cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In Vivo Models of ACL Injury (Central Defect, Porcine, Ovine, Canine)

Animal models are an indispensable tool for developing and testing new potential treatments of acute injuries and chronic diseases of all parts of the body, including the knee joint. However, when using animal models to study a particular disease or problem, careful attention to the similarities and differences of those models to the human condition is critical. With the understandings of the translational strengths and weaknesses of each model, the investigator can choose the model with the optimal human representation for the specific question being asked.
Interdisciplinary handover between obstetric nursing and neonatal physician teams: an observational study.

Objective We investigated the content and quality of communication of interservice interprofessional handover between obstetric nurses and neonatal physicians for high-risk deliveries. Design Observational study. Setting Labour and delivery unit at a tertiary care hospital. Method We audio-recorded handovers between obstetric and neonatal teams (n=50) and conducted clinician interviews (n=29). A handover content framework was developed and used to qualitatively code missing core and ancillary content and their potential for adverse events. Results 26 (52%) handovers missed one or more clinical content elements; a third of the handovers missed at least one core clinical content element. Increase in the number of missed clinical content elements increased the odds of potential adverse events by 2.39 (95% CI1.18 to 5.37). Both residents and nurses perceived handovers to be of low quality and inconsistent and attributed it to the lack of a structured handover process. Conclusion Streamlining handover processes by instituting standardisation approaches for both information organisation and communication can improve the quality of neonatal handovers.
Salvage therapy in cancer patients with hepatitis C without sustained virologic response after direct-acting antivirals-A prospective study.

Background and aim No information exists regarding direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) salvage therapy for Hepatitis C (HCV)-infected patients with any type of cancer. We prospectively evaluated the safety and efficacy (SVR12) of salvage therapy in these patients. Methods Patients who failed initial DAAs (01/2015-01/2018) were analyzed. Resistance-associated substitutions to NS5A and NS3 were investigated by population sequencing. Results Of 164 patients enrolled, 16 (10%) experienced treatment failure. Of these, 11 patients received salvage therapy. The majority (91%) were men; 55% had genotype 1a, 45% had cirrhosis, and 45% had hepatocellular carcinoma. Four patients failed the first salvage therapy, and two of them required a second salvage therapy. Overall, 9 of 11 (82%) patients achieved SVR12. All four patients treated with sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir (+/- ribavirin) achieved SVR12. The presence of resistance-associated substitutions did not impact response. Seven patients developed grade 1/2 adverse events. No patient had grade 3/4 adverse events. No patient required interruption of DAA therapy because of clinical or laboratory abnormalities. Conclusions This is the first prospective study in HCV-infected cancer patients failing DAAs. The efficacy of salvage therapy in this group appears to be lower than previously reported in non-cancer patients, but better response rates are observed with newer regimens. Salvage therapy is associated with minimal toxicity.
Quantum critical scaling of gapped phases in nodal-line semimetals

We study the effect of short-range interactions in three-dimensional nodal-line semimetals with linear band crossings. We analyze the Yukawa theories for gapped instabilities in the charge, spin, and superconducting channels using the Wilsonian renormalization group framework, employing a large number of fermion flavors ${N}_{f}$ for analytical control. We obtain stable nontrivial fixed points and provide a unified description of the critical exponents for the ordering transitions in terms of the number of order parameter components ${N}_{b}$ systematically to order $1/{N}_{f}$. We show that in all cases, the dynamical exponent $z=1$ in one loop, whereas $1/{N}_{f}$ corrections to various exponents follow from the anomalous dimension of the bosonic fields only.
Validation of the valuing questionnaire (VQ) in adults with cardiovascular disease and risk

Abstract A common behavioral therapeutic target in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease is activation of values-consistent living, which can facilitate positive lifestyle behavior change. However, the empirical study of values-consistent living has been limited by significant heterogeneity in measurement due to the absence of a ‘gold-standard’ assessment tool. The Valuing Questionnaire (VQ), a 10-item self-report measure that taps progress in and obstruction of values-consistent living, is well suited for use in research and clinical settings, yet its psychometric properties have been limitedly examined despite its frequent use. The current study utilized data from an anonymous online survey to evaluate the factor structure and psychometric properties of the VQ in adults (n = 252) with a self-reported history of cardiovascular disease or elevated disease risk. Results from a confirmatory factor analyses provided support for the two-factor structure, reflecting progress towards values and obstruction of valued living. Additionally, the VQ factor scores evidenced internal consistency, convergent, concurrent, and incremental predictive validity. VQ factors scores also evidenced known groups validity, distinguishing between those with/without psychological distress. The VQ appears to be an adequate measure of progress and obstruction towards valued-consistent living for use among adults at risk for or with cardiovascular disease. Findings support the use of the VQ in behavioral medicine research and practice.
Aseptic abscess syndrome

A 43-year-old woman with Crohn’s disease was admitted to the hospital with weight loss and 1 week of fever, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. At presentation, the patient was not on steroids or other immunosuppressive agents. Cross-sectional imaging of the abdomen revealed active colitis and multiple splenic and hepatic abscesses. All culture data were negative, including aspiration of purulent material from the spleen. Despite weeks of intravenous antibiotics, daily fever and abdominal pain persisted, the intra-abdominal abscesses grew, and she developed pleuritic chest pain and consolidations of the right lung. The patient was ultimately diagnosed with aseptic abscess syndrome, a rare sequelae of inflammatory bowel disease. All antimicrobials were discontinued and she was treated with high-dose intravenous steroids, resulting in rapid clinical improvement. She was transitioned to infliximab and azathioprine as an outpatient and repeat imaging demonstrated complete resolution of the deep abscesses that had involved her spleen, liver and lungs.
REPEATED INJURY PROMOTES TRACHEOBRONCHIAL TISSUE STEM CELL ATTRITION

Chronic lung disease has been attributed to stem cell aging and/or exhaustion. To address this issue, we investigated the lifespan of tracheobronchial tissue stem cells (TSC) over time and in response to repeated injury. Chromatin and nucleotide labeling studies in mice indicated that: 1) injury activated a subset of the TSC pool and that this process conserved TSC over time; and 2) activated TSC were predisposed to further proliferation and this activated state lead to terminal differentiation. Analysis of human TSC and clonal isolates indicated that repeated TSC proliferation led to telomere shortening and analysis of TSC from Dyskeratosis Congenita donors indicated that mutations in telomere biology genes accelerated TSC depletion. RNAseq and functional studies indicated that human TSC terminated as a secretory committed cell. These data support a model in which a repeated epithelial injury depletes the TSC pool and initiates the abnormal repair associated with chronic lung disease.
Cable-Driven Parallel Robot Pose Estimation Using Extended Kalman Filtering With Inertial Payload Measurements

This letter introduces two novel extended Kalman filtering (EKF) approaches to fuse payload accelerometer and rate gyroscope data with forward kinematics to estimate the payload pose of a cable-driven parallel robot (CDPR). An Euler-angle-based EKF and a rotation-vector-based multiplicative extended Kalman filter (MEKF) are proposed for this purpose. An unconstrained attitude parameterization identity is used to derive an analytic form of the Jacobian involved in the iterative forward kinematics calculations, which facilitates the use of different attitude parameterizations. Monte-Carlo simulations are performed with two levels of realistic sensor noise and bias, as well as calibration errors. The numerical results demonstrate more accurate pose estimates using the EKF and MEKF compared to forward kinematics computations alone.
On Evolving Software Defined Storage Architecture

Software Defined Storage (SDS) architectures offer storage services on standard high-volume servers by providing durability, availability, reliability and on-demand scale-out elasticity. To meet different application needs, various storage interfaces like block, file, object are provided, as well as higher level interfaces like streaming write-ahead-logs, and NoSQL databases. Typically, each SDS service is implemented as an independent distributed framework, often with redundant capabilities intertwined with service-specific functions within a monolithic stack. Such monolithic SDS architectures prevent the benefits of new storage media and protocol innovations from reaching the applications using SDS services. In this paper, we advocate for a decoupled architecture by redefining the boundaries of separation within SDS. We describe an instantiation of this architecture built using a popular open-source SDS, where the SDS back-end is decoupled. Evaluation results demonstrate a 99% and 35% bandwidth consumption reduction in cluster network and total network respectively, as well as up to a 35% latency reduction, in a disaggregated storage environment just via careful decoupling. We discuss the benefits of this approach in the context of containerization for agility, scaling NVMe-oF and leveraging emerging storage accelerators.
Incidence and risk factors for symptomatic venous thromboembolism following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

To determine the incidence of symptomatic venous thromboembolism (VTE) following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using a large national database and to identify corresponding independent risk factors. The Humana administrative claims database was reviewed for patients undergoing ACL reconstruction from 2007 to 2017. Patient demographics, medical comorbidities, as well as concurrent procedures were recorded. Postoperative incidence of VTE was measured by identifying symptomatic deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) at 30 days, 90 days, and 1 year postoperatively. Univariate analysis and binary logistic regression were performed to determine independent risk factors for VTE following surgery. A total of 11,977 patients were included in the study. The incidence of VTE was 1.01% (n = 120) and 1.22% (n = 146) at 30 and 90 days, respectively. Analysis of VTE events within the first postoperative year revealed that 69.6% and 84.3% of VTEs occurred within 30 and 90 days of surgery, respectively. Logistic regression identified age ≥ 45 (odds ratio [OR] = 1.88; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.32–2.68; p < 0.001), inpatient surgery (OR = 2.07; 95% CI 1.01–4.24; p = 0.045), COPD (OR = 1.51; 95% CI 1.02–2.24; p = 0.041), and tobacco use (OR = 1.75; 95% CI 1.17–2.62; p = 0.007), as well as concurrent PCL reconstruction (OR = 3.85; 95% CI 1.71–8.67; p = 0.001), meniscal transplant (OR = 17.68; 95% CI 3.63–85.97; p < 0.001) or osteochondral allograft (OR = 15.73; 95% CI 1.79–138.43; p = 0.013) as independent risk factors for VTE after ACL reconstruction. The incidence of symptomatic postoperative VTE is low following ACL reconstruction, with the majority of cases occurring within 90 days of surgery. Risk factors include age ≥ 45, inpatient surgery, COPD, tobacco use and concurrent PCL reconstruction, meniscal transplant or osteochondral allograft. III.
Influence of heterocyclic N-donors on the structural topologies and vibrational spectra of uranyl selenate phases

Abstract Uranyl (U(VI)O22+) selenate compounds represent a well-studied family of structures with diverse structural arrays. Differences in the overall topology and bonding with the uranyl cation combined with additional intermolecular interactions can lead to variation in the resulting spectroscopic signals. In the current study, we evaluated the structural chemistry and vibrational spectroscopy for uranyl selenates crystallized with heterocyclic N-donors. Five compounds ((C4H12N2)[(UO2)(SeO4)2(H2O)]·H2O (USe_pip), (C4H5N2)2[(UO2)(SeO4)2(H2O)] (USe_pyrdz), (C5H5N)2[(UO2)2(SeO4)3(H2O)] ∙ 3H2O (USe_pyrmd), (H3O)2(C4H5N2)2[(UO2)3(SeO4)5(H2O)]·H2O (USe_pyrz), and (C5H6N)2[(UO2)2(SeO4)3(H2O)] ∙ 3H2O (USe_pyr)) were characterized using X-ray diffraction (single-crystal and powder) and vibrational (Raman and IR) spectroscopy. Two one-dimensional (1-D) chain and three two-dimensional sheet (2-D) topologies were identified and classified based upon previous graphical representations. Overall, the arrangement of the heteroatoms could be linked to the hydrogen bonding network associated with the heterocycles and selenate anions. Vibrational spectra of the solid-state compounds were complex, with multiple bands associated with the uranyl cation, selenate anion, and heteroatoms. The ν1 symmetric stretching band of the uranyl was relatively consistent across all compounds, whereas differences were observed for the ν3 asymmetric band between the 1-D and 2-D structural topologies.
The Philosophy of Foucault

Michel Foucault's historical and philosophical investigations have gone through many phases: the archaeological, the genealogical, and the ethical among them. What remains constant, however, is the question that motivates them: "who are we?" Todd May follows Foucault's itinerary from his early history of madness to his posthumously published College de France lectures and shows how the question of who we are shifts and changes but remains constantly at or just below the surface of his writings. By approaching Foucault's work in this way, May is able to offer readers an engaging and illuminating way to understand Foucault. Each of Foucault's key works  Madness and Civilization, The Archaeology of Knowledge, The Order of Things, Discipline and Punish and the multi-volume History of Sexuality  are examined in detail and situated in an historical context that makes effective use of comparisons with other thinkers such as Freud, Nietzsche and Sartre. Throughout the book May strikes a balance between sympathetic presentation and criticism of Foucault's ideas and in so doing exposes Foucault's contributions of lasting value. The Philosophy of Foucault is an accessible and stimulating introduction to one of the most popular and influential thinkers of recent years and will be welcomed by students studying Foucault as part of politics, sociology, history and philosophy courses.
Environmental degradation and the demand for children : searching for the vicious circle

The authors explore the hypothesis that--because of the important role children play in collection activities (firewood, water, grazing)--the demand for children may increase as local environmental resources are depleted, setting up a vicious circle between resource depletion and population growth. Using a large-scale household data set from Pakistan, with detailed information on fertility and the allocation of time to collection activities, they find that: (i) collection activities absorb a substantial part of household resources--firewood collection accounts for 6.2 percent of household expenditures, valued in collection time; (ii) collection absorbs a quarter of the time of children; (iii) women benefit when there are older children in the household; they work 2.6 hours a week less in household activities for each child aged 10 to 15, and 3.2 hours less for each child over 15; and (iv) there seems to be an inverse relationship between fertility and the availability of firewood; even after controlling for other determinants of fertility in reduced form regressions, the authors show that households that live some distance from firewood have more children, whereas households that live where firewood is more expensive have fewer children.
Investigating the relationship between dialogue responsiveness and learning in a teachable agent environment

Using the Betty's Brain Teachable Agents learning environment, we explored a potential relationship between a student's responsiveness to pedagogical agent feedback and the student's learning and performance in the system. We found that both dialogue and action responsiveness metrics were significantly correlated with learning gains in pre- to post-tests, but only action responsiveness was significantly correlated with task performance scores. Dialogue responsiveness was also a better predictor of learning gain than were standardized test scores.
Nuclear Export of Spliceosome-discarded Intermediates

The precise removal of introns is essential for cell survival. To promote fidelity in nuclear pre-mRNA splicing, the spliceosome rejects and discards suboptimal splicing substrates that have engaged the spliceosome. Although intron-containing transcripts can be retained and degraded in the nucleus, various spliceosome-discarded intermediates, such as mutated lariat intermediates, can be degraded in the cytoplasm. However, it is unknown why or how these suboptimal intermediates are exported for turnover. Here, we used RNA-FISH to provide direct evidence that mutated lariat intermediates are exported into the cytoplasm and disruption of DEAH-box ATPase Prp43p-mediated discard of suboptimal intermediates blocks the export of mutated lariat intermediates. Further, we demonstrated that nucleoporins (Nup2p and Nup60p) and the general mRNA export receptor, Mex67p, play an essential role in the export of mutated lariat intermediates. Surprisingly, we found that Mlp1p, the nuclear retention factor, is important fo...
Controlled Delivery Systems for Proteins Based on Poly(Lactic/Glycolic Acid) Microspheres

This paper describes an investigation of the use of poly(lactic/glycolic acid) polymers for long-term delivery of high molecular weight, water-soluble proteins. Poly(lactic/glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres, containing (fluorescein isothiocyanate)-labeled bovine serum albumin and (fluorescein isothiocyanate)-labeled horseradish peroxidase, were prepared by a modified solvent evaporation method using a double emulsion. The microspheres were spherical with diameters of 55–95 µm and encapsulated more than 90% of the protein. The preparation method was gentle and maintained enzyme activity and protein solubility. Stability studies showed that the encapsulation of an enzyme inside PLGA microspheres can protect them from activity loss. When not placed inside PLGA microspheres, (fluorescein isothiocyanate)-labeled horseradish peroxidase lost 80% of its activity in solution at 37°C in a few days, whereas inside the PLGA microspheres it retained more than 55% of its activity after 21 days of incubation at 37°C. In vitro release studies revealed that different release profiles (i.e., near-constant or biphasic) and release rates can be achieved by simply modifying factors in the preparation procedure such as mixing rate and volume of inner water and organic phases. Degradation studies by scanning electron microscopy and gel-permeation chromatography suggested that the mechanism responsible for protein release is mainly through matrix erosion.
Telecommunications Policy Reform in the United States and Canada

Over the last decade, the United States and Canada overhauled their telecommunications markets through deregulation, using two different approaches. Because it is less regulation-intensive, the Canadian approach appears to be more desirable in the transition to competition.
Passive computed torque algorithms for robots

Computed torque algorithms are used to compensate for the changing dynamics of robot manipulators in order to ensure that a constant level of damping is maintained for all configurations. There are three significant problems with existing computed torque algorithms. First, they are nonpassive and, as shown, can lead to unstable behavior; second, they make poor use of actuator capability; and third, they cannot be used to maintain a constant end-effector stiffness for force control tasks. A new class of passive computed torque controller which have guaranteed stability properties, utilize actuators effectively, and maintain constant end-effector stiffness is introduced. Network models are used to motivate and illustrate the approach. >
On the concept of perfect aggregation in Bayesian estimation

Abstract Perfect aggregation is here defined as consistency between the results of aggregate (i.e. system-level) and disaggregate (i.e. component-level) reliability analyses of the same system using Bayesian estimation. This paper identifies necessary and sufficient conditions for perfect aggregation in simple two-component systems, and discusses the implications of these results for more complex systems. Unfortunately, we show that even in systems with only two components, perfect aggregation is achieved only in very rare special cases, which will generally not be obtained in practice. Therefore, tools are needed to estimate the magnitude of aggregation error when perfect aggregation is not achieved.
Is dietary fat intake related to liking or household availability of high- and low-fat foods?

Objectives: Despite the increasing availability of low- and reduced-fat foods, Americans continue to consume more fat than recommended, which may be a contributing factor to the obesity epidemic. This investigation examined relationships between liking and household availability of high- and low-fat foods and their association with dietary fat intake. Research Methods and Procedures: A food frequency questionnaire assessed percent calories from fat consumed over the past year in 85 men and 80 women. Participants reported their degree of liking 22 “high-fat foods” (>45% calories from fat) and 22 “low-fat foods” (<18% calories from fat), and the number and percentage (number of high- or low-fat foods/total number of foods × 100) of these high- and low-fat foods in their homes. Results: Hierarchical regression analyses examined the ability of liking and household availability of low- and high-fat foods to predict percent dietary fat intake. After controlling for age, sex, and BMI, liking ratings for high- and low-fat foods and the interaction of liking for low-fat foods by the percentage of low-fat foods in the household were significant predictors of percent dietary fat consumed. Greater liking of high-fat foods and lower liking of low-fat foods, both alone and combined with a lower percentage of low-fat foods in the home, were predictive of higher dietary fat intake. Discussion: Interventions designed to reduce dietary fat intake should target both decreasing liking for high-fat foods and increasing liking for low-fat foods, along with increasing the proportion of low-fat foods in the household.
803-4 Very Early Noninvasive Visualization of Experimental Atherosclerosis with Chimeric Antibody Z2D3 Radiolabeled with In-111 via Negatively-Charged Chelating Polymer, or Tc-99m via Glucarate Transchelation

We had reported the feasibility of noninvasive imaging of experimental atherosclerotic lesions with Indium-ll1-labeled mouselhuman chimeric Z2D3 F(ab’) 2 specific for proliferating smooth muscle cells in human atheroma. Lesions were visualized by 48 H. To reduce the delay between visualization and antibody administration, (i), Z2D3 F(ab’) 2 was labeled with In-111 via negatively-charged chelating polymers (specific activity 500–1300 MBq/mg) and compared to the conventional In-111 labeled counterpart (specific activity 32–48 MBq/mg); and (ii), Z2D3 Fab’ was labeled with Tc-99m via a weak transchelator, glucaric acid. In vivo targeting was evaluated in 16 rabbits with atherosclerotic lesions induced by infradiaphragmatic balloon deendothelialization of the abdominal aorta followed by hyperlipidemic diet for 12 weeks. Four rabbits received 24 MBq (50 μg) of In-111-l Charge modified Z203 F(ab’) 2 Two rabbits received 130 MBq (100 μg) of the kit formulation of this preparation. Six rabbits received 24 MBq (500–750 μg) of conventional Z2D3 F(ab’) 2 . The remaining 4 animals received Tc-99m Z203 Fab’ (500-600 Mbq/375 μg). Gamma imaging revealed unequivocal tracer uptake in the abdominal atherosclerotic lesions at 24 H in all 4 animals injected with modified Z2D3. In 2 rabbits with higher specific radioactivity, the lesions could be visualized at 3 H . The blood pool activity in rabbits injected with the conventional Z2D3 did not permit definitive visualization of the lesions before 48 H. Blood clearance was significantly faster with modified Z2D3 (0.10 ± 0.008, Mean %ID/g ± SEM), as compared to the conventional Z2D3 (0.29 ± 0.04; P l 0.01). Uptake of modified Z2D3 preparations in atherosclerotic lesions at 24 H (0.08 ± 0.01) was similar to the conventional Z2D3 at 48 H(0.08 ± 0.02; P = NS). Tc-Fab’ localization was visualizable at 12 H after administration of antibody. The Tc-Fab’ uptake in the atherosclerotic lesion was significantly higher in the lesion (0.022 ± 0.004) compared to the normal (0.013 ± 0.002; p = 0.04) aorta. This study demon strated the feasibility of very early noninvasive visualization of atherosclerotic lesions with antibody-based scintigraphy.
Disturbance-Observer-Based Hysteresis Compensation for Piezoelectric Actuators

We present a novel hysteresis compensation method for piezoelectric actuators. We consider the hysteresis nonlinearity of the actuator as a disturbance over a linear system. A disturbance observer (DOB) is then utilized to estimate and compensate for the hysteresis nonlinearity. In contrast to the existing inverse-model-based approach, the DOB-based hysteresis compensation does not rely on any particular hysteresis model, and therefore provides a simple and effective compensation mechanism. We design and fabricate a lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate (PMN-PT) piezoelectric actuator for microscale tip-based power sintering process. Experimental validation of the proposed hysteresis compensation is performed on the PMN-PT cantilever piezoelectric actuator. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the approach.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal communities in tropical forests are affected by host tree species and environment

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are mutualists with plant roots that are proposed to enhance plant community diversity. Models indicate that AM fungal communities could maintain plant diversity in forests if functionally different communities are spatially separated. In this study we assess the spatial and temporal distribution of the AM fungal community in a wet tropical rainforest in Costa Rica. We test whether distinct fungal communities correlate with variation in tree life history characteristics, with host tree species, and the relative importance of soil type, seasonality and rainfall. Host tree species differ in their associated AM fungal communities, but differences in the AM community between hosts could not be generalized over life history groupings of hosts. Changes in the relative abundance of a few common AM fungal species were the cause of differences in AM fungal communities for different host tree species instead of differences in the presence and absence of AM fungal species. Thus, AM fungal communities are spatially distinguishable in the forest, even though all species are widespread. Soil fertility ranging between 5 and 9 Mg/ha phosphorus did not affect composition of AM fungal communities, although sporulation was more abundant in lower fertility soils. Sampling soils over seasons revealed that some AM fungal species sporulate profusely in the dry season compared to the rainy season. On one host tree species sampled at two sites with vastly different rainfall, relative abundance of spores from Acaulospora was lower and that of Glomus was relatively higher at the site with lower and more seasonal rainfall.
Electromagnetic form factors of hadrons

A vector meson dominance model of the electromagnetic form factors of hadrons is developed which is based on the use of unstable particle propagators. Least-square fits are made to the proton, neutron, pion and kaon form factor data in both the space and time-like regions. A good fit to the low-energy nucleon form factor data is obtained using only rho, $omega$, and phi dominance, and leads to a determination of the vector meson resonance parameters in good agreement with experiment. The nucleon-vector meson coupling constants obey simple sum rules indicating that there exists no hard core contribution to the form factors within theoretical uncertainties. The prediction for the electromagnetic radii of the proton is in reasonable agreement with recent experiments. The pion and kaon charge form factors as deduced from the nucleon form factors assuming vector meson universality are compared to the data. The pion form factor agrees with the data in both the space and time-like regions. The pion charge radius is in agreement with the recent Dubna result, but the isovector P-wave pion-pion phase shift calculated from the theory disagrees with experiment. A possible contribution to the form factors from a heavy rho meson is also evaluated. (auth)
Trabajar haciendo: activist research and interculturalism

In this paper, the author asks: What exactly does it mean to ‘co/laborate’ with indigenous struggles? What are the implications of accompanying indigenous struggles for activist research and anthropology? Can activist research be part of the ‘intercultural construction of knowledges’? In a political context where rights and the survival of communities are at stake, what are the implications of the ‘intercultural construction of knowledges’? The author uses the debates around the essentialization of indigeneity at the international level to argue that trabajar haciendo is a methodology that can be used in activist research as an intercultural exercise that calls upon us to rethink what we mean by the articulation of differences in political contexts. Las luchas indigenas, otros movimientos sociales, asi como varios desafios academicos en las ultimas decadas nos han forzado a conceptuar una antropologia ‘post‐reflexiva’ que nos permita reconsiderar lo que es la interpretacion, representacion, activismo, col...
Surface quality of x-ray mirrors evaluated at the advanced photon source

X-ray mirrors are polished and often coated optical substrates used on many synchrotron x-ray beamlines to reflect, focus, steer, or filter x-ray beams. Because their performance depends strongly on their surface quality, they are usually evaluated after delivery, independently (from the vendor), for compliance before acceptance by the buyer. This paper summarizes results of surface roughness and slope error measurements of mirrors delivered to the Advance Photon Source (APS) and evaluated in the metrology laboratory during the period 1996 - 2001, using non-contact surface profilometry. For all the mirrors evaluated, the measured root-mean square (rms) slope error values range from 0.5 to 4.7 (mu) rad rms, and the surface rms values range from 0.9 to 4.3 A rms. Most of the measured mirrors have met the user specifications.
Adhesive resin and the hydrophilic monomer HEMA induce VEGF expression on dental pulp cells and macrophages

Summary Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays an important role in angiogenesis by inducing endothelial cell proliferation, migration and survival. Direct pulp capping with an adhesive resin system was shown to induce local increase in blood vessel density and lack of dentin bridging. However, the mechanisms involved in the increase in blood vessel density observed near the pulp exposures capped with an adhesive resin are largely unknown. Objectives. To investigate the effect of an adhesive resin or one of its hydrophilic monomers (HEMA), in the expression of VEGF by pulp cells. Methods. Mouse odontoblast-like cells (MDPC-23), undifferentiated pulp cells (OD-21), gingival fibroblasts, and macrophages were exposed to SingleBond (3 M) or to 0–1000 nM HEMA. VEGF expression was evaluated by ELISA and semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Results and Significance. VEGF expression was upregulated in MDPC-23 cells exposed to HEMA ( p p p p =0.001). In contrast, VEGF expression remained unchanged in undifferentiated pulp cells (OD-21), or fibroblasts exposed to either HEMA or Single Bond ( p >0.05). Treatment with SingleBond or HEMA did not affect VEGF expression at the mRNA level of any cell type evaluated here, suggesting that the induction of VEGF expression in these cells is regulated primarily at the post-transcriptional level. These findings suggest that VEGF is involved in the regulation of pulp neovascularization observed in response to the application of adhesive resins at site of pulp exposure.
Optimal Refunding Strategies, Transaction Costs, and the Market Value of Corporate Debt

The primary purpose of this paper is to consider both qualitatively and quantitatively the effects of refunding transaction costs and interest rate uncertainty on optimal refunding strategies and the market value of corporate debt. A dynamic model of corporate bond refunding with transaction costs is developed that simultaneously solves for the optimal refunding strategy, the value of the refunding call option, the value of the bond liability to the firm, and the market (investor) value of the fixed-rate contract. We provide examples in which the price of the callable bond does exceed the call price, and we examine whether or not typical levels of refunding costs are sufficient to explain the magnitude and duration of frequently observed premiums on callable corporate bonds.
CORRELATES OF CORONARY ARTERY CALCIFIED PLAQUE IN BLACKS AND WHITES WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES

Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is less prevalent in blacks than whites (1–4), although this finding is not universal (5, 6). The underlying cause(s) of racial differences in CAC are not understood. Differences in the frequency of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors or the strength of their relationship with CAC may play a role. These relationships have not been fully examined in persons with type 2 diabetes, in whom atherosclerosis is accelerated. We previously reported different risk factor relationships between blacks and whites for LDL, HbA1c, and sex, with CAC (7). In each case, the strength of the association was greater in whites than in blacks. The present report extends these findings to a larger sample of blacks by pooling three cohorts that include large numbers of blacks in which measurement of CAC was obtained similarly. The cohorts include the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), the Family Heart Study (FHS), and the Diabetes Heart Study (DHS). We hypothesize that risk factors for atherosclerosis among adults with diabetes are at least as frequent in blacks as in whites, but their relationship with CAC is weaker.
Increase in acetylcholinesterase in the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus in the absence of septal inputs following selective granule cell lesions

Granule cell lesions cause an increase in acetylcholinesterase (AChE) staining in the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus. The source of this response was examined by combining granule cell lesions with lesions of the fornix-fimbria, thereby removing the cholinergic input from the septum to the hippocampus. The increased AChE staining was present in animals with granule cell lesions regardless of whether the fornix was lesioned or intact. The increase in AChE staining occurred without a corresponding increase in choline acetyltransferase staining. These findings suggest that an AChE-positive, but non-cholinergic, sprouting response occurred within the dentate gyrus following selective lesions of the granule cells. The source of this sprouting may be from AChE-positive hilar interneurons.
Abstraction in Fitch's Basic Logic

Fitch's basic logic is an untyped illative combinatory logic with unrestricted principles of abstraction effecting a type collapse between properties (or concepts) and individual elements of an abstract syntax. Fitch does not work axiomatically and the abstraction operation is not a primitive feature of the inductive clauses defining the logic. Fitch's proof that basic logic has unlimited abstraction is not clear and his proof contains a number of errors that have so far gone undetected. This paper corrects these errors and presents a reasonably intuitive proof that Fitch's system K supports an implicit abstraction operation. Some general remarks on the philosophical significance of basic logic, especially with respect to neo-logicism, are offered, and the paper concludes that basic logic models a highly intensional form of logicism.
Morphology-based three-dimensional segmentation of coronary artery tree from CTA scans

We developed an algorithm based on a rule-based threshold framework to segment the coronary arteries from angiographic computed tomography (CTA) data. Computerized segmentation of the coronary arteries is a challenging procedure due to the presence of diverse anatomical structures surrounding the heart on cardiac CTA data. The proposed algorithm incorporates various levels of image processing and organ information including region, connectivity and morphology operations. It consists of three successive stages. The first stage involves the extraction of the three-dimensional scaffold of the heart envelope. This stage is semiautomatic requiring a reader to review the CTA scans and manually select points along the heart envelope in slices. These points are further processed using a surface spline-fitting technique to automatically generate the heart envelope. The second stage consists of segmenting the left heart chambers and coronary arteries using grayscale threshold, size and connectivity criteria. This is followed by applying morphology operations to further detach the left and right coronary arteries from the aorta. In the final stage, the 3D vessel tree is reconstructed and labeled using an Isolated Connected Threshold technique. The algorithm was developed and tested on a patient coronary artery CTA that was graciously shared by the Department of Radiology of the Massachusetts General Hospital. The test showed that our method constantly segmented the vessels above 79% of the maximum gray-level and automatically extracted 55 of the 58 coronary segments that can be seen on the CTA scan by a reader. These results are an encouraging step toward our objective of generating high resolution models of the male and female heart that will be subsequently used as phantoms for medical imaging system optimization studies.
PERCEIVED POLICE AUTHORITY AS A FUNCTION OF UNIFORM HAT AND SEX

Clothing cues affect first impressions and social interactions. Results of a social interaction may depend in part on the influence of clothing cues on the initial first impression. For example, in many instances a policeperson needs to be perceived as authoritarian and formal to accomplish task objectives. A uniform that conveys an image of authority may enhance the ability of the policeperson to accomplish the job tasks. Research shows that the image conveyed by clothing may depend upon the context within which it is worn. Sex of the uniform wearer may be one such context variable. The present exploratory research was designed to study the relationship between uniform hats and perceived authority. A 2 (sex of stimulus person) × 9 (hat style) factorial laboratory experiment with repeated measures on both factors was conducted. Data were analyzed using Friedman's nonparametric analysis of variance. Uniform hats were important perceptual cues conveying differing degrees of authority. Generally, policeperso...
Linear response theoretical study of the exchange interactions in Mn-doped ScN: Effects of disorder, band gap, and doping

Linear response calculations of the magnetic exchange interactions in Mn-doped ScN were carried out in the rigid-spin approximation by using the muffin-tin-orbital Green's function method. They show that the exchange interactions are long range and strongly affected by disorder, band gap corrections, and doping. The cluster variation method is shown to reduce the ${T}_{c}$ by about 30% as compared to the mean-field treatment. A Curie temperature saturating with Mn concentration above 20% at $\ensuremath{\sim}440\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$ is predicted with a semiconducting behavior present until about 15%. Both $p$- and $n$-type doping are found to decrease ${T}_{c}$.
Bone marrow stem cell mobilization in stroke: a ‘bonehead’ may be good after all!

Mobilizing bone cells to the head, astutely referred to as ‘bonehead’ therapeutic approach, represents a major discipline of regenerative medicine. The last decade has witnessed mounting evidence supporting the capacity of bone marrow (BM)-derived cells to mobilize from BM to peripheral blood (PB), eventually finding their way to the injured brain. This homing action is exemplified in BM stem cell mobilization following ischemic brain injury. Here, I review accumulating laboratory studies implicating the role of therapeutic mobilization of transplanted BM stem cells for brain plasticity and remodeling in stroke.
Low-Temperature Aging of t′-Zirconia: The Role of Microstructure on Phase Stability

Polycrystalline, tetragonal (t′) zirconia samples containing 3 and 4 mol% yttria were fabricated by annealing pressureless-sintered samples in air at ∼ 2100°C for 15 min. The grain size of these fully tetragonal samples was on the order of 100 to 200 μm. Domain structure of the samples and of a 3-mol%-yttria-doped tetragonal zirconia single crystal was examined by transmission optical microscopy under polarized light and by transmission electron microscopy. The orientations of the domain/colony boundaries were in accord with the predictions of group theory. As-polished surfaces of polycrystalline t′ materials showed no monoclinic phase even after 1000 h at 275°C in air. By contrast, conventionally yttria-doped tetragonal zirconia polycrystalline (Y-TZP) ceramics of grain size >0.5 μm showed substantial transformation. Surface grinding enhanced the resistance to degradation of Y-TZP but decreased that of t′ materials. Even then, the t′ materials exhibited better resistance to degradation than the Y-TZP ceramics. Excellent resistance of the t′ materials to low-temperature aging despite a very large grain size and the opposite effect of grinding on phase stability are all explained on the basis of ferroelastic domain structure of these materials.
Assessing the importance of conduit geometry and physical parameters in karst systems using the storm water management model (SWMM)

Questions about the importance of conduit geometry and about the values of hydraulic parameters in controlling ground-water flow and solute transport through karstic aquifers have remained largely speculative. One goal of this project was to assess the role that the conduit geometry and the hydraulic parameters have on controlling transport dynamics within karstic aquifers. The storm water management model (SWMM) was applied to the Devil's Icebox-Connor's Cave System in central Missouri, USA. Simulations with incremental changes to conduit geometry or hydraulic parameters were performed with the output compared to a calibrated baseline model. Ten percent changes in the length or width of a conduit produced statistically significant different fluid flow responses. The model exhibited minimal sensitivity to slope and infiltration rates; however, slight changes in Manning's roughness coefficient can highly alter the simulated output. Traditionally, the difference in flow dynamics between karstified aquifers and porous media aquifers has led to the idea that modeling of karst aquifers is more difficult and less precise than modeling of porous media aquifers. When evaluated against models for porous media aquifers, SWMM produced results that were as accurate (10% error compared to basecase). In addition, SWMM has the advantage of providing data about local flow. While SWMM may be an appropriate modeling technique for some karstic aquifers, SWMM should not be viewed as a universal solution to modeling karst systems.
Bioavailability to rats of iron and zinc in calcium-iron-phytate and calcium-zinc-phytate complexes

Abstract The bioavailability of iron in Fephytate and Ca 3 Fephytate and of zinc in Zn 2 phytate and Ca 4 Zn 2 phytate was assayed in rats. Hemoglobin response was the same to the iron of Fephytate as the reference iron compound, Fe(NH 4 ) 2 (SO 4 ) 2 .6H 2 ) but the response to iron of Ca 3 Fephytate was significantly less than to both Fephytate and the reference. The zinc of Zn 2 phytate and Ca 4 Zn 2 phytate promoted growth as effectively as did ZnSO 4 . The femur bone zinc response to Ca 3 Zn 2 phytate and Zn 2 phytate did not differ significantly but the femur zinc responses to both complexes were significantly less than to ZnSO 4 . In contrast to iron, calcium in a preformed calcium-zinc-phytate complex appears to have no significant effect on the bioavailability to rats of the zinc in the complex.
Interfacial area in liquid‐liquid mixing

In predicting interfacial area in liquid-liquid systems there are several published reports which give different results. Differences in methods of measurement of interfacial area and impeller design and location account for some of these discrepancies. For one pair of liquids, 40 parts by volume of ethylhexanol and 60 parts water, it was found that over wide ranges of impeller size to tank size ratio (0.27 to 0.67) that equal power per unit volume gave equal interfacial area per unit volume.
Statistical process control for the fractal dimension of a time series

The fractal dimension (FD) of a time series can be estimated to measure its self-similarity or complexity. By arbitrarily dividing a series of data in time and estimating the FD of each part one can monitor observations of complexity or self-similarity using statistical process control methods. After estimating FD through Suleymanov et al.’s approach and transforming the FD series into a normally distributed dataset, we finally show in the example that the transformed FD of a time series is well suited to statistical process control with respect to the normal distribution assumption and its expected Type I errors. And we conclude that fractal theory and process control can be integrated to objectively and systematically monitor the complexity of a time series.
A combinatorial study of substar reliability of the star network

Hierarchical networks may be divided into subnetworks having the same topological properties of the original network. The star graph, an example of hierarchical networks, has been studied extensively as a viable candidate for massively parallel systems. For a given number of faulty links and using a combinatorial approach, lower bounds on probability of having one or more (n − 1)-stars in an n-star are determined. An identification algorithm is presented to find an available (n − 1)-star in an n-star containing a set of faulty links.