cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chirped-pulse amplification with narrowband pulses.

We demonstrate a compact hyperdispersion stretcher and compressor pair that permit chirped-pulse amplification in Nd:YAG. We generate 750mJ, 0.2nm FWHM, 10Hz pulses recompressed to an 8ps near-transform-limited duration. The dispersion-matched pulse compressor and stretcher impart a chirp of 7300ps/nm, in a 3m×1m footprint.
Epidural steroid injections after epidurography may prevent otherwise devastating complications.

I read with interest the case report by Tripathi et al. (1) regarding the development of paraplegia after intracord injection during attempted epidural steroid injection in an awake patient. I have some concerns regarding their technique. First, the report implies that the authors did not inject a contrast agent under real-time fluoroscopy to validate epidural placement of the needle. Epidurography is useful to indicate epidural position and can help to predict the dermatomal distribution of analgesic block. At the lower thoracic and lumbar segments, the pattern of spread is significantly wider in the cephalad than caudal direction (2). Second, it is unclear why the authors chose the T11-12 level if the patient’s pain was in the T12 to L3 distribution. After injection of 10 mL volume, the expected cephalad spread is 6–7 segments (up to T5), whereas the expected caudal spread is only 2 segments (down to L2) (2). Tripathi et al. (1) concluded that patient safety can be improved by excluding typical epidural doses of local anesthetic and/or opioids from epidural steroid injections. In my view, epidurography under real-time fluoroscopy is the key to safety for epidural steroid injections. Performing the injection at a lower lumbar level with epidurography might have saved the patient from this devastating complication.
Commentary: fibroblast growth factor 19 in patients with bile acid diarrhoea.

The recent paper by Pattni et al.1 has the potential to change clinical practice in the assessment of patients with unexplained diarrhoea, often attributed to diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D).2 It builds on the seminal observations by Walters et al.3 that ileal enterocyte secretion of fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF-19) is deficient in patients with so-called secondary bile acid diarrhoea (BAD). In their prospective comparison of serum FGF-19 and 75SeHCAT retention, Pattni et al. confirm the overall relationship between the two measurements, and the inverse relationship (as previously demonstrated by several groups)4, 5 between serum FGF-19 and serum 7a-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one (C4). These data reinforce the prior conclusion that reduced ileal FGF-19 secretion is a feature of BAD.3 There are four tools that directly measure BA malabsorption: 14C-glycocholate breath and stool test, 75SeH-CAT, C4, and faecal total and individual BAs. The pros and cons of these tests are summarised in Table 1.6 The most widely used method for diagnosis of BAD is a therapeutic trial of bile acid binders with symptom improvement. Table 1 Advantages and disadvantages of BAD diagnostic methods (reproduced from reference 6) The paper by Pattni et al. has additional value, as it assesses the potential to use serum FGF-19 as a screen for BAD. The ROC curves showing FGF-19 ≤145 pg/mL to predict 75SeHCAT values <10% or <5% were 58% (95% CI: 42–72) and 67% (95% CI 38–87). A full response to bile acid sequestrants occurred in 15 of the 16 patients with FGF-19 ≤145 pg/mL, but in only 50% of those with higher values. The FGF-19 assay is based on a simple, inexpensive commercial ELISA; in contrast, other diagnostic methods (C4 and faecal bile acids) require high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry and/or 48 h stool collection. The ability to screen for BAD with serum FGF-19 could dramatically change clinical practice in the assessment and management of diarrhoea in patients with either inflammatory bowel disease or IBS-D.
Materials Testing and Automation

The advent of automation in materials testing has been in large part responsible for recent radical changes in the materials testing field: Tests virtually impossible to perform without a computer have become more straightforward to conduct. In addition, standardized tests may be performed with enhanced efficiency and repeatability. A typical automated system is described in terms of its primary subsystems — an analog station, a digital computer, and a processor interface. The processor interface links the analog functions with the digital computer; it includes data acquisition, command function generation, and test control functions. Features of automated testing are described with emphasis on calculated variable control, control of a variable that is computed by the processor and cannot be read directly from a transducer. Three calculated variable tests are described: a yield surface probe test, a thermomechanical fatigue test, and a constant-stress-intensity range crack-growth test. Future developments are discussed.
Enhancing data rates in graded-index multimode fibers with offset coupling and multiplexing

Offset coupling and DSP based multiplexing techniques are evaluated on silica and plastic multimode fibers of various lengths and operating wavelengths. We demonstrate a 10-28× boost in bandwidth-length product with excellent tolerance to fiber misalignments.
Minimal Joule Dissipation Models of Magnetospheric Convection

This paper gives a topical review of theoretical models of magnetospheric convection based on the concept of minimal Joule dissipation. A two-dimensional slab model of the ionosphere featuring an enhanced conductivity auroral oval is used to compute high-latitude electric fields and currents. Mathematical methods used in the modeling include Fourier analysis, fast Fourier transforms, and variational calculus. Also, conformai transformations are introduced in the analysis, which enable the auroral oval to be represented as a nonconcentric, crescent-shaped figure. Convection patterns appropriate to geomagnetic quiet and disturbed conditions are computed, the differentiating variable being the relative amount of power dissipated in the magnetospheric ring current. When ring current dissipation is small, the convection electric field is restricted to high latitudes (shielding regime), and when it is large, a significant penetration of the field to low latitudes occurs, accompanied by an increase in the ratio of the region 1 current to the region 2 current.
Diet and Feeding Pattern Affect the Diurnal Dynamics of the Gut Microbiome

The gut microbiome and daily feeding/fasting cycle influence host metabolism and contribute to obesity and metabolic diseases. However, fundamental characteristics of this relationship between the feeding/fasting cycle and the gut microbiome are unknown. Our studies show that the gut microbiome is highly dynamic, exhibiting daily cyclical fluctuations in composition. Diet-induced obesity dampens the daily feeding/fasting rhythm and diminishes many of these cyclical fluctuations. Time-restricted feeding (TRF), in which feeding is consolidated to the nocturnal phase, partially restores these cyclical fluctuations. Furthermore, TRF, which protects against obesity and metabolic diseases, affects bacteria shown to influence host metabolism. Cyclical changes in the gut microbiome from feeding/fasting rhythms contribute to the diversity of gut microflora and likely represent a mechanism by which the gut microbiome affects host metabolism. Thus, feeding pattern and time of harvest, in addition to diet, are important parameters when assessing the microbiome's contribution to host metabolism.
Reconstruction of Shared Nonlinear Dynamics in a Network

We study a general physical network consisting of a collection of response systems with complex nonlinear dynamics, influenced by a common driver. The goal is to reconstruct dynamics, regular or chaotic, that are common to all of the response systems, working from simultaneous time series measured at the responses systems only. A fundamental theorem is stated concerning the reconstruction of the common driver. An algorithm is developed, based on the theorem, to carry out the reconstruction, and is demonstrated with several examples.
Theory of the de Haas-van Alphen Effect for a System of Interacting Fermions

The de Haas-van Alphen effect for a system of interacting fermions is investigated. It is shown that, granting certain analytic properties (which were used before in establishing the existence of a Fermi surface, and which have only been established in the sense of perturbation theory), it is possible to obtain a simple expression for the oscillatory part of the thermodynamic potential. In particular, one finds that the de Haas-van Alphen oscillations have the same amplitude and period as in the usual quasi-particle picture, but that the phase is given by a more complicated proceedure.
Overview of the control system for the Keck Interferometer

The Keck Interferometer links the two 10m Keck Telescopes located atop Mauna Kea in Hawaii. It is the first 10m class, fully AO equipped interferometer to enter operation. Further, it is the first large interferometer designed to be handed over from a design and implementation team to a separate operations team, and be used by astronomers who are not interferometer specialists. As such it offers unique challenges in reducing an extremely complex and powerful system to an apparently simple user interface, and providing a well engineered system that can be maintained by people who did not develop it. This paper gives an overview of the control system that has been implemented for the single baseline operation of the instrument, and indicates how this will be extended to allow control of the future modes of the instrument (nulling, differential phase and astrometry). The control system has several parts. One is for control of "slow" sub-systems, which is based in the EPICS architecture, already ubiquitous at the Keck Observatory. Another, used to control hard real time sub-systems, is based on a new infrastructure developed at JPL, programmed in C++, Java, and using CORBA for communication. This infrastructure has been developed specifically with the problems of interferometric control in mind and is used in JPL's flight testbeds as well as the Keck Interferometer. Finally, a user interface and high level control layer is in development using a variety of tools including UML based modeling in the Rhapsody tool (using C++ and CORBA), Java, and Tcl/Tk for prototyping.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Psychiatric Emergency Services for the U.S. Elderly : 2008 and Beyond

In 2011 the oldest baby boomers will turn age 65. Although healthcare researchers have started to examine the future preparedness of the healthcare system for the elderly, psychiatric emergency services (PES) have been widely overlooked. Research is needed to address PES need and demand by older patients, assess the consequences of this need or demand, and establish recommendations to guide PES planning and practice. The authors examined journal articles, review articles, textbooks, and electronic databases related to these topics. The authors outline the current PES environment in terms of facilities, characteristics, and visits, and discuss current geriatric patient PES use. Factors expected to impact future use are examined, including sociodemographic characteristics, psychiatric illness prevalence, cohort effects, medical comorbidity, mental healthcare resources and utilization, and stigma. Consequences of these on future psychiatric care and well-being of the elderly are then explored, specifically, greater acute services need, more suicide, strained delivery systems, increased hospitalization, and greater costs. The following are proposed to address likely future PES shortcomings: enhance service delivery, increase training, standardize and improve PES, prioritize finances, and promote research. The degree to which the geriatric mental healthcare "crisis" develops will be inversely related to the current system's response to predictable future needs.
Isotopic composition of water in the tropical tropopause layer in cloud‐resolving simulations of an idealized tropical circulation

[1] The processes that fix the fractionation of the stable isotopologues of water in the tropical tropopause layer (TTL) are studied using cloud-resolving model simulations of an idealized equatorial Walker circulation with an imposed Brewer-Dobson circulation. This simulation framework allows the explicit representation of the convective and microphysical processes at work in the TTL. In this model, the microphysical transfer of the isotopologues (here, HD16O and H218O) among water vapor and condensed phase hydrometeors is explicitly represented along with those of the standard isotopologue (H216O) during all microphysical interactions. The simulated isotopic ratios of HD16O in water vapor are consistent with observations in both magnitude and the vertical structure in the TTL. When a seasonal cycle is included in the Brewer-Dobson circulation, both the water vapor mixing ratio and the isotopic ratios of water vapor display a seasonal cycle as well. The amplitude and phase of the seasonal cycle in HD16O are comparable to those observed. The results suggest that both the sublimation of relatively enriched ice associated with deep convection and fractionation by cirrus cloud formation affect the isotopic composition of water vapor in the TTL and its seasonal cycle.
Deliberate overfeeding in women and men: energy cost and composition of the weight gain

1. Thirteen adult females and two males were overfed a total of 79-159 MJ (19,000-38,000 kcal) during a 3-week period at the Clinical Research Center, Rochester. The average energy cost of the weight gain was 28 kJ (6.7 kcal)/g, and about half the gain consisted of lean body mass (LBM) as estimated by 40K counting. 2. A survey of the literature disclosed twenty-eight normal males and five females who had been overfed a total of 104-362 MJ (25,000-87,000 kcal) under controlled conditions: twenty-five of these had assays of body composition, and three had complete nitrogen balances. 3. When these values were combined with those from our subjects (total forty-eight), there was a significant correlation between weight gain and total excess energy consumed (r 0.77, P less than 0.01) and between LBM gain and excess energy (r 0.49, P less than 0.01). Based on means the energy cost was 33.7 kJ (8.05 kcal)/g gain and 43.6% of the gain was LBM; from regression analysis these values were 33.7 kJ (8.05 kcal)/g gain and 38.4% of gain as LBM. 4. Individual variations in the response could not be explained on the basis of sex, initial body-weight or fat content, duration of overfeeding, type of food eaten, amount of daily food consumption or, in a subset of subjects, on smoking behaviour. 5. The average energy cost of the weight gain was close to the theoretical value of 33.8 kJ (8.08 kcal)/g derived from the composition of the tissue gained.
Quantum state tomography by continuous measurement and compressed sensing

The need to perform quantum state tomography on ever-larger systems has spurred a search for methods that yield good estimates from incomplete data. We study the performance of compressed sensing (CS) and least squares (LS) estimators in a fast protocol based on continuous measurement on an ensemble of cesium atomic spins. They both efficiently reconstruct nearly pure states in the 16-dimensional ground manifold, reaching average fidelities ¯ FCS = 0.92 and ¯ FLS = 0.88 using similar amounts of incomplete data. Surprisingly, the main
False-Photosensitivity and Transient Hemiparesis Following High-Dose Intravenous and Intrathecal Methotrexate for Treatment of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

We describe a patient who was treated with high-dose intravenous and intrathecal methotrexate for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and who manifested a false photosensitivity reaction with no prior evidence of sun exposure. This patient later experienced delayed transient hemiparesis following methotrexate administration, although without long-term sequelae. The etiology of these events is obscure, but suggestive of a vasculitic or immune-mediated reaction to methotrexate.
A NOVEL DIAGNOSTIC TEST FOR PROSTATE CANCER EMERGES FROM THE DETERMINATION OF α-METHYLACYL-COENZYME A RACEMASE IN PROSTATIC SECRETIONS

ABSTRACT Purpose: With the recent discovery that α-methlyacly-coenzyme A racemase (AMACR) is over expressed in a majority of prostate cancer (CaP) specimens we developed a novel polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based approach that would predict the presence of CaP from prostatic secretions. Materials and Methods: A total of 21 patients were enlisted in this study, including 10 with CaP, 2 with high grade PIN and 9 cancer-free individuals (7 healthy men and 2 with benign hyperplasia). Total cellular RNA was extracted from prostatic secretions obtained from post-massage urine specimens. Levels of AMCAR transcripts and prostate specific antigen (PSA) transcripts in these samples were determined by quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR analyses. Relative AMACR value scores (RAVSs) were calculated by normalizing the AMACR transcript level to that of PSA for each sample and multiplying by 100. An experimentally defined diagnostic cutoff RAVS value was determined in the cancer-free control group. Results: Neither AMACR nor PSA mRNA levels were predictive of CaP when used alone. However, using RAVS values and imposing a diagnostic cutoff value of 2 SDs above the mean RAVS in the cancer-free control group all 9 (100%) cancer-free individuals, including those with benign prostatic hyperplasia, were below the cutoff and 7 of 10 (70%) with CaP had RAVS above the cutoff. Furthermore, 2 of the 3 false-negative cases showed clinically insignificant disease. The 2 patients with high grade PIN were above the cutoff in this test. Conclusions: In this study the quantification of AMACR transcripts normalized to PSA transcripts in prostatic secretions was shown to be predictive of CaP. Therefore, our novel approach using quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR to detect the AMACR-to-PSA transcript ratio shows promise as a noninvasive screening test for CaP. Furthermore, early results demonstrate a trend toward excluding patients with clinically insignificant disease that may not yet require aggressive treatment due to a low cancer burden.
Expectations of Task Demands Dissociate Working Memory and Long-Term Memory Systems

Many aspects of the complex relationship between working memory (WM) and long-term memory (LTM) remain unclear. Here, we manipulated task demands on a brief delayed-recognition paradigm to reveal behavioral and neural dissociations between thesesystems.VariationsfromaBaselinetaskincluded3challenges:increaseddelayduration,distractionduringmaintenance, and more closely matched memory probes, which were presented in behavioral experiments and during functional magnetic resonance imaging. Each of the challenges resulted in a significant decline in WM accuracy, and interestingly, a concurrent improvementin incidentalLTM. Neural data revealed that, in task blocks, when participantsanticipated, and then experienced, increased demands, they engaged medial temporal lobe (MTL) regions more during both the encoding and delay periods. Overall, these results indicate that distinct memorysystems are recruited based on anticipated demands of a memory task, and MTL involvement underlies the observed dissociation between WM and LTM performance.
LATTICE BOLTZMANN SIMULATIONS OF DROP–DROP INTERACTIONS IN TWO-PHASE FLOWS

In this paper, three-dimensional computations of drop–drop interactions using the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) are reported. The LBM multiphase flow model employed is evaluated for single drop problems and binary drop interactions. These include the verification of Laplace–Young relation for static drops, drop oscillations, and drop deformation and breakup in simple shear flow. The results are compared with experimental data, analytical solutions and numerical solutions based on other computational methods, as applicable. Satisfactory agreement is shown. Initial studies of drop–drop interactions involving the head-on collisions of drops in quiescent medium and off-center collision of drops in the presence of ambient shear flow are considered. As expected, coalescence outcome is observed for the range of parameters studied.
Acronym extraction and disambiguation in large-scale organizational web pages

In this paper, we focus on the automatic extraction and disambiguation of acronyms in large-scale organizational web pages, which is important but difficult due to the diversity of acronyms and the scale of organizational web pages. We propose two novel algorithms to address the key problems in acronym extraction and disambiguation: (1) An unsupervised ranking algorithm to automatically filter out the incorrect acronym-expansion pairs. Different from the existing approaches, our method does not require any hand-crafted rules; (2) A graph-based algorithm to disambiguate ambiguous acronyms, which leverages the hyperlinks of pages to facilitate the acronym disambiguation. We evaluate the proposed approaches using two large-scale, real-world datasets in two different domains. Our experimental results show that our approach is domain independent, and achieves higher precision and recall than the existing methods.
A Comparison of Alternating Current and Direct Current Electrospray Ionization for Mass Spectrometry

A series of studies comparing the performance of alternating current electrospray ionization (AC ESI) mass spectrometry (MS) and direct current electrospray ionization (DC ESI) MS have been conducted, exploring the absolute signal intensity and signal-to-background ratios produced by both methods using caffeine and a model peptide as targets. Because the high-voltage AC signal was more susceptible to generating gas discharges, the operating voltage range of AC ESI was significantly smaller than that for DC ESI, such that the absolute signal intensities produced by DC ESI at peak voltages were one to two orders of magnitude greater than those for AC ESI. Using an electronegative nebulizing gas, sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), instead of nitrogen (N2) increased the operating range of AC ESI by ~50 %, but did not appreciably improve signal intensities. While DC ESI generated far greater signal intensities, both ionization methods produced comparable signal-to-background noise, with AC ESI spectra appearing qualitatively cleaner. A quantitative calibration analysis was performed for two analytes, caffeine and the peptide MRFA. AC ESI utilizing SF6 outperforms all other techniques for the detection of MRFA, producing chromatographic limits of detection nearly one order of magnitude lower than that of DC ESI utilizing N2, and one-half that of DC ESI utilizing SF6. However, DC ESI outperforms AC ESI for the analysis of caffeine, indicating that improvements in spectral quality may benefit certain compounds or classes of compounds, on an individual basis.
Iterative Exposure Bracketing

High dynamic range (HDR) imaging requires bracketing---low dynamic range images with varying exposures---and postprocessing to blend appropriately exposed portions together. We analyze HDR recoverability of bracketing, which is not well understood despite popularity of HDR.
Temporary negative-ion resonances in the NiO(100) high-resolution electron-energy-loss spectrum.

The NiO(100) Fuchs-Kliewer phonon spectrum has been investigated by high-resolution electron-energy-loss spectroscopy (HREELS) at beam energies of 0.8--17 eV and the intensity distribution of the phonons relative to the dielectric properties of the NiO substrate has been considered. Over most of the range, the spectrum is well behaved, with the single-loss phonon energy at -70.5 meV and multiple excitations decreasing according to the predicted Poisson distribution. At 5.0-, 8.5-, and 13.5-eV primary beam energies, however, a substantial resonant enhancement in the phonon cross section is observed. The enhancement is accompanied by a shift from the Poisson intensity distribution to favor higher multiple excitations and an increased scattering away from the specular lobe. The energies correspond to maxima in the nickel oxide unfilled density of states and the resonances are assigned as temporary negative-ion states in which the electrons of the HREELS beam are trapped briefly into these levels.
Temporal effects of ACTH, indomethacin and 7-oxa-13-prostynoic acid upon glucocorticoid production by the human adrenal.

Indomethacin or 7-oxa-13-prostynoic acid does not alter basal adrenal cortisol output. Preincubation in either, depresses subsequent ACTH-stimulated cortisol output below ACTH alone and controls. Either inhibitor following ACTH preincubation blunts normal ACTH-stimulated cortisol production.
Decreases in human dendritic cell–dependent TH2-like responses after acute in vivo IgE neutralization

Background Dendritic cells (DCs) and other professional antigen-presenting cells express a variant of the high-affinity IgE receptor known as αγ 2 , which, on the basis of in vitro findings, has long been implicated to function in facilitating allergen uptake and presentation to T H cells. Objectives To use omalizumab as an in vivo tool to neutralize IgE binding to circulating dendritic cells and to assess whether this results in altered DC-dependent T-cell responsiveness to allergen ex vivo . Methods Subjects with cat allergy were enrolled in a 3.5-month, double blind, randomized (3.5:1), placebo-controlled trial of omalizumab using standard dosing for allergic asthma. Blood plasmacytoid and myeloid DCs were assessed at baseline and posttreatment for expression of surface IgE, FceRIα, and induction of CD4 + T-cell proliferation and cytokine responses to cat allergen. Results IgE expression on plasmacytoid and myeloid DCs from omalizumab-treated subjects (n = 12) decreased by ≥95% posttreatment ( P = .0005), whereas FceRIα expression decreased by 66% and 48%, respectively ( P = .0005). Cat allergen–induced proliferation in DC/T-cell cocultures observed at baseline was suppressed ∼20% to 40% postomalizumab treatment ( P = .001). Multiplexing for cytokines in plasmacytoid DC/T-cell cocultures also showed decreases in IL-5, IL-13, and IL-10 ( P Conclusion IgE likely facilitates allergen presentation by dendritic cells in vivo and is also important in regulating DC-dependent T-cell cytokines during effector phases of allergic disease.
Tempol improves cutaneous thermal hyperemia through increasing nitric oxide bioavailability in young smokers

We recently found that young cigarette smokers display cutaneous vascular dysfunction relative to nonsmokers, which is partially due to reduced nitric oxide (NO) synthase (NOS)-dependent vasodilati...
Residual Native Shallow Donor in ZnO

High-energy electron irradiation in ZnO produces shallow donors at about ${E}_{C}\ensuremath{-}30\mathrm{meV}$. Because the production rate is much higher for Zn-face (0001) than O-face $(000\overline{1})$ irradiation, the donor is identified as a Zn-sublattice defect, most likely the interstitial ${\mathrm{Zn}}_{I}$ or a ${\mathrm{Zn}}_{I}$-related complex. The donor energy is quite close to that of the unirradiated sample, and of other samples discussed in the literature, strongly suggesting that ${\mathrm{Zn}}_{I}$ (and not ${V}_{\mathrm{O}}$) is the dominant native shallow donor in ZnO. An exceptionally high displacement threshold energy $(\ensuremath{\sim}1.6\mathrm{MeV})$ is quantitatively explained in terms of a multiple-displacement model.
Imagery Nonvividness and the Mnemonic Advantage of Bizarreness

Previous research has demonstrated that bizarre elaboration can facilitate free recall despite the fact that such elaboration evokes less vivid mental imagery than does common elaboration. The present study investigated the possibility that the nonvividness of bizarre imagery enhances the distinctiveness of a bizarre representation and thus serves as a cue that facilitates recall. The results indicated that bizarre information required significantly more time to comprehend and image, and that bizarre imagery was significantly less vivid than common imagery. However, a correlational analysis indicated that the relationship between bizarre and common vividness differences and bizarre and common recall differences was not in the direction predicted by the nonvividness-cue hypothesis. It is concluded that bizarre-imagery nonvividness is related to a reduction in the magnitude of the bizarre recall advantage.
Differential effects of α-tocopherol and N-acetyl-cysteine on advanced glycation end product-induced oxidative damage and neurite degeneration in SH-SY5Y cells

Abstract Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) result from non-enzymatic glycation of proteins and cause cellular oxidative stress in a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase-dependent manner. Due to these effects, AGEs are implicated as a causal factor in diabetic complications. Several antioxidants, including vitamin E, improve cell viability and diminish markers of oxidative damage in cells exposed to AGEs. However, vitamin E has been studied in cell culture systems with primary focus on apoptosis and lipid peroxidation, while its influences on AGE-induced protein and DNA oxidation, intracellular antioxidant status and cell morphology remain largely unknown. Here, we verify the suppression of AGE-induced cell death and lipid peroxidation by 200 μM α-tocopherol in SH-SY5Y cells. We report the partial inhibition of DNA oxidation and a decrease in protein carbonyl formation by α-tocopherol with no effects on intracellular GSH concentrations. We observed that 2 mM N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) also had a suppressive effect on DNA and protein oxidation, but unlike α-tocopherol, it caused a marked increase in intracellular GSH. Finally, we compared the ability of both antioxidants to maintain neurites in SH-SY5Y cells and found that α-tocopherol had no effect on neurite loss due to AGEs, while NAC fully maintained cell morphology. Thus, while α-tocopherol suppressed AGE-induced macromolecule damage, it was ineffective against neurite degeneration. These results may implicate thiol oxidation and maintenance as a major regulator of neurite degeneration in this model.
Emerging frontiers in soil science

Abstract With most of the basic discoveries and applications of science made by mankind applicable to agriculture a challenge is presented to soil scientists to improve their pedagogy and research. Present-day soil scientists, tenaciously linked with those in the disciplines of agronomy and crop sciences, have become intellectually isolated from geologists, hydrologists, engineers and ecologists who deal with soils for purposes other than crop production. Localized achievements of greater crop production come at the expense of our global environment. Ample opportunity based primarily upon regionalized variable analyses exists to improve the management potential of our natural resources on global, regional and local scales of space and time. Six such opportunities or frontiers are elucidated.
Collective Diffusion Model for Ion Conduction through Microscopic Channels

Ion conduction through microscopic channels is of central importance in both biology and nanotechnology. To better understand the current-voltage (I-V) dependence of ion channels, here we describe and prove a collective diffusion model that quantitatively relates the spontaneous ion permeation at equilibrium to the stationary ionic fluxes driven by small voltages. The model makes it possible to determine the channel conductance in the linear I-V range from equilibrium simulations without the application of a voltage. To validate the theory, we perform molecular-dynamics simulations on two channels—a conical-shaped nanopore and the transmembrane pore of an α-hemolysin—under both equilibrium and nonequilibrium conditions. The simulations reveal substantial couplings between the motions of cations and anions, which are effectively captured by the collective coordinate in the model. Although the two channels exhibit very different linear ranges in the I-V curves, in both cases the channel conductance at small voltages is in reasonable agreement with the prediction from the equilibrium simulation. The simulations also suggest that channel charges, rather than geometric asymmetry, play a more prominent role in current rectification.
The clinical significance of unusual sites of thallium-201 uptake.

C U R R E N T L Y , Thallium-201 (2~ is the major radionuclide for myocardial perfusion imaging. To a lesser extent it is also used for the detection of parathyroid adenoma and hyperplasia. In addition thyroid and pulmonary malignancies, as well as various brain tumors have been studied with =~ Two instructive cases of extra cardiac 2~ uptake are presented in this report. Isitman, Robert S. Hellman, and David C. Peck
DESIGN OF THE SPINE PATIENT OUTCOMES RESEARCH TRIAL (SPORT)

Summary of Background Data The Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial (SPORT) was designed to assess the relative efficacy and cost-effectiveness of surgical and non-surgical approaches to the treatment of common conditions associated with low back and leg pain.
Laboratory Evaluation of Amblyseius fallacis as a Predator of Tetranychid Mites

The predacity of Amblyseius fallacis (Garman) in all motile stages was studied against all stages of Tetranychus yusti McGregor, T. desertorum Banks, and T. urticae Koch. The female of A. fallacis was the most efficient predator stage, consuming averages of 4.8 females or 16 protonymphs of the prey per day. Other predatory stages were less effective, but did contribute to the destruction of prey. Rate of predation generally increased as temperature was raised from 21.1° to 32.2°C. Females held at 26.7°C and subjected to a 10:14-hr light: dark cycle were significantly more efficient predators than individuals held at photoperiods of 24:0, 14:10, or 0:24 hours light: dark. A positive correlation exists between rate of oviposition and predation of tetranychid eggs; the highest rate occurs at 21.1°C with a 10:14-hour light: dark cycle.
Cobalt-catalyzed efficient aziridination of alkenes.

Cobalt porphyrins are capable of catalyzing the aziridination of alkenes with bromamine-T as the nitrene source. Among cobalt complexes of different porphyrins, Co(TDClPP) is an effective catalyst that can aziridinate a wide variety of alkenes. The catalytic system can operate at room temperature in a one-pot fashion with alkenes as limiting reagents, forming the desired N-sulfonylated aziridine derivatives in high to excellent yields with NaBr as the byproduct.
The storm ahead: how CALEA will turn VoIP on its head

The following paper describes the effects that Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA) will have on Voice over Internet Protocol technology (VoIP). There are several limiting factors that if CALEA is applied to VoIP will severely alter the way VoIP functions. Traditional telephony and VoIP have fundamentally different technology. While it was a financial set back to carriers when CALEA was inacted it was not detrimental. VoIP on the other hand will have some severe issues in the compliance of CALEA.
Cultural orientation and psychological well-being in Chinese Americans.

Examined cultural orientation in the domains of language proficiency, cultural activity, and social relationship, and its relationship with psychological well-being in a group of 143 Chinese Americans in San Francisco. Four indicators of psychological well-being were utilized, two assessing the experience of distress (depression level and negative affect) and two assessing positive well-being (positive affect and life satisfaction). Domain-specific cultural orientations were found to hold differential relationships with psychological well-being. For instance, bicultural activity orientation predicted the best psychological well-being (regardless as to how it was assessed), but socially separatist individuals experienced less negative affect than assimilated and bicultural respondents. Findings were discussed in the context of the multicultural setting of San Francisco. It is suggested that future research retain separate assessments of domain-specific cultural orientation, examine the contribution of the community's ethnic/cultural composition to its members' cultural orientations (i.e., address the role of person-environment fit) and study their impact on psychological well-being.
Titanium and aluminum-titanium ohmic contacts to p-type SiC

Abstract Very low resistance ohmic contacts to p-type SiC were fabricated by depositing a 90-10 wt.% alloy of Al and Ti followed by a high temperature anneal of approximately 1000°C for 2 min. Specific contact resistances ranged from approximately 5 × 10 −6 to 3 × 10 −5 Ω cm 2 on material with a doping of 1.3 × 1019 cm−3. The initial AlTi thickness before annealing was found to be critical to controlling the AlTi sheet resistance during the anneal. In addition, chemically etching the AlTi layer after annealing revealed pitting indicative of severe reaction between the AlTi and SiC surface, as confirmed by Rutherford Backscattering. In contrast, ohmic contacts to the same SiC material were fabricated by depositing pure Ti and annealing at 800°C for 1 min. These contacts were ohmic with a specific contact resistance between 2 × 10 −5 and 4 × 10 −5 Ω cm 2 . Examination of the SiC surface after chemically etching away the annealed contact revealed a smooth surface, suggesting a much more planar Ti/SiC interface.
Early medical and surgical treatment of cryptorchidism : clinical, anatomic, and histologic findings

In 56 boys more than 6 month of age with cryptorchidism, luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) was administered as a nasal spray 1.2 mg/day for 4 weeks. The nonresponders received human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) 500 IU i.m. three times a week for 3 weeks. With the combined treatment, 46.5% of testes descended into the scrotum. Testicular descent occured more often in patients whose testes were located in a lower position. The initial position of the testes at clinical examination correlated significantly with the position at surgical inspection and the extent of epididymal malformation: the higher the clinical position of the testes, the more pronounced the maldescent and epididymal malformation. Histological findings indicated a paucity of germinal epithelium and atrophy of the Leydig cells. A significant inverse correlation existed between age at surgery and number of spermatogonia. Therefore, we advocate the earliest feasible treatment for cryptorchidism with a combination of LHRH and HCG, and for non-responders a surgical corrective procedure.
Allergy and “toxic mold syndrome”

Background "Toxic mold syndrome" is a controversial diagnosis associated with exposure to mold-contaminated environments. Molds are known to induce asthma and allergic rhinitis through IgE-mediated mechanisms, to cause hypersensitivity pneumonitis through other immune mechanisms, and to cause life-threatening primary and secondary infections in immunocompromised patients. Mold metabolites may be irritants and may be involved in "sick building syndrome." Patients with environmental mold exposure have presented with atypical constitutional and systemic symptoms, associating those symptoms with the contaminated environment. Objective To characterize the clinical features and possible etiology of symptoms in patients with chief complaints related to mold exposure. Methods Review of patients presenting to an allergy and asthma center with the chief complaint of toxic mold exposure. Symptoms were recorded, and physical examinations, skin prick/puncture tests, and intracutaneous tests were performed. Results A total of 65 individuals aged 1½ to 52 years were studied. Symptoms included rhinitis (62%), cough (52%), headache (34%), respiratory symptoms (34%), central nervous system symptoms (25%), and fatigue (23%). Physical examination revealed pale nasal mucosa, pharyngeal "cobblestoning," and rhinorrhea. Fifty-three percent (33/62) of the patients had skin reactions to molds. Conclusions Mold-exposed patients can present with a variety of IgE- and non-IgE-mediated symptoms. Mycotoxins, irritation by spores, or metabolites may be culprits in non-IgE presentations; environmental assays have not been perfected. Symptoms attributable to the toxic effects of molds and not attributable to IgE or other immune mechanisms need further evaluation as to pathogenesis. Allergic, rather than toxic, responses seemed to be the major cause of symptoms in the studied group.
A "rolling average" multiple adaptive planning method to compensate for target volume changes in image-guided radiotherapy of prostate cancer.

For prostate cancer radiotherapy, the interfractional organ motion can have several forms: changes in position, shape, and volume. The interfractional motion can be managed through either online or offline image guidance (IG). The position changes are commonly corrected through online IG by correcting couch position at each treatment fraction, while the shape and volume changes, or target deformation, can be compensated by margins in offline adaptive planning. In this study, we proposed and evaluated a rolling-average (RA) adaptive replanning method to account for the target volume variations. A total of 448 repeated helical computed tomography (HCT) scans from 28 patients were included in the study. Both low-risk patients (LRP, CTV = prostate) and intermediate-risk patients (IRP, CTV = prostate + seminal vesicles) were simulated. The benefit of RA strategy was evaluated geometrically and compared with the standard online IG-only method and a single replanning adaptive hybrid strategy. A new geometric index, cumulative index of target volume (CITV), was used for the evaluation. Two extreme scenarios of target volume changes, Type Ascending and Descending, were simulated by sorting the CTV volumes of actual patient data in order to have a better evaluation of the methods. Modest target volume variations were observed in our patient group. The prostate volume change was -0.14 ± 0.11 cc/day (or -0.30% ± 0.26% per day). It is found that RA is superior to the online IG and hybrid techniques. However, the magnitude of improvement depends on how significantly and rapidly the target volume changes. On the issue of planning complexity, the hybrid is more complex than online IG only, requiring one offline replanning, and RA is significantly more complex, with multiple replanning. In clinical implementation of RA, the effectiveness and efficiency should be balanced. The effectiveness is dependent on the patient population. For low-risk patients, RA is beneficial if there is significant time trend in target volume during the treatment course of radiotherapy. The optimal number of fractions necessary for the internal target volume (ITV) construction is 2 for LRP and 3 for IRP for RA strategy. Normal 0 false false false EN-US ZH-CN X-NONE
Selection and evaluation of optimal two-dimensional CAIPIRINHA kernels applied to time-resolved three-dimensional CE-MRA.

Purpose To develop and validate a method for choosing the optimal two-dimensional CAIPIRINHA kernel for subtraction contrast-enhanced MR angiography (CE-MRA) and estimate the degree of image quality improvement versus that of some reference acceleration parameter set at R ≥ 8. Methods A metric based on patient-specific coil calibration information was defined for evaluating optimality of CAIPIRINHA kernels as applied to subtraction CE-MRA. Evaluation in retrospective studies using archived coil calibration data from abdomen, calf, foot, and hand CE-MRA exams was accomplished with an evaluation metric comparing the geometry factor (g-factor) histograms. Prospective calf, foot, and hand CE-MRA studies were evaluated with vessel signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Results Retrospective studies show g-factor improvement for the selected CAIPIRINHA kernels was significant in the feet, moderate in the abdomen, and modest in the calves and hands. Prospective CE-MRA studies using optimal CAIPIRINHA show reduced noise amplification with identical acquisition time in studies of the feet, with minor improvements in the hands and calves. Conclusion A method for selection of the optimal CAIPIRINHA kernel for high (R ≥ 8) acceleration CE-MRA exams given a specific patient and receiver array was demonstrated. CAIPIRINHA optimization appears valuable in accelerated CE-MRA of the feet and to a lesser extent in the abdomen. Magn Reson Med 73:2234–2242, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Distance Perception in Immersive Virtual Environments, Revisited

Numerous previous studies have suggested that distances appear to be compressed in immersive virtual environments presented via head mounted display systems, relative to in the real world. However, the principal factors that are responsible for this phenomenon have remained largely unidentified. In this paper we shed some new light on this intriguing problem by reporting the results of two recent experiments in which we assess egocentric distance perception in a high fidelity, low latency, immersive virtual environment that represents an exact virtual replica of the participants concurrently occupied real environment. Under these novel conditions, we make the startling discovery that distance perception appears not to be significantly compressed in the immersive virtual environment, relative to in the real world.
The Relationship of Infertility and Death: Using the Relational/Cultural Model of Counseling in Making Meaning

Although the crisis of infertility and attitudes associated with death are often approached differently in counseling, they both share similar attributes. Often, these experiences are described negatively and are associated with at least some form of loss. These negative experiences affect individuals' personal and existential meaning in a profound way. In this article, these experiences will be explored. Specifically, the relationship between these 2 experiences will be explored in order to understand how individuals attempt to make meaning. Finally, the application of the Relational/Cultural Model of counseling will be introduced as a way to facilitate meaning making.
Multi-layered flat-surface micro-optical components directly molded on an LCD panel

We have developed a process to fabricate optical components, such as a lens, prism, or diffuser, directly on to a glass substrate. Processes include precision mastering by diamond cutting and multi-layer photopolymer (2P) molding to realize flat surfaces and the integration of multiple components with an alignment within a few micrometers.
Reactive scattering via real finite-range solutions: pointwise projections

Abstract A combination of recently developed techniques is applied to the collinear H 2 +H reaction. The techniques include combination of real regular finite range solutions of the Schrodinger equation to form the scattering solution and the evaluation of the S matrix by projection at a set of configuration points. Favorable features like the ‘energy-independent integral’ techniques for wave function generation, the use of a single coordinate system for the L 2 basis, and the fact that no integral evaluation is required at individual energies facilitate efficient, accurate, and simple calculations of the S matrices for many energies in multiarrangement scattering.
A holistic approach to process co-optimization for through-silicon via

As through-silicon via (TSV) technology transitions from development to production, several opportunities exist to co-optimize processes to ensure a wide process window while meeting cost targets and manufacturing robustness. Trade-offs in the via middle, via reveal, and via last integration schemes involving etch, CVD, PVD, ECD, CMP, and wafer support systems (carrier wafers) are addressed.
Strategies in the management of renal tumors amenable to partial nephrectomy

Purpose The laparoscopic approach to radical and partial nephrectomy is becoming the standard of care for treating patients with renal tumors. Hand-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (HALPN) provides some advantages over the pure laparoscopic approach which include manual manipulation of the kidney, tactile feedback, and timely specimen removal.