metal oxide semiconductor) and could computer patch-ray intersections at the rate of one every 15 microseconds for patces that are prescaled and specified to a 12-bit fixed point for each of the x, y, and z components. A version capable of handling 24-bit patches could compute patch/ray intersections at the rate of one every 140 section point could be performed with the addition of nine scalar subtractions and six scalar multiplies. Images drawn using a software version of the algorithm are presented and discussed.
Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials of Drug-Eluting Stents Versus Bare Metal Stents in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is a major risk factor for restenosis in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. Randomized controlled trials comparing drug-eluting stents (DESs) with bare metal stents (BMSs) showed a marked decrease in in-stent restenosis and target lesion revascularization with DESs in the total patient population enrolled in the studies, including patients with diabetes. However, it remains unclear whether the antirestenotic benefit of DESs is preserved in the high-risk diabetic subgroup. MEDLINE, EMBASE, ISI Web of Knowledge, Current Contents, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, and recent Scientific Sessions databases were searched to identify relevant clinical trials comparing DESs with BMSs. A randomized controlled trial was included if it provided outcome data for patients with diabetes for ≥1 of the following: late lumen loss, in-stent restenosis, or target lesion revascularization. Data were combined using fixed-effects models, and standard tests for heterogeneity were performed. Eight studies with 1,520 patients with diabetes were identified that reported ≥1 outcome of interest. Mean late lumen losses (7 studies) were 0.93 mm (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.510 to 1.348) with BMSs and 0.18 mm (95% CI −0.088 to +0.446) with DESs. For patients receiving a DES, this translated into a marked decrease in in-stent restenosis (7 studies, RR 0.14, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.22, p
Quality of life of African‐American and white long term breast carcinoma survivors

BACKGROUND Increasingly, the quality of life (QOL) of women diagnosed with breast carcinoma is being studied. However, there is little information regarding long term survivors among ethnic minority women. The purpose of this study was to describe the QOL of long term breast carcinoma survivors (BCS) and to examine the role of ethnicity in influencing their well-being. METHODS The authors conducted a mailed survey to examine QOL, health perceptions, and life stress among long term BCS. Subjects diagnosed between 1989 and 1990 were identified among respondents to a prior study who were originally recruited from the California Tumor Registry. This survey instrument included standard measures of QOL (e.g., the RAND SF-36 Health Perceptions Scale, the Cancer Rehabilitation and Evaluation Survey-Short Form [CARES-SF], and the Ladder of Life) and new items. RESULTS Two hundred and seventy-eight women participated; 117 were African- American, and 161 were white. The initial univariate evaluation of the CARES-SF and the RAND SF-36 Health Perceptions Scale suggested potential ethnicity-related differences in QOL. To control for various medical and demographic characteristics and to examine the potential relation between ethnicity and QOL, multiple regression analyses were conducted. The final model accounted for 45% (R-square = 0.450) of the variance in QOL with general health perception, life stress, income, partnership status, and comorbid conditions included in the model. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study suggest that, overall, BCS report favorable health-related QOL. Differences in QOL outcomes are attributable to socioeconomic and life-burden factors and not to ethnicity. Cancer 1999;85:418–26. © 1999 American Cancer Society.
Photoproduction of bound states with hidden charm

The photoproduction of the $J/\ensuremath{\Psi}$-${}^{3}\mathrm{He}$ bound state (${{[}^{3}\mathrm{He}]}_{J/\ensuremath{\Psi}}$) on a ${}^{4}\mathrm{He}$ target has been investigated using the impulse approximation. The calculations have been performed using several $\ensuremath{\gamma}+N\ensuremath{\rightarrow}J/\ensuremath{\Psi}+N$ models based on the Pomeron-exchange and accounting for the pion-exchange mechanism at low energies. The $J/\ensuremath{\Psi}$ wave functions in ${{[}^{3}\mathrm{He}]}_{J/\ensuremath{\Psi}}$ are generated from various $J/\ensuremath{\Psi}$-nucleus potentials which are constructed by either using a procedure based on the Pomeron-quark coupling mechanism or folding a $J/\ensuremath{\Psi}$-$N$ potential (${v}_{J/\ensuremath{\Psi},N}$) into the nuclear densities. We consider ${v}_{J/\ensuremath{\Psi},N}$ derived from the effective field theory approach, lattice QCD, and Pomeron-quark coupling mechanism. The upper bound of the predicted total cross sections is about 0.1--0.3 pb. We also consider the possibility of photoproduction of a six quark-$J/\ensuremath{\Psi}$ bound state (${[{q}^{6}]}_{J/\ensuremath{\Psi}})$ on the ${}^{3}\mathrm{He}$ target. The compound bag model of $NN$ scattering and the quark cluster model of nuclei are used to estimate the $[{q}^{6}]$-$N$ wave function in ${}^{3}\mathrm{He}$ by imposing the condition that the calculated ${}^{3}\mathrm{He}$ charge form factor must be consistent with what is predicted by the conventional nuclear model. The upper bound of the predicted total cross sections of $\ensuremath{\gamma}+{}^{3}\mathrm{He}\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{[{q}^{6}]}_{J/\ensuremath{\Psi}}+N$ is about 2--4 pb, depending on the model of $\ensuremath{\gamma}+N\ensuremath{\rightarrow}J/\ensuremath{\Psi}+N$ used in the calculations. Our results call for the need of precise measurements of $\ensuremath{\gamma}+p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}J/\ensuremath{\Psi}+p$ and also the $\ensuremath{\gamma}+{}^{2}\mathrm{H}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}J/\ensuremath{\Psi}+n+p$ reactions near the threshold.
Design of a 2D joystick for robot control based on a 6 DOF haptic device

We introduce a simple modification which can be applied to a commercial haptic device to convert it into a 2D haptic joystick. We also introduce a simplified haptic API designed to allow rapid development of sophisticated haptic feedback behaviors on our 2D joystick. Finally, we present a case study in which we demonstrate the implementation of a haptic effect for controlling an autonomous robot using our set up. The design files, software, and instructions needed to duplicate our set up are being made publicly available.
Evaluation of the rate of the reaction between dioxygen and Co(II)cyclam by means of rotating disk voltammetry

Abstract Rotating graphite disk electrodes were used to reduce trans-CoIII(cyclam)(OH2)2 (cyclam = 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane) to CoII(cyclam)(OH2)2 in the presence of dioxygen. Two different products are formed depending on the ratio of the concentrations of the reactants and the electrode rotation rate. The rotation rate dependence of the measured plateau currents was analyzed by means of a digital simulation program that accommodated second order reactions between reactants having disparate diffusion coefficients and accounted nicely for the observed disk currents. The ready availability of such programs eliminates the need for more approximate approaches that have sometimes been employed to cope with unequal diffusion coefficients.
Designing for spectral conformity: Issues in power amplifier design

Spectral constraints placed upon radar systems by regulatory agencies require the design of highly linear amplifiers. Spectral spreading in power amplifiers is a result of transistors operated in the nonlinear regime to optimize efficiency. Several different methods are employed by power amplifier designers to maximize both linearity and efficiency. The methods of predistortion, feedforward, envelope tracking, Doherty, and “Linear Amplification Using Nonlinear Components” (LINC) are discussed in this paper. Tradeoffs and challenges inherent in these design approaches are surveyed.
Canonical reduction of second-order fitted models subject to linear restrictions

Canonical reduction of second-order response surfaces is a useful technique for finding the form and shape of surfaces and often for discovering redundancies that enable the surface to be expressible in a simpler form with fewer canonical predictor variables than there are original predictor variables. Canonical reduction of models subject to linear restrictions has received little attention, possibly due to the apparent difficulty of performing it. An important special application is when the predictor variables are mixture ingredients that must sum to a constant; other linear restrictions may also be encountered in such problems. A possible difficulty in interpretation is that the stationary point may fall outside the permissible restricted space. Here, techniques for performing such a canonical reduction are given, and two mixture examples in the literature are re-examined, and canonically reduced, to illustrate what canonical reduction can and cannot provide.
Giorgio Manganelli and the Illegible Obscene

This article begins by noting a critical, if critically neglected truth about Giorgio Manganelli’s literary production: it is emphatically obscene. I then identify and analyse a pervasive tension between an avowal of a linguistic and rhetorical transparency developed in reference to reproductive organs, and an affirmation of illegibility. Studying ‘La letteratura come mafia’ (1968), ‘La letteratura come menzogna’ (1967), Hilarotragoedia (1964),and other writings that focus on reproductive organs and express both a frustration with cycles of tumescence and detumescence and a lurid horror feminae, this article isolates the rhetorical strategies that enable such an incongruous aesthetic union of the illegible and the obscene.
Dose-response relationships of exogenous progesterone shortly after ovulation on estrous cycle length, blastocyst development and fertility in sheep

Maternal recognition of pregnancy is a period of competing signals; a luteolytic signal from the endometrium and an antiluteolytic signal from the blastocyst (s). Exogenous progesterone indirectly enhances these signals, causing premature release of prostaglandin and stimulating growth of blastocysts. In Experiment 1, 78 ewes were injected with vehicle or varying dosages of progesterone on Days 2–4 (Day 0 represents onset of estrus) for the purpose of comparing the minimal dose that shortened the estrous cycle, in non-pregnant ewes, to the minimal dose that enhanced growth of blastocysts to Day 13, in pregnant ewes. In Experiment 2, a field trial was conducted using Targhee and Polypay ewes to evaluate their fertility after treatment with vehicle or 6 mg of progesterone (n = 55). Analysis of plasma samples indicated that none of the dosages of exogenous progesterone altered concentrations of progesterone by Days 5 or 10, suggesting that treatment with exogenous progesterone failed to alter luteal function to Day 10. The minimal dose of progesterone that shortened (P<0.05) the estrous cycle was 6 mg and was the same dose that began to stimulate (P<0.05) blastocyst growth. Lambing rates of Targhee ewes were not different following treatment with exogenous progesterone. However, the lambing rate of Polypay ewes increased (P<0.05) from 200 to 256%. These data suggest that treatment of sheep, predisposed to an ovulation rate greater than two, with progesterone improved embryonic survival by a still unknown mechanism(s) that might have also advanced luteolytic and antiluteolytic signals.
Tifluadom's effects under electric shock titration and tail-immersion procedures in squirrel monkeys

The analgesic efficacy of the kappa-opioid benzodiazepine, tifluadom, was examined in squirrel monkeys using electric shock titration and tail-immersion procedures. Tifluadom produced dose-dependent increases in the shock intensity that maintained responding under the shock titration schedule without substantially decreasing response rates. Tifluadom also increased the latency of tail-withdrawal from 55 degrees C water. Naloxone attenuated tifluadom's effects under both procedures. These results extend previous reports of tifluadom's analgesic characteristics and suggest that the tail-immersion procedure is a useful analgesic assay in squirrel monkeys.
Canonical correlation and reduction of multiple time series

It is shown that a degenerate rankd-variate stationary time series can be reduced to a full rank time series of lower dimension via an orthogonal transformationT provided that ρ, the canonical correlation between past and future of the time series is strictly less than one. Procedures for estimation of rank of the multiple time series,T and testing ρ=1 are outlined, the latter is related to testing the unit root hypothesis in ARMA models.
Age-related changes in auditory evoked potentials of gerbils. II. Response latencies.

Abstract Auditory brainstem responses (ABR) were recorded in young (6–10 month) and aged (36 month) Mongolian gerbils. Data from the young animals served as the baselines for comparison to aged animals which were categorized on the basis of ABR thresholds. Aged gerbils with normal thresholds (re young controls) had wave i and ii latencies of the ABR which were relatively normal at 1–4 kHz and slightly reduced at 8 and 16 kHz. Wave iv latencies in the aged gerbils with normal thresholds were reduced at all frequencies. Aged gerbils with 10–30 dB of hearing loss had wave i, ii, and iv latencies which were prolonged at low sound pressure levels and normal at high stimulus levels. Aged gerbils with 30 dB or greater losses had prolonged wave i, ii, and iv latencies at most levels. Slopes of latency-intensity (L/I) functions were steeper at 1–4 kHz than controls in aged subjects with hearing losses of 10 dB or greater. Slopes of L/I functions for wave iv were normal in aged subjects. The wave i–iv interval was shorter than normal in aged subjects with no hearing loss, normal in aged subjects with 10–30 dB of loss, and prolonged in subjects with greater than 30 dB of loss.
Historical analysis of grasshopper (Orthoptera: Acrididae) population responses to climate in southern Idaho, 1950-1980.

The relationships between grasshopper densities and climatic variables in southern Idaho were examined using historical grasshopper survey records from 1950 to 1980. Mean annual grasshopper densities were calculated from grasshopper counts made within a 20-km radius of each of 26 weather stations spanning the Snake River plains and adjacent areas. The mean annual densities for each location were averaged to yield 27-yr mean grasshopper densities. Maximum r 2 improvement regression techniques were used to select average weather factors that were correlated with grasshopper densities. The average November precipitation and mean April temperature proved to be the best indicators of the mean grasshopper density for a location, accounting for 92% of the variation in the 27-yr mean densities. The relationships of temperature and precipitation to annual grasshopper population fluctuations were analyzed at 15 locations. Most of the mean monthly temperature variables included in the regression equations were positively correlated with grasshopper densities, except for November, December, and January mean temperatures, which were negatively correlated with grasshopper densities in the following year. Precipitation variables included in the regression models were positively correlated with grasshopper densities at nearly all locations. Precipitation appears to be an important factor driving grasshopper population dynamics in southern Idaho, possibly by its effect on vegetation quality and quantity.
Current attitudes of medical students and house staff toward terminal illness

A survey questionnaire about attitudes toward terminal illness was administered to all medical students, interns, and all medical, surgical, and psychiatric residents at the Downstate Medical Center. The majority of students and new physicians surveyed reported that patients with terminal illness should be told their diagnosis--a reversal of attitudes as compared with those revealed by studies done before 1970. Most of the respondents also expressed the view that they would want to be told of their own fatal illness. The attitudes at different levels in medical school, internship, and residency did not differ significantly despite the differences in formal education and clinical experience of the respondents. Implications of these findings are discussed with particular emphasis on the need to teach an individualized approach to the dying patient.
Radii of gyration of opaque biological microparticles from light scattering

Fraunhofer diffraction dominates the intensity of light scattered near the forward direction by opaque particles. The pattern within about 0·7 the forward scattered intensity is shown to be approximated by Gaussian functions characterized by a radius of gyration defined somewhat differently for opaque single oriented, randomly oriented homogeneous and heterogeneous microparticles samples. The Gaussian function allows extrapolation of diffraction data to zero scattering angle and thus the obtaining of the projected particle area. The latter together with the radius of gyration gives a rotational inertia for homogeneous samples. Data analysis and interpretation procedures are presented for opaque microparticles in the range from 1 μm to 100 μm.
DEVELOPMENT OF RETINOPATHY AND PROTEINURIA IN RELATION TO PLASMA-GLUCOSE CONCENTRATIONS IN PIMA INDIANS

The risks of microvascular complications over periods of 3 and 6 years in relation to baseline plasma glucose concentrations were estimated in Pima Indians of Arizona aged 25 years or more and who were not taking hypoglycaemic medicine at their initial examinations. Retinopathy (microaneurysms, haemorrhages, or neovascularisation) developed within 3 years in 1% of 181 subjects with initial fasting plasma glucose concentrations less than 140 mg/dl (1 mg/dl = 0.0555 mmol/l) and in 13% of 39 subjects with higher initial fasting plasma glucose levels. No one with an initial 2 h glucose concentration less than 200 mg/dl had retinopathy within 3 years, but the rate was 12% in 60 subjects with higher glucose concentrations. Retinopathy developed within 6 years in 1% of 446 subjects whose 2 h post-load glucose concentrations were less than 200 mg/dl and in 20% of 113 subjects with higher levels. Subsequent development of heavy proteinuria (urine protein/creatinine ratio at least 1.0) was less common than that of retinopathy, but was similarly related to the initial fasting and 2 h plasma glucose concentrations. The finding that these microvascular complications rarely appeared in individuals with fasting plasma glucose concentrations less than 140 mg/dl or 2 h plasma glucose concentrations less than 200 mg/dl supports the validity of these concentrations as part of the new diagnostic criteria for diabetes mellitus.
Effect of Manganese Addition to the Co-MCM-41 Catalyst in the Selective Synthesis of Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes

The effect of manganese addition to the Co-MCM-41 catalyst on the synthesis of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT) by CO disproportionation was characterized. The ratio between the two metals in the MCM-41 framework was varied, and its effect on the resultant SWNT distribution was studied and compared with the results obtained for the monometallic Co-MCM-41 catalyst. Methods including temperature-programmed reduction, X-ray absorption fine structure, thermogravimetric analysis, TEM imaging, and Raman and fluorescence spectroscopy were employed to characterize the behavior of the catalysts under the SWNT synthesis conditions and the diameter and structure distribution of the resultant nanotubes. We found that addition of Mn to the Co-MCM-41 catalyst promotes the growth of SWNT, leading to synthesis of high yield, small diameter SWNT. Manganese does not act in the nucleation of SWNT but acts as an anchoring site for cobalt particles formed during the synthesis process as shown by X-ray absorption.
Synthesis and Characterization of New Mono-, Di-, and Trinuclear Copper(II) Triethanolamine-Carboxylate Complexes

A series of triethanolamine copper(II) carboxylate com- plexes have been synthesized and characterized both structurally and spectroscopically. The structures of the compounds and the nuclearity of the resulting coordination complexes are influenced both by the stoichiometry of the reagents and the steric and elec- tronic influences of the anionic ligands present in the copper coor- dination spheres. The complexes can be prepared in high yields and purity as highly crystalline solids. Herein we report the spectro- scopic and structural data for (NaCu(CF3COO)3(TEAH3)) (1), (Cu(C6H5COO)(TEAH2))2·2H2 O( 2), (Cu3(CH3COO)4(TEAH2)2) (3), (Cu3(HCOO)4(TEAH2)2 )( 4) and (Cu3(CF3OO)2(TEAH2)2- (CH3OH)2)(CF3CO2)2 (5) (TEAH3 triethanolamine (N(CH2CH2OH)3); (TEAH2) mono-deprotonated ion; (TEAH) 2 doubly deprotonated ion). Two approaches to these compounds were employed:direct reaction of copper(II) carboxyla- tes with TEAH3 and reaction of the tetrameric compound ({Cu(TEAH)}4 )( 6) with copper(II) carboxylates. Compound 1 is