cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Curve and Surface Reconstruction: Algorithms with Mathematical Analysis

Many applications in science and engineering require a digital model of a real physical object. Advanced scanning technology has made it possible to scan such objects and generate point samples on their boundaries. This book, first published in 2007, shows how to compute a digital model from this point sample. After developing the basics of sampling theory and its connections to various geometric and topological properties, the author describes a suite of algorithms that have been designed for the reconstruction problem, including algorithms for surface reconstruction from dense samples, from samples that are not adequately dense and from noisy samples. Voronoi- and Delaunay-based techniques, implicit surface-based methods and Morse theory-based methods are covered. Scientists and engineers working in drug design, medical imaging, CAD, GIS, and many other areas will benefit from this first book on the subject.
Passions and Moral Progress in Greco-Roman Thought

An Introduction Part 1: Philosophy Aristotle and Theophrastus on the Emotions, William W Fortenbaugh. The Problem of the Passions in Cynicism, David E Aune. The Passions in Neopythagorean Writings, Johan C Thom. 'Be Angry and Sin Not: Philodemus versus the Stoics on Natural Bites and Natural Emotions, David Armstrong. Early Roman Empire Stoics, Edgar M Krentz. Plutarch on Moral Progress, Richard A Wright. Part 2: Philosophy and Literature Passion and Progress in Ovid's Metamorphoses, S Georgia Nugent. The Lassions in Galen and the Novels of Chariton and Xenophon, Loveday C A Alexander. Part 3: Philosophy and Religion Philo of Alexandria on the Rational and Irrational Emotions, David Winston. Passions in the Pauline Epistles: The Current State of Research, David Charles Aune. The Logic of Action in Paul: How Does He Differ from the Moral Philosophers on Spiritual and Moral Progression and Regression?, Troels Engberg-Pedersen. Moral Progress and Divine Power in Seneca and Paul, James Ware. Moral Pathology: Passions, Progress and Protreptic in Clement of Alexandria, L Michael White. Bibliography. Index .
Globalizing Corporate Ethics Programs: Perils and Prospects

Establishing a cosmopolitan ethical culture for a multinational company requires special effort above and beyond that needed for standard domestic ethics initiatives. This articles discusses some of the perils and prospects involved in international corporate ethics programs, and recommends some key guiding principles.
The key to successful acyclic diene metathesis polymerization chemistry

This paper describes the key to successful metathesis polycondensation chemistry. Model compound reactions with styrene and styrene derivatives show that metathesis chemistry can occur exclusively if carbocation formation can be obviated through the proper choice of a Lewis acid free catalyst. Vinyl terminated oligo(octenylene)s were synthesized in this manner, which in turn were converted to polymers of high molecular weight.
Systemic Diseases and Glaucoma

Although, the level of intraocular pressure (IOP) is presently the most important and only modifiable risk factor in the development and progression of open-angle glaucoma, disease progression in many patients may occur with average IOP while others with ocular hypertension never develop glaucoma. Clearly then, non-pressure-related factors are playing an important role in modifying risk of disease progression. While the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study (OHTS) served to identify age and central corneal thickness in addition to IOP as important factors in determination of risk to glaucomatous progression, the association between nonocular systemic factors and glaucoma has been controversial. Perplexingly, data from the OHTS in fact, found that having diabetes was “protective” of progression to glaucoma. Confounding the relationship between glaucoma and systemic disease is the fact that prevalence of glaucoma and systemic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and hypertension, diabetes, and thyroid dysfunction also increase with age. What then is the relationship between various systemic disease conditions and open-angle glaucoma risk and are there shared pathogenetic mechanisms involved? The relationship between various systemic disorders and glaucomatous nerve damage is intriguing and has been studied for the last three decades.
SINR loss of the dominant mode rejection beamformer

The signal to interference and noise ratio (SINR) characterizes a beamformer's ability to attenuate unwanted signals. SINR loss quantifies how close the performance of a beamformer designed with sample statistics is to the performance of a beamformer designed with ensemble statistics. This paper conjectures that the SINR loss of the dominant mode rejection (DMR) beamformer is beta-distributed and provides substantial numerical evidence supporting this claim. Building on results from random matrix theory, the paper proposes a simple perturbative model for the sample covariance eigenvectors, which are known to control DMR performance [1]. SINR loss for the proposed model agrees with the beta distribution conjecture.
Allosteric interactions in glycerol dehydratase. Purification of enzyme and effects of positive and negative cooperativity for glycerol.

Abstract An improved method for the purification of the apoenzyme (AB complex) of glycerol dehydratase from Aerobacter aerogenes is presented. One hundredfold purification Was achieved. This purification was possible due to stabilization of the AB complex by glycerol. Using chromatography on Sephadex G-200, the highest degree of association of AB complex was found in glycine buffer in the presence of glycerol. Potassium ions, in contrast to glycerol, seem to weaken the forces which bind subunits A and B together. This may be the action of potassium necessary for the performance of glycerol dehydratase activity, since potassium is required for holoenzyme activity. From kinetic studies it appears that the enzyme exhibits homotrophic effects with regard to glycerol binding sites, which can he extended from positive (in the presence of glycine buffer) to negative (in the presence of ethanolamine buffer) cooperativity. The high cooperativity between glycerol binding sites on the enzyme, in glycine buffer, can be abolished by the addition of phosphate. By decreasing the value of the Hill coefficient and increasing the V of the enzymatic reaction, phosphate seems to act as an allosteric activator.
Enzymatic Studies of Pure Cultures of Rumen Microorganisms

Joyner, A. E., Jr. (University of California, Davis), and R. L. Baldwin. Enzymatic studies of pure cultures of rumen microorganisms. J. Bacteriol. 92:1321–1330. 1966.—The activities of enzymes representing the major pathways of carbohydrate metabolism and anaerobic electron transport in cell-free extracts of whole rumen contents have been reported. The effects of diet upon the activities of several enzymes suggested that enzymatic measurements might prove useful for the study of rumen metabolism. In the present study, the distribution and characteristics of aldolase, succinate dehydrogenase, glutamate dehydrogenase, lactyl-coenzyme A dehydrase, lactate dehydrogenase, and other enzymes were measured in cell-free extracts of pure cultures of Ruminococcus flavefaciens, R. albus, Bacteroides succinogenes, B. ruminicola, B. amylophilus, Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens, Peptostreptococcus elsdenii, Streptococcus bovis, and Selenomonas ruminantium. Some enzymes were widely distributed (aldolase, glutamate dehydrogenase), whereas others were observed in one or two species (lactyl-coenzyme A dehydrase). The cofactor requirements and kinetic characteristics of enzymes varied considerably with species. Enzymes that vary with species might be employed as indices for estimating the activities of various groups of microorganisms in whole rumen contents.
B-type natriuretic peptide: perioperative patterns in congenital heart disease.

Objective. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) has diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic roles in adults with heart failure. BNP levels in children undergoing surgical repair of congenital heart disease (CHD) were characterized broadly, and distinguishable subgroup patterns delineated. Design. Prospective, blinded, observational case series. Setting. Academic, tertiary care, free-standing pediatric hospital. Patients. Children with CHD; controls without cardiopulmonary disease. Interventions. None. Measurements. Preoperative cardiac medications/doses, CHD lesion types, perioperative BNP levels, intraopera- tive variables (lengths of surgery, bypass, cross-clamp), postoperative outcomes (lengths of ventilation, hospitaliza- tion, open chest; averages of inotropic support, central venous pressure, perfusion, urine output; death, low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS), cardiac arrest; readmission; and discharge medications). Results. Median BNP levels for 102 neonatal and non-neonatal controls were 27 and 7 pg/mL, respectively. Serial BNP measures from 105 patients undergoing CHD repair demonstrated a median postoperative peak at 12 hours. The median and interquartile postoperative 24-hour average BNP levels for neonates were 1506 (782-3784) pg/mL vs. 286 (169-578) pg/mL for non-neonates (P < 0.001). Postoperative BNP correlated with inotropic requirement, durations of open chest, ventilation, intensive care unit stay, and hospitalization (r = 0.33-0.65, all P < 0.001). Compared with biventricular CHD, Fontan palliations demonstrated lower postoperative BNP (median 150 vs. 306 pg/mL, P < 0.001), a 3-fold higher incidence of LCOS (P < 0.01), and longer length of hospitalization (median 6.0 vs. 4.5 days, P = 0.01). Conclusions. Perioperative BNP correlates to severity of illness and lengths of therapy in the CHD population, overall. Substantial variation in BNP across time as well as within and between CHD lesions limits its practical utility as an isolated point-of-care measure. BNP commonly peaks 6-12 hours postoperatively, but the timing and magnitude of BNP elevation demonstrates notable age-dependency, peaking earlier and rising an order of magnitude higher in neonates. In spite of higher clinical acuity, non-neonatal univentricular CHD paradoxically demonstrates lower BNP levels compared with biventricular physiologies.
An ETP model (exclusion-tolerance-progression) for multi drug resistance

Background It is known that sensitivity or resistance of tumor cells to a given chemotherapeutic agent is an acquired characteristic(s), depending on the heterogeneity of the tumor mass subjected to the treatment. The clinical success of a chemotherapeutic regimen depends on the ratio of sensitive to resistant cell populations.
On current-field identities

The spectral representation for the vacuum expectation value of the axial-vector-current commutator is used to discuss the current-field identities given bygAaμα(x)=fπ∂μϕα(x)+Aμα(x). Hereaμα(x) denotes the axial-vector-meson field,gA is a properly chosen normalization constant, and the pion field ϕα(x) is defined by the relation\(\partial ^\mu A_\mu ^\alpha (x) \equiv \widehat\varphi ^\alpha (x) = f_\pi m_\pi ^2 \varphi ^\alpha (x)\), whereAμα(x) denotes the axial vector current. We find that $$\left\langle {\left[ {\frac{\partial }{{\partial x_k }}a_0^\alpha (x),\varphi {}^\beta (y)} \right]} \right\rangle _{x_0 = y_0 } = \left\langle {\left[ {\frac{\partial }{{\partial x_0 }}a_k^\alpha (x),\varphi {}^\beta (y)} \right]} \right\rangle _{x_0 = y_0 } \propto \delta ^{\alpha \beta } \frac{\partial }{{\partial x_k }}\delta (x - y)$$ and that these expressions vanish if and only if the pion field ϕα(x) is a free field. We also note that $$\left\langle {\left[ {\frac{\partial }{{\partial x_k }}a_0^\alpha (\mathop x\limits_r ),\widehat\varphi {}^\beta (y)} \right]} \right\rangle _{x_0 = y_0 } = \left\langle {\left[ {\frac{\partial }{{\partial x_0 }}a_k^\alpha (x),\widehat\varphi {}^\beta (y)} \right]} \right\rangle _{x_0 = y_0 } \propto \delta ^{\alpha \beta } \frac{\partial }{{\partial x_k }}\delta (x - y)$$ and that these expressions vanish if and only if the axial vector currentAμα(x) is conserved. The consequences for canonical realizations of current-field identities and PCAC are given. We also find that the vacuum expectation value of the σ-term is nonvanishing unless the current is conserved and that a nonconserved charge cannot annihilate the vacuum (as stated by Coleman's theorem).
Identification of the epitope of a monoclonal antibody that inhibits heparin binding of lipoprotein lipase: new evidence for a carboxyl-terminal heparin-binding domain.

A panel of 13 monoclonal antibodies to avian lipo- protein lipase (LPL) was screened for inhibition of LPL bind- ing to primary avian adipocytes. One monoclonal antibody, designated xCAL (monoclonal antibody to chicken adipose lipoprotein lipase) 3-6a, was found to inhibit the binding of LPL to primary avian adipocytes. In solid phase assays, xCAL 3-6a inhibited the binding of LPL to both heparan sulfate and heparin. XCAL 3-6a did not inhibit the catalytic activity of the avian enzyme. The monoclonal antibody was not found to cross-react significantly with bovine lipoprotein lipase. In or- der to determine the location of the epitope of xCAL 3-6a on lipoprotein lipase, several avian lipoprotein lipase deletion mutants were constructed and produced as glutathione S- transferase (GST) fusion proteins in E. coli. These mutants were screened for their ability to react with xCAL 3-6a using Western blotting. The minimum continuous fragment of lipo- protein lipase that was required for reactivity contained the amino acids 310 to 450. Site-directed mutagenesis of basic res- idues 321, 405, 407, 409, 415, and 416 revealed that Arg 405 is necessary for the interaction of LPL with xCAL 3-6a. Addi- tional deletions of either the amino- or carboxyl-terminal por- tion of the fragment containing residues 310-450 resulted in loss of antibody binding, suggesting that the epitope is a dis- continuous one that is formed when the termini are brought together through protein folding. Heparin-Sepharose chro- matography of wild-type LPL and a mutant LPL in which the well-characterized heparin-binding sequence (Arg 281-Lys 282-Arg 284) has been mutated was carried out in the pres- ence and absence of xCAL 3-6a. These experiments indi- cate that lipoprotein lipase contains a heparin-binding do- main, in addition to Arg 281-Arg 284, that can be blocked by xCAL 3-6a. —Sendak, R. A., K. Melford, A. Kao, and A. Bensa- doun. Identification of the epitope of a monoclonal antibody that inhibits heparin binding of lipoprotein lipase: new evi- dence for a carboxyl-terminal heparin-binding domain. J. Lipid Res. 1998. 39: 633-646.
Chinese Agriculture: Development, Production, and Trade: Discussion

Although a smaller and smaller share of China's gross domestic product originates in the agricultural sector, the pace of agricultural development has and will continue to be a main determinant both of changes in the Chinese standard of living and of China's overall pace of modernization. Because of the role of agriculture in supplying the major wage good and the complex interrelationships between agriculture and the rest of the economy, great efforts have been made in the West to measure the performance of China's agricultural sector. These efforts have ranged from the construction of independent output series for food grains to more complex efforts to measure intertemporal changes in aggregate per capita caloric consumption or in total factor productivity in agriculture. The major weakness of most of these studies is a lack of adequate underlying data of all types and, most particularly in the case of total factor productivity calculations, of sufficiently disaggregated time-series data for both outputs and inputs. Thus, the drive to present empirical findings can be satisfied only by resorting to a large number of quite arbitrary assumptions. Unfortunately, the most crucial of these assumptions all too often are buried in the footnotes to
Understanding E2 Mechanism using NMR

The ubiquitination pathway controls human cellular processes such as cell cycle division, DNA transcription and repair, and immune responses. In these processes, ubiquitin is covalently attached to a substrate protein by the combined efforts of an E1 activating enzyme, an E2 conjugating enzyme, and an E3 ubiquitin ligase. We are concerned with investigating the catalytic mechanism of ubiquitin transfer onto the substrate protein. We specifically want to understand how the structure of Ubc13 helps with catalytic activity. The structure of yeast Ubc13, an E2 conjugating enzyme, has been solved using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The study of the structure of Ubc13 compared to that of Ubc13 bound to ubiquitin in the active site will show the changes in the active site upon binding. Through the use of transition state mimics of ubiquitin conjugating reaction we will completely describe how Ubc13 stabilizes the ubiquitination conjugation pathway.
Crystal orientation and near-interface structure of chemically vapor deposited MoS2 films

Crystalline MoS2 films were deposited on Si and graphite substrates using MoF6 and H2S as precursors. The crystal orientation and near-interface structure of the MoS2 films were studied using transmission electron microscopy. In general, the preferred orientation of the (002) basal planes of the MoS2 films with respect to the substrate surface changed from parallel to perpendicular with increased deposition temperature from 320 to 430 °C. At 430 °C, the basal planes were primarily oriented perpendicular to the Si substrate, except for the presence of a ∼5 nm interface region in which the basal planes were oriented in the parallel direction. The formation of this transitional region was also observed on the graphite substrate.
Geometrical tuning of photonic crystal defect lasers

The lasing frequency of 2-D photonic crystal defect cavities is tuned by varying crystal geometry. A 10×10 array of photonic crystal defect cavity lasers is fabricated in a 100µm×100µm area, covering a wavelength span of 1480-1600nm.
The chemical composition of algol systems – IV. The primary of R CMa

Les observations Reticon des raies visibles et IR-proche de C, N, O, S et Fe sont utilisees pour determiner les abondances de ces elements dans la primaire F1 V de la binaire a eclipse R CMa
Erratum to: Mechano-signaling in heart failure

Erratum to: Pflugers Arch - Eur J Physiol (2014) 466:1093–1099 DOI 10.1007/s00424-014-1468-4
Fostering the capital-goods sector in LDCs

Abstract The conventional arguments in favour of the production of capital goods by LDCs are based on comparative advantage, the possibility of designs appropriate to indigenous factor proportions, and the externalities conferred on other sectors. These and other arguments are inducing the governments of many middle-income countries to more intensively foster the development of the machinery sector. This paper examines the analytic and empirical bases of the conventional arguments and finds a considerably more complex picture than that contained in earlier studies.
Who Needs a Blood Culture? A Prospectively Derived and Validated Prediction Rule

The study objective was to derive and validate a clinical decision rule for obtaining blood cultures in Emergency Department (ED) patients with suspected infection. This was a prospective, observational cohort study of consecutive adult ED patients with blood cultures obtained. The study ran from February 1, 2000 through February 1, 2001. Patients were randomly assigned to derivation (2/3) or validation (1/3) sets. The outcome was "true bacteremia." Features of the history, co-morbid illness, physical examination, and laboratory testing were used to create a clinical decision rule. Among 3901 patients, 3730 (96%) were enrolled with 305 (8.2%) episodes of true bacteremia. A decision rule was created with "major criteria" defined as: temperature > 39.5 degrees C (103.0 degrees F), indwelling vascular catheter, or clinical suspicion of endocarditis. "Minor criteria" were: temperature 38.3-39.4 degrees C (101-102.9 degrees F), age > 65 years, chills, vomiting, hypotension (systolic blood pressure 80, white blood cell count > 18 k, bands > 5%, platelets 2.0. A blood culture is indicated by the rule if at least one major criterion or two minor criteria are present. Otherwise, patients are classified as "low risk" and cultures may be omitted. Only 4 (0.6%) low-risk patients in the derivation set and 3 (0.9%) low-risk patients in the validation set had positive cultures. The sensitivity was 98% (95% confidence interval [CI] 96-100%) (derivation) and 97% (95% CI 94-100%) (validation). We developed and validated a promising clinical decision rule for predicting bacteremia in patients with suspected infection.
Effect of Feeding Glucoascorbic Acid to White Rats, Chicks and Guinea Pigs.∗:

SummaryRats fed a synthetic diet containing 10% glucoascorbic acid lose weight and develop severe diarrhea. Similar but less severe symptoms develop when 10% ascorbic acid is used. Post-mortem examination revealed no hemorrhages in any part of the body. Animals receiving 2% liver powder in addition to either 10% glucoascorbic acid or ascorbic acid grew as well as normal animals although they showed moderate diarrhea. Glucoascorbic acid at levels of 5, 1 and 0.5% had no effect on the growth of rats but the 5 and 1% levels produced diarrhea.Chicks fed a synthetic ration containing 10% glucoascorbic acid and 2% solubilized liver showed no deleterious effects.The severe diarrhea and loss of weight in guinea pigs fed a natural diet containing 10% glucoascorbic acid could not be prevented by the addition of 10% ascorbic acid but was prevented by the addition of 6% 1:20 liver powder.
Hypophosphatasia with premature shedding of teeth and aplasia of cementum.

Abstract Two siblings and a third unrelated child, all under 2 years of age, were examined because of a history of unexplained premature exfoliation of deciduous incisors. One child displayed skeletal deformities and had difficulty in standing and walking at 23 months of age. The three patients were hospitalized so that blood, urine, and radiological studies as well as a thorough physical examination might be made. In addition to premature loss of the deciduous incisors, all patients consistently demonstrated abnormally low serum levels of alkaline phosphatase. These two findings are characteristic of hypophosphatasia, an “inborn error of metabolism” of hereditary nature which effects the skeletal system, teeth, and other organ systems. Other diseases resulting in premature exfoliation of deciduous teeth were ruled out. Microscopic examination of exfoliated teeth from the three children revealed absence, hypoplasia, or dysplasia of cementum. It is suggested, therefore, that premature exfoliation of teeth in patients with hypophosphatasia is due to aplasia of cementum. The effect of this aplasia is to deprive the tooth of its normal periodontal membrane attachment, which leads to spontaneous exfoliation of the tooth. The possible relationship between defective cementogenesis and diminished alkaline phosphatase is discussed.
Fate of James Webb Space Telescope murky

[1] The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the next-generation successor to the Hubble Space Telescope, was put on the chopping block by the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies. The subcommittee approved a measure on 7 July that “terminates funding for [JWST], which is billions of dollars over budget and plagued by poor management.” Then, on 13 July, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), whose district includes NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, tried to insert a funding amendment—transferring $200 million from NASA's Cross-Agency Support budget to JWST—when the full House Committee on Appropriations voted. That amendment failed in a voice vote.
The proximal location of stenosis in the left anterior descending coronary artery is not a predictive factor of worse outcome in the era of the stent.

Abstract Background: Patients treated for lesions in the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery (P-LAD) have worse outcome after balloon angioplasty as compared to patients treated for lesions in the distal left anterior descending coronary artery (D-LAD). We sought to examine if this discrepancy was still observed after stenting. Methods: A total of 676 consecutive patients with a symptomatic monovessel disease in the LAD artery who underwent angioplasty with stenting were prospectively entered into a dedicated database. Among this cohort, 322 lesions were located in P-LAD and 354 in D-LAD. Patients with total occlusion, acute myocardial infarction (MI) or restenosis were excluded. Results: Procedural characteristics were similar in the two groups. Procedural success was high with the same rates of in-hospital death and Q-wave MI for patients treated in P-LAD and D-LAD. At 1 year, the rate of target lesion revascularization (TLR) was 13.9% in the P-LAD group and 16.3% in the D-LAD group ( P =.79), and the rate of event-free survival was 81.9% and 81% ( P =.67), respectively. The treatment of ostial lesions ( n =23) was not related to worse outcome. In multivariate analysis, lesion location was not a predictor of major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Conclusion: This study shows that stenting of lesions in the P-LAD is as effective and safe as treatment of lesions located in D-LAD. Therefore, when stenting is feasible, the location of the lesion in the LAD is not predictive of worse outcome and, consequently, should not be taken into account in the choice of the revascularization strategy.
Ethylene Hydrogenation over Platinum Nanoparticle Array Model Catalysts Fabricated by Electron Beam Lithography: Determination of Active Metal Surface Area

Pt nanoparticle array model catalysts with 28 ± 2 nm diameters and 100 ± 2 nm interparticle spacing have been fabricated with electron beam lithography on alumina supports. A novel method for cleaning the Pt nanoparticle arrays, involving low dosages of NO2 and CO and mild temperature flashing, was established. This cleaning procedure was crucial for measuring reaction rates over the nanoparticle arrays. The reactivity of the Pt/Al2O3 arrays was compared to a Pt(111) single crystal for the ethylene hydrogenation reaction. The activation energy and the pressure dependence of the H2 and C2H4 on the nanoparticle array were in excellent agreement with the kinetic data on the Pt(111) single-crystal model catalyst. Because the ethylene hydrogenation reaction is structure insensitive, the rate equation for Pt(111) can be applied to the Pt nanoparticle arrays. The calculated turnover frequency led to a calculated active metal surface area that compared very well with an active metal surface area on the basis of g...
Is sickle cell anemia a neglected tropical disease

Governments and philanthropic organizations collectively pour hundreds of millions of dollars annually into the prevention and treatment of a select group of life-threatening infectious diseases that includes malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis. The merits of these high-profile programs are indisputable, yet emerging interest in traditionally neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) suggests that the lights of global awareness and medical treatment are now shining more brightly on lesser-known infections, which remain scourges for more than a billion persons worldwide [1]. More recently, noncommunicable diseases also have garnered attention and funding as causes of serious morbidity and mortality, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer [2]. Standing awkwardly alone between these traditionally communicable and noncommunicable diseases, however, is sickle cell anemia (SCA). As a congenital but noninfectious disease with high childhood mortality, SCA is a serious health condition that represents a silent killer of children with enormous global burden. Only with improved recognition and a concerted worldwide effort can we begin to address this disparity and offer life-saving interventions to millions of affected children. Should SCA be considered an NTD? From the viewpoint of this hematologist, an NTD can be operationally defined as any serious medical affliction with the following characteristics: (1) worldwide distribution, typically affecting millions; (2) highest burden among the most impoverished and disadvantaged populations; (3) serious morbidity, diminished quality of life, and even mortality; (4) comorbidity for other life-threatening diseases; (5) relatively simple diagnostic testing; and (6) inexpensive treatment options. Although NTDs are usually infectious and communicable, perhaps those should not be strict requirements. Indeed, based on these criteria, SCA is long overdue for membership in this elite but tragic club of global medical maladies. Perhaps ironically, such a designation of SCA may allow this currently “invisible” lethal disease to become more noticeable as a “neglected” disease.
Shock index in diagnosing early acute hypovolemia.

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to determine the hemodynamic response and calculated shock index (SI = heart rate [HR]/systolic blood pressure [SBP]) in early acute blood loss. Methods This was a prospective observational study that enrolled healthy blood donors. Patients were excluded if not eligible for blood donation. Baseline vital signs were obtained, 450 mL of blood was removed over 20 minutes, and vital signs were repeated immediately postdonation while lying and after 1 and 5 minutes of standing. Difference was tested using a paired t test with P Results Forty-six patients were enrolled; means for each time interval are shown below with 95% confidence intervals. Conclusions A significant elevation in mean SI was observed in healthy volunteers after standing for 1 and 5 minutes. Although significant changes in HR and SBP were observed, these indices were still within "normal" limits. The SI may be more useful in early hemorrhage than either the HR or SBP alone.
EMDR and the role of the clinician in psychotherapy evaluation: towards a more comprehensive integration of science and practice.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an integrative psychotherapy approach that has been consistently evaluated as efficacious in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The information processing model that guides its clinical application posits that EMDR should be effective in treating other psychological disorders that have experiential contributors. Research is needed to assess such applications. This special issue features three case series in which EMDR was applied to the treatment of complex PTSD, phobias, and chronic pain, respectively. The authors discuss deficits in the research literature, provide preliminary data on EMDR treatment of these conditions, and offer descriptive guidelines for evaluation that are achievable by the practicing clinician. Two additional articles offer preliminary data on physiological and cognitive/affective concomitants of therapeutic change. It is argued that clinicians should play a greater role in the rigorous and extensive examination of psychological treatments in the context of the exigencies of clinical practice.
Practical asymmetric synthesis of a novel γ-secretase inhibitor

An efficient route to γ-secretase inhibitor hydroxyl thiophene sulfonamide 1 is described. The approach contains nine steps with an overall yield of 8%. The synthesis highlights a diastereoselective methylation using Evans' oxazolidinone method and a chiral Strecker reaction via Davis' sulfonimine protocol.
A comparison of modelling techniques for small mammal diversity

Abstract Development pressures frequently dictate that managers’ need to make decisions about which local sites will be developed and which will be protected. When management for diversity is the goal, it would be helpful if models could aid these decisions. We compared three methods for modelling site-specific small mammal diversity at 48 0.58-ha study sites distributed within six habitats in foothills of the Sacramento Mountains, south-central New Mexico, spring and fall, 1993–1994. Methods included; 1) direct richness prediction with discriminant analysis (classification success rate of 15.1%, mean error=1.6 species), 2) prediction of richness based upon expected species-specific habitat suitability with discriminant analysis (classification success rate 20.3%, mean error=1.6 species), and 3) prediction of relative richness (high vs. low) (classification success rate=91.1%). The mean error of methods 1 and 2 (1.6 species) exceeds the difference known to distinguish high richness habitats from low (1.3 species) in this ecosystem. Therefore, we conclude that the appropriate conceptual technique for modelling diversity is to proceed by distinguishing high and low diversity habitats. We found this technique preferable when compared to pursuit of error-prone models for actual richness that have mean errors larger than those known to characterize the system.
Legitimacy and Social Class in Catalan Language Education for Adults.

Abstract Adult students of Catalan are worthy of study because they reveal complexities underlying taken-for-granted assumptions about Catalan speakers and Castilian speakers. Far from fitting into neat bundles aligning language of origin, social class, and national orientation, the students in this study exemplify the breakdown of boundaries traditionally assumed to exist between Catalan speakers and Castilian speakers. These findings point to a disjuncture between public discourse and the lived experience of language users. Close examination of actual speakers' motivations, classroom performance, and national orientations reveals much more nuance; in this classroom, the fault lines run along social class divisions, which are themselves contrary to stereotypes. This finding advances studies of linguistic authority, suggesting that native speakers may be positioned differently in different sociolinguistic contexts, depending on their social class and whether the language in question is an institutionalize...
Copy correlation direction-of-arrival estimation performance with a stochastic weight vector

Copy-aided direction finding of co-channel signals with known structure is an effective method of angle estimation applicable to any blind or non-blind frontend signal processing. The frontend processing yields for each emitter a copy weight vector that can be correlated with an angle dependent hypothesized adaptive beamformer to extract direction-of-arrival (DOA). The mean squared error (MSE) performance of this method is extended to include the stochastic nature of the copy weight vectors. Prediction of the DOA MSE performance of copy weights derived from a well-known beamforming algorithm is explored as an application of the results.
A 135–160 GHz balanced frequency doubler in 45 nm CMOS with 3.5 dBm peak power

A 135-160 GHz active doubler has been developed in 45 nm CMOS SOI. Careful optimization is done on the transistor size, layout and transmission-lines in order to result in the best performance. The doubler shows a measured peak power of +3.5 dBm at 150 GHz and > 2 dBm at 140-160 GHz, at a bias voltage of 1 V. These were achieved at an input power of 7-8 dBm at 70-80 GHz, resulting in a conversion gain of -4 to -5 dBm. To our knowledge, these are the best results achieved for a D-band doubler in SiGe or CMOS, and shows that advanced CMOS technology can be used to generate wideband power above 100 GHz.
Edith Wharton: Matters of Mind and Spirit

Introduction 1. Priestess 2. Spiritual homelessness 3. Calvinist 'moral tortures' 4. Fragile freedoms 5. Platonic idealism 6. Catholicism: fulfillment or concession Works cited Notes.
Stage I palliation for hypoplastic left heart syndrome: Is a right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit associated with improved outcomes? Critical appraisal of Cua et al: Early postoperative outcomes in a series of infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome undergoing stage I palliation operation with either modified Blalock-Taussig shunt or right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit (Pediatr Crit Care Med 2006; 7:238-244).

OBJECTIVE To review the findings and discuss the implications of studies comparing Norwood procedure with either modified Blalock-Taussig shunt (NW-BT) or right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit (NW-RVPA) in stage I palliation of hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). DESIGN A critical appraisal of "Early postoperative outcomes in a series of infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome undergoing stage I palliation operation with either modified Blalock-Taussig shunt or right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit" by Cua et al. (Pediatr Crit Care Med 2006; 7:238-244) with literature review. FINDINGS Several retrospective studies using historical controls have reported improved results with NW-RVPA compared with NW-BT for stage I palliation of HLHS. The study by Cua et al. is one of a few recent articles with concurrent series that have found no difference in early postoperative mortality or morbidity, although in comparison with the NW-BT group, the NW-RVPA group had significantly shorter duration of mechanical ventilation, decreased length of intensive care unit stay and hospital stay, and shorter time to sternal closure and to establishment of enteral feeds. CONCLUSIONS NW-RVPA has theoretical advantages over NW-BT and is associated with excellent outcome results. However, available data are insufficient to prove benefit in terms of mortality or morbidity. A multicenter randomized trial is currently being conducted, which should provide more conclusive information.
Lung cancer: Preoperative pulmonary evaluation of the lung resection candidate

Lung resection provides the best chance of cure for individuals with early stage non-small cell lung cancer. Naturally, lung resection will lead to a decrease in lung function. The population that develops lung cancer often has concomitant lung disease and a reduced ability to tolerate further losses in lung function. The goal of the preoperative pulmonary assessment of individuals with resectable lung cancer is to identify those individuals whose short- and long-term morbidity and mortality would be unacceptably high if surgical resection were to occur. Pulmonary function measures such as the forced expiratory volume in 1 second and the diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide are useful predictors of postoperative outcome. In situations in which lung function is not normal, the prediction of postoperative lung function from preoperative results and the assessment of exercise capacity can be performed to further clarify risks. Published guidelines help to direct the order of testing, permitting us to offer resection to as many patients as possible.
Does Income Mobility Equalize Longer-term Incomes? New Measures of an Old Concept

This paper develops a new class of measures of mobility as an equalizer of longer-term incomes—a concept different from other notions such as mobility as time-independence, positional movement, share movement, income flux, and directional income movement. A number of properties are specified leading to a class of indices, one easily-implementable member of which is applied to data for the USA and France. Using this index, income mobility is found to have equalized longer-term earnings among US men in the 1970s but not in the 1980s or 1990s. In France, though, income mobility was equalizing throughout, and it has attained its maximum in the most recent period.
A Morphological Study of Infrared Line Emission in Compact Star-Forming Regions

Near-infrared broadband and narrowband images are presented for 11 Galactic star-forming regions. Data were taken using the infrared camera on the Mount Palomar 60 inch (1.5 m) telescope with the broadband filters J, H, and K and with narrowband filters centered on H2 and Brγ. The morphologies of these regions are compared with ultraviolet fluorescence and shock front models of line emission. We find that the majority of these star-forming regions can be described by ultraviolet fluorescence.
Geologic-To-Seismic Modeling For Eldfisk SOA Reservoir Characterization - An Integrated Study

Summary We demonstrate 3D high-resolution seismic modeling and RTM imaging using velocities derived from the Eldfisk geologic model. Using calibration parameters for chalk, the Differential Effective Medium (DEM) method is used to derive P- and S-wave velocities from the imported porosity model. Once the velocity models are constructed, we run 3D finite-difference modeling followed by RTM imaging focused on the reservoir characterization and advanced acquisition design over the seismically obscured area (SOA) on Eldfisk.
Actinomycin sensitive mutants of Escherichia coli K-12.

Actinomycin sensitive mutants of E. coli K12 have been isolated and shown to have pleiotropic defects in the fermentation of sugars. The locus of a gene controlling actinomycin resistance is very close to that of the lactose gene.
Analysis of Interface States in LaSixOy Metal–Insulator–Semiconductor Structures

Using a comprehensive model to simulate interface state effects on metal–insulator–semiconductor (MIS) device in capacitance–voltage (C–V) behavior, interface properties of LaSixOy gate dielectric MIS structures were analyzed. Under low temperature (400 °C) processing conditions amenable to low (0.6 nm) equivalent oxide thickness (EOT), LaSiO-based MIS capacitors on n- and p-type substrates have a high density localized interface state. The peak densities of this localized state for MIS devices on n- and p-type substrates are (2.0–2.5)×1013 and 2.5×1012 cm-2 eV-1, respectively, lying deep in the Si bandgap (within 0.1 eV of midgap). Positive fixed charge density is derived as in the range of 1013 cm-2 and is found to be distributed close to the interface region. In the case of the p-type MIS capacitor, positive fixed charge and positively charged interface states shift the C–V curve in the negative direction. Interface states in the n-type MOS capacitor capture electrons, compensating for the positive fixed charge and positively charged interface states. Thus less shift of the C–V curve is observed, compared to the p-type case. Interface state and fixed charge densities drastically reduce by raising post annealing temperature, to <1012 cm-2 eV-1 on n-type Si, but with concurrent EOT increase. Forming gas annealing (FGA) is effective for reducing the localized interface state density, but only when the temperature is 600 °C or higher. Results point to a need to minimize defect densities during or immediately after dielectric deposition. The high levels of positive defect states warrant further detailed investigation of the charge trapping characteristics of these dielectrics, as La-containing dielectrics are important for threshold voltage control for metal–oxide–semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) devices.
A detailed phylogenetic analysis of FIV in the United States.

Background Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a lentivirus associated with AIDS-like illnesses in cats and has been used as a model for the study of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). A feature of HIV and FIV infection is the continually increasing divergence among viral isolates between different individuals, as well as within the same individuals. Methodology/Principal Findings The goal of this study was to determine the phylogenetic patterns of viral isolates obtained within the United States (U.S.) by focusing on the variable, V3-V4, region of the FIV envelope gene. Conclusions/Significance Data indicate that FIV, from within the U.S., localize to four viral clades, A, B, C, and F. Also shown is the geographic isolation of strains where clade A and clade B are found predominately on the west coast; however, clade B is also found throughout the U.S. and represents the predominant clade. This study presents a complete and conclusive analysis of FIV isolates from within the U.S. and may be used as the essential basis for the development of an effective multi-clade vaccine.
Differing Bereavements: Suicide, Natural, and Accidental Death

This paper compares the bereavement experiences which attend suicide, natural and accidental death for widows. Two recent studies, Glick, Weiss and Parkes The First Year of Bereavement and Samuel E...
The Effect of Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs on the Metabolism of C-Arachidonic Acid by Human Gingival Tissue in vitro

We investigated the effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on prostaglandins (PGs) and 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE) formation by inflamed human gingival tissues. Gingival tissue homogenates were incubated with 14C-arachidonic acid in the presence of indomethacin, piroxicam, or ibuprofen, and the organic solvent extracts were chromatographed on silica gel plates with standards for radiometric assay. There was a significant negative trend between the doses (10-7-10 -3 M) of each of indomethacin, piroxicam, and ibuprofen, and the amounts of PGF2α, PGE2, PGD2, and 15-keto-PGE2 produced. All three drugs have a significant inhibitory effect on PGs and 12-HETE production at 10-3 M when compared with the control. The rank order effectiveness of the drugs, at 10-3 M, on PG inhibition was indomethacin > piroxicam > ibuprofen, and on 12-HETE inhibition was indomethacin > ibuprofen > piroxicam.
Physical model of immune inspired computing

Abstract Artificial immune system is a rapidly growing field of information processing and computing based upon immune inspired paradigms of nonlinear dynamics. This paper introduces stochastic models which mimic the phenomenology of basic functions of immune systems such as self–nonself discrimination, self-repair, predator–prey pursuit, and reproduction. These models represent a unified formalism for building an artificial immune system for effective information processing and computing.
Low-cost rapid prototyping of flexible microfluidic devices using a desktop digital craft cutter

Low-cost and straight forward rapid prototyping of flexible microfluidic devices using a desktop digital craft cutter is presented. This rapid prototyping method can consistently achieve microchannels as thin as 200 µm in width and can be used to fabricate three-dimensional (3D) microfluidic devices using only double-sided pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) tape and laser printer transparency film. Various functional microfluidic devices are demonstrated with this rapid prototyping method. The complete fabrication process from device design concept to working device can be completed in minutes without the need of expensive equipment.