cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of warfarin time in the therapeutic range at a pharmacist-run anticoagulation clinic and the RE-LY trial

Purpose An audit was conducted to determine if the benefits of dabigatran treatment, as demonstrated in the RE-LY (Randomized Evaluation of Long-Term Anticoagulation Therapy) trial, are applicable to patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation managed by a pharmacist-run anticoagulation clinic (PAC). Methods The records of warfarin-treated patients managed by a PAC program over a three-year period were screened to identify patients with diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and a goal International Normalized Ratio (INR) of 2–3; the case selection criteria were similar to those used in the RE-LY trial. Abstracted data included dates and results of INR monitoring and information needed to calculate CHADS2 (Congestive Heart Failure, Hypertension, Age, Diabetes, and Stroke [doubled]) scores. Warfarin time in the therapeutic range (TTR) was the primary endpoint. A pairwise comparison of TTR distributions in subsets of patients grouped by CHADS2 score was performed to test the hypothesis that any two groups had identical distributions. Results Data on 314 PAC patients, including 9772 INR values, were analyzed. The mean ± S.D. TTR was 62.4% ± 24.5% (median, 66.7%), which was similar to the mean TTR reported in the RE-LY trial ( p = 0.092). The distribution of TTR values in the PAC population differed significantly in patients with a CHADS2 score of 2 versus a score of 3 ( p = 0.0333 for Kuiper test), but no other significant differences were noted. Conclusion TTR values among PAC-managed patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation were comparable to those reported in the RE-LY trial.
Synthesis and mass spectrometry studies of an amphiphilic polyether-based rotaxane that lacks an enthalpic driving force for threading

A pure amphiphilic macrocrown ether (MC-12) was obtained by removing linear oligomers and larger macrocycles at the macrocyclization step, before proceeding with an established synthetic procedure. This pure MC-12 was used to synthesize a rotaxane composed of one MC-12 ring threaded with one end-capped poly(tetrahydrofuran) (PTHF) oligomer by equilibrating half an equivalent of the thread with an organized solution of MC-12 and end-capping the threads with excess 2-p-[tris(p-tert-butylphenyl)methyl]phenoxymethyl-4,4-dimethylazlactone. The rotaxane was positively identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-ToF) mass spectrometry (MS), although the spectra showed a low abundance of the rotaxane ions and high abundances of unthreaded MC-12 and end-capped thread ions in the product isolated from the threading experiment. Analysis by GPC was inconclusive because both the rotaxane and a one-to-one complex elute at the same retention volume. MALDI-ToF and electrospray ionizati...
Quantum theory of coherent spontaneous and stimulated emissions

Photon statistics are obtained from exact closed-form solutions for both spontaneous and stimulated coherent emissions by a large number of two-level atoms in a Dicke state. Depending on the initial excitation level of the atoms, three types of photon statistics are obtained for the emitted radiation field. Moments of the photon number of the emitted field are calculated in the case of initial atomic coherent states as well as Dicke states, and in the case of n-photon stimulating pulses as well as coherent stimulating pulses. In the particular case of an initial "superradiant" Dicke state stimulated by a coherent-radiation field, the emitted radiation pulse is also fully coherent. In other cases the photon distributions undergo large fluctuations.
Effect of copper on the strength of AISI 316 stainless steel

The load relaxation test was used to evaluate the elevated temperature (>0.4Tm) flow strength (as a function of strain rate and temperature) of a series of modified type AISI 316, austenitic stainless steels which had been given various thermomechanical pretreatments. Two classes of steels were investigated. The first contained only stabilizing additions; the second contained both stabilizing additions and copper. Under the same conditions the latter class of steels was found to have a much higher flow strength at all strain rates compared to the former class. Microstructural examinations showed that the high flow strength of the copper containing steels results from a larger number of finer matrix MC-type carbides which effectively pin dislocations. It is suggested that copper causes this finer distribution by increasing the stacking fault energy of the austenite lattice and thereby enhancing the nucleation rate of MC-type carbides on grain matrix dislocations.
Intrinsic ability of GM+IL-4 but not Flt3L-induced rat dendritic cells to promote allogeneic T cell hyporesponsiveness.

Abstract The influence of GM + IL-4 and Flt3 ligand (FL) on phenotype and function of BM-derived DC from Lewis rats was investigated. GM + IL-4-induced DC, despite expression of CD80/CD86, were less stimulatory than FL-induced DC that expressed low CD80/CD86 and were efficient stimulators of allogeneic T cells. GM + IL-4 DC were CD11b + OX62 lo , whereas FL DC were CD11b lo OX62 + . Following activation, GM + IL-4 DC produced IL-10 and IL-6, but no IL-12p70, and were resistant to further maturation. FL DC produced IL-12p70, IFN-α/β, IL-10 and IL-6 and underwent maturation. Repeated stimulation of T cells with GM + IL-4 DC inhibited proliferation, cytokine production and induced early T cell apoptosis. FL DC-activated T cells produced large amounts of IFN-γ/IL-10 and exhibited late T cell apoptosis/necrosis. In vivo, GM + IL-4 DC induced alloAg-specific hyporesponsiveness following T cell restimulation. These results demonstrate that GM + IL-4 DC display intrinsic regulatory properties, inducing passive-cell-death in T cells with potential for inactivation/regulation of alloreactive T cells in transplantation.
Comments on ‘Auditory Brainstem Responses to Middle- and Low-Frequency Tone Pips’ [Maurizi et al., Audiology 23: 75-84, 1984]

This article contains critical comments on data described in a recent paper dealing with differences between click- and tone-pip-evoked auditory brainstem responses (ABR) by Maurizi et al. [Audiology 23: 75-84, 1984]. The primary criticism relates to the lack of validity of comparing ABR obtained with different input filter settings. When utilizing identical input filter settings, click- and tone-pip-evoked brainstem responses exhibit similar morphologies: both consist of a slow vertex-positive wave with faster superimposed vertex-positive components.Cet article fait la critique de donnees rapportees dans une etude recente par Maurizi et al. [Audiology 23: 75-84, 1984], qui traite des differences entre les potentiels auditifs du tronc cerebral evoques par des dies et ceux evoques par des salves tonales. L'auteur de la presente lettre, et e'est la sa critique principale, considere que la comparaison de potentiels auditifs du tronc cerebral filtres avec des bandes passantes variees n'est pas valide: lorsqu'...
Single-dose pharmacokinetics and safety of ziprasidone in children and adolescents.

ABSTRACT Objective The purpose of this study was to provide single-dose pharmacokinetic, safety, and tolerability data for ziprasidone in youths with tic disorder, for comparison to adult studies to discern whether ziprasidone pediatric dosing could be modeled from adult data. Method A single-dose, open-label study of ziprasidone was conducted in youths (ages 7-16 years) with Tourette's disorder or chronic tic disorder. Dosing of ziprasidone oral suspension (40 mg/mL) was weight adjusted: >60 kg, 20 mg (group 1, n = 8); 31 to 60 kg, 10 mg (group 2, n = 8); and 16 to 30 kg, 5 mg (group 3, n = 8). Patients were assessed for serum ziprasidone concentration, safety, tolerability, and electrocardiogram pre- and postdose. Results Twenty-four patients were evaluated for safety and tolerability, and 23 were evaluated for pharmacokinetics. Regression analysis of AUC 0-∞ and C max values versus weight-normalized dose showed linear, dose-related changes in ziprasidone exposure. Ziprasidone was well tolerated with frequent, although transient, somnolence. No clinically significant change from baseline was observed in Bazett's or Fridericia's corrected QT c interval, and change in QT c interval was not related to serum ziprasidone concentration. Conclusions Oral ziprasidone exhibited linear pharmacokinetics and dose-related exposure in youths with Tourette's disorder or chronic tic disorder, which are comparable to adult data. A single dose of ziprasidone was well tolerated without clinically significant effects on electrocardiograms collected around the time of maximum serum concentration.
Revive energy audits with today's cost management

Remember the 1970s? We had petroleum shortages and price increases back then, too. But many companies also had conducted energy audits—to see where they could reduce energy usage. Accountants contributed their skills in auditing and cost management to make the process even more successful. In many ways, we're in a similar situation today. But energy audits aren't as popular—even though recent advances in cost management could make energy audits even more useful. The author thinks it's time to revive energy audits—using today's cost management techniques. And he shows how to do it. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc..
The inhibitory actions of progesterone: Effects on male and female sexual behavior of the hamster

Abstract A series of three experiments compared the inhibitory effects of progesterone on estrogen- or androgen-induced sexual behavior in male and female hamsters. In the first experiment chronic progesterone treatment was found to have no effect on male copulatory behavior maintained after castration with testosterone propionate or estradiol benzoate. However, testosterone propionate was more effective at maintaining male behavior than estradiol benzoate. In the second experiment progesterone was found to have a slight inhibitory effect on the rate of the restoration of the intromission response after androgen treatment in males which had been castrated for 8 weeks. In the final experiment, chronic progesterone treatment markedly inhibited sexual receptivity in male and female hamsters which had been given 4 weeks of androgen or estrogen treatment and a single pretest injection of progesterone. Thus, progesterone was shown to be a potent inhibitor of androgen- or estrogen-induced estrus in both male and female hamsters. Due to the large difference in effectiveness on these two behavioral systems, we suggest that progesterone affects steroid-induced male copulatory behavior and female receptivity by different mechanisms of action.
Pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect: preoperative and postoperative responses to exercise.

Between April 1982 and June 1984, maximal exercise testing was performed 35 times in 34 consecutive patients with pulmonary atresia and ventricular septal defect (14 studies in patients without repair, 11 studies in patients with partial repair [insertion of a right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit without ventricular septal defect closure] and 10 studies in patients with complete repair [insertion of a conduit with septal defect closure]). Total work performed, maximal power achieved, exercise time and maximal oxygen uptake were significantly greater in patients after partial or complete repair than in patients without repair. Systemic arterial blood oxygen saturations at rest and during exercise were directly related to the degree of repair. Although heart rate at rest in the three study groups was similar to that in a separate group of normal control subjects, patients in all three study groups had a blunted heart rate response to exercise. The ventilatory equivalent for oxygen was increased both at rest and during exercise for patients without conduit repair and those with a right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit without ventricular septal defect closure but was similar to that of control subjects in the group with conduit insertion and septal defect closure. This study indicates that patients with pulmonary atresia and ventricular septal defect have decreased exercise tolerance both before and after corrective surgery. Exercise tolerance improves significantly after placement of a conduit from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery with or without ventricular septa) defect closure. Although no further improvement in exercise tolerance occurs with closure of the septal defect, ventilatory function and systemic arterial blood oxygen saturation are improved.
A dynamic filtration test for geotextile filters

Abstract Under certain unique situations a permeating liquid can approach a geotextile filter under dynamic conditions. Such hydrodynamic conditions can represent the ultimate challenge to the proper functioning of the filter, particularly from a soil retention perspective. This short note presents a laboratory test method which can be used to simulate such hydrodynamic conditions. The soil (in total or its fine fraction) is added incrementally to the test setup. Dynamics pulses are then applied under controlled pressure conditions for a given time period. Flow rate, or permittivity, tests are then conducted in the conventional manner. The limiting behavior developed over successive soil increments can then be assessed. The purpose of this technical note is to describe the test setup and illustrate the flow rate behavior under a variety of soil, geotextile and pulse intensity conditions.
Fool me once, shame on me--fool me twice, blame the ACC.

The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is thought to detect unfavorable outcomes and thus influence behavior. A new paper reports that ACC-lesioned monkeys respond normally to reduced rewards, but do not maintain their improved behavioral strategy. The ACC thus is not a simple error detector, but an integrator of past reward experience.
Von Willebrand disease.

Von Willebrand disease (VWD), the most common inherited bleeding disorder, results from a deficiency of von Willebrand factor (VWF), a protein required for the normal adhesion of platelets to the site of injured endothelium and for preservation of factor VIII in the circulation. The prevalence of VW
Disordered eating: young women's search for control and connection.

PROBLEM: Approximately 5% of American women suffer from eating disorders and scores more exhibit signs of disordered eating. The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of disordered eating in adolescence. METHODS: Grounded theory method was employed. In-depth interviews were conducted with 15 college women to explore their experiences with disordered eating. FINDINGS: Choosing disordered eating behaviors as a method of control occurred when the young women lacked connected and close relationships with others. Conversely, when meaningful relationships were present in their lives, the dysfunction abated. CONCLUSIONS: Psychosocial and dietary assessments are necessary to identify youngsters without connected relationships and/or predispositions to disordered eating.
Meeting the Needs of Organic Farmers: Benchmarking Organizational Performance of University Extension

A stochastic frontier model is used to explain the performance evaluation by organic producers of programs provided by the U.S. university extension systemproviders. We identify nonmanagerial factors that influence both performance ratings and performance efficiency, defined as achieving a rating as close to the highest rating as possible. Results based on the organic farmer evaluators indicate that extension agents are performing at high mean efficiency of 0.95, but that the average rating is relatively low at 2.66 on a four-point scale. Years of experience in organic farming and the severity of production problems facing farmers have significant impacts on performance ratings.
SU‐GG‐T‐193: Measurement of Penumbra Using a 2D Ionization Chamber Array

Purpose: Measurement of penumbras associated with jaws and MLCs are problematic in a clinical setting. Typically penumbra are measured by scanning a field profile with a scanning ion chamber, diode or with film. Each measurement modality has a associated with it different difficulties; ion chambers and diodes have a spatial resolution problems, films over respond to low energy photons in the penumbra and umbra regions. These problems affect the results of measurements in the penumbra regions, ion chamber and diode measurements convolve the resolution of the detector with the penumbra function, while film overestimates the values in the low dose regions of the penumbra and umbra. This work reports the results of using a 2D ionization array ((MatriXX, Scanditronic‐Wellhofer) to measure penumbra regions. Method and Materials: The 2D ionization array consists of 1020 separate ionization chambers. The array is arranged in a 32 × 32 chamber grid with the four corner chambers missing. Each chamber is 7.6 mm on center with an active volume of 0.03 cm3. Results from this group have been report previously using this array for IMRT measurements. In this work the penumbra is measured by placing a rotated jaw edge within the area of the array and using a blind deconvolution to determine the spatial response of the detectors and the shape of the penumbra simultaneously. Results: Results of penumbra reconstruction for various field sizes and depths are reported. These results are compared to ion chamber scanning methods and film. Conclusion: Use of the 2D array to measure penumbra widths show good agreement with ion chamber scanning measurements and do not suffer from over response of film measurements in the low dose regions. An average spatial response of the detectors is also determine simultaneously by this procedure.
Pharmacokinetic of antiepileptic drugs in patients with hepatic or renal impairment

Many factors influence choice of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), including efficacy of the drug for the indication (epilepsy, neuropathic pain, affective disorder, migraine), tolerability, and toxicity. The first-generation AEDs and some newer AEDs are predominately eliminated by hepatic metabolism. Other recent AEDs are eliminated by renal excretion of unchanged drug or a combination of hepatic metabolism and renal excretion. The effect of renal and hepatic disease on the dosing will depend on the fraction of the AED eliminated by hepatic and/or renal excretion, the metabolic isozymes involved, as well as the extent of protein binding, if therapeutic drug monitoring is used. For drugs that are eliminated by renal excretion, methods of estimating creatinine clearance can be used to determine dose adjustments. For drugs eliminated by hepatic metabolism, there are no specific markers of liver function that can be used to provide guidance in dosage adjustments. Based on studies with probe drugs, the hepatic metabolic enzymes are differentially affected depending on the cause and severity of hepatic disease, which can aid in predicting dose adjustment when clinical data are not available. Several AEDs are also associated with laboratory markers of mild hepatic dysfunction and, rarely, more severe hepatic injury. In contrast, the risk of renal injury from AEDs is generally low. In general, co-morbid hepatic or renal diseases influence the decision for the selection of an AED. For some patients dosing changes to their existing AEDs may be appropriate. For others, a change to another AED may be a better option.
Hydrates and tertiary amine complexes of cobalt(II) and nickel(II) trifluoromethanesulfonates

Abstract The compounds [Co(H 2 O) 6 ](CF 3 SO 3 ) 2 ·H 2 O, Co(CF 3 SO 3 ) 2 , [Ni(H 2 O) 6 ](CF 3 SO 3 ) 2 , and Ni(CF 3 SO 3 ) 2 have been prepared and characterized. The metal ion coordination is octahedral high-spin in all cases. Phase diagrams indicate that triethylamine forms extremely unstable 2:1 adducts with both anhydrous trifluoromethanesulfonates. In contrast, the less sterically demanding ligand quinuclidine (QUIN) gives the tetrahedral [Co(QUIN) 4 ](CF 3 SO 3 ) 2 and the six-coordinate [Ni(QUIN) 2 (CF 3 SO 3 ) 2 ]. Water and trifluoromethanesulfonate anion absorptions in the near IR region of the spectrum are found to be useful, in conjunction with magnetic and visible spectroscopic data, in assigning coordination numbers and geometries.
Doppler ultrasound in the prediction of pressure gradients across aortic coarctation.

Abstract Although pressure gradients across valvar obstructions can be estimated by incorporating peak flow velocity distal to obstruction into a modified Bernoulli equation, such attempts in aortic coarctations have not been uniformly successful. The purpose of this study was to examine the value of several Doppler flow parameters in predicting pressure gradient across the aortic coarctation. Twenty-eight patients, aged 14 days to 13 years, in whom Doppler variables and catheterization pressure gradients were measured within 24 hours of each other, were included in the study. There were 60 pairs of such data. Correlation coefficients between catheter pressure gradient on the one hand and Doppler peak flow velocity and Doppler pressure gradient (DPG) estimates using (1) distal velocity and (2) both distal and proximal velocities (DPV) in the Bernoulli equation on the other were 0.74 to 0.76. Subgrouping the subjects into native coarctations, coarctations immediately after and 6 to 30 months after balloon angioplasty did not improve the correlation coefficient. Duration-related measures of Doppler flow curve distal to the coarctation, namely, acceleration time and antegrade flow time (AFT), corrected (to heart rate) and uncorrected, improved the correlation coeffient to 0.82 (p
Three-dimensional structure and cell kinetics at different sites of rat intestinal remnants during the early adaptive response to resection.

In this study the early phase of the morphological adaptation of rat ileum after a proximal resection of 60% has been studied using microdissection and cell labelling techniques.
Prediction of 89Y NMR Chemical Shifts in Organometallic Complexes with Density Functional Theory

Organometallic and coordination compounds containing yttrium are usefully characterized with 89Y NMR spectroscopy (I = −1/2, 100% nat. abund.). Even though the qualitative contributions of various ...
Sexuality and mass media: The historical context of psychology's reaction to sexuality on the internet

Although the Internet is a relatively new technology, many concerns regarding it are not new. This applies to preoccupation with the transmission of sexual material and information over the Interne...
Effects of intravenous milrinone followed by titration of high-dose oral vasodilator therapy on clinical outcome and rehospitalization rates in patients with severe heart failure

Abstract This study evaluated the efficacy of intravenous milrinone in improving hemodynamics and facilitating the titration of high-dose oral vasodilator therapy to improve clinical status. Fourteen patients (mean age 52 ± 12 years) with severe heart failure and a left ventricular ejection fraction of 18 ± 6% underwent right-side heart catheterization and an intravenous milrinone infusion followed by titration of oral vasodilator and diuretic therapy. Milrinone significantly (p 2 ), systemic vascular resistance (1,809 ± 526 to 891 ± 144 dynes/s/cm −5 ), and pulmonary vascular resistance (285 ± 151 to 163 ± 68 dynes/s/cm −5 ), which was maintained in 10 patients with titration of high-dose oral vasodilator therapy. Oral angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and diuretic doses were increased 318% and 89%, respectively. Four patients also received hydralazine to optimize hemodynamics. New York Heart Association functional class improved from 3.8 ± 0.4 to 2.6 ± 0.6 following therapy. Ten patients who responded to therapy had fewer hospitalized days during the subsequent year compared with the year before treatment (4 ± 17 vs 17 ± 15), and no patient died. In contrast, the 3 patients who responded poorly to therapy tended to have more hospitalized days at 12 months compared with pretreatment (31 ± 11 vs 20 ± 18; NS); 1 patient died. We conclude that intravenous milrinone followed by optimization of oral medical therapy may be used as a therapeutic trial to identify patients in need of cardiac transplantation.
A model for determining the spectral quality of daylight on a horizontal surface at any geographical location

Abstract Using solar irradiance data gathered over 8 yrs (1968–1976) a very simple model for determining daily and hourly totals of solar irradiance has been derived. The simplified model works extremely well for broad spectral regions, i.e. the total irradiance, the visible (400 nm–700 nm), and the total IR (800 nm–2800 nm). Smaller regions (100 nm bands) are not computed with the same accuracy because of the spectral dependency of such parameters as the albedo, water vapor and ozone. Also, this model does not give good results around sunrise and sunset. The computational accuracy of the model of daily totals and hourly totals on clear days is within ±10% when compared to values obtained from Eppley precision pyranometers. The accuracy for 100 nm bands is considerably less being greater than ±10 per cent on clear days and cloud corrections will increase the errors to ±25 per cent.
High-speed interferometric aluminum disk blank tester

Demand for faster disk drives with bigger storage capacity calls for higher quality of aluminum disks used in their production. Accordingly, decreasing tolerances on disk flatness and tighter specifications on defect presence (pockets) must be met by aluminum bland suppliers. At the same time volume of production is growing requiring automated quality control at high speed. Veeco Process Metrology has developed high performance automated 95 mm aluminum blank disk tester based on Twymann-Green interferometer working a wavelength of 10.6 micrometer. It is a fully automated tool for high volume production with throughput of one disk per second. Lateral resolution of 0.6 mm in the disk plane allows flatness and shape testing as well as pocket detection. The use of long wavelength makes interferometer insensitive to environmental vibrations and dust. Vertical accuracy of instrument is 300 nm (PV) and repeatability is 130 nm (RMS). In this paper we present technical design issues and metrological capabilities of the device. The interferometer is supplied with new automated analysis software which automatically detects defects on the disk surface (pockets) as small as 0.5 micrometer in depth and performs shape categorization.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Modelling fluid flow in fractured‐porous rock masses by finite‐element techniques

One of the major difficulties of modeling fluid flow processes in hard-rock geologies is the complex nature of the porosity systems. Hydraulic behavior in these rock masses is characterized by both porous and fractured interflow zones. Traditionally, fractured-porous rocks have been modeled as an equivalent porous medium or as a system of fractures separated by impermeable blocks. A new method is proposed that unifies these two approaches for modeling fluid flow processes in fractured-porous media. The basic idea is to use a combination of isoparametric elements for the porous zones and line elements for the fractures. The coupling between the governing equations for each element type is achieved using the superposition principle. The effectiveness of the new approach is demonstrated by comparing numerical solutions with known solutions for problems of flow and solute transport in fractured-porous media.
A Needs Assessment of Research in Communication Education.

Communication researchers were surveyed about the importance of 116 research questions and 24 general areas in communication education to identify future research needs for the discipline. Respondents indicated that priority should be placed on investigations of student and teacher communication competence, the effects of teacher communication on learning, and the development of communication skills in children.
Degradation and Reconstruction of Moenomycin A and Derivatives: Dissecting the Function of the Isoprenoid Chain

Moenomycin A is the only known natural product that inhibits peptidoglycan biosynthesis by binding the bacterial transglycosylases. We describe a degradation/reconstruction route to manipulate the reducing end of moenomycin A. A comparison of the biological and enzyme inhibitory activity of moenomycin A and an analogue containing a nerol lipid in place of the natural C25 lipid chain provides insight into the role of the moenocinol unit. Our results show that a lipid chain having ten carbons in moenocinol is sufficient for enzyme inhibition, but a longer chain is required for biological acitivity, apparently because the molecule must partition into biological membranes to reach its target in bacterial cells.
Vulnerability, Risk, and Mitigation Assessment of Water Distribution Systems for Insufficient Fire Flows

AbstractWater distributions systems must reliably supply water for fire-fighting needs as well as everyday demands but are vulnerable to a range of failure types that can compromise both functions. A methodology is presented integrating failure probability, risk analysis, and optimization of risk that can be used to assess system vulnerabilities and potential mitigation actions. To demonstrate multiple failure mode analysis, three failure types are included: accidental failure due to soil-pipe interaction, accidental failure due to a seismic event, and malevolent attack. A risk-optimization algorithm is implemented using dynamic programming to identify the failure scenarios having the greatest consequences and probability rather than focusing on just one aspect of vulnerability. Finally, potential mitigation strategies are assessed in a benefit-cost-risk reduction analysis. The methodology is intended as a practicable means for infrastructure managers to assess and address system vulnerabilities in a real...
Anthropogenic chlorofluoromethanes and seasonal mixing rates in the Middle Atlantic Bight

Measurements of the chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), F11 (CCl3F) and F12 (CCl2F2) were made during the Shelf Edge Exchange Processes II (SEEP-II) experiment in the Middle Atlantic Bight during 1988–1989. These compounds undergo large seasonal variations in surface water concentration as a result of temperature-induced solubility changes. Outgassing in summer produces vertical concentration gradients that can be exploited to estimate a cross-pycnocline vertical eddy-diffusivity suitable for biogeochemical flux calculations. Model results based on an exploratory study suggest an average Kz of 1 × 10−5 m2 s−1 for this region during the stratified period. CFCs have advantages over other budget approaches for studying mixing processes, including heat budgets, as there are no internal sources or sinks other than air-sea gas exchange. In order to exploit further the CFC budget of sub-pycnocline shelf waters, regular cruises through the summer months and characterization of CFC levels at the time of stratification are required.
Levels of C10−C13 Polychloro-n-Alkanes in Marine Mammals from the Arctic and the St. Lawrence River Estuary

Marine mammals from various regions of the Arctic and the St. Lawrence River estuary were examined for the first time for levels of C10−C13 polychloro-n-alkanes (sPCAs). Respective mean total sPCA ...
Influence of carbamazepine on the dose-response relationship of vecuronium †

We have determined the cumulative dose-response relationship for vecuronium from the evoked compound electromyogram of the hypothenar muscles in eight patients who were receiving carbamazepine. The ED50, ED90 and ED95 were 29, 52 and 64 μg kg−1, respectively, and were significantly different (P
It's all in the timing: many clocks, many outputs

It is thought that circadian regulation of physiology and behavior imparts survival advantages to organisms that use clocks. In mammals, a master clock resident in the SCN synchronizes other central and peripheral oscillators to evoke this regulation. This master oscillator consists of interlocking transcriptional-translational feedback loops, and it regulates both core clock genes necessary for oscillator maintenance as well as specific output genes that directly or indirectly mediate physiology under circadian control. It is now clear that both neuroanatomic and molecular outputs of the clock are necessary for proper circadian clock function. Recent technology has improved our understanding of these processes, elucidating the anatomic outputs of the SCN, as well as the molecular outputs of both central and peripheral oscillators that mediate observed physiological changes.
Flow diversion around cavities in fractured media

[1] Flow diversion around subsurface cavities in unsaturated fractured media is important to numerous environmental and engineering applications. This paper provides analytical solutions to partial and complete flow diversion around cavities intersected by fractures under steady state conditions. It is focused on a typical trifracture junction located upstream from a cavity surface. Fractures are modeled as two-dimensional porous media with an exponential relationship between the capillary pressure and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity. The solutions show that the vertical distance between the fracture end and the nearest junction (Z) and the slope of the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity (α) are by far the most important determinants of flow diversion. In fact, the product of Z and α enters the threshold flux and liquid entry flux equations as a dimensionless sorptive length (s). This relationship between Z and α is shown to have important implications for uncertainty and scalability of calibrated model parameters. The solutions given in this paper are expected to be directly applicable to cavities on the order of the fracture spacing.
Bibles and Beads: Missionaries as Traders in Southern Africa in the Early Nineteenth Century

Trade across the Cape frontier in the first three decades of the nineteenth century, and government attempts to regulate that trade, cannot be understood without first considering the role of Protestant missionaries as traders and bearers of European manufactured goods in the South African interior. From their arrival in 1799, missionaries of the London Missionary Society carried on a daily trade beyond the northern and eastern boundaries of the Cape Colony that was forbidden by law to the colonists. When missionaries of the Methodist Missionary Society arrived in the mid-1810s they too carried beads as well as Bibles to their mission stations outside the colony. Most missionaries were initially troubled by having to mix commercial activities with their religious duties. They were forced, however, to rely on trade in order to support themselves and their families because of the meagre material and monetary assistance they received from their societies. They introduced European goods among African societies beyond the Cape frontiers earlier and in greater quantities than any other enterprise until the commencement of the Fort Willshire fairs in 1824. Most importantly, they helped to bring about a transition from trade in beads, buttons and other traditional exchange items to a desire among many of the peoples with whom they came into contact for blankets, European clothing and metal tools and utensils, thus creating a growing dependency on European material goods that would eventually bring about a total transformation of these African societies.
Subintimal angioplasty for the treatment of claudication and critical limb ischemia: 3-year results.

Objective Subintimal angioplasty (SIA) is an increasingly used method of lower extremity revascularization for patients with chronic arterial occlusions. To assess the technical feasibility, safety, and 3-year outcomes of patients treated with SIA, we performed a retrospective review of our early experience. Methods Patient information—including demographics, indications, procedures, noninvasive arterial studies, and postprocedural events—was recorded in a database. Outcomes were determined on an intention-to-treat basis, as well as by technical success, by using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Continuous data were compared by using the Student t test, and survival curves were compared by log-rank testing. Results From December 2002 through December 2003, 104 patients (105 limbs) underwent SIA of 159 occlusive lesions involving the iliac (n = 10), superficial femoral (n = 85), popliteal (n = 48), or tibial (n = 16) arteries. Sixty-six (62.9%) patients were treated for critical limb ischemia, and 39 patients (37.1%) were treated for disabling claudication. Technical success was achieved in 91 procedures (86.7%) and resulted in a mean increase in ankle-brachial index of 0.36 ± 0.16. The mean follow-up was 23.4 months (range, 0-46 months). During this period, 18 patients (17.0%) died, and 15 amputations (14.3%) were performed, 6 of which were performed for patients on whom SIA had been unsuccessful. In patients undergoing successful SIA, the primary patency was 55%, 43%, and 35% at 12, 24, and 36 months, respectively. Twenty-one patients underwent a total of 23 percutaneous procedures to maintain or restore patency of the SIA during the study period. This resulted in secondary patency rates of 71%, 63%, and 51% at 12, 24, and 36 months, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed critical limb ischemia to be the only predictor of reduced primary patency. Fifteen patients with inoperable critical limb ischemia underwent successful SIA. Limb salvage in this group was 54% and 43% at 12 and 36 months, respectively. Limb salvage in operative candidates was 100% and 88% at the same intervals. In patients with disabling claudication, 94% experienced improvement in symptoms 3 months after the procedure, and 68% of patients reported sustained improvement at 36 months. In all operative candidates successfully treated with SIA, freedom from surgical bypass was 83% and 73% at 12 and 36 months, respectively. Conclusions SIA for the treatment of lower extremity chronic arterial occlusions is technically feasible, results in minimal morbidity, and provides satisfactory revascularization without surgical bypass. Secondary patency is comparable to that of autologous vein bypass and is achieved with a low rate of reintervention. When used as first-line therapy, SIA provides most patients with limb salvage and freedom from surgical bypass at 3 years.
Low Penetrance Pancreatitis Phenotype in a Venezuelan Kindred with a PRSS1 R122H Mutation

Context Hereditary pancreatitis is typically caused by the PRSS1 R122H or N29I mutations resulting in high penetrance (about 80%) autosomal dominant disorder that is usually reported in North America, Northern Europe and Northeast Asia, but not South America, Africa or India. Case report Here we report a kindred from Venezuela, South America with the PRSS1 R122H variant. Only the proband, an 11-year old boy with severe chronic pancreatitis, and a maternal grandmother with pancreatitis at age 60 years (confirmed PRSS1 R122H), are symptomatic. Conclusions Issues of mutation prevalence, non-penetrance, and disease recognition in various countries are discussed. Image: Pedigree of a Venezuelan kindred.
Foreign body ingestion: children like to put objects in their mouth.

Background Foreign body ingestion is a common problem in the pediatric age group. Infants and young children explore objects by putting them in the mouth.
Numerical studies of the electromagnetic Weibel instability in intense charged particle beams with large temperature anisotropy using the nonlinear best Darwin δf code

A numerical scheme for the electromagnetic particle simulation of high-intensity charged particle beams has been developed which is a modification of the Darwin model. The Darwin model neglects the transverse induction current in Amperes law and therefore eliminates fast electromagnetic (light) waves from the simulations. The model has been incorporated into the nonlinear deltaf Beam Equilibrium Stability and Transport(BEST) code. We have applied the model to simulate the transverse electromagnetic Weibel instability in a single-species charged particle beam and the mechanism for nonlinear saturation is identified.
Experimental evaluation of uncalibrated visual servoing for precision manipulation

We present an experimental evaluation of adaptive and non-adaptive visual servoing in 3, 6 and 12 degrees of freedom (DOF), comparing it to traditional joint feedback control. While the purpose of experiments in most other work has been to show that the particular algorithm presented indeed also works in practice, we do not focus on the algorithm but rather on properties important to visual servoing in general. Our main results are: positioning of a 6 axis PUMA 762 arm is up to 5 times more precise under visual control than under joint control; positioning of a Utah/MIT dextrous hand is better under visual control than under joint control by a factor of 2; and a trust-region-based adaptive visual feedback controller is very robust. For m tracked visual features the algorithm can successfully estimate online the m/spl times/3 (m/spl ges/3) image Jacobian (J) without any prior information, while carrying out a 3 DOF manipulation task. For 6 and higher DOF manipulation, a rough initial estimate of J is beneficial. We also verified that redundant visual information is valuable. Errors due to imprecise tracking and goal specification were reduced as the number of visual features, m, was increased. Furthermore highly redundant systems allow us to detect outliers in the feature vector and deal with partial occlusion.
Discrete phase retrieval by solving linear systems of equations: performance under noisy conditions

The discrete phase retrieval problem is to reconstruct a discrete-time signal whose support is known and compact from the magnitude of its discrete Fourier transform. We presented new solutions to the discrete phase retrieval problem of Yagle and Bell (see Proc. ICIP, Santa Barbara, CA, 1997) which formulate the problem as a linear system of equations. These methods are computationally simpler and more stable than previous iterative and exact phase retrieval methods. Moreover, our new solutions are able to explicitly address noisy magnitude information through total least squares type techniques. We present examples of our algorithms' performance under various noise conditions for two approaches, one based on the singular value decomposition and the other based on preserving the structure in the system matrix.
Changes in prolactin and glucocorticoid levels in cotton-top tamarin fathers during their mate's pregnancy: the effect of infants and paternal experience.

We have previously shown that paternally experienced cotton-top tamarin fathers (Saguinus oedipus) had significant increases in prolactin and glucocorticoids at the midpoint of their mate's pregnancy, whereas less experienced fathers showed prolactin increases only the month before offspring birth [Ziegler & Snowdon, Hormones & Behavior 38:159–167, 2000; Ziegler et al., Hormones & Behavior 45:84–92, 2004]. These results could be owing to differing paternal experience or from paternal care given to previous offspring. To test the relative role of infant cues and paternal experience in these hormonal changes, we paired four paternally experienced tamarin fathers with a novel, primiparous female and monitored hormone levels during their first pregnancy together. No fathers showed the significant mid-pregnancy increase in prolactin seen previously. However, all fathers showed increases in cortisol and significant peaks of corticosterone in mid-pregnancy. The increase in corticosterone was consistent with previous data occurring in each male during the same week or the week following the urinary cortisol increase shown by his mate. These data may suggest that the elevated mid-gestation prolactin seen previously in experienced males may be owing to the presence of offspring from the previous set of infants. In contrast, increased cortisol and corticosterone occurred independently of infant cues and may be related to previous paternal experience. We therefore conclude that both offspring presence and paternal experience contribute to the hormonal changes seen in experienced cotton-top tamarin fathers during their mate's pregnancy. Am. J. Primatol. 70:560–565, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Developments in large gamma-ray detector arrays

Gamma-ray spectroscopy was revolutionized with the introduction of high energy-resolution semiconductor germanium (Ge) detectors in the early 1960s. This led to the large increase in sensitivity realized by today’s arrays of Compton-suppressed Ge detectors. A still larger increase in sensitivity is expected by implementing the new concept of tracking. A tracking array consists of highly segmented Ge detectors (that can cover the full 4π solid-angle) in which γ rays will be identified by measuring and tracking every γ -ray interaction. This article reviews the physics motivation for such detectors and the development of the new technologies involved. The concept of tracking is explained using the example of a proposed array called γ -ray energy tracking array (GRETA).
Effects of Hurricane Rita on the Herpetofauna of Village Creek State Park, Hardin County, Texas

Abstract Numbers of species and individuals in the herpetofauna of Village Creek State Park, Hardin County, Texas, were compared before and after Hurricane Rita. Number of species in the entire park remained stable after the hurricane. However, there was a significant increase in numbers of species and individuals in some habitats within the park. Changes in the herpetofauna may be attributable to a massive tree-fall caused by Hurricane Rita, which opened the canopy and increased coarse woody debris within the park.
FERROELECTRIC CAPACITOR BASED ADAPTIVE MATCHING NETWORK FOR RF AMPLIFIER

ABSTRACT This paper presents the design and characterization of an adaptive matching network which is made of thin-film barium–strontium–titanate (Ba0.7Sr0.3TiO3 (BST)) for a class A RF amplifier. 10 dB gain has been achieved and maximum output power load performance of tunable amplifier is improved compared to fixed-impedance amplifier. Control bias variation of 3 V results in about 10 dB gain difference at 700 MHz. By applying 3 V on the ferroelectric capacitor, f−3dB is 658 MHz which is shifted by 123 MHz compared to at 0 volts. It provides the adaption for frequency bands of 400, 500 and 600 MHz and different power levels.
Imaging brain atrophy in progressive supranuclear palsy and corticobasal syndromes: potential for diagnosis and monitoring of disease progression

SUMMARY The progressive supranuclear palsy syndrome (PSPS) and corticobasal syndrome (CBS) are atypical parkinsonian disorders that are both associated with characteristic patterns of atrophy that can be detected on MRI and can be diagnostically useful for the clinician. Much recent work has focused on developing imaging biomarkers, particularly utilizing measurements of the brainstem, which can differentiate PSPS from CBS and other parkinsonian disorders. The utility of longitudinal measures of atrophy as biomarkers of disease progression has also been assessed with a view to how these measures could be utilized in clinical treatment trials. Here, these studies are reviewed and the potential value of imaging biomarkers to aid diagnosis and monitor disease progression in PSPS and CBS will be discussed.