cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On closed manifolds with harmonic Weyl curvature

Abstract We derive point-wise and integral rigidity/gap results for a closed manifold with harmonic Weyl curvature in any dimension. In particular, there is a generalization of Tachibana's theorem for non-negative curvature operator. The key ingredients are new Bochner–Weitzenbock–Lichnerowicz type formulas for the Weyl tensor, which are generalizations of identities in dimension four.
Impact of Trainee Involvement in Cervical Excision Procedures: Does Trainee Involvement Impact Quality?

OBJECTIVE Cervical excision procedures are essential to the care of cervical dysplasia and malignancy. We sought to determine whether learner involvement in cervical excision procedures affects the quality of excision specimen. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective cohort study of cervical cancer patients diagnosed from July 1, 2000, to July 1, 2015, was performed. We included patients who had (1) a cervical excision procedure, either loop electrosurgical excision procedure or cold knife cone, and (2) pathologic information available. Primary outcome was the margin status of the specimen; secondary outcome was the size of the excision specimen including both width and depth. The exposure of interest was trainee participation, defined as resident physicians under the supervision of either a gynecologist or gynecologic oncologist. Descriptive statistics and general linear models were used for analysis. RESULTS Ninety-four patients were identified. Overall, 58% (n = 54) of procedures were performed with trainee involvement. There was no difference in age, body mass index, or specimen width between trainee-performed and nontrainee-performed excisions. There was no significant difference in the status of margins with or without a trainee [44/57 (77%) and 29/37 (78%), respectively, p = .89]. There was a statistically significant difference in median specimen depth between trainee-performed and nontrainee-performed cases (15.4 mm vs 12 mm, p < .02). When adjusting for age, body mass index, excision type, indication, presence of trainee, and type of supervising physician, only the indication and type of excision were associated with greater depth of excision, (p < .01). CONCLUSIONS Trainee involvement in cervical excision procedures does not alter the quality of excision specimen.
Techno-Economic Analysis of Magnesium Extraction from Seawater via a Catalyzed Organo-Metathetical Process

Magnesium (Mg) has many useful applications especially in the form of various Mg alloys that can decrease weight while increasing strength compared with common steels. To increase the affordability and minimize environment consequence, a novel catalyzed organo-metathetical (COMET) process was proposed to extract Mg from seawater aiming to achieve a significant reduction in total energy and production cost compared with the melting salt electrolysis method currently adapted by US Mg LLC. A process flow sheet for a reference COMET process was set up using Aspen Plus. The energy consumption, production cost, and CO2 emissions were estimated using the Aspen economic analyzer. Our results showed that it is possible to produce Mg from seawater with a production cost of $2.0/kg-Mg while consuming about 35.6 kWh/kg-Mg and releasing 7.7 kg CO2/kg-Mg. Under the simulated conditions, the reference COMET process maintains a comparable CO2 emission rate, saves about 40% in production cost, and saves about 15% in energy consumption compared with a simplified US Mg process.
A profile of HIV/AIDS epidemic in the African-American community: implications for a culturally-sensitive and ethnic-specific health promotion and education programme for African-Americans.

L'education favorisant le changement des comportements et des attitudes a ete a maintes reprises recommandee comme strategie efficace pour la prevention et le controle communautaires des infections liees au VIH. Pendant les dix dernieres annees, il semblerait que les programmes de controle de ces maladies dans les communautes Afro-Americaines n'aient observe aucun changement significatif, car le VIH/SIDA, d'autres maladies sexuellement transmissibles et certaines maladies degeneratives continuent d'etre les principales causes de mortalite et d'incapacite parmi la population. Des statistiques recentes indiquent que les Afro-Americains, qui representent 13 % de la population americaine, ont constamment porte le poids le plus lourd des problemes lies au VIH/SIDA. On compte dans cette communaute 52 % de tous les seropositifs, 37 % de tous les cas de SIDA diagnostiques et 63 % de tous les cas de SIDA pediatriques de la nation. Si l'on va encore plus loin, alors que les femmes Afro-Americaines ne representent que 13,6 % de la population feminine des Etats-Unis, on a recense parmi elles 67.4 % de tous les cas de femmes seropositives, et plus de 57 % des femmes atteintes de SIDA declare aux Etats-Unis. Cet article qui analyse l'ampleur des problemes lies au VIH/SIDA parmi les Afro-Americains en termes d'incidence, de prevalence et de taux d'infection par ethnie et par race, aborde aussi des facteurs importants qui ont influence cette prevalence du SIDA chez les Afro-Americains : des programmes de promotion de la sante et d'education pour la sante inadaptes a la communaute, des fosses de communication enormes entre les professionnels de sante et les Afro-Americains, une sous-culture de la drogue et de la pauvrete, une meconnaissance de la sante et des problemes sociaux et le manque de fonds alloues a differents programmes de prevention du VIH/SIDA pour des minorites ethniques. L'article etudie et recommande des strategies de promotion de la sante et d'education pour la sante specifiques sur le plan ethnique et sensibles culturellement, pour la prevention et le controle du VIH/SIDA parmi les Afro-Americains.
Additive Manufacturing of In Situ Metal Matrix Composites

While laser additive manufacturing is becoming more and more important in the context of advanced manufacturing for the future, most of the current efforts are focusing on optimizing the required parameters for processing well-matured alloys from powder feedstock to achieve reproducible properties, comparable to, or better than, their conventionally processed counterparts. However, laser additive manufacturing also opens up a new avenue in terms of processing novel alloys and composites that are difficult to process using traditional processing routes. Metal matrix composites (MMCs) are the new class of advanced materials in which rigid ceramics reinforcements exhibiting excellent strength as well as elastic modulus are embedded in a ductile metal or alloy matrix to overcome the inadequacy of metals and alloys in providing both strength and stiffness to the structure. Metal matrix composites possess excellent physical as well as mechanical properties, which makes them suitable for structural, automotive and aerospace applications. MMCs are mainly classified into two categories, ex-situ, and in-situ based on the formation of ceramic reinforcement during their processing. In situ reactions during laser additive processing takes place either between elemental blend powder or between elemental blend powder and reactive gases (e.g. nitrogen, oxygen, etc.). This chapter mainly discuss on laser additive manufacturing of in situ metal matrix composites. Laser additive processing of nickel, aluminum, and titanium matrix composites are the focus of this chapter.
Dimensions of belonging: relationships between police identity checks and national identity in France

Researchers in many countries have identified racial differences in rates of civilian-police interactions such as identity checks or stop-and-frisk. Are frequent police identity checks associated w...
Attention for emotion associated with hypomanic personality traits: Eye-tracking reveals a positive bias independent of mood

Abstract Background Previous research has identified altered processing of emotional information associated with the bipolar spectrum, but results have been inconsistent. The current study assessed whether hypomanic personality traits, a potential indicator of bipolar risk, are associated with biases in attention to emotional facial stimuli, even after controlling for mood state. Methods Participants (N = 135) completed measures assessing current mood symptoms, positive and negative affect, and hypomanic personality traits. They then completed an eye-tracking task measuring two indices of attention (i.e., mean initial orientation latency, mean total gaze duration) for happy, sad, angry, and neutral facial expressions. Results Even after controlling for mood state, hypomanic personality traits were associated with a bias for emotion faces as well as a trend towards faster orientation to happy facial expressions. Limitations Due to relatively low levels of mania in this sample, further work is needed to assess the extent to which these effects exist at clinical levels of depression or mania. Additionally, further work is needed to determine if such a bias represents a risk factor for the development of bipolar disorder. Conclusions Hypomanic personality traits appear to be associated with differences in early attention for emotional information.
Targeting apoptotic caspases in cancer

Members of the caspase family of proteases play essential roles in the initiation and execution of apoptosis. These caspases are divided into two groups: the initiator caspases (caspase-2, -8, -9 and -10), which are the first to be activated in response to a signal, and the executioner caspases (caspase-3, -6, and -7) that carry out the demolition phase of apoptosis. Many conventional cancer therapies induce apoptosis to remove the cancer cell by engaging these caspases indirectly. Newer therapeutic applications have been designed, including those that specifically activate individual caspases using gene therapy approaches and small molecules that repress natural inhibitors of caspases already present in the cell. For such approaches to have maximal clinical efficacy, emerging insights into non-apoptotic roles of these caspases need to be considered. This review will discuss the roles of caspases as safeguards against cancer in the context of the advantages and potential limitations of targeting apoptotic caspases for the treatment of cancer.
Cute monsters and early birds: foreignness in graphic novels on migration by Shaun Tan and Paula Bulling

ABSTRACTThis paper contrasts two opposite approaches within the presently booming field of comics on migration, namely Paula Bulling’s German documentary comic book Im Land der Fruhaufsteher (In th...
Trajectories of the heart rate characteristics index, a physiomarker of sepsis in premature infants, predict Neonatal ICU mortality.

Objective Trajectories of physiomarkers over time can be useful to define phenotypes of disease progression and as predictors of clinical outcomes. The aim of this study was to identify phenotypes of the time course of late-onset sepsis in premature infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Units. Methods We examined the trajectories of a validated continuous physiomarker, abnormal heart rate characteristics, using functional data analysis and clustering techniques. Participants We analyzed continuous heart rate characteristics data from 2989 very low birth weight infants (<1500 grams) from nine NICUs from 2004-2010. Result Despite the relative homogeneity of the patients, we found extreme variability in the physiomarker trajectories. We identified phenotypes that were indicative of seven and 30 day mortality beyond that predicted by individual heart rate characteristics values or baseline demographic information. Conclusion Time courses of a heart rate characteristics physiomarker reveal snapshots of illness patterns, some of which were more deadly than others.
Inpatient opioid use disorder treatment for the infectious disease physician

Abstract The infectious disease (ID) physician can play an important role in the evidence-based treatment of both opioid use disorder (OUD) and addiction-related infections. A comprehensive ID consultation will include substance-related screening, diagnosis, and initiation of medications for OUD—extended-release naltrexone, buprenorphine, and methadone. This care can be integrated into the treatment of common and uncommon OUD-related infections. Providers should understand patient-centered concepts for persons who use drugs such as acute pain, opioid-related conditions, and reduction of unplanned disposition. Team-based integration of ID and OUD management can improve care and reduce treatment interruptions.
Locke on the guise of the good

In the first edition of the Essay, Locke argued that we pursue whatever course of action we judge to be the best option available to us at the time. In other words, we always act under the guise of...
Mental Models in and of Organizations

This precis describes how, from origins in Mintzberg (1989) and Morgan (2006) and in consideration of their assumptions and shortcomings, a personal mental model of organizations—more suited to the volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity of the 21st century—was arrived at.
A Duchess “given to contemplation”: The Education of Margaret Cavendish

Margaret Cavendish was an unusually public figure in early modern England. She published widely under her own name on several secular subjects, including natural philosophy, inequality of the sexes, and educational theory. This article explores the development of Cavendish's educational theories through a detailed account of her life, which took place in three discrete stages. First, it examines her youth, when she was informally educated by family members and private tutors. It then follows her education as she traveled to Europe with her embattled queen and met her husband, William Cavendish. And finally, it shows that with William's support and patronage, Cavendish returned to England at the Restoration as a confident and mature female author. In doing so, this article addresses questions related to Cavendish's pedagogical beliefs, why those beliefs sometimes differed from her own experiences, and how she communicated these ideas through her literature.
THE TREND OF FOREIGN TRADE STRUCTURE FOR THE KUWAITI ECONOMY

The study shows that exports and exports are from exports and about 92% of exports and exports from exports and exports to exports and exports. References and fluctuations, that the degree of participation is declining, the trend of the dependency rate increases, the trend of the coverage rate, and that the rate of unemployment of the economy tends to decline. Conclusively, from the results of the research, we recommend that the government of the State of Kuwait should increase the internal and external trade movement of the Kuwaiti economy, as well as work to increase exports and imports.
Abstract 12646: Oxidation-Dependent Phosphomimetic Effect of a Human Heart Failure Mutation of Phospholamban

Rationale: A naturally-occurring, missense Arg9-to-Cys (R9C) mutation of phospholamban (PLB) triggers cardiomyopathy and premature death in humans. However, the fundamental molecular mechanism underlying the cardiotoxic role of R9C-PLB in sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca 2+ -ATPase (SERCA) regulation and cardiomyocyte Ca 2+ handling is not clear. Objective: The goal of this study was to investigate the acute physiological consequences of R9C-PLB mutation on cardiomyocyte Ca 2+ kinetics and contractility and identify the molecular mechanism underlying R9C pathology. Methods and Results: We measured the physiological consequences of R9C-PLB mutation on Ca 2+ transients and sarcomere shortening in adult cardiomyocytes at increasing pacing frequencies. In contrast to studies of chronic R9C-PLB expression in transgenic mice, we found that acute expression of R9C-PLB exerts a positively inotropic and lusitropic effect in cardiomyocytes. Importantly, R9C-PLB exhibited blunted sensitivity to frequency potentiation and β-adrenergic stimulation, two major physiological mechanisms for the regulation of cardiac performance. To identify the molecular mechanism of R9C pathology, we fused fluorescent protein tags to PLB and SERCA, and compared the effect of R9C and pentamer-destabilizing mutation (SSS) on PLB oligomerization and PLB-SERCA interaction. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) measurements in live cells revealed that R9C exhibited an increased affinity of PLB oligomerization, and a decreased binding affinity to SERCA due to an oxidative modification which mimics phosphorylation. Real-time FRET analysis in cardiomyocytes revealed that R9C-PLB exhibits enhanced sensitivity to oxidative stress, which is a prevailing condition in heart failure. Conclusions: We conclude that the primary mechanism of R9C pathology is a phosphomimetic effect of PLB cysteine oxidation, manifested as increased oligomerization and a change in the structure of the PLB-SERCA regulatory complex.
Decomposable Aggregability in Population Genetics and Evolutionary Computations: Algorithms and Computational Complexity

Many dynamical systems are decomposably aggregable in the sense that one can divide their (micro) variables x1, . . . , xn into several (k) non-overlapping blocks and find combinations y1, . . . , yk of variables from these blocks (macrovariables) whose dynamics depend only on the initial values of the macrovariables. For example, the state of a biological population can be described by listing the frequencies xi of different genotypes i; in this example, the corresponding functions fi(x1, . . . , xn) describe the effects of mutation, recombination, and natural selection in each generation. Another example of a system where detecting aggregability is important is a one that describes the dynamics of an evolutionary algorithm – which is formally equivalent to models from population genetics. For very large systems, finding such an aggregation is often the only way to perform a meaningful analysis of such systems. Since aggregation is important, researchers have been trying to find a general efficient algorithm for detecting aggregability. In this chapter, we show that in general, detecting aggregability is NP-hard even for linear systems, and thus (unless P=NP), we can only hope to find efficient detection algorithms for specific classes of systems. Moreover, even detecting approximate aggregability is NP-hard. We also show that in the linear case, once the blocks are known, it is possible to efficiently find appropriate linear combinations ya.
Philanthropy, The Welfare State, and the Transformation of American Public and Private Institutions, 1945-2000

This essay treats the postwar proliferation of nonprofit organizations as part of the emergence of the American welfare state. As leader of the "free world," the United States had to develop tools of economic, social, and political management that would enable it to remain prepared for economic and military mobilization and to maintain domestic economic and political stability. Constrained by deep-seated hostility to "big government," policymakers and legislators devised governmental mechanisms that enabled them to achieve these ends without creating European-style central state bureaucracies. While centralizing revenue gathering (through universalization of income taxation) and policymaking in the federal government, the actual tasks of implementing policies was allocated to states, localities, and private sector actors. Devolution and privatization, though conventionally associated with the conservative revolution of the 1990s, actually describes the fundamental dynamic of American government over the past half-century. This fact is especially evident in the proliferation of nonprofit organizations whose growth in numbers and influence was encouraged by tax policies, grants, contracts, and purchases of service (including such voucher programs as the GI Bill). Inasmuch as privatization actually involves the transfer of government responsibilities to non-governmental entities subvented in a variety of ways by public funds, we must ultimately ask whether this trend represents a reduction in the size of government - or an enormous increase in its scale and scope.
External loopback testing on high speed serial interface

Testing for high speed links have been, and will continue to be, primarily based on checking their conformance to the specifications and performance testing due to the lack of industry analog fault models. However, with the increased diversity of features to support new transceiver protocols, specification testing on high speed serial interface (HSSI) is becoming increasingly difficult and costly. Techniques like design-for-testability (DFT) have been applied to overcome some of these challenges. In this paper, the author presents case studies of one of the most common DFT techniques for HSSI testing, namely, external loopback. Firstly, the different flavors of loopback available in industry are briefly mentioned together with their usage. Next, the need for external loopback engagement in HSSI test strategy is described. This is then followed by the explanation of the external loopback circuitry on device-under-test (DUT) card and test methods for supporting HSSI buffer level testing that are implemented on transceiver based FPGA product. This paper also provides summary from silicon experiences and directions for future improvement.
Outbreak of salmonellosis caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Newport MDR-AmpC in a large animal veterinary teaching hospital

Background Nosocomial salmonellosis is an important problem for large animal veterinary teaching hospitals (VTHs). Objective To describe failure of an Infection Control Program (ICP) that resulted in an outbreak of salmonellosis caused by Salmonella Newport multidrug resistant (MDR)-AmpC at a large animal VTH. Animals Sixty-one animals identified with the outbreak strain of Salmonella. Methods Retrospective study: Data collected included signalment, presenting complaint, duration of hospitalization, discharge status, and financial information. Phenotypic and genotypic characterization was performed on Salmonella isolates. Results The outbreak occurred despite an existing ICP; the ICP was reviewed and weaknesses identified. Routine patient surveillance was not performed before or during the outbreak; fecal sampling was triggered only by a patient algorithm based on clinical signs. Sixty-one animals were infected with the outbreak strain of S. Newport, and the majority were horses (n = 54). Case fatality rate was 36.1%. S. Newport isolates demonstrated high genetic similarity (Dice ≥ 0.96), and all had the MDR-AmpC phenotype. Environmental persistence of the organism necessitated complete hospital closure, extensive decontamination, and remediation of the facility. A paradigm shift in the relevance of biosecurity in a VTH and the establishment of a stringent ICP were integral components of successful hospital reopening. Conclusions and clinical importance An ineffective ICP resulted in a nosocomial outbreak caused by a MDR S. Newport in a VTH. Closure of a VTH affected all missions of the institution and had substantial financial impact (US$4.12 million).
Ribitol dehydrogenase: IV. Purification and crystallization of the enzyme

Abstract Ribitol dehydrogenase from Aerobacter aerogenes has been purified and crystallized from solutions of ammonium sulfate. The enzyme appears to be homogeneous in the ultracentrifuge; however, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicates a purity of approximately 95%. The molecular weight of the enzyme is 97,000–99,000 and the s2,w and D20,w values are 5.60 S and 5.10 × 10−7 cm2 per second, respectively. Ribitol dehydrogenase, an adaptive enzyme, comprises approximately 0.7% of the bacterial protein and has a minimum turnover number of 4740 at pH 8 and 22 ° from the ribitol side of the enzyme-catalyzed reaction.
Human Saturated Steroid 6α-Hydroxylase1

This study was conducted to evaluate further the reaction catalyzed by the saturated steroid 6α-hydroxylase of extrahepatic human tissues. Progesterone and 5α-dihydroprogesterone (5α-DHP) are plasma-borne precursors of 5α-pregnan-3α-ol-20-one, an anxiolytic/anesthetic steroid, and 5α-pregnan-3β-ol-20-one in extrahepatic human tissues. These two steroids are metabolized further by a saturated steroid 6α-hydroxylase enzyme(s) that is distinct from the cytochrome P450 6α-hydroxylase that catalyzes the 6α-hydroxylation ofΔ 4-3-ketosteroids such as progesterone, cortisol, and testosterone. Products of this saturated steroid 6α-hydroxylase, viz. 3β/α,6α-dihydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-ones, are major radiolabeled urinary metabolites (excreted as glucuronosides) of iv administered tritium-labeled 5α-DHP in women and men. T47-D human breast cancer cells, which are rich in saturated steroid 6α-hydroxylase activity, were used as the enzyme source in this study. The greatest total and the highest specific activity of satura...
A meshless technique employing radial basis functions to determine the electromagnetic fields near material interfaces in 2D and 3D

This paper discusses the use of radial basis functions in the solution of partial differential equations. In particular, a convenient technique for implementing boundary conditions at material interfaces is presented. Solutions that are obtained using this technique are compared with analytic solutions. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Spectroscopic characterization of a two-dimensional array of microwave-generated microplasmas

Summary form only given. We present spatially-resolved spectroscopic measurements of a two-dimensional array of microplasmas operating in atmospheric-pressure argon. Each microplasma is generated on the end of a microwave-frequency resonator consisting of a quarter-wavelength long stripline-like transmission line. The resonator array is powered from a single amplifier. Improvements to the previous array design1, including embedding reference electrodes into the array structure and reducing the spacing between rows of resonators, allow for robust and efficient operation in rare gases at pressures up to atmospheric. Power efficiencies exceed those for similar linear arrays and single resonators, likely due to coupling between nearby microplasmas. We estimate neutral gas temperatures in the produced microplasmas by fitting theoretical molecular spectra to observed emission from impurity species. Typical results range from room temperature up to 800 K. These temperatures are used to estimate electron densities via determination of Stark broadening of the Hβ line at 486 nm. Electron densities typically exceed 1014 cm-3 in argon. Limitations of emission spectroscopy techniques on highly non-uniform filamentary discharges are discussed.
Intraguild predation and successful invasion by introduced ladybird beetles

Introductions of two ladybird beetle (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) species, Coccinella septempunctata and Harmonia axyridis, into North America for aphid biocontrol have been followed by declines in native species. We examined intraguild predation (IGP) between larvae of these two exotic species and larvae of the two most abundant native coccinellids in eastern Washington State, C. transversoguttata and Hippodamia convergens. In pairings between the two native species in laboratory microcosms containing pea (Pisum sativum) plants, neither native had a clear advantage over the other in IGP. When the natives were paired with either Harmonia axyridis or C. septempunctata, the natives were more frequently the victims than perpetrators of IGP. In contrast, in pairings between the exotic species, neither had an IGP advantage, although overall rates of IGP between these two species were very high. Adding alternative prey (aphids) to microcosms did not alter the frequency and patterns of relative IGP among the coccinellid species. In observations of encounters between larvae, the introduced H. axyridis frequently survived multiple encounters with the native C. transversoguttata, whereas the native rarely survived a single encounter with H. axyridis. Our results suggest that larvae of the native species face increased IGP following invasion by C. septempunctata and H. axyridis, which may be contributing to the speed with which these exotic ladybird beetles displace the natives following invasion.
Streaming k-means on well-clusterable data

One of the central problems in data-analysis is k-means clustering. In recent years, considerable attention in the literature addressed the streaming variant of this problem, culminating in a series of results (Har-Peled and Mazumdar; Frahling and Sohler; Frahling, Monemizadeh, and Sohler; Chen) that produced a (1 + e)-approximation for k-means clustering in the streaming setting. Unfortunately, since optimizing the k-means objective is Max-SNP hard, all algorithms that achieve a (1 + e)-approximation must take time exponential in k unless P=NP.Thus, to avoid exponential dependence on k, some additional assumptions must be made to guarantee high quality approximation and polynomial running time. A recent paper of Ostrovsky, Rabani, Schulman, and Swamy (FOCS 2006) introduced the very natural assumption of data separability: the assumption closely reflects how k-means is used in practice and allowed the authors to create a high-quality approximation for k-means clustering in the non-streaming setting with polynomial running time even for large values of k. Their work left open a natural and important question: are similar results possible in a streaming setting? This is the question we answer in this paper, albeit using substantially different techniques.We show a near-optimal streaming approximation algorithm for k-means in high-dimensional Euclidean space with sublinear memory and a single pass, under the same data separability assumption. Our algorithm offers significant improvements in both space and running time over previous work while yielding asymptotically best-possible performance (assuming that the running time must be fully polynomial and P ≠ NP).The novel techniques we develop along the way imply a number of additional results: we provide a high-probability performance guarantee for online facility location (in contrast, Meyerson's FOCS 2001 algorithm gave bounds only in expectation); we develop a constant approximation method for the general class of semi-metric clustering problems; we improve (even without σ-separability) by a logarithmic factor space requirements for streaming constant-approximation for k-median; finally we design a "re-sampling method" in a streaming setting to convert any constant approximation for clustering to a [1 + O(σ2)]-approximation for σ-separable data.
Rigid Urethane Foams Based on Sorbitol Derivatives

Present commercial rigid foams are based on polyester raw materials. It has now been demonstrated that certain hydroxyl-terminated polyethers can be used satisfactorily as a major component of rigid urethane foams. These polyethers are hexafunctional materials prepared by reacting propylene oxide with sorbitol.
Potent HIV protease inhibitors incorporating high-affinity P2-ligands and (R)-(hydroxyethylamino)sulfonamide isostere

Design and synthesis of a series of very potent nonpeptide HIV protease inhibitors are described. The inhibitors are derived from novel high affinity P2-ligands and (R)-(hydroxyethylamino)sulfonamide isostere.
Representing Violence and 'Othering' Somalia

In late 1990 and early 1991, dramatic headlines in the U.S. press began announcing the unfolding trauma of Somalia's disintegration. Tales and scenes of horrible violence, bloody carnage, and revenge killings flooded the news for months, as Americans pieced together the staggering events taking place in a small country halfway around the world. Over the next four years, journalists and politicians, aided by academics, constructed a common explanation of Somalia's destruction that drew on familiar evolutionary typologies, racist assumptions, anthropological models, and a popular craving for simplicity that would boost the American self-image. Here, I review this explanation and present an alternative understanding to the prevailing portrait of Somali culture and history that was presented to and consumed by the U.S. public during the early 1990s. In particular, I argue that the clan-based explanation of warfare derived from anthropological accounts of northern Somali social organization grossly oversimplified the complex and dynamic hierarchies of status, class, race, and language that were central to the patterning of violence in post-1991 southern Somalia. My argument highlights the biases and assumptions of academics, politicians, and journalists in constructing a representation of violence in Somalia.
A Near-Infrared Coronal Emission-Line Polarimeter

The direction, but not the magnitude, of the solar coronal magnetic field is encoded in the linear polarization of certain coronal emission lines. The High Altitude Observatory, in collaboration with the Sacramento Peak Observatory, has constructed a polarimeter which measures the plane polarization of the 10747A and 10798A Fe XIII emission lines. The instrument simultaneously provides similar measurements of the continuum corona and the sky at 10690A to give the net emission line intensity and polarization. Polarization brightness maps made with the 10747A line clearly show the large scale organization of the coronal magnetic field and signatures characteristic of diverging fields over sunspots, horizontal fields above filament channels, and the Van Vleck turnover in helmet streamers.
Reflection and transmission for materials with arbitrarily graded parameters

The reflection and transmission of arbitrarily polarized electromagnetic waves that are obliquely incident upon an inhomogeneous material characterized by arbitrary spatial profiles of electric permittivity and magnetic permeability are considered. A scaling length that is large compared with the wavelength is introduced, and second-order Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin solutions are obtained for the TE and TM waves. The first two terms in the asymptotic expansion of the Fresnel reflection coefficients are given and utilized in a direct calculation of the fields that are reflected at the rims of all spherical and cylindrical inhomogeneous dielectric lenses. Additional applications are made to an inhomogeneous coating layer backed by a metallic plate and to an inhomogeneous slab in free space.
DNA methylation regulates neurophysiological spatial representation in memory formation

Epigenetic mechanisms including altered DNA methylation are critical for altered gene transcription subserving synaptic plasticity and the retention of learned behavior. Here we tested the idea that one role for activity-dependent altered DNA methylation is stabilization of cognition-associated hippocampal place cell firing in response to novel place learning. We observed that a behavioral protocol (spatial exploration of a novel environment) known to induce hippocampal place cell remapping resulted in alterations of hippocampal Bdnf DNA methylation. Further studies using neurophysiological in vivo single unit recordings revealed that pharmacological manipulations of DNA methylation decreased long-term but not short-term place field stability. Together our data highlight a role for DNA methylation in regulating neurophysiological spatial representation and memory formation.
Comments on a numerical method for solving Boolean equations

A recent paper in this journal, by Abdel-Gawad, Atiya, and Darwish, presents a method of solving a system Boolean equations using the polynomial algebra invented by George Boole in 1854. The authors do not mention Boole, however, or the modern applications of this algebra. Their method entails reduction of the given system to a triangular system, which is solved by back-substitution. We show that the solutions of the triangular system include all those of the given system, but may include others that do not satisfy the given system.
Scaling apparent distance in a natural outdoor setting

Judgments of apparent distance in outdoor settings are power functions of physical distance, just as they have been shown to be in indoor settings. But the exponents obtained out of doors are not only appreciably lower—all less than 1.00—but are affected by range: the exponent is largest for the smallest ratio of extreme distances.
Open and Endovascular Repair of Popliteal Artery Aneurysms: Tabular Review of the Literature

Popliteal artery aneurysms (PAAs) have been referred to as "the silent killer" because of the devastating thromboembolic events they can cause without warning symptoms. Open surgical repair of PAA remains the gold standard, although the endovascular approach has being increasingly reported during the past years. Open repair can be performed over the medial or posterior approach, depending on the extent of the aneurysm and surgeon's preference. The goal of the present article is to summarize the clinical results of open and endovascular repair of PAA and to serve as a practical and prompt literature search tool for all surgeons and endovascular specialists who encounter this disease process in their practices.
The gastric mucosal barrier. Component control.

The ‘gastric mucosal barrier’ is a descriptive term for the ability of the gastric epithelium to hold a large (105) H+ concentration gradient from lumen to mucosa under physiological conditions. Compounds which classically have been used to describe the functional integrity of the ‘barrier’, in addition to very low H+ diffusion from lumen to mucosa, include low diffusion of Na+ and K+ from mucosa to lumen and maintenance of a lumen-negative transmucosal potential difference (PD). Na+ appearance in the luminal fluid is a function of active transport and diffusion. Fixed charges within diffusion channels with pK values≧9, may contribute to maintenance of H+ gradients. Luminal application of aspirin, bile salts, and ethanol increases net cationic flux and reduces PD. When acidified, these luminal agents produce histological and visible damage, yet damage can be produced by parenteral agents without concomitant change in these components. Although no anatomical ‘barrier’ has been described, it has been suggested that the gel mucus and epithelial phospholipids are constituents. Exogenous administration of a variety of prostanoids attenuate the change in cationic flux and PD produced by those agents in both animals and humans. The role of endogenous prostaglandins in barrier integrity has been questioned since it has been shown that salicylic acid produces permeability changes which are equal to aspirin, yet the former does not inhibit cyclooxygenase while the latter does. The gastric mucosal barrier is physiologically important because, by whatever mechanism, H+ back-diffusion is kept to a minimum under physiological conditions.
A simple non‐linear model for the investigation of the effects of the gap closure at the abutment joints of short bridges

Closure of the gap at the abutment joints of bridges has been the source of extensive damage during the 1971 San Fernando and more recent earthquakes. In this paper a model for the investigation of the effects of this gap closure is presented and analysed. The focus of the model is the representation of the non-linear response of the bridge abutments, the foundation and the columns. The model is used for the investigation of the response of a short bridge located in California.
Immunodeficiency to the Epstein-Barr virus in the X-linked recessive lymphoproliferative syndrome

Abstract Six male cousins in the Duncan kindred have succumbed to infectious mononucleosis (I.M.), agammaglobulinemia follwing I.M., or lymphoma. We studied 32 persons in the Duncan kindred to determine if additional relatives had the X-linked recessive lymphoproliferative syndrome and defective immunological responses to the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). A 12-year-old boy, K.M., was discovered who had a history of many infectious diseases, an IgA deficiency, and a progressive increase in IgM to 760 mg/dl following exposure to EBV. The lymphocytes of K.M. spontaneously grew in tissue culture and contained herpes-like viral particles and EBV nuclear antigens. A failure to form antibodies against EBV and mount a T-cell response to EBV-infected B cells may permit uncontrolled B-cell proliferation in males with the syndrome.
Relationship of body mass index, race, age, education, and income to self-reported health-related quality of life in middle-aged women

the baseline score of the corresponding PRO dimension. The mean change in the GSRS reflux dimension for patients with severe reflux symptoms at baseline (n = 361) was 3.46; the mean change in the QOLRAD sleep dimension in patients with severe sleep disturbances (n = 308) was 3.34; and the mean change in the QOLRAD eat/drink dimension in patients with severe eat/drink problems (n = 399) was 3.26. The corresponding changes in patients with none/minor symptoms or problems at baseline were 0.67, 0.45, and 0.56 for reflux (n = 3161, sleep disturbances (n = 638), and eat/drink problems (n = 2981, respectively In patients with moderate symptoms or problems at baseline, the change scores were 2.54, 2.40, and 2.32 for reflux (n = 541), sleep (n = 389), and eat/drink (n = 570) dimensions, respectively However, regardless of baseline severity of symptoms or problems, -80% of the patients considered their symptoms to be at least “moderately better” according to the OTE. DISCUSSION: The baseline PRO score has a profound influence on the magnitude of score change during treatment but not on the clinical relevance of the change as measured by the OTE. This must be taken into account when interpreting the magnitude of score changes in terms of clinical relevance.
Review of linagliptin for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Abstract Background Linagliptin is a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor that was approved in 2011 by the US Food and Drug Administration as a treatment adjunctive to diet and exercise for the improvement of glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Objective The purpose of this article is to review the pharmacology, pharmacokinetic properties, efficacy, tolerability including drug–drug interactions, contraindications/precautions, and dosage and administration of linagliptin, and the potential role of linagliptin in the management of glycemia in adults with T2DM. Methods MEDLINE (1966–January 12, 2012), PubMed (1950–January 12, 2012), Science Direct (1994–January 12, 2012), Web of Science (1980–January 12, 2012), and the American Diabetes Association Scientific Abstracts (2008–2011) were searched using the term linagliptin. Articles and abstracts published in English, both original research and review articles, were identified for review. Reference lists from identified articles were also searched for additional references of interest. Manufacturers' prescribing information was additionally examined. Results Data from clinical trials of linagliptin suggest clinical efficacy in terms of reductions in hemoglobin A1c (A1c), fasting plasma glucose, and postprandial glucose when linagliptin was administered as monotherapy or in combination with other oral antidiabetic agents, with placebo-subtracted A1c changes ranging from −0.47% to −0.69% in placebo-controlled trials. Adverse events that occurred in ≥2% of patients treated with linagliptin and at a prevalence of ≥2-fold greater compared with placebo were nasopharyngitis, hyperlipidemia, cough, hypertriglyceridemia, and weight increase (when used in combination with a thiazolidinedione [TZD]). Although linagliptin administered as monotherapy or in combination with metformin or a TZD may convey a low risk for hypoglycemia (0%–1.2%), caution is warranted when linagliptin is administered in combination with insulin secretagogues due to an increased risk for hypoglycemic events. Dosage adjustments based on renal or hepatic function are not required. Additionally, according to the currently approved prescribing information, the efficacy of linagliptin may be limited in patients receiving concurrent inducers of the cytochrome P450 3A4 isozyme or P-glycoprotein (eg, rifampin). Conclusions Based on the findings from the present review, patients and clinicians should be aware of the risk for hypoglycemia when linagliptin is prescribed as a treatment adjunctive to a regimen of an insulin secretagogue. An initial dose decrease in the secretagogue should be considered to prevent hypoglycemic events. Dosage adjustment of linagliptin is not required in patients with renal impairment.
Chemisorption of NH3 on GaN(0001)-(1×1)

Abstract The chemisorption of NH 3 on the GaN(0001)-(1×1) surface has been studied using ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy together with semiempirical molecular orbital cluster calculations. Adsorption removes surface states near the valence band maximum with little or no change in band bending. The data indicate a much smaller emission intensity for the N lone-pair orbital than is expected for an –NH 2 species with three-fold coordinated N. Comparison of observed and calculated spectra suggests that NH 3 dissociates into chemisorbed NH 2 and H, with the N atom four-fold coordinated as an asymmetric bridge between two surface Ga atoms.
On the hominid masticatory complex: Biomechanical and evolutionary perspectives

All too frequently evolutionary interpretations of the hominid fossil record are based on conclusions about the functioning of the oro-facial apparatus which seldom consider the interrelationships of the many variables of this complex anatomical region. This paper attempts to identify these variables and to apply them in an examination of the argument that worn occlusal surfaces of the dental arches represent a three-dimensional record of occlusal force distribution. It suggests that the pattern and extent of attritional contours should be a valuable tool for interpretation of the adaptive and survival value of the dentition of extinct hominids. In order to understand this force distribution over the dental arches a study must be made of the variables that govern the characteristics of the masticatory force system. Facial morphology and the masticatory musculature produce a particular load distribution for each chewing mode. The teeth upon which the resultant forces act give evidence of the force location and magnitude by the wear produced on the crown. Our studies have shown that occlusal loading patterns, cusp size and morphology, enamel thickness, dental eruption sequence, diet and masticatory manipulative behaviors interact to produce observed wear patterns. In reviewing the several recent reports which describe one or several of these factors in analysis of the hominid dental complex we have concluded that controlled experimental analysis will provide information on the interaction of those factors which produce dental wear. Such analysis should provide a necessary basis for evolutionary interpretation of the hominid dentition.
The Blues Voice of Houston Baker, Jr. as Political Theory: An(Other) American Paradigm?

The work of Houston Baker, Jr. in Afro-American literary studies is almost unparalleled. Baker argues that in America there is a distinctive American cultural language, a vernacular, only black Americans share in by virtue of their race. This distinctive language is the result, he argues, of their condition with regard to the larger American culture and society. Baker claims that because of the "special circumstances" (chattel slavery and continued racism) that black Americans found and continue to find themselves in they have had to devise social, cultural, and political strategies that were significantly different from the dominant "white" culture. Thus, Baker argues, special analytic "tools" are necessary for grasping the ultimate messages contained in the cultural (political) works of Afro-American writers and thinkers. It is my argument that Baker is engaging in an explicitly political project. My intention in what follows is to "decode" Baker's work, to ferret out the assumptions and political theor...