cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Design optimization and performance evaluation of high-power, high-frequency, bidirectional buck-boost converter with SiC MOSFETs

This paper presents the design optimization and experimental results for a 150-kHz, high-power, non-isolated, bidirectional buck-boost converter operated in continuous-conduction mode (CCM) and implemented with SiC MOSFETs. Although the SiC MOSFETs exhibit a much better reverse-recovery characteristic than their Si counterparts, their efficiency at high-frequencies can be significantly improved by implementing soft switching, i.e., by turning them on at zero voltage. In this paper, soft-switching of the bidirectional buck-boost converter is implemented by employing an active snubber that achieves zero-voltage switching (ZVS) of the main switches and zero-current switching (ZCS) of the snubber switches. The measured peak efficiency of the experimental 10-kW soft-switched prototype designed for 160–250 V input range and 330-V output is over 98.5% for both boost and buck modes of operation.
Looped suture versus stapler device in pediatric laparoscopic appendectomy: a comparative outcomes and intraoperative cost analysis

Abstract Background Appendiceal ligation during pediatric laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) may be performed using looped suture versus stapler. Controversy regarding the utility of either method exists. Clinical outcomes and cost analysis of LA with both methods were compared. Methods All pediatric LA were performed from fiscal years 2013 and 2014 by two pediatric surgeons. While one surgeon used looped suture, the other used stapler exclusively. chi-Square tests were performed to analyze associations. Results Two hundred thirty-eight cases were analyzed where looped suture versus stapler LA was performed in 46% and 54% of patients, respectively. Operating room costs were $317.10 and $707.12/person for looped suture and stapler LA, respectively (P Conclusion A comparative analysis of looped suture versus stapler device during LA for pediatric appendicitis revealed that postoperative complications, length of stay, ER visits and readmissions were not significantly different. Looped suture LA was significantly more cost efficient than stapler LA. In pediatric appendicitis, appendiceal ligation during LA may be performed safely and cost effectively with looped suture versus stapler. Type of study Cost effectiveness Level of evidence III.
Empirical Scene Setting: The Contours of the Crisis and Response

This chapter sets the stage empirically for the other contributions. It begins by establishing the significance of Russia’s aggression in Ukraine for the transatlantic community before describing the chain of events that led to it. The chapter focuses on how the US and the EU have responded to Russia’s aggression, particularly on efforts aimed at halting the conflict in Ukraine, measures intended to support Ukraine and steps to reassure North Atlantic Treaty Organization members bordering Ukraine. It concludes by identifying three analytically pertinent questions that motivate the rest of the volume: Why are the EU’s policies so similar to those of the US? How has EU-US cooperation affected the policies that they have each pursued? How has that cooperation affected the response to the crisis?
Controlling rare-earth ions in a nanophotonic resonator using the ac Stark shift

On-chip nanophotonic cavities will advance quantum information science and measurement because they enable efficient interaction between photons and long-lived solid-state spins, such as those associated with rare-earth ions in crystals. The enhanced photon-ion interaction creates new opportunities for all-optical control using the ac Stark shift. Toward this end, we characterize the ac Stark interaction between off-resonant optical fields and Nd^(3+)-ion dopants in a photonic crystal resonator fabricated from yttrium orthovanadate (YVO_4). Using photon echo techniques, at a detuning of 160 MHz we measure a maximum ac Stark shift of 2π × 12.3 MHz per intracavity photon, which is large compared to both the homogeneous linewidth (Γ_h = 84 kHz) and characteristic width of isolated spectral features created through optical pumping (Γ_f ≈ 3 MHz). The photon-ion interaction strength in the device is sufficiently large to control the frequency and phase of the ions for quantum information processing applications. In particular, we discuss and assess the use of the cavity enhanced ac Stark shift to realize all-optical quantum memory and detection protocols. Our results establish the ac Stark shift as a powerful added control in rare-earth ion quantum technologies.
Salvage Surgery for Recurrent Retroperitoneal Well-Differentiated Liposarcoma: Early Reoperation may not Provide Benefit.

Current evidence regarding salvage resection for recurrent retroperitoneal (RP) sarcomas generally lacks detailed histology-specific analyses, but the aggressiveness of these tumors varies widely by histology. We investigated associations between timing and extent of salvage surgery and survival outcomes in patients with recurrent RP well-differentiated liposarcoma (WDLPS). The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Surgical Oncology sarcoma database was reviewed to identify patients with RP WDLPS who underwent surgical resection for first recurrent disease (salvage surgery) in 1995–2015. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed to identify factors associated with overall survival and disease-free survival. We identified 52 patients who underwent salvage surgery for RP WDLPS for first local recurrence; 28 (54%) underwent salvage surgery within 6 months after recurrence. Concomitant organ resections were performed in 32 (62%) patients, 4 (13%) of whom had pathologic invasion of resected organs. After R0/R1 resections (n = 45), 38 (84%) experienced a second local recurrence. Multivariable analyses revealed that organ invasion at the primary surgery [hazard ratio (HR) 13.08; p = 0.005] and disease-free interval < 1 year (HR 3.64; p = 0.044) were associated with shorter overall survival. Recurrence-to-salvage interval < 6 months was associated with shorter disease-free survival (HR 2.18; p = 0.025). Concomitant organ resection was associated with a longer hospital stay: ≥ 14 days (odds ratio 21.58; p = 0.007). Early salvage surgery may not always be the best approach for recurrent RP WDLPS patients. Because organ invasion is rare among recurrent RP WDLPS patients and concomitant organ resection is associated with a longer hospital stay, preservation of uninvolved organs should be considered.
Ultrasound-Assisted Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis for Submassive Pulmonary Embolism.

Purpose:Catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) is a relatively new therapy for pulmonary embolism that achieves the superior clot resolution compared to systemic thrombolysis while avoiding the high ...
Proceedings of the 2015 Symposium and Bootcamp on the Science of Security

The Symposium and Bootcamp on the Science of Security (HotSoS), is a research event centered on the Science of Security (SoS). HotSoS 2015 follows on the heels of HotSoS 2014, establishing what we expect will be an annual pattern for bringing together researchers in the Science of Security. The motivation behind the study of the Science of Security is to focus on systems' security properties as fist-class objects of study. The challenges are in defining those properties precisely within some kind of modeling framework, prove theorems about those properties and how they are achieved, identify metrics and means of empirically gathering, estimating, and/or inferring them in an experimental context, design effective experiments to gather those metrics and make statistically significant inferences about them, and close the loop by validating the abstract models with experiments.
Abstract TP86: Matching CT Perfusion Deficit Very Early in the Time Window Seriously Overestimates Eventual Infarct Size With Prompt and Successful Endovascular Therapy

Introduction: There is an ongoing debate about the value of CT perfusion (CTP) in general, but especially in the short time window stroke cases. We decided to retrospectively review those cases whe...
Does Breast Density Increase the Risk of Re-excision for Women with Breast Cancer Having Breast-Conservation Therapy?

Women with dense breasts may have less-accurate preoperative evaluation of extent of disease, potentially affecting the achievement of negative margins. The goal of this study is to examine the association between breast density and re-excision rates in women having breast-conserving surgery for invasive breast cancer. Women with stage I/II invasive breast cancer treated with breast-conserving surgery between 1/1/2014 and 10/31/2014 were included. Breast density was assessed by two radiologists. The association between breast density and re-excision was examined using logistic regression. Seven hundred and one women were included. Overall, 106 (15.1%) women had at least one re-excision. Younger age at diagnosis was associated with increased breast density (p < 0.001). On univariable analysis, increased breast density was associated with significantly increased odds of re-excision (odds ratio [OR] 1.38, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04–1.83), as was multifocal disease, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positive status, and extensive intraductal component (EIC) (all p < 0.05). On multivariable analysis, breast density remained significantly associated with increased odds of re-excision (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.00–1.86), as did multifocality and EIC. HER2 positive status was not significantly associated with re-excision on multivariable analysis. Women with dense breasts are more likely to need additional surgery (re-excision after breast-conserving surgery), but increased breast density did not adversely affect disease-free survival in our study. Our findings support the need for further study in developing techniques that can help decrease re-excisions for women with dense breasts who undergo breast-conserving surgery.
Assessment of Regular and NPH Insulin Concentration via Two Methods of Quantification: The Washington State Insulin Concentration Study (WICS):

Background:Recent reports have suggested that insulin vials purchased in community pharmacies do not meet the minimum required intact insulin concentration (≥95 U/mL) as defined by the United State...
High Tibial Osteotomy Survivorship: A Population-Based Study.

Background:High tibial osteotomy (HTO) was developed to treat early medial compartment osteoarthritis in varus knees.Purpose:To evaluate the midterm and long-term outcomes of HTO in a large populat...
Chapter 8 – Blade Element Theory for Axial Flow Turbomachines

Publisher Summary This chapter describes various aspects of fluid flow through rotor blades and its effects. The flow is characterized by motion through a number of identical flow passages distributed periodically around the periphery of the device. However, the motion may also be considered as that passing around a number of identical vanes distributed periodically around the periphery of the device. These periodic structures constitute a cascade of vanes. It goes on to study straight cascades, elemental blade forces, elemental blade power, and eleven more chapters and their subchapters in an exhaustive study of the design and function of rotor blades simultaneously with the effects of flow through the turbo-machines. Turbine blade cooling techniques are studied to cool superheated outer surfaces of blades. Materials used to withstand high temperatures (1800 K) and the ceramic thermal barrier coatings over nickel-based superalloys of blades are studied for optimum performance and efficiencies of the engines.
Carbon Footprint of Biomimetic Carbon Fixation by Immobilizing Nature’s CO2-sequestering Enzyme and Regenerating Its Energy Carrier

In the Calvin cycle of photosynthesis, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RubisCO) catalyzes the conversion of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate to 3-phosphoglyceric acid (3-PGA) while incorp...
Phase Ib/II study of pembrolizumab with lanreotide depot for advanced, progressive gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PLANET).

369Background: Pembrolizumab has antitumor activity in a subset of GEP-NETs patients. We hypothesized that the lanreotide, by its antitumor effects and reduction of serotonin, a modulator of immuni...
The influence of barrier pigments in waterborne barrier coatings on cellulose nanofiber layers

Layers of cellulose nanofibers (CNF) have great potential to be used in food packaging applications because of their oxygen and grease barrier properties. However, because of their sensitivity to moisture, they likely will need to be used in a layered structure with water vapor barrier layers. Waterborne barrier coatings (WBBC) have the potential to provide this water vapor barrier, but their performance on paper with a CNF layer has not been described in the literature. Paper that had a CNF layer was coated with three different WBBC with various levels of two different barrier pigments to improve the water vapor barrier properties of these systems. The effective diffusion coefficient of these systems was obtained by fitting the data to a two-layer diffusion model. A finite element code was used to predict the flux rate of water vapor through the barrier layers in the presence of a barrier pigment. The dangers of samples “blocking” in production have been tested as well as grease barrier properties. The presence of the CNF layer on paper is shown to improve the performance of the water vapor barrier layer, in some cases, by a factor of six. Adding barrier pigment to the WBBC improves barrier properties at low concentration by 15%, but as the concentration of pigment increases, the barrier properties decrease. The water vapor transmission rate does not decrease to the same order of magnitude as expected from simple theoretical models and the finite element calculations. This result likely is linked to fine bubbles in the coatings that are hard to remove or other defects that are generated during coating or drying. Barrier pigments remove concerns around blocking. All samples had good grease barrier properties.
Update on cytomegalovirus in transplant recipients: new agents, prophylaxis, and cell-mediated immunity.

Purpose of review This review is an overview of recent advances in diagnostics, therapies, and prevention strategies for cytomegalovirus (CMV), focusing on solid-organ transplant and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. Recent findings A randomized trial of prophylaxis vs preemptive therapy in donor-seropositive, recipient-seronegative liver transplant recipients found significantly less CMV disease in the preemptive group. Maribavir has shown promise for the treatment of resistant/refractory CMV and for uncomplicated CMV DNAemia. A post hoc mortality analysis, as well as emerging reports of real-world and off-label use, have expanded the spectrum of clinical experience with letermovir. The first interventional trials using CMV cell-mediated immune assays have been published and showed promising results for delineating antiviral strategies. New data from additional interventional trials are expected soon. Summary The past 1-2 years have seen major developments in the area of CMV management in transplant recipients. Expanding diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities provide a foundation for optimizing strategies in the future, to reduce morbidity and mortality from CMV.
The Genetics of Wood Density

As will be evident in the following sections, the inheritance of wood density is uniformly strong. Most of the genetic variability is of the additive type, enabling good gains from a selection and breeding program as well as from a vegetative propagation program. Because of its major effect on paper, solid wood products, and energy programs, the genetics of wood density has been more studied than that for any other wood property.
The battle of accountable voting systems

Summary form only given. Touch-screen voting machines store records of cast votes in internal memory where the voter cannot check them. Because of our system of secret ballots, once the voter leaves the polls there is no way anyone can determine whether the vote captured was what the voter intended. Why should voters trust these machines? In December 2003, I drafted a resolution on electronic voting stating that every voting system should have a voter verifiable audit trail, which is a permanent record of the vote that can be checked for accuracy by the voter, and which is saved for a recount if it is required. After many rewrites, I posted the page in January 2004 with endorsements from many prominent computer scientists. At that point, I became embroiled in a surprisingly fierce (and time consuming) battle that continues today. We still do not have an answer for why we should trust electronic voting machines, but a lot of evidence has emerged for why we should not. I discuss the basic principles and issues in electronic voting.
Major League Duopolists: When Baseball Clubs Play in Two-Team Cities

This paper focuses on examining the attendance of MLB teams that play home games in the same metropolitan area – duopoly teams. Comparisons were made between the determinants of attendance for duopoly teams and monopoly teams. While duopoly and monopoly teams share most of the same determinants, the estimated weights on some determinants differ. There is evidence that one duopolist’s attendance is negatively related to the other’s performance. Evidence is therefore provided that fans of one team respond to quality changes in the other team in a city.
American State Constitutional Equalities

Many American state constitutions contain equality provisions. Some simply promote Equal Protection in ways comparable to the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the federal constitution. Others are worded quite differently, though read in lockstep with federal precedents. Yet others vary both in letter and spirit form federal constitutional equalities. These variations extend at time constitutional equality protections far beyond the federal precedents. Varying American state constitutional equalities are today promoted by phrases and terms like equality, equal protection, nondiscrimination, sameness, and uniformity. They occasionally limit private as well as public actors. And they occasionally limit the roles of legislatures in defining or enforcing constitutional equalities. For those interested in securing greater American state constitutional equalities, whether for sexual orientation, gender or other classes, Article I, Section 17 of the Illinois constitution provides an excellent model, with self-executing rights, limited General Assembly authority, and regulations of private and public discrimination. The approach in Section 17 is far superior to the approaches in Sections 18 and 19 of the Illinois constitution, which also promote equalities, and to the approaches in other American state constitutional equality provisions.
A description of blow-up for the solid fuel ignition model

Friedman and McLeod [4] recently proved that blow-up occurs only at the origin x = 0 and in addition that u(x,t) satisfies the fol2 £nlx I + c for all ~ 0 such that ut(x,t) h R R @e u(x't) t £ [~ T) x E [-~, ~] ; and iv) -£n(T-t) < u(0,t) < , u r -_
RENAL TUBERCULOSIS IN CHILDREN

Genitourinary tuberculosis in children is not easily detected because symptoms are usually minimal, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate is not elevated and the number of leukocytes in the urine may be very few even when the renal destruction is far advanced. The disease is serious because it tends to invade and destroy both kidneys if untreated. Nephrectomy alone failed to arrest the disease in two of six children with cavitary tuberculosis. Chemotherapy with three drugs arrested the disease in all of the five patients with cavitary lesions treated to date. The follow-up of the cases treated by chemotherapy is shorter than that of the nephrectomy cases. Ten patients with noncavitary kidney tuberculosis have all had negative urine cultures since multiple-drug chemotherapy. Tuberculosis showed a tendency to lie dormant in the kidneys for long periods (up to 12 years) and then become active again. Although this series is small and the follow-up is short, the results to date parallel those found in our larger experience with chemotherapy in adults with genitourinary tuberculosis. In general, as in adults, modern triple-drug chemotherapy appears to be about as effective, if not more effective, then nephrectomy, as treatment for this potentially bilateral disease. As a consequence, at the authors9 clinic, nephrectomies are currently being deferred indefinitely, due to the apparent success of chemotherapy. Whether chemotherapy will entirely replace excisional therapy for genitourinary tuberculosis is still problematical, but it has certainly greatly enhanced the outlook for patients with this once lethal disease.
The roles of sex, innervation, and androgen in laryngeal muscle of Xenopus laevis

The relative contributions of innervation and androgen to three muscle fiber properties--twitch type, size, and number--were examined in the sexually dimorphic, androgen-sensitive laryngeal muscle of Xenopus laevis. In adults, the muscle contains all fast-twitch fibers in males and fast- and slow-twitch fibers in females; laryngeal muscle fibers are larger and more numerous in males than in females. Juvenile larynges are female-like in both sexes; male laryngeal muscle is subsequently masculinized by androgen secretion during postmetamorphic development. Because both laryngeal motor neurons and muscle fibers are androgen sensitive during masculinization, we examined the role of the nerve in androgen-regulated muscle fiber development. Laryngeal muscle of male and female juvenile frogs was unilaterally denervated, and effects on muscle fiber type, size, and number were examined 4 weeks later. Half of the frogs received a dihydrotestosterone pellet at the time of denervation. Androgen treatment converts laryngeal muscle from mixed slow and fast to all fast twitch in both innervated and denervated muscle. Thus, the nerve is not required for androgen- regulated fiber type expression in either sex. Denervation produces muscle fiber atrophy and androgen treatment induces muscle fiber hypertrophy in male and female larynx. Nerve and hormone effects are independent and additive; fiber size in androgen-treated denervated muscle is greater than in untreated innervated muscle, and fiber size in androgen-treated denervated muscle is smaller than in androgen- treated innervated muscle. There is no sex difference in the effects of innervation or androgen on fiber size. Denervation causes laryngeal muscle fiber loss in males but not in females. Androgen treatment protects male laryngeal muscle from denervation-induced fiber loss and causes fiber addition in innervated female laryngeal muscle. We conclude that there is a sexually dimorphic interaction between innervation and androgen in control of laryngeal muscle fiber number.
Vitamin D status and supplementation in pediatric gastrointestinal disease.

Purpose. To evaluate vitamin D status and supplementation in the pediatric population with common gastrointestinal diseases. The literature was searched for studies on vitamin D status in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), celiac disease, and liver disease. Vitamin D supplementation in healthy children was also reviewed. Conclusions. Those with gastrointestinal diseases are more likely to have vitamin D deficiency as a result of malabsorption. Current recommendations for supplementation may be too low to achieve optimal levels. Practice Implications. It is important to monitor vitamin D levels in pediatric populations with gastrointestinal diseases and appropriately treat levels that are insufficient.
Peroxisomal targeting signal-1 recognition by the TPR domains of human PEX5

Many proteins contain targeting signals within their sequences that specify their delivery to particular organelles. The peroxisomal targeting signal-1 (PTS1) is a C-terminal tripeptide that is sufficient to direct proteins into peroxisomes. The PTS1 sequence closely approximates Ser-Lys-Leu-COO-. PEX5, the receptor for PTS1, interacts with the signal via a series of tetratricopeptide repeats (TPRs) within its C-terminal half. Here we report the crystal structure of a fragment of human PEX5 that includes all seven predicted TPR motifs in complex with a pentapeptide containing a PTS1 sequence. Two clusters of three TPRs almost completely surround the peptide, while a hinge region, previously identified as TPR4, forms a distinct structure that enables the two sets of TPRs to form a single binding site. This structure reveals the molecular basis for PTS1 recognition and demonstrates a novel mode of TPR-peptide interaction.
An ultra low jitter clock for photonic A/D converter

Summary form only given. Photonic systems hold the promise for realization of A/D converters capable of sampling and distribution of analog signals at THz sampling capability. The realization of these systems, however, crucially depends on timing sources that can significantly reduce clock jitter in A/D converters. In the work we report on the realization of a novel device that can provide ultra-low jitter timing pulses on an optical carrier. This architecture is particularly useful in photonics applications since the optical clock pulses are generated with a single device, eliminating the need for a RF based timing source to generate short optical pulses. The device, named the Coupled Opto-Electronic Oscillator (COEO) is based on the Opto-Electronic Oscillator (OEO), which has been described elsewhere. COEO readily accomplishes the two seemingly unrelated functions simultaneously: it acts both as a microwave source and a stable source of short optical pulses at the same time. Due to the mutual stabilization effect of the microwave and optical signals, no electronics is required to maintain the device at an optimum operation point.
Life as an entrepreneur: leadership and learning

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide experienced insights to help entrepreneurs to maximise organisational change and achieve long term business growth and success.Design/methodology/approach – This paper is based on personal experience ‐ as a mentor/coach for over 15 years ‐ working directly with entrepreneurs who are looking to make breakthroughs with their business or for themselves as individuals.Findings – Because so many businesses fail, the impact of the entrepreneur ‐ the business leader ‐ is critical. The transition from entrepreneurial control to business management is crucial and if not well handled can result in missed opportunities, failure or even sabotage.Originality/value – The paper will interest entrepreneurs and SMEs, but is also targeted at larger organisations which invest in organisational change. The paper emphasises the key link between leadership, personal development and business growth.
Evaluation of Fluidized Beds for Mass Production of IFE Targets

AbstractOf the building blocks of an inertial fusion energy (IFE) plant, target fabrication remains a significant credibility issue. For this reason, an extensive parametric study has been conducted on mass production of glow discharge polymer (GDP) shells in a vertical fluidized bed. Trans-2-butene was used as a reactant gas with hydrogen as a diluting and etching agent. Coating rates in the range of 1 to 2 μm/h were demonstrated on batches of 30 shells where National Ignition Facility-quality surfaces were obtained for 3- to 5-μm-thick coatings. Thick coatings up to 325 μm were also demonstrated that are visually transparent, without void and stress fracture. A phenomenological understanding of the GDP growth mechanisms to guide future experiments was further established. Specifically, gas-phase precipitation and high-impact collisions were identified as the main surface-roughening mechanisms. The former produces dense cauliflower-like surface patterns that can be eliminated by adjusting the gas flow ra...
Characterization of biogenic nitric oxide source strength in the southeast United States

Emissions of nitric oxide (NO) were measured during the summer of 1995 from 4 crops, located at three different sites throughout North Carolina. These sites were chosen to represent major physiographic regions of the Southeast US, in an effort to compare fluxes from different agriculturally managed soils. Emission rates were determined using a dynamic flow-through chamber system. In order to understand the NO flux from the different soil and crop types, measurements were made on corn and soybean crops in the coastal region, tobacco in the Piedmont region, and corn in the upper Piedmont region of North Carolina. Average NO fluxes were 5.5 f 2.2 ng N me2 s-‘, 20.7 + 19.2 ng N me2 s-‘, 4.1 + 1.4 ng N m-2s-1, and 8.5 2 4.9 ng N me2 s-l respectively for corn and soybean in the coastal region, tobacco in the Piedmont region, and corn in the upper Piedmont region. We were only able to detect an exponential dependence of NO flux on soil temperature at two of the locations. Tbe composite data of all the research sites revealed a general trend of increasing NO flux with soil water content or increasing extractable nitrogen in the soil, however, the day to day variations within each site did not reveal the same trends. We feel that acquisition of a soil NO flux data set in this fashion, which consists of observations collected over different points in both space and time, makes attempts to model soil NO flux in terms of different soil parameters difficult.
Utilizing Mosaicplasty for Cartilage Resurfacing

Osteochondral defects are a significant clinical challenge for orthopaedic surgeons. Patients often experience swelling, clicking, pain, and at times, a feeling of instability. Although some low-demand patients can be adequately managed with nonoperative treatments, active, young patients or older patients with a higher activity level often benefit from surgical intervention for symptomatic lesions. Several surgical therapies exist to treat symptomatic cartilage injuries. Osteochondral autograft transplantation, or mosaicplasty, is an effective treatment for cartilage lesions ranging from 1-5cm 2 . Healthy osteochondral plugs are harvested from the non–weight-bearing areas of the superolateral or superomedial femoral condyles and used to fill the cartilage defect. This provides replacement of congruent hyaline cartilage into a focal defect without the need for cartilage growth, allograft, or synthetic tissue. The procedure is technically demanding, but in the appropriate patient population, several series have had good to excellent results in the medium to long term.
Effects of nephrectomy and high-protein diets on glomerular hemodynamics and urinary protein excretion in diabetic rats.

Abstract Renal blood flow, GFR, albumin clearance, and urinary excretion of proteins were assessed in intact control and streptozotocin-diabetic rats (group 1), unilaterally nephrectomized control and diabetic rats (group 2), and nephrectomized control and diabetic rats (divided into high (a) and low (b) glycemia subgroups) fed a 50% protein diet (group 3). After 8 months of diabetes, blood flow did not differ from control rats within each experimental group, although it was increased significantly in both controls and diabetics of groups 2 and 3 versus group 1. GFR in control rats was increased ∼2x by nephrectomy and ∼3x by nephrectomy plus the high protein diet. Diabetes increased GFR ∼50% above control values in group 1; GFR values in diabetic rats of groups 2 and 3a were virtually identical and similar to those of group 2 controls; GFR in group 3b diabetics was increased ∼1.4x versus group 2 diabetics. 125 I-BSA clearance was increased 3.4x in groups 2 and 3 control rats versus group 1 controls. Both nephrectomy and consumption of the high protein diet caused marked increases in 125 I-BSA clearance and urinary excretion of albumin in diabetic rats. Urinary excretion of IgG was increased by diabetes in group 1 and remained essentially at this level in groups 2 and 3 diabetic rats. These results demonstrate: 1) additive effects of nephrectomy and increased protein consumption on renal blood flow, GFR, and urinary excretion of albumin and IgG in nondiabetic rats, but only on albumin clearance and excretion in diabetic rats; and 2) consumption of a protein rich diet by nephrectomized diabetic rats was associated with substantial increases in renal blood flow and GFR and with a doubling of albumin clearance and albuminuria despite a substantial amelioration of the diabetic state.
An analysis of the binding efficiencies of drugs and their leads in successful drug discovery programs

In order to investigate the evolution of binding efficiency in successful drug discovery programs, a data set of 60 lead/drug pairs with known binding affinities has been compiled and analyzed. Low-end thresholds for the binding efficiencies of viable leads and drugs have been derived. On average, the drugs in the set are significantly larger and more potent but have similar lipophilicity relative to their originating leads, suggesting that the ability to maintain low levels of lipophilicity while increasing molecular weight is one of the keys to a successful drug discovery program. A number of examples demonstrate that large increases in binding efficiency from leads to more elaborate drugs sharing the same scaffold can be achieved. The importance of dissecting a lead structure to identify the most efficient fragments and the option of sacrificing binding efficiency to optimize other properties are discussed, and relevant examples are highlighted.
Sympatric Divergence and Performance Trade-Offs of Bluegill Ecomorphs

Phenotypic plasticity in response to environmental cues can create distinct morphological types within populations. This variation in form, and potentially function, may be a factor in initiating population divergence and the formation of new species. Here we show the translation of sympatric, habitat-specific morphological divergence into performance differences in energy economy, maneuverability and steady-state locomotion. Littoral and pelagic bluegill sunfish ecomorphs show differences in performance that appear adaptive within their respective habitats: greater maneuverability in the heavily vegetated littoral; greater steady-state swimming speed and economy in the open-water pelagic. This represents a trade-off in unsteady versus steady swimming performance, likely because morphological features associated with maximizing maneuverability are incompatible with enhancing steady-swimming performance. This may constrain the direction of adaptive change, maintaining the divergence created by phenotypic plasticity. The combination of habitat specific sympatric adaptation and constraints imposed by performance trade-offs may be an important factor underlying the high rate of speciation in freshwater fishes from post-glacial lakes.
Analysis of Electric Arcs in AC Circuits

A simple analytical model is developed. to represent the transient behavior of high pressure electric arcs from the mass and energy conservation equations and Ohm's law. The analytical model is cast' in a form that allows the arc terminal characteristics to be incorporated into modern electric circuit analysis computer code. The model predictions are found to be in fair agreement with experimental results. Modifications to the model to aliow it to first minimize errors caused by the approximations and second to represent a wide range of electric arcs are also discussed.
The Pacific Rim and global natural gas

Abstract There is a growing interest in natural gas as a part of national or international strategies to moderate the environmental consequences of fuel use. Although the underutilized global gas resource justifies the interest, the future consumption of gas is likely to be constrained by the high capital costs of new transportation facilities to bring remote gas supplies into areas of growing energy demand. The Asian Pacific Rim countries include rapidly growing demand areas as well as significant reserves of gas. The region will continue to play a leading role in the evolution of a world trade in gas. Gas resources within the Asian Pacific region are adequate to serve the foreseeable demands, but historically the region has utilized LNG imports. Financial constraints upon the gas producing countries of the region and political instability in some of them will probably continue to require the importing of substantial quantities of gas from the Middle East and possibly from Alaska and the former USSR as the resources indigenous to the region itself are developed more slowly than demand. The financial arrangements and contractual approaches that evolve to meet the needs of the Asia Pacific Rim will shape the future of world LNG markets.
Are smokers receptive to using smokeless tobacco as a substitute

Abstract Objectives Few studies have addressed the feasibility of promoting smokeless tobacco as an alternative for smokers. This study was intended to assess the characteristics and degree to which smokers from California are receptive to using the substitute for harm reduction. Methods Daily cigarette smokers ( n = 2995) were selected from the 2005 California Tobacco Survey. Using ordinal logistic regression, four sets of variables (demographics, tobacco use, motivations and intentions to quit smoking) were examined as predictors of the outcome, willingness to use a form of smokeless tobacco perceived to be less harmful than cigarettes. Results A majority of smokers (75.6%) expressed no interest in the tobacco substitute. Contrary to expectation, few of the measures for demographics, tobacco use and motivations to quit smoking were significantly correlated with the outcome. Irrespective of prior use of nicotine replacement therapy, smokers were more receptive if they had previously attempted to quit, or were currently attempting to reduce their consumption of cigarettes. Conclusions Smokeless tobacco is an unacceptable alternative for most California smokers. But, the expected correlates, notably gender, accounted for minimal variability in SLT receptiveness, an observation that challenges concerns about the product's limited appeal to any one group.
Quine’s Behaviorism and Linguistic Meaning: Why Quine’s Behaviorism is not Illicit

Some of Quine’s critics charge that he arrives at a behavioristic account of linguistic meaning by starting from inappropriately behavioristic assumptions (Kripke 1982, 14; Searle 1987, 123). Quine has even written that this account of linguistic meaning is a consequence of his behaviorism (Quine 1992, 37). I take it that the above charges amount to the assertion that Quine assumes the denial of one or more of the following claims: (1) Language-users associate mental ideas with their linguistic expressions. (2) A language-user can have a private theory of linguistic meaning which guides his or her use of language. (3) Language learning relies on innate mechanisms. Call an antecedent denial of one or more of these claims illicit behaviorism. In this paper I show that Quine is prepared to grant, if only for the sake of argument, all three of the above claims. I argue that his claim that “there is nothing in linguistic meaning beyond what is to be gleaned from overt behavior in observable circumstances” is unscathed by these allowances (Quine 1992, 38). And I show that the behaviorism which Quine does assume should be viewed as a largely uncontroversial aspect of his evidential empiricism. I conclude that if one sets out to dismiss Quine’s arguments for internal-meaning skepticism, this dismissal should not be motivated by the charge that his conclusions rely on the illicitly behavioristic assumptions that some have suggested that they do.
Na+-H+ exchange in cardiac sarcolemmal vesicles.

Like all muscle, cardiac muscle contracts in response to a rise in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration. Much attention has focused on regulation of the Ca2+ transport involved in myocardial excitation-contraction coupling. Myocardial cells contain multiple Ca2+ transport mechanisms, however, and it has not been possible to define the importance of each pathway in excitation-contraction coupling. Mitochondria and sarcoplasmic reticulum both have Ca2+ influx and efflux mechanisms. In addition, the sarcolemmal membrane has three Ca2+ transport pathways: 1) a voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channel which transports Ca2+ into the myocardial cell; 2) an ATP-dependent Ca2+ pump which extrudes cellular Ca2+; 3) a Na+-Ca2+ exchanger which can move Ca2+ in either direction depending on the Na+ and Ca2+ gradients and membrane potential. Unlike skeletal muscle, in which Ca2+ movements are primarily intracellular, it has become clear that both intra-and extracellular sources of Ca2+ are important in regulating myocardial contraction.
The human respiratory gate

Respiratory activity phasically alters membrane potentials of preganglionic vagal and sympathetic motoneurones and continuously modulates their responsiveness to stimulatory inputs. The most obvious manifestation of this 'respiratory gating' is respiratory sinus arrhythmia, the rhythmic fluctuations of electrocardiographic R-R intervals observed in healthy resting humans. Phasic autonomic motoneurone firing, reflecting the throughput of the system, depends importantly on the intensity of stimulatory inputs, such that when levels of stimulation are low (as with high arterial pressure and sympathetic activity, or low arterial pressure and vagal activity), respiratory fluctuations of sympathetic or vagal firing are also low. The respiratory gate has a finite capacity, and high levels of stimulation override the ability of respiration to gate autonomic responsiveness. Autonomic throughput also depends importantly on other factors, including especially, the frequency of breathing, the rate at which the gate opens and closes. Respiratory sinus arrhythmia is small at rapid, and large at slow breathing rates. The strong correlation between systolic pressure and R-R intervals at respiratory frequencies reflects the influence of respiration on these two measures, rather than arterial baroreflex physiology. A wide range of evidence suggests that respiratory activity gates the timing of autonomic motoneurone firing, but does not influence its tonic level. I propose that the most enduring significance of respiratory gating is its use as a precisely controlled experimental tool to tease out and better understand otherwise inaccessible human autonomic neurophysiological mechanisms.
Induction of cleft palate in mice after ophthalmic administration of hydrocortisone.

Hydrocortisone is a glucocorticoid commonly used in ophthalmic preparations for its anti-inflammatory effects. Three levels of hydrocortisone sodium succinate, 0, 3, 15, and 30%, were ophthalmically applied to pregnant CD-1 mice on days 10–13 of gestation (day of mating is Day 0 of gestation). The drug concentrations were various multiples of the common therapeutic dosage level and were applied to both eyes in 1-μl drops five times a day. Eighteen-day fetuses were removed by cesarean section and examined for malformations. The incidence of cleft palate was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the medium- and high-dose treatment groups than in either the low-dose treatment group or saline-treated controls (52.8 and 73.2% vs 9.2 and 0%, respectively). There was no significant difference in the incidence of fetal deaths and resorptions between drug-treated and control fetuses.
Are Americans more optimistic than the Chinese

A total of 613 subjects, including257 White American students, 312 mainland Chinese students, and 44 Chinese American students, completed the Attributional Style Questionnaire. It was found that (a) mainland Chinese were more pessimistic than Chinese Americans, who were more pessimistic than White Americans, (b) mainland Chinese were less self-blaming (i.e., attributed their failure less internally than the traditional Chinese culture expects) and attributed their success to other people or circumstances, and (c) White Americans had more lopsidedness or self-serving bias than Chinese Americans and mainland Chinese-that is, White Americans attributed their success to themselves and their failure to others or circumstances more often than did mainland Chinese. The authors also found that mainland Chinese optimism was associated more with academic and financial accomplishment, psychological confidence and persistence, and physical health.
A capillary concentrator for an X-ray microprobe

Abstract Capillary concentrators are examined analytically and by computer simulations for applications in third-generation synchrotron-radiation beamlines. A comparison is made between them and focusing mirrors for producing a small spot of X rays. Both devices are achromatic and useful for experiments that require an X-ray microprobe which delivers X rays over a broad band of energies. It is shown that the capillary concentrator produces an order of magnitude more intensity than the focusing mirror for spots below micrometer dimensions. The simulations also show that the exact profile of the capillary is not important except for the region near the outlet.
High-Tech Disasters

By the time this issue comes out, every reader will be familiar with the devastation inflicted by Hurricane Katrina on the Gulf Coast of the United States. Even though the victims' pain and suffering are certainly no worse than that borne by victims of any natural or man-made disaster, this particular disaster is notable for two reasons. First, seldom has a major city anywhere in the world been destroyed, for all intents and purposes, over a couple days. It's rare enough that these events often become legends such as Pompeii and Atlantis. But second, this may well be the first "high-tech" disaster in history, and that makes it particularly relevant to the software engineering community. Computing is playing an unparalleled role in coping with the aftermath. This column looks at technology's role in addressing the many issues involved and what individuals can do to help.
The impact of single versus repeated exposure of mice to Toxocara canis

Infection with T. canis can alter dramatically the brain and behavior of the host. Previous results suggest that if the mammalian host is exposed either simultaneously to lead, or has a history of prior exposure to that toxic substance, the magnitude of the behavioral reaction to T. canis may be modified or even reduced. The present data suggest that the magnitude of both the behavioral and tissue/immune reactions may be less if the organism has multiple, instead of a single exposure, to T. canis. Lead, and perhaps other environmental toxicants may alter neurotropic products of the parasite, the behavior of the parasite, and/or reactivity of the host in the presence of the parasite. Such considerations may help explain, in part, the relative rarity of reported toxocariasis in humans, despite the fact that serological indices suggest that exposure to T. canis may be as high as 7% of the world population.