cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adequacy of control of hypertension in an academic nursing home.

Objective To determine the prevalence of hypertension, of adequate control of hypertension, of number of antihypertensive drugs used to treat hypertension, and of types of antihypertensive drugs used to treat hypertension in older persons who were not terminally ill in an academic nursing home. Design Hypertension was diagnosed if the systolic blood pressure was 140 mm Hg or higher and 130 mm Hg or higher if the person had diabetes or chronic renal insufficiency or if the diastolic blood pressure was 90 mm Hg or higher and 80 mm Hg or higher if the person had diabetes or chronic renal insufficiency. Hypertension was adequately controlled if the blood pressure was lower than 140/90 mm Hg and lower than 130/80 mm Hg if the person had diabetes or chronic renal insufficiency. Setting An academic nursing home. Participants Two hundred and two persons (104 women and 98 men), mean age 73 years (range 50 to 98 years) residing in an academic nursing home. Measurements Prevalence of hypertension, of adequate control of hypertension, of number of antihypertensive drugs used, and of types of antihypertensive drugs used. Results Hypertension was present in 143 (71%) of 202 persons. Adequate hypertension control was present in 121 (85%) of 143 persons with hypertension. Of 143 persons treated with antihypertensive drugs, 39 (27%) received 1 antihypertensive drug, 61 (43%) received 2 antihypertensive drugs, 31 (22%) received 3 antihypertensive drugs, 8 (6%) received 4 antihypertensive drugs, and 4 (3%) received 5 antihypertensive drugs. Of 143 persons treated with antihypertensive drugs, 107 (75%) received beta blockers, 88 (62%) received angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers, 49 (34%) received diuretics, 41 (29%) received calcium channel blockers, 15 (10%) received clonidine, and 6 (4%) received hydralazine. Conclusion The prevalence of hypertension in older persons in an academic nursing home was 71%, and 85% of these persons had adequate control of hypertension.
The Theoretical Costs of DNA Barcoding

When a child’s piggy bank is full, she can go to a grocery store and pour it into a change-sorting machine. Such a machine will sort all the quarters into one slot, all the dimes into another, and so on, until all the change is sorted and the machine can add up the sums of each slot. Now imagine a similar machine, but this time it sorts insects instead of change. A child who has been collecting bugs has brought them in a jar and pours them into an insect-sorting machine. The machine takes a blood sample of each bug and sorts the samples according to the species to which they belong—identified via a sequence of their DNA. The child is then given a printout of all the information regarding each species whose member she has captured. Although insect-sorting machines are fictitious, a diagnostic technique that makes the use of short DNA sequences to identify species is real—the technique is known asDNAbarcoding. Its advocates claim that DNA barcodes can be used to sort specimens into species at a rate quicker than that of practicing taxonomists and the resulting groupings are usually
Three-Dimensional Imaging in Gynecologic Brachytherapy: A Survey of the American Brachytherapy Society

Purpose To determine current practice patterns with regard to three-dimensional (3D) imaging for gynecologic brachytherapy among American Brachytherapy Society (ABS) members. Methods and Materials Registered physician members of the ABS received a 19-item survey by e-mail in August 2007. This report excludes physicians not performing brachytherapy for cervical cancer. Results Of the 256 surveys sent, we report results for 133 respondents who perform one or more implantations per year for locally advanced cervical cancer. Ultrasound aids 56% of physicians with applicator insertion. After insertion, 70% of physicians routinely obtain a computed tomography (CT) scan. The majority (55%) use CT rather than X-ray films (43%) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI; 2%) for dose specification to the cervix. However, 76% prescribe to Point A alone instead of using a 3D-derived tumor volume (14%), both Point A and tumor volume (7%), or mg/h (3%). Those using 3D imaging routinely contour the bladder and rectum (94%), sigmoid (45%), small bowel (38%), and/or urethra (8%) and calculate normal tissue dose–volume histogram (DVH) analysis parameters including the D2cc (49%), D1cc (36%), D0.1cc (19%), and/or D5cc (19%). Respondents most commonly modify the treatment plan based on International Commission on Radiation Units bladder and/or rectal point dose values (53%) compared with DVH values (45%) or both (2%). Conclusions More ABS physician members use CT postimplantation imaging than plain films for visualizing the gynecologic brachytherapy apparatus. However, the majority prescribe to Point A rather than using 3D image based dosimetry. Use of 3D image–based treatment planning for gynecologic brachytherapy has the potential for significant growth in the United States.
Solar-cell design based on a distributed diode analysis

The front surface of a p-n junction solar cell has resistive losses associated with the diffused layer, the metal-semiconductor contact, and the grid structure. These losses are analyzed by considering the spatially distributed nature of the p-n junction and the grid conductors. This distributed diode analysis is especially useful for solar cells operated under concentrated sunlight conditions. The results show the dependence of the V-I characteristics and the maximum power output per unit cell on the ratio of the diffused layer resistance to the junction dynamic resistance. This ratio can assist the designer in establishing proper grid structure geometries and should tpically be less than 0.1 if the power output per unit cell is to be within 3 percent of that for the lossless case. Experimental measurements are reported which confirm the theoretical calculations. An analysis of the grid conductor losses associated with multiple-connected unit cells shows the disastrous effect that the grid header resistance can have on the performance of a solar cell. The results indicate that the use of a tapered header conductor to decrease the metal coverage may actually worsen cell performance.
Diaminopurine-Substitution Modify DNA Elasticity and Favors L-Helices

Proteins searching DNA for recognition sites in order to carry out replication, transcription, or mitosis must navigate on this remarkably stiff polymer. Electrostatics, base stacking and hydrogen bonding all contribute to stiffness and presumably limit deformability. Therefore, recognition depends not only on sequence per se but also on the stiffness and conformational dynamics of a sequence. Single molecule experiments have demonstrated a facile, progressive transition from a B- to an L-form helix that begins at negative linking numbers of a few percent when DNA gently stretched by as little as one picoNewton is progressively uncoiled. Since the particular sequence of a DNA segment heavily influences both base stacking and hydrogen bonding, the conformational dynamics of B-to-L transitions should be tunable. As a fundamental test of this, the DNA was synthesized by PCR substituting adenine with diaminopurine to establish triple hydrogen bonding for all base pairs. Triple hydrogen bonding stiffened the DNA by 30% flexurally, perhaps due to reduced helix breathing and enhanced base stacking, while softened DNA by 30% torsionally. Compared to normal DNA, upon unwinding under high tension (> 1 pN) DAP-substituted DNA more readily transitioned from B to L. Furthermore, DAP-substituted DNA formed plectonemes with larger gyres for both B- and L-form helices. This model of enhanced hydrogen bonding and base stacking achieved with DAP substitution indicates that the L-form helix forms spontaneously with high frequency under physiological conditions.
Construction of a restriction map of bacteriophage T3 DNA

A restriction endonuclease cleavage map of bacteriophage T3 DNA has been constructed. The enzymes used and, within parentheses, the number of their cleavage sites on T3 DNA are: HindIII (1), XbaI (1), BglII (1), KpnI (2), MboI (9), and HpaI (17). The size and the relative location of each fragment have been established, defining an accurate physical map of T3 DNA.
Osteoarthritis and Articular Cartilage: Biomechanics and Novel Treatment Paradigms

Background: Osteoarthritis is a widespread highly painful disabling age-related disease with no known cure. Although novel strategies for ameliorating osteoarthritic damage abound, it is likely that none will be successful over time if the entire spectrum of the disease and the effects of joint biomechanics on joint tissues are not carefully considered. Objectives: 1) To detail the structure of healthy articular cartilage, the key tissue affected by osteoarthritis. 2) To detail what aspects of cartilage damage best characterize osteoarthritis. 3) To consider the role of biomechanical factors in developing solutions to treat osteoarthritic joint damage. Methods: Literature sources from 1980 onwards that have contributed to our knowledge of the topics relevant to this paper were accessed and retrieved. The data were categorized into four predominant themes and conclusions about the state of our knowledge and future directives were formulated. Conclusions: Osteoarthritis prevalence remains high, and a cure appears elusive. A rich body of data has helped us to better understand the key tissue involved, and suggests a repair process might be feasible, if the basic collective information on the role of biomechanics in mediating or moderating articular cartilage integrity and function is forthcoming.
Recognition distances of different pavement arrow designs during daytime and nighttime

This study was conducted to test the visibility of five designs for pavement marking arrows at both full scale and half scale. Two designs were standard arrows (the Ohio and Federal arrows), and three were elongated arrows (Australian, Swiss, and an experimental arrow). A field study was conducted at an abandoned airport test site for both daytime and nighttime (low-beam headlight) conditions. Ten young subjects with normal vision were tested. The subjects drove a vehicle equipped with a distance-measuring instrument and were asked to indicate what direction the arrow pointed to at the earliest point when they could correctly do so. The elongated full-scale arrows provided significantly longer recognition distances than their standard full-scale counterparts. For the half-scale arrows, recognition distances did not differ as much across designs. Further analysis indicated that successive pairs of half-scale standard arrows provide longer recognition distances than a single application of the fullscale sta...
Hemispheric specialization for linguistic and nonlinguistic tactual perception in a congenitally deaf population.

Summary Two groups of congenitally deaf and two groups of hearing right-handed subjects identified pairs of nonsense shapes and letters after simultaneous bilateral tactual exploration. In response to shapes, left and right hand pointing to multiple choice arrays were compared. Three response modes, writing and left and right and fingerspelling, were compared for letters. A tendency for right tactual field superiority for shapes was observed in all groups. Groups initially exposed to letters showed significant right field superiority across response modes for shapes. No left-right asymmetries were observed for letters. Differences due to deafness were not observed.
Design Aspects of Membrane Reactors for Dry Reforming of Methane for the Production of Hydrogen

This paper presents an evaluation of various plant designs incorporating high-temperature membranes for the dry-reforming reaction of methane for hydrogen production. Two different types of membranes are evaluated: a high-temperature ceramic membrane to be used in the catalytic reformer and a carbon-based molecular sieve membrane to be used in the plant's purification section. Membranes evaluated in this work either are commercially available or have been demonstrated at the laboratory scale. Only operating energy costs for the various designs are presented, because at this stage of their development, commercial membranes are still prohibitively expensive and the cost of the laboratory membranes is unknown. Comparison of the energy costs of the various designs suggests, however, where future development work may be warranted. Among the plant designs considered, those utilizing the carbon-based membranes had the lowest energy requirements. Designs using commercially available high-temperature ceramic memb...
Debye temperatures of ferroelectrics

Previously reported calorimetric Debye temperatures for 17 ferroelectrics are corrected for a simple oversight in applying the Debye theory, and ${\ensuremath{\Theta}}_{D}'\mathrm{s}$ for four more ferroelectrics are reported for the first time. Where possible, comparisons with elastic ${\ensuremath{\Theta}}_{D}'\mathrm{s}$ are good except for KTa${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ and potassium dihydrogen phosphate.
Augmenting priority rule heuristics with justification and rollout to solve the resource-constrained project scheduling problem

The key question addressed by the resource-constrained project scheduling problem (RCPSP) is to determine the start times for each activity such that precedence and resource constraints are satisfied while achieving some objective. Priority rule-based heuristics are widely used for large problems. Rollout and justification can be integrated with priority rule heuristics to solve the RCPSP. We develop several such procedures and examine the resulting solution quality and computational cost. We present empirical evidence that these procedures are competitive with the best solution procedures described in the literature.
First excess level analysis of random processes in a class of stochastic servicing systems with global control

This paper deals with stochastic processes that are encountered in a wide class of bulk–input and bulk–service servicing systems systems with one server of random capacity. It generalizes most of the known stochastic bulk queueing models. The analysis is based on recent results for a class of compound point process and their behaviour about some critical level which in this paper is assumed to be random and state dependent The input process is assumed to be semi–Markov modulated process with a kind of feedback dependence on states of the system. The author uses the notion of modulated and output processes. A necessary and sufficient ergodicity ergodic theorems for input and output processes. A necessary and sufficient ergodicity criterion for queueing processes is also established. Stationary distributions of the processes are computed by using analysis for semi-regenerative processes. Various characteristics of related processes (idle and busy periods and intensity of the input and output) are obtained, ...
Insect Herbivore Effects on Forest Ecosystem Services

Forests provide important ecosystem services—including provision of food, building materials, fresh water, as well as carbon sequestration and climate moderation. Outbreaks of herbivorous insects have negative effects on the provision of plant products in the short-term, which are easily measured in terms of lost revenue. Effects on cultural services also are generally negative. However, effects on supporting ecosystem services are complex and include benefits that may compensate for costs, to some extent. For instance, native insect herbivores may function as regulators of forest primary production, maintaining primary production and water and nutrient use within historically sustainable levels. Therefore, “pest” and ecosystem management decisions should consider long-term trade-offs in costs and benefits among ecosystem services.
The evolution of comets in the Oort cloud and Kuiper belt

Comets are remnants from the time when the outer planets formed, ∼4–4.5 billion years ago. They have been in storage since then in the Oort cloud and Kuiper belt—distant regions that are so cold and sparsely populated that it was long thought that comets approaching the Sun were pristine samples from the time of Solar System formation. It is now recognized, however, that a variety of subtle but important evolutionary mechanisms operate on comets during their long storage, so they can no longer be regarded as wholly pristine.
Nonlinear reduction of high-dimensional dynamical systems via neural networks.

A technique for empirically determining optimal coordinates for modeling a dynamical system is presented. The methodology may be viewed as a nonlinear extension of the Karhunen-Lo\`eve procedure and is implemented via an autoassociative neural network. Given a high-dimensional system of differential equations which model a dynamical system asymptotically residing on a stable attractor, the task of the network is to compute a reembedding of the attractor and the dynamics into an ambient space which reflects the intrinsic dimensionality of the problem. The method is demonstrated on the unforced Van der Pol oscillator, the forced Van der Pol, and the Kuramoto-Sivashinsky equation.
CAPD Patients as Renal Transplant Patients

Most authors state that the continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patient is not at increased risk when transplanted. These patients are always exposed to the risk of peritonitis, which may increase if patients are peritoneally dialyzed while immunosuppressed. The postoperative course of patients transplanted from our CAPD program from 1979 through August 1985 was evaluated. The transplant survival of patients dialyzed by CAPD, home hemodialysis, and at a free-standing dialysis facility were compared. Pretransplant dialysis modality did not influence long-term transplant success. Three of seven patients who required dialysis postoperatively developed peritonitis. The dialysis catheter was removed in two patients and one was treated by lavaging the peritoneal cavity with antibiotics. There was one instance of dialysate leaking through a drain in the transplant bed. This patient was converted to hemodialysis for subsequent dialysis. The dialysis catheters were removed at the time of discharge from hospital. Literature review confirmed this experience. Peritoneal dialysis post-transplant exposes the patient to a 10-33% risk of peritonitis and a 10% risk of a wound complication. Peritoneal dialysis patients are subject to risks unique to peritoneal dialysis. These complications do not translate into excessive morbidity or graft loss.
Castration—chemotherapy treatment of prostate cancer model

Abstract An androgen-sensitive tumor has been subjected to various chemotherapeutic treatments and castration, therapy initiated at differing tumor volumes: combination chemotherapy and early castration resulted in the lowest tumor volume and the lowest incidence of metastasis, and increased the number of animals with tumor regression.
Evaluating national guidelines for prevention of cardiovascular disease in primary care.

Introduction National guidelines for prevention of cardiovascular disease make different recommendations in relation to screening and treating patients with aspirin, antihypertensive treatment and statins. The resource cost and health implications of these differences are quantified in this paper. Data sources Guidelines were obtained from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, UK and USA. Effectiveness data were obtained from published sources, costs and a model population of 2000 patients from US sources. Method The resource costs and health effects of screening and treating a standard population of 2000 persons were determined for each of the five national guidelines. Costs and effects were calculated over a 5-year time horizon and cost-effectiveness determined cost per cardiovascular event prevented. Results Cost per cardiovascular event prevented is lowest in older patients and very high under 35. The New Zealand guidelines are more cost-effective of the national guidelines, however, they would be more effective if they incorporated US recommendations on the use of aspirin. Further antihypertensive treatment is the least cost-effective of the interventions considered. Discussion Cardiovascular disease prevention guidelines should focus on older rather than younger patients. Treatment eligibility should be informed more by risk than by individual risk factor status. Guidelines should put greater emphasis on the use of aspirin and initial antihypertensive treatment than on achieving blood pressure targets. Conclusion In order to justify their recommendations guidelines should quantify the resource implications in relation to the health benefits.
Exploring Boolean and non-Boolean computing with spin torque devices

In this paper we discuss the potential of emerging spin-torque devices for computing applications. Recent proposals for spin-based computing schemes may be differentiated as 'all-spin' vs. hybrid, programmable vs. fixed, and, Boolean vs. non-Boolean. All-spin logic-styles may offer high area-density due to small form-factor of nano-magnetic devices. However, circuit and system-level design techniques need to be explored that leaverage the specific spin-device characterisitcs to achieve energy-efficiency, performance and reliability comparable to those of CMOS. The non-volatility of nano-magnets can be exploited in the design of energy and area-efficient programmable logic. In such logic-styles, spin-devices may play the dual-role of computing as well as memory-elements that provide field-programmability. Spin-based threshold logic design is presented as an example. Emerging spintronic phenomena may lead to ultra-low-voltage, current-mode, spin-torque switches that can offer attractive computing capabilities, beyond digital switches. Such devices may be suitable for non-Boolean data-processing applications which involve analog processing. Integration of such spin-torque devices with charge-based devices like CMOS and resistive memory can lead to highly energy-efficient information processing hardware for applicatons like pattern-matching, neuromorphic-computing, image-processing and data-conversion. Towards the end, we discuss the possibility of applying emerging spin-torque switches in the design of energy-efficient global interconnects, for future chip multiprocessors.
Nafion/ORMOSIL Hybrids via in Situ Sol−Gel Reactions. 3. Pyrene Fluorescence Probe Investigations of Nanoscale Environment

Pyrene (Py) photophysical probes were used to interrogate structural diversity within [1] Nafion/[silicon oxide] and [2] Nafion/[ORMOSIL] hybrids. The interior of the silicon oxide phase in [1] has the most polar environment wherein Py is trapped in silicon oxide cages in the vicinity of −SO3- groups. Polar/nonpolar interphase regions in [1] are next in order of decreasing polarity. The interior of the ORMOSIL phase in [2] displays lowest polarity, reflecting CH3 groups in Py-encapsulating ORMOSIL cages, and the interphase ranks somewhat higher in polarity. Water uptake is ordered: Nafion/ORMOSIL < unfilled Nafion-H+ < Nafion/[silicon oxide]. The hydrophilicity of unfilled Nafion-H+ is adjustable by tailoring the organic content of the incorporated sol−gel-derived nanophase as polarity determined from fluorescence emission and water uptake correlate well. Fluorescence emission of Py monitored nanostructural polarity shifts that result from secondary in situ gel growth induced by annealing. Additional con...
Scanning times through prose and word strings for various targets by normal and disabled readers.

A group of 12 disabled readers and 12 age-matched, and 12 reading-level-marched readers participated in a target-scanning task. While reading a simple five-sentence passage, S searched for a certain type of target: words of a given category, the letter “o,” or the phoneme /ae/. All 3 groups were fastest in finding the word targets and slowest in finding the phoneme. The disabled readers were slower than the age-matched group for all targets. It was concluded that the phonological coding occurred at different rates after graphemic and semantic coding for the 3 groups.
First culture-proven gastrointestinal entermophthoromycosis in the United States: a case report and review of the literature.

The zygomycoses are fungal infections often occurring in compromised hosts. We report the first culture-proven case of a gastrointestinal infection in the United States by Basidiobolus haptosporus (ranarum). The clinical and histological features are noted in order to distinguish this infection from the more widely reported mucormycosis.
Peace out to revolution! Activism among African American youth An argument for radical healing

The purpose of this article is to explore new forms of activism among African American youth in the post-civil rights America. Dramatic educational, economic, political and cultural transformations...
The Gene Expression of Ubiquitin Ligase E3α Is Upregulated in Skeletal Muscle during Sepsis in Rats—Potential Role of Glucocorticoids

Abstract Muscle protein breakdown during sepsis is associated with upregulated expression and activity of the ubiquitin-proteasome proteolytic pathway. Previous studies suggest that ubiquitination of proteins in skeletal muscle is regulated by the ubiquitin ligase E3α together with the 14 kDa ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E214k. The E3α gene was cloned only recently. The influence of sepsis on the gene expression of E3α in skeletal muscle has not been reported. In the present study, induction of sepsis in rats by cecal ligation and puncture resulted in increased mRNA levels for E3α in white, fast-twitch but not in red slow-twitch muscle. Treatment with the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU38486 (10 mg/kg) prevented the sepsis-induced increase in E3α and E214k mRNA levels. The present study is the first report of increased E3α expression in skeletal muscle during sepsis. The results lend further support to the concept that glucocorticoid-mediated upregulation of the ubiquitin-proteasome proteolytic pathway is involved in sepsis-induced muscle cachexia. Increased expression of both E3α and E214k suggests that muscle proteins are degraded in the N-end rule pathway during sepsis.
Bioinspired Reversibly Cross-linked Hydrogels Comprising Polypeptide Micelles Exhibit Enhanced Mechanical Properties

Noncovalently cross-linked networks are attractive hydrogel platforms because of their facile fabrication, dynamic behavior, and biocompatibility. The majority of noncovalently cross-linked hydrogels, however, exhibits poor mechanical properties, which signifi cantly limit their utility in load bearing applications. To address this limitation, hydrogels are presented composed of micelles created from genetically engineered, amphiphilic, elastin-like polypeptides that contain a relatively large hydrophobic block and a hydrophilic terminus that can be cross-linked through metal ion coordination. To create the hydrogels, heat is fi rstly used to trigger the self-assembly of the polypeptides into monodisperse micelles that display transition metal coordination motifs on their coronae, and subsequently cross-link the micelles by adding zinc ions. These hydrogels exhibit hierarchical structure, are stable over a large temperature range, and exhibit tunable stiffness, self-healing, and fatigue resistance. Gels with polypeptide concentration of 10%, w/v, and higher show storage moduli of ≈1 MPa from frequency sweep tests and exhibit self-healing within minutes. These reversibly cross-linked, hierarchical hydrogels with enhanced mechanical properties have potential utility in a variety of biomedical applications.
Rate of tongue flicking by rattlesnakes during successive stages of feeding on rodent prey

Specimens of each of three species of rattlesnakes (Crotalus enyo enyo, C. durissus culminatus, and Crotalus vegrandis) exhibited no tongue flicking prior to striking live mice during a regular feeding session. All snakes flicked their tongues at high rates (more than 20 flicks/minute) between striking and commencement of swallowing. Also, frequent tongue flicking (10 to 15 flicks/minute) was seen for about 15 min after swallowing. These data indicate that well-acclimated, captive rattlesnakes do not rely upon the Jacobson’s organ to detect prey or to guide the predatory attack, but that they do use this sensory system to locate prey after striking. Since an envenomated rodent may wander several meters prior to dying, Jacobson’s organ may be very important in finding such prey. It is also of interest that renewed tongue flicking occurs after swallowing. A hypothesis is offered concerning the role of the latter behavior.
Acetylcholine receptors and the diphasic action of nicotine in the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana (L.).

Abstract 1. 1. Acetylcholine receptors in the cercal nerve-giant fibre synapse in the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana (L.), respond to nicotine, show tachyphylaxis upon prolonged exposure to nicotine, and respond to muscarinic drugs after nicotine desensitization. 2. 2. Responses are manifested by the appearance of giant fibre action potentials and graded excitatory post-synaptic potentials. 3. 3. Both nicotinic and muscarinic receptors exist in the synapse.
129I interlaboratory comparison: Phase II results☆

Large discrepancies seen in a Phase I 129I Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) interlaboratory comparison have prompted a subsequent Phase II comparison. In Phase II of the 129I AMS interlaboratory comparison, three separate laboratories prepared AgI from two environmental samples (IAEA 375 soil and maple leaves). Each laboratory used its own chemical preparation method; each of these methods being considerably different. The resulting six samples (two sets of three) were then distributed to the participating 129I AMS facilities and 129I/127I ratios measured. Results and discussion of the Phase II interlaboratory comparison are presented.
Doubting Bose-Einstein condensation in helium.

Adrian Cho's article “New state of matter not so new?” (News Focus, 1 March, p. 1630) describes a debate on whether Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) has been observed in a system of helium-4 films adsorbed in porous glass (1, 2). Although Cho mentions that there are scientists who doubt that BEC was observed in this system, the reasons for this doubt are not presented. I wish to clarify the origin of the doubt.
31P spectroscopy of the human prostate gland in vivo using a transrectal probe.

Using a transrectal probe, good quality 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the human prostate was performed safely, consistently, and in a reasonable amount of time (average of 60 min). Initial results indicate that transrectal 31P MRS has the ability to characterize the phosphorylated metabolites of normal, hyperplastic, and malignant prostates. This study demonstrated that malignant prostates are characterized by significantly decreased levels of phosphocreatine (PCr) and increased levels of phosphomonesters (PME) as compared to healthy prostates. © 1991 Academic Press, Inc.
Temperature Dependence of Vasopressin Action on the Toad Bladder

Toad bladders were challenged with vasopressin at one temperature, fixed on the mucosa with 1% glutaraldehyde, and then subjected to an osmotic gradient at another temperature. Thus, the temperature dependence of vasopressin action on membrane permeability was distinguished from the temperature dependence of osmotic water flux. As the temperature was raised from 20° to 38°C, there was a substantial increase in the velocity of vasopressin action, but osmotic flux was hardly affected. In this range of temperature the apparent energy of activation for net water movement across the bladder amounted to only 1.2 kcal/mole, a value well below the activation energy for bulk water viscosity. It is suggested that osmotic water flux takes place through narrow, nonpolar channels in the membrane. When the temperature was raised from 4° to 20°C, both vasopressin action as well as osmotic water flux were markedly enhanced. Activation energies for net water movement were now 8.5 kcal/mole (4°–9°C) and 4.1 kcal/mole (9°–20°C), indicating that the components of the aqueous channel undergo conformational changes as the temperature is lowered from 20°C. At 43°C bladder reactivity to vasopressin was lost, and irreversible changes in selective permeability were observed. The apparent energy of activation for net water movement across the denatured membrane was 6.6 kcal/mole. Approximately 1 µosmol of NaCl was exchanged for 1 µl of H2O across the denatured membrane.
Mechanical properties of ZrC-ZrB2 and ZrC-TiB2 directionally solidified eutectics

Lamellar ZrC-ZrB2 and Chinese-script ZrC-TiB2 eutectics were directionally solidified using the floating-zone method of crystal growth. The Knoop microhardness, fracture toughness, and wear resistance were investigated as a function of the phase spacing. Nearly all of the direction ally solidified specimens exhibited superior mechanical properties when compared with the individual constituents. Notably high values of microhardness (24.02 GPa) and fracture toughness (5.44 MN/m3/4) were found for the ZrC-ZrB2 eutectic.
“Personality and Social Psychology”: Retrospections and Aspirations

Drawing on 6 decades of participant observation in personality and social psychology, this article provides comments on the qualities of the founding generation at mid-20th century (e.g., Allport, Lewin, Murphy, Murray, Newcomb, and Sherif). Their breadth, commitment to a humane science, and interest in its social applications have since been in short supply. The juncture of personality psychology and social psychology has become problematic. Reasons for this are explored. Holistic personology may presently find a more congenial setting in life span developmental psychology than in social psychology.
Feature tracking for underwater navigation using sonar

Tracking sonar features in real time on an underwater robot is a challenging task. One reason is the low observability of the sonar in some directions. For example, using a blazed array sonar one observes range and the angle to the array axis with fair precision. The angle around the axis is poorly constrained. This situation is problematic for tracking features in world frame Cartesian coordinates as the error surfaces will not be ellipsoids. Thus Gaussian tracking of the features will not work properly. The situation is similar to the problem of tracking features in camera images. There the unconstrained direction is depth and its errors are highly non-Gaussian. We propose a solution to the sonar problem that is analogous to the successful inverse depth feature parameterization for vision tracking, introduced by [1]. We parameterize the features by the robot pose where it was first seen and the range/bearing from that pose. Thus the 3D features have 9 parameters that specify their world coordinates. We use a nonlinear transformation on the poorly observed bearing angle to give a more accurate Gaussian approximation to the uncertainty. These features are tracked in a SLAM framework until there is enough information to initialize world frame Cartesian coordinates for them. The more compact representation can then be used for a global SLAM or localization purposes. We present results for a system running real time underwater SLAM/localization. These results show that the parameterization leads to greater consistency in the feature location estimates.
Miniaturized and reconfigurable CPW square-ring slot antenna using thin film varactor technology

Ferroelectric (FE) Barium Strontium Titanate (Ba (1−x) Sr x TiO 3 , BST) thin film varactor technology is applied to the antenna miniaturization and reconfiguration successfully. CPW square-ring slot antenna is used as a design example, and antennas with and without integrated BST varactors were fabricated and characterized. Including the total ground, the size of miniaturized antenna is 0.12λ 0 ×0.12λ 0 which is reduced by 31% compared with antenna without the BST varactors. Moreover, the frequency of the miniaturized antenna with the BST varactors is reconfigurable from 5.8GHz to 6.1GHz with a low DC biasing voltage of 3V. Both E-plane and H-plane patterns were measured for the antennas. Fabrication details and measurement setup are also presented.
Hemolytic Reactions to Nitrofurantoin in Patients with Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency: Theory and Practice

The prescribing information for nitrofurantoin states that patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency may experience hemolysis following administration of the drug. Although there is no doubt that this statement is qualitatively correct, the degree of risk in the general population of patients has not been previously quantified. This study was designed to estimate the degree of risk of a clinically important hemolytic reaction to nitrofurantoin by means of a retrospective analysis of the Norwich Eaton adverse reaction database. Since 1953, approximately 130 million courses of nitrofurantoin therapy have been distributed in the U.S. alone. The database contained 127 reports of hemolytic reactions; a "worst-case" estimate of the incidence rate was 1 in 100,000 courses of therapy. Considering the extensive usage of nitrofurantoin, clinically important hemolytic reactions appeared to be very rare. For the cases in which outcome was recorded, complete recovery occurred in 87 percent of patients. Although nitrofurantoin is contraindicated after the onset of labor and in infants less than one month old, no well-documented cases of hemolytic reactions in neonates were identified.
PEER INTERACTIONS AND POSITIVE STUDENT-LECTURER RELATIONSHIP AS A TOOL FOR IMPROVING THE TEACHING AND LEARNING OF COLLEGE ALGEBRA: A CASE STUDY AT USIU

This paper sets out to interrogate the role played by peer interactions in the teaching and learning of College Algebra in a classroom setting. It also explores the impact of positive student-lecturer relationship on teaching and learning of College Algebra at the university level and the general improvement of student performance. The instrument of data collection herein comes from observations made from the classroom teaching, interviews with students and from questionnaires administered to students who willfully and voluntarily filled them in. The findings indicate that indeed students’ classroom participation during College Algebra lessons is influenced by the kind of feedback they get from their colleagues. The peer interaction is very crucial in their learning as they are more active when they get positive feedback and are withdrawn when their colleagues ‘response is negative. It was also established that the lecturer-student relationship during College Algebra classroom lessons can create either a positive or negative impact on the students learning process and hence the overall performance in College Algebra examinations’. Further research in this direction can play a major role in resolving some of the challenges facing the teaching and learning of mathematics in general and College Algebra in particular. Key words: Mathematics, Peer interaction, Lecturer-Student relationship, challenges, teaching, learning and performance.
Edison revisited: Impact of DC distribution on the cost of LED lighting and distributed generation

This paper models the case of a new construction 277V commercial lighting system, one of the many possible applications of a DC distribution system, using fluorescent and LED fixtures in a conventional AC circuit and in a DC lighting circuit. The levelized cost of lighting for the AC fluorescent, DC fluorescent, AC LED, and DC LED cases are calculated for projected LED and solar PV performance parameters, and a variety of DC bus voltages incorporating its impact on fluorescent ballast and LED driver efficiencies. Results show that with present fluorescent and LED efficacies, fluorescent lighting systems are the lowest annualized cost lighting option. However, if one has decided to install a DC distributed generation technology such as solar PV due to environmental policy, new-construction DC LEDs will be the lowest (annualized) cost lighting option by about 2012.
Estimation of sample and probe tilts in scanning probe microscopy

Sample and probe orientations are important parameters in scanning probe microscopic (SPM) imaging. The authors develop techniques for estimating the values of these parameters using image processing techniques. These techniques form an essential calibration step in SPM imaging. It is shown that SPM images can be corrected for distortions induced due to the orientation parameters. Results are presented with images of semiconductor samples. It is demonstrated that improved surface recovery is possible by combining information from several SPM images taken at appropriate sample and probe orientations. >
THE EFFECTS OF SUBMERGENCE AND LIGHT ON TWO AGE CLASSES OF BALDCYPRESS (TAXODIUM DISTICHUM (L.) RICHARD) SEEDLINGS

In the early 1900s, baldcypress swamps were harvested en masse in coastal Louisiana, USA. In many areas, natural regeneration did not occur; instead, these areas converted to marsh or open water. One of the factors that may have been responsible for the lack of regeneration was shading of newly-germinated seedlings by herbaceous vegetation. Alternatively, prolonged flooding or complete submergence may have suppressed germination or growth rates of young seedlings and even caused mortality. This study investigated the effects of complete submergence and variable light regime on two age classes of baldcypress seedlings. Newly-germinated seedlings (under two weeks of age) subjected to complete submergence began to show clear signs of stress after approximately one month and substantial mortality following 45 days of submergence. In contrast, one-year-old seedlings submerged for as much as five months experienced up to 75% survival. In a four-way factorial experiment, two age classes of baldcypress seedlings were subjected to five light transmissions (100%, 80%, 50%, 30%, 20%), five flood durations (0 days, 14 days, 25 days, 35 days, 45 days), and two nutrient regimes (fertilized vs. not fertilized). At 100% light transmission, the newlygerminated seedlings suffered complete mortality after 35 days of submergence, whereas the one-year-old seedlings were largely unaffected by prolonged flooding or light regime. Fertilized one-year-old seedlings that were submerged for an entire month had considerably greater growth in height and diameter than seedlings grown under mesic conditions without fertilizer. This is particularly important in coastal Louisiana because several re-introductions (i.e., diversions) of Mississippi River water into declining swamps are planned or underway, and these diversions will periodically increase nutrient and flood levels.
Analysis, Design, and Measurements of Circularly Symmetric High-Impedance Surfaces for Loop Antenna Applications

A new wideband circular high-impedance surface (HIS) is proposed. Two models are developed to analyze the reflection characteristics of the proposed HIS. It is also shown through simulations that a circular HIS as a ground plane for loop antennas is superior to a rectangular HIS ground plane. The circular HIS was fabricated and a loop antenna was placed above it. Measurements were then performed and their results were compared with simulations. An excellent agreement was indicated.
Civil-Military Relations in Perspective: Strategy, Structure, and Policy, Cimbala, Stephen J.

The topic of civil-military relations is expansive, constantly evolving throughout history. Stephen Cimbala presents various perspectives on civil military relations spanning a vast time-frame and ...
العلم الإلهي باالجزئيات مقاربة ابن سينا و صدر المتألهين نموذجا

Abstract : The philosophical problems have closed ties with the principle of tawhid. One of them is the problem of 'divine knowledge' about the particular matters. This article shows those problems from the approach of Ibn Sīna and Mulla Ṣadra. Ibn Sīna holds that the Divine Essence knows the particular things in a universal form rather than in a particular. That is to say in the form of causality of forms that manifested in the system of existence ( wujūd ). Mulla Ṣadra on the other hand agrees that the Divine Essence is the forms of everything, without exception. He interprets the knowledge of God to the particular things that exist in the matter without any changing in the Divine knowledge itself, along with the events that turn. Keywords : Divine knowledge of particular things, universal form, matter
Identification of modulators of autophagic flux in an image-based high content siRNA screen

Autophagy is the primary process for recycling cellular constituents through lysosomal degradation. In addition to nonselective autophagic engulfment of cytoplasm, autophagosomes can recognize specific cargo by interacting with ubiquitin-binding autophagy receptors such as SQSTM1/p62 (sequestosome 1). This selective form of autophagy is important for degrading aggregation-prone proteins prominent in many neurodegenerative diseases. We carried out a high content image-based siRNA screen (4 to 8 siRNA per gene) for modulators of autophagic flux by monitoring fluorescence of GFP-SQSTM1 as well as colocalization of GFP-SQSTM1 with LAMP2 (lysosomal-associated membrane protein 2)-positive lysosomal vesicles. GFP-SQSTM1 and LAMP2 phenotypes of primary screen hits were confirmed in 2 cell types and profiled with image-based viability and MTOR signaling assays. Common seed analysis guided siRNA selection for these assays to reduce bias toward off-target effects. Confirmed hits were further validated in a live-cell assay to monitor fusion of autophagosomes with lysosomes. Knockdown of 10 targets resulted in phenotypic profiles across multiple assays that were consistent with upregulation of autophagic flux. These hits include modulators of transcription, lysine acetylation, and ubiquitination. Two targets, KAT8 (K[lysine] acetyltransferase 8) and CSNK1A1 (casein kinase 1, α 1), have been implicated in autophagic regulatory feedback loops. We confirmed that CSNK1A1 knockout (KO) cell lines have accelerated turnover of long-lived proteins labeled with (14)C-leucine in a pulse-chase assay as additional validation of our screening assays. Data from this comprehensive autophagy screen point toward novel regulatory pathways that might yield new therapeutic targets for neurodegeneration.
An outbreak of infectious diarrhea with noroviruses caused by poor toilet hygiene

Objective To investigate and analyze the epidemic situation of an outbreak of infectious diarrhea with noroviruses in a middle school in Anhua County,to explore the routes and ways of transmission,and to offer scientific evidence for formulating prevention and control measures. Methods We conducted case survey and field epidemiological investigation and analysis based on an outbreak of infectious diarrhea with noroviruses in a middle school in Anhua County from February 18 to March 2,2014. And the samples collected from the field were detected. Results There were 105 cases of infectious diarrhea confirmed,with the attack rate of 3. 04%. The main clinical manifestations were diarrhea,stomachache,nausea and vomiting. The students whose classrooms were near the toilets had a higher morbidity. There were statistically significant differences in the morbidity between teaching staff and students as well as between males and females( P 0. 05),but no statistically significant difference was found between day students and boarding students( P 0. 05). 12 samples were found to be positive for noruvirus RNA,including 5 samples with noruvirus GI,3 samples with norovirus GII and 4 samples with norovirus GI and GII co-infection.Conclusions It is an outbreak of infectious diarrhea induced by noroviruses. The generation and transmission of aerosol caused by the poor sanitation design of the classrooms and toilets is the main transmission route of this outbreak.