cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Association of serum calcium and phosphorus with measures of left ventricular structure and function: The ARIC study

Abstract Background and aims Elevated serum calcium and phosphorus have been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disorders. We evaluated whether abnormal calcium and high serum phosphorus are associated cross-sectionally with echocardiographic measures of left ventricular (LV) structure and function, as doing so may provide insight into the etiology of cardiac disorders. Methods and results Included in the analysis were 5213 Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (ARIC) participants who in 2011–2013 had echocardiography and serum calcium and phosphorus measurements. We evaluated the association of serum calcium (corrected for albumin) and phosphorus quintiles with measures of LV structure and function, after adjusting for other cardiovascular risk factors. Participants were on average 75.3 years old; 59.1% were female and 19.8% were African American. Mean (±SD) concentrations of calcium and phosphorus were 9.33 ± 0.38 and 3.46 ± 0.45 mg/dL, respectively. Higher calcium was associated with lower LV end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) but greater prevalence of concentric remodeling (p-trend: 0.005 and 0.004 respectively). We observed association between high phosphorus and high septal E/e’ (p-trend: 0.02). Likewise, higher serum phosphorus was associated with higher left atrial volume index (p-trend: 0.001) and LV hypertrophy prevalence (p-trend: 0.04). Conclusions In conclusion, higher calcium was associated with more concentric remodeling but lower LVEDD, suggesting complex associations between calcium and cardiac function. Serum phosphorus was related to worse indices of LV diastolic function and LV hypertrophy, but not to LV systolic function. However, the magnitudes of association were modest, so clinical implications of these findings may be limited.
A Portable NMR System with 50-kHz IF, 10-us Dead Time, and Frequency Tracking

This paper presents a portable nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) system with significantly enhanced capabilities. Unlike prior works that use the same clock frequency for TX excitation and RX LO, this work uses two separate frequencies with a 50-kHz intermediate frequency (IF) that break the tradeoff between on-resonance excitation and 1/f-noise & offset suppression. It also proposes an accurate but low-cost method to ensure two clocks' phase coherence, which is necessary for NMR time-domain averaging. Moreover, this work addresses the critical limitation of long RX dead time (∼1ms) in prior works. By dynamically adjusting high-pass corner frequencies of IF filters and amplifiers, it shortens the dead time by 100 times to only 10us. Additionally, an automatic frequency tracking technique is devised to address the magnetic field drift problem. This work also reports the highest integration level achieved for an NMR transceiver, with on-chip ADC and DLL. Various measurements have been performed for system validation.
Synergy of pandemics-social isolation is associated with worsened Parkinson severity and quality of life.

Social isolation and its deleterious effects on health increases with age in the general population. People with Parkinson's Disease (PWP) are no exception. Social isolation is a risk factor for worsened health outcomes and increased mortality. Symptoms such as depression and sleep dysfunction are adversely affected by loneliness. There is a paucity of research on social isolation in Parkinson's disease (PD), which is all the more critical now in the setting of social distancing due to COVID-19. The goal of this study was to survey individuals with PD to evaluate whether social isolation is associated with PD symptom severity and quality of life. Only individuals reporting a diagnosis of idiopathic PD were included in this analysis. The primary outcome measures were the Patient-Reported Outcomes in PD (PRO-PD) and questions from PROMIS Global related to social health. PRO-PD scores increased as social performance and social satisfaction scores diminished. Individuals who reported being lonely experienced a 55% greater symptom severity than those who were not lonely (P < 0.01). Individuals who documented having a lot of friends had 21% fewer symptoms than those with few or no friends (P < 0.01). Social isolation was associated with greater patient-reported PD severity and lower quality of life, although it is unclear whether this is the cause and/or a consequence of the disease. In essence, the Parkinson pandemic and the pandemic of social isolation have been further compounded by the recent COVID-19 pandemic. The results emphasize the need to keep PWP socially connected and prevent loneliness in this time of social distancing. Proactive use of virtual modalities for support groups and social prescribing should be explored.
Measurements of Six-Junction Concentrator Solar Cells

Accurate measurements of six-junction inverted metamorphic concentrator solar cells under AM1.5 direct spectrum are obtained by adjusting the spectrum of a tunable high-intensity solar simulator with custom mirrors. Isotype reference cells and broadband InGaAs QE calibration cells were developed for accurate measurements. Modeling and varying the illumination show that an unavoidable 15% - 17% overillumination on the sixth junction does not result in significant error of these 6J IMM devices. Spectrally adjusted flash measurements are independently confirmed by NREL's Cell and Module Performance team. Concentration measurements of a 6J IMM solar cell resulted in 47.1 ± 3.2% (absolute) efficiency at 143 suns.
Social acceptability, personal responsibility, and prognosis in public judgments and transplant allocation

Background: Some members of the general public feel that patients who cause their own organ failure through smoking, alcohol use, or drug use should not receive equal priority for scarce transplantable organs. This may reflect a belief that these patients (1) cause their own illness, (2) have poor transplant prognoses or, (3) are simply unworthy. We explore the role that social acceptability, personal responsibility, and prognosis play in people's judgments about transplant allocation. Methods: By random allocation, we presented 283 prospective jurors in Philadelphia county with one of five questionnaire versions. In all questionnaires, subjects were asked to distribute transplantable hearts between patients with and without a history of three controversial behaviors (eating high fat diets against doctors’ advice, cigarette smoking, or intravenous drug use). Across the five questionnaire versions, we varied the relative prognosis of the transplant candidates and whether their behavior caused their primary organ Results: Subjects were significantly less willing to distribute organs to intravenous drug users than to cigarette smokers or people eating high fat diets (p le; 0.0005), even when intravenous drug users had better transplant outcomes than other patients. Subjects’ allocation decisions were influenced by transplant prognosis, but not by whether the behavior in question was causally responsible for the patients’ organ failure. Conclusion: People's unwillingness to give scarce transplantable organs to patients with controversial behaviors cannot be explained totally on the basis of those behaviors either causing their primary organ failure or making them have worse transplant prognoses. Instead, many people believe that such patients are simply less worthy of scarce transplantable organs.
Limited Dependent Variables and Panel Data

In many economic studies, the dependent variable is discrete, indicating, for example, that a household purchased a car or that an individual is unemployed or that he or she joined a labor union or defaulted on a loan or was denied credit.
Under-Representation of Transgender Identities in Research: The Limitations of Traditional Quantitative Survey Data

Purpose: Research indicates that the portrayal and representation of transgender individuals within society, or lack thereof, impact the way in which they are able to reconcile their gender identit...
Kinetics and mechanism of the disproportionation of BrO radicals

In the reported investigation, measurements were conducted of the rate constant for the reaction BrO + BrO yields products (1), taking into account the temperature range from 223 to 338 K and the pressure range from 50 to 475 torr of He. The flash photolysis-ultraviolet absorption technique was employed in the experiments. Two independent approaches were used to determine the relative rates of the two reaction branches, BrO + BrO yields BrOO + Br (1a), and BrO + BrO yields Br2 + O2 (1b), one dependent and the other independent of the BrO absorption cross section with the results being in excellent agreement. The rate constant, k(1), was found to be independent of pressure.
An Evaluation of the Use of Laser-Induced Infrared Luminescence to Differentiate Writing Inks

An examination of 56 inks with an argon-ion laser revealed the laser will sometimes stimulate infrared luminescence in inks which did not produce infrared luminescence under the video spectral comparator (VSC-1). This infrared luminescence was always at a higher range (usually 830 to 900 nm) than that found under the VSC-1. This indicates that laser-induced infrared luminescence may be a useful tool in differentiating between inks which otherwise appear similar.
Adhesive bonding of carbon fiber reinforced composite using UV-curing epoxy resin

Abstract Carbon fiber reinforced materials are widely used in a variety of products due to their stiffness, high strength and light weight. However, the strength of fiber reinforced composites will dramatically decrease when they have suffered damage from impact. Therefore, repair is necessary to maintain integrity. In many cases, speed of this repair is paramount. In this work, UV resins adhered to a damaged panel to form a hard patch are considered for fast repair. The challenge in using UV curing resins on carbon fiber reinforced materials is the non-UV transparency of the composite. In this work, a cationic UV epoxy resin is used due to its characteristic of dark polymerization after UV exposure. ASTM lap shear testing showed the shear stress was above 1000 psi. However, the large scale testing failed due to partial curing of adhesive before repair indicating that control in dosing and resin delivery is critical, yet problematic.
The effects of target wavelength on dynamic visual acuity under photopic and scotopic viewing

The effects of target wavelength on the resolution of moving targets were investigated over a range of target velocities under both photopic and scotopic viewing conditions. The wavelength of the p...
Evidence for normal fibroblast cell membranes from individuals with Huntington's disease: A fluorescence probe study

Abstract We used fluorescence spectroscopy in an attempt to identify differences in the fibroblast cell membranes from individuals with Huntington's disease (HD), compared to those from normal individuals. Eight pairs of age- and sex-matched fibroblast cultures were examined, each using four different fluorescent probes. To maximize the possibility of finding a difference between the normal and HD cells fluorescence probes were selected which localize in different regions of the membrane. Also, these probes differed in their sensitivity to the surrounding environment. Procedures were developed for labeling of the fibroblasts while they were still attached to glass coverslips. All fluorescence measurements were done on attached cells, which were all found to be viable by staining with trypan blue. Both low (5–7) and high (11–13) passage cultures were examined since earlier reports indicated that normal and HD fibroblasts could be distinguished at low passage using a fluorescence method. Using these 16 cultures, and multiple determinations of the fluorescence emission spectra, anisotropies, and lifetimes, we found no significant difference between normal and HD fibroblasts. If such a difference exists, it appears to be too small for use as a diagnostic indicator for Huntington's disease.
Three-dimensional asymptotic stress field in the vicinity of the circumferential line of intersection of an inclusion and plate surface

A heretofore unavailable asymptotic solution pertaining to the stress field in the neighborhood of the circumferential line of intersection of an inclusion and one of the bounding (top or bottom) surfaces of a plate, subjected to far-field extension/bending (mode I), inplane shear-twisting (mode II) and torsional (mode III) loadings, is presented. A local orthogonal curvilinear coordinate system (ρ,φ,θ), is selected to describe the local deformation behavior of the afore-mentioned plate in the vicinity of the afore-mentioned circumferential line of intersection. One of the components of the Euclidean metric tensor, namely g33, is approximated (ρ/a<<1) in the derivation of the kinematic relations and the ensuing governing system of three partial differential equations. Four different combinations of boundary conditions are considered: (i) free bounding surface of the plate and uncapped inclusion (free-free), (ii) bounding surface of the plate clamped by an infinitely rigid washer and inclusion covered with an infinitely rigid cap (clamped-clamped), (iii) free bounding surface of the plate and inclusion covered with an infinitely rigid cap (free-clamped), and (iv) bounding surface of the plate clamped by an infinitely rigid washer and uncapped inclusion (clamped-free). For dissimilar inclusion and plate (matrix) materials, the asymptotic stress fields in the vicinity of the line of intersection of an inclusion and the bottom (or top) surface of a plate, subjected to far-field mode I and mode II loadings, are singular, in all cases of the above described boundary conditions. In the case of the mode III (torsional) loading, the asymptotic stress fields are singular only for the free-clamped (or clamped-free) boundary condition. Numerical results presented include the effect of the ratio of the shear moduli of plate and inclusion materials, and also Poisson's ratios on the computed lowest eigenvalues.
Open‐Path Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

The sections in this article are Introduction Historical Perspective Current State of the Art Principles of OP/FT-IR Monitoring Optics Transfer Optics Telescopes Retroreflectors IR Sources Detectors Monitoring Configurations Monostatic Configurations Bistatic Configurations Siting and Selection of Monitoring Paths Data Acquired Beer's Law Interferograms and Single-Beam Spectra Background Spectra Absorption Spectra Concepts of Path-Averaged and Path-Integrated Concentrations Instrumental Parameters Measurement Time Spectral Resolution Apodization and Zero Filling Atmospheric Effects Data Analysis Preparation of Field Spectra for Analysis Correcting Single-Beam Spectra for Stray Light or Ambient Radiation Baseline Correction Correcting Absorption Spectra for Wavenumber Shifts Generating Reference Spectra Analysis Methods Nonlinear Response Quality Control Issues Measurement of the Random Noise Relative Intensities in Single-Beam Spectra Time Series Plots Correlation Plots Statistics from Multivariate Analyses Estimation of Detection Limits Accuracy and Precision Measurement of Permanent Gases Short Cell Comparability Applications Future Directions
Water Balance and Energy Balance in the Field

The field water balance is an account of all quantities of water that are added to, subtracted from, and stored within a given volume of soil during a specified period. The field water balance is intimately associated with the energy balance because it involves processes that require energy. The energy balance is an expression of the classical law of conservation of energy, which states that, in a given system, energy can be absorbed from, or released to, the surroundings and that along the way it can change form, but it cannot be created or destroyed. The content of water in the soil affects the way the energy flux reaching the field is partitioned and utilized. Likewise, the energy flux affects the state and movement of water. The water balance and energy balance are inextricably linked because they are involved in the same processes within the same environment. A physical description of the soil–plant–atmosphere system is based on an understanding of both balances together. In particular, the evaporation process, which is often the largest component of the water balance, is also the principal consumer of energy in the field.
RECURRENT ABDOMINAL PAIN IN CHILDHOOD

One hundred and two children with recurrent abdominal pain were studied and followed through hospitalization. The pain in this group was variable, with no consistent pattern in time, duration, and intensity. It was located in the periumbilical region in 50 of the patients. Associated symptoms frequently included headache, pallor, nausea, vomiting, constipation, dizziness, and poor appetite. The principal physical finding was tenderness on deep palpation over various sections of the abdomen. Proctoscopic findings in 88 of 90 patients examined were rectal dilatation, hyperemic areas, pallor, lymphoid hyperplasia, pellet stools, edema, and friability. There were no other abnormal laboratory or x-ray findings. Various behavioral manifestations were observed in this group of children. Some of the children were able to delineate points of stress as precipitants of episodes of pain. During hospitalization there was total abatement of intestinal symptoms in 53% of the children and there was a decline in symptomatology in another 38%. It is proposed that the abdominal manifestations of this group of patients can be described as the irritable bowel syndrome in childhood.
cAMP responsive element modulator (CREM){alpha} induces epigenetic remodeling of IL2 in T lymphocytes from SLE patients

IL-2 functions as an auto- and paracrine growth-factor for T lymphocytes and is essential during their proliferation and activation. The absence of IL-2 has been linked to the development of autoimmune phenotypes in mice and humans. The multi-factorial autoimmune disease Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by disrupted transcription factor networks and dysregulated cytokine expression, antigen-presentation, and lymphocyte function. The failure to express IL-2 is a hallmark of SLE T lymphocytes and results in reduced numbers of regulatory T lymphocytes that prevent autoimmunity. Impaired IL-2 expression was linked to over-production of the transcription regulatory factor cAMP response element modulator (CREM)α that in turn binds to a CRE site within the IL2 promoter (-180 CRE) in SLE T lymphocytes. Here, we document the involvement of CREMα mediated gene-wide HDAC1-directed deacetylation of histone H3K18, and DNMT3a directed CpG-DNA hypermethylation in the silencing of IL2 in T lymphocytes from SLE patients. We provide evidence that CREMα mediates silencing of IL2 in SLE T cells through histone deacetylation, and CpG-DNA methylation. Our findings add further evidence to the discussion of whether epigenetic modifications display region and tissue-specific patterns in health and disease. Thus, CREMα may serve as a promising target to correct cytokine expression in patients with SLE.
Genetic variation influences on the early development of reactive emotions and their regulation by attention

Introduction. Individual differences in temperament and attention provide an important link between normal and pathological development. Previous studies suggest that during infancy, orienting of attention is associated with higher levels of positive affect and lower levels of negative affect. For older children and adults, self-regulation, as measured by ratings of effortful control, is consistently associated with lower levels of negative affect such as sadness and distress. Methods. In the current paper we use a longitudinal study of children at ages 6–7 months (Time 1) and 18–20 months (Time 2) to examine how variations in candidate genes relate to emotional and self-regulatory aspects of temperament. Results. In accord with previous findings, parent ratings of orienting were positively related to positive affect only during infancy. Genetic variation in COMT was related to positive affect at Time l but not Time 2. Negative affect at both Time 1 and Time 2 was related to genetic variation in SNAP25. G...
Suppression of the guinea-pig line-10 hepatocarcinoma by a factor(s) released from line-10 cells

A factor or factors released from line-10 hepatocarcinoma cells during mixing in a fluid medium suppressed tumor growth when injected intradermally (ID) with viable line-10 cells to strain-2 guinea-pigs. No suppressive factor was released from other syngeneic normal adult, fetal, or tumor cells. The mechanism behind the tumor suppression was not determined, although antigens derived from line-10 cells were demonstrated in media containing the suppressive factor(s).
Toward the Civil City Council

This article examines the functions of city councils in governing the American municipality. It presents a notion of the “Civil City Council” that rests on five integrative leadership skills that incorporate particular public-regarding behaviors into municipal governance. The article argues that city councils should become the Civil City Council to govern effectively under modern conditions. To do this, the Civil City Council will empower citizens in broadly constituted interpretive communities in civil society. The article shows how the Civil City Council can sustain the political future of citizens and cities.
The protein composition of sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes.

Abstract By the use of various polyacrylamide electrophoresis methods the proteins of sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes were resolved into a large number of distinct bands. A major band was tentatively identified with the ATPase enzyme implicated in the active Ca transport.
ANALYTICAL PERIODIC MOTIONS IN A PERIODICALLY FORCED, DAMPED DUFFING OSCILLATOR

The analytical solutions of the period-1 motions for a hardening Duffing oscillator are presented through the generalized harmonic balance method. The conditions of stability and bifurcation of the approximate solutions in the oscillator are discussed. Numerical simulations for period-1 motions for the damped Duffing oscillator are carried out.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Optimal control problems for a class of non-linear evolution equations

Abstract In this paper we consider optimal control problems for infinite-dimensional systems governed by non-linear evolution equations. We show that the set of trajectories of such systems is compact in a space of continuous functions, and then using this fact we solve Lagrange and time optimal control problems. Then we concentrate on linear systems and we prove a new ‘bang-bang’ principle and a corresponding maximum principle. We conclude with an example of a control system governed by a non-linear parabolic partial differential equation.
Layer I of striate cortex of Tupaia glis and Galago senegalensis: Projections from thalamus and claustrum revealed by retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase

We have examined the origin of the subcortical projections to the superficial layers of the striate cortex in Tupaia glis and Galago senegalensis by using the retrograde transport of HRP. Crystals of HRP were laid directly on the moist pial surface of the cortex which had been gently pricked with a small glass pipette. The diffusion of HRP was limited to layers I and II by restricting the length of time that the HRP was in contact with the surface. Following the application of HRP to the striate cortex, labeled cells were found in restricted regions of the lateral geniculate body of both species. Layers 4 and 5 of galago and layer 3 of tree shrew contained dense clusters of labeled cells. Labeled neurons were also found in the zones between the layers of the lateral geniculate body in both species and these cells were always in register with the labeled cells within the layers. In galago, curved columns of labeled cells were observed in the inferior and superior subdivisions of the pulvinar nucleus. These columns were arranged in the shape of two arcs, joined at the fiber bundle which separates the two subdivisions. The position of the bands in the pulvinar nucleus varied with the locus of the application in the striate cortex. While no labeled cells were seen in the body of the pulvinar nucleus of tree shrew, small labeled neurons were found in the external medullary lamina forming the capsule of the pulvinar nucleus. These cells were continuous with a larger population of labeled cells in the lateral intermediate nucleus. In both species, labeled cells were also found in the intralaminar nuclei (particularly the paracentral nucleus) and in the dorsal-caudal portion of the claustrum. In the claustrum, few unlabeled neurons were present within the zone containing labeled cells. In conclusion, layer I os striate cortex appears to be the site of convergence of several projection systems originating from principal and intralaminar thalamic nuclei as well as the claustrum. The significance of this overlap is discussed in terms of the total cortical extent of each system.
Government Statistics and Conflicting Explanations of Nonvoting

When turnout fell to a near-historic low in 1988, the two sources of government statistics suggested opposite reasons. One is that fewer and fewer people are registered to vote, and the other that registered voters are going to the polls less and less. According to the figures supplied by state election officials who tally up county registration totals and record election returns, voting by registered voters is down 15 percentage points since 1960: 85.4% voted that year, but only 70.5% in 1988. By contrast, the U.S. Census reported that 86.2% of registered voters cast ballots in 1988, down only 4.8 percentage points since 1968 (when the Census postelection sample surveys of both registration and voting were first undertaken) (U.S. Bureau of Census, 1989). The 1988 result confirmed the earlier Census summary conclusion for the presidential elections between 1968-80 that registered voters “overwhelmingly go to the polls” (U.S. Bureau of Census, 1984a). The Census surveys show that falling registration is the more important cause of declining turnout: the level slipped from 74.3% in 1968 to 66.6% in 1988, or 7.7 percentage points. Adjusting that result downward by about 10% to correct for the tendency by some respondents to tell the Census interviewers they are registered when they are not, the 1988 level of registration was 59%. State data, by contrast, show a much higher registration level: 70.9% in 1988, off only 4.5 percentage points since 1960.
Learning, Teaching, and Musical Identity: Voices Across Cultures

Learning, Teaching, and Musical Identity: Voices Across Cultures Lucy Green (Ed.) Bloomington, Indiana University Press, 2011 vi + 319 pp., ISBN 978-0-2532-2293-0 (paperback US$27.95) For at least ...
Evaluating Diagnosis and Treatment Patterns of COPD in Primary Care

Objective: Many patients with COPD are misdiagnosed or under-treated. The characteristics of COPD patients and the patterns of treatment have not been well characterized in primary care settings. The objective of this study was to identify patterns of COPD onset, diagnosis and treatment with the goal of facilitating appropriate treatment at earlier stages. Methods: A national electronic medical record database was used to identify patients with at least a 6-month history prior to a diagnosis of COPD (ICD-9 codes 491.xx, 492.xx, and 496). Pulmonary function test (PFT) results closest to the first diagnosis of COPD were evaluated to characterize disease severity using the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) criteria. Prescription data were evaluated at the time of diagnosis. All descriptive statistics were conducted using STATA statistical software. Results: A total of 14 691 patients met the study criteria. Prescription data were available for 9354 (64%) of these patients. Of this group, only slightly over 50% (n = 5264) had a respiratory-related prescription on the date of diagnosis. For those not having a respiratory drug at the time of diagnosis, the average time between diagnosis and the first respiratory-related prescription was 106 (SD ± 256.4) days. Only 389 (<3%) patients had any PFT data recorded on or prior to the day of their first diagnosis of COPD, and only 273 (2%) had sufficient PFT data available to determine their GOLD severity class. The average time between diagnosis and first COPD prescription was greatest for patients in the lowest severity category (Class 0/I; 163 ± 288.2 days), and smallest for patients in the highest severity category (Class IV; 124 ± 152.3 days). Conclusion: COPD is often not diagnosed or treated until the later stages of disease, and spirometry is not used routinely to diagnose, stage or guide treatment decisions.
Prototype Performance Characteristics of Two Floating Breakwaters

The performance characteristics of floating breakwaters, i.e., the transmission coefficients, anchor forces, and accelerations in heave, roll, and sway, are evaluated from field measurements on a concrete modular type installed at two different locations in Alaska, and a pontoon-type installed at a location in the State of Washington. In all three instances, the installations served to protect small boat harbors from local, wind generated waves. The measurements were planned with the combined purpose of evaluating the breakwater types under different wave exposures and to supply basic data for the verification and development of a theoretical predictive model for breakwater performance. The instrumentation system was designed with multiple-channel, digital recording capability and packaged for use in remote locations, requiring only periodic maintenance checks and tape changes. The system can be set to be activated by any selected wind speed and sample the various input sensors at prescribed intervals and durations of time.
Optimization of Robust Asynchronous Circuits by Local Input Completeness Relaxation

As process, temperature and voltage variations become significant in deep submicron design, timing closure becomes a critical challenge using synchronous CAD flows. One attractive alternative is to use robust asynchronous circuits which gracefully accommodate timing discrepancies. However, these asynchronous circuits typically suffer from high area and latency overhead. In this paper, an optimization algorithm is presented which reduces the area and delay of these circuits by relaxing their overly-restrictive style. The algorithm was implemented and experiments performed on a subset of MCNC circuits. On average, 49.2% of the gates could be implemented in a relaxed manner, 34.9% area improvement was achieved, and 16.1% delay improvement was achieved using a simple heuristic for targeting the critical path in the circuit. This is the first proposed approach that systematically optimizes asynchronous circuits based on the notion of local relaxation while still preserving the circuit's overall timing-robustness.
The radar cross section of a noded pyramid

High-frequency scattering by a perfectly conducting N -noded pyramid is investigated. The principally polarized radar cross section is derived by integrating the wedge diffracted fields around the pyramid base termination. Theoretical results are compared to measurements at circular as well as the two linear polarizations and seem to be in reasonable agreement for aspect angles out to the pyramid half-angle.
Drug-induced torsades de pointes: Role of early afterdepolarizations and dispersion of repolarization☆

Drug-induced torsades de pointes [l] is a polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, sometimes showing a characteristic twisting QRS morphology, that is consistently associated with prominent late diastolic U waves, a prolonged QTU interval, and bradycardiac pauses [2-4]. The basic electrophysiologic mechanism(s) of the arrhythmia is not known. The two mechanisms that have been suggested are increased dispersion of repolarization [5] and early afterdepolarization [6,7]. We have recently shown right ventricular monophasic action potential (MAP) recordings in a patient with quinidine-induced torsades de pointes and suggested that the arrhythmia may be due to bradycardia-dependent early afterdepolarizations giving rise to triggered activity [a]. The current report describes a patient with procainamide-related torsades de pointes in whom simultaneous recordings of MAP from right and left ventricular endocardial sites necessitate a re-evaluation of our conclusions. The findings suggest that both early afterdepolarization and dispersion of repolarization may be involved in the genesis of the arrhythmia. An increased understanding of the mechanism of drug-induced torsades de pointes can help improve the overall management of cardiac arrhythmias.
Ellipsometry of transparent films on transparent substrates

For an ambient-film-substrate system, where all media are transparent, homogeneous and isotropic, we show that: (1) The parallel polarization p acts as an ideal reference, in the sense that its reflection coefficient is strictly constant while that of the perpendicular polarization s varies as the film thickness changes, at an angle of incidence φ0 such that csc2φ0 = (N0N1)2 + (N0N2)2, where N0, n1 and N2 are the refractive indices of the ambient, film, and substrate, respectively. (2) It follows from (1) that the locus in the complex plane of the ratio of reflection coefficients ρ = tanψejΔ (the polar curve) becomes exactly a circle. (3) The rate of change of the relative phase shift Δ with respect to film thickness d, starting from d = 0, is maximum when the film refractive index equals the geometric mean of the substrate and ambient refractive indices, i.e., N1 = (N0N2)12. We discuss the effect on this latter condition of maximum delta sensitivity of small substrate absorption.
Specificity of diarylhaloethane-dehydrohalogenase of susceptible and DDT-resistant house flies.

The rates at which several diarylhaloethanes structurally related to DDT were enzymatically dehydrohalogenated by homogenates of DDT-susceptible and DDT-resistant house flies ( Musca domestica L.) were determined. Diarylbromoethanes were dehydrohalogenated much more readily than similar chlorinated compounds. DDT-susceptible flies exhibited considerable dehydrobrominase activity, possibly sufficient to account for the low toxicity of the bromine analogs of DDT to the insects. No evidence of enzymatic preference for either enantiomorph of a racemic mixture of an optically active substrate was found.
Comparative Recovery of Microorganisms from BacT/ALERT Plastic and Glass FA and FN Blood Culture Bottles

bioMerieux, Inc., has recently introduced plastic bottles to replace glass bottles for use in the BacT/ALERT blood culture system. We compared the performance of the plastic to the glass bottles in a large clinical evaluation. Two blood cultures were collected from each patient, one using glass FA (aerobic) and FN (anaerobic) bottles and one using plastic FA and FN bottles. Of the 4,040 sets of four bottles collected, 3,110 contained the recommended 8 to 12 ml of blood, yielding 524 microorganisms with 359 judged to be clinically significant. Of the 359 significant organisms, 255 were recovered in either one or two bottles from both pairs of bottles in a set while 56 organisms were recovered only from the glass bottles and 48 were recovered only from the plastic bottles (P, not significant [NS]). Of the 286 significant organisms recovered only in the FA bottles (glass and plastic), 180 were recovered in both bottles, 57 in the plastic bottles only, and 49 in the glass bottles only (P, NS). Of the 303 significant organisms recovered in the FN bottles only (glass and plastic), 212 were recovered in both bottles, 46 in the plastic bottles only, and 45 in the glass bottles only (P, NS). For individual organisms, the only significant difference in recovery was obtained for Escherichia coli, with more isolates recovered in the FN plastic than in the FN glass bottles (P = 0.02). These data suggest that recovery of microorganisms with plastic FA/FN bottles is at least equal to that with glass FA/FN bottles while offering greater safety for users.
Spontaneous Bisphosphonate-Induced Osteonecrosis of a Mid-Palatal Torus: A Case Report

Introduction: Bisphosphonates (BPs) are commonly used in the United States primarily in postmenopausal females with a history of osteoporosis. BP therapy may result in bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ). BRONJ is described as exposed bone in the maxillofacial region persisting for >8 weeks in a patient who is taking or has taken a BP and has not had radiation therapy to the head and neck. The prevalence of BRONJ seems to vary depending on the mode and frequency of administration, drug potency, duration of treatment, and other factors.Case Presentation: This case report describes an incidence of BP-induced osteonecrosis of a mid-palatal torus in a 77-year-old patient of African-European heritage who was previously treated for osteoporosis. The lesion appeared as a pustulated erythematous soft-tissue mass with partially exposed bone covered in plaque. The lesion was surgically debrided using a modified flap procedure and sent for histopathologic analysis. Systemic antibiotics, pain medi...
Interaction of Microwave Phonons with Donor Electrons in Ge and Si

It has been found that small concentrations of shallow donors in Ge and Si produce relatively large amounts of attenuation of microwave phonons at low temperatures (about 1 part per million produces about 10 dB/cm attenuation at 9 GHz). A theory is given which explains the various observed temperature, polarization, and frequency dependences of the attenuation in terms of ultrasonically induced relaxation of electrons bound to the donors. It is pointed out that such measurements can give information on the energy-level seperations, symmetries, and relaxation times of bound electrons.
Asymmetric Giant Unilamellar Vesicles

The lipid composition of the eukaryotic plasma membrane is asymmetric; that is, if the bilayer is considered to consist of two leaflets, the outer-facing leaflet contains different lipids at different concentrations than the inner-facing leaflet. While there has been much speculation as to the physiological purpose of this asymmetry, it has been notoriously difficult to study in in vitro systems, since synthetic artificial bilayer are difficult to form. This is especially true for giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs), which have been essential tools in studying lipid mechanics and phase separation, but which are made from inherently symmetric bilayers.Here, we present a microfluidic technology that allows for the formation of asymmetric GUVs. The vesicles are assembled in two independent steps. In each step, a lipid monolayer is formed at a water-oil interface.. The first monolayer is formed inside of a microfluidic device with a multiphase droplet flow configuration consisting of a continuous oil stream in which water droplets are formed. Control over the flow parameters allows for control of droplet and, ultimately, vesicle size. Droplets are dispensed into a vessel containing a layer of oil over a layer of water. The second lipid monolayer is formed by transferring the droplets through this second oil-water interface using a spontaneous transfer method. A density difference between the droplet interior and the aqueous subphase drives this transfer. My dissolving different lipid compositions in the different lipid phases, and asymmetric membrane can be fabricated.This method produces GUVs with controlled size, high stability , and compositional asymmetry. Asymmetry is demonstrated with a fluorescent quenching assay, in which a membrane-impermeable chemical quenching agent is used to quench fluorophores on only the exterior of the bilayer.
Spatial competition, monopolistic competition, and optimum product diversity

Abstract This is a republication of a passage from William Vickrey's (1964) book Microstatics , which presents important results in spatial competition and monopolistic competition.
Guidelines for serving linguistically and culturally diverse young children

Demographic trends indicate that all early childhod educators must anticipate and plan for a more linguistically and culturally diverse student population. This article will serve as a guide for creating more effective early childhood programs serving linguistically and culturally diverse young children. The discussion includes demographic trends, second language acquisition research, historical trends in bilingual education, ESL and bilingual programs, controversies, assessment and ESL students, and program recommendations.
Measurement of interfacial tension between immiscible liquids with the spinning road tensiometer

Abstract A spinning rod interfacial tensiometer (U.S. Patent 4,644,782) is described and compared with the spinning drop tensiometers. The rod pierces the drop and can help to stabilize the rotating bubble, reducing spin up time and drift. The effects of contact lines at the rod and end walls can be made negligible. The devices described accommodate liquids of all viscosities and are robust and inexpensive in design. Various tests of internal consistency are described. Values of interfacial tension for 13 paris of liquids are given and, where possible, compared with literature values.
Disposition of S35-prochlorperazine in the jaundiced rat.

SummaryInitial S35 tissue levels were higher in jaundiced than in control rats following S35-prochlorperazine administration. However, 8 hours later tissue levels were lower in jaundiced rats. After this time tissue levels decreased very slowly in jaundiced rats and at 48 hours were considerably higher than in control animals. A major portion of the dose administered to jaundiced rats was excreted in the urine, while fecal excretion is the predominant route in control rats. In view of findings by other investigators it is likely that the altered drug disposition observed in jaundiced rats is the cause of the delayed death phenomenon observed in these animals.
Relationship between relaxation by guided imagery and performance of working memory.

This study tested the hypothesis that relaxation by guided imagery improves working-memory performance of healthy participants. 30 volunteers (both sexes, ages 17–56 years) were randomly assigned to one of three groups and administered the WAIS–III Letter-Number Sequencing Test before and after 10-min. treatment with guided imagery or popular music. The control group received no treatment. Groups' test scores were not different before treatment. The mean increased after relaxation by guided imagery but not after music or no treatment. This result supports the hypothesis that working-memory scores on the test are enhanced by guided imagery and implies that human information processing may be enhanced by prior relaxation.
Polymer-Derived Ceramic Materials from Thiol-ene Photopolymerizations

A novel reaction scheme for rapidly fabricating polymer-derived ceramic structures with high aspect ratios and with controlled shape and structure is described. The reaction scheme is based largely upon a thiol-ene photopolymerization mechanism. Thiol-ene photopolymerizations offer unique advantages including high polymerization speed in the presence of little or no photoinitiator, the ability to delay gelation, and the ability to achieve high double bond conversions. The addition of thiols to polymerizable vinyl-containing ceramic precursors further enables the formation of thicker structures than traditionally achieved. Structures formed using this mechanism exhibit little warping, and upon pyrolysis the polymer structures are transformed into ceramic structures of a self-similar shape. In the pyrolysis step, structures formed using this novel mechanism exhibit shrinkage and mass loss values similar to those produced from typical ceramic precursors. Further, the photolithographic process described here ...
Red Chicago: American Communism at its Grassroots, 1928–1935

Red Chicago: American Communism at its Grassroots, 1928–1935 RANDI STORCH, 2007 Urbana: University of Illinois Press 320 pp. $35.00 Randi Storch has provided a consistently engaging and focused stu...
Computational simulation of poly(vinyl chloride) reduction with tri‐n‐butyltin hydride. The use of revised rate constants

The computer simulation of the reductive dechlorination of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) with Bu 3 SnH is reexamined by using a new set of rate constants that has been corrected (a) statistically for the presence of different numbers of chloro substituents and (b) for a triad reactivity factor used to determine the constants for rr-and mm-VVV triads from that for mr-VVV triads. The simulation method is verified by comparison with analytic kinetic results for the reduction of 2,4-dichloropentane and 2,4,6-trichloroheptane model compounds. The revised rate constants should and do lead to a smaller ratio of racemic to meso diads in PVC as reaction nears completion, compared to the ratio obtained from the original set of rate constants that had been proposed by previous workers. Experimental data are not sufficiently accurate to distinguish between the two sets of simulation results.
22. Integration of anal Pap screening into a colposcopy clinic for HIV-infected women

Background Persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a precursor to cervical and anal dysplasia and cancer. Among HIV+ women, HPV is more difficult to treat. While no national standards exist for anal dysplasia screening, it may be an important tool in reducing anal cancer risk. At an urban university hospital in South Florida, HIV+ women lacked access to screening; thus, a pilot project was initiated. Methods: With support from the university, the hospital and the Florida/AIDS Education and Training Center (AETC), we implemented an anal dysplasia clinic within our existing HIV colposcopy clinic. A video developed by the Pennsylvania/Mid-Atlantic AETC provided anal Pap technique training to Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners. The protocols for specimen collection included Dacron swabs and Thin Prep® fixative, and cytology samples were read using the Bethesda criteria. AETC funded two gynaecologists to attend ASCCP’s high-resolution anoscopy (HRA) training; Health Resources and Services Administration funded a dedicated colposcope for HRA. Women attending the clinic were offered anal Pap screening with referral to HRA for abnormal results. Results: Anal Pap smears were collected for 124 women between May 2012 and June 2013; 114 (92%) had ASCUS, ASC-H, LSIL or HSIL. Overall, women are receptive to anal Pap screening; however, the no-show rate for follow-up HRA is 64%. Conclusions: Anal pap screening in an existing colposcopy clinic is a feasible model for detecting anal dysplasia and could be replicated for HIV+ women in other locales. Further study should assess the effect of staff engagement and patient education on screening to improve follow-up HRA rates.