cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Low-energy theorems for QCD at finite temperature and chemical potential

The low-energy theorems for QCD are generalized to finite temperature and chemical potential, including nonzero quark masses. {copyright} {ital 1999} {ital The American Physical Society}
A New Multicomponent Diffusion Formulation for the Finite-Volume Method

A new multicomponent formulation, which is appropriate for use with the finite-volume method, has been developed to accurately describe the diffusion velocity. The new formulation is presented and applied to the numerical simulation of n-heptane fuel droplet combustion in a zero-gravity, forced convection environment at 1 atm. Combustion is modeled using finite-rate chemical kinetics and a one-step overall reaction. Results obtained using the complete formulation are compared to the results obtained while assuming (1) thermal diffusion (Soret effect) is negligible and (2) thermal diffusion is negligible and all binary diffusion coefficients are the same. The effect these assumptions have on the results at a fixed Reynolds number (Re∞=10) is investigated for a low (300 K) and a high (1200 K) ambient temperature. The use of a single binary diffusion coefficient produces results that are significantly different from the results obtained using the complete formulation. These differences include a much lower maximum temperature (700 K lower), a “longer” flame and lower (8–20%) values for the evaporation constant and drag coefficient. Thermal diffusion caused only minor changes (~1%) in the numerical predictions for the maximum temperature, evaporation constant and drag coefficient.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Inkjet-printed micro-electro-mechanical switches

An inkjet-printed micro-electro-mechanical switch technology is demonstrated to provide for zero off-state leakage, low on-state resistance (∼10 Ω), and moderate switching delay (∼10 µs), indicating promise for application to future large-area displays.
Profile of altered brain iron acquisition in restless legs syndrome

Restless legs syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by an urgency to move the legs during periods of rest. Data from a variety of sources provide a compelling argument that the amount of iron in the brain is lower in individuals with restless legs syndrome compared with neurologically normal individuals. Moreover, a significant percentage of patients with restless legs syndrome are responsive to intravenous iron therapy. The mechanism underlying the decreased iron concentrations in restless legs syndrome brains is unknown. We hypothesize that the source of the brain iron deficit is at the blood-brain interface. Thus we analysed the expression of iron management proteins in the epithelial cells of the choroid plexus and the brain microvasculature in post-mortem tissues. The choroid plexus, obtained at autopsy, from 18 neurologically normal controls and 14 individuals who had primary restless legs syndrome was subjected to histochemical staining for iron and immunostaining for iron management proteins. Iron and heavy chain ferritin staining was reduced in the epithelial cells of choroid plexus in restless legs syndrome. Divalent metal transporter, ferroportin, transferrin and its receptor were upregulated in the choroid plexus in restless legs syndrome. Microvessels were isolated from the motor cortex of 11 restless legs syndrome and 14 control brains obtained at autopsy and quantitative immunoblot analyses was performed. Expression of heavy chain ferritin, transferrin and its receptor in the microvessels from restless legs syndrome was significantly decreased compared with the controls but divalent metal protein 1, ferroportin, prohepcidin, mitochondrial ferritin and light-chain ferritin remained unchanged. The presence of an iron regulatory protein was demonstrated in the brain microvasculature and the activity of this protein is decreased in restless legs syndrome; a finding similar to our earlier report in neuromelanin cells from the substantia nigra of restless legs syndrome brains. This study reveals that there are alterations in the iron management protein profile in restless legs syndrome compared with controls at the site of blood-brain interface suggesting fundamental differences in brain iron acquisition in individuals with restless legs syndrome. Furthermore, the decrease in transferrin receptor expression in the microvasculature in the presence of relative brain iron deficiency reported in restless legs syndrome brains may underlie the problems associated with brain iron acquisition in restless legs syndrome. The consistent finding of loss of iron regulatory protein activity in restless legs syndrome brain tissue further implicates this protein as a factor in the underlying cause of the iron deficiency in the restless legs syndrome brain. The data herein provide evidence for regulation of iron uptake and storage within brain microvessels that challenge the existing paradigm that the blood-brain barrier is merely a transport system.
A physical interpretation for the fractional derivative in Levy diffusion

To the authors' knowledge, previous derivations of the fractional diffusion equation are based on stochastic principles [1], with the result that physical interpretation of the resulting fractional derivatives has been elusive [2]. Herein, we develop a fractional flux law relating solute flux at a given point to what might be called the complete (two-sided) fractional derivative of the concentration distribution at the same point. The fractional derivative itself is then identified as a typical superposition integral over the spatial domain of the Levy diffusion process. While this interpretation does not obviously generalize to all applications, it does point toward the search for superposition principles when attempting to give physical meaning to fractional derivatives.
Understanding and Managing Others: The Impact of Social Intelligence upon Social Influence

The present study provided support for the relevance of social intelligence—to social influence. Consistent with but extending past research, recognizing situational influences (i.e., discriminative facility) was associated with effective social interactions. In particular, individuals high in discriminative facility demonstrated greater flexibility when considering influence tactics than individuals low in discriminative facility.
Effects of a tranquilizer and two antidepressants on learned and unlearned behaviors.

The dose-response effects of chlorpromazine, imipramine, and thiazesim were investigated on unlearned behaviors (spontaneous motor activity, eating, drinking, mouse-killing, selfgrooming, and forced motor activity) and learned behavior using the rat pole-climbing unit. Three or four doses of each drug were used in the study of each parameter, and ED50 values were calculated from the generated log dose-response line. Ratios of the forced motor activity ED50 divided by the ED50's of the various behavioral tests were used to determine whether the blockades of the behavioral parameters occurred at debilitating or nondebilitating doses. The tranquilizer, chlorpromazine, required a debilitating dose to block four of the five unlearned behaviors. The antidepressant, imipramine, disrupted three of these at nondebilitating doses; the antidepressant, thiazesim, blocked all unlearned behaviors at nondebilitating doses. All compounds required debilitating doses to block the learned behavior, a conditioned avoidance response. The results generally support the hypothesis that antidepressants selectively block unlearned behaviors which are not blocked by tranquilizers until debilitating doses are used.
Midwestern High Dew Point Events 1960-2000

Daily average dew points (DADPs) computed for 46 Midwestern first-order stations (FOS) were examined from 1960 to 2000 to identify and characterize extreme warm-season high dew point events. To be classified as an extreme event, more than 50% of the FOS had to experience a DADP of 22°C (72°F) or higher for two or more consecutive days within the event. Nine events were found to have occurred during the 41-year period. The length of the events varied from 5 to 13 days, while the number of stations involved in each event ranged from 24 to 40. Two summers, 1995 and 1999, each experienced two events. Event intensity, based on the percentage of all station hours during each event with dew points ≥ 22°C, was greatest in the events that occurred in the 1990s. An examination of the event diurnal cycle identified that: (1) the minimum number of stations experiencing an hourly dew point value ≥ 22°C occurred at 0300 and 0600 local time, while the maximum number of stations meeting this dew point threshold generally...
An improved class of universal collectors for the flotation of oxidized and/or low-rank coal

Ash minerals, including pyrite, can be separated from coal by flotation, primarily making use of the natural hydrophobicity of the carbonaceous matter in coal. However, to overcome the deleterious effect of oxygen functional groups on the coal surface, an organic collector is required. The most common industrial coal flotation collector is fuel oil, but the addition of oxygenated functional groups to the collector molecule markedly enhances the flotation of lower rank and oxidized coals. This paper summarizes the results of detailed study of the flotation response of two high-sulfur coals, Illinois No. 6 coal and Pittsburgh No. 8, using different non-ionic oxygenated surfactants as the collector. The performance of these reagents is compared with that of two oily collectors, namely dodecane and nonylbenzene, and mechanisms for the interaction of these compounds with coal are suggested.
Toward a unified view of data base management, programming languages, and operating systems—A tutorial

Abstract This paper identifies some common concepts in programming languages, data base management, and operating systems. We present an approach to unifying these concepts based upon the notion of levels of abstract machines. Central to this approach is the utilization of homogeneous programming environments. The objective of this effort is to present a uniform view of an information processing system.
On the DNA content of cerebellar Purkinje cells in vivo and in vitro.

Abstract Newborn rats were administered 3H-thymidine, 3H-thymine, 3H-adenine, or 3H-cytidine every 6–8 hr. from neonatal day four to day ten. Utilizing autoradiography, cerebellar Purkinje cells showed little or no nuclear label with 3H-thymidine or 3H-cytidine, although other cells known to divice postnatally (e.g., granule and glial cells) did incorporate these precursors into DNA. The few nuclear grains seen over Purkinje cells with 3H-cytidine were not seen if the fixed tissue was first digested with RNAase. 3H-thymine and 3H-adenine were not incorporated into any cerebellar cells including Purkinje cells in vivo despite the administration of equivalent or higher doses of these isotopes. Purkinje cells had undergone their major morphological maturation during the period of isotope exposure. Organotypic explants of newborn rat cerebellum also failed to display uptake of 3H-thymidine in Purkinje cells during continuous exposures for the first 18 days in vitro. 3H-thymine showed no clearcut labelling of Purkinje cells when cultures were labelled for the first 13 days in vitro; this in vitro method excluded the possibility that 3H-thymine had not been taken up in vivo because of permeability factors or excessive metabolism by other organs. The above results do not support the notion of development of early Purkinje cell “tetraploidy” obtained by Feulgen microdensitometry.
Motility changes in opossum esophagus from experimental esophagitis.

We assessed how acute inflammation affects the contractile activity of the esophageal body. Two models of esophagitis were used; nine opossums had an esophageal perfusion of 100 meq hydrochloric acid for 2 hr and were studied at 24 hr. Ten had the perfusion for 4 h and their esophagi were studied in vitroafter 72 hr. Comparisons were made in all instances to animals who had esophageal saline perfusion for identical periods. All acid-perfused animals developed gross and histologic evidence of mucosal inflammation; in three animals, inflammatory changes extended into the submucosa and the muscularis propria. Manometric recordings in the acid-perfused animals revealed esophageal shortening, frequent failure of primary peristalsis and frequent occurrence of spontaneous contractions. Recordings of isometric tension of muscle in vitrorevealed spontaneous contractions in strips from the mucosa and from the circular and from the longitudinal muscle. The amplitude of contractions in response to electrical stimulation was decreased, but the duration of contractions was increased largely because of a prolonged recovery phase. These changes in mechanical response occurred with stimulus parameters directed at both the muscle and the intrinsic nerves. We conclude that esophageal inflammation can lead to an increased irritability and decreased stimulus response of the smooth muscle of the esophagus even where it is not directly involved in an inflammatory response. These changes correspond to the functional abnormalities of the esophagus seen in patients with reflux esophagitis.
Fujiwara’s theorem for equivariant correspondences

Let q be a power of a prime p, and let k = Fq be an algebraic closure of Fq. For objects over Fq we use a subscript 0, and unadorned letters denote the base change to k. For example, X0 denotes a scheme (or stack) over Fq and X denotes the fiber product X0 ×Spec(Fq) Spec(k). Let X0 be a separated finite type Fq-scheme. A correspondence on X0 is a diagram of separated finite type Fq-schemes C0 c1 ~~|| || || || c2 !! C C C C C C C C
An estimation of the relative human exposure to 2,3,7,8-TCDD emissions via inhalation and ingestion of cow's milk

Abstract We consider a model for estimating the concentration of 2,3,7,8-TCDD in milk from a cow grazing near an incinerator, given the ambient air concentration. We estimate that the daily dose received from this milk could be 200 times higher than the daily dose from inhalation of the same ambient air. Comparisons with other work in this area are made.
Socioeconomic status, obesity and non-insulin dependent diabetes in mexican americans in starr county, texas

This study seeks the relationship between socioeconomic status (S.E.S.), obesity and non‐insulin dependent diabetes mellitus within the Starr County population of South Texas. The study used data from the first phase of the Diabetes Alert Study, constituting a random sample of 1,926 adult individuals. The prevalence of obesity (Wt/Ht2>30) in this population was twice that of the U.S. population (20–22%), but less than a 30% rate was observed in extended families of diabetics in Starr County. An inverse relationship between socioeconomic status and obesity was found among women (p<0.01) but not men. There was a similar but statistically insignificant trend for diabetes and socio‐economic status in women, suggesting that this association might be secondary to that of obesity and S.E.S. Results support the idea that social and behavioural factors play a role in the occurrence of obesity in the population; but whatever these factors are, they are sex‐specific. The lack of association between S.E.S. and diabet...
The dissociation of carbonic acid in NaCl solutions as a function of concentration and temperature

Abstract Potentiometric measurements of the stoichiometric constants for the dissociation of carbonic acid in NaCl solutions ( K 1 ∗ = [ H + ] [ HCO 3 - ] / [ CO 2 ] and K 1 ∗ = [ H + ] [ CO 3 2 - ] / [ HCO 3 - ] ) have been made as a function of molality (0–6 m) and temperature (0–50 °C). The results have been fitted to the equations p K i ∗ - p K i = A i + B i / T + C i ln T The values of pKi in pure water are taken from the literature and the adjustable parameters Ai, Bi and Ci are a function of molality A 1 = 35.2911 m 0.5 + 0.8491 m - 0.32 m 1.5 + 0.055 m 2 B 1 = - 1583.09 m 0.5 C 1 = - 5.4366 m 0.5 A 2 = 38.2746 m 0.5 + 1.6057 m - 0.647 m 1.5 + 0.113 m 2 B 2 = - 1738.16 m 0.5 C 2 = - 6.0346 m 0.5 (σ = 0.013 for p K 1 ∗ and σ = 0.020 for p K 2 ∗ , N = 603). The values determined in this study are in good agreement with the 25 °C literature values. Our results have been combined with previous measurements to derive equations that are valid from 0 to 250 °C and 0 to 5 m. This large data set has been used to determine the Pitzer parameters (β(0), β(1) and Cϕ) for the interactions of Na+ with HCO3− and CO32− from 0 to 250 °C. These results extend the carbonate system Pitzer model to hydrothermal brines containing high concentrations of NaCl.
Sonographic and maternal serum screening abnormalities in fetuses affected by spinal muscular atrophy

Fetuses with degenerative neurological disorders or metabolic diseases rarely exhibit sonographic abnormalities. As a result, prenatal diagnosis, when available, requires invasive testing. Prenatal diagnosis of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) can be made by testing chorionic villi or amniocytes. Indirect genotype analysis by use of single- and multi-locus polymorphic microsatellites of the region 5q11.2-q13.3 is used. We present two cases of SMA that manifested at 11 and 16 weeks' gestation by the presence of abnormal ultrasound findings. Each case also had abnormal maternal serum screening.
Herpetic ganglionic latency. Aciclovir and vidarabine therapy.

• This study reports the therapeutic efficacy of systemic antiviral drugs in reducing the incidence of trigeminal ganglionic latent herpes simplex virus (HSV) after ocular infection in mice. Aciclovir sodium, 60 mg/kg daily for five days starting three and 24 hours after inoculation, resulted in a significant decrease in recovery of latent HSV, 28% and 54% positive, respectively, in comparison to untreated controls, 100% positive. Initiation of similar therapy three weeks after inoculation for 5, 10, and 15 days resulted in progressive decrease in persistence of latent virus, being 100%, 33%, and 12% positive, respectively. Systemic vidarabine, 50 mg/kg daily for 15 days starting three weeks after inoculation, also resulted in a significant decrease of positive ganglionic cultures (60% positive) in comparison to the untreated controls. The results indicate that replication of HSV in the trigeminal ganglia in mice is probably continuous and that this reservoir of recurrent ocular herpes is amenable to therapy with systemic antiviral agents.
A Nutrient Re-evaluation of Shell Eggs

Most data on the nutrient composition of shell eggs were obtained before 1950. Since then, management systems for egg production and analytical methods for many components have changed. Freeze-dried whole egg, yolk and white samples were prepared from eggs obtained from a single source of 15 month old White Leghorns. The sample were packaged under nitrogen and held at -20 degrees C. until analyzed. Conversion factors are included for expressing the amount of each component on a per egg as well as a per 100 g. edible liquid basis. This re-evaluation of nutrient data included total solids, lipid, protein, cholesterol, ash, calories, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals.
Rapidly-exploring Random Belief Trees for motion planning under uncertainty

In this paper we address the problem of motion planning in the presence of state uncertainty, also known as planning in belief space. The work is motivated by planning domains involving nontrivial dynamics, spatially varying measurement properties, and obstacle constraints. To make the problem tractable, we restrict the motion plan to a nominal trajectory stabilized with a linear estimator and controller. This allows us to predict distributions over future states given a candidate nominal trajectory. Using these distributions to ensure a bounded probability of collision, the algorithm incrementally constructs a graph of trajectories through state space, while efficiently searching over candidate paths through the graph at each iteration. This process results in a search tree in belief space that provably converges to the optimal path. We analyze the algorithm theoretically and also provide simulation results demonstrating its utility for balancing information gathering to reduce uncertainty and finding low cost paths.
High-Resolution Subsurface (Gpr) Imaging and Sedimentology of Coastal Ponds, Maine, U.S.A.: Implications for Holocene Back-Barrier Evolution

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) transects and sediment cores have been used to examine the basement morphology, stratig- raphy, and environmental history of maritime ponds along the pen- insular coast of Maine. Silver Lake, Lily Pond, and North Pond are shallow ( , 3 m) water bodies bordered by steep bedrock ridges in the north, east, and west, and sandy barriers to the south. The bedrock basins of the ponds are formed in metasedimentary rocks surrounded by resistant pegmatitic intrusions. A dense network of GPR traverses obtained over the ice-covered Silver Lake reveals a series of prominent wavy-parallel and basin-fill reflector geometries terminating against the bedrock or grading into the barrier sediments and interpreted as organic lake-bottom facies. The transparent units represent sand-rich horizons, mostly eolian in origin. Convex-up structures found both on the surface and within the basin-fill sequence are interpreted as pre- served parts of coastal dunes. The present study indicates that fresh- water conditions prevailed since at least 4.6 ka, with an initial sedi- mentation rate of 1.7 mm/yr. The position of this unit below the con- temporary sea level suggests presence of a welded barrier by that time. Radar profiles taken along the shores of Lily Pond, a small water body behind the Sand Dune Barrier, indicate a significantly larger areal extent of the pond in the past. A succession of organic deposits over- lying a Pleistocene glaciomarine unit indicates progressive inundation of the paleo-lagoon by rising sea level. Saltwater peat seaward of Lily Pond was buried by washover sands about 1.2 ka, and a narrow pond existed here prior to dredging and artificial infilling of its eastern part in the 1950s-60s. The organic and eolian units are absent in the North Pond, where sedimentary fill consists of glaciomarine clay overlain by marine sands. A proposed three-stage model of pond evolution along an embayed coastline consists of: (1) organic accumulation in an up- land depression during lower sea level; (2) predominantly washover or tidal deposition in a lagoon (Stage 2a) or blocked coastal pond (Stage 2b) during initial transgression, and (3) mainly eolian and organic de- position behind a prograded or aggraded barrier. Future accelerated rise in relative sea level and inadequate sediment supply will cause many back-barrier ponds to reenter Stage 2 of the proposed model.
The impact of a Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities service program in Maryland, USA.

SUMMARY Most older adults prefer to age in place and it is therefore vital to support them in maintaining a high quality of life in their place of residence. Many Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs) have implemented services to fulfill a range of needs of their residents. Community Partners (CP) provided 58 NORC residents in six apartment buildings within two suburban neighborhoods in Maryland with health and social work services, activities and transportation services. Participants were compared with 70 residents who did not receive these services. Residents were assessed prior to initiation of services (e.g. transportation, social work and recreation) and after service usage through a membership program. Members had significantly increased satisfaction with recreational activities and social life in the community as well as significant decreases in depressed affect. Members’ self-reports showed that they were more likely to get out of the house, felt less isolated, and were happier since joining CP activities. This study is unique in examining the impact of utilization of a variety of services for older persons, while comparing these individuals to a local group of community-dwelling older persons who are without NORC services.
On the Characterization and Optimization of On-Chip Cache Reliability against Soft Errors

Soft errors induced by energetic particle strikes in on-chip cache memories have become an increasing challenge in designing new generation reliable microprocessors. Previous efforts have exploited information redundancy via parity/ECC codings or cacheline duplication for information integrity in on-chip cache memories. Due to various performance, area/size, and energy constraints in various target systems, many existing unoptimized protection schemes may eventually prove significantly inadequate and ineffective. In this paper, we propose a new framework for conducting comprehensive studies and characterization on the reliability behavior of cache memories, in order to provide insight into cache vulnerability to soft errors as well as design guidance to architects for highly efficient reliable on-chip cache memory design. Our work is based on the development of new lifetime models for data and tag arrays residing in both the data and instruction caches. Those models facilitate the characterization of cache vulnerability of stored items at various lifetime phases. We then exemplify this design methodology by proposing reliability schemes targeting at specific vulnerable phases. Benchmarking is carried out to showcase the effectiveness of our approach.
Recidivism among four types of homicide offenders: An exploratory analysis of 336 homicide offenders in New Jersey.

Despite a great deal of information on various types of offenders, there is only limited longitudinal research on the offending patterns, typologies, and recidivism of different types of homicide perpetrators. A random sample of 336 homicide offenders who were released between the years 1990 and 2000 from the New Jersey Department of Corrections were identified and followed for a minimum of 5 years. These offenders were tracked to determine if incarcerated homicide offenders who had no criminal histories prior to their homicide conviction recidivated less, and which specific variables correlated with recidivism. As a result of our analysis, we conceptualized a new four-fold typology of homicide offenders: 1) homicide that was precipitated by a general altercation or argument, 2) homicide during the commission of a felony, 3) domestic violence-related homicide, and 4) a homicide after an accident. In conclusion, none of the 336 homicide offenders committed another murder. However, we found the highest recidivism for new violent or drug crimes occurred in the felony homicide group (slightly over one-third), followed by the altercation precipitated homicide offenders (27%), which was in sharp contrast to the domestic violence homicide offenders with less than 10% recidivism due to a new violent or drug offense.
The neural interaction between the arterial baroreflex and muscle metaboreflex is preserved in older men.

New Findings • What is the central question of this study?Sympathetic baroreflex sensitivity increases during isolated skeletal muscle metaboreflex activation in young adults, but whether this neural interaction between the arterial baroreflex and the muscle metaboreflex is altered in healthy ageing remains unclear. • What is the main finding and its importance?The collective findings indicate that the neural interaction between the arterial baroreflex and the skeletal muscle metaboreflex in the regulation of muscle sympathetic nerve activity is preserved in healthy ageing. This has potential implications for the regulation of blood pressure during exercise in older adults. Sympathetic baroreflex sensitivity is increased during selective activation of the skeletal muscle metaboreflex with postexercise ischaemia (PEI) in young adults. However, to date, there are no data demonstrating this neural interaction between the arterial baroreflex and the muscle metaboreflex in healthy older adults. Therefore, the goal of the present study was to examine the influence of healthy ageing on the metabolic component of the exercise pressor reflex and its interaction with the arterial baroreflex in the control of sympathetic outflow. Postexercise ischaemia following static hand grip performed at 30% maximal voluntary contraction was used to isolate muscle metaboreflex activation in young [n= 10; 24 ± 1 years old; resting blood pressure (BP) 116 ± 3/64 ± 3 mmHg] and older men (n= 9; 59 ± 2 years old; resting BP 120 ± 2/77 ± 2 mmHg). Arterial BP (Finometer) and muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) were measured continuously. Weighted linear regression analysis between MSNA and diastolic BP was used to estimate arterial baroreflex MSNA gain. There were no age-related differences in the increase in mean BP (young, Δ14 ± 3 mmHg versus older, Δ15 ± 2 mmHg; P > 0.05) or MSNA burst frequency (young, Δ11 ± 2 bursts min−1 versus older, Δ9 ± 1 bursts min−1; P > 0.05) during PEI. Likewise, the gain of arterial baroreflex control of total MSNA increased to a similar extent in both groups during PEI (young, −4.2 ± 0.9 baseline versus−6.3 ± 1.1 PEI a.u. beat−1 mmHg−1; and older, −3.7 ± 1.1 baseline versus−6.7 ± 1.4 PEI a.u. beat−1 mmHg−1; P < 0.05 for both). Collectively, these findings indicate that the neural interaction between the arterial baroreflex and the skeletal muscle metaboreflex in the regulation of MSNA is preserved in healthy ageing.
Lead Sources, Toxicity, and Human Risk in Children of Developing Countries: A Mini–Review

Lead (Pb) is one of the oldest metals known to man and has been useful since the ancient era. However, it is known today that Pb is severely toxic to humans. Briefly reviewing the sources (both natural and anthropogenic) of Pb in the environment, this mini-review discusses how Pb continues to put the health of humans, especially children in developing countries, at risk. The toxicological processes through which Pb acts as a poison in the human body, primarily affecting the nervous system, are reviewed briefly and followed by a discussion on how the public is exposed to Pb and several case studies on Pb poisoning in children from developing countries. The case studies are on children from different regions of the developing world, and they show how highly children from developing countries are at risk of Pb poisoning. Further, the reviewed cases may be relevant to litigation as environmental toxic torts. Therefore, public awareness and introducing environmental preventive regulations concerning exposure t...
Life history of eNOS: Partners and pathways

The complex regulation of eNOS (endothelial nitric oxide synthase) in cardiovascular physiology occurs at multiple stages. eNOS mRNA levels are controlled both at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional phases, and epigenetic mechanisms appear to modulate tissue-specific eNOS expression. The eNOS enzyme reversibly associates with a diverse family of protein partners that regulate eNOS sub-cellular localization, catalytic function, and biological activity. eNOS enzyme activity and sub-cellular localization are intimately controlled by post-translational modifications including phosphorylation, nitrosylation, and acylation. The multiple extra-cellular stimuli affecting eNOS function coordinate their efforts through these key modifications to dynamically control eNOS and NO bioactivity in the vessel wall. This review will focus on the biochemical partners and perturbations of the eNOS protein as this vital enzyme undergoes modulation by diverse signal transduction pathways in the vascular endothelium.
State Tracking of MRAC Systems in the Presence of Controller Temporary Failure Based on a Switching Method

The state tracking problem for a class of model reference adaptive control (MRAC) systems in the presence of controller temporary failures is studied. Due to the controller temporary failure, the considered system is viewed as an error switched system. The properties of Lyapunov function candidates without switching are described. Then the notion of global practical stability of switched systems is presented, and sufficient conditions for global practical stability of the error system under the restrictions of controller failure frequency and unavailability rate are provided. An example is presented to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method.
Clinical significance: an introduction

Jeffcoat M: Clinical significance: an introduction. J Clin Periodontol 2002; 29 (Suppl 2): 5. © Blackwell Munksgaard, 2002.
Ethylene oligomerization using nickel dithiolene complexes Ni(S2C2R2)2 (R = Ph, CF3) and the crystal structure of Ni[S2C2(CF3)2]2

Abstract Nickel bis(dithiolene) complexes have been known for over four decades, yet little is known regarding the chemistry of this important subclass of inorganic coordination complexes in olefin oligomerization or polymerization. We report here that Ni(S2C2R2)2 (R = Ph, CF3) are converted to active catalysts for ethylene oligomerization when activated with methylaluminoxane (MAO). The catalyst activity is comparable to some nickel coordination complexes with N-donor ligands under similar conditions. The products are mainly butenes and hexenes, with small amounts of higher oligomers. The product distribution pattern is consistent with a nickel hydride species being the active center, where fast β-hydride elimination limits the products to mostly butenes and hexenes. The exact nature of the active center and the reaction mechanism remain to be investigated. In addition, we determined the crystal structure for Ni[S2C2(CF3)2]2. The molecule crystallizes in the P21/n space group and adopts a planar geometry with expected bond lengths and angles. Comparing this structure with that for the donor–acceptor complex with perylene reveals elongation of both the Ni–S and the S–C bonds in the latter, suggesting reduction of Ni[S2C2(CF3)2]2 may have occurred in the latter.
Race and Restless Sleep Complaint in Older Chronic Dialysis Patients and Nondialysis Community Controls

There is mixed evidence about the relation of race to risk of sleep disturbance. We explored the relation of race to restless sleep complaint in survey data from a cohort of 311 older patients undergoing chronic renal dialysis and a similarly aged cohort of 354 nondialysis controls. Older dialysis patients were significantly more likely to report restless sleep. Restless sleep complaint was related to comorbidity, depressed mood, use of sleep medications, and perceived health status in both groups. Black patients in the dialysis cohort had decreased odds of restless sleep, but Black and White controls did not differ significantly in reporting restless sleep. Compared with their more socially advantaged White counterparts, older Black dialysis patients may perceive the chronic dialysis care environment more favorably. The findings are consistent with the view that sleep quality in late life is likely to reflect a delicate balance between psychological as well as physical well-being.
Giant-cell tumor: a study of 195 cases.

This study of 195 patients with giant-cell tumor reemphasizes the female predominance, the predilection for the region of the knee, and the extreme rarity of the tumor in patients with immature skeletons. One of the tumors occurred in a patient with Paget's disease of bone. There were 2 patients with 2 giant-cell tumors each. Surgical treatment short of complete resection or amputation was followed by recurrence of benign giant-cell tumor in 44.6% of cases. Adjunctive radiation or cautery did not decrease this rate. Primary en bloc resection or amputation was uniformly curative. Primary radiation therapy had very limited value. Sarcomas developed in 17 patients (8.7%) of the total; these lesions we have called malignant giant-cell tumors. In 4 instances, zones of anaplastic sarcoma were found in otherwise typical giant-cell tumors. The remaining 13 sarcomas were found in recurrent tumors, and in 11 of these, the primary treatment had included radiation. The evidence indicates that surgical removal is the best treatment and that radiation should be employed only for tumors that are unresectable because of their location.
Topological model for energy transmission through cells in a cuvette

Summary form only given as follows. Simulating a cell's response to applied pulsed electromagnetic fields is difficult because of the great variations of the dimensions involved in the mesh generation process. The membrane thickness is in the nanometer range as compared to the cell dimension which is in microns. For successful simulation the number of mesh points and consequently the computational time is large since the mesh generated must conform to the lowest dimensions (sub-nanometer). Further, the simulations become more difficult and complex when a large number of cells are involved, such as those in a cuvette solution between two electrodes for pulsed application studies. In this presentation we discuss an alternative simulation method based on the electromagnetic topology (EMT) technique. This method integrates the multi-conductor transmission line network (MTLN) simulations (with experimental data at any junctions, if available) in a piecewise fashion. As a result the analysis of a system that has complex interaction paths, just like the number of cells suspended in a solution between electrodes can be performed easily. Here the given system is decomposed into manageable sizes of sub-volumes where each sub-volume is modeled by having hierarchical levels of electromagnetic shielding, determined by interactions through preferred paths. Finally, these interaction paths are integrated into a solution which produces very reasonable results. We demonstrate that the EMT method is also applicable in the microscopic regime.
Raising male privilege awareness and reducing sexism: an evaluation of diversity courses

Research examining the impact of women's studies courses provides evidence of student changes such as greater agreement with feminist and egalitarian attitudes, lower prejudice against women, and increased activism. Using a pre- and posttest design, the current studies assess students' awareness of male privilege, prejudice against women, support for affirmative action, and identification as feminist following courses with and without gender content. In Study 1, students taking a course entitled Psychology of Race and Gender completed identical surveys during the first and last weeks of the semester. Study 2 included students in Psychology of Women, Introduction to Women's Studies, and courses not addressing gender. Participants in diversity and women's studies courses in both studies exhibited more male privilege awareness and support for affirmative action at the end of the semester compared to pretest. However, the change in women's studies students' support for affirmative action and sexism levels was not significantly different from students in comparison courses. Women's studies students completed their courses with greater self-identification with feminism in contrast to non–women's studies students.
Electrical insulation in space environment

High voltage devices and systems operating in space environment, which is considered as a partial vacuum environment, are usually subject to partial discharges or corona discharges, which are major design problems. The corona or partial discharge initiation is a function of several design and environmental parameters. The most important factors can be listed as the operation pressure, the electrode geometry, and the frequency and voltage level of the applied power within a power system. Initial studies conducted in the laboratory suggest that the corona breakdown voltage levels at high frequency are indeed much lower than the dc breakdown voltages for varying pressures. Thus, this presentation will review the data available in the literature that can be readily implemented in the design of these power systems. Furthermore, It will also discuss current research work in high frequency break down in partial pressure environment.
Insulinoma presenting with cardiac arrest and cardiomyopathy

A 33-year-old woman presented with ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest and was found to have a blood glucose of 1.83 mmol/L. Cardiac catheterisation revealed a dilated left ventricle with an ejection fraction (EF) of 26% and angiographically normal coronary arteries. Continuous dextrose infusion was required to treat hypoglycaemia, which prompted consideration of insulinoma as a possible cause for her cardiomyopathy. Whipple's triad was demonstrated; a 72 h fast provided biochemical evidence of insulinoma, and imaging localised a tumour in her pancreas. The tumour was resected and pathology confirmed insulinoma; pancreaticoduodenectomy cured her hypoglycaemia. No alternate cause of cardiomyopathy was found and 4 months after surgery her EF improved to 41%. High insulin levels can close cardiac K(ATP) channels associated with dilated cardiomyopathy; the catecholamine surge from hypoglycaemia may also contribute to ventricular remodelling. Hypoglycaemia can cause QT segment prolongation, and may have precipitated fibrillation in this patient's arrhythmia-prone myocardium.
Spin properties of supermassive black holes with powerful outflows

Relationships between beam power and accretion disk luminosity are studied for a sample of 55 HERG, 13 LERG, and 29 RLQ with powerful outflows. The ratio of beam power to disk luminosity tends to be high for LERG, low for RLQ, and spans the full range of values for HERG. Writing general expressions for the disk luminosity and beam power and applying the empirically determined relationships allows a function that parameterizes the spins of the holes to be estimated. Interestingly, one of the solutions that is consistent with the data has a functional form that is remarkably similar to that expected in the generalized Blandford-Znajek model with a magnetic field that is similar in form to that expected in MAD and ADAF models. Values of the spin function, obtained independent of specific outflow models, suggest that spin and AGN type are not related for these types of sources. The spin function can be used to solve for black hole spin in the context of particular outflow models, and one example is provided.
Understanding Black Patients’ Refusal of Pneumococcal Vaccination

Racial disparities in rates of pneumococcal vaccine (PPSV23) exist. In one practice, 3.1 % of white patients refused PPSV23 following doctor recommendation, whereas 11.2 % of black patients refused vaccination. Our objective was to understand reasons black patients refused PPSV23. Mixed-method telephone survey in 2012 of black patients aged ≥65 with a documented refusal of PPSV23. The survey assessed beliefs about PPSV23; reasons for non-receipt of PPSV23; receipt of other vaccinations; and comparative perceptions of adult vs. childhood vaccines. Participants responded to items on a Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Participants’ (N = 40) mean age was 73 years; 95 % were female. Participants recognized pneumonia could be deadly (M = 4.3, SD = 1.0), but reported low levels of personal susceptibility (M = 2.8, SD = 1.4). Participants perceived childhood vaccines to be safer (M = 4.2, SD = 1.2) than adult vaccines (M = 3.4, SD = 1.4; p < 0.01). Qualitative analyses to understand reasons for refusal of vaccine both reinforced identified low perceptions of personal susceptibility as well as identified numerous additional barriers to receipt of PPSV23 (e.g., fear, side effects, and mistrust). Black patients in our sample who refused PPSV23 may not perceive themselves susceptible to the disease, suggesting that strategies to improve PPSV23 rates among these patients may need to emphasize susceptibility to pneumonia. Further, given the discrepancies in perceptions toward childhood versus adult vaccinations, focusing on vaccination across the lifespan may be a promising vaccine promotion strategy.
B Cell–Activating Transcription Factor Plays a Critical Role in the Pathogenesis of Anti–Major Histocompatibility Complex–Induced Obliterative Airway Disease

Antibodies (Abs) against major histocompatibility complex (MHC) results in T helper-17 (Th17)-mediated immunity against lung self-antigens (SAgs), K-α1 tubulin and collagen V and obliterative airway disease (OAD). Because B cell-activating transcription factor (BATF) controls Th17 and autoimmunity, we proposed that BATF may play a critical role in OAD. Anti-H2K(b) was administered intrabronchially into Batf (-/-) and C57BL/6 mice. Histopathology of the lungs on days 30 and 45 after Ab administration to Batf (-/-) mice resulted in decreased cellular infiltration, epithelial metaplasia, fibrosis, and obstruction. There was lack of Abs to SAgs, reduction of Sag-specific interleukin (IL)-17 T cells, IL-6, IL-23, IL-17, IL-1β, fibroblast growth factor-6, and CXCL12 and decreased Janus kinase 2, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and retinoid-related orphan receptor γT. Further, micro-RNA (miR)-301a, a regulator of Th17, was reduced in Batf (-/-) mice in contrast to upregulation of miR-301a and downregulation of protein inhibitor of activated STAT3 (PIAS3) in anti-MHC-induced OAD animals. We also demonstrate an increase in miR-301a in the bronchoalveolar lavage cells from lung transplant recipients with Abs to human leukocyte antigen. This was accompanied by reduction in PIAS3 mRNA. Therefore, we conclude that BATF plays a critical role in the immune responses to SAgs and pathogenesis of anti-MHC-induced rejection. Targeting BATF should be considered for preventing chronic rejection after human lung transplantation.
Field-induced reactions of water molecules at Si-dielectric interfaces

Water molecules and water-related species are present to a varying degree in SiO2 and other dielectrics and at Si-dielectric interfaces. Their presence, even in small concentrations, constitutes a critical reliability problem for present day ultrathin dielectrics. Here we present first-principles density functional calculations that probe the reactivity of water molecules at the Si-dielectric interface. We report results on different possible reaction pathways for water at the interface, including dissociation of water that can lead to the release of H+ ions. The released protons can migrate along the interface and depassivate dangling bonds. Results are also presented for the reaction of water with a hydrogen atom migrating laterally along the interface that lead to the creation of hydronium species. These atomic-scale mechanisms may account for at least some of the creation of interface traps and oxide trapped charge, the two features that give rise to negative bias temperature instability (NBTI), a well known reliability phenomenon that occurs in MOSFETs under normal operating and stress conditions.
Clone wars--the emergence of neoplastic blood-cell clones with aging.

Blood cells originate from hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). HSCs are infrequent (<2 per 108 bone marrow cells, or about 11,000 to 22,000 per person) and rarely divide.1,2 Because mutations occur with DNA replication during cell division, HSC quiescence maximizes genomic stability and thus safety. Mutations, however, can and do occur. Most are innocuous and do not substantially alter protein quantities or structure. Some make subtle changes that contribute to cellular diversity and allow HSCs or their offspring to react efficiently to differing environmental stresses. However, if a mutation speeds HSC self-renewal divisions or slows apoptosis, this results in more . . .